Beauty for Ashes…

 1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,

As when at first He lightly esteemed

The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

And afterward more heavily oppressed her,

By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,

In Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

3 You have multiplied the nation

And increased its joy;

They rejoice before You

According to the joy of harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden

And the staff of his shoulder,

The rod of his oppressor,

As in the day of Midian.

5 For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle,

And garments rolled in blood,

Will be used for burning and fuel of fire.

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.—Isaiah 9:1-7

As I read the verses above my heart rejoiced!  I was one of those peoples who ONCE walked in darkness!  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved me, even when I was dead in trespasses and sin, made ME alive together with His Son.  He redeemed my life from destruction.  The Morning Star has risen in my heart bringing His light and His hope to my entire being. What a difference my Jesus has made in my life. I no longer live in the land of the shadow of death.  The light of life lives in my heart.  My darkness has become light and my earthly death will bring me into His presence forever. Beloved, He has come…

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”—Isaiah 61:4

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.—Psalm 30:11-12

Father…May the government of my life be on Your shoulders. You are my Wonderful Jesus…my Counselor, my Mighty God,

my Everlasting Father, and my Prince of Peace.