As I am writing this, this week is the five-year anniversary of our life-changing house fire. The flames took our home (we had lived there since 1988) on May 20, 2020.

Amy and I were in the back yard when we heard the approach of fire trucks. Our son Jonathan, home from Law School, was studying upstairs when he smelled smoke. As flames surged from our bedroom, he called the fire department.

We stood with the mayor of our town, in the rain, as the brave men and women fought to save our home. As the fire came under control, a young firefighter exited the house, walked up to me, and handed me my worn, treasured Bible that I had studied since I was 18. He simply said, “I knew I had to save this.”

The upstairs of our historic house was destroyed. Most of our clothing and belongings were gone.

It took 4 1/2 years to complete our home. We finally moved back in just before Thanksgiving 2024.

During those years, we saw God do miracle after miracle. Thousands of people prayed for us and one friend organized a GoFundMe campaign that helped us while we recovered. We received calls and donations from many of our Amway friends (including Doug DeVos) and were given support from Sam Rodriguez, the head of the NHCLC, the largest Hispanic Christian organization in the United States.

We became closer as a family and our relationship with God deepened daily. The past four years were among the happiest we have ever known.

All of this confirms one the great promises in God’s word, found in Isaiah 43:2b, “…When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

We can abundantly affirm that this verse is totally true.

Whatever fire you face, trust God. His promise is just as true for you.

Go to www.choosegreatness.com today for more insight into living a great life. 

You can watch Ron’s show, “Choose Greatness: Your Key to a Happier Life” on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hhhg3gJWYP8auB02aoerA/videos 

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