Tag: Weather

Our God’s Playfulness

Published on by marycatherinethomas2 Comments

“He covers the heavens with clouds,  provides rain for the earth,
    and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.” Psalm 147:8 (NLT)

Have you ever lay in the grass on a summer’s day and looked up into the sky? As a child I did this with my sisters. The clouds were in shapes and we would point them out to one another. Of course, by time we actually pointed to the exact cloud we were looking at, it had changed shapes.

Recently Dale and I were going into town. I sat in the passenger seat looking at the sky and the pastoral scenes as we drove. I looked up and there, in the sky, was a whale with water coming out of his spout. Clear as day, perfect in design. I smiled to myself.

We drove a bit farther and I mentioned to Dale what I saw. He bent down and looked, not seeing what I saw. Again, I smiled to myself. God was being playful.

Yes, I know that there are air-streams and wind patterns and clouds each are specific. They have always fascinated me. Each type of cloud has a name. I have learned them once or twice and promptly forgotten the names of each. (apologies to all my science teachers)

I choose to see the sky as our Lord’s art palette. It’s vast and each minute it changes. He paints the sky with vivid colors, He tosses the clouds in formation. He directs the weather. It’s all His handiwork. And He plays with His children. Like balloon art, He forms the clouds. A whale spouting water? Here it is. It’s like He has given me a wink and a smile.

I realized in that moment that I have forgotten how to have that play-time with my Lord. I haven’t spent time looking upward, life has got me looking at the road ahead. Staying in my lane. Don’t go out of the lines. It reduces my horizon. It dims my view.

Will I return to laying in the grass and looking up at clouds? Probably not, but I am once more reminded that life does not have to be all seriousness and business. We have this big, vast world to see the handiwork of our living God. Who knows? He may have a shape in the sky formed just for you.

The Gathering Storm

Published on by marycatherinethomasLeave a comment

“He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)

As I walked this morning, the wind picked up a bit. I noticed that the leaves of the trees were turning upside down. Looking up I saw ominous clouds beginning to form in the sky. This transpires often in the summer months here. Thunder resounded in the distance and I expected to be caught in a downpour.

Today’s storm clouds are still hanging around, but so far there is no rain or storm to notice.

We look at weather apps and news to find what the weather holds for us during the day. Most of the time, for our location, the apps are anything but accurate. Our best bet is to look outside and see what is happening.

The same can be true of our world today. We hear of wars, rumors of wars, famine, earthquakes, volcanoes, murders and so on and so forth. The news heralds doom and gloom. If we were to focus solely on what we hear and watch, there would be no joy for anyone.

Matthew 24:32-34 says, ““Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.” (NLT)

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6 (NKJV)

I often wonder when we will see the appearing of the Lord. Each decade brings more turbulence in the world. Each decade I wonder if the Lord can wait any longer. What season are we in? Yes, summer is here, but in the season of our God, what season is this?

I wish I could discern and say with authority what it is, but, no I can’t. We can look at the sky and know when it is going to storm or snow or be hot, and we can look at the news and talk of all that is happening in the world. But only our heavenly Father knows when our Lord is going to return.

A year ago, a dear friend shared with Dale and I a vision he had had. He said that the horses in heaven were out of their stables, pawing the ground and ready to be mounted and go. This still sends chills through me, as the time is drawing near, hopefully.

“The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.” Revelation 19:14 (NLT)

So, as I close I listen to the thunder rolling in the distance and await to hear the thunder of hooves on the day of our Lord reappearing.