Daily Picture

Today I saw a pile of large smooth white pebbles, bringing to mind physical memorials established by God's people, whenever He had provided miraculously for them. Sometimes the memorials to God's goodness come in the form of celebrations. One is the Passover Festival which God instructed His people to celebrate in honour and thanksgiving of Him passing over their families peaceably whilst, meanwhi...

Today I have been further reflecting on Apostle Paul's comment, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). In other words, whatever his circumstances Paul was declaring that Jesus Christ is with him, supporting him. The light where I live is particularly bright and, despite any wet and windy weather, we are aware of the constant brilliant light. This seems to be an...

Today I am thinking on the word "too" in the sense of: to be in excess/to be extreme, such as 'the ceiling is too high to reach'. God provides perfectly in that He knows the right quantity and timing, according to His good purpose. We need the Holy Spirit to convict us of God's goodness towards us as otherwise we cannot understand, and could be offended and even angry at excessive poverty and exce...

Today I saw some black coal which reminds me of a wise proverb in the Old Testament which says, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you" (Proverbs 25:21-22). The meaning of this metaphor is that in being kind, instead of retaliating, we are giving opportunity to the perso...

FEASTING OR FASTING Today I am reminded that part of yesterday's account was of Jesus feasting at Matthew's house, a tax collector who had responded to Jesus's call to follow Him. The pharisees were aghast that he was eating with 'tax collectors and sinners'. Feasting was the opposite of the sacrificial fasting they did, to atone for their sins and to get closer to God. They were not aware that Je...

Today I saw A NEEDLE AND THREAD, reminding me of Jesus's words regarding the new relationship we can have with God through Him: "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No...

Today I saw a picture of a jar of marmalade making me think of expressions like " the icing on the cake" and "the cherry on the top", indicating that extra final layer of delight. Marmalade spread on bread and butter can also signify that. God wants us to expect times of lavish provision from Him. We sometimes just settle for average or below average. If we never expect for more then we have less...

Today, in my mind's eye, I saw a group of carefree, laughing, very young children. How often are adults as relaxed as that? Research tells us how children laugh significantly more than adults and that it is vital and therapeutic for all of us to do so. Jesus instructs us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven like little children (see Matthew 18:2 -4). As mentioned in the last 2 days' Devotionals, Jesus g...

Today is a continuation of the last two days' messages about needing the Holy Spirit to understand, obey and even want to obey God, through Jesus's words. At the very beginning of the Gospel of John we read that "In the beginning was the Word." Jesus is the Word and in Genesis, describing the beginning of our world, God speaks everything into existence. However, humans are created in a different w...

I feel that today is a continuation of yesterday's message which suggested that Jesus's message is so 'out there' as compared to what seems normal. We may appreciate Jesus's miracles and healings but what about His instructions, such as to turn the other cheek when we are hit on one cheek, to offer our shirt when someone takes our coat, to completely forgive and to recognise that we are committing...

I saw a reflection of what looked like the Cross on my water glass this morning, which was simply the dawn light throwing a pattern off the kitchen window frame. However it got me to thinking of the fact that without the power of the Cross, what does Christianity have? We have 3 years of Jesus's ministry of teachings, healings and other miracles such as changing water into wine, walking on water a...

Today I saw a glove puppet which of course needs a hand to function and become animated. However, God has created us differently. We are not to be His robotically managed hand puppets, obeying His every whim. He wants us to individually choose to love, trust and thus obey Him. He loves to bless us regardless but, also, we bless Him when we glorify Him. The whole of Ephesians Chapter 1 is relevant...

Today I saw a picture of a cobwebby window, bringing to mind how we can sometimes lose the excitement of receiving revelation and inspiration from the Holy Spirit, which requires our consistent focus and devotion to having spiritual insight. I join King David in Psalm 119:18 when he says, "Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law".

