Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001492A
01:30 ♪[Theme music]♪
01:40 ♪[Theme music]♪ 01:48 ♪[Soft music with road noise]♪ 01:52 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me on It Is Written. 01:55 I'm John Bradshaw, and together we are heading somewhere. 02:00 Before we get to our destination, 02:01 let's go back in time a little bit. 02:05 2017 was a very active year for natural disasters. 02:12 Remember the hurricanes? 02:14 What a hurricane season. 02:15 ♪[Dramatic music]♪ 02:26 Now, those were the storms. 02:27 There were others besides. 02:29 Then, came the fires. 02:31 [Sound of fire] 02:32 In California, fire season comes every year, 02:35 and there's always a danger of fires. 02:38 Always. 02:38 In northern California, 02:40 a swarm of fires affected about six different counties. 02:44 The worst fire of them all: the Tubbs fire. 02:47 And the Tubbs fire began burning in the direction of Santa Rosa. 02:51 That's where we're going now. 02:53 In Santa Rosa, alone, 02:55 43 people died as a result of the Tubbs fire. 03:00 That's 43 known deaths; there may be more. 03:04 Nine thousand structures were destroyed, 03:07 5,500 of them in Santa Rosa. 03:11 Three thousand homes were destroyed in Santa Rosa. 03:14 Five percent of Santa Rosa's houses were destroyed. 03:19 The destruction was immense. 03:21 We're on our way to Santa Rosa 03:22 to talk to some survivors of the Tubbs fire. 03:27 Some victims of the Tubbs fire, that is, 03:29 people who lost everything. 03:33 And, people who lost nothing. 03:36 And we'll ask an important question. 03:38 And that question: Where was God? 03:42 Where was God when the fires burned? 03:43 Where was God as people suffered? 03:45 Where was God while people were dying? 03:48 Where was God in the midst of the devastation? 03:50 It's a very important question, 03:52 not only in the context of the fires in California, 03:54 the hurricanes that buffeted the United States, 03:56 but our own lives. 03:58 Everybody meets with tragedy, 03:59 disaster, loss. 04:01 And that question is often asked. 04:03 That question is, where was God? 04:07 We're heading to Santa Rosa. 04:09 By the grace of God, we'll find an answer to that question. 04:15 ♪[Soft music]♪ 04:25 >>Marc Selivanoff: So it was Sunday night. 04:27 We went to bed, on October 8. 04:29 And uh, about maybe 1:30 in the morning, 04:33 the uh, my wife got a phone call. 04:37 And I could hear the voice on the other end of the line, 04:40 was very, uh, tense, and very intense, 04:44 maybe would be a better word. 04:45 And she was basically screaming, 04:48 "There's a fire; it's massive; it's headed your way. 04:51 You need to get out, and get out now." 04:53 >>John: So you get the warning, 04:55 you get the phone call, and so what do you do? 04:58 >>Marc: So, of course, at 1:30 in the morning, 05:00 you know, I go and I look outside, 05:01 and I could smell the smoke. 05:03 And, uh, so we knew that, based on her phone call, 05:07 this was something serious that we needed to pay attention to. 05:10 So we got up, very groggy, started gathering our pets 05:15 and our few things that we could get, 05:19 um, loaded them into the car. 05:21 And the smoke was very thick at that point, 05:24 and, uh, just headed out and, uh. 05:29 So we ended up at a house that we own that was vacant. 05:33 We, uh, got settled there, 05:36 and then Anthony, my son, said, 05:39 "Hey, Dad, let's go back up and see." 05:40 And I said, "Well, we'll go as far as we can, 05:42 but I don't want to put us in danger." 05:44 >>John: So you came back up here to the house. 05:45 What did you find? 05:46 >>Marc: Um, we came back up, and the fire was, 05:49 was raging, uh, down in the residential community. 05:53 It was on this hill and on this hill as well. 05:56 >>John: But the house? 05:57 >>Marc: The house was still standing at that point. 05:58 So we, uh, we were fighting the fire with the intention of 06:04 obviously saving our home and all of our possessions. 