Daily Picture

Facets we know of God can seem so contradictory and/or beyond our comprehension. However, we get sight of his Kingdom Truths through Jesus's parables as recounted in the Gospels and through allegories - pictures, poems and stories which reveal deep Truths and morals in simple ways. We cannot draw people to God through explaining Him as we can't explain Him for ourselves. However, we can draw peopl...

All nature has its ideal habitat where it thrives. Conversely it flounders elsewhere, just as a Polar bear would obviously struggle in a desert. As God's creation He knows us so well and knows where we should be at any one time (Psalm 139). God has given us free will to follow His ways or not. He leads us to our perfect habitat, to our perfect abode.

We naturally want to make the best of our limited life here on earth. Are we choosing the best when we choose what is glittery, short lived and maybe attracting a lot of attention for the time being but something within us knows we have a big unfulfilled gap? Or would we be better off choosing a life that Jesus guides us into each day, which may not necessarily bring us immediate satisfaction and/...

The picture I had today was of a nightingale free to sing its songs and an articifial nightingale in a cage, encrusted with jewels, which could be wound up to sing the same repetitive song ceaselessly, the mechanics of which suddenly became permanently dysfunctional. The artificial ornate nightingale depicts a destructive life pattern which masquerades as freedom. If we humbly follow Jesus as know...

An electricity pylon is typically a tall wooden or metal structure with a heavily charged overhead power line. In today's picture a live tree is leaning against a pylon and in so doing conducts the potentially lethal electtic currents. May we be cautious of the people we lean on and rely on. They may be lethal after all. Intead, let us nurture environments of kindness, encouragement and patience....

If we humble ourselves by recognising and declaring God's majesty and authority over us, people may look at us scathingly because of this, perceiving us like a lowly worm. However, rest assured that "...whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). In other words it is

After Jesus's cousin John had, tragically, been beheaded, Jesus wanted to spend quiet time with His Father but many people (more than 5000), followed Him and wanted to be with Him. He willingly ministered to them with compassion. After that busy day Jesus then fed this huge crowd with the miraculous multiplication of 3 loaves of bread and 2 fish. So, Jesus's day had started tragically, his plans f...

Do we take the time to smell the coffee or the roses, as the expressions say? There is so much around us for our five senses to enjoy. Let us not miss these opportunities which are blessings for us as well as sometimes giving us the blessing of serving others. 1 Kings 18:43 "Go and look towards the sea he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 'There is nothing there', he said. Seven times E...

We feel great loss at the passing of a loved one, but remember God wants us to have eternal life, moving us from this earthly existence to that of another existence. We were created by God and FOR Him. Why then would He want to cut our existence short when He wants a relationship with us forever, not a curtailed friendship? This hope in eternal life is forever. Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fi...

Sometimes it is the little niggly persistent negative thoughts that ruin your our well-being. The romantic book of the Song of Soloman warns us of this when describing the dangers of little foxes who, though they can't reach the grapes on an immediate basis in a vineyard, they can damage the roots and thus have a long term negative effect. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Sometimes the fixed happy painted smile of a clown can be hiding a sad personal. Similarly we, and others around us, can put on masks to disguise our feelings. The truth could be the absolute opposite of what is being revealed, for a multitude of reasons, such as to deceive, at worst, with evil intent or because of not wanting to appear vulnerable and needy or because of lack of self esteem. May w...

Water lilies close up at night ready to display their beauty during the day. This picture reminds us that we can have God with us all the time, helping us to do His Will during the day and giving us a peaceful sleep to regenerate us and rejuvenate us (and even provide us answers and sometimes figuratively open doors for the following day). The Psalmist in Psalm 127:10 tells us: " ...He gives bless...

When we follow Christ we pick up His beautiful aroma which we can carry around wherever we are. 2 Corinthians 2:14 "...and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere". Also, our prayers rise like pleasurable incense to His throne. (Psalm 141:2; Revelations 5:8)

We cannot necessarily tell if the back of the black cat in today's DAILY indicates whether the cat is aggressive or not. Similarly, we never get a full picture of a situation or person to enable us to judge correctly. If we judge incorrectly we receive the consequences of so doing. In contrast to judgement there is the gift of discernment, given to us by The Holy Spirit, which enables us to distin...

The soft cuddly aspect of our Father God is indeed one half of Him but there is also the other half, which is not necessarily as appealing, whereby if we trust and obey Him, He will indeed be leading us on a path which gives us abundant peace and joy. (Matthew 6:9)

God enables us to do the work He requires of us. We mistakenly think we ate being humble if we say we can't do it. However, if we boast in the Lord's equipping and not in ourselves, He is delighted that we are working as a team and serving Him. (Jeremiah 9:23; 1 Corinthians 1 :31; 2 Corinthians 10:17; Psalm 44:8) There is much joy for us when we serve God for the sake of others. (Matthew 25:21; Co...

Sometimes we recognise there are negative thoughts and/or negative actions coming out of us. This is represented by a rusty pipe or vessel in today's DAILY PICTURE. Jesus invites us to let Him change the vessel from which issue our negative thoughts and actions. This is our inner being which can be transformed by His Holy Spirit, not by our own efforts (Titus 3:5)

God's Kingdom encompasses the earth. When we recognise God as our Father, we can feel safe and at home anywhere. Matthew 6:10 "Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven ...". Let us look at our situations with God's perspective, be aware of our misplaced pride when we think we don't need God and look out for others when we realise that we are all brothers and sisters in His...

The Daily Picture today drew me to bad memories of our pasts. Jesus wants to help us reflect on these memories with Him showing you how actually He was there too, even if you had misery and anguish. We may not be convinced He was there but He wants to show us the positives in His presence at all times and He wants to heal us. Psalm 139 is King David's beautiful expression of this and here is a por...

Sometimes we feel that we are surrounded by barbed wire which can't be eradicated or scaled. God assures us that he wants to, and can, obliterate all our "barbed wires" (Psalm 23 The Lord's my Shepherd. I shall not want. He lays me down in pastures green ..."

A large lit crucifix was displayed high up in the Stadium of Lights, Lisbon for the past week celebrating World Youth Day. This event has been linked to a new 10 year initiative, called The Change, to unite all Christian denominations in sharing the Christian message across the whole world. We are to agree with one another in what we say and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be perf...

Wet laundry should be hanging on a clothes horse and not falling off. In the vision I had today that fallen piece of laundry proved to be just what someone wanted. Similarly things may seem to be going wrong in our lives but we can trust that God is either directing that perceived wrong situation in our lives or, at the very least, will make good out of every situation. (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:1...

I believe that the DAILY PICTURE today is analogous with a pattern of repetitive negative thoughts. This can become a habit, a negative default. Instead, Colossians 3:2 encourages us to "Set your minds on things above". God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

Before the Wright Brothers designed, built and flew the first flying vehicle, they had had a vision of it. Over time their vision, and inception of it, has triggered off bigger and better aircraft. God's Holy Spirit gives us visions; whatever He asks of us, He enables us. We are to work together as one Body, making "every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace..." (Ephesi...

A Jack in the Box represents surprise for the unsuspecting person or can even provide an element of surprise in timing for those who know what is behind the Jack in the Box lid. In the same vein no one in our lives is 10O% there for us and no situation is 100% predictable. Jesus knows this of all mankind and life on earth (Luke 22:34). Jesus came to give us total security. We can actually trust th...