The Prophetic.

"Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married," says the Lord.

"Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
and lay your foundations with sapphires.
I will make your pinnacles of agate,
our gates of carbuncles,
and all your wall of precious stones.
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

"In righteousness you shall be established;
you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
and from terror, for it shall not come near you...

Behold."*

Someone gave me this passage recently, and its meaning for the hurt places in my life -- well. That is for you and me to discuss another time, in another place, with the snow falling down gently in the White Mountains and a cup of cocoa steaming in both of our hands.

I have been comforted these past days in places I did not know needed soothing, and I want to thank God for that. I have been encouraged, when I thought to be the encouragement, and again I thank Him. And above all, I've been humbled once again by the grace He gives and the warmth of a people who have seen His true face, which I will always believe -- you cannot convince me otherwise -- resides somewhere in all the broken pieces of our world.

Do not hold back.

*Taken from Isaiah 54.