I have witnessed the miracle working power of God in a BIG WAY...
When you finally move all your furniture and belongings back into your newly remodeled home after 7 months of living in an apartment and over a year of planning, preparing and building...
Turn the gas on...
Then, BOOM!!!
No one is hurt...
Stunned, but alive.
Fire under the house, smoke billowing, smoke and fire alarms ringing loud and clear, sirens, fire trucks, water hoses, all the neighborhood watching in awe....
As I sat across the street in my neighbors grass and watched chaos, smoke, fire fighters with water hoses pointed in the front door of our brand new home with all of our stuff freshly placed inside (it’s just stuff)...
I immediately made peace with God that if we lost everything we owned, and if our newly remodeled home fell to the ground before my eyes, I held tightly to my faith that my God was still good and that He would ultimately bless us with something better in the end...
Oh, be sure the devil was chanting in my ear with a persuasive voice, “you don’t deserve to live here” and “God doesn’t want you to experience the fruit of your labor” and “you should have never remodeled your home in the first place.” The enemy was relentless in trying to convince me that his voice was that of the Holy Spirit. (That’s what he does in times of despair.)
Then, in that surreal moment in time, I watched the firemen undo the water hoses and pull back from their ready position, as their demeanor went from supercharged to relaxed...
As smoke continued to pour out of my front door, I’m wondering what has transpired inside? What has become of the back of the house, where the explosion was?
Time stood still...
A few hours later as I walk in my front door to assess the damage - there is none!
NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE ON THE INSIDE!!!!
Inside, only the faint smell of smoke and a lot of dust.
Under the house and in the area where the BOOM took place was burned insulation, a busted water pipe, and melted wires. The wood DID NOT BURN.
It was told to me that when the explosion happened under the washroom, it busted a water pipe. The busted water pipe kept the fire from spreading and actually put the fire out!
... But God!
Thanks to my brother-in-law for quickly turning the gas off. Thanks to the electrician who quickly turned the power off. Thanks be to God for His strong hand of protection!
The devil had a plan.
But, my God had a bigger plan!!!
So, today I stand amazed, thankful, tired (exhausted), at peace and excited to move into our home of 23+ years, after a long awaited revamping of every room.
Yes, the BOOM has caused an unwelcome delay. We’re not actually back in our home yet, even though we had moved everything out of the apartment and anticipated sleeping in our own bed and in our own home...
Thanks to my sister, we have a place to sleep as we anxiously await our “true” move in day.
BUT... Glory to God for sparing our lives (my Mom, my brother-in-law, the electrician, and myself)! We were all standing about 10 feet away from the gas explosion.
Glory to God for protecting our home!
In my time of reflection and prayer about this incident, the Lord reminded me of how many times I’ve had to fight the good fight of faith in order to obtain the prize. Nothing of value has ever come easy for me. There has always been a battle of some sort to overcome, whether it’s in my mind - or in reality.
Life can be tough. There are Obstacles. Delays. Disappointments. Distractions. Set-backs. Road Blocks. And Detours.
But, through it all, we must press on to believe that if God is for us, who (or what) can successfully be against us.
Nothing is too hard for God.
He is my Rock. My Refuge. In Him will I trust.
SURELY, He will deliver me from the snare of the fowler.
With long life He will satisfy me and show me His Salvation.
A friend of mine reminded me of the fact that I had written scriptures in the concrete foundation of the area where the BOOM took place. If my memory serves me right, I wrote Hebrews 11:1 (my favorite verse) in that exact spot.
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality--faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” - HEBREWS 11:1 AMP
So, for those of you who may be thinking that I’ve disappeared from ministry or faded into the background in not doing my usual cadence of life, please know that I’m in the finale hours of getting my house in order as I make preparation for future assignments.
Just trying to live what I teach... God first, family second, career (even ministry) last.
And, through it all, the Lord has reminded this “type A” woman of God that I can’t save anyone. I am a human being and not a human doing. I’ve NOT, by any means, quit the ministry. I’m just in a season of preparation for great things to come!
Thank you for your prayers.
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Psalm 91 AMP
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!”
For He will save you from the trap of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions,
And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall.
You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But danger will not come near you.
You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes And witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High].
Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will command His angels in regard to you, To protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
They will lift you up in their hands, So that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra; The young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
“Because he set his love on Me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never].
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
“With a long life I will satisfy him And I will let him see My salvation.”"
