17 May, 2007
Florida and Georgia still battle wildfires
Crist and Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett of the Florida National Guard emphasized that the Guard has about 11,000 soldiers available and has enough equipment, such as trucks and helicopters, to help Florida through the wildfire season.
Georgia officials issued a mandatory evacuation in southern Charlton County including the town of Moniac, saying homes may be in the path of the state's largest recorded wildfire by early Thursday. It has burned 107,360 acres - or 167 square miles - of forest and swampland.
The fire has blackened 16,000 to 18,000 acres and was 35 percent contained.
The governor said 220 fires totaling 80,000 acres - or 125 square miles - were burning Wednesday in Florida. Wildfires have destroyed three homes in the Panhandle and three more in southwest Florida so far this week and consumed 74,000 acres since January, Crist said.
Overcast skies, milder winds and high humidity in southeast Georgia slowed the spread of the state's largest ever wildfire. It has been burning for more than three weeks. It started April 16 when a tree fell on a power line near Waycross, Ga.
Last weekend, lightning strikes sparked a second large fire in Okefenokee that had grown to more than 40,130 acres Wednesday, a day after it crossed the Georgia state line and spread into northern Florida.
Part of Florida's Turnpike in central Florida also was closed throughout the day. The Bay County Sheriff's Office closed the bridge on U.S. 98 connecting Panama City and Panama City Beach because of smoke from wildfires.
photo courtesy getty images & story miamiherald.com, 5/9/07
Purity through fire
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
We're spending several days looking at the "good" that God brings out of bad.
Do you remember the DAILYBIDES from the past few days? We found out from Paul that God causes everything to work for our "good". That "good" is that God wants us to glorify Him as we become more and more like Jesus Christ.
One of those "good" results is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN TEACH US. Remember, God's purpose is to make us Holy, not happy. He wants us to learn that He is completely in control, infinite in wisdom and perfect in His love for us!
Another "good" is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN GLORIFY GOD THROUGH US. When followers of Christ personally apply the truths of who God is, in their lives, God is glorified through the pain and suffering of His children.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about a "good" result that can come out of pain and suffering?
Peter talks a lot about suffering in his writings. In today's scripture, Peter uses the illustration of fire to teach us about God's plan to purify us and make sure that we are strong.
The trials that we face in life are part of the process that God uses to purify us by "fire". If we respond by trusting God, our faith is strengthened and we become useful to serve God.
Today's story about the fires in Florida and Georgia is sad, but there is something good that often comes as a result of a forest fire. Though it takes years, new growth dominates the landscape after the forest brush has been burned away.
Life's trials are difficult and sad, but God can use them to clean up our lives and bring about new growth.
God wants us to be honest and admit any impurities in our lives that need to be removed. Remember that God wants us to become more like Jesus - Holy!
Another "good" that God makes out of the bad in life is that PAIN AND SUFFERING CAN PURIFY US and stimulate new growth.
So when the heat gets turned up, remember to turn to God. He loves us and has a perfect plan for each of us.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God that though He will not keep you from all pain and suffering, He will never leave you alone with your problems. Ask Him for the faith you need to trust Him when you are tested. Ask God's Spirit to point out to you any impurities in your life that you need to confess and then thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Thank God that He will use pain and suffering to purify your life so that you can be strong in your faith and serve Him more effectively.
- Whenever you see fire, thank God that He will use the "fire" of life to purify you.
- Memorize today's scripture. It is a truth from God's Word to help you respond God's way to pain and suffering.
- Write down whatever problems you are currently facing. Every day this week, go to God in prayer about them and ask Him to use them to teach you about His love and plan for your life.
- Talk to your youth leader, pastor or another Christian friend about what you've written down and ask for their prayer.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Do you have a friend who is a Christ follower and in the middle of tough times? If you think that today's DAILYBIDE could encourage them, send it to him or her. BUT, make sure that this friend is beyond the shock and initial grief in their difficult experience.
- When someone in your storysphere, who is not a Christ follower, experiences pain and suffering, pray for him or her. Pray also for Jesus to show you how to care for this person in their difficult situation. You may need to just be there and listen or cry with them for a long time. At some point, as you abide in Jesus, His Spirit will prompt you what to say and when to say it.
- Use this DAILYBIDE as a study guide with your small group or youth group.
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