Clouds...

Clouds...

As a child, we would found shapes in clouds, a queen, a pony, a pig...whatever..laying back  on the grass or beach, watching the fluff drift lazily along....or watch them pile up before releasing their tons of water...or waiting for the next lightning strike to zing and crackle while thunder rumbled throughout the land....or the rainbow to appear as the sun hit the droplets of water just right...or when the summer clouds rise to heights before “anvilling out” to storms....there is just something just amazing about watching clouds...they do so many things, so many shapes, patterns, designs...

I still point out shapes in the clouds to my grandchildren now...I don’t want them to miss a childhood memory or game...and enjoy the world around them...

Studying through the book of Acts, the first chapter, Luke relates how Jesus ascended in a cloud.

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11 

I just reminded  me of other references in the Word, that spoke of clouds...it starts all the way back in Genesis with a promise..

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Genesis 9:13-16

Then moves to a Pillar of a Presence...and a Protection...

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

Exodus 14:19-20 

The glory of the Lord...

While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

Exodus 16:10

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.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

Exodus 19:9 

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Exodus 24:15-18

As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.

Exodus 33:9-10 

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:34-35 

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.

Exodus 40:38 

When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.

1 Kings 8:10-11 

The wonder of the creation in the clouds...

He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

Job 37:11-16 

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

Psalm 147:8 

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

Proverbs 3:19-20 

Satan’s desires...pride...

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 14:14 

Through prophets, there are many references to clouds, their power, their gloriness ...

Then, when Jesus is baptized...proclamation...

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Matthew 17:5 

Prophecy of His coming...

30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:30 

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:7-8

From the beginning to the end...clouds...a simple complex creation...

The Glory of God, His presence, protection, thank YOU...

Watch those clouds, He may be coming soon....all will see...

Miracles in a touch...

Miracles in a touch...

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

Joshua 3:15-16     

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther 5:2

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.

Jeremiah 1:9 

While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

Daniel 8:18 

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 

He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

Matthew 8:3,15 

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;

Matthew 9:29  

But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Matthew 17:7-8   

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Matthew 20:34

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue.

Mark 7:33

Then water parted, the queen acknowledged and accepted, healing....all with a touch...

This following song has been running through my head all morning...after reading from the gospels...that touch...I have had it at times of distress...comforting...acknowledging...encouraging....

These various people reported in the gospels and so many more that we didn’t read about...wanted and needed His touch...some like the centurion just asked in faith that his servant be healed...he just needed a word...not even a touch...but God can create with a word as well as heal with a word...

Thank YOU for your touch to my soul...

He touched me, lyrics, Gaither

Shackled by a heavy burden,

'Neath a load of guilt and shame.

Then the hand of Jesus touched me,

And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,

And oh the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened and now I know,

He touched me and made me whole.

Since I met this blessed Savior,

Since He cleansed and made me whole,

I will never cease to praise Him,

I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,

And oh the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole...

Meltdown...

Meltdown...

Last night I had a loneliness meltdown...
I don't have them very often...they can come unexpectedly...most don't last long...they differ in intensity...

The winter after my husband passed away, I found hand towels which pictured a melting snowman and the saying ," everyone's entitled to an occasional meltdown"...I bought a pile and gave them out to my family...we were all having melt downs....more often than not...life had changed so very drastically in a short time for all of us...

I was going to new Bible study small group...new people, a possibility of new friends or at least new acquaintances...alone...wanting him to break the ice as he had always done...to hold my hand...to encourage...to smile...to share small talk or discuss the study...to fulfill some dreams...to grow old together...

I couldn't find the house in the dark, I hadn't taken the time to find it in the light earlier... So, disappointed, I returned home..pity party...meltdown...lonely...

Oh, it was coming, I just didn't know when...tax season...no one to share our anniversary with...gray skies...cold day after day....

And then in was tearing a book apart for a project...and the page I tore out happened to be on "loneliness"... How about that?

