the giver, not the gift. part 1.

My husband and I have been serving the Lord for over a year now. He serves Him when he loves me, I serve Him when I submit to my husband. We serve Him together when we honor each of our parents. And we serve Him when we love our neighbor. We are sell outs. Our desire is less of us... more of Him. And the blessings? Woah, the blessings. Peace and joy and health. Our children. Our families. Our friends. Things that we've always had, but not in the healthy form in which they exist today. Isaiah 61:1-7. The Favor of The Lord The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. Looking at the old ruins in your life, the rubble, the ruined cities. Whether it is friendships, devastation among family members, isolation, shame of poor decisions, guilt, neglect. Rebuild the old ruins. Raise a new city out of the wreckage. Serve God. Heal the brokenhearted. Comfort all who mourn. Messages of joy instead of news of doom.