Daily Picture

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...

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".