The Big Weiss Family's Christmas Stockings
Now that the weather has turned much colder, we have been lighting fires in our fireplace nearly every day. The kids enjoy a roaring fire, especially if they have been playing out in the cold & snow. Even Winston (our loyal terrier) warms himself next to it! He's one smart pooch!
Sometimes I sit and watch the flames dance and meditate on the Lord. This morning, when I found myself going past the fireplace, there wasn't a fire burning. I felt the Lord speaking to me about the "ashes". Right now as our family goes through a "purification by fire", there have been times when I have felt like there was nothing left ...BUT ashes.
Consider what the word says in Isaiah 61:3
"... 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 gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
May God take all of our ashes today and turn them into beauty. May we be refined by the process He is leading us through, grow strong as oaks of righteousness, and may the favor of God rest upon our houses.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends. God bless!
Sometimes I sit and watch the flames dance and meditate on the Lord. This morning, when I found myself going past the fireplace, there wasn't a fire burning. I felt the Lord speaking to me about the "ashes". Right now as our family goes through a "purification by fire", there have been times when I have felt like there was nothing left ...BUT ashes.
Consider what the word says in Isaiah 61:3
"... 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 gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
May God take all of our ashes today and turn them into beauty. May we be refined by the process He is leading us through, grow strong as oaks of righteousness, and may the favor of God rest upon our houses.
Have a wonderful weekend, friends. God bless!
