name.

because the Lord has annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoner, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengence 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 garmet of praise instead of a spirit of despair. they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splender.

isaiah 61:1-3

He has bestowed upon us a crown of beauty, instead of ashes. these verses dwell so deep in my spirit and have meant so much to me over the past years. i am a very visual person and I cannot read these verses without picturing the Lord raising me up from the ground and placing the most beautiful crown of roses on my head. that may sound silly, but it's a beautful picture of the gospel. He binds up the brokenhearted, the captive, the poor, the prisoner, the shamful, the lost and adorns them with beauty. He takes from us our shamful ashes, although we may hold to them so tightly, and gives us what we don't deserve. He takes our heaviness and gives to us a garmet of praise. these verses first became so special to me when I was in Africa and my heart beats a little faster when i consider what He has asked.