Hear Our Cry

If you were to look at the Central Texas Radar tonight you would see a huge mass of green. Unfortunately, it isn't rain but smoke. This morning we woke to clear skies, but as the day wore on the wind picked up more and more. By this afternoon the wind was blowing over thirty miles/hour, and fires started popping up everywhere.

As of right now, there is still a massive fire burning in Bastrop County, which is east/northeast of us. The last time I checked, it had burned over 13,000 acres and over 300 homes have been lost. At this point, the firefighters are focusing on evacuations and getting people out of harm's way. In our own county, Caldwell, over 7000 acres have burned. Tomorrow looks to be more of the same with even drier conditions and high winds.

It is bone dry here in Texas. We've had over 70 days of 100 plus degree heat, and we're currently in the worst drought since 1854 (according to a Texas Forest Service official). The fires are unnerving to say the least, but they also serve to really put things in perspective. They remind me how petty our my life can become. I have friends and family out fighting these fires. I know people threatened by these fires. Isn't it amazing how disasters can serve to remind of us of what is truly important?

I'm going to ask you to take a moment tonight to pray for us Texans. I'm going to ask you to pray not only for both the safety of those fighting and those threatened by the fires, but also that we get some rain. The forecast says there's not a drop of rain to be had in the next seven days, but we are praying that God turns this awful drought around.

Psalm 61^[a]

    For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.
 ¹ Hear my cry, O God;
   listen to my prayer.
 ² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
   I call as my heart grows faint;
   lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
   a strong tower against the foe.