A rare summer storm had moved through the area, producing more than 12,000 lightning strikes and sparking fires across the state.

Over the course of a week, one fire grew and moved until it was about 6 miles from my hometown, where my parents and countless friends and former ward members live. ⁣

While the town was still in “warning” mode, the worst news came – ANOTHER rare storm was coming that weekend. ⁣

It was going to bring strong winds that would blow right towards the town, and this storm had a 100% chance to produce countless lightning.

The situation was dire. ⁣

The warnings shifted to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of people as the coming storm was expected to bring that fire right to town limits, and new lightning strikes would add additional chaos. ⁣

And so the stake presidency called for a day of fasting and prayer. ⁣

Word spread, and members of the town, both church members and those of other faiths, joined in special prayers that Sabbath. ⁣

They braced for the worst, but faced the future with faith. ⁣

And on Monday, the town released a statement: “The storm that was forecasted did not develop as anticipated, which is positive”.

The winds that had been forecasted and threatened the entire town, never came.

The giant forecast storm resulted in less than 400 total strikes, and no consequential fires. ⁣

By Monday evening, in a totally unexpected move, the orders were completely lifted and everyone could return back home. ⁣

It was nothing short of a miracle. ⁣

The town Facebook page lit up with testimony after testimony of people sharing their gratitude to God and their feelings of unity during the fast. ⁣

And yet, sprinkled throughout those posts were comments such as, “You really think that your prayers caused all this?”⁣

Miracles are real. They happened just as Samuel prophesied, and they happen today. ⁣

And just as in times of old, WE decide if we are going to believe.⁣

Because miracles are explained away by nonbelievers, and completely life-changing for those who do believe.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The threatening wildfire  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Crazy winds and constant lightning. Sheets of rain pouring down.

I, of course, immediately started to pray.

“Please let this storm be short. Let it be over quickly.”

But the storm kept coming.

“Please keep the lightning away.”

The strikes seemed to come even closer.

“Please stop the roads from flooding.”

All the cars moved to the center lane as water pooled on the edges of the road.

“Should I just stop and pull over?”

Immediate doubts filled my mind. That wouldn’t be the right option for me right then.

I took a deep breath.

“Please be with me in the storm. Help me to make good decisions. Help the cars around me. Calm my heart and my mind.”

My mind was alert and racing as I drove the rest of the way home, but calm filled my heart.

The storm wasn’t going anywhere, but I was going to be okay. I would make it home.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through fire, thou shalt not be burned”. (Isaiah 43:2)

The Lord doesn’t take away those disasters that are coming our way.

The floods still come.

The fire is still there!

But the Lord stays with us during the trial.

He makes the consequences sting just a little less.

He comforts us.

Isn’t that a great lesson to remember?

The Lord doesn’t always take away our hard times– He walks through them with us.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The floods and fire first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

To always be led by the Lord?

To know where He wants you to be and where He wants you to go next?

Okay, okay, I see where this spiritual thought is going.

The Lord didn’t just lead the children of Israel and then tell future generations that we are out of luck from having that same guiding influence.

He may have led them in a more physical sense.

But He undoubtedly still leads us today.

I mean, General Conference is the perfect weekend to reflect on that.

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night”. (Exodus 13:21)

Day and night, His light and His guidance are there.

Now, seeing His hand, finding His guidance, listening to the whispers of the Spirit… I think that is part of our challenge now.

The other part is humbling ourselves enough to want to look for the guidance in the first place.

So here’s what I’ve been reflecting on:

1. Am I humble enough to actually seek God’s guidance and will in my life, or am I plowing forward just with what I want?
2. How am I able to listen and hear when I do receive divine guidance?

Those answers change around day by day.

But if I keep the questions in mind, I find that my heart is led a little easier.

Molded a little more thoroughly.

And turned toward God’s guiding cloud and fire, both day and night.

He still leads and guides us. Where have you felt led this weekend?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Leading and lighting the way  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

The week before, a rare summer storm had moved through the area, producing more than 12,000 lightning strikes and sparking fires across the state, but especially hitting the Bay Area.

Over the course of a week, that fire grew and moved until it was about 6 miles from my hometown, where my parents and countless friends and former ward members live.

While the town was still in “warning” mode, the worst news came – ANOTHER rare storm was coming that weekend.

It was going to bring strong winds that would blow right towards Morgan Hill, and this storm had a 100% chance to produce even more than the 12,000 strikes from the previous weekend that had sparked hundreds of fires.

The situation was dire.

The warnings shifted to mandatory evacuation orders for thousands as the coming storm was expected to bring that fire right to town limits, and new lightning strikes would add additional chaos.

And so the stake presidency called for a day of fasting and prayer.

They fasted and prayed specifically that the strong winds would shift, that the lightning strikes wouldn’t start new fires, and that the firefighters would remain safe.

My parents weren’t in the section of town that needed evacuation, but they had a family stay with them and even walked around another family’s house on FaceTime, collecting the things that they were told to save, as this family was away on vacation.

That Sunday came, and word spread that people were joining in fasting and prayer. Members of the town, both church members and those of other faiths, joined in special prayers that Sabbath.

They braced for the worst, but faced the future with faith.

And on Monday, the town of Morgan Hill released a statement: “The storm that was forecasted did not develop as anticipated which is positive for Morgan Hill.”

The winds that had been forecasted and threatened the entire town, never came.

The more than 12,000 lightning strikes that were 100% certain to occur and spark additional fires, resulted in less than 400 total strikes, and no consequential fires.

By Monday evening, in a totally unexpected move, the orders were completely lifted and everyone could return back home.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

Certain destruction became a minor inconvenience. 100% forecast became a minor asterisk.

The town Facebook page lit up with testimony after testimony of people sharing their gratitude to God and their feelings of unity during the fast.

And yet, sprinkled throughout those posts were comments such as, “You really think that your prayers caused all this?”

Miracles are real. They happened just as Samuel prophesied, and they happen today.

And just as in times of old, WE decide if we are going to believe.

Because miracles are explained away by nonbelievers, and completely life-changing for those who believe.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post A fire evacuation miracle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.