Last month when I researched articles for The March issue of The Connection Magazine and focused on tornado preparation and safety I had no idea that February 29th 2012 would become headlines around the world. This heartbreaking excerpt from the Associated Press describes what those twenty-four hours looked like for our state: Tornadoes Batter Alabama With the US braced for more bad weather: Houses were destroyed and the roof torn off of a maximum security prison as bad weather threatens more twisters across US south.
Tornadoes destroyed houses, injured residents and tore the roof from a maximum security prison in Northern Alabama as bad weather threatened more twisters across the region on Friday, two days after a storm system killed 13 people in the mid west and south. Anxiety mounted from Georgia to southern Ohio across a wide swath where forecasters said severe weather could strike later in the day. Thousands of schoolchildren were sent home as a precaution. Meanwhile, residents in parts of Illinois hit hard by storms earlier this week salvaged what they could from damaged homes. In the Huntsville area, at least four people were taken to the hospital on Friday morning and several houses were leveled by what authorities believed were tornadoes. The extent of injuries was not immediately known, while emergency services continued to survey damaged areas.
Local TV station, WAFF-TV, aired video of crushed homes. Authorities are confident the storms that hit Limestone and Madison counties were tornadoes, but it will be up to the National Weather Service to confirm the twisters, said Alabama State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Yasamie August. "We’re still getting reports of damage pretty much as we speak," she said at midday. Forecasters warned of severe thunderstorms with the threat of tornadoes crossing a region from southern Ohio through much of Kentucky into Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.
The devastation was the worst in Harrisburg, Illinois and as First Responders Word Alive International Outreach had a team on the ground with supplies as soon as the area was cleared for relief workers to come in. J.R. Rudy has an article in The Connection Magazine to inform and update our readers to the progress that is being made in that area.
As Kent and I have traveled this year we have participated in many conversations and discussions about everything from politics to poverty. One of the hottest topics is the changing weather patterns we are experiencing globally and the natural disasters that have plagued the natural realm over the past few years.
Mark 13:8 clearly describes the times we are living in, "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows."
This is not the end but for those of us who are paying close attention to the changing climate, natural disasters, wars around the globe, nations rising against nations, shortages of food, oil and basic necessities, and governmental crises we understand that this is the beginning of life as we have known it changing. In Bobby Conner’s article Awake, Arise, Advance the author says this: "In 2 Chronicles 16:9 God is looking throughout the entire earth searching for the upright in heart to them God will prove Himself strong and sure.
The prophetic trumpets must make a clear call in these extremely crucial days in order to prepare a strong confident leadership according to 1 Corinthians 14:8. In numerous encounters the Lord has summoned me saying; "Sound the alarm!" "Awaken the warriors!" Prepare to advance the King in His kingdom. This is the time to walk with true goal aim and purpose, not drift about in an endless circle."
It is time for us to awaken, arise and advance so we can become the army that God has designed us to be. Recent events in the natural are signs for us to prepare for the King of glory Who is returning to the earth.
Revelations 22:6-17 tells us that the time is near, " Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
