The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Forgiving

Lining up with our look at God's promise of forgiveness at the beginning of the month, October's "Attributes of God" edition focuses on God's forgiving nature. What a blessing to know that when we repent of our sin, our Saviour wipes the slate clean!

As the Scriptures say, "As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." In other words, as far apart as two points can possibly be, two points that can never, ever meet, so far has God removed our sins from us!

When we trust in Jesus and look to His sacrifice on the Cross that paid for the sins of the world, then no matter what we've done, we can find forgiveness in the eyes of God! Hard to grasp as a mere mortal. All the more reason to praise our King for His divine, forgiving nature!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Forgiving.

"Our Saviour is forgiving! In Him we find our rest,
For He’s removed our sins as far as East is from the West!"

Psalm 103:12
"As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

God's Promise Of Forgiveness

Going into October with a focus on God's promise of forgiveness. Of all the promises of God, this one has to be one of the sweetest and most precious of all.

It cost Jesus His life to make this promise possible for the sinner. The wages of sin is death but thanks to our Saviour's death and resurrection, we are now able to come into full forgiveness and pardon when we repent of our sin. Words can never express my gratitude for this wonderful gift!

Do you know the reassuring peace of God's forgiveness in your life? No matter what we've done, if we're truly repentant God will forgive us! Praise the Lord for His promise of forgiveness!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- The Lamb Of God Promised

September's Prophecy verse takes a look at how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that God Himself would provide a Sacrificial Lamb to atone for the sins of the world. Praises to Jesus! Our God and our Redeemer!

An Ode To Autumn

I’ve always really enjoyed the changing of the Seasons throughout the year and all of the unique things that each one brings with it. I feel there’s always something lovely to be found either in nature or in the surrounding culture that lifts the spirits as the months pass, helping to keep life feeling fresh.

As the Summer of 2020 was beginning to fade and Autumn started to appear, I felt inspired to write a series of poems that would express my love and appreciation for nature’s constantly changing beauty. I hope these little poems and the pictures they create can bring joy to the heart and highlight God’s goodness as He blesses us each year with such wonderful, God-reflecting glory!

The third part of my “Ode To The Seasons” collection continues on with my favourite things about Autumn!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Faithful

September's "Attributes of God" couplet celebrates the faithfulness of the Lord's character. When I look back over the years of my life so far, I'm extremely grateful to see how God's faithfulness has guided and provided for me through the different seasons.

It also fills my heart with peace to know His faithfulness will continue to preserve me all the days of my life on this Earth, even when I don't understand the circumstances around me.

How has Jesus' faithfulness kept you during your walk with Him? Let's give thanks to God today for His unchanging, reliable and faithful character!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Faithful.

"Our God is ever faithful, He is infinitely true.
Jesus is unchanging and a Friend for me and you."

Deuteronomy 7:9
“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

2 Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself."

God's Promise Of Provision

Goodbye August, hello September! Starting off this month with a look at God's promise to provide for His children. How wonderful it is to have the security that Jehovah Jireh brings into our lives!

What provision can you give thanks to God for today? Are you concerned about provision for the future? Bring it before God's Throne and ask Him to replace your anxiety with His perfect peace, knowing He is worthy to be trusted.

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- The Blood Of The Lamb Saves Us From Wrath.

August's Prophecy verse takes a look at how the blood Jesus shed on the Cross was the fulfillment of a picture created in the Old Testament.

I'm so grateful Jesus loves us enough to have laid down His life to save us from wrath. What a wonderful Saviour we have!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Sovereign

August's Attributes couplet takes a look at the fact that God is Sovereign. When we look at the chaos of the world around us it can be easy to forget that Jesus is still in control and reigns upon His Throne.

Praise the Lord that the Bible prophesies warned us that this would be the case and that all these things would come to pass in the last days. What rest there is in Jesus and knowing that He is our Refuge in these troubling times. Glory to God who reigns upon His Throne, He is worthy to be trusted! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Sovereign.

"Jesus Christ is Sovereign and the Leader of the Just,
A Refuge and a constant Guide in whom we place our trust."

Psalm 103:19
"The Lord has established His throne in Heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all."

