| Never Give Up |
| Fire is a gift -- of warmth, light, beauty, and utility. Nothing beats a crackling fire on a cold winter's night, and who hasn't enjoyed roasting marshmallows over an open fire? But fire also can be an enemy. Sometimes it destroys the things we love. On January 29, 1996, a blaze consumed one of Venice's most treasured buildings: the 204-year-old opera house, La Fenice. Hundreds of Venetians stood and watched as the building went up in flames. Cause for sadness? Definitely. Cause for despair? Absolutely not. The construction of La fenice had been delayed by fire in 1972. Another fire in 1836, had forced the Venetians to rebuild. And so, too, after the fire in 1996, Venetians are already rallying to rebuild their opera house. Interestingly, La Fenice means "the phoenix," refering to the mythological Egyptian bird that died in a fiery nest, only to emerge from the ashes as a brand-new bird. It is in that spirit that the Venetians rebuild. Can we restore what the fires in our lives destroy? Sometimes. If we desire to rebuild and we truly believe it is what the Lord would have us do, we put our full effort into the task. At other times when the Lord brings us through a fire, His desire is for the old to be left in ashes so something entirely different can be constructed on the site. This is true not only in the physical world in which we live, but also in the interior world of our souls, when our inner mettle is "tried by fire." If you are facing calamity or disaster today, the Bible tells you to quickly put it behind you by rebuilding or building something new. Whichever God desires, you will become stronger and better than before if you "press on!" THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES MUST BEGIN WITH A SINGLE STEP. - Lao Tze |
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| My Favorite Photos & Bible Verses |