06:07 >>Catherine Hamilton: We got a call at two a.m. 06:08 >>Alvin Hamilton: Monday night, yeah. 06:09 >>Catherine: At midnight, here. 06:13 >>Alvin: It's, it's like complete hopelessness, 06:16 because you're gone, except that you have God. 06:20 And so the first thing that you do is the only thing 06:22 that you know you can hang onto is God. 06:25 I mean, everything else, as what you physically can do, 06:28 is not there. 06:29 >>Catherine: After I hear fire, I hear, in the background, 06:32 "Get out! 06:33 Get out! 06:34 You're being evacuated. 06:36 The fire is two to four blocks away from your house." 06:38 And I panicked. 06:40 And so I told Alvin, I said, 06:41 "Pray for me. Pray for me. 06:42 Pray for my sanity, and so that I can be able to pray." 06:45 Because my mind, I felt like my mind was just gone. 06:48 >>Alvin: I sought the Lord, 06:50 and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears. 06:53 >>Catherine: So the minute he prayed for me, 06:55 not for the fire, 06:56 not for anything that was happening, 06:58 I just needed my calmness and my sanity 07:01 to be able to be in tune with God. 07:03 Because I knew that if I had that, 07:05 I had everything else. 07:06 So I said, we started praying, our prayers didn't last long. 07:10 They were desperate, they were, uh, 07:13 they were rushed. 07:14 There was a need, it was urgent, it was very, very urgent. 07:17 I said, "Please save my children." 07:20 >>Alvin: The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them 07:24 that fear Him and delivered them. 07:26 >>Catherine: So immediately after we prayed that, 07:28 and then we couldn't pray anymore, 07:30 and we started saying verses in the Bible. 07:33 And so we grasped, um, Psalms 34 and Psalms 91, 07:37 and we were saying it back and forth, 07:39 back and forth. 07:40 >>Alvin: I will bless the Lord at all times: 07:42 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 07:45 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. 07:47 The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 07:50 Oh, magnify the Lord of me, 07:52 and let us exalt His name together. 07:54 >>Catherine: So what really was the most amazing miracle 07:57 about this home is that the fire started miles east, 08:02 behind us, and it stopped right at my backyard, 08:06 and do not proceed to any other home beyond us. 08:12 >>Courtney Asker: My mom woke up at 11:45, 08:15 and she smelled smoke. 08:17 So she woke my dad up, and he just pretty much said, 08:20 "you know, you're freaking out; 08:21 go to bed; we're fine." 08:23 And so then she called 911 and they ended up telling her, 08:27 "no, you're fine." 08:29 Like, you have nothing to worry about. 08:30 You don't have to leave. 08:31 There's a fire being contained. 08:33 Then it was at 1:19 a.m. was when her friend texted again 08:38 that Paradise Ridge Winery is on fire, 08:41 and that's right below where we are. 08:44 And so that's when my mom, like, started screaming, 08:48 so that's how I woke up. 08:49 But they still never told me what was going on. 08:52 So then I went in and I helped my mom. 08:55 And she had grabbed, like, our metal box with our passports 08:58 and birth certificates and stuff. 08:59 And then she grabbed a couple photo albums, 09:02 like, her and my dad and my grandpa and stuff. 09:05 And so then I went back to my room and I just, 09:08 like, changed into sweats real quick. 09:11 And I put on a pair of flip flops and then I grabbed 09:14 my school backpack and a stuffed animal and one picture. 09:17 And so, when we were driving down the hill, 09:19 like I just remember seeing, like, red everywhere. 09:22 Then I understood, you know, like, okay, 09:25 it's, like, the mountain's on fire. 09:27 ♪[Ominous music]♪ 09:35 >>John: Now, here's a question. 09:36 Can God be trusted? 09:38 Either you've asked that question yourself, 09:40 or you know somebody who has. 09:42 And I've got an answer for you. 09:44 I'd like you to get today's free offer, 09:46 "Can God Be Trusted?" 