"Fire" - From: Faith & a Faithful God

The mountain was ablaze.
 
Smoke billowed high above the flames.   Tinder-dry scrub grass, left over from a hot dry summer, became an unlimited fuel source – ready to combust with just one spark.  Powered by fierce winds, showers of sparks spewed burning embers high into the sky.  Raining down and igniting the brush – which scorched everything within its path.
 
Emergency vehicles were perched along the rim of the mountain - 4000 feet above the city of San Bernardino.  The view of the valley below was restricted by plumes of smoke - mixed with varying shades of haze.  Intermingled, and in clear view, pockets of bright orange glowed hot amongst them. 
 
All of this was served as a backdrop to the irregular flicker of red and blue lights - strobing out a chaotic rhythm. 
 
Heading down the mountain, my husband and I were on our way to the bank in San Bernardino.  We were going to “close the deal” on a piece of property.  But, the police barricade blocked our way.   We sat parked in our car which gave us a ringside seat of flames igniting a section of the property that we were on the way to purchase. 
 
The scene was surreal.  

After hours of praying with our dear friends, Bob and Linda, about this purchase, I was bewildered.  We were confident that God had led us to buy the property, yet it seemed to be going up in smoke before our very eyes.  I found myself quietly praying, "Lord, if you don't want us to have it, it's okay with me, but please don't burn it down."

This memory is forever locked in my mind.
   
Yet, little did I know – this was just the beginning of a long line of miracles – where I saw God at work through a place in the San Bernardino Mountains called the Squirrel Inn.

Note:  "Fire" is the first written portrait from the book Margaret Grant & the Squirrel Inn.

​Photo Credit:  Image by Leo Fontes from Pixabay