Moments before a recent thunderstorm, a layer of dark clouds raced beneath a cloud covered sky. I had never seen any clouds like this before, but they remind me that God “makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind” (Psalm 104:3)
clouds
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The sun’s rays embrace eveyone in this skyline I shot somewhere in my travels years ago.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. (Psalm 97:6, ESV)
The sun, clouds and sky are more than a natural phenomenon. They are messengers of God’s righteousness. They are speaking to us. They declare God’s righteousness—his equity, fairness, and justice.
How do we see God’s righteousness in the sky? Paul tells us God “did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17, ESV).
The rain and sun reveal our Father’s righteous equity: “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45, ESV).
So each time we see the sun shining or the rain falling on everyone, regardless of their character, conduct, religion, ethnicity, language, or country of origin, it is a call to righteousness and love. We should hear Jesus say, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43–45, ESV).
How have you seen God’s righteousness in the heavens?
For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? Job 36:27–29
This old barn serenely rides the crest of a hill in Warrior, Alabama. I have photographed it many times of the past twenty years or more. This time the colors were enriched by rain and the setting sun.
This water tower and building made a perfect silhouette against the blazing sunset in Oxford, Alabama.
One of the beauties of driving through Florida is seeing the sprawling oak trees in pastures and fields.
Something that I observed while I was a teenager is that trees that spread their limbs wide, are seldom blown over by strong winds. On the other hand, trees like the poplar and Bradford pear that hold their limbs close and stretch them high, grow tall but are easily snapped by wind.
The same is true of people. Those who spread their arms to bless others are generally stronger than those who use all their efforts for selfish ambition and gain.
I saw the oak tree pictured above, along US 173 in the panhandle of Florida. I saw it and drove past it, but could not resist, so I found a place to make a U-turn and went back to make a photograph of it.
During the first hour of the night, the clouds repeatedly covered the moon. But the moon kept peeking through, kept climbing upward, until it broke loose from the realm of clouds, and lit up the sky shouting to those walking in the night, “No cloud can cover you forever.” — Steven Norman
Each time I have been to Seattle the weather has prevented me from photographing Mt. Rainier. Once when I was flying back to the East Coast I looked out of my window just in time to see Mt Rainier pushing its way up through the clouds. Glad to be in a window seat and have a clean window for a change, I grabbed my wife’s camera and made this image. Sometimes the best pictures come after we think all hope is gone.
Mt Rainier
Washington