09:48 To receive it, call 800-253-3000, 09:52 write to the address on your screen, 09:53 or visit us at iiwoffer.com. 09:57 "Can God Be Trusted?" 09:58 I have an answer for you. 10:00 800-253-3000, 10:02 or visit us at iiwoffer.com. 10:05 >>Announcer: Have you ever wondered 10:06 if you're good enough to be saved? 10:08 It's a common question that has discouraged many people. 10:10 But it doesn't have to discourage you. 10:13 “Taking a Stand” 10:14 is a powerful five-part series presented by 10:15 Pastor John Bradshaw 10:17 that will help you discover the assurance of salvation. 10:20 Call 1-888-664-5573 10:23 to order the "Taking a Stand" DVD. 10:26 Or download it from our webstore at 10:27 www.itiswritten.shop. 10:30 Jesus offers salvation as a free gift to everyone, 10:33 including you. 10:35 ♪[Music]♪ 10:45 >>Marc: As the fire came in the morning, 10:46 it basically, once the house caught fire 10:48 there was nothing that we could do at that point. 10:51 >>John: So help me get the picture of this. 10:52 Here's your home, and everything. 10:55 So around here, there was, stuff was on fire. 10:58 >>Marc: The back hill behind our house was on fire, 11:01 and the hill over there behind you was on fire as well. 11:05 And there's actually two houses that were there. 11:07 And while we were here, those exploded and went up. 11:10 Probably a hundred-foot wall of fire right, 11:12 just over there. 11:13 There's two houses over there on that side of the property that, 11:17 while we were here fighting the fire, 11:19 went up in smoke, and you could hear them. 11:21 It was like a 747 just taking off, 11:23 and the popping of windows and whatever else happens 11:26 when a house goes up in flame. 11:28 And my son actually went over 11:29 to make sure that that side of the property was okay. 11:32 So he was over there fighting the fire. 11:34 I was here, and I decided we should be together, 11:36 so I left this and went to be with him. 11:38 But what ended up happening then is that the wind 11:40 brought the fire up from the residential community. 11:43 Um, it overcame, and landed on the house, 11:47 and the house went up in flames. 11:49 And at that point we had to leave as well. 11:51 ♪[Quiet music]♪ 11:53 >>Courtney: That Monday, 11:54 we still hadn't known, like, what, 11:58 what anything looked like. 11:59 We didn't know if anything had burnt down. 12:01 I couldn't eat or sleep at all 12:03 because I didn't know if our house was okay. 12:06 And my mom pretty much kept saying, 12:08 like, there's no way that it could have survived. 12:10 I just kept saying, like, no, it has to be there. 12:12 Like, there's no way it can be gone. 12:15 And I think it was about like that evening, 12:18 Monday, I have a friend who was going, 12:21 and driving around and taking videos. 12:24 And so I texted him and I was, like, 12:25 go to this address. 12:26 And so he went there and he took pictures, 12:28 and it was all gone. 12:31 And, like, I just remember, like, 12:33 breaking down completely and, like, 12:34 I couldn't even stand because of it. 12:37 So we didn't find out until, like, that evening, 12:39 the day after the fires. 12:42 >>John: When did you come back? 12:43 How soon could, could you come back, 12:45 to have a look at your place? 12:46 >>Courtney: Um, we didn't come here until, 12:50 like, two weeks after. 12:53 >>John: Tell me what that was like. 12:55 >>Courtney: Um, well, the first time it was only my parents 12:58 who came here, because I was with a friend. 13:00 And then I think maybe a little less than a week after, 13:05 that's when I came here for the first time. 13:08 ‘Cause that's when they were finally, like, 13:10 letting people come up and, like, 13:11 search for things, you know, in their house. 13:14 Since, like, after we had found out about it, 13:16 like, I wasn't necessarily, like, that emotional. 