CLOUDS

Good morning to all,

 

“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Jude 1:2

  

GIVING THANKS:

 

• We give thanks to God for the compassionate volunteers who are helping the refugees as they flee the Ukraine.  It’s a beautiful sight to see LOVE in action as so many volunteers are helping the women & children off the trains from the Ukraine.  These volunteers are greeting them with a gentle hand, a warm smile and meeting their physical needs by providing food, shelter & lodging.  The refugees are  frightened and have nowhere to go.  Even though Evil exists in this world, GOD & GOOD prevail!

• Joe Nuzzo gives thanks for all of the prayers. His oral surgery went well and he is recovering at home.

 

• Thanks to Jayden Rzasa for leading the opening prayer for the Ladies bible study last night.  Our young adults are to be praised for their great faith and willingness to step up.  Great job Jayden! 

 

• Nadine Keller gives thanks that her recent tests went well.  Surgery may be down the line, but she will know more next week. 

 

NEWS & UPDATES:

 

• Tracie’s Father Ray Edison’s obituary is below. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made toward Foster’s Home for Children.  The link is www.fostershome.org

    https://www.resthavenfuneral.com/obituaries/Raymond-Edison/

                Continued prayers for Jim & Tracie as they get ready to move to Tucson next week. 

 

REMINDERS:

 

• Don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead Saturday night for daylight savings time! 

 

• Ron’s new challenge is asking us to help the Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center with needed toiletries for the boys who are released to go home.  A favored item by the boys is Axe Body Wash, but they are grateful for whatever we can donate (i.e. soap, shampoo, etc)!   Please place your donations in the bin in the foyer of the church.  Thanks to all for this great work!

 

• As we study the Life & times of Jesus, these are wonderful opportunities to invite friends, family & co-workers to join.  

 

• Bible classes for all ages from cradle roll to adult -10:00 a.m.

 

• Worship 11:00 a.m.

 

• Wednesday night bible study at 7:00 p.m. via zoom. 

 

Preach the word to the lost!  Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose YOU and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16

  

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Continued prayers for Flo who needs to undergo more tests since she continues to not feel well.  

 

 

• Prayers for Judith Gomez who has been struggling with intense pain.  She will go for an MRI soon and is seeing a holistic doctor as well. She thanks everyone for their prayers.

• Mel was advised to see a kidney specialist.

 

• Prayers for Skip French, a close friend of Jay Repeckos.

• Prayers for our daughter Jody Pancoast who is due with her second child the end of May.  All is well, just need prayers for continued health and wellness for Mom & baby over the next few weeks.

 

• Joe Nuzzo requested prayers for his friend Jason Kasprzyk who is dealing with planters fasciitis which is very painful and impairing his ability to walk.

 

• Franny needs to have Mohs surgery in April. Prayers for all to go well.

• People, young and old on their spiritual journey

• Pray for all the countries trying to end the conflict in Ukraine. Troops and Civilians are being attacked by Russia and their leaders driven by evil. 

 

Do you remember as a child laying on the grass and looking up at the clouds? We would try guessing what the clouds resembled.  

 

As an adult, we have another reason to look up at the clouds….

 

In the Scriptures, there are 148 references about clouds.  

The cloud was a sign of God’s nearness, and His glory.

 

When Moses climbed Mt. Sinai to stand before God, the LORD descended in a cloud.  Similarly, it was in a cloud that, later, he filled the tent of the meeting with His presence.  God was present.

 

A pillar of a cloud guided the Israelites through the desert during their Exodus from Egypt.  The pillar of the cloud provided a visible guide for the Israelites during the day, while a pillar of fire lit their way by night.   The cloudy pillar shielded God’s people from the blistering sun, as well as kept them hidden from the sight of their enemies.  Exodus 13:21 “The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way.”  The people could not see through the cloud, but they had to trust the LORD and believe that his presence was sufficient to lead them to the place where he was taking them.

 

In Exodus 33:9-10 & 40:34 when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshipped, each man in his tent door

 

Exodus 40:34-37 “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.  But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.” 

In Genesis 9:12 in the account of Noah “And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

Numbers 12:5 “And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.”

David wrote in Psalms 104:3 “Jehovah makes the clouds his chariot”  and in Psalm 57:10 “For your Lovingkindness is great to the heavens and Your truth to the clouds.”

Nahum 1: 3 “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:  the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.”

A cloud combined with light is often used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit because clouds provide life-giving water and they represent God who is hidden from sight, but is always there.  

Matthew 17:5 “While he yet spoke, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:  hear him.”

Luke’s account of the transfiguration  9:28-36 “About 8 days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Two men, Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying).  While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”  When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.  The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.”

Jesus’ ascension on the clouds was foretold by Daniel in Chapter 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” 

One of the last things we will see on earth will be the coming of our Lord in the glory of the clouds and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced him…

Luke 21:27 “And they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Mark 14:62 “And Jesus said, I am: and you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

In Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.  And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” 

These few scriptures that reference clouds are enough to give us a clear picture of the key role clouds play in the Word of God.  

No matter what is going on in the world, we can look up and have the Hope of Heaven!

THESE ARE THE DAYS OF ELIJAH

These are the days of Elijah,

Declaring the word of the Lord.

And these are the days of Your servant Moses,

Righteousness being restored.

And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”

 CHORUS:

Behold, He comes riding on the clouds
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call
Lift your voice, the year of jubilee
And out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes!

 

These are the days of Ezekiel,

The dry bones becoming as flesh,

And these are the days of Your servant David,

Rebuilding a temple of praise.

Oh, these are the days of the harvest,
For the fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the laborers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!

CHORUS

Behold, He comes, riding on the clouds

Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call,

Lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee,

And out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes..

 

Behold, He comes, riding on the clouds,

Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,,

Lift your voice, the year of jubilee

And out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes!

 

ENTER IN

In a world of pain & Sorrow

When the best so often fall.

When the prayers all go unanswered,

When the shadows seem to overwhelm,

When the light of hope has dimmed and leaves no hope at all.

 

That’s when heaven pierces through the cloud of darkness,

And the glory of the Father shines from heaven’s open door.

 

And the son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father,

With a warm embrace gives welcome,

And the angels are rejoicing,

And the Father with a voice like rushing wind,

Says all heaven has been waiting….Enter in!

 

When the dreams of life are shattered, and the body wastes away.

When all dignity’s abandoned,

And the ones who care, with broken hearts,

Plead for mercy but it seems that mercy hides its face.

 

That’s when heaven pierces through the cloud of darkness,

And the glory of the Father shines from heaven’s open door.

 And the son of Man standing at the right hand of the Father,

With a warm embrace gives welcome,

And the angels are rejoicing,

And the Father with a voice like rushing wind,

Says all heaven has been waiting….Enter in!

 

Enter In…

Enter In!

  

The next time we complain about it being a cloudy day, we should pause and consider how the LORD uses clouds to remind us of his imminent presence and the coming of JESUS CHRIST. 

Israel had the evidence of God for 40 years.  We have Christ forever!

 

Keep looking UP!

 

Our love In Him,

 

Bruce & Paula