Usually the fireworks and excitement happen on the 4th of July, but this year for my family the excitement held out till the 5th. Now some of you already know what’s happened through multiple text messages and such but I thought I would share with the church what I believe is evidence of the power of prayer.
I live in central Texas and it’s hot and windy here. Last summer, we had tons of flooding. I live less than a mile from a large lake and last summer the lake rose 35ft. That’s a lot of water. Anyways when the waters receeded it left acres and acres of dead trees and driftwood. Over the past year this left over driftwood and trees have dried and make perfect firewood. This summer we have been in a drought and the local authorities have enacted a “burn ban”. Well, needless to say, around 2:30-3pm this past Saturday a fire started near my neighbour hood. I live in a cul-de-sac and the fire was quickly approaching the bottom of our neighborhood with the wind pushing it directly towards my home. By 3:30pm my neighborhood was filled with more firetrucks than I’ve ever seen before. Families, including mine, were out in force soaking our lawns and our homes from roof to foundation with water. The fire began to move into the backyards of some of the homes. My parents and I were gathering up important documents and some other important odds and ends and packing our cars. While we intended to fight this fire till the authorities made us leave, it was important that we be fully prepared. At this point, they had brought in two large helicopters that would fly over the lake, suck up about 500gals. of water and then circle around to drop it on the fire.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029374&l=33048&id=179200306 This link has pictures.
This all lasted for almost 5hrs. I was on “ember duty” in my backyard, while my parents were out front. I was responsible for making sure any embers that might fall into our yard were immdeiately extinguished. This is when I was able to text those of you who received messages from me. I simply asked for prayer for our neighborhood and the men fighting the fire.
As the day progressed the wind picked up and all were growing more anxious. you could hear the trees cracking and falling over under the heat of the fire. My backyard was saturated in smoke and I smelled like a had stood downwind of a campfire for three days. We eventually got word that the winds, which were ripping through at 25mph had shifted and had begun to drive the fire into a ravine next to my neighborhood. It was then that the firefighters were able to finally get things under control and we were out of any immediate danger. I believe that through prayer God saved us and the other homes in the neighborhood. the fire came up to within meters of some homes and if any had caught fire, I think it would be safe to say that I wouldn’t have a home. But by His grace all the homes in the area were spared. If the winds had not changed directions, it could have been a very bad situation.
I think through all of it, God has really demonstration His love and protection over my family. When my mom told me to gather things I thought were important, I had a reality check. I really looked at my life and how I value things and was thankful to find that the things I hold in high value are not material things. I found that simplicity in life doesn’t mean you can’t own things, it means that I’m not placing my value in those things. I have many material things, I lack for nothing. And even if all those things had been burned up in the fire, I would still lack for nothing. Now don’t get me wrong, I did pack things, my cameras, my laptop, some clothes, but that’s because I believe that we are called to be responsible with the things that God blesses us with.
Well that was my fifth of July. I hope that this finds all of you well.
My love and God’s peace. Deb
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