God's Promise Of Salvation

My couplet for August's Promise of God focuses on the fact that through Jesus we have eternal salvation!
How wonderful it is to know that as children of God we are not condemned and have an eternity with our Saviour to look forward to!
Do you know the joy of a guilt-free life with the promise of salvation? If not, ask Jesus into your heart today. Perhaps you know someone who doesn't have this peace and assurance yet. Ask the Lord to show you how you can share Christ's wonderful gift of salvation with others this week!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- David's Seed

July's Prophecy verse takes a look at the lineage of Jesus Christ and how He fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would come through the line of David.

It's amazing to read in Matthew about the blind men who cried out to Jesus for mercy, calling Him the "Son of David." They knew who He was and what He was capable of. How about you today? Do you know who Jesus is and what He's capable of? Call out to Him today and let the Son of David work mightily in your life!

Ode To The Watermelon

Having written my “Ode To The Seasons” collection in 2020, I was working on creating the videos for these poems and I was thinking about what I could use as a backdrop for my “Ode To Summer.” I had the idea that tropical fruit always gives a summery vibe and so decided that some kind of watermelon should feature in the video.

As I sat there thinking about this I suddenly thought to myself, “How good are watermelons? They deserve a poem of their own!” It was this simple thought that inspired me to write my little poem “Ode To The Watermelon.” This delicious fruit really is one of my favourite things in God’s creation!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Wise

July's couplet for my "Attributes Of God" series celebrates the fact that our Saviour has infinite knowledge and wisdom! I stand in awe of my wonderful, knowledgeable God and am so grateful to know His wisdom guides me each day. Praise the Lord for His knowledge and wisdom!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Wise.

"Our God is full of knowledge, He is infinitely wise.
His judgements are unsearchable and righteous in His eyes."


Romans 11:33
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

God's Promise Of Strength

There are so many challenges and difficulties to face in this life. I'm eternally thankful that whatever comes my way, I know as a child of God I can call on the name of Jesus and He will equip me with the strength I need in that moment. How wonderful to have a Father who never runs out of strength! July's couplet for my "God's Promises" series takes a look at this truth.

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- Jesus Is The Great I AM

It always gives me goosebumps to think of the impact Jesus' words would have made when He declared to be God Himself, the Great I Am! We read in the Bible that for some, this claim made them tear their clothes in outrage while others rejoiced and praised the Lord with tears in their eyes!

How does your heart respond to Jesus and His claim of divinity? Does it challenge you or give you cause to rejoice? I know where I stand with the Creator of all things and He makes my spirit sing!

An Ode To Summer

I’ve always really enjoyed the changing of the Seasons throughout the year and all of the unique things that each one brings with it. I feel there’s always something lovely to be found either in nature or in the surrounding culture that lifts the spirits as the months pass, helping to keep life feeling fresh.

As the Summer of 2020 was beginning to fade and Autumn started to appear, I felt inspired to write a series of poems that would express my love and appreciation for nature’s constantly changing beauty. I hope these little poems and the pictures they create can bring joy to the heart and highlight God’s goodness as He blesses us each year with such wonderful, God-reflecting glory!

The second part of my “Ode To The Seasons” collection continues on with my favourite things about Summer!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Omniscient

June's "Attributes of God" couplet takes a look at the fact that Jesus is omniscient. My Saviour astounds me constantly and I find it so reassuring to know that I've put my trust in the one, true, living God who is infinitely wise and all-knowing!

When you consider the fact that Jesus sees the full picture and has infinite wisdom, how does this make you feel when it comes to trusting your life to Him? Is there a time or situation in your life when you could really see God’s knowledge and wisdom guiding you?

What a privilege it is to be a child of the King and have Him guiding us through each circumstance we face!

The Attributes Of God- Jesus Is Omniscient.

"Jesus is Omniscient, the Knower of all things.
There is no other like Him for He’s the King of kings!"


Isaiah 46:9-10
"Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure.'"

God's Promise Of Companionship

Starting off June with a continuation of my series looking at God's promises! In a world where so many people feel alone, I'm incredibly grateful for the truth of Deuteronomy 31:8 which says,
"And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

My June couplet focuses on this wonderful promise of God's companionship. I pray it can fill our hearts with gratitude for the tender mercies of knowing Christ as Saviour and give us a fresh desire to share His goodness with others!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- His Resurrection Declared

One major difference between Jesus and every other so-called "religious leader" is the fact that everyone else has ended up dying and staying in the grave. Only Jesus Christ paid for the sins of the world and only Jesus Christ rose again to reign on His Throne in Heaven! Praise Jesus for His Resurrection!

