As I sit here tonight by the light of a simple lamp, I see photos on the wall that bring back fond memories of yesterday. I see my coffee cup holding my late-night burst of energy, and my son’s Bible that has been passed down from my oldest son to my youngest……..but more than anything I see………

DUST.

Yes, I am just being honest. Every photo is glimmering with a fine layer of dust. The lamp shade is hemmed in a circle of dust bunnies……my coffee cup looks suspiciously willing to join the other dust-lovers around it, so I drink with caution by wiping the rim before making contact with my lip. I dare not even wipe my hand across the Bible for fear that it too has been overtaken by earth’s neverending supply of

DUST.

Oh, the power of dust. It pulls me into a spirit of discontent. As it does, I am reminded that Adam was made from this very substance, and many men repented by covering themselves with this very thing that annoys me……….so God must see some value in this thing called……..

DUST.

But as I search the Scriptures, I realize that while we were created from dust and we will one day return to dust, we were created in God’s image giving us power over it!

And then I recall Psalm 30,

1 I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
7 O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.
8 To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.


Oh, the dust that surrounds me may seem to be overtaking my life, but praise God, it is only

DUST.

My late night tears of yesterday, my dismay and constant cries for mercy are heard by God.

And dust…………it just sits there.

There is no power in dust!

Oh, God please turn my sackcloth into joy!

Thank you for showing me dust, so that I could remember how much you love me even now.