beauty from ashes

Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD's Favor
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.



This weekend, Dayspring had a women's retreat that I truthfully wasn't planning on attending. God had other plans, and just a few days before the event it worked out for me to be able to go. God was there! It was a very very difficult time for me with so much going on. I had so many different thoughts running through my head and really wish I could have been freed from before the time it started. I'm thankful for the time away and the words that were shared. I'm still praying through some of the things God started in my heart even before this weekend. I desire freedom, I desire to be open, I desire to peace, I desire to be beautiful, I desire to be sweet fragrance but I pray I'm getting closer. My heart's desire is hopefully in the right place.