Reverend Peter Marshall's Commentary Archive

Dear Friends;

I had originally planned to wait until 9/15/05 to comment on the Katrina disaster, but some of what I believe the Lord has shown me is urgent enough to warrant sharing it now.  I know it is longer than usual for these commentaries, yet there is much I want to say now, and even more later.  I will send out Part Two of the "Who Do You Think You Are" commentary on 9/15/05, and then probably send out another section on the Katrina Disaster on 9/22/05. Now for Katrina:

In the days right after the Tsunami, as I prayed for the victims of that disaster, I had a strong feeling that we here in the USA were not going to be spared, that this year we too would experience horrible natural disasters of some sort.  Well, sure enough. 

The immediate question arises in many Christians minds: was Katrina God's judgment on America in general, and/or was it His judgment on that area of the country, or on New Orleans in particular? 

Let me start answering that by reminding us all that the Pilgrims and Puritans of early New England always responded to natural disasters by calling for days of humiliation, fasting, and prayer.  In Colonial New England's history there were over 300 special days of prayer proclaimed for various reasons, including fast days and days of thanksgiving.  On the fast days people would go to church and hear a sermon from their pastor on why they needed to repent in response to what had happened, and how they needed to repent.  To Christians as knowledgeable about the Bible as they were, they were well aware that the Scriptures teach that God is Sovereign in the universe, and therefore nothing can occur, either for good or bad, without His permission.  He is Sovereign Lord.  Because He cares for us, in all of these disasters there is a message from God. 

Does this mean that the people of Sri Lanka or Thailand are worse sinners than people in areas that were spared the Tsunami?  No, no.  God's ways of interacting with His creation are not simplistic and mechanical like that.  The truth is that the ways of God's providence are often inscrutable to human reason.  (I will write more about this later in Part Two of this commentary).

For now, I simply want to share some items that have come to my attention, and ask you to ponder them and pray about them.

First comes the news that more than 10,000 homosexuals were expected in New Orleans over Labor Day weekend for the 34th annual Southern Decadence party.  It was supposed to start two days after Katrina arrived.  Last year's event drew 125,000 people.  Joseph Farah reports on his web site that "a video taken by taxpayers at last year's event showed homosexuals engaging in sex openly on the streets. The police turned their backs, and the city organizers promoted this year's event with gusto."  I might add that the mayor was enthusiastically welcoming this horror to his city.  The event was to have taken place in the French Quarter, which is home to many of the homosexuals in New Orleans, and is described on its official web site (FrenchQuarter.com):

About a year ago, Chuck Pierce, who has a prophetic ministry, was given an amazing word from the Lord about Hurricane Katrina.  This was taped at the time it was given through him, so there is no question about its authenticity.  It recently came to my attention via email.  Apparently, Chuck was speaking in Louisiana on August 29, 2004, and this is part of what he was given to share:

"From the North to the South, I am ready to awaken two winds that will awake the nation. There are resisting forces in both states that will cause our nation to not move forward. Go up and down and decree that the wind of God will awaken in both places. The states will shift in a new way, or the nation will not shift and will go backwards."

Later, referring to Baton Rouge, Chuck prophesied:

"This will be known as a meeting house. This will be known as a place where the Ark of the Covenant has dwelt. This will be known as a refuge place. The WIND and WATER will rise in the midst of New Orleans. Many from the south will come north for refuge. Prepare. Prepare now for winds and water that will surprise you. I will renew the pattern not fully seen before. Worship will be here, and birthed in a new way from here. Prepare! Prepare! Prepare!... The wind from the south will begin to blow. Watch for the effects. This will purify the land and bring great change."

Then, in Alexandria that night, Chuck shared from Song of Solomon 4:16 (Awake the north wind; come, o south wind.  Blow upon the garden of this nation).  He led the people to pray for the south wind to come.  This south wind would be a purifying wind (Note from PM: Katrina means "pure"), cause corruption to be blown on, and cause corruption to shake, and initiate a righteous move starting with the children, then moving to the youth. We were to watch the government and the Catholic Church shake, and watch New Orleans change.

Then Chuck prophesied, "I will put a mantle on African Americans in this land. That which was brought in through parts of this state and held people captive will let go. I will send the wind up the Mississippi River, and this wind will shake Missouri. You will see the land shake in Missouri because of the wind from Louisiana. Get ready. Don't brace yourself. Throw yourself up. Get ready, for the new is coming. Every place I blow on will shake. The wind is coming on Louisiana, and it will shake the entire state. I will fill churches. The south, purifying wind of My holiness will sweep across Louisiana. People will be on their faces in malls and shopping centers. Boldness will come upon My people in Louisiana. There is a worship call. Get ready -- the wind is about to blow. The river is changing courses. You will be one of the first that changes."

Lord, grant that it may be so!

Next, I want to share with you two verses from Psalm 93 (Amplified version) that the Lord brought to my attention.  These are wonderfully appropriate:

Return to commentary Archive