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What's up with all the Clouds?



Thoughts from the son about this letter post.

I love clouds. But I need to qualify that thought. Those beautiful puffy billowy white clouds that stand out in contrast to that strikingly powder blue sky, what’s not to love!


Being a sailor, those are the best day to be on the water, there is usually an accompanying nice wind to fill my sails. But, when I see in the horizon those angry darkish black clouds coming my way, I quickly douse the sails, fire up the engine and head into the nearest cove or the harbor for safety. And then there are those destructive clouds that seem to come out of nowhere. Sounds a bit like life to me.


But let’s be certain, what ever type of clouds we are experiencing this very moment in our lives, Father God is wanting to reveal Himself to us in new and fresh ways. “………the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.” Exodus 16:10


 

January 2, 2019

What's up with all the Clouds?

They looked...and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. Exodus 16:10


Good morning Pops,

Clouds. An appropriate subject as we begin a new year. Clouds are an interesting phenomenon. Dad, as you grew up on the farm in Montana, I am sure you saw Grandpa Johnson look to the sky every day. As a farmer, he learned to “read” the clouds. Some clouds announced blessed nourishment and others forewarned of destructive winds coming.

For us sailors, clouds are equally telling. Knowing how to read clouds is a very important element to safe passage making and course setting. To ignore them is to ignore your own future safety and success. “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.” This saying, the most famous “sailor” saying quoted by sailors of every nation, has been around for many millennia. Guess who said it? Nope, you’re wrong, it wasn’t Misters Columbus or Magellan. It was the most celebrated master and commander of the seas of all time; Jesus. Matthew 16:2-3 is its root.

The imagery of clouds has a profound meaning just as actual real clouds. We can all identify with “cloudiness” in our lives. Those “cloudy” days where all emotional brightness seems to have left us. Living in a fallen world, there is no escaping the impact these sunless days have on each of our lives. A prepared sailor does not fear the approaching stormy clouds. He, by experience, responds appropriately. Yes, he will feel the storm, but with a correct attitude and action, he will emerge on the other side of the coming storm victorious. Likewise, as Christ followers, we do not need to fear the clouds and storms of life.



Part of maturing “in Christ” is learning to lean hard into Him when the inevitable storm hits. A baby believer sees clouds and storms as a contradiction to Father’s love and power. Read the life of Paul in Acts. This is a cloudy stormy story. Yet, He wins, Father wins, the Kingdom wins. This is enemy territory we live in; should we not expect clouds? In fact, if it has been sunny too long, I get a little nervous. We know the facts, reality is this; living behind enemy lines is a stormy experience. John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome...” NIV

Dad, I leave you with this quote.


“It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. In every cloud He brings, God wants us to un-learn something. God’s purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child. God uses every cloud which comes in our physical life, in our moral or spiritual life, or in our circumstances, in bringing us nearer to Him, until we come to the place where our Lord Jesus Christ lived, and we do not allow our hearts to be troubled.” –Oswald Chambers

Love you Dad


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