Oprah & Jesus

I can't sleep. So, my brain started to write and I figured that what it was writing might make a good blog post...


In the last 3 months, it's been sort of funny the different places where truth has shown up or how certain connections in my head get made and what led me to it. Today, I was flipping through TV channels when I landed on Oprah's new network. Apparently, Oprah has a show on there called something like Lifeclass and from what I've gathered, she basically sits in front of a camera and talks about big life learning moments that have come from her million years as a talk show host...I know right, I'm rolling my eyes already too.  But, for five or so minutes, I couldn't change the channel.  Oprah was remembering a show she had like 4 years ago and I don't know the topic of the show, other than she had this woman on who had lost all 4 of her children and I assume it was some tragic accident. The woman was talking about life with her children gone, how she couldn't go anywhere without some reminder of her children and the life she once knew...the cereal aisle at the grocery store killed her. It flashes back to Oprah facing the camera and she tells about how she remembered a conversation she had with Camille Cosby (Bill Cosby's wife) after their son had died. Camille was telling Oprah how her emotions would come in waves - she never knew when or how strong they would come - but she finally settled into knowing they would come and the only thing she could do was forge straight into it. I was drawn into this show this afternoon, because I recognized what they were talking about. No, I haven't lost a child; I can't really even fathom that, but I have lost a lot in the recent months. Oprah said "whatever your ashes are..." there is a way through it. It immediately reminded me of a Shane and Shane song about beauty and ashes

beauty for ashes
a garment of praise for my heaviness
beauty for ashes
take this heart of stone and make it Yours, Yours

i delight myself in the Richest of Fair
trading all that i've had for all that is better
a garment of praise for my heaviness
You are the greatest taste
You're the richest of fair

Which then took me to Isaiah 61, which I feel like needs an exclamation point after it because it is such strong scripture. So, from now on I'll denote it as Isaiah 61! from here on out. Anywho, a part of Isaiah 61:3! says, "...provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Garments of praise and crowns of beauty! What came to mind was that I need to praise the Lord in the heaviness and even then there is so much to praise him for...He has saved me, He loves reconciliation, He hates injustice, He is sovereign and perfect and because He will take ashes. I have a pile of ashes that I have sobbed over and probably haven't finished sobbing over, but there is also a crown of beauty waiting. And that's something. Now, Oprah to Isaiah...that's something else all together.


Just a little nugget. Read Isaiah 61!...it might change the start to your Monday!