May's Prophecy verse focuses on this wonderful truth as this is one reason why there is no other name under Heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.

Showers

Here we have another of what I'm calling my "Pointless Poems" to liven up our day! A humorous little poem written in response to a request from my Father in law.

I explained to him recently that I've been writing short little observational poems on seemingly boring topics and his response was, "Write a poem about showers!"

Behold! My response to his request! Seems only fitting for these hot, Summer days in June. I hope you enjoy this light-hearted little poem today, God bless you.

Showers are essential, a must for every day!
They help to leave you feeling fresh and keep the flies away.
A place to sing your heart out and fill your lungs with steam,
Where every note reverberates and makes you sound a dream!

Ensuring that the bath mat is installed with extra grip,
This safety measure guarantees your wash is anti-slip.
Grab your sponge or loofah, get busy with shampoo,
It only takes two minutes ’til you’re feeling buffed and new!

A swift and speedy remedy to soothe the body’s aches
Or wake your sleepy system! One cold blast is all it takes!
A thorough clean rejuvenates and fills your heart with smiles.
The highlight of your day will be your time between the tiles!

A world of soapy glory where one thing is for certain,
You’ll find yourself revitalised behind that plastic curtain!
Though bath time is a wondrous way to wile away the hours,
You cannot underestimate the joy of taking showers!

The Attributes Of God-His Divine Glory

One attribute of God for us to dwell upon today is His Divine Glory. His very being emanates with radiant light which expresses His nature as Holy, Righteous, True and Just. There are several places in Scripture that speak about His divine glory and beauty, Isaiah 28:5 being one example where it reads,

“In that day the Lord of hosts will be
For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty
To the remnant of His people.”

God's Promise Of Answered Prayer

I've heard it said that God always answers our prayers. We'll either get a yes, no, or wait! I feel incredibly grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who hears my prayers, always knows what's best and answers according to His infinite wisdom and perfect timing. What can you bring before God's Throne in prayer today?

A Heavenly Hug

My husband Jan and I were praying together one afternoon, specifically for brothers and sisters in Christ who we knew were going through major health and physical trials. As we lifted them up in prayer Jan said, “We ask that You would give them a Heavenly hug today Lord.” This image instantly resonated with me and took root in my mind’s eye.

Many times in life I’ve found myself asking Jesus to give people “a hug” on my behalf when distance prevents me from doing so myself. This had become even more prevalent during the long months of strict lockdowns throughout 2020 and 2021. Not being able to be see loved ones and hold them in my arms for months on end was something I found very frustrating indeed. Especially when there was no clear end in sight for when we would be able to be together again.

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- It Is Finished!

It was such a blessing to celebrate Easter this month and all that our wonderful Saviour achieved for us on the Cross. The price for sin was a high price to pay, so high only God could cover it. He was successful in His mission though and now we have the provision of eternal life through Jesus! Praises to our incredible Redeemer!

The Attributes Of God- He Is Self-Sufficient

In this world we’re often told we don’t need anyone else and we frequently hear affirming phrases such as “you can do it” and “you are enough.” While having a positive mindset is a good thing to have in life, in truth there is only One who is entirely self-sufficient and that’s God.

Within His being, God has an infinite measure of every good quality and ability there is to possess so this makes Him completely independent of His creation, including us! He doesn’t need to turn to anyone or anything else to seek strength or wisdom, love or compassion or anything at all for that matter. He is entirely self-sufficient and relies on no one. As flawed human beings, it’s quite hard to imagine but that’s why He’s God and we’re not!

Knowing that our Creator is not dependent on anyone or anything is incredibly encouraging and comforting for several reasons. Firstly, it means that our worth to God is not dependent on His “need” for us. Unlike human relationships which can so often be based on what we “bring to the table,” our fellowship with God is based entirely on the fact that He created us in His image so that we might have a relationship with Him. We can’t “do” anything to earn our worth or make us valuable to Him, we’er already valuable because of what He’s done! How wonderfully liberating!

