Rebuild and Renew

Isaiah 61: 3 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 instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

God is proclaiming restoration in the land and how he will replace the pain and struggle with joy and praise. This world is in much despair and pain. It is all around. Milpitas has been in a state of brokenness for some time and not just Milpitas but San Jose is going through a time of mourning as well. Personally, I have felt God allowing me to go through a season of brokenness and sadness. How less would I understand restoration if I have never been in ruins? Ant and I have been called to rebuild where satan has devastated people’s lives. It starts in my life, in my home, in my family, in my community. I cannot take a nation if I can’t even rebuild myself.

God has provided:
1. “a crown of beauty”: the crown symbolizes authority, position, and security
2. “oil of gladness”: an anointing of joy that is contagious
3. “garment of praise”: when the people were in mourning they wore sackcloth, rough and ugly, praise is far from ugly. It makes you shine from the inside out.
4. “oak of righteousness”: an oak is a strong tree with large roots, we will be a source of strength and stability to glorify God
5. “rebuild”, “renew”: This is my mission in life to rebuild and renew. It is not an easy assignment, but it is what I live for.

Lord, this has been the hardness year but I realize that the process is just as important and I am honored to go through these trials so that I may be able to rebuild in someone else. I thank you that you do restore. Let my praise be a fountain of life that refreshes all theses around me. Amen