I’ve always been fascinated by clouds. My favorites are the puffy, white ones which come to hang out among the brightest blue skies upon a breezy, sunny day! But there are also separated, scattered clouds and rolling clouds (Dave’s favorite) wispy clouds, and yellow clouds with golden rays shining through. There are pink cotton candy clouds, with touches of lilac, and fiery red clouds (very cool!) and dark edged clouds, where you can look for the silver lining.

There are scary clouds too: stormy; with shades of gray, black, and green. There are dark, angry clouds, which threaten to ruin your party, wedding, your home… your life. No one likes these kinds of clouds. They may look really interesting, but no one wants to be under one; getting drenched, dirty, or destroyed.

But that’s just what happened a couple months ago, when we found out Dave has rare colon cancer. Stage 4, aggressive and fast moving; Category 4 Hurricane. I think Category 5 is considered hospice. I can’t believe I just wrote that, but the comparison is uncanny.

Today arrived with a beautiful sunrise. It looked so peaceful outside. Yet, in five minutes, all the clouds were gone! And our weather forecast is for a huge storm today, with a possible tornado expected. We are living in our own personal tornado right now; we don’t need another one! But weather can change, just like our lives can change, at any second.

Don’t trust the weatherman. Trust God! We need Jesus Christ as our watchman and protector, or we can’t weather the storm. We won’t make it without him! Jesus is a reminder that the sun is always shining above the clouds. That means that the beautiful cerulean blue sky is still there. The sun and sky are just temporarily covered and hidden!

While Dave has been in the hospital and going through chemo, I still find myself looking up at the clouds each day; probably even more so. Because, when I look up in the sky, I see paintings… masterpieces! No one in the world can create anything as beautiful as God’s natural creations! I feel peace looking up towards God in His big blue sky; talking and praying to Him, and thinking about being up there in Heaven one day with Jesus. Before I went to pick up Dave at the hospital, I took a short walk, and was amazed to see a bald eagle soaring above the wispy clouds! I thought of this verse Dave is living out right in front of us, illustrating strength through Jesus:

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isa. 40: 30-31 NIV).

I was determined to get a good photo for Dave, without the vultures. But that’s kind of ironic, now that I think of it. It’s interesting that the vultures were dipping and circling their prey, yet they were avoiding the eagle. Whenever the eagle flew closer to them, the vultures backed far away from their target, fully aware that the majestic eagle was mightier and strongest.

We have that same authority in Jesus Christ. The devil must back away when we command him to do so, in the name of Jesus. We have the spiritual authority to tell anxiety, fear, depression , anger, abandonment, and every other storm cloud which threatens us; to back away in the name of Jesus! And that’s what we’re doing! The countless prayers, from our brothers and sisters in Christ; are keeping Dave strong, faithful and at peace during his cancer. The same is true for me; as his wife, caretaker, and mother of his children. This chemo week is better than the last; thanks to thousands of prayers to God on our behalf. It’s humbling, and we’re so grateful! We are finding shelter in the storm!

Like the weather; your life, and mine, can change in an instant. No science out there can stop the storm clouds from coming our way. God’s in charge of all of it, so why not let Jesus be our umbrella? He’s safe, warm, and dry! Many people don’t want to believe in something they can’t tangibly see, touch, and feel… until a tornado comes and destroys their lives. Why wait until we hit rock bottom? We can be prepared for the worst by coming to Jesus with childlike faith:

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’ “ (Lk. 18: 16-17).

When we ask Jesus to come into our hearts, The Holy Spirit begins to reveal all the grown-up, supernatural cool stuff that nobody understands excepts for true Believers in Christ. Christian children have access, as well! When this happens; we do end up seeing, hearing, and feeling Jesus! Just seek, and you will find him!

“ ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!’ “(Mt. 7: 7-11)!

These photos are all mine. But these clouds are all God’s; created by the One and Only Lord of the Universe! Ask Jesus to provide you with his everlasting covering, before the rain begins to fall. We might get wet along the way; but if we go into the storm without Jesus, we will become absolutely drenched! That is when we are in danger of drowning.

“He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight”(Job 26:8 NIV).

“Science is simply man’s explanation for how intricately God created everything!”

~ Angela Royse Pelleman

Related:

How to Ask Jesus into Your Heart and Receive Eternal Life

Dave’s Testimony: cancer with Christ (Scroll down ,first, if you’d like to read in order by date)

Poetry about God’s Creation :

God, Eclipse My Heart

Winter Sunset’s Slice of Moon

Blue Moon Beauty… Blood, Fire, and Billows of Smoke

My Winter Rainbow

Face Me Under Your Rainbow

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In Christ, Angela Royse Pelleman