If you don’t live in Colorado, are you reading about our fires? Three brave firefighters have already been killed fighting the fire on the border of Colorado and Utah. It struck me that one of those was a 38-year-old lady from Michigan.

Closer to home, the 11th largest fire in Colorado history is just 70 miles from us, and NOT behind the mountains. Here’s what it looks like on the ground:

Here’s what it looks like from my house, Thursday afternoon, around 4p. It’s a crystal clear day, and normally we would see Pikes Peak in sharp relief. Not today:

Please join me in praying for the firefighters, now being led by a team from Alaska. The fire is considered number #1 priority in the US right now. Rain would be nice, also, and there’s none in the forecast. Hot, dry, windy.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4.6, ESV)

There is no shortage of fire images in the Bible.

O house of David! Thus says the LORD: “ ‘Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of your evil deeds.’ ” (Jeremiah 21.12, ESV)

Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23.29, ESV)