13:21 And so I didn't think that I would, like, 13:24 start crying when we come, when we came up here. 13:26 But when we got here and, like, I actually got out of the car, 13:29 like, that's when I just started sobbing with my dad, 13:33 pretty much. 13:34 And, like, that's the first time I've seen him cry in, like, 13:36 a really long time. 13:38 ♪[Quiet music]♪ 13:39 >>John: I hate to ask you this question, 13:40 but if the firetrucks had somehow arrived an hour earlier, 13:43 might your house still be standing? 13:45 >>Marc: It would be standing, but I don't, 13:47 I don't hold that against the firemen. 13:49 >>John: Oh, yeah, sure. 13:50 >>Marc: Yeah, this fire was so large and so, uh, 13:52 out of control, and so hot... 13:55 >>Marc: ...I think the key priority then 13:56 was saving lives and making sure that they could save 14:00 as many people as they could. 14:01 >>John: You were kind of the last... 14:03 >>Marc: The last one. 14:05 Yeah. 14:06 And as we were standing there watching, 14:08 the firetrucks arrived, 14:10 and that's part of the reason why they survived, 14:13 is three firetrucks arrived on the street on the other side, 14:16 and ended up, uh, able to save. 14:18 And the winds, you know, cooperated. 14:20 But the firemen were able to save, 14:22 uh, those houses there. 14:24 Which I'm grateful for. 14:24 I'm happy that they have their home. 14:26 ♪[Ominous music]♪ 14:39 >>Announcer: In Matthew 4:4, the Word of God says, 14:41 "It is Written, 14:42 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 14:44 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 14:48 "Every Word" 14:49 is a one-minute, Bible-based daily devotional 14:52 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw, 14:54 and designed especially for busy people like you. 14:57 Look for Every Word on selected networks, 15:00 or watch it online every day on our website, 15:02 itiswritten.com. 15:04 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 15:06 Watch "Every Word." 15:08 You'll be glad you did. 15:12 >>John: I'm John Bradshaw from It Is Written, 15:15 inviting you to join me for "500," 15:18 nine programs produced by It Is Written, 15:20 taking you deep into the Reformation. 15:24 This is the 500th anniversary 15:26 of the beginning of the Reformation, 15:28 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses 15:30 to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. 15:33 We'll take you to Wittenberg, 15:35 and to Belgium, 15:36 to England, 15:37 to Ireland, 15:38 to Rome, 15:39 to the Vatican City, 15:40 and introduce you to the people who created the Reformation, 15:43 who pushed the Reformation forward. 15:45 We'll take you to sites all throughout Europe 15:47 where the reformers lived and, in some cases, died. 15:50 We'll bring you back to the United States 15:51 and take you to a little farm in upstate New York, 15:54 and show you how God spread the Reformation here. 15:57 Don't miss "500." 15:59 You can own the "500" series on DVD. 16:03 Call us on 888-664-5573, 16:07 or visit us online at itiswritten.shop. 16:13 ♪[Quiet music]♪ 16:16 >>Catherine: I'm not sure what God is trying to tell us, 16:17 but I know that God spoke in Santa Rosa. 16:21 >>Marc: You know, even now 16:22 there's times when I'll be talking on my phone, 16:25 or at the end of the day, 16:26 and I'll just start driving here, 16:29 and realize, wait a second, what am I doing? 16:31 I don't live here [chuckles]; I live over there. 16:34 And so, you know, it's been a challenge, 16:37 and every day there's new emotions and new, 16:39 uh, decisions and new challenges that come up. 16:43 But, you know, we're confident that God 16:46 has not forgotten about us, 16:48 that He has provided for us, 16:50 and that He is walking with us each step of the way. 16:54 >>Courtney: I don't think I ever, like, 16:55 got angry at Him, but I think I was just kind of, 16:59 almost let down, you know. 17:02 When we, when me and my mom were driving down the hill, 17:05 um, so there's like a little pond that's right there. 17:08 You can kind of see it. 17:09 Like a little lake. 17:09 >>John: Yeah. 17:11 >>Courtney: I remember, like, she was just praying, 17:12 like, use that lake. 17:14 You know, just use that tiny little thing just to shield, 17:16 like, our house. 