From " today is Mine" by Leroy Brownlow
"At times all of us are lonely. It brings an emptiness within. A feeling of inadequacy and lack of direction overwhelms us. We should not, however, all allow loneliness to cheat us out of single day. And here are some ways to overcome it:
Like yourself enough that you can be happy alone.
As a pilgrim, know your map.
Have something to do and do it.
Make good books interesting companions
Pull down any selfish walls you may have built around yourself.
Make your presence desired, and the best way to do this is to find emptier hearts and fill them with love...

Seldom can the heart be lonely;
If it seeks a lonelier still;
Self-forgetting, seeking only
Emptier cups of love to fill.  Frances R. Havergal

I alone am left..1 Kings 19:10"

I admit, I did some other things to chase the blues away...working on Projects that I can give away to someone else...but, most of all, I just admitted it to God, asking for His inner peace and joy...He takes the tears, heartaches, the loneliness and changes it for good...I don't know why He changed our lives the way He did...I do know that our days are numbered, they have purpose...He has purpose...thank YOU,
 
.... Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Luke 6:21b

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:10

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord .
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Psalm 68:4-6

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Psalm 25:16-17

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Ecclesiastes 3:4

Doorbell...

Doorbell...

One of my parents dreams was to build a house...they looked and looked for property and finally found a piece and we moved when I was in the sixth grade into a little two story house...

They painted, wallpapered, improved that little,house all the while planning to build another on the same property on the hillside...little by little, they excavated, planned , blew up huge redwood stumps, rocked, and finally poured a foundation. Then little by little they built..gathering materials from various places, a old sawmill, a wrecked lumber barge, and of course the regular lumber and building supply...they traded beef for all the cabinets in the house as well as the brickwork in the two fireplaces...

Finally, in my junior year of high school we moved into a mostly finished house...I had designed my own room from the floor up and it was completely finished...

But, I remember my parents hunted many, many places for the right doorbell, finally finding one with long chimes which played a specific song...and as my own family grew, they all got to ring that doorbell many times over the years...

Now, I don't even have a door bell in my house... No pretty chimes...just an app attached to my phone alerting me to someone passing or coming to the door. I can answer that button from anywhere I am with my phone which is in my purse... No special rings..(and when I look at my phone, the people's faces are big and way out of perspective ☺️).

Cartoons over the years picture people waiting at the gates of heaven, either knocking or ringing a bell, waiting for an angel or some Saint to answer...but from the Bible it doesn't seem to work that way...we don't have to wait at the gate to be welcomed or rejected...we can know if we are welcomed or not..we make the choice here in this life...we either have accepted Christ as our savior or not...our names are either in the Book of life or they are not...

Jesus talks about it over and over in his Words in the New Testament...very clearly stating stating His position...
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John 3:3,16-18,21

Thank YOU...for your word...

That donkey .....

That donkey....

Of all things to dream about, a donkey...

The room was filled with people standing around a table covered with a large variety of objects...stuffed animals, ornament, papers...

The assignment was to choose something that would remind you of a resolution, a desire that you had made for the coming year.....easy...? Yes and no...mine stood out all by itself...a small, felted, stuffed donkey/burro, the only one there...just for me...

As I awoke, I kept thinking about that dream....why a donkey, why the dream...usually I don't remember dreams well unless there is a lesson robe learned...

A while back I wrote about the missing donkey in the nativity story...we take for granted that Mary rode on a donkey to Bethlehem although it really doesn't say anywhere that she did...our Christmas cards all depict that...I can Imagine doing that at full  term pregnancy...(I would have rather walked).

-Jesus asked for one to ride into Jerusalem while the crowd cheered...a sign of a king...
"saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Matthew 21:2-11


-Donkeys were counted as part of man's wealth..
"He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels."
Genesis 12:16

"The Lord has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys."
Genesis 24:35

-Used a description of Ishmael...
"The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers. ”
Genesis 16:11-12

-Used as a pack animal ...beast of burden...
"Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about."
Genesis 22:3
"they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left."
Genesis 42:26

-one spoke to it master ... A stubborn man...used by God to get the man's attention...
"Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times? ” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now. ” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials."
Numbers 22:21-35

-used on an errand of mercy...
"33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him."
Luke 10:33-34

When traveling through south eastern Oregon/northwestern Nevada, these little donkeys perk their ears up, waiting a handout...they stand, watching the traffic, posing(it seems)...I can envision the Bible people walking across the desert, followed by these stout little furry animals...