God's Promise Of Wisdom

There are so many situations to navigate in life and we never know what circumstances will arise to challenge us from day to day. There are times when it can be difficult to know what's best to do or what the wisest course of action is.

Thankfully we have a Saviour who is the very source of wisdom, the same God who granted Solomon wisdom in incomparable measure!

If you're facing something today and you're unsure of how best to handle it, I'd like to encourage you to ask the Lord for wisdom. He sees the full picture, knows what's best to do and His Holy Spirit will guide you through the situation step by step. I pray my April couplet looking at God's Promise of wisdom can encourage you today!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ-Jesus Is Our Passover

Continuing on with my "Prophecies" series, my verse for March focuses on Jesus as our Passover Lamb. I hope this little verse can encourage us to delve deeper into studying the Prophetic picture created through Passover in the Old Testament and how Christ's sacrifice sets us free from the bondage of sin.

Come Home

This poem is written especially for the Christian who has wandered away from God. It’s a gentle call for them to come home and return to their loving Father. I’d like to clarify though, it’s directed towards the genuine but backslidden believer.

There are many people in life who claim to have “been a Christian” in the past but in truth, they never were. Christianity isn’t a club you can come and go from as you please. It’s not something you can have a membership in one year but not the next.

When a person truly accepts Jesus as their Saviour then they’re born-again in spirit and made alive to Christ. As John 14:23 tells us,

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.””

Regardless of denomination, there’s only one kind of Christian and that’s the born-again Christian. The person who has accepted that they were born a sinner, dead in trespasses and sins and in need of their Saviour. A Christian is someone who has accepted God’s gift of grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and given their heart and life to Him in return.

An Ode To Spring

I’ve always really enjoyed the changing of the Seasons throughout the year and all of the unique things that each one brings with it. I feel there’s always something lovely to be found either in nature or in the surrounding culture that lifts the spirits as the months pass, helping to keep life feeling fresh.

As the Summer of 2020 was beginning to fade and Autumn started to appear, I felt inspired to write a series of poems that would express my love and appreciation for nature’s constantly changing beauty. I hope these little poems and the pictures they create can bring joy to the heart and highlight God’s goodness as He blesses us each year with such wonderful, God-reflecting glory!

May the first instalment, "An Ode To Spring" and my pictures taken in Saint James's Park and Green Park bless your heart today.

The Attributes Of God- He Is Omnipotent

I don't think my finite mind can really comprehend the infinite power of God but it's certainly reassuring to know He is omnipotent! What challenges are you facing today? Whatever they may be, God is bigger than any issue or problem. Invite God into your situation today and rest in the knowledge that He is able.

God's Promise Of Hope

It fills my heart with joy to see Spring making it's appearance in the London parks around me just now. The reintroduction of colour to the landscape fills me with hope for warmer, brighter days to come and so I thought this would be a good time to focus on God's promise of Hope!

In a world where so many people feel hopeless, I'm eternally grateful for the undying hope that knowing Jesus brings into my life. When our future lies in the hands of our Creator and Saviour, it's in the safest place it could be. May we be ready to share that Hope with others in the coming month!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- The Last Supper Foreshadowed.

The second instalment in my Prophecies series takes a look at the foreshadow of the Last Supper.

In Genesis 14:18 we read about a priest called Melchizedek who creates a picture of things to come at the Last Supper. Melchizedek is a mysterious character as his name appears in none of the genealogies that are listed in the Old Testament. No details are given as to who he is or where he's come from aside from what's mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20.

In these verses, Melchizedek is described in a way that foreshadows the roles and attributes of Jesus as the Messiah. He is said to be priest of God and King of Salem. "Salem" means "peace" and "Melchizedek" means "King of Righteousness." This is important in the study of Messianic prophecy because two of the Messianic titles that are listed elsewhere in the Bible are King of Righteousness and King of Peace.

Thanks to our righteous Saviour we have peace with God through His sacrifice on the Cross!

The Attributes Of God- He Is Holy

The second instalment of my couplet series, "The Attributes Of God" takes a look at the fact that God is Holy.

The holiness of God is a defining part of His character and it's a term used in the Bible to describe both His goodness and His power. God's holiness radiates out from Him like heat does from the sun and is completely unique. It's also so pure and powerful that it can actually be overwhelming and dangerous to approach.

