Daily Picture

In his gospel, Matthew recounts Jesus describing the kingdom of heaven as being like a field with planted good wheat seeds but also unwanted bad weed seeds, growing together. One day Jesus will destroy all the bad seed but, meanwhile, we need to be patient and not try to annihilate the bad in this world in our own strength and time. In so doing, we may make mistakes and destroy good as well. Let u...

A hovering helicopter has not yet landed. Are we the same in our relationship with God? Are we hovering rather than settling and seeking Him? The Word promises us that if "we ask it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7)

Are we coveting what others have or are we grateful for what we have today, which is very likely more than enough? Luke 12:15 "Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Hebrews 13:5 ".. be content with what you have, for He has said He will never leave you nor forsake you".

The full circle of a ring denotes eternal allegiance

Often we think of God's Will as connected to decision making going forward but it is also to do with right now. And what is His Will right now? There are two verses that help in directing us. The Old Testament prophet Micah tells us in Chapter 6:8 "to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God". Jesus Himself, whilst walking on this earth, told His disciples that in order to do the work...

In Psalm 42 King David gives himself a good talking to, when things are difficult for him and he feels downcast, reminding himself that God is always with Him, has always helped Him and to reach out to Him. "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God" (Psalm 42:1-2b).

Metaphorically speaking, God sometimes puts us through a refiner's fire in order to change us into His image. He is with us during the process. This is far more preferable to an erratic uncontrollable fiery situation in which God's Will is not respected and adhered to. "And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times". (Psalm 12:6)

Since the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

Sometimes we need some tough love from those who want us to have fruitful lives and can see what changes we should/can make. Are we willing to receive it though? "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17)

Jesus died on the cross for everyone everywhere over all time. "I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place only. No one can hide where I cannot see them. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?". (Jeremiah 23:23-24). Think of those verses in the context of Him wanting to extend love notes to us wherever we are.

"There is only one way to eat an elephant - a bite at a time". This wise comment is famously attributed to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He championed the cause of fighting apartheid segregating the blacks and white people in South Africa.

In the bible a white dove often represents the Holy Spirit. All four gospels' accounts of Jesus recount the significant event of Jesus being baptised, with the Holy Spirit descending upon Him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:20; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-34). Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit to his disciples and twice, in the same discourse, He reminded them to 'Let not their hearts b...

There is a children's story in which this puny young man Cinders wished he could be like his two older brothers who were butch and hairy. His fairy Godmother waved her magic wand and immediately Cinders became a gorilla! Humour aside, we are often not happy with who we are and wish we were in another's shoes. Firstly, God has a wonderful purpose for us exactly as we are and secondly, the person we...

God was revealed to some extent in the Old Testament, Jesus revealed more of His Father when He was on earth and then gave us His Spirit Who reveals even more to us. "...what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit....no one knows the thoughts of God...

A plane with no intention of being taken anywhere, no pilot's seat and then no pilot is not going to be effective! Similarly, God being around but not being "utlised", or only half heartedly, is not effective in our lives. We can change this by calling upon Him regularly, as often as we need help. He is Love and desires to help. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I wi...

We know that nothing appears on a TV screen unless there is electrical power, unless the TV is connected to the power source and unless we actually turn the TV on. Similarly, we receive nothing from the Holy Spirit unless we are connected to the source of God and call upon Him. "Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit...

God looks after all His creation. In the Bible, sparrows are often represented as little and seemingly insignificant ones. He dwells in all these little ones too. Not only does He reassure us that He wants to help everyone, however small, but He also encourages us to look out for those around us who He is leading us to extend care towards. "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least o...

The three wise men had "been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route". (Matthew 2:12). Prior to that King Herod had asked to be shown where baby Jesus was because he pretended he wanted to worship him, when actually he wanted to kill him. The three wise men used God's leading and direction to return home by another route to the one they had previo...

A sextant is a nautical navigational instrument, used to measure the angle between the horizon and a celestial body such as the sun, moon or a star, enabling the calculation of latitude and longitude. We are told in the Bible of The Three Wise Men who had read and understood prophecies, and followed the Star that they knew would lead them from the Far East to the promised Saviour in Bethlehem, who...

Most of us know Hans Christian Andersen's story of The Ugly Duckling, in which a grey cygnet was initially and mistakenly raised with ducklings. He gradually moved into his destiny as a beautiful white adult swan and in an environment of other swans. He was Home! "Our earthly home is not our true home, because we have a better home, and an abiding one in heaven" (Hebrews 10:34).

I remember when I was little my grandmother had a clothes mangle which was a big manual machine which pulled wet clothes through large rollers, to force out excess water. Times have moved on and we now use electric tumble driers. This reminds me of Jesus's cautionary words to the legalistic people of his time who were not prepared to accept that He had come to bring grace and mercy, instead of the...

Just as with a pregnant woman who is expectant of one baby (or more!) though is not entirely sure of the arrival date, we can also be assured that we are carrying God's promises, often uncertain as to when they will be fulfilled. The same applies to Jesus's return. We know it is going to happen but we do not know exactly when. Let's remain expectant and prepared. Jesus Himself said, "But understan...

God has given us imaginations but He wants to give to us even more than our imaginations can conceive. "Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him". (1 Corinthians 2:9). This does not imply He doesn't want to give to everybody. He does but, with love for all, He has given us free will to choose...

As we move into light, having been in darkness, our eyes gradually get adjusted. Jesus came to give sight to the blind, literally and metaphorically. Let us take that first step towards Him and for Him to take our hand whilst He leads us into eternity, as well as in our day to day life. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Nw the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit...

Sometimes we feel trapped in monotony but God can give us colour and variation. We do need to build up faith and trust in Him in order to step out of our comfort zones with Him. Jesus's assurance is that He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). This is not just referring to our lives in eternity but to our lives here on earth.