Beauty for ashes

When I was thinking of a name for my blog, I wanted it to have a reference to music somehow. Music is such a huge part of my life. It always has been since I was a little girl. My husband came up with the name "A Beautiful Melody".

Let me just say, my life at times is anything but a beautiful melody. It has been full of some very painful things. But the beauty has come from going through and coming out on the other side of the pain. Just the other day I was thinking of the verse that says God gives us beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. ( Is 61:3, paraphrased) I love the Message version, it says, ".... give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit." And than at the end of Isaiah 61, it says, "So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations." How incredible is that?

So through the process of my trial, it is important for me to learn to praise Him. I must learn to praise Him, for the purpose of bringing Him glory for others to see. I guess that is His purpose in my life right now. It has not been an easy thing for me to learn.

But I have a promise of Him, (my Father God), giving me, (His daughter), a bouquet of roses instead of the ashes from my burnt sacrifice. He is giving me a praising heart instead of a languid and weak spirit. He brings righteousness to full bloom and displays praise before all nations. I realize God shows His glory in creation. But we are His greatest creation ever. Yes, the rocks will cry out. How much more should I?

So, I say all of that to say this..... I desire my life to always be a beautiful melody for my Lord. I desire for my life to be a testimony of His goodness, His grace, His faithfulness and most of all His beauty.