This past weekend, we opened up the lines on the radio to hear the stories of how God intervened during the fires. The stories were similar, each one giving thanks to God for the way He moved. For some, the wind shifted direction just in time and for others, people became "Jesus with skin on" as they provided and met the needs of the callers. God clearly moves through people helping people as well as God moving through the winds.

Although the show was filled with praises to the Lord, I literally started crying. Why?  Because the people we didn’t hear from was the person who lost everything in the fires. What thoughts were they having? What were they dealing with? Did they even have the ability to listen to Christian radio? If it were me, I would have questioned why God would allow this to come into my life. It would be very difficult to not be angry and it would be more difficult to be thankful.  I wanted to hear from them. I know that the news gives us clips of the fire victims but I wanted to hear from the ones who knew the Lord. How was He comforting them? How was He able to move in the midst of such internal as well as external disaster?

Thankfully, God started answering my prayers as Sherry Woodley from Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church called me yesterday. Bobbye and I are teaching a Discipleship Program at her church. She is the women’s ministry director and that church is located in the center of the fires there. 57 members of that church had their houses burned to the ground. Sherry began telling me of very tangible ways that the Lord has been intervening in the lives of the victims in Rancho Bernardo and Poway. Sherry and her team have been given a warehouse and very creative ways to minister directly to the fire victims. It is the kind and gracious acts of people touching people that portrays the love of Christ.

Sherry said that a group of women from Solana Beach Pres were attempting to deliver backpacks to the thrift store in Poway. They ended up at the Presbyterian church in RB instead asking for directions. It was Sunday morning and Sherry was just about to head home. So she told them to leave the backpacks in her office and she would take them to Poway in the morning. On Monday morning, Sherry got an urgent call saying that there was a mix up at the high school.  The students who lost everything in the fires were suppose to receive new backpacks their first day back. Well, Sherry just happened to have over 50 brand new, high school-style backpacks sitting in her office. God met those kids needs in a way that only the Lord could have intervened. Praise be to God! He works things together for the good.   

My mom teaches the Community Bible Study class at this church also. She also told me miraculous stories from the fire victims of the women who attend her class. One lady left her wedding ring in her home as she evacuated out of town. After the fire feasted on her house, there was nothing left. A group of Christians went to her property, prayed and searched. They not only found her wedding ring but her tennis braclet also. God is faithful, even in the midst of such turmoil.

We know that not all things are good. These fires are not good, however, God promises to work things together for the good of those who love Him. Please continue to pray for these people. Also please consider to become "Jesus with skin on" to tangibly touch a family that lost everything. One of the things Sherry Woodley is doing is asking people to donate a Willowcreek Nativity Set to the fire victims. She has the connections but needs people to come alongside her to give. If you are willing, please call her at 858-583-4861. She gave me permission to put her number on the blog and said that if anyone is willing to tangibly help, please call her.

We are going to have a prayer meeting (opened to all) on Thursday, November 8 at 7pm at the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. We are going to come together as a community and unite in prayer. There will be testimonies and we will be explaining how you can get involved. Please try to join us as we pray and seek the Lord that night. God is desiring to reveal Himself in the midst of this for we know that He promises in Isaiah 43:2-3, "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." And He is still in the business of saving us today and every day! Hope to see you there.        —Tonilee