Jesus my 'Lodestone'

A lodestone is a naturally occurring rock called magnetite which exhibits magnetic properties as seen in the picture. Metals will not become magnetized unless they are brought near to the stone and then they begin to exhibit the magnetic properties of the lodestone. Likewise it is not until we come to Jesus, will our hearts be drawn irresistibly to Him and our desires become aligned with His heart. We then find a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Jesus indeed draws us to Himself; within Him alone will we find utter joy in this life; being wonderfully aligned with Him; our Lord and our God.

The magnetic properties of the lodestone were used to construct the first magnetic compasses. So held within the hand of the operator, the compass; like Jesus; shows where the individual is facing, and keeps their heart aligned right with His heart on their journey. And with our true lodestone of Christ held actually within us; giving us His life, at the point of us giving our lives to him; we can now know always where we stand with God; right with our fabulous and mighty creator and everlasting Father.

Trusting in God's help alone.

Our God reigns. He si in complete control of every situation. When difficult times come, trusting in the one who holds all things together in the only way forward. When we follow Him by faith with nothing else to rely on, He provides, and we are filled.

Over the last couple of years God has clearly worked this way in my life. In fact looking back I see that it is so vital that I trust in Him completely, more than trusting in myself, or even those closest to me; that He would take me through great trials in order that I learn to cling to the only Rock.

Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.' 2 Chronicles 20:15,17

This whole sense of the battle belonging to God allows me to walk in His power not mine. I give up my rights and my own self reliance, to commit myself to Him who has everything in His hands; and indeed loves me as my Father.

Going forward in weakness

When David faced Goliath, he went forward into the battle in his own weakness, knowing that the God who was with him was mighty - he says to Goliath "...for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands..." he had complete confidence NOT in himself, but in God (1 Samuel 17:36-47).

As God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Living through the weak places God brings us to in order that He may have the highest place for us as saviour in every circumstance, is the true meaning of offering God a sacrifice of a 'broken and contrite spirit' (Psalm 51:17).
We are created to depend off His love, we are simply designed that way - to get what he gives us and run off by ourselves afterwards will only lead us away from Him. So rather than running from the hard things that He brings to our lives; it is vital we apply Christ's life to them all by running to Him often, and drinking of His living water in the secret place where it is only 'me' and Him. In Philipians 2:9-10 we read that every knee shall bow before Christ; bringing ourselves before Him and letting Him have His way in our heart, puts every part of us (even our thoughts and feelings) bowed before Him, and the knowledge of God in Christ illuminates the path before our feet. God is for us and whatever is going on around us there is a rock beneath that is not moving. The trick is to keep our eye on that rock, rather than the raging sea; hence the importance of time with Jesus.

This heart that was within David; of standing with God regardless of how rubbish things looks, is within us. The biggest victories in our lives, I am convinced, will be won on our knees.

Picture of 'Church'

In this picture I saw Jesus building with bricks; light was pouring out of the building work he was doing, so bright, so dazzeling. We were the bricks in the luminous building and the light was shining out from the mortar between the bricks. Christ was the builder and the mortar gluing the building, his church. together.
This really speaks to me about needing the mortar of Christ between everything He asks us to do.

Following God's heart for the world.

Even before someone is born God is working to bring them to Him in the generations before them; to construct everything they need to choose him. He wants everyone to enter new life through Jesus, knowing and being with him as he has always wanted. People and events are all
put in place to bring someone to God. There
are no coincidences or bad luck or good luck. God works throughout their life yearning and longing for them to turn to Him; to be called his sons and daughters.

The point at which we a Spirit filled Christians obediently speak his truth into their lives as He leads us, this is just one point in the whole plan and scheme of God in that persons life - he collides us with them for His purposes at that point. God brings us into His plan as part of His family, he shares this wonderful work with us by His Spirit which fill us and guides us.

God goes out of his way to find the sheep that is lost. We share in His continual work in people's lives as we lay ourselves before God - available and surrendered to His heart.

God's Perfect Time

I was trying to explain my role as a father to my kids the other day. My daughter had asked me for a chocolate biscuit right before our evening meal. I naturally said no and tried to explain why. As a minor tantrum ensued I attempted to explain my 'father' role to her like this; I love giving you nice things like chocolate biscuits when you ask; but it is my job to do that at just the right time. Then it struck me that God as our father gives us everything we ask for at just the right time....not too early and not too late.

I realise that when we ask him for something and he is not forth coming, it is because it is not the right time. If he were to do as we asked then and there it would actaully be bad for us. But by waiting for the right time what he gives us becomes amazing and astounding. He know how to give us gold when we ask for brass.

So it's all about trust. Abraham had to trust God for the right time when he was waiting for a son, and so we as his decendants by faith, can exercise that faith even more so by the Holy Spirit whom Jesus has given us.

Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Jesus across the testaments

OK, I've just been thinking about how Heaven is rarely talked about in the Old Testament. Now I realise that this is not because the Old Testament was juxtaposed to the New, but more so; the whole of the Old Testament was waiting for the coming of God's Son Jesus!

I always try and marry the Old up with the New. But really the New covenant is a completion or fulfillment of the Old covenant BY JESUS. So all the new revelations about the new life everlasting from Jesus under the New covenant is completion of all that has come before. The whole of creation was waiting for God to reveal his master plan in Jesus from Noah to King Herod. And now this world is now being prepared for the new heavens and earth where we will live with our King forever (Isaiah 65:16-18). All this in mind I now understand the meaning behind the thinking that we are in the last days; yes we are. Jesus has started the train rolling for the real promised land, all we have to do in make sure we are on board and live our lives for him alone.

[As a footnote I've just come across a striking old testament text that clearly describes heaven and hell; Daniel 12:1-3 ¹ “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered,
Every one who is found written in the book. ² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
³ Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.