PSALM 91 REVISITED

Three short years ago, our daughter was visiting friends in Tucson when she received a call from a neighbor. Telling her they were evacuating the condo complex where she lived because of wildfires in SoCal. It was only a weekend trip, so she hadn't called anyone to watch her cat, Miscellaneous. Funny story how he got his name, but that's another blog entry.

So obviously she was upset when she arrived at our house that Sunday afternoon after a short drive from Tucson. We prayed with her. I sat her down next to me and we read Psalm 91 together. I had just studied that Psalm as part of a BSF lesson the previous Monday night. Basically it was a psalm of protection, with beautiful images of a loving Lord "cover(ing) you with His feathers, and under His wing you will find refuge" (verse 4) and "a thousand may fall at your side, but it will not come near you" (verse 7). I really emphasized verse 10, "no disaster will come near your tent."

She got on the internet and found how close the fire was to her condo. "It's reached our crossroads," she announced and was really upset, but she didn't show it. I think the peace of God was over her. And He did protect. There were 6 or so condos that burned in her complex of 100, but the cat, rescued by the Humane Society, and her condo, her tent were spared.

Turn the clock forward to this weekend and this week when huge fires raged again. This time Courtney was in San Diego with her cat. She turned again to Psalm 91. I must have read it six times on Monday alone. She packed up and was waiting for a call to evacuate, but thank the Lord no call was made. Again, He covered her with His feathers. Many, many neighboring communities and as many as 700,000 have been evacuated. Many homes, churches, and businesses have been destroyed.

She's not out of danger yet, though she did return to work this morning. But she's thankful. Thankful for Psalm 91.

So why does God spare some and not others? Well, we may have to wait to be on the other side of Heaven to find out. But I think so that He can illustrate what He can do. And for people to share what miracles He still performs. You won't hear us say, she was lucky,or she was fortunate. What you'll hear is "God protected Courtney." Again.