by Joseph Herrin



Take Shelter Movie Poster (2011)

I would share an experience I had yesterday and this morning that I have perceived to be of prophetic significance. I mentioned previously that I recently acquired a riding mower to keep the lawn cut as a knee injury is hindering me from being able to use the push mower. The second time I used the riding mower to cut the grass, one of the drive belts broke. It appeared to be a cheap polyester belt, so I ordered a better quality belt with Kevlar to replace it. The belt arrived yesterday afternoon. After installing it I immediately began mowing the large yard here, and along the sides of the lengthy driveway.

I had completed about 3/4ths of the mowing when it began to rain. It has been very hot here in Georgia this week, with the temperatures reaching near 100, along with our famous Southern humidity. This tends to cause thunderstorms to develop in the afternoons and evenings. They can be severe at times. When it began to rain, I parked the mower under an outdoor canopy that I also use as a shelter for my recumbent trike. I then came inside, bringing Champ with me as he does not like bad weather and whines whenever he hears thunder.

What began as a light rain quickly picked up in intensity. It soon became a deluge with frequent lightning and thunder. Such storms often pass over quickly, but this one persisted for about an hour. The sun was setting, but before it got too dark I noted that the entire driveway was under water and their were ponds forming throughout the yard. It was completely dark when the storm ended, so I did not go back outside, and I let Champ stay inside with me.

About 1:30 A.M. I awakened and noticed Champ was up. I thought he may need to go outside, so I got up, strapped on my LED headlamp which I use as a flashlight, and took Champ outside and leashed him on his runner. I looked around and noticed that the canopy next to my bus had collapsed. It was 13 months old, having been purchased new in May of last year. I have had a number of canopies from various manufacturers, as they typically last only a couple years. This one was more expensive than some I had purchased in the past, and had excellent reviews. It seemed well constructed to me, but I had noticed lately that the fabric was becoming worn. The collapse was caused by the center roof support breaking through the fabric, punching a hole in the canopy. This resulted in the canopy filling up with water which caused the whole thing to fall in.

Image of the Model of Canopy that Collapsed

Although it was the wee hours of the morning, I decided I would get online and see if I could find a replacement, looking for something of better quality than this one. I had a sense that I should not wait, but to get a replacement ordered right away. The manufacturer (Undercover) is well regarded, but this was one of their entry level products sold mainly to consumers. They also had professional and commercial grade canopies available, but they retail for considerably more money. I was able to find a demo model of the professional grade 10x10 canopy on Ebay for a significant discount (more than 40% off). I ordered the canopy, noting especially that it uses 600 denier fabric as opposed to the 300 denier fabric of the previous one. This much more sturdy fabric should hold up better to the elements.

This morning, I went outside and took apart the old canopy to make room for the new one when it arrives. I was praying and asking the Father to show me if there was some significance to this event. When I came back inside I received three confirmation e-mails from the company regarding my order. My attention was drawn to the address of the company as well as the website address.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qpBM0sCoTmI/VYL-

The street address is “5 Mourning Dove Lane.” The Mourning Dove is so named because of its plaintive call. It makes a mournful sound, rather than the bright chirrup of many birds. The dove is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit and has a distinct association with the flood of Noah’s day. Yahweh used the symbol of a dove with an olive branch in its beak as a sign affirming to me that I was to purchase the bus which I have converted to a motorhome. He used the same symbol around the same time to indicate to a brother in Christ whom I was close to that he was to purchase a used motorhome to serve as an ark in coming days. That this is a “Mourning Dove” speaks of a time of mourning and sorrow to come.

The website for sales for the Undercover company is www.getundercover.com. This is a clever advertising slogan “Get Undercover,” but it also speaks the message to “Get Under Cover.” This phrase is commonly used as a warning for people to seek shelter when they see a storm, or some other type of threat approaching

The message I have gleaned from this experience is that the shelter that serves well in normal circumstances will be insufficient in the days ahead. A storm is coming, and this will require greater measures to withstand it. Although I am not needing a canopy for professional or commercial use, it will require something industrial grade to stand up to the deluge that is coming. To me, this speaks to both our spiritual and physical preparation for the days ahead. We cannot continue with business as usual and expect to weather the storms that are coming. We don’t need normal preparations. We need extraordinary preparation. I also sensed a message of a need to speed up preparations as I was only about 3/4ths of the way done cutting the grass when the rain began. The Lord has given me personal tasks to complete which I am making progress on, but I sense He is saying that the pace needs to be quickened or I will not be done before the storms arrive.

If you have not fully surrendered your life to go anywhere Yahweh says to go, and to do anything He asks you to do; if you have not embraced the cost of discipleship, confessing your willingness to accept whatever life experiences Yahshua chooses for you, you will find that you are spiritually unprepared for the things which are coming. Your only sure shelter is to be found as you walk a surrendered life to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is time to Get Under Cover. As you come under the cover of the Spirit of Christ, He will reveal to you what physical preparations you need to make.

Sadly, I am hearing from a number of people who have spurned the instructions of God. Some have responded in unbelief to the counsel of God. They are deluding themselves as they assume that life will continue on as normal, for America is too strong, too well established, to fall into political disarray, social anarchy, and economic collapse. Others hesitate as did Lot when the angels warned him to flee quickly for God was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. That man lost all he had in this world aside from his two daughters due to tarrying too long in the gates of Sodom. Others are responding with murmuring and discontentment to the counsel of Yahweh and what He is instructing them to do. They are like the Israelites in the wilderness. They complain about every difficulty, every trial, while their hearts are looking back to Egypt and the material things it has to offer. Others are slumbering, oblivious to the gathering storm clouds on the horizon.


Complete article:
http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com/

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