17:18 And, like, I actually thought that it would work. 17:22 You know, I thought that He would, 17:24 like, actually protect, like, all of our houses and stuff. 17:27 So I think, I just felt like, you know, 17:29 kind of let down by Him a bit. 17:32 >>Alvin: I, I felt a heavy load of responsibility that, 17:39 why, God? 17:39 You picked me. 17:41 You picked our home. 17:42 You saved our family. 17:44 I just felt a heavy load. 17:45 Lord, I'm going to have to do a lot more. 17:48 I'm going to have to do a lot better, 17:50 because this is just incredible, you know. 17:53 And, you know, what happened is this home next to us that, 17:57 that burned down was one of the only homes 18:00 that people could actually drive up and see, 18:02 because the military and the police 18:04 had blocked off so many areas. 18:06 So we had car after car driving into our cul-de-sac. 18:10 Some people stopped, and they would come, 18:12 and they would talk to us, 18:13 and we would tell them what God had did for us. 18:16 People would come in and go, like, man, 18:17 you guys were lucky. 18:18 You know, we weren't lucky. 18:20 God did this for us. 18:21 It was outrageous. 18:23 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, 18:26 but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." 18:29 >>Catherine: So what I learned from it is that 18:31 you can depend on God's words like this. 18:33 It has ears, so it hears when you pray. 18:36 It has hands, so it can stop things from happening. 18:41 It has legs; it can actually move and just do stuff for you. 18:46 So it is really actually actively a life. 18:48 It does stuff. 18:50 >>Alvin: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good: 18:54 blessed is the man that trusteth in him." 18:57 >>Catherine: So this word, in times of danger, 19:00 in the future, 19:01 I know that I can depend on it. 19:03 I know I can go to it. 19:04 I know I can tell it, ask it. 19:07 I know that it will hear. 19:09 It will see. 19:10 It has a mouth; it can speak. 19:12 It can say "wind, time to turn around. 19:15 Don't touch that house." 19:17 And it actually obeys and does stuff like that. 19:20 It is a miracle! 19:22 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High 19:25 shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 19:27 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: 19:31 my God; in Him will I trust. 19:33 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; 19:35 nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 19:38 nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; 19:40 nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." 19:45 >>John: So let me ask you a question. 19:47 You're a Christian. 19:48 You're a believer. 19:49 You're in it with God, boots and all. 19:53 Where was God in the middle of this? 19:56 Your, your home is being destroyed. 19:59 Your possessions are being obliterated. 20:02 Not everything, the things you hold most precious are safe. 20:05 >>Marc: Yes. 20:06 >>John: All this other stuff, which is precious, 20:08 is going up in smoke literally. 20:10 >>Marc: Yeah. 20:11 >>John: And, and the loss is astronomical. 20:13 Where is God? 20:14 >>Marc: You know, that's a fair question, 20:15 and it's something I think you do wrestle with. 20:18 Because we know that God could prevent this. 20:22 >>John: Sure. 20:23 >>Marc: And, you know, it says in scripture that 20:25 "before you call, I will answer." 20:27 And in our case, 20:29 what gave me hope and encouragement, 20:31 and a confidence that God was with us 20:34 in spite of what just happened to us, 20:36 was we had, uh, been, uh, had acquired a property. 20:43 So we had picked this up back in April. 20:45 And, uh, the plan was just simply to fix it and flip it. 20:49 But we made a decision around July 20:51 that maybe we should keep it as a rental. 20:53 And that turned out to be a very important decision. 20:57 And we were literally two days away 21:00 from renting it when the fire happened. 