Posts Tagged ‘Waldo Canyon Fire’

Trust and the Waldo Canyon Fire

Posted: July 11, 2012 in Christianity, Ministry Partners, Prayer, Reflections & Musings, Video
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partially charred flowers that survived the fire

partially charred flowers that survived the fire

The Waldo Canyon Fire is now 100% contained. Hurrah! That’s great news! Yet many lost their homes, and more were damaged. Some of our friends, Doug and Jodi Hammerstrom live right above the Flying W Ranch, so they were sure that they lost their home. But somehow in God’s grace it survived.

Even with this wonderful news, the Hammerstrom family now wonders what the fire has done to the value of their home? Doug shared about this on his blog, It’s Not About Me. He said, this gives “an opportunity to see who we trust more, The Lord of Heaven and Earth or American Family Insurance.”

There is joy and relief for those who could have lost more in the fire, yet they still suffered loss. It wasn’t the worse case scenario. I know many prayed that homes and lives would be spared. It could have been much worse, but it ended up being the worst fire in the history of Colorado.

Loss like this reminds us that this is our temporary home. The things of this world are wood, hay and stubble compared to the glory of knowing Christ. That’s not to say it’s easy when we suffer loss, and things that we worked hard for are either devalued or completely destroyed.

I am thankful that God spared the Hammerstrom’s home, and I agree with Doug that it is an opportunity to trust. I pray we will all grow in our trust of the Lord, and that those that don’t know Christ will turn to Him as they see how quickly things of this world can go up in smoke.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust the Lord fully.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Here’s a video put out by the Colorado Springs Fire Department that demonstrates just how bad the fire was, and the heroic job they did in limiting the damage.

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org

God’s care for the little things

Posted: July 1, 2012 in Christianity, Ministry, Missions, Prayer, Reflections & Musings
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feeding the baby birds

feeding the baby birds

While in my parents backyard this past week I enjoyed observing the birds. They were small birds, maybe sparrows. The birds made a nest in a small bird house that my parents provided them. Momma and papa bird kept bringing the grub as the baby birds chirped. They may not have been “angry birds,” but they were definitely hungry birds.

As I did my bird watching it reminded me of what Jesus said about the birds of the air.

“Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

—Matthew 6:26

Jesus uses this example, asking the rhetorical question, if our Father cares for little birds, don’t you think He will care for you? He exhorts the people of God not to worry, not be anxious. Anxiety will not provide for you, it will not add a day to your life.

In light of the recent Waldo Canyon fire that reached the city of Colorado Springs this is a good reminder. Dawn and I have many friends who were affected in one way or another by the fire. We talked to some of them today at church. Some of them have already been able to go back to their home. One family told me they were going to be able to go back home today. Then those whose homes were in the more affected areas will only be able to see their homes, but not stay in them yet.

Pray for Colorado and for those affected by the fire

Pray for Colorado and for those affected by the fire

The last I heard from Tom Graham, who I mentioned in one of my last posts, he was waiting to get into his home. Hopefully, that happens today.

What’s more basic than food and shelter. Friends of ours lost those basic needs. Everybody in the city is talking about it.

Disasters cause us to worry. Our pastor, Mark Bates pointed out this morning that, “disasters shatter our illusion of control.” Yes, it is an illusion, because sometimes we think we are in control, and then a fire comes. You can lose everything you own very quickly in a fire. Up in smoke all of your worldly positions, and at that moment you do feel powerless.

These times can increase our faith, as we trust in our loving heavenly Father. We don’t always know, why the fiery trials come? Why bad things happen? At least apart from the fact that we live in a fallen world, we don’t know the specific reason we suffer.

Yet we do know God loves us. He loved us enough to send His son, who died on the cross for our sins. He bore the penalty for us.

I’m sure you’ve quoted or heard Paul’s well-known promise found in Romans 8:28,

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good…”

Then Paul strengthens his argument in Romans 8:32,

“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

You see, if you know God is good, He is powerful and He loves you, then this gives us hope even when we don’t understand. I mean He even God up His own Son for us!

It’s related to the birds. The birds don’t worry, but our heavenly Father takes care of them. He will take care of you too. You are more important than sparrows. You are made in God’s image. So even when it doesn’t seem like God cares, or that He is in control, He does and He is. Praise Him with me!

In His Grip, Dave

DiasoLifeontheBorder.org