Dye Pi Fo - the meaning, the story, the ramblings.

I’ve gotten asked quite a few times what Dye Pi Fo means. Well my friends here is finally an explanation for it. Dye pi fo is Creole for God is stronger. I read an article about people in Haiti sitting in the streets a few days after the earthquake singing a song about how God is stronger. It has been something that has stuck with me. I love finding awesome phrases in other languages but none of the other catchy little phrases have found come with a story like this. I mean, how many stories do you hear about people sitting in their destroyed city declaring that God is stronger when they know that so many people are either dead, injured, or homeless? My imagination paints a picture of the surroundings of these people, sitting there with tears streaming down their faces, among the rubble that once was homes and businesses, and with the stench of death hanging in the air. Yet they still stood there proclaiming how mighty God was while mourning the loss of so many and perhaps even mourning the spiritual state of their country. Perhaps they did that because they didn’t know what else to do. But what got my attention was that they held to the truth, they knew that no matter what the God who made the heavens and the earth and everything in them was stronger than any freak disaster. Can you imagine that? What would it be like if we held to God like that when hard things happen in our lives? I’m not saying I’ve known hardship like this, I’ve been incredibly blessed to live in a family who hasn’t had to face a lot of hardship. But yet I’ve questioned how strong or good God really was over those tiny things that make a teenager feel like their world is falling apart. I completely understand that the kind of faith that can praise God while standing in the ashes is one that is often developed over time. But what if sometimes it’s just a matter of childlike faith? A child doesn’t doubt how strong their father is when everything they own is taken by a random fire. Their fathers’ strength is not defined by that. But how many of us could sit there in a situation like Haiti’s  or Japans or Joplin’s and sing about how strong God is? Would You? I pray that we would because there are so many people who are watching us all the time that would be impacted by whether we praise God or cursed Him. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true, there is always someone who knows who you are and what you stand for that is watching to see what your reactions will be. When we are happy, they want to see if we will stay true to God even when we have everything or if we will do our own thing because at that time we think we don’t need God. And when the hard times come about they watch and wait to see if we will walk away from God or if we will stand there with a tearstained face saying, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25). (Job is a great example of keeping faith in God even when he couldn’t see or feel God. If you haven’t read his story check it out.) Hard times often get us down and if we let them they will keep us down. We will all endure hard times. But what will set you apart from the world is how you choose to handle those times. If you can praise God in the good times, learn to praise him in the bad. If you think you only need him in the bad times think again, James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ” So remember to stick with the God who gave you the goods. Often times our relationship with God is only active during either good or bad seasons. But Job, once again, brought up a great point when he said, “Should we accept good from God and not trouble? (Job 2:10b), our circumstance may change, but the goodness of God never will. Learn how to trust and love Him when its good and when its bad. Even when you can’t feel or see God, stick with Him. He never changes and He will never leave you. He is truly stronger than anything this world can ever throw our way. . .