Monday, July 26, 2010

Messages in the Clouds...

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:11



Here recently I am having the privilege of traveling quite a bit with my job. It is just for a season, for "training" but I am loving it to be honest. I love most of all boarding those planes and taking in those views when we are high in the sky. This past week I took off late in the evening heading for Houston. The flight had been delayed an hour due to storms between my home and Texas. I had settled in with a new book but still the wait was a bit irrigating. However, when we got up into the sky I turned my eyes away from my book and looked out and was literally taken back in amazement by our Creator. I put my sun glasses on partially because of the suns rays but also because of the tears welling up.



I have always loved the clouds in the sky. I would love to lay on the soft grass of spring or summer as a child and watch the clouds floating by. If you looked hard enough and long enough, you would feel like you were floating. Remember? OR how many times did you look for shapes within the clouds? Sweet memories.



On this trip I saw the biggest, fluffiest, whitest clouds and literally just a planes wing depth away. The wing of the plane would tickle their edges and yet they did not move, did not change shape, but just floated there where God had planted it....or should I say painted it.



There was a horizon of sort...I am not sure if it was made from the heat or moisture but it looked like a landscape of sorts and the clouds looked like it's mountains. It made me think of heaven. It seemed so pure...so beautiful. A little piece of heaven brought down for my eyes to behold? Maybe, maybe not but I do know it took my breath away and left my heart beating faster like a child excited for that new gift. That vision was a gift from above and I embraced it.



Not one of those big beautiful clouds were alike. All of them different, just like us. I realized that we see only part of the clouds from the ground. God truely has the better view looking down on them. When you are above them, or beside them, you realize the magnitude of how they seem to blossom into a masterpeice. I left my book closed on my lap for a long time and just praised Him...Oh how I needed that vision of Him through those clouds in that horizon high above the earth.



When I was flying home a few nights later, the sun had set and we were experiencing some turbulence. Again, out my window was God at work in the clouds...this time in a darken gray cloud displaying it's own fireworks as lights danced back and forth throughout it's mass. It was an incredible light show. I could not tell if lightening was actually shooting to the ground or if all the activity was strictly within the cloud itself. It was awesome all the same. It took my breath away...again.




He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:11


Did you take time to see the beauty of God in His creation today? By doing this were you also drawn to the eternal? When I was young, I was amazed at how the human body worked...so I became a nurse to know it better. I am even more amazed with this creation on earth that we call our temporary home...and so I seek to know God better so I can spend eternity with Him. Can you even imagine that if it can be this beautiful here now, how much more beautiful will it be in heaven? Big sigh.


My awesome God and Creator, You WOW me beyond words, beyond expression, beyond feeling. You are more than I can wrap my mind around on most days but I ask You for more..more of You..of Your works...of Your presence. I praise you for all that You have created, for all that You have done, and for all that You are yet to do. You know I am flying out again next week...can we meet again in the sky? Will You be so kind as to WOW me again with your masterpiece in the heavens? Thank you Lord...thank you for showing me your greatness once again. I can't help but sing your praises!!


Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him. ~ Psalm 68:4


Believing Him...Experiencing Him~Pamela

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Perfect That Which Concerns Me Lord...

My Holy God, my Jehovah Rapha,
Life can sure throw some wild pitches. Sometimes it literally feels like a painful punch! I'll be honest in that I can't always tell if it is from You or from satan. Yet in all the chaos and busyness of my days, even with my failures, You give me a treasure and assure me of not only Your presence but Your love and mercy. You awe me Lord. Sometimes these treasures are found in something beautiful You created placed in my path, or it has been in the thoughtful words or act of kindness from another...but most times I find it in Your Words.
I love Your treasures.
I cherish these treasure.
You always know what I need and miraculously place it within my reading just at the right moment. Something written so many years ago written just for me. It amazes me Lord. This weekend You gave me this....
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
~Psalm 138:8
What concerns me today? A rebellious child? An illness? Unanswered questions? Depression? A stronghold that I am in battle with? An unsaved family member or friend or neighbor? A broken heart? A lonely heart? Maybe I feel defeated, unappreciated, or unwanted?Maybe it's this new job, a new ministry, or for that fact, a lost job or a lost ministry. You know. You have searched my heart, You know my anxious thoughts (Ps 139: 23-24) and so You gave me this...
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me
I may not understand why I am going these thing that concern me but You do. You have a plan. A perfect plan. What a comfort this bring me today. Thank you Lord. I am excited at what the outcome will be. I pray I do not get in the way of Your perfecting process.
And then I am humbled, Father, with this thought of Your perfecting process in me. Like Paul, I can say "I m the worst of sinners" and I do not deserve this. I desire it but I am not worthy. But that is not how You want me to focus my mind is it? Your still small voice whispered in my inner being today "I choose you for this because I love you and I have plans for you in this....plans that will glorify me through you" and with that I can pray...
Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever;
You are so good God. Your mercy and love is more than I can wrap my mind around on most days. I don't deserve this but I embrace it and I praise You. I praise you for Your greatness, for all that I have, and all that I have been through, and I ask Lord...
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Remember me and how far we have come together. Place your covering of protection on those things we have built together Lord. Continue to lead me on this new journey before me. There will be days that you will have to carry me. I can be weak like that...
yet...I feel so strong in You on those day I allow you to carry me.
Grow my trust.
Grow my faith.
We have done some good things together and it is sometimes hard to let go of what one grows but I trust that You need me to work for you in another way. Let it be to me as you have said, I am your servant (Luke 1:38). Perfect that which concerns me Lord. And while your at it, point out anything in me that offends you. I want you to delight in me. Make me holy.
Believing You~Pamela