Please pray for Australia, the fires are raging through the eastern part of the country. It is amazing how as Christians we can have immediate and personal connections to those suffering around the globe, from my Brother David John :
Please pray for all those affected by the bushfires in Australia at the moment. Very strong winds and incredible heat converged to cause the worst fire disaster in recorded history yesterday. Many people were killed as they tried to evacuate, including six members of a family in one car. 108 people are reported dead, this will rise significantly as emergency services gain access for the first time to whole towns which have been destroyed.
The worst fires have
been in Victoria, including in Bendigo which is the centre of one of the
Anglican Dioceses. Please pray for Bishop Andrew Curnow and his people
there.
Lord, we pray not only for those whose homes and loved ones have been lost or injured in the fires of recent days, but also for those whose faith has been shaken; for those who stand bewildered and fearful in the midst of this tragedy; for the injured, the bereaved, and the destitute.
We commend to Your grace all who are seeking to help and heal the injured, and to comfort and calm the bereaved.
From You alone can come the word that will lift them above their darkness. Answer, O Lord, the question in their minds; and assure them that though disaster is not of Your will, You are present with them in their suffering and sorrow, and can enable them to find purpose, hope and peace again. Accept our compassion for the suffering; bless those who are working for their relief; and show us what we can do to share in their task, as servants of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
From You alone can come the word that will lift them above their darkness. Answer, O Lord, the question in their minds; and assure them that though disaster is not of Your will, You are present with them in their suffering and sorrow, and can enable them to find purpose, hope and peace again. Accept our compassion for the suffering; bless those who are working for their relief; and show us what we can do to share in their task, as servants of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Thank you for this. We'll take all the prayer we can get. Whole townships were obliterated by the firestorm. One town lost probably a fifth of its residents. The toll is now 200 and there will be more as bodies are discovered under the ruins of houses. These fires were like nothing ever seen down here before and we are no strangers to bushfires.
Posted by: Jan | February 17, 2009 at 09:29 PM