Christ in the Clouds: Multitude on Mondays

Showing posts with label Multitude on Mondays. Show all posts

Monday, August 4, 2014

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 golden hour at 10,000 feet is so much more spectacular. Experience the light up in the air with this beautiful photograph-turned-wallpaper.

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)

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

God's Promises - Let Hope Rise

As Christians, our lives are built around promise...
promise of:

- salvation

- eternal life

- heaven

- forgiveness

and the list goes on...
In everything, I have learned that -

Our God of Promise

"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world ..." 2 Peter 1:4

What is Divine Promise ?
An assurance given by God that He will or will not perform a certain act. God has made 2 kinds of promises:

1. Conditional (when He's willing to do something under certain circumstances - Romans 10:9-10)

and

2. Unconditional.(Genesis 12:1- there many unconditional promises in the Bible)

God’s Precious Promises

How wonderful it is that in these unsettled times we have a promise that is far more sure than anything we’ve ever had our hands on. Here are some of God's "Divine" promises to us!

That God is with me wherever I go – Joshua 1:9
If I keep my mind on Him, I’ll have that perfect peace – Isaiah 26:3
He’ll never leave us or forsakes us! - Hebrews 13:5
His peace will pass all understanding – Philippians 4:7
He cares for me – I Peter 5:7
All things work together for my good – Romans 8:28
In this world I’ll have trouble, but in Christ we have victory over it or through it– John 16:33
I can escape temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
God will supply all my needs – Philippians 4:19
If I ask for wisdom God will supply it – James 1:6
I’m forgiven of all – 1 John 1:9
I will have eternal life – I John 5:11

source

I may not always feel it, but I know it!

Why I can know that God will keep His promises:

because He is truthful, faithful(1 Cor. 1:9), immutable(doesn't change-Malachi 3:6), and loving.
He has the 2 things that are important to trust someone who makes a promise...His:

Charactor, which He has proven to be pure and noble throughout the Bible and in our lives.
Abiliby to carry His promises out.

SO...

"Remember your word to your servant,

for You have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:49-50

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.”

Psalm 146:5-6

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

"...in the HOPE of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested... "Titus 1:2-3

A message from Sheila Walsh and a book I want to get for my personal library...

source

God has been SO gracious and kind! I continue in my pursuit of grateful sharing at "Multitudes on Mondays", as I Dare to Share the gifts He gives!

1,733 - Attending a beautiful Christian wedding (a second cousin of my hubby's) and seeing God's love in their lives.

1,734 - Getting to spend the weekend with our good friends from Ohio.

1,735 - The freedom to worship together on Sunday morning!

1,736 - The sad ending of an awesome weekend...but the assurance of seeing one another again, soon! (Our friend's daughter is attending our local Christian college in the fall.)

1,737 - Blueberry picking season!

1,738 - Having a few days of cooler weather.(60s and 70s)

1,739 - God's promises, that give us all hope!!

1,740 - Singing this song in worship and praise, with hope, because I know He keeps His promises!

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)

Monday, July 1, 2013

God's Amazing Grace

In church on Sunday, we sang Chris Tomlin's version of "Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone." But we sang the original lyrics, which I didn't realize he had changed in his version of the song.

Of course the first few verses most of us know:
Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now, I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Then the original lyrics are:
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
(I love this!! There have been many dangers in my life and especially in my son's life this past week. Someone had broken into his apartment and stole some of his roommates things. Nothing of his was taken and he was not at home. He also had a couple of accidents, one at work and one at home, that weren't serious, but could have been. Through all these situations, God brought my son "safe thus far", just as this verse says. I am so very thankful for His care and protection!)

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first be- gun

I also love this verse, which Tomlin changes in his version. I think of heaven and no time limits and pure sun! My favorite time of year is summer and I love it when the sun is shining, so this gives me great comfort.

I like the lyrics that Tomlin wrote, especially the chorus. . .
My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood, His mercy rains.
Unending love, amazing grace.

But I wish he had kept the original verses. They have such true meaning and depth for me.

As we go through the week and many of us celebrate the independence of our nation, may we remember His wonderful grace upon us!! Where would we be without it?