a stone of hope
"I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."
King saw something that very few in his generation dared to dream. He had hope that was rooted in God's truth-- that all men are equal in God's sight (Gal. 3:28). His faith enabled him to fight for biblical truth without bitterness and he saw despair as an enemy.
I have long understood why King has been a mentor and an inspiration to many black Americans. Yet after reading this speech, I am truly encouraged and inspired by his vision, hope and trust in God. He was a passionate, educated and godly man who loved his country in spite of the injustice he saw. That more of us would have the courage and faith to dream as he dreamed.
Fast forward to the earthquake relief in Haiti. Thousands have died, many are wounded. The country's infrastructure has been destroyed. The government is effectively paralyzed. Despair is looming.
Yet we see help pouring in, often times faster than they are able to receive it. World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Red Cross, even a fund set up by former presidents are few in many organizations that are providing medical support, clean water, shelters and other care. In this dark moment for Haiti, we see the rest of the world rallying to care and to help.
I'm sure that there are political interests that motivate many. Yet I believe and pray that the outpouring of prayers, support and help would be so abundant that the whole world would remember that are hope is not in money or material success or even in our comfortable lifestyles. Our hope is in God and He is the One whose heart is broken over the fatherless, widows, orphans and those who are brokenhearted (Ps. 68:5; Ps. 34:18).
My prayer is that through this tragedy, a stone of hope would be hewn and that God's glory would be revealed, even in the deep sadness of loss. As we live in a fallen world where even the earth itself is broken, our hope is in God. Aid workers can re-build homes and restore potable water. Only God can re-build a heart.
Soli Deo Gloria!
On this Multitude Monday, I praise God for...
1. A day off!
2. Learning to listen
3. Going to a bible study again
4. Freedom
5. Being able to support from afar
6. Beauty
7. Our founders
8. Olivia, my new niece!
9. Blowing kisses on Abigail's tummy,
10. Re-building
Martin Luther King Jr., 1929-1968
A few thoughts. Everyone needs to read this speech, in its entirety. Check out
http://www.summit.mccsc.edu/mlk2k6/Martin%20Luther%20King.htm.King saw something that very few in his generation dared to dream. He had hope that was rooted in God's truth-- that all men are equal in God's sight (Gal. 3:28). His faith enabled him to fight for biblical truth without bitterness and he saw despair as an enemy.
I have long understood why King has been a mentor and an inspiration to many black Americans. Yet after reading this speech, I am truly encouraged and inspired by his vision, hope and trust in God. He was a passionate, educated and godly man who loved his country in spite of the injustice he saw. That more of us would have the courage and faith to dream as he dreamed.
Fast forward to the earthquake relief in Haiti. Thousands have died, many are wounded. The country's infrastructure has been destroyed. The government is effectively paralyzed. Despair is looming.
Yet we see help pouring in, often times faster than they are able to receive it. World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Red Cross, even a fund set up by former presidents are few in many organizations that are providing medical support, clean water, shelters and other care. In this dark moment for Haiti, we see the rest of the world rallying to care and to help.
I'm sure that there are political interests that motivate many. Yet I believe and pray that the outpouring of prayers, support and help would be so abundant that the whole world would remember that are hope is not in money or material success or even in our comfortable lifestyles. Our hope is in God and He is the One whose heart is broken over the fatherless, widows, orphans and those who are brokenhearted (Ps. 68:5; Ps. 34:18).
My prayer is that through this tragedy, a stone of hope would be hewn and that God's glory would be revealed, even in the deep sadness of loss. As we live in a fallen world where even the earth itself is broken, our hope is in God. Aid workers can re-build homes and restore potable water. Only God can re-build a heart.
Soli Deo Gloria!
On this Multitude Monday, I praise God for...
1. A day off!
2. Learning to listen
3. Going to a bible study again
4. Freedom
5. Being able to support from afar
6. Beauty
7. Our founders
8. Olivia, my new niece!
9. Blowing kisses on Abigail's tummy,
10. Re-building
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