Daily Picture

From the depths within

I continue to contemplate on yesterday's picture which I took of a beautifully cultivated plot of land. It absolutely does not do it justice, partly because I have limited vision, limited imagination and I honestly do not have photographic skills, and of course I could not show the life within, such as the root system, the seeds, the potential growth etc. Isn't that the same with us? We, similarly, sometimes do not even see the outer beauty of another person let alone their inner depths. So often our words and actions are reactions to our limited vision to what is around us. Instead, God wants us to exude Him from within us. Apostle Paul regularly preached on Christ within us as being goodness. It is His goodness, not our efforts and achievement. For instance in Galatians 2:20 we read, "I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me;...". It is not us living in a Christlike way with our self generated abilities but, rather, it is Christ living through us because we want and allow Him to. We can declare we are Christians but we still need to make daily choices as to whether we follow our naturally self centred nature or let Jesus Christ lead our words and actions.

A bright yellow hose

Today I saw a bright yellow hose in my mind's eye, bringing to mind the little farm at the Montessori school where I work as a teacher, in Cascais, Portugal. A few weeks ago a new gardener started assisting the kids and two existing part time managers of the farm. One of the heads of the school had got to know a homeless man who used to be a horticulturalist so invited him to work on our school farm for a small fee. Well, yesterday I noticed a complete transformation on one fairly large plot of land. It now has beautiful flowerbeds, vegetable patches, smooth clear pathways and a pretty archway. In short it is spectacular and all has been done by this new addition to our farm staff. The hearts of two men are the seeds to this fruitful transformation. What a lovely example of giftings being used for God's glory in a community. Let's celebrate others' giftings and use ours for the greater good. Let's encourage others as the Head of our school did for a homeless man. 1 Peter 4:8-11 reads: "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each if you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace, in its various forms. If any one speaks they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God; if anyone serves they should do so with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen".

Full and empty

Today I see a stack of full marmalade jars depicting 'plenty' which also makes me think of the opposite - 'lack'. Sometimes we only associate God with plenty and, even then, we could forget to communicate with Him and thank Him. However, in times of lack, these are times when God particularly wants us to ask Him to be close to us, as we need Him all the more. In 1 Kings 17 we hear of prophet Elijah, during a time of severe drought, obeying God by walking to a widow in another region also in drought. Elijah instructs her to use the last of her meagre rations of flour and oil to provide him with bread and also for herself and her son. She duly obeys with the last of her supplies. Both Elijah and the widow have obeyed God. "...So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah" (1 Kings 17:15-16). Let us trust and obey God in our times of need and thank Him for His daily provision whether from a base of plenty or not.

God is our rearguard as well as our vanguard

Today I sense a continuation to yesterday's message of God preparing the way ahead for us. Not only is He ahead of us, He is our rearguard. He is behind us, ensuring we don't fall back or by the wayside. "For you will not leave in a hurry and you will not run away, for the Lord will go before you and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12). It is also wonderful to be reminded that we don't need to make hasty uncertain decisions. God is preparing the way ahead at a perfect pace.

A pile of smooth white pebbles

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, meanwhile, destruction was to befall the first born of both people and animals in Egypt (see Exodus 12) Interestingly, this instruction was delivered before the event. A memorial before the event sounds premature but what a wonderful acknowledgement that we can praise and thank God in advance of His provision and blessings because we trust Him. In Psalm 127:2 King David describes how our human endeavours cannot guarantee our future security but whilst we sleep, God lovingly watches over us and prepares for us: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves". God loves us all; it is a question of truly believing in that and being able to thank Him in advance for His provision.