We read in Scripture about the inner section of the Israelite Temple called the Holy of Holies where God Himself resided. The priests who worked within the Temple had to take great measures before entering this inner room, to keep themselves pure both morally and ritually speaking. Endless sacrifices had to be made in order for the priests to be able to enter the Holy of Holies and come into the close proximity of God's holiness.

God's Promise Of Love

An explosion of red and pink gifts in the shops means only one thing- it's February! With so much of this month focusing on Valentine's Day, I thought I would take a look at God's promise of Love for the second part of my 2021 series, "God's Promises."

There are hundreds of places in the Bible where we read about our Creator's love for us, the most powerful example being when Jesus went to the Cross to pay for our sins. It wasn't ropes and nails that held our Saviour to the Tree, it was His love for His children and the promise of having us in eternity with Him. This blows my mind!

Thanks to Christ's sacrifice, we can be accepted into His presence once more. When we repent of our sins, God promises to cleanse us and make His home within our heart! His unconditional love will not only abundantly bless us during our lives here on Earth but also in eternity with Him! What an amazing Redeemer we have.

Treasure Trove

One day during a Zoom meeting with other Christian creatives, our discussion began to focus on how powerful the Word of God is and how effective it can be to back up our personal statements in life with the authority of Scripture. The Bible is like the blueprint for our Christian walk, full of guidance and wonderful insights and during the conversation I found myself saying,

“The Word of God is like a treasure trove! It’s so full of wisdom and knowledge, I’m amazed on a daily basis by the richness of it’s contents!”

Later, as I thought of all the different stories, prophecies and truths revealed within the Bible, I began to see in my mind’s eye a glowing, golden chest filled with all sorts of jewels and gems! This imagery soon started to grow in my thoughts and before long I found myself feeling inspired to write my poem, “Treasure Trove.” I pray it can inspire us to get excited for God’s Word, explore the riches found within and ignite a fire in our hearts to study this God-Breathed masterpiece!

Prophecies Fulfilled By Jesus Christ- He Is The Only Saviour

My third series for 2021 is going to take a look at just some of the many prophecies found in the Old Testament which are fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The first prophecy is focusing on the fact that Jesus is our only Saviour as He paid for the sins of the world by dying on the Cross.

The Bible is very clear in stating what the cost of sin is as Romans 6:23 tells us,

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The Bible also tells us that there is no one who can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8) and that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

This leaves us with the stark truth that all of us need a Saviour but the Good News is, His name is Jesus and He paid for our sins so that we wouldn't need to! All we have to do is put our trust in Him as He is the only One who lived a sinless life and died for all of mankind. Salvation is found in no other and no other name can grant us eternal life!

The Attributes Of God- He Is Unchanging

My second series for 2021 is called "The Attributes Of God" and I pray these couplets can be insightful and uplifting as we go through the year. Each month I'll focus on one of our Saviour's many attributes found in Scripture. For January I'm looking at the fact that our wonderful Creator is unchanging! What a comfort and reassurance to have this solid foundation in a constantly changing world.

Lift Up Your Eyes!

The beginning of 2021 was certainly anything but plain sailing in terms of global unrest and chaos. I was beginning to feel quite overwhelmed with it all one afternoon when the Lord took me to Psalm 121. The first couple of verses read,

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.”

Although I’ve read these verses many times before, the power of the words seemed to be particularly poignant on that day. They reminded me to lift my eyes above the worldly issues going on around me and instead focus my sights on Jesus. The Scriptures also recalled my attention to where my help comes from which was a timely reminder indeed and a wonderful encouragement for my soul.

It can be so easy to get bogged down with all the unsettling things we see going on in the world and so I’m incredibly grateful for God’s Word and how the Holy Spirit always draws me back to my Saviour. Nothing seems to counter the stress of this life more than focussing on Jesus and the promise of His return! As we travel through the trials of these difficult days, may our eyes only be lowered to pour over God’s Word for wisdom and comfort and then lifted once again to our precious Redeemer!

God's Promise Of Protection

Happy New Year! For 2021 I'm going to be doing a series called "God's Promises." These will be couplets based on promises found in the Bible and I hope they can be a real encouragement and comfort each month as we dwell on the wonderful benefits we have as children of God. January's couplet looks at the promise of protection.