Ashes into Beauty

It may sound strange and mean for me to say this, but everyone likes to be right. We all do. So why do we deny it? Because it makes us sound a little arrogant? Because we want people to see our better side and not our conceded side? There both good answers but what I came up with is if we are wrong it bring out the ugly. God is right. Never wrong. He fixes the ugly, and makes beauty. Beauty unto ashes right? I'm learning to show God my ugly and trade it in for beauty and perfection. It's like hand me downs. I used to take them, and give them. I know what it's like to keep a shirt that doesn't fit just because it's 'special'. You know it's useless to you but to the next person it could be just as special. So, if you DON'T give away your sins and other problems you are just going to be stuck with your special shirt. Does that make sense? 


Explanation: beauty unto ashes come from a chapter in Isaiah.
Isaiah 61:3 "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."
I read this and was simply blown away. Of course I know of Gods healing, perfection, and mercy, but why did this fill m with awe? The details? No... I think it's because it's unlike another passage in the bible. it shows Gods awesomeness, power, and also it's like a poem, a biblical one. 

-Lu

God works in weird ways. Don't I know it! I mean why else would God send me to Africa just to be sent home 6 months later? He had his purposes, but that's what bothers me. I like to be in control. like I want to know whats happening tomorrow so I can get ready. I'm not a control freak but I like to be prepared. So that's why only God knowing bothers me. All the time i ask God to tell me his plans. The answer isn't what i usually want but, I know god has a plan for me. I guess it doesn't matter that I know gods plans, but it still bothers me. I look at this verse when I feel helpless and worry about tomorrow.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

OTHER NEWS:

My family is doing good. I'm still missing Africa but that's probably not going to change soon. And I have a new found love for Lord of the Rings. 

Here is another blog. Her blog is really good. She also need your prayers. Please keep my family in your prayers.

-Lu