Daily Picture

Stephanie Hawkins
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On Monday through to Saturday, I link an image to a theme in the Bible, with a podcast lasting about 10 minutes, which I hope brings hope and strength to anyone listening.

  1. 16h ago

    God's instructions

    Ten days ago I made the remark that random sex binds people in more subtle ways than maybe we are aware, which sometimes leads us into dangerous, risky and, at the very least, regrettable situations. I was thinking more on physical, pyschological and spiritual bases. I subsequently heard a podcast as to the chemical reactions in our brains when having sex, with the release of oxytocin. This bonds us to our sexual partner and if we continue to see them, we jump to favourable conclusions about them and make hasty decisions before sensibly evaluating them as an appropriate and safe potential future partner. This morning, whilst praying, I reflected on the many instructions God gave to His people which modern findings are proving to be wise and worth following. For instance, hand washing and hygienic practices were given, long before any knowledge of microbiology and cross infection etc. Lepers had to be isolated, which we now know is a necessary procedure with infectious diseases. Proverbs 17:22 tells us, "A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones". Much time and expense has gone into modern research which confirms this one simple and wise verse. Recently we have looked at the adverse physical and mental effects of unforgiveness. The list goes on as to the wise instructions from a loving and all knowing Father Creator God, which may be beyond our understanding or to our liking, but over time are gradually being proven to be for mankind's general and individual good.

  2. 1d ago

    Stop comparing

    Today I am reminded not to compare ourselves to others. It can become a spiritual and emotional trap, whereby we are measuring our worth, our success and our life against others, possibly leading to pride and envy. Pride, because we think we should be getting more than another and envy, because we are coveting what someone else has. Also, consuming thoughts of comparisons can distract us from God's purposes for us. In Psalms 37 and 73 King David reflects on the injustice of wicked people seeming to thrive. However, he realises, "Better is the little that the righteous has than the riches of many wicked" (Psalm 37:16). "When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny" (Psalm 73:16-17). How wonderful is our righteousness, unearned by us but given to us by Jesus, in order to reunite us to Father God Who is pure light. God wants everyone's final destiny to be with Him so He beckons to everyone up to their final breath on earth and final opportunity to choose Him or not. Don't compare. If you have Jesus already , you have all you need. How blessed you are.

  3. 2d ago

    Physical forgiveness

    In seeing a face contorted with anger and unforgiveness and with hands clenched, I found myself reflecting on the physical aspects of unforgiveness. We can say we forgive, we can genuinely believe we forgive but then our face and body language reveal otherwise, as does our health. I have witnessed back ache, deafness, chronic fatigue, disorders of internal organs etc as physical consequences of unforgiveness. Happily, the reverse holds true as true forgiveness gives us Jesus's supernatural peace, a sense of release and improved health. When Jesus commanded complete forgiveness (see Matthew 18:22) He used the Greek word 'aphiēmi' meaning to completely let go, send away, the permanent cancelling of a debt and the legal release of a prisoner. The same word is used in The Lord's Prayer (see Matthew 6:12), and when describing the disciples leaving their fishing nets to follow Jesus (see Matthew 4:22). We need to completely forgive, knowing that God completely forgives us when we turn to Him. He is waiting constantly for us so that He can extend full mercy and grace towards us.

  4. 3d ago

    A fountain pen

    Today I saw an image of an old fashioned fountain pen, reminding me of writing with ink and not being able to edit anything as once on paper the ink was permanently there. This further reminds me of Jesus telling his disciples and crowds of other people, including the legalistic religious leaders (the Pharisees) and the scribes who meticulously recounted and recorded the sacred Torah - five books of the God's Law - that every detail of God's Law would be accomplished (see Matthew 5:18). The Pharisees and Scribes had created many oral rules to ensure God's written Word was obeyed. They were furious atJesus and His interpretation of obedience to God's Law, when for instance He healed on the Sabbath Day of Rest and dined with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus counteracted the Pharisees' and Scribes' accusations, by exposing their love for human traditions at the expense of God's absolute and enduring Words as in the Torah. In part of Jesus's long Sermon on the Mount, He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17). He gave examples of what God required as perfect obedience such as not lusting, as that actually counts as adultery, and such as not thinking angry undeserving thoughts against another as that counts as murder. (See Matthew 5:21-22, 28). Indeed, no one could then or ever follow God's Law to such a high level of perfection. How was the Law fulfilled then, as Jesus said would happen? God gave us the most excellent gift. His son Jesus died for us as a sacrifice, as an absolutely perfect human, bringing us back into relationship with God.

