In our neck of the woods we have lots of smoke, but interestingly enough, the air quality is better – I can’t smell smoke, but it has to be worse than the ‘pros’ are recording.

The wind obviously has impact, places that were high yesterday are almost normal today and vice versa.  No ‘safe place’ right now.

A-N-D s-o i-t g-o-e-s.... now, less than an hour later, we are in an unhealthy zone and Bend and Sisters are even worse.  Wind picked up and smoke is more than evident – of course we have ash over everything from the past few days.

Rain will help us, however, I am really concerned about the Gorge, with over 3 inches forecast for Cascade Locks area, it could be another disaster on top of the fire.

Now, I can buy that the first teenager that threw a firecracker into the dry canyon was just not thinking – still has to have a lesson taught; however, another group of teens deliberately set off bottle rocks at the edge of the City limits of Hood River – that wasn’t being stupid, that was criminal it threatened homes and of course could have done a lot worse, I really hope they find out who those kids were and go after them as hard as they can.

And as the wind blows, and the day goes on, we have more pollution and we are now in the unhealthy arena close to what Central Oregon who is in a very unhealthy arena, as they have very serious air quality issues, with Bend and Sisters being the worse. 

I want the rain, to help wash out the particulates in the air.  I want the rain, to help put out the fires blazing throughout Oregon.

But, I am also worried about our fire fighters who will be in the middle of unstable terrain as the rain loosens the rocks and trees that are barely holding at this time.

It is a hazard they “signed on for” but that doesn’t mean we should take their safety for granted.  They need our prayers.

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Hosea 10:12  KJV  “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” 

“What God in His sovereignty may yet do on a world-scale I do not claim to know. But what He will do for the plain man or woman who seeks His face I believe I do know and can tell others. Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days.”  Tozer

We have always been responsible for our relationship with God, not the church, the Pastor, the teachers, but ourselves.

It took me a while to understand that fact.

We can be guided and encouraged by Christian leaders, but, until we fully realize that God works with individuals and those individuals need to fully accept HIS guidance and are obedient, then we can only go so far in our spiritual growth.

It has ALWAYS been that way.  We look at the people chosen by God in His Word to lead His chosen people and we find most of them are common people, not great leaders from birth, but men and women who opened their heart to the Holy Spirit and obeyed.

He did the same in the New Testament.  Who would have thought that Peter would become the leader to the new Christians; who would have thought that Mathew, a hated tax collector, would become a leader for Christ?

John the Baptist, was out in the wilderness, a grubby “street person” who foretold the arrival of Jesus and His ministry.

Mary, a young teenager, who God chose to bear His child – and Joseph who accepted his responsibility and helped raise this child in the Jewish religion.

Paul, who was a leader in the Jewish culture and hated Christ and His followers, became one of the most prolific teachers after his acceptance of Christ and guided the new church through some difficult times.

BUT, there are many who were not mentioned.  Men and women who led their lives for Christ, who didn’t get mentioned in the Word of God, but without their commitment to Him we would not have the church today.

We don’t have to be a great leader like David, Moses, Ruth, Paul, Peter or the many others God used to do His work; we but, have to be ourselves, AND “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” 

From the past few days’ devotions I realize I have not yet turned myself enough over to Him.  I have no idea what is to come, but, I feel He has something He wants me to do – now it is up to me to be spiritually prepared for the mission.

And not just me, but those that these words are being written to – many of us need to reevaluate where we are with the Living God.

Maybe, if enough people in our nation actually bow before Him, God will use us to help bind the wounds so prevalent in our nation right now.

Later, Art (-: