Signs In The Heavens And On The Earth Below

This was a picture taken from the 11th floor office in Cedar Rapids, Iowa yesterday, June 11, 2009. It shows a new "type" of cloud. The person who shot the picture said that the clouds were churning and moving, rolling and twisting and, as you can see, the far background is a greenish-yellow hue to it. Meteorologists said this was the first sighting of a new type cloud since 1951.

What do I make of it?

I definitely believe God is speaking through this event.

I am currently using Audio Cd's of the program QUICK STUDY w/ Rob Hembree in my morning devotions and today was from II Chronicles 16 - 17.

The was the basis for the study this morning?
When we (a nation) rejects God's Word and God's plans, we set ourselves on a path of destruction. King Asa of Israel was confronted by a true prophet sent from God. Asa had him arrested and thrown in prison because he did not like what the prophet had told him. Isn't that like our country today? The government will not speak the truth as they only seek to put a positive spin on whatever the message is for today.

How are decisions being made today in our government? If our leaders are deciding the fate of our country outside the will of God, they are probably doing so with hearts of fear. This will give our enemies encouragement to rise up against us. Instead of hearts of fear, we and our leaders need to develop hearts of faith. The message that should be coming from the House of God is that our God is not overtaken by the plans of man. He still seeks a people to call His own. A people who will become His people and that He would become their God.

Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the

issues of life."

Last year I taught a message from an event that God showed me was very relevant to our nation. An earthquake hit the Midwest in April of 2008. God used this even to show me and confirm to me that I was to keep teaching and speaking on returning to God with all our hearts. I won't go into the entire teaching, but the message was that the "heartland" of our country had been shaken and cracks had formed. It revealed the hidden things that were wrong with buildings and homes by the shaking as foundations were exposed.

IN the spiritual, this shaking was to awaken us to the fact that our weaknesses are being exposed. God was shaking (Hebrews 12:25-29) That is what we currently see in the financial markets and in the economic system of our nation. To put it bluntly.........they have been exposed and now man is trying to rescue them. Massive amounts of money is being poured into these areas. The Government says that this influx of money is working, but yet the country is rocked by fear. The Government is trying to be the voice of peace and reason,but they are speaking outside the will of God. It will not work. God is our answer.

If we turn to him and repent, confessing the sins we lovingly hold on to, He will be faithful to come and forgive and heal. Some who read today's posting may feel that I have slid over the edge somewhat, trust me. I haven't.
I have watched these events play out since Oct. 10, 2003 when God first spoke to me concerning the repentance of our country. More than that, the repentance has to start with those who claim the name of Jesus. We need to repent of pride and arrogance. For being an unloving people who are concerned only with our own lifestyles and comfort.

To me, the photo taken in Cedar Rapids is a symbol that God has come down and is at work in our nation. It can be a time of great repentance and renewal or if we choose to remain proud, it can be a terrible time of judgment for our sin.

I find it interesting in the chapters that were read this morning that in II Chronicles 17:9 it speaks of King Jehoshaphat. The leadership of the country was following the Word of God and we read in verse 9 - 10 "So they taught in Judah and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went through out all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the land that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Judah or Jehoshaphat."

Did you see that? When the Word of the Lord was taught to all the people, the fear of the Lord fell on the enemies of Judah. We need a nation wide teaching and proclaiming of the Word of God. IT should not be tied to any denomination or group. No one should take credit for it. It should be the cry of hearts to hear the Word of God that we may give due worship and praise to the One who has seen us through time and time again. That we return to God because He is calling us to repentance.

The picture of the clouds speak of the Holy Spirit of God. In Genesis 1:2 -- The earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the ddp. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Our nation is without form. Form denotes solidness and stability. We are diverse, separated people who claim a false sense of unity. Our country is void of knowledge of God. Notice that I did not say we were void of knowledge about God. That is our problem, we know about Him but we truly do not know the God of Scripture. Darkness covers our land and the Spirit of God hovers over us. To convict us of our sins and to draw us into repentence. Should we continue on the road of our current choice, we will fall under the judgment of God which will be delivere by His Holy Spirit. God help us that we may return to Him.

Share this message.

Tell others.

Pray.

Start reading and speaking the Word of God.

I said at the beginning of this post that this was the first sighting of a new type of cloud since 1951....that would be 58 years ago.

Psalm 5

Verse 8 reads...

Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.

Could it be that God has truly spoken to us thought these acts in nature? Earthquakes and clouds? Our human mind seeks to discount it, but our spirits affirm the truth that it is all found in the Word of God.

God on you...........

mb