Back In the Clouds

I've been reading some Scripture on clouds. The following verses really caught my attention, since my blog name is "Christ in the Clouds". 

The Lord in a Cloud:
Can you imagine seeing the Lord in a cloud today? What a sight that would be! The Israelites of the Old Testament and Christians of the New Testament did just that!

   

The LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you. (Ex. 19:19)

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him(Moses) and proclaimed his name, the LORD. (Exodus 34:5)

So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. (Ex.40:38)

He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. (Psalm 104:3)

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 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9)

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matt. 17:5)

The Lord's AMAZING power and beauty are also seen in the clouds today...

"He wraps up the waters in His clouds, And the cloud does not burst under them."  (Job 26:8)

"The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there." (Psalms 77:17)

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I was there when he set the heavens in place,
    when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,when he established the clouds
  above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,(Proverbs 8:28)

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?" Job 37:16

"Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds."(Psalm 365)

"Look at the heavens and see; And behold the clouds--they are higher than you.(Job 35:5)

The New Testament also reveals that Christ will come "on the clouds"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." (Matt 26:64)

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.(Rev. 1:7)

"And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory." (Matt. 24:30)

 And then, finally - for "those who remain"

....the dead in Christ will rise first. 
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord." (1 Thes. 4:16-17)

AMEN!!!

I am always in awe, when I look upward, into the sky. God is a mighty God!! His glory and beauty is always on display, when I look at the many different clouds that are formed by Him, I wonder if He still, at times, resides in the clouds!!

Continuing to share His many blessing and gifts in my life at "Multitudes on Mondays", as I  Dare to Share.

1,748 - Having my co-worker/boss return to work, after taking a 2 week vacation. It was so wonderful, having her back at the office!

1,749 - Spending an afternoon with my good friend, antique shopping.

1,750 - Watching the sunset on the lake with my hubby.

1,751 - Having a date night with my hubby (movie and dinner).

1,752 - Seeing a family of swans swim by our boat.

1,753 - Eating dinner, Al fresco, on a warm summer evening.

1,754 - Oh, lovely, long, lingering summer days...

1,755 - Watching an old photo video of my son, growing up, through the years. Bittersweet thoughts and memories.

 To see part of the video, go HERE

1,756 - The awesome and intriguing sights and beauty of the clouds, when I look up into the sky.

1,757 - Getting to talk to my son...it never seems like enough time, so I cherish and soak up every opportunity!

Linking over to these blog hops:

Sunday Stillness (He Cares For You)

Weekend Brew (My Freshly Brewed Life)  
 

Soli Deo Gloria Gathering (Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood)
 

Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)

Titus2sdays (Time-Warp Wife)

UNITE (Rich Faith Rising)
 

Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk in His Grace)  
 

Word-Filled Wednesday (Woman to Woman)  
  

Tell Me a True Story Blog Hop

 Faith Filled Friday (Missional Women)

Coffee For Your Heart (Holly Gerth) 

What is it About the Clouds?

In the last several months, I’ve found myself noticing (and taking pictures of) the clouds on any given day. I’m not sure why…. I’ve looked at the sky just about every day of my life. But recently the clouds have really drawn my attention.

                  I’ve noticed days when there are big, puffy cotton candy clouds that form interesting shapes.

I’ve noticed clouds that seem to go forever into the depths of the blue sky, and I know they go even farther than what my eyes can see.

I’ve noticed the dark clouds that usher in a storm, slowly hiding any hint of the blue sky or sun.

I’ve noticed skies that are mostly blue, with a small wisp of a cloud here and there. 

Or the swirl of evening clouds at a fall sunset, preparing for all of life to rest under the moon’s glow.

I read a book last spring called “One Thousand Gifts” A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are  http://onethousandgifts.com/the-book by Ann Voskamp.  In her book she talks about looking for and listing the blessings each day of our lives and how that can open our hearts and change how we look at life as a whole. I started my list back in March, 2011 and I’m up to 300. I’ve got a ways to go to get to 1,000, but I’m determined to get there. It really does work, though. I love that, in her book, she uses the sky, clouds, and sun to describe our view of life’s events.  If we look for Christ in the clouds/storms(the difficult events) in our lives, our attitude will change, but if we don’t even see Him in the sunshine(all the good things) in our lives, how can we be happy? That is how I came up with the title of this blog. I hope to encourage readers to list their blessings, one-by-one! "The way to give thanks in all things: give thanks in this 1 small thing. The moments add up." (1000 Gifts) I think this video she produced says it so well….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOUaszMGvQ&feature=player_embedded

If you would like to join me and thousands of others who are listing their gifts….go to one of the following pages:

http://onethousandgifts.com/share-your-gifts

http://www.facebook.com/onethousandgifts

some of my "gifts"

289.      A much needed quiet, laid back day at home….

290.      Turning up the thermostat a degree or two on a cold fall/winter morning!

291.       Good memories of the special people who have come and gone in my life. Memories that never fade!

292.      He Lord Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals.

293,      When times of fear and uncertainty threaten to overtake me, He is Jehovah, Shalom, and The Prince of Peace.

 294.     In times of need He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord who provides.

295.      When we are facing a vast army of enemies, He is Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts.

296.      When we feel alone, He is Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is There and Emanuel, God with us.

297.      He is El Olam – The Everlasting God, The Alpha and the Omega, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Creator of All things, The Way, The Truth and The Life, The Word, The Lamb of God, The Savior.

298.      An encore of blessing #292 and #294

299.      The complexity of the human mind and how much we use it!

300.      Every day, God is involved in even the small, unnoticed, seemingly insignificant moments of each of our lives!

In His Love,

Ann