The fires have been raging throughout NSW and friends and families have not been exempt from this. There have been many stories of people we know who have been affected by the fires burning throughout the state.

A few weeks back, it felt close to home as the fires hit the Eastward property, slowly inching closer and closer getting about 100 metres to the house. 

Last week and this week especially seem to be intense as many friends and family have been either fighting the fires or evacuating for safety. During the Cultivate Conference we heard different stories of friends homes being engulfed in flames only to be found in the morning completely in tact with no fire damage or fires burning up to the corner of the house when winds suddenly change. But it wasn't only those outside of the conference that were affected. On the first full day of the conference a small group left to go fight a fire coming in to the property of a team member. Although by the time the night was over the fire had died down, it raged up again the next day becoming more intense and the fight continued.

During this time, those back at camp also began packing their things in case an evacuation was needed. It seemed the weekend would be ruined by the intensity of the natural disaster that had been taking over NSW. But God's blessings are imprinted in the forefront of our minds. Though fires came close, they never took the homes of those attending the conference, and they were still able to enjoy the spiritual meetings of the weekend. 

At the end of the conference, the threat of the fire remained at a distance as the attendees gathered together to have their last seminar, and continued this way until the majority of them had left. It was only as those who had stayed behind to help clean up began their work that the call of evacuation was made. God had kept the fire at bay until the final day of camp. 

Seeing how God has been holding back the fires has been an incredible assurance of His love and protection. Through any trial or hardship in our life, we may rest assured that God is with us and protecting us from anything that isn't according to His will. 

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."