Fire Power

  This was written on September 14th by Pastor Dave. The fire is now out, and his home is secure, but here are some raw thoughts that God brought to him in the middle of the Mosquito Fire in Foresthill, Ca.

Here I sit at our wonderful church, where we have been provided so much help, support, love, shoulders to cry on, and a warm trailer to sleep in. I can’t help but think of how our heavenly Father loves, cares, and is there for us. 

Yesterday I was feeling pretty optimistic about maybe going home soon to our wonderful home in Foresthill. Then in the late afternoon, the fire jumped our river and headed straight up the hill to our neighborhood. The feelings of despair, fear, anxiety, and a lot of what ifs came rushing in. 

I am a husband, father, pastor, and counselor who is generally the one who tries to hold everyone together. However, in the last year, I have been learning to let go and give it entirely to God. Yesterday was one of those days where I fought for what I knew I should be and what my flesh wanted me to be. 

God showed me something special, and I wanted to put it down on paper. Firefighters worldwide are at my doorstep, doing everything they can to fight this monster. Yesterday the fire was heading right for the town, running up a hill so fast, and it looked like our town was done. So many airplanes and helicopters were dropping retardant and water and dodging each other. According to the ground witnesses, it seemed as though there was an airplane every 20 seconds or so. 

What they did next was what God showed me his power; as the ground crew built a 20’ line with tractors and other equipment just below the parking lot of our grocery store, they stood above it and fired water downhill. They were able to stop the flames and save the store and most of the town at this point. God showed me a picture of how he allows a certain amount of territory for the enemy, but when He draws a line in the sand, that is as far as the enemy is allowed to go.

I was in awe of the very power of God as I observed the “power” of the firefighters. Our God does allow the enemy some territory for now, but when He says enough, the enemy must flee. I pictured the firefighters putting their hands forward and yelling at the flames to stop. Now I know they are just men and have no control over fire, but I am just using them as an illustration. The power, control, fierceness, and incredible love of our God is amazing. He has the final say! 

I don’t know if we will have a house or town left, but I know my home in heaven is secure. And that is enough and gives me the ability to have joy in the midst of the unknown.