Daily Picture

The lighthouse leads ships away from danger. Similarly, Jesus leads us to safety The white markimgs could remind us of Jesus's purity and the red remind us that He shed His blood for us. He is our example (1 Peter 2:21-25) and today's Daily Picture likens us to a lighthouse, whereby we can deflect others from disaster and direct them to Jesus.

As with the mistiming in using windscreen wipers on a dry car screen, sometimes we try to clean up another person's act but actually, in so doing, we make things worse. Romans 14 gives a good explanation of how and why we should respect other's ways in what they perceive is them obeying God. I discuss this in today's podcast.

Would we shout for joy and maybe even dance with delight, risking ridicule and contempt? King David did for his Lord God. (2 Samuel 6:14). We are encouraged to do the same literally or figuratively. The Message translation of Philippians 4:4 says "Celebrate God all day, every day.'

Do we have oppulence and status but do not really gave direction or even joy in our lives? Jesus said he came to bring us abundant life and to bring us into relationship with God. Once we believe Him as giving us Truths, we increasingly learn what He means by abundance and how wonderful it is to have God in our lives at all times and into eternity. (John 10)

If we choose to let Him, God can prune us and change us increasingly into His image, using exactly what is required and always with wisdom and love. (Colossians 1:28)

As with an old railway track which is not appropriate for a fast bullet train, Jesus said He had come to usher in a new way to enter his Father God's Kingdom which required a new way of thinking and being. With Jesus's death on the Cross and the Holy Spirit indwelling us we learn of God's love for us and want to instinctively follow Him and His ways which are always for our good and carry us into...

In the same way that the word BOW can have more than one interpretational, we need to respect others for their differing opinions, whilst at the same time retaining self-respect for our own opinions. The Holy Spirit can change all of us for the better, but it is not for us to go around changing others. Philippians 2:3-4 tells us "Do nothing from selfih ambition or conceit, but in humility count ot...

The Niagara Falls is home for some unique species of plants and anmals. As Christians, where is our home? It is actually not on this earth but in heaven. With the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we are already connected to God and His Kingdom. Hebrews 23:14 For this world is not our home, we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven".

Professionals can do excellently in their field of work but they cannot solve all problems and are predominantly limited to addressing the body and the mind. How about our souls? When we connect to God we suddenly find a place for our soul to rest. King David discovered this and declares it beautifully in Psalm 63 and elsewhere. (Psalm 63:5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods, w...

Over time small pieces of rock are smoothed out by constant washing within water until they become beautiful smooth pebbles. The Holy Spirit is similarly gentle with us, patient over time, gradually and wonderfully transforming us. With gratitude, may we extend gentleness and grace to all who come across our path (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:24-25).

As with the analogy of popcorn, wonderful things can develop under heat. Sometimes we do not enjoying experiencing what God refers to as the refining fire. (Isaiah 48:10). These testing times can rid us of the impurities in our lives - such as in our nature, behaviour, attitudes and responses. The refiner can see his reflection in pure liquid gold. Let God purify us so He can be reflected in our l...

God can carve easy steps into an impossible rock face making it easy to negotiate. Similarly, only God can change a desert into a place with gushing waters and bubbling streams (Isaiah 35:6,7). Jesus, whilst on earth refers to these words when he said, that whoever "believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. By this He spoke concerning the Spirit,...

Do we radiate joy through our smiles and are our smiles a daily occurrence? When we spend time withJesus and are grateful to Him for all our blessings, we will shine. In Philippians 2:14-16, the apostle Paul reminds us to "Do everything without grumbling or arguing ..in a warped and crooked generation ... Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky".

There is a time and a season for everything, as with a seed developing into a tree with leaves, with blossom and then fruit. We may not yet see the good fruit in the situation we are currently facing but let's trust God for His perfect timing. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart and yet no one can fathom what God has don...

God always has precise and excellent plans for us. They are not to control us but to perfectly direct our lives into what is good for us, with us completely free to choose to follow Him or not. He also provides the wisdom and skills for us to follow Him and to execute His Will. In today's podcast I reflect on what is written in Exodus 35 to lead us to these Kingdom of God Truths.

Moses was born at a time and place where newborn baby boys were killed. His mother trusted in God and floated him down the Nile in a wicker basket. He could have been eaten by crocodiles etc. Instead, he was saved by Pharaoh's daughter and, by a further miracle, his mother became his wet nurse. (Exodus 1 and 2). Throughout his life, God guided and saved Moses, against all the odds. He can and want...

How impractical is a white suitcase but that is because we don't need to have "baggage" in Jesus's Kingdom because Jesus takes all our burdens. 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.".

It can take a second to drop and smash a vase but much longer to repair. Let us not hurt anyone with our words which might take them ages to emotionally heal from. "Let our gentleness be evident to all" Philippians 4:5. Also, when we are hurt by another may we remember that Jesus wants to, and can, bind up the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1)

Today's picture directs me to reflect on different cultures and their varying typical table place settings. There Bible describes some cultural ways which have since changed over time but these are not to be confused with God's Laws which are consistent for all, over all time. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in paying heed to Jesus' teachings and in obeying His commandments, without faltering...

As with a bay opening out into a sea, God wants us to prepare to be mightily blessed by Him and to enlarge our vision. God, through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 54 verse 2, encourages us to "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes".

Do you ever think with gratitude about your big toes?! Do you know that without our large toes, apparently we would walk clumsily and haltingly, with difficulty in standing upright. Perhaps this picture can remind us to be grateful for all we have, some of which could be more important than we give credit for. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

In this picture we are reminded that a dire situation, as depicted by a black umbrella, can be transformed into a beautiful colourful display. With His love and creation powers God can change any situation, however negative, into something good (Romans 8:28). We just need to believe He can and wants to.

Are we like an inactive helicopter or, indeed, even like one with its propeller ready for action but still not leaving the ground to do the work God is compelling us to do? Let us do it, remembering that in order to do His Work we are to believe in Whom He has sent (John 6:29). Jesus will equip us and be with us throughout our endeavours for Him.

As branches of a fruit tree need to be connected to the trunk of the tree to bear fruit, we also need to be connected to our source, Jesus, to bear fruit that blesses others. (John 15:4-5)

The huge devastating waves of a tsunami can hit shores unexpectedly. Do we take the threat of a tsunami seriously? Similarly, are we being complacent in our attitude towards God? Do we understand the threat of God ultimately and eternally being disconnected from us? Is that as far fetched as a tsunami affecting us? Let's all connect to mighty loving God now. His arms, offering salvation, are outst...