How Jesus saved us from the Fire Next Door. (20th December 2000)
Most of my friends in Bombay will by this time be aware of the catastrophe, which occurred last night.... it was quite a scary experience for all of us in the midst of the action.
Basically Mehboob Studio caught fire last night. I got home around midnight, watched 1/2 hr of Benny Hinn on TBN (real good), read some Sirach & then went to sleep.
Around 2 a.m., one of my parent's friends called up to find out if we were ok. My parents had just got back from a party a little while before that & had no clue what he meant. Then as he was talking to my mom, they looked out of the window and saw the studio on fire.
I heard my mom telling my sister to get up, and then she came to my room and told me that Mehboob Studio was burning. I looked out of the window and saw one section of the studio with fire flaming out of the window.
At this time I was kinda tired and not too worried. Basically the fire brigade would take care of it right? I even told my mom to let me sleep as I had work the next day.
In about 15 minutes she woke me up again. This time when I looked out I couldn't believe it. The flames were about double the size of the building next to us. The entire sky was Red & Orange & the fumes were unbelievable. I made sure I got out of bed this time. For a while my parents, sister, 2 maids & I watched from our terrace as the fire spread from section to section.
Then it got really bad. The entire walls started cracking. And then one by one, they started to fall. It was exactly like watching a movie. It is really something to see walls just crumble and fall, especially ones 50 feet high.
However when the walls all started to fall, the police told us to check if there were any ambers falling into our house. We had all to get dressed and start packing our things and get ready to evacuate. We were told that if the fire didn't get us, the fumes would (we would suffocate from the fumes even before the fire reached us). We planned the best way out for 6 people and 4 dogs.
The really strange thing is that the wind usually blows from west to east. Last night it blew only east to west. If it had to change direction, I would definitely not be sitting here now. We would have lost our home and most of our possessions.
There is no maybe. If the wind had changed, we would definitely have no home today. Possibly the entire street too would have been incinerated as it would have spread from home to home.
What do we attribute this saving grace to? Definitely the work of God. My mom used to say this prayer everyday when she was growing up and we all say it everyday too - "Our Lady of this House" (Have written it down below for any of you who want a copy)
Our God, the infinite creator, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is truly the Lord & Protector of us all. All we have to do is call on His Name and we shall be saved!
Incidentally, this other thing also freaked me out. I told you I read Sirach before I slept, here's a bit of what I read: -
Sirach 5: 1- 7 " Do not rely on your wealth. Do not say, " I am self sufficient"... For with Him is mercy, but also anger, His fury shall be poured out on all sinners... the anger of the Lord shall blaze forth and you will perish...."
When I read that I thought, yeah, sometimes I think I have money, everything is cool, but what if God took it all away (like Job), then what?
My family and I sat down this morning to give Praise and Thanks to the Lord for saving us from sure destruction. Among our prayers, we read Psalm 91 ".... If you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your stronghold, no harm will come upon you, no disaster will draw near to your home...."
I hereby give my testimony that it is only by the Lord's hand that we are saved.
It is now 2:23 pm the following afternoon. There are still firemen all over the place. And though the fire is well under control, I'm told it's still breaking out in some place. The sunlight we're receiving is unbelievable because the Studio walls aren't blocking us anymore.
Anyway, that's all for now. Praise the Lord & have a great day. Do not keep anything for tomorrow if you can do it today, especially things like saying "I Love You" to loved ones, ditto, making up with anyone you have fought with and confessing your sins.
Prayer - "Our Lady of this House"
Our Lady of this House, Spotless mother of God
We choose thee as the mistress and lady of this house
Guard it dearest mother from pestilence, lightening, fire and tempest,
From schisms and heresies, From air-raids and the malice of enemies
Protect those who dwell herein most loving mother
Watch over our going out and coming in and preserve us from sudden death
Keep us from all sin and harm and pray for us that we may serve God faithfully here
And afterwards enjoy with thee forever more the blissful vision of His Face.
Amen.