Today I am delving deeper into the word "obey" which might help in a quest to understand God's Word and His deep mysteries, with which we need the help of God's Holy Spirit. The root of "Obey" is Latin with the first part, 'ob', meaning 'to' and giving the sense of 'leaning into'. The second part is 'oboedire/obaudire' meaning 'to listen to, give ear or hearken to'. If we are as one with another,...

Today I saw the scoring of a pork joint to make crackling and also the word "Engravings". This reminds that prophet Isaiah said that God has engraved our names on the palms of his hands and that our walls are forever before Him.(See Isaiah 49:16). That was prophesied to the Israelites in around 700BC but Jesus brought the fulfillment of God's promises to both Jews and Gentiles alike, should we bel...

Today I am reminded of the large brown seeds some kids at school gave me yesterday. None of us knows what plant they have come from. Isn't it amazing how brown coloured seeds can grow into another shape and colour? Similarly, let us not forget that if we spend time exploring kernels of truth about God and His Kingdom, we will discover deeper colourful mysteries. We are told that God's invisible qu...

Today I saw barbed wire which further propelled me into thinking of the crown of long thorns which was forced into Jesus's head in mock worship, by the Roman soldiers, after His viscious flogging and before the crucifixion. In Genesis 3, thorns are first mentioned in the bible, as one of the consequences to Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden. "To Adam He said, 'Because you listened to your...

Today I saw a picture of little round unripe green fruits which were identified as pitanga fruit, also known as Suriname cherry, Brazilian cherry or Cayenne cherry. There are such a huge variety of fruits in the world, some of which we are oblivious of, some of which we have no clue how to eat and some we just simply ignore as we stick to the fruit we know, feel safe with or are interested in tryi...

Today I was reminded of another Shakespearean play, The Taming of the Shrew. A shrew is a small mole-like creature with a long pointy nose. In English culture a naggy annoying wife is likened to a shrew. In Shakespeare's play of this name, a man manages to change his perpetually naggy wife to one who advises other ladies to submit to their respective husbands. What a transformation. However, what...

Today I saw a centipede in my mind's eye. They are all venomous and fatal to their prey of worms and insects. The large centipedes can cause great pain, swelling and fever in humans if we aggravate them but they are not fatal. We can live in great fear of centipedes or recognise that we are stronger than them and we can choose to try and steer clear of them. This is the same with Satan. He is dang...

Today I saw a cyclone though heard the word 'tempest' which directed my thoughts to William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. I studied it when I was 14 years old and can remember the characters and the love aspect but had completely forgotten, or maybe even missed the importance of the forgiveness extended by the main character, Prospero. Perhaps we are the same and miss the main part of the plot,...

Today I saw a picture of a handbag (purse) with shoulder strap, bringing to mind French fashion designer, Coco Chanel. About 100 years ago she designed the first handbag, with a chain strap, for the luxury market. It is now a common wardrobe accessory which we, no doubt, take for granted. This further directs me to so much that we take for granted, that once didn't exist and/or we are blessed to h...

Today I saw a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, which made me think of Jesus coming into this world, completely vulnerable and dependent as with all human babies. What a sacrifice when He was mighty God but reduced himself to being a newborn infant. Jesus sacrificed His entire human life from start to finish. In order to have been the perfect human sacrifice on the cross, Jesus had to have led an...

Today I saw bicycle handlebars which of course are vital when riding a bicycle for a number of reasons, such as control and steering of the front wheel's movement, whilst also affecting the rider's posture and comfort etc. Having breaks on the handlebars helps too of course! Whilst hands are quietly on these vital handlebars, the feet are more visibly working away. I believe that that is the main...

Today I saw an outline of the country of Italy, fine tuning to Rome, then the Vatican and finally where St Peter was martyred and buried. This has directed me to the letters that Peter wrote at the end of his life. He had known Jesus personally and was convinced he had seen the resurrected Jesus and that every word Jesus had spoken was true, which included the Baptism of the Holy Spirit He had pro...