25 Oct, 2007
Like a fire!
"We Can't Stop It" - Officials all but concede defeat to wildfires as estimated 1 million evacuate
SAN DIEGO - Faced with unrelenting winds whipping wildfires into a frenzy across Southern California, firefighters conceded defeat on many fronts Tuesday to an unstoppable force that has chased an estimated 1 million people away.
Unless the shrieking Santa Ana winds subside, and that’s not expected for at least another day, fire crews say they can do little more than try to wait it out and react — tamping out spot fires and chasing ribbons of airborne embers to keep new fires from flaring.
“If it’s this big and blowing with as much wind as it’s got, it’ll go all the way to the ocean before it stops,” said San Diego Fire Capt. Kirk Humphries. “We can save some stuff but we can’t stop it.”
photo & story courtesy msnbc.com, 10/23/07
James 3:5-10 (NLT)
5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about our tongues being like a raging fire?
Interesting. James compares the damage our tongues can do to a raging forest fire! Maybe this is the basis for "hot gossip or the hot talk"? The problem is that gossip is often like fire - hard to stop!
Perhaps James uses the fire metaphor because he says that hell is the source of the tongue's wickedness.
When our tongue/mouth/words are not under God's control, Satan uses them to get people upset and hurt. Gossip behind the back or verbal put downs to the face spread hate and destruction very quickly. When we're careless with our words, we can destroy a friendship. When we speak what is not true about someone, we can destroy reputations and lives. Even if we apologize later, the effects have spread like a forest fire out of control.
Our talk can be a problem or it can be pleasing to God. What's it going to be for you?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Talk to God right now. Confess the ways that your words have been so not like Jesus. Ask God's Spirit to give you the faith and discipline you need to abide in Jesus every hour of every day. Thank Jesus that He will help your mouth to be a tool of praise and love rather than a weapon of pain and destruction.
- Keep a written journal every day for thirty days that records the good and the bad use of your mouth. This exercise may seem like too much work, but Jesus will use it to change your speech patterns for the better - guaranteed!
- Whenever you see reports about the California fires in the next few weeks, let Jesus remind you to let His power control your tongue.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Ask Jesus to help you recognize situations in which you have hurt someone with your words. It might be a friend, someone at school, a co-worker, or a family member. Go to them and apologize and ask for forgiveness. Their response might be anger, pain, or it may be forgiveness, or a combination! No matter what, you will have done the right thing and you may have the opportunity to communicate your story and God's Story without using more words.
- This one may be just as hard or harder to do. When someone hurts you with words or gossip, don't fight "fire" with "fire". Let Jesus douse your anger, calm your spirit, and help you speak only Christ-like words, which can include no words at all. You will be communicating love rather loudly.
- July 2008 [17]
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