Weekly devotion: Spending time in God’s presence
Dbayeh refugee camp, Lebanon
Two residents of Dbayeh refugee camp present their recycled creations
The Dbayeh Palestinian refugee camp was established in Lebanon in the early 1950s to provide shelter for refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Consisting of over 550 families, it is the only Palestinian refugee camp with a Christian population and the only one where its inhabitants are unarmed.
The residents of Dbayeh refugee camp have had limited opportunities in life. People are generally limited to low-wage jobs, unemployment is rife, and women usually have very low levels of education.
The Pontifical Mission to Lebanon is working in the camp to address some of these social problems. Targeting 300 women, its project is raising awareness about the importance of recycling in achieving a clean and healthy environment. The women also have the opportunity to engage with handicraft sessions where they learn to make useful or decorative products from recyclable materials. In addition, the project promotes health awareness and psychological wellbeing.
Bible reading
‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.’
Psalm 24: 1-6
Thought
This psalm presents us with a glorious truth: that the whole world and everything in it – in all of its beauty and wonder – belongs to God. God’s imprint is upon all of creation, and his heart-longing is for every part of it to flourish. Despite the brokenness and suffering we see around us, Christ offers to free us from sin so that we can stand in God’s presence with ‘clean hands and a pure heart’.
The women in Dbayeh refugee camp, learning to create beautiful and useful products from ‘rubbish’, is a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming work – in our own hearts and also in the world around us.
Ask yourself: Do you make time to seek God and spend time in his presence? What impact does/would this have?
Prayer
Father God,
We pray for the families in Dbayeh refugee camp, many of whom are living in very difficult circumstances. May you be their refuge and their strength.
We pray for the project the Pontifical Mission is running among women in the camp. May they find joy, delight and purpose in all that they learn through the workshops. May you create a ripple effect, and bless their families through them.
We pray for ourselves - that you would draw near to us as we seek you, and help us to be a blessing to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Learn more about Lebanon
Head over to our blog to find out more about the current challenges in Lebanon and learn about the projects we are supporting through our incredible partners.
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