"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. In that day women felt ashamed if they could not procreate and indeed poor Hannah felt despised and humiliated. After her heartfelt prayers, God heard and answered by giving her a son. Now she had value in Jewish society and within the family. God had lifted her up and removed all the shame, 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 sin and suff