Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Beauty From Ashes

Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning so fast and things crumble all around us. That seems to be the case in the Colter household lately. It is like we are all trying to find a new normal. I am not even sure why we need to but we have very clearly entered a new phase of life. This is challenging and chaotic, but in a good way, I think.

I can only imagine how the people in Haiti feel right now. I feel like my world is crumbling some days when their's actually is crumbling, literally, around them. Sitting on my nice cozy couch, checking up on the Internet, drinking my nice hot coffee after a good work out and Bible study I learn of another earthquake/aftershock and I am afraid. I can only imagine how afraid I would be if it were my home, my family, my body stuck in the rubble, killed, life as I once knew it...GONE. Without my faith I am sure I would be angry, bitter, and wish myself dead. With my faith would it truly be any different? Would I be able to handle it better? I would like to think my faith is genuine, strong, withstanding. Would I be blinded by the tragedy? What would comfort me? What would comfort you? God. God is the answer to all of those questions. God, I pray my faith is strong and can withstand any test. I believe, God, that you can bring beauty from ashes...That is what Jesus was sent for! THANK YOU!!!

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 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. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devestated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4

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