As I thought through these uses earlier...that small stuffed donkey in my dream...I was blessed...
Maybe be a spokesperson, a carrier of a King...a burden bearer....these all describe a mission I have been given...we all have ...thank YOU...


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey#Burro

https://thecloudfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/23-mom-and-me.jpg

Treasured ....

Treasured....

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ...
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
Luke 2:19,51

I have treasured memories of each of my children at different times of their lives...things I am thankful, memories of fun things, not so fun events, special times, blessings of each...

Now I am treasuring times with grandchildren...seeing their growth through the years, their maturing into young adults ...what treasures...what gifts they all are...

Lately I found out something of one that I really didn't remember, but will from now on... A food dislike that I was not aware of...I feel bad that I wasn't aware of this sooner...oh well,  I am getting older, blame it on an aged brain...

I look at Mary going through a special motherhood of the Messiah...a special conception, proclamations from a cousin, a special birth, special proclamations, Angels, worshipping shepherds and wisemen, nightly travels, talking to the teachers in the temple, an obedient child...lots to ponder and treasure up...watching this special person move through childhood into adulthood...

I am sure she watched this person with awe and wonder...as we parents do...but, even more so with the prophecies spoken about Him...we regular parents don't know what our children will grow to become, we just watch the unfolding of the plan which only God knows...we don't know how ours will effect the world as foretold about Jesus...He indeed was treasured since the beginning in Genesis...

Thank YOU for the treasure in Jesus...hold them close to my heart, help me think in these treasures in my life yesterday, today and tomorrow ...His Word, His life...His gift...

Questions...

Questions....

I was reading Matthew 7 this morning, then I opened my email and found this article starring me in the face ...great questions for the new year...

https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/10-questions-to-get-unstuck-spiritually.html

Lately, we as a family, have been dealing with a lot of questions as well...where are we going...what is our purpose...how do we get along as a family or business...what do various documents say that we signed in the throes of a dying head of household and business ...we are almost seven years out from many, many decisions which were made under a lot of pressure with trusted advisers...and we are finding that we have different interests, goals, lifestyles that need to be addressed and dealt with...how we move forward has profound implications on our family and generations to come...

Questions...
Matthew 7 has contrasts...which can lead to life questions

Judge versus not judge
Speck versus plank
Ask, seek, knock versus not asking, not seeking, not knocking
Good gifts versus bad gifts
Wide gates versus narrow gates
Good fruit versus bad fruit
Doing the will of God versus not doing the will of God
Wise versus foolish builders
Sand versus rock foundations
Jesus teachings versus the teachers of the law....

How we answer each has profound implications on our lives, eternity ....where do we stand? What do we believe ???

Thank YOU that you add clarity...help me to follow the right path into your will...

S l o w. D o w n ....

S l o w   D o w n.....

Last year, 2018, one of my goals was to read through the Bible chronologically.  That was accomplished...this year I want to s l o w  d o w n....and only read through the New Testament in a year...
This means I am only finishing up the sixth chapter of Matthew instead of Job after Genesis....a lot slower pace...

Today---Treasures and worry...what treasures do I worry about...??? Where, what are my treasures????  What do I worry about and lose sleep over???  Oh dear, a little close to home...

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:24,34

The sections finish with these two verses...whom do I serve?....save worrying about tomorrow for tomorrow...
I don't  want to serve worrying...which shows a lack of faith on my part...anxiousness shows lack of love as well...so I need to hand both the resources and the worries over to the Master whom I wish to serve......

Thank YOU for the ultimate solution...I lay each at your feet to guide and take care of...I want my master to be God, not the money...I want Him to guide the days as well...giving peace in an unpeaceful world...