  5. 4d ago

    Crown of thorns

    In the Garden of Eden "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). However, Satan, in the form of a serpent ("...that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan" Revelation 12:9), twisted God's words to Eve; she believed satan and ate from the tree God had told her not to eat from. Part of the subsequent curse of separation from God and ultimate death, was represented by thorns and thistles which God told Adam, mankind would now be up against (see Genesis 3:17). Thousands of years later God sent His son Jesus to restore mankind's relationship to Him. "Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deuteronomy 21:23). Apostle Paul succinctly wrote, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us ...(Galatians 3:13). Not only did Jesus take our curse of separation from God, when hanging on the wooden cross, the crown of thorns that was pushed cruelly and tauntingly down on Jesus's head also represents the curse given because of ignoring God's instructions. In Ancient times the victor took the crown off the King of the defeated kingdom and wore it on his head. Jesus has defeated receiving wrong words, wrong thinking and subsequent wrong action, as initiated by Adam and Eve. I am reminded today that we need never wear the metaphorical crown of thorns of guilt and shame because of our disobedience, because Jesus did it for us, willingly and uncomplainingly. Instead let us fill our minds with Godly thoughts, His promises and His instructions to us.

  6. 6d ago

    A beach wall of protection

    As I am currently on holiday I go down to the beach sometimes and ensure I use a wall for shade against constant glaring sunshine. The shade is only there at certain times of the day and it is only on one side. God, meanwhile, provides us with constant and full protection. There are many bible verses that tell us that God's protection is like all-encompassing walls (for example, Zechariah 2:5; Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 60:18; Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 125:2). However, I am going to focus on Psalm 100:4 which wonderfully reminds us to thank and praise God when we wander off for Him and His protection. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name".

  7. Jul 21

    All is well

    I am reminded by my cousin who is going through a troubling time and yet can say "but good has come out of it", of the account of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37. The woman's young son had died suddenly and yet as she rushed out to meet prophet Elisha, who was a regular visitor of her family's and who had prayed for her to have had her son against the odds as her husband was old, she still declared, "All is well". Her son was indeed restored to life by Elisha. However, what an awful trial to have undergone when her son had initially died and yet she trusted that God had a purpose. Prophet Elisha later visited her family and warned of a 7 year drought, so to stay in another land. After the 7 years, returning with her son to Shunem, the woman went to ask the king for her property back. The woman arrived at exactly the time the king was talking to Elisha's servant about Elisha's miracles and specifically about the boy's resurrection from the dead. So the king immediately ordered the restoration of her property, including all the income from her land that she had lost in her absence for the seven years (see 2 Kings 8:1-6). God had had a purpose all along for the initial sudden death of the young boy. The king was so moved by the miracle and the timing of the lady's arrival. All involved would have recognised God's love and power. As JRR Tolkein said, "In the end all sad things come untrue". In the last book in the bible, Revelation, we read that in God's Kingdom there are no tears or mourning "for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

  8. Jul 20

    Testing the model first

    Further to the last message, reflecting on our material objects which do not have lasting value, with even the finest not providing perfection for everybody forever, we considered that what emanates from God's Kingdom is perfect and continues into eternity. We hear the expression to 'test the model before committing', often applying to sex with a potential partner, which sometimes slips into justifying a more liberal state of testing many. As models of cars, or whatever object one is relating this expression to, wear out and get replaced by better models, by using the 'testing the model first' method we are, consciously or subconsciously, entering into a relationship with the acceptance of possible replacement in due course. God would rather we enter into a relationship with someone He is blessing for the long term, with no need for 'testing of the model first'. Also, sex binds people in a more subtle way than maybe we are aware and sometimes leads to dangerous, risky and at the very least, regrettable situations. There are two Greek words for "word" used in the Bible. 'Logos' is the objective word representing God's timeless Truths for all, as personified in Jesus Christ. For example, apostle Paul said that, "For the Word of God is alive and active ..." (Hebrews 4:12). The other word, 'Rhema'' refers to specific, personal words for us. For example, Mother Mary said to Angel Gabriel, "I am the Lord's servant. May your Word to me be fulfilled" (Luke 1:38). God leads us using both sets of words. We may not always understand or agree with His Word. In honesty, tell Him so but obey, knowing that it is the safest course of action.

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About

On Monday through to Saturday, I link an image to a theme in the Bible, with a podcast lasting about 10 minutes, which I hope brings hope and strength to anyone listening.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Hawkins
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stephanie Hawkins
  • Show Website
    Daily Picture