Friday {in focus} ~ Beauty from Ashes

There's nothing like a campfire to warm your soul. The smoky wood scent, the wisps of blue flame licking at the wood, the crevices formed as the heat gets into the heart of the log...

it's all so soothing to watch.

Yet it's an entirely other thing to experience. When the Holy Spirit sets your heart on fire

for the things of God, the experience is at first elating. There's an excitement, an expectation.

Until the flames reach the inner parts of our beings. Until refinement begins.

Then it hurts. Burns. Scorches. 

Leaving us charred and wondering what beauty could come of these ashes.

But God...He always finishes what He starts. And we find healing. Life. Freedom. Love.

And faith.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,

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 61:1-3