"From the ashes, from the dust, I will rise up, rise up, out of darkness, into the light, I will rise up, rise up. You make all things new..." Recently, I was contemplating Psalm 113, particularly verses 7 and 8: He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes- with the princes of His people. This morning I realized these were Hannah's words recorded in the prayer she offered in 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 after she had dedicated her son Samuel to service in the temple. At that time, women felt ashamed if they could not produce children to continue the family line; Hannah felt despised and humiliated until God answered her heart’s cry. By giving her a son, her position within her family and Jewish society was established. God had lifted her up, removing the shame and seating her in a place of dignity. In the Christian sense, God still does this. He lifts us out of the barrenness of the ash heap of si...