Quote from Forum Archives on November 14, 2001, 9:50 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

In today's message, the devotional author writes about their love
of nature, and clouds in particular. I think it is great to
recognize God's hand in all things, yet at the same time, we have
to be careful not to trivialize the mighty nature of God.

As much as I daily yearn for a personal relationship with God, I
must constantly be aware of the awesomeness of that
relationship. Though on one hand, God is all loving and all
caring, God is also all holy and righteous. I cannot even begin
to approach His throne of grace without first recognizing my own
condition - the human condition of sin.

In order not to deceive myself into thinking that I can approach
God in a flippant manner, I must appreciate the depth of His
love, and also why God HAD to send His Son to die. It wasn't
because all was well. Not at all! Sin is a big problem, and
ONLY His Son - the One who is in very nature God - the Son of God
in the flesh, could possibly do anything about this sin
condition.

I am so grateful that He came to seek and save the lost, and I
realize just how necessary and crucial that was. For though God
deeply loves each of us, He cannot tolerate the presence of sin.
Only by someone capable of paying the price for the terrible
thing of sin can anyone possibly approach God. Who is without
sin EXCEPT God? Only His Son, Jesus Christ, and that is why His
sacrifice is a gift on our behalf.

Yes, I enjoy creation. I realize just how much God has given,
and His creation reminds me of all that He has done.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

PCCWeb Daily
daily.presbycan.ca

Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Today's Devotional

God's Clouds

Genesis 9:13 - I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a
sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (NRSV)

Matthew 17:5 - While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright
cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This
is my son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to
him." (NRSV)

I have always loved clouds. As a child, I would lie on my back in
the grass, gaze into the heavens, and watch the cloud parade. How
many wonderful things my imagination was able to see there: a
whole series of animals, landscapes, and even some interestingly
shaped people! One of my biggest thrills was to watch rolling
clouds come together as if they were waves coming to shore, just
waiting to take me out to sea. As I loved to swim, this was a
very happy picture.

Later, through Sunday School, I came to realize how closely God
was associated with the clouds. This was an exciting discovery:
that God was there, that this was a sign of God's presence, and
that I could look and almost see God. As I grew older, I
continued to be a cloud watcher, and I am to this day, although
not on my back on the grass any more! I have tried to discover
God in the clouds all along.

Have you seen God smile? I think I have! One wonderful day this
past spring I saw a remarkable cloud formation:

Such lighting
I have never seen
on any stage before ...
Each cloud blazed radiantly,
tinged with tans, light browns
pale yellows, oranges and afire with
an inner deep rich gold
enfolding all the rest,
all silhouetted against the azure sky.
The light cast,
jutted in all directions
with the constant pinwheeling
and somersaulting of the clouds.
The brilliant gold,
blazing from an inner fire,
radiated outward
touching all along its way,
bathing all around
in unequaled brilliance.

It was here I discovered
the reflection of God's glory ...
for only God
could be the master painter
of all this.
The sun-tipped clouds
performing their majestic dance
could only be God's glory
made visible for all to see.
It could be mistaken
for nothing else!
In my inner heart,
I do believe
God wanted us to see
this resplendent show
as a reminder to all
of God's creation and recreation,
and that God thinks that it is good.
Yes, God smiled that day
for any who would see.

Prayer: Holy One, Creator of our wonderful world, help us to find
your presence wherever we are as we enjoy your creation. May we
celebrate all life, with you at its center. May we look to the
future knowing that you are beyond us, in the clouds, in the
heavens, just as surely as you are close to us, beside us and
within us, guiding us to a better life. We pray that you will
continue to be with us in the painful valleys of this time. May
we honour your commitment to all that you have made and share in
your bounty and in your love. I pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

Patricia Glore glorepp@aol.com
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA

Today's Canadian Bible Society Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians
3:1-18 bible.gospelcom.net/bible?2+Thessalonians+3:1-18

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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