SHAKESPEARE could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth thousands of dollars. That is called GENIUS.
Da VINCI could take a fifty cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it and make it worth many thousands of dollars. That is called ART.
ROCKEFELLER could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars. That is called the POWER OF WEALTH.
An ENGINEER (Edison, Bell, Henry Ford, Faraday, Wozniak) can take materials worth only a few dollars and make it worth thousands. That is called SKILL.
Genius – art – wealth – skill. Yes, they can add enormous value to the comparatively worthless. We are thankful for their contributions, and we admire their skill and dedication to their talent, but their work is NOTHING when compared with the creative work of the living, omnipotent, creator God.
God created the universe in which we live from absolutely nothing and gave us a beautiful world in which to live.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God
and the firmament shows His handiwork.
God takes the inherently wicked, worthless, helpless human being and pays the ultimate price to REDEEM him back to Himself, and transforms him into one who is incredibly precious and valued and in whom He delights. That is called REDEMPTION.
Isaiah 43:1
I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are Mine.
Ephesians 2:2-10 (selected phrases -read all)
You were dead in sin . . .
walked according to the prince of the power of the air . . .
by nature the children of wrath . . .
BUT GOD . . . made us alive with Christ . . .
saved by grace through faith . . .
made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ . . .
we are His workmanship.
God can take a sinful, worthless life, cleanse it with the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, fill it with His Holy Spirit, and make it a new creation. That is called JUSTIFICATION.
1 John 1:7
The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin.
(just-as-if-I’d never sinned)
2 Corinthians 5:17
If any person is in Christ, he is a new creation
God Himself then lives in that life, teaching and guiding; challenging and empowering; moulding into Christlikeness and using it to glorify Himself and to extend His kingdom. That is called SANCTIFICATION.
Colossians 2:6
As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.
One day we will be presented faultless before the throne of God, as His own bride. That is called GLORIFICATION.
Ephesians 5:27
He might present her to Himself a glorious Church,
not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
but that she should be holy and without blemish.
God is in the business of taking rough, raw material and using it; transforming lives by His power, and working IN them and THROUGH them to be His instruments to reach and redeem others to Himself.
* What a privilege to be one of His blood-bought, adopted children!
* What a privilege to be inhabited by Him
and used to continue His work on earth!
* What a privilege to belong – body soul and spirit –
to the One above all others – to the One who alone is worthy to be praised!
If you do not know the abundance of blessings in being a blood-bought, adopted child of the living God, experiencing the REALITY of His life within as a continual help, comfort, strengthener and guide, the message is clear.
Acts 17:31
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
LET CHRIST HAVE YOUR LIFE –
HE CAN DO MORE WITH IT THAN YOU CAN!
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MEETING IN THE CLOUDS 
I’ve only looked at a couple of your posts and I’m quite attracted to your blog. There is something very unique and refreshing with how you present these truths. Most all blogs of this sort either tend toward a disturbing ignorant emotionalism or an alienating pretentious rationalism. While these type distinctions actually just describe a generalized look or feel of a sight, rather than the quality of any particular content, your site I have found to be admirable in this way.
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Thank you cucumberlodge. My aim here is to follow the direction given by my incredibly amazing God. He leads as He shows me the basis of the post and then as He directs me to His Word to challenge and/or encourage.
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Pingback: FROM “OO-OUCH!” TO “OH WOW!” | MEETING IN THE CLOUDS
Beautiful, as always!
Loved the entire piece, but this segment stood out: “LET CHRIST HAVE YOUR LIFE –
HE CAN DO MORE WITH IT THAN YOU CAN!”
I wouldn’t even try to count the number of times I ran aground trying to run my own ship!
I will be sharing this post with others. So simple, so easy to follow, yet so amazingly profound! If God is not in ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ happens to be; then ‘it’ is worth nada!!
Blessings
ann
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Nada indeed, Ann. Thanks for adding that.
When I think of the times I have proceeded on my own ‘running my own ship’ I think how totally foolish I was, when I had all the resources of heaven available at my fingertips to ensure victory.
As Mr Anon has said . . .
Inside the will of God there is no failure.
Outside the will of God there is no success.
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Hello Angela! It is truly amazing how God works. Would you believe that I am in the process of crafting a post similar to this one. Nothing is on paper but I intend to use Gen. 1:1 and John 1:1-2
Thanks so much for reminding me that there is absolutely nothing to compare the awesomeness of God with. God blesses.
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We see so much of this Noel. It seems as though many people are convicted/challenged/encouraged/taught by the same Scripture each week, and we see numerous blogs on the same verse or passage, but all different, because God works in us in different ways according our needs and/or according to the message He wants us to convey.
We serve an incredibly amazing God. He alone is worthy of our praise.
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Loved it!
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Thank you. May we always submit to His control and become more and more like Him.
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Cloudwatcher, I love the way you walked us through the life of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. One church I used to attend used the term “progressive sanctification,” which really speaks to my heart because our journey with Jesus is definitely progressive, because we are His WIPs (Works-in-Progress)!
Blessings!
~Anna
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Thanks for adding that Anna. We are indeed works in progress, and praise God we can SEE His progress when we look at the ways He has changed us over the years.
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Very well said. I especially appreciate your comparisons between the creativity of man versus the awesome creativity of our Lord. Everything done by man pales in comparison to what He has done for us. Lord bless you Angela… may He continue to use you for His glory and honor.
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Well put Rob. The very best that we can do is nothing when compared with His work.
We tend to boast of man’s accomplishments – and I would not belittle them in any way – but our great scientists, inventors etc are using their God-given powers (whether they recognise it or not).
We serve an incredibly amazing God who grants us the privilege of showing forth His excellence. May we all be faithful.
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I just loved this, Mentor Angela, as you showed us what God creates and can do! He only does wondrous things!! Thank you and God bless you as you invite one and all to believe and be saved!
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Debbie, the enormity of the change He makes in a life is beyond telling. He takes the vile and transforms us into Christlikeness. He isn’t finished yet, but we are one day closer to the finished product, when we will worship Him wholeheartedly, with no distractions. Until then, we are privileged to be used to shine His light forth.
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God’s work in transforming our lives is miraculous and demonstrates the incredible love of our awesome God!
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Amen! He alone can give beauty for ashes. He alone is worthy of our praise.
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Reblogged this on My Delight and My Counsellors.
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Thank you.
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