Beauty For Ashes?

It's been a trying day today. The reality of a filthy soot filled house and a basement destroyed...AND add to the fact someone did it on purpose after trying to get valuables is really something (they did not get much).

I saw another area where someone had gone through my bathroom drawers and put all my ear rings out on the counter. Thank goodness I am NOT a diamond and lace girl...All they had were earings that did not match, a fake pearl earing and a couple of rings.... Cheap stuff to say the least. Your are talking to the Walmart girl here....

Dave had to work. My goodness he has to provide for us! He has quite a few jobs lined up...Bless his heart. So I have to be the one to handle the investigators, insurance people and all...What a new role to play.

The investigation continues...Which is so surreal....terrible feeling to be scrutinized like a criminal. They had four more fire investigators from three counties out there, one being the lead investigator in this area.....I stayed outside. Thank goodness Dave's dad came to keep me company.

I am really amazed at how faithful God is to help you through times like this. He has really shown up for me in the smallest of ways (which are big at this time).

I am so glad I got that lesson from Isaiah chapter 7 (which I blogged about below in some posts). Interesting that the threat I was talking about was in the form of a "smoking firebrand"!

And what did God tell Isaiah to say?

"The final word from Isaiah to King Ahaz concerning the attack from these two enemy forces is the same word for you. Whether you are fighting attacks on your children, your family, your finances, your healing, or any insurmountable problem:

"Thus says the Lord God: It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass."

So, I'm walking out this right now. This attack is just that...an attack. I believe what the enemy tries to do to harm you,God can turn around and bring hope and change.

"...beauty for ashes...."

Out of the ash heap, I am believing God for a new thing...As we clean up the clutter, I am believing for a change....No weapon formed against you shall stand...as it says in Isaiah.

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia...At Our House!

We came home from Louisiana last night to a terrible reality.

Our house had been vandalized and someone started a fire to cover the evil deed in our basement.

The only reason our house is still standing is because it is so well built (by my husband dave), and insulated.

The fire was started underneath the stairs downstairs. I don't know a lot of details because it is under major investigation but I can say it's terrible inside. Everything downstairs is black, melted down to nothing, or burned away.

I was the first one in the house when we came home. I thought the house smelled musty as I turned the alarm off. When my daughter saw the black coach she let out a shriek and yelled mom, the house has been on fire.

About that time I was making my way down the hall and around a corner when I saw the terrible black marks on my hardwood up from the downstairs. It felt warm and I was not sure if the fire was smouldering or going on still downstairs. So I yelled get out as we ran up the drive way and I called 911.

Basically, it's a terrible feeling. It's bad enough your house is full of soot and your basement demolished by the fire but to add insult to the pain, we got questioned one by one by detectives afterward it was deemed an obvious arson. Even my kids got questioned.

Later we went in with the investigators and realized some valuables were stolen from the master bedroom.

So, here we are in a motel...for a week....or how ever long it will take to survey the damage, discover the source of the arson, and deal with the insurance company on the damage.

The fire may have been downstairs but the aftereffects are all over my house. Soot, smoke, grime..UGLY.

So please pray. My kids are resilient but this was a tough one.

I believe God's grace will cover their tender minds.

I am praying for favor with the insurance company....

We have to deal now with the reality of someone stealing from us and trying to cover it up with a fire.

So, thank you for any prayers or advice,