21:02 And so for us, the blessing was that we had a place to go. 21:07 It had just been rehabbed. 21:08 No one had ever lived there. 21:10 And we were able, at two in the morning when we left here, 21:12 all in a panic, we were able to go there 21:15 to a place of safety and a place of quiet. 21:17 And so for me, when I feel overwhelmed about that, 21:20 I, I know without a doubt that God had prepared a place for us, 21:25 and that He was watching out for us, 21:27 and that we would be okay. 21:30 >>Courtney: Before the fires and I was meeting 21:32 with my youth pastor, um, when I told her that I was, 21:35 like, okay, I'm ready. 21:37 Like, I want to do it. 21:38 I want to get baptized. 21:39 It was about a week and a half before the fires, 21:41 and that's when she had told me. 21:43 And she had said that Satan is pretty much going to test me. 21:49 She said, "It doesn't happen to everyone 21:51 who's going to get baptized, but I have had situations where, 21:55 you know, I've had kids who have had stuff happen to them 21:59 right before they get baptized. 22:01 And that makes them lose a little bit of faith in God, 22:04 or not trust Him, or, you know, get angry at Him or whatever." 22:08 And so she said, you know, "Just be aware." 22:11 Like, there's probably going to be something happen. 22:14 And then a week and a half later, 22:15 that's when the fires happened. 22:17 >>John: So you weren't tempted just to give up on God? 22:19 >>Courtney: Umh-umm. 22:21 >>John: Good for you. 22:29 >>John: You know, it really does make you wonder. 22:33 If you've not been through a loss like this, 22:37 the vast majority of us have not, 22:41 it's kind of hard to put yourself 22:42 into somebody else's shoes. 22:44 What must it be like to go through? 22:47 Well, of course, while not everybody has had their home 22:51 burn or been through Hurricane Irma or some such thing, 22:56 we all suffer loss on some level. 23:01 And it tends to shake our faith somehow. 23:06 Sometimes its a seismic shake, sometimes a little small shake. 23:12 But that question comes to you: where was God? 23:16 Where was God when my child got desperately ill? 23:20 Where was God when my spouse ruined the marriage? 23:26 Where was God when the fire burned? 23:29 You know. 23:30 Where was God? 23:33 The place you find answers to that sort of question 23:36 is the Bible, 23:37 the only reliable place that you can find an answer. 23:40 So let me read to you from 2 Corinthians, 23:43 chapter 4, from verse 16. 23:46 Here's what the Bible says: 23:49 "Therefore, we do not lose heart. 23:51 Even though our outward man is perishing, 23:54 yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 23:58 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 24:01 is working for us a far more exceeding 24:04 and eternal weight of glory, 24:06 while we do not look not at the things which are seen, 24:09 but at the things which are not seen. 24:12 For the things which are seen are temporary, 24:16 but the things which are not seen are eternal." 24:20 So, how about that? 24:21 The Bible talks about our light affliction. 24:24 Yeah, I don't want to meet any of these householders 24:27 and tell them, "You lost everything. 24:28 That's a 'light affliction.'" 24:30 But if you look for God in the flames, 24:33 there's a chance you might not be able to see Him. 24:35 But if you keep on looking, God will come into view. 24:37 He'll come into focus. 24:38 If you're trying to hear the voice of God 24:40 while the fire engines are wailing, 24:42 it might be right 24:43 then you can't discern the voice of God. 24:44 It may be that you can. 24:47 But if you hang in there, God's leading will become clear. 24:50 And whatever you're going through right now, 24:52 whatever you have faced or will face, 24:54 you can know that God is right there with you too. 24:58 [Ominous music] 25:06 >>John: Now, here's a question. 25:08 Can God be trusted? 