Life Under Fire

Hey y'all, Stephanie Newton here. Sorry for the late post today. Our house has been hit by the flu, so I've been digging out the thermometers and cough syrup, and had to make a trip to the grocery store for ingredients for chicken soup (and lots and lots of hand sanitizer!)

I've been working lately on a couple of books that I'm really excited about...Smokescreen, coming up in January, and Flashpoint, an August release. I've long been fascinated with everything related to firefighting. When my kids went on the trips to the firehouse, guess who went along as chaperone? Yep, that would be me.

The hero in Smokescreen is Jake Rollins. If you've read my first two books, you'll have met Jake before. He's the pastor of the local church, but he's also the fire chaplain--going on call-outs with the fire department, giving aid and comfort to those who serve the public and to the victims of fires and accidents.

From the Federation of Fire Chaplains, here's a prayer which I find so sweet and inspirational:

The Fire Chaplain Prayer

Dear Lord, I turn to you each day for guidance,
For I know You can supply my every need.
And I want each soul to whom I render service,
To know You are behind my every deed.

As a Chaplain dedicated to the Fire Service,
These are very special people I must Serve,
They have chosen lives of public dedication,
That requires a body strong and filled with nerve.

Each and every time the fire alarm is sounded,
Please, look down and of my movements take control,
Guide my footsteps as I go to join my comrades,
As their ladders they set up and hose they unroll.

Open wide my eyes that I might see each problem,
Let my ears be tuned in case someone should call.
Let my lips deliver words to lend compassion,
Let my hands assist if some firefighter falls.

If it falls my lot to take a saddened message,
To the family of some badly injured person,
Give my tongue the words to speak for consolation.
Let my words give hope and comfort when they can.

Let me gain the confidence of each firefighter.
Let them speak of any problem they desire.
Let them understand each talk is fully private,
May each answer that I give them hope inspire.

Guide my conduct as I labor for You daily,
May each image that I cast reflect of You.
Let my light so shine that each and every person
Will know it’s Your hand that guides each deed I do.

Amen.