Fire

 We are pressed on every side by troubles, 

but we are not crushed. 

We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. 

We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

2 Cor 4:8-9 (NLT)

The devastating Waldo Canyon fire is raging in Colorado.  15,000 acres have been consumed by the fire which has destroyed 300 homes and caused 32,000 people to be evacuated.  It reminds me of the Oakland fire of 1989.  Watching the fire in the hills and wondering if was going to reach your house was a frightening experience.

At a moments notice things can change in our lives.  The apostle Paul was no stranger to difficulty.  He faced beatings, prison, shipwrecks, floods, all kinds of dangers.  He came to the conclusion that even though we may be pressed on every side by troubles, perplexed, hunted down or knocked down we will never be destroyed or given over to despair because we know God will never abandon us.

As we face difficulties in our lives of whatever kind, let us not give up, but put our hope in God who will see us through as we trust in him.

Lord, we pray for those in danger of fire today that you would take care of them.  Help the fire fighters as they work under extreme conditions, to extinguish the fires quickly.