25:10 Either you've asked that question yourself, 25:12 or you know somebody who has. 25:14 And I've got an answer for you. 25:15 I'd like you to get today's free offer, 25:18 "Can God Be Trusted?" 25:20 To receive it, call 800-253-3000, 25:23 write to the address on your screen, 25:25 or visit us at iiwoffer.com. 25:29 "Can God Be Trusted?" 25:30 I have an answer for you. 25:31 800-253-3000, 25:33 or visit us at iiwoffer.com. 25:36 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 25:38 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 25:42 To support this international life-changing ministry, 25:45 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 25:49 You can send your tax-deductible gift 25:51 to the address on your screen, 25:52 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 25:56 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 25:59 Our number again is 800-253-3000. 26:03 Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 26:07 ♪[Piano music]♪ 26:17 ♪[Piano music]♪ 26:26 >>John: The chainsaws are whirring in the background. 26:28 The construction, or maybe the destruction equipment 26:31 is working behind us, because great tragedy has taken place. 26:35 Real loss. 26:37 Where was God? 26:39 Let Jesus tell you. 26:40 We're going to settle it right now. 26:42 Matthew, chapter 28, and the second part of verse 20. 26:46 Jesus said, "...and lo, I am with you always, 26:51 even to the end of the age." 26:54 And then Matthew wrote, "Amen." 26:57 So that settles it. 26:58 Where was God? 26:59 He was with those who were suffering. 27:02 Where was God? 27:03 He was with you in your own personal hell. 27:06 Where was God? 27:08 He was walking beside you. 27:09 You know what He was doing? 27:10 He was carrying you. 27:12 Because it's the grace of God that enables us 27:15 to accomplish or do or endure anything at all. 27:19 If we look at circumstances, our faith might be shaken. 27:22 If you'll look at the Word of God, 27:24 look to the cross on which Jesus died for you. 27:28 If you look to God's promises, 27:29 you will know and you will be certain. 27:31 He never leaves you; 27:33 He's always with you, no matter what. 27:38 And best of all, 27:40 one day soon Jesus will return and gather us together, 27:43 and take us home, 27:45 to a land where there'll be no loss, 27:48 no death, 27:49 no devastation, 27:51 no disaster. 27:52 We'll never wonder, "where was God?" 27:54 For we will be there in God's presence forever. 27:56 You want to be there? 27:58 I know you do. 28:00 Let's pray together now. 28:02 Father in Heaven, 28:03 we thank You for the assurance that You are with us. 28:06 You never abandon us. 28:08 In our darkest moments You are there. 28:10 In our struggles, You are there. 28:12 In times of loss, 28:13 grief, 28:14 despair, 28:14 difficulty, 28:15 You are there. 28:17 And in times of joy and celebration, 28:20 in times of gladness, You are there. 28:23 Lord, we thank You today. 28:24 Though we don't always understand what You allow 28:27 we understand enough of you to know that You are good, 28:30 that You are God. 28:32 We look forward to the day when Jesus returns, 28:35 and the sadnesses and the sufferings of this earth 28:37 will be gone forever. 28:38 Let that day come soon. 28:39 Friend, you want to be ready then. 28:41 You want to be ready now. 28:43 Would you open your heart to God now and say, 28:45 "Lord, I want you to be my Lord. 28:48 I want the God of Heaven to be my God. 28:50 I want Jesus to be my Savior." 28:52 If that's your prayer, 28:53 pray it in your heart now. 28:55 Lord, hear the cry of our heart. 28:58 We look forward to seeing Jesus soon 28:59 and spending eternity with You. 29:01 We thank you for it, and we pray, 29:04 and we trust, in Jesus' name. 29:08 Amen. 29:09 >>John: Thanks so much for joining me today. 29:10 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 29:13 Until then, remember: 29:15 "It is written: 29:17 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 29:19 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 29:24 ♪[Theme music]♪ |
Revised 2018-02-13