Today I saw a picture of a harp, which is often mentioned in association with praise and worship in the bible. I think of gentleness with a harp and I wonder if a harp can even be played loudly? As with the message yesterday of us being the fragrance of Christ which is clearly not a loud expression of Christ, similarly our worship and praise can be with sweetness and gentleness as represented by a harp. There are many verses describing this. "Sing into the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God" (Psalm 147:7). I like these reminders to us to be gentle. Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:5-7 tells us " Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".

Today I saw an image of a picture frame with an indiscernible photo. The frame seemed stuck to the surface on which it was positioned. I believe that this image is drawing our attention to our loved ones who have passed on or inevitably will do one day, but where to? By faith we can believe God's Word as to the Genesis creation of earth about 6,000 years ago or we can believe scientists who say that, through various techniques of radiometric dating, they consider the earth to be about 4.543 billion years old. Whatever we believe as to the how and when the earth began, it all requires faith, as no view has absolute proof. As Christians, we believe the Bible which says that for 40 days after Jesus was resurrected from the dead He presented Himself to His disciples and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive, and He spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts1:3). He then ascended into Heaven, having promised that He is preparing a place for those of us who want to be with Him (John 14:1-3). We need faith to believe that and we need faith to believe that there is no God behind the creation of the world and the creation of each human. What I do know is that the moment I decided to believe in God 31 years ago, I had a profound sense of freedom, peace and joy which has not left me since.

Today I had an image of a pictorial star with the usual 5 triangular points, reminding me of a popular children's story whereby a little girl befriends a star which had fallen from the sky. She learns that, in love, she needed to release the star back into the sky, where it belongs and where it is free. Galatians 5:1 tells us "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". This is a good reminder that though being in God's Kingdom and obeying Him, sounds like bondage, it actually is our place of freedom as it is where we were created to be. Once in His Kingdom, we realise that outside His Kingdom there is so much that troubles us and wear us down. The words in 1 Peter 2:16 explain that our freedom is not for us to do what we want to the detriment of others. Our being in God's Kingdom is for us to always follow His ways of Love. His Spirit guides us and teaches us great and freeing Truths.

Today I saw myself kneeling on the laser path of light representing God's Kingdom. Whilst figuratively kneeling to pray, we are less vulnerable to being pulled off by those in the surrounding darkness and we are calling upon God's Spirit to bring people into His glorious Light. In God's Kingdom all three persons of the Trinity are operating: God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Today I saw a straight horizontal laser light surrounded by lots of darkness. This is a good reminder of the small gate and narrow path that Jesus described as His Way which only a few find (Matthew 7:13). Jesus is recounted in Chapters 6 and 7 as explaining what is expected in His Kingdom such as not to be doing good deeds to be noticed by others, not to pray and/or fast to look pious and not to judge others. He warns about false prophets who seem so Godly but the fruits of their lives reveal their true nature. He further warns us not to look at false disciples who actually don't know Jesus at all. The narrow road and few people who find it seems pessimistic but all can find His Way who want it and ask for it (Matthew 7:7) and Jesus came to save everyone (John 3:16-18). The choice to follow is dependent on each individual. God makes His Way available to everybody. As believers, let us pray for others who are not yet in Jesus's Light.

Today I saw a cloud dropping something down and not necessarily obvious rain. I am reminded that Jesus left this earth on a cloud and He has said He will return on a cloud (Mark 13:26). In the book of Job chapter 37 one of Job's friends expounds on the fact that no one can query the hand of our awesome creator God or match Him. In verse 24 he says "Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?". This leads me on to Proverbs 8 which provides a detailed description of Wisdom, who we are to seek to be "wise in heart". This is one and the same Jesus, who God created as Light, as His first act of creation on earth (Genesis 1:3). "The LORD brought me forth as the first of His works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be...Then I was constantly at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind. .. blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instructions and be wise... For those who find me find life and receive favour from the LORD ..." (Proverbs 8:22-23; 30-35). Remember, we are assured that all who ask and seek will receive and find (Matthew 7:7-8).

Today I am focussing on Jesus saying "I am the Light of the World. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life". (John 8:12). What does Jesus mean? If you look at the very beginning of the Bible when the earth was empty and dark, the first thing God said was "Let there be light" and then there was Light. (Genesis 1:3). It wasn't until later (Gen 1:16) that God created the lights of the sun, moon and stars. Jesus is that first Light. When we live in God's Kingdom we live in the Light which is endless. We are connected to all that is in the Light. We learn God's Truths and are protected from evil. God's Light reigns supreme over all creation, over time and place. Think on the implications of that!

Today I saw an evergreen tree which, when rooted in correct conditions, can prosper season after season, year after year. Similarly, but to an even greater degree, if we are planted in God's Kingdom we will flourish into eternity, that is, forever! When on earth Jesus told us about His Kingdom - that it is of Spirit (John 3:5); that it is not of this world (John 18:36); that His Kingdom is available to all of us now (as it lives within us when we choose to receive it)(Luke 17:20-21); that it is a question of changing our direction to enter into His Kingdom which is good news (Mark 1:15) and that it is when we recognise how impoverished we are without God that we are in the right heart space to receive His Kingdom (Luke 6:20). He gave many parables to explain and describe His Kingdom.

I saw a duck's footprint which caused me to reflect that we see a footprint after the foot has stepped. Jesus stepped on this earth for 33 years but we have continued to have His footprint for over 2000 years in the form of the Word. The poem entitled "Footprints" is a beautiful poem in which the writer had questioned Jesus as to why He could see his life as withJesus walking beside him, with both leaving footprints in the sand but sometimes there was only one set of footprints. "The Lord replied, "The years when you have only seen one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you".

Today I saw an archway into 2025. We don't know why December 25th was chosen as the date to celebrate Jesus's birthday but I have been reflecting on the good timing of celebrating the Peace and Joy which Jesus brought on to this earth at his birth, which we can take into the New Year a week later. I have a friend who is entering into 2025 with the recent death of his wife, another friend has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and a third has had a Christmas of great friction between family members. Those circumstances do not carry peace and joy so it is tough to believe that Jesus came to give all of us peace and joy. However, he wants us to literally open our hands to receive His Peace and Joy and then to walk through the archway of 2025. You will then witness what He does in your life, either to alter your circumstances or change your mindset and heartset (I don't think that expression officially exists but I hope you know what I mean). God promises us that and I can witness to that personally in my life. Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."