A few years ago while looking for ideas for our next overseas trip I came across a most interesting photo of coloured stones
And I was drawn to it.
I found out that these stones appeared in waterways of the Glacier national Park in Montana USA.
Last year I got to see them up close.
And they were just as I had anticipated.
Stones of all shapes and sizes and of all colours too.

Which lead me to think about the living stones of 1 Peter.
It’s hard to get your head around the fact that God knows (really knows) the heart and mind of every human on the planet.
He’s not like us.
We can only know about 150 names of people and then, when the 151st person comes along, to remember that name, one of the
150 names has to drop off.
But not God.
He knows all of us, the rough stones, the long stones, the red stones, the yellow stones, the grey stones.
He knows us all.
And we are all precious to Him.
And …. and here’s the thing: Are you able to imagine that not only does God know you intimately, He also has a plan dovetailed to your life?
Most of us do not give that a thought.
Life for us is at best an aimless wondering, always seeking for the best road ahead.
While God, in His love for us, does not force us to follow His ways (oh how we wish that sometimes He might) He still invites us to journey with Him and discover what it is that he has planned for us.
You know, no matter how old we are, it is still not too late to hop on His bandwagon and travel with Him.
There is still time for us to discover new opportunities and blessings that we can have at His hand.

Do not put off today what you might regret later on.

God bless you,
Ron

Here’s a picture I took a few years back while in Eire.
Have a good look, a really good look:

The stones make up a wall and the wall protects what is inside that wall.
But did you notice?
Not all the stones are the same.
There are long ones, short ones, wide one, thin ones.
But and here’s the thing:
When these stones are put together they make a wall that is strong and sturdy. Peter calls us living stones. (1 Peter 2)
He is of course referring to Christians and to the church.
This organisation that God created. ………
Hang on!
Wait a minute!
God did not create an organisation.
He created a movement, a very real presence of Himself in the world.
Isn’t it funny that two centuries later it would look more like a corporation than a movement.
I suppose humans could not help themselves.
In an endeavour to provide a basis for this ever growing church, they made rules and regulations and lo and behold the church as we have it today.
Most of it is hierarchal ~ that is the boss is at the top, but even in the ones like ours where it is more democratic, it still is not like what God envisaged.
And to ad to that, the one who should be at the top, (God Himself) is often not. No wonder we have fallen into disrepute by the masses who see us as archaic, and out of date and flawed.

But there is still hope.
All we have to do is keep our eyes on God and He leads us in wonder and excitement as He chooses to use us to bring life.
We are living stones.
When we join together and allow the Lord JESUS to be our strength and the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, our advisor, our director, we do bring life in all its fullness to those who need it most ~ the ones whom JESUS loves.

Hey?

Isn’t that all of us

God bless you
Ron

Most of us are looking forward to getting back to normal ~ life as it was.
But, have we stopped and considered what does God want?
What is He looking for?

Does He want us to just return to life as it was prior to this pandemic? Is He happy if we do this or is He looking for a ‘new normal’.
Is He satisfied with the way we relate to him?
Is there another way?

Our readings this morning, especially from 1 Peter and James chapter 1 encourage us to see things differently.
Rather than going back to what we had, should we not be going forward.

But, what might we not like about that prospect?
In the next few weeks we will unpack this thought, but I encourage you now to begin to think about what life could be after the pandemic has passed.
God didn’t cause this virus, but He did allow it.
Why?
What are His plans for you?
Are you prepared and game enough to ask Him?
Difficulties and pain and sickness draw us back to the One who has the power to change our circumstances.
But at what cost to us might that happen?
In the words of a Chinese Christian, ‘Persecution is the enemy’s second best tactic; his best is materialism….Christians have thrived under persecution, but have often struggled with prosperity.’
What are we prepared to give up in order that others might find JESUS for their lives?
Lots of questions this morning, questions I hope will cause us to think about what being a Christians in Australia at this time should be like. Lord JESUS, help us to be the people You created us to be, in JESUS name we pray, Amen

God bless you

Ron

John chapter 10 is one of my favourite passages from the Bible.
It continually reminds me of just how precious we are to God and to what pains He went to ensure we are in His care
But this week I discovered something new.
So here’s the thing
Never stop reading the passages of scripture you know so well.
Instead, read them and look for something new that Jesus might be offering you.
You will be surprised at how much you discover that’s new to you For me, it was the proclamation by Jesus that He was the gate.
As I said I had read out before many times but this week it became something new.
To realise that Jesus is the entry to freedom, life, hope and all the other things we yearn for in this life.
Yes Jesus protects us from the enemy who would want to ravage us in the compound.
But He is not just protecting us
For, as we step into the world, we step out through Jesus.
He opens this world up to us to see things He sees.
Jesus is the key to our living in the world
He shows us what He is seeing
He invites us to be involved in what He is doing
He empowers us with His love and power to touch lives, heal hurts and bring new life.
Never let the devil convince you that you are useless, either because of your sin and guilt or because you are just hopeless
That is not how Jesus sees you
If you have invited Him in, the Holy Spirit lives INSIDE you and will direct you into bringing new life.
Enjoy this week
Enjoy the opportunities God places before you, for there will be many opportunities to bless, even in this time of social isolation.
Watch!
And prepare for it is amazing how God can give you opportunities to bless even today,

God bless you,

Ron