Daily Picture

I find it so difficult being falsely accused and being misunderstood. Jesus is our example on how to achieve peace in the midst of false accusations and misunderstanding, however major, and His certainly were. I so want to get to that point of no longer needing to be always understood, wanting to explain and defend myself. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffe...

Charlie Chaplin was a genius and an amazing actor and director in the days of black and white silent movies. We can see the amazing advances made in the movie industry over the past hundred years or so. God also can set us on a road in which we can make amazing advances far beyond our imagination. "Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely mo...

Yesterday we saw the flow of a stream gaining momentum, having started off slowly. Today there were also trees along the banks of the stream which had taken time to grow into maturity. This picture is a wonderful assurance that as we mature and get propelled into further action for the Lord, He will provide us with others to help us as one Body working together and supporting each other. "For beho...

Continuing from yesterday's message, if we start off slowly, concentrating on the moment (which applies to many aspects of our lives such as stopping activity to spend time with the Lord, listening before speaking etc) we will find it much easier to build up momentum and be successful with more. Also remember that, similarly and offering us a perfect example, God deals with us gently and slowly wh...

I feel that today's picture reminds us to slow down and enjoy beautiful moments in our day's timeline, rather than be consumed with worry and or busyness etc and thereby miss wonderful moments. Also, let's be thankful for all we have. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you". (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

We all experience times of decision making in our lives, whether with small consequences or for the creation of life long changes. A fork can keep the food stationary on the plate, 😀 representing us remaining where we are. The knife cuts away and represents the need to make changes and finally, the spoon in this instance is for serving others. God can direct us in the way we should go, if we ask...

Jesus wants us to shine a light for Him to draw people into His loving Kingdom. It is not about spotlighting ourselves. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see...

I visualised an industrial steam press but it proved to be dysfunctional, with no risk of the lid coming down and applying pressure. We can similarly be facing conditions whereby we sense that pressures are going to come down on us and destroy us. When this happens, let us remind ourselves of the verses "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted...

In the context of only one transient life on this earth, then a suffering life cannot be justified by a loving God. However, in the context of eternal life beyond our transient life on earth, we can have a different slant on horrors on this earth even if we are still struggling in our understanding of God's purposes and His love. Without eternal life, we are doomed and the sufferings on earth only...

Others have hurt us but very likely they have been hurt and have turned it on to us just as you may hurt another because of your negative past experiences. What helps me in forgiving others their past hurts towards me is to remember that either they are also already the bride of Christ or, at the very least, Jesus wants them to be. Jesus, is an amazing Bridegroom who wholly forgives us so let us p...

Do we really believe and feel that we are betrothed to Jesus? We, as part of the church, the Body of Christ, are described as His Bride and He as our Bridegroom. Jesus is coming back to collect us as His. In the meantime, let us hold on to the excitement that He loves us and wants to look after us right now and be with us for ever. It is not a weak place to be looked after. We are strong and fearl...

We can listen to those who criticise us, and there will be those who do as we are not perfect and nor are they, or we can listen to God Who loves us constantly. He created us and does not make mistakes. Max Lucado.has written a short but beautifully written and poignant book called You are Special (also recorded on YouTube) about a wooden puppet called Punchinello who believes that he isn't good e...

Do we want to just leave a remnant or nothing of our lives when our time is over on this earth? If we dedicate our lives to God, we will bear fruit that will have eternal impact. Before Jesus's ministry began as a young man of 30 years old He was obedient to his earthly parents Joseph and Mary as well as dedicating Himself to His Father God. "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour wit...

Joseph and Mary took their first born baby son, Jesus, to the Temple in Jerusalem as was required by the Law of Moses, with the sacrifice of either 2 young pigeons or 2 doves, signifying the consecration of one's life and the repentance of sin. Two devout prophets in the Temple immediately recognised baby Jesus as assuredly going to be the long awaited Saviour (from mankind's sin and the effects o...

A tiger has stripes which, to the unsuspecting eye, help break up its immense size and shape when stalking in the jungle. The stripes referred to in Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 are the lashings relentlessly whipped on to the back of Jesus's body, following which he had to carry a huge, heavy roughly hewn wooden cross before he was nailed to it and crucified as a criminal. Jesus had relinquished h...

However much help we need and however daunting the timing, God will provide enough and on time. Sometimes our trust requires extreme test in our faith, believing God for His love and provision. He will not let us down! I feel like I was treated to a wonderful provision yesterday when I heard a beautiful piano track. I was delighted to find out that the piece was called "Beyond the sundial" (by com...

So often our worries and concerns relate to the future. Let us trust that God has control over time; in fact He offers us eternity. All our minutes of life, all our days on earth can be given to the Lord for His protection. "...He is my refuge and my fortress" (Psalm 91:2) "...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5 ). "But those who...

Earth's beauty, diversity and vast examples of unique creations, not least each human with his/her own thumbprint, gives us a foretaste of heaven and eternity which not only has that creativity but also constant love and perfect provision from our Lord. "The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we will never settle...

In the Bible, the right hand signifies honour and status. There are many verses telling us that God loves to take your right hand in His right hand. In so doing He is honouring you with His love and protection. For instance, God speaks through his prophet Isaiah and says, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold yo...

The Bible is the gift of God's Word to us but there is even more to look forward to as God wants to give us eternity with Him. Having endless time on earth with all its problems and woes is not what is promised us but, instead, continuous love and His perfect provision into eternity. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal li...

Am apple pie bed is a playful prank whereby the bottom sheet of a made bed is folded in half and upwards, disguised by a complete top sheet etc. Anyone getting into bed would then find they are hindered from stretching out their legs! The outward appearance of the bed does not reveal what is inside. That is a good reminder that God directs us to look at the heart of another, rather than just their...

Do we control our thoughts or do our thoughts control us? For instance do we decide that we are in a bad mood and that we will inevitably be negative towards those around us? Instead, let us "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5b)

I am sure we are all aware that we do not always represent God in our dealings with others. Similarly, others' treatment of us often does not represent God. However, let us make a conscious effort to spread God's Love to all we meet, as when we do that, as Jesus pointed out, we are doing it unto Him, our Bridegroom. (Matthew 25:35-40)

We make think we are on safe flat ground but if there is sharp gravel and we fall, we can get hurt. Similarly, we may feel we are taking the right and comfortable path but be careful as it may not be The Way that Jesus wants us to go. Interestingly, Jesus's first Jewish followers were called The Way. "You make known to me the path of life: in your presence there is fulllness of joy; at your right...

Like a spike piercing the ground, we can cause damage to our souls, hearts and minds when we carry deep guilt and shame. Jesus has taken both our guilt and shame by having died sinless on the cross under very undignified, humiliating and shaming conditions. He swapped His earthly life for ours, should we so choose to receive it, without any demands on us. If we truly believe that, we will be supre...