Day of Clouds

Since 1996 I have had a Zondervan Men's Devotional Bible Calendar on my desk at the office.
It was a gift from my wife.
Each day I can review a snippet of Scripture with a commentary by a Godly person.
Here is the entry for September 11th:

Zephania 1:15
"That day will be a day of wrath,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of trouble and ruin,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,..."
(end quote)

"I have prayed against political tyranny and unfairness and injustice."

I have prayed for a miracle, for proof of God's existance. But as I read the prophets' descriptions of the day when God finally will take off all the wraps, one prayer overwhelms all others: "God, I hope I'm not around then." God freely admits he is holding back His power, but He restrains Himself for our benefit. For all scoffers who call for direct action from the heavens, the prophets have ominous advice:

just wait."

....PHILIP YANCEY

Not be taken out of context, here is the whole Scripture passage:
Zephania 1:14-18
"The great day of the LORD is near—
near and coming quickly.
Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter,
the shouting of the warrior there.
That day will be a day of wrath,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of trouble and ruin,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
a day of trumpet and battle cry
against the fortified cities
and against the corner towers.

I will bring distress on the people
and they will walk like blind men,
because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their entrails like filth.

Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the LORD's wrath.

In the fire of his jealousy
the whole world will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
of all who live in the earth."
(End quote)

The attacks and mass-death of 9/11/01 was a tiny sample of what lies ahead.

God allows things to happen for a purpose - and He allowed those sick men to kill thousands of our fellow Americans that day, in a hideous way that none of us can forget.

Well, the End Times will be "9/11 multiplied by 10,000, or even a million" !

In anticipation of The great day of the LORD , He prompts us to look for opportunities to tell others what He has done for us, what lies ahead for those who are not Believers, and that His love is boundless & eternal.

Frankly, there are no words in any language that can adequately communicate any of this...so it is necessary to pray for wisdom and guidance.

Today, on the 8th anniversary of that attack, remember to pray for the loved ones of those who were killed on that dark day.

And remember to honor those in our Armed Forces who are fighting this evil that is spreading in advance of the End Times. Pray for them and their loved ones today.

If you spot a person in uniform or someone who is obviously military (the haircut is a giveaway) stop them, excuse yourself, thank them for their service, and buy them a meal or a coffee...

And...pray for a peaceful day today, but stay alert.