from hell and ashes

Many times we don't even realize that we are living in hell; that we have separated ourselves from God. We don't know it until all the things that we are holding on to, clinging to, all the things that are blocking our view of the truth, affecting our judgement, have been burned away and have been turned to ashes.

God yearns to replace those ashes with crowns of beauty and give us his joy, peace, and love in place of all the things that we have lost.

Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim 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,

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 joy

    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.