Beauty for Ashes: Release the Urn

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim 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 prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance 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 joy 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.”-Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

A vessel of God told me to write the real story. The one that was uncut, raw, and honest. I was to write the TRUTH, refusing to protect everyone else’s heart but my own. Today, as I write, I realize that I’ve been holding on to an urn of dead things, glancing back at what I keep praying to let go of and placing it in a closet, hoping that no one will see it.

As a creative, I know when to sit down and hush. The beauty of words is a blessing, but it must be stewarded carefully. You can’t sling your mess on others, calling it a WORD, when the truth is that your heart has been dipped in pettiness like a chocolate dipped strawberry.

I’ve sat, and I’ve asked God to grace the strains of my testimony with beauty. There is a way that you can tell the truth, and it can be beautiful no matter how ugly it was to travel through the passageway of what God will use you to reveal for His glory.

God will give you beauty for ashes, but you must be willing to release the urn of grief brought on by life’s circumstances, misunderstandings, and painful experiences.

Your excuse can no longer be that no one understands. God understands, He was there every step of the way protecting your heart and holding you up when you thought that you had fallen beyond getting back up again.

There was another beautiful vessel who told me to trust God again. I’ll say that to you, Trust God again. Each lesson will propel you into places that only God can take you, but you must release the urn, the dead things that you keep attached to your hip, taking it everywhere that you go.

Of all people, I thought of Cinderella today. We know her story,and we know her victory. You have that same victory as a royal priesthood.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

-1 Peter 2:9

What and who are you listening to? The Holy Spirit will bring all things to your remembrance, reminding you of WHO GOD IS, and who your enemy is.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

- John 10:10 NKJV

Let’s put this into perspective: An urn is a beautifully decorated vessel that holds dead things. You are not a dead thing, and you were never called to hold dead things. Release the urn to God. He will give you beauty for ashes and the oil of joy instead of mourning.

The blessings of the Lord make me rich and add no sorrow. I thank you for placing my heart on the balances and sifting out what is not needful. I thank you for lovingly showing me myself today and for the reminder that you give vases of beautiful flowers in exchange for ashes. Lord, I welcome you into places that I never have before. I welcome you to decipher every tear and to grace every experience. I pray that you grace my words and my gifts to give you glory. I pray to be a good steward over those things that you will use me to say and to do. I breathe out perfectionism and breathe in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Comments

Fear Can Not Exist Where Healing is Needed: The Authority of Jesus within Mental Health

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” ( John 10:10 KJV). The people of Gadarenes gave the enemy access to their region, not just a man at a tomb. As a bystander within Mark 5, I’ve seen many parts of this scenario played out in real time. I know the broken heart that Jesus had at seeing this man, and I also know the love and compassion that He had for him as well. The people may have feared the man because of his strength, but Jesus understood and displayed that fear could not exist where healing is needed . Working within the mental health field, I’ve seen what was depicted by the man at the tomb. It’s not easy, but Jesus removed the cover of what was happening. The Legion of demons (composed of thousands of demons) thought that they could continue to reign and rule, but the King stepped onto the ground and caused atmospheric shift to happen. “T...

You are Not Lost in the Crowd. God Sees You!

Someone asked the question Why do we sing? When we lift our hands to Jesus What do we really mean ~Kirk Franklin “Why we sing?” It’s very very easy to get lost in the realm of religion or to get caught up in the hype of “church”. God has blessed so many of his people with gifts and talents that range from writing and composing, to worshiping, preaching and dancing. At my church, it seems like every one has some sort of gift and I must admit that I feel lost in the shuffle, but that brings me to point of asking myself questions such as ,“who am I going to church for?” and “whose attention am I aiming for?” Everyone wants to be noticed. We want to be praised and we want to be the favorite child, but at what cost? What are we paying to be number one in the congregation’s eyes? and do we even care if God is pleased with us right where we are? I’m the queen of being offended and I often compare myself, my progression in Christ, and my life to others. This should not be so and...

The Process of Faithing It: Trusting Jesus with Your Faith

“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:34 NKJV). Can you imagine Jesus in a crowd? Everyone has a need, but His target in that moment is to go and build the faith of a little girl’s family at the request of her father because they think that she will die. The father is scared, but Jesus was on the way until He felt something. This feeling was different, but powerful. Jesus turns around looking, asking questions, but finds his answer in the form of a woman, standing and looking amazed at what just happened to her. After 13 years of anemia, tiredness, dizzy spells, soiled clothing, and impacted relationships, she is healed. This woman with an issue of blood had spent all of her money, but decided to trust Jesus with her faith, which was all that she had left. Jesus was not too busy to stop and ask, “Who touched me?”. The disciples reminded Jesus of all the people that were around them, but this touch was different. Some...

Destined to be Pregnant!

I believe that pregnancy is such a beautiful adventure. I look at all of the pictures that people take at every stage of their pregnancy and it makes me ask the question, what if God allowed us to see our spiritual pregnancy? How would we act and would we take care of the baby that we are carrying? People go through different extremes to get pregnant, let alone carry a baby. How is God preparing you to carry the destiny that he has called you to fulfill? Many people have to lose weight, you might have to lose some friends. Is your baby worth the loss? Other people don’t even want to get pregnant because they don’t want to lose their shape. They care what the world thinks about them and they are comfortable with their current circumstance. Then you have people who want a baby so badly that they try to adopt the destiny that God has placed into another individual’s womb. News Flash, God has enabled each and every one of us to be able to endure a spiritual pregnancy, you just nee...

Peace Be Still

“ One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marv...

Waiting for the Promise vs. Moving in Impatience

“Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child? ” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him” ( Genesis 17: 17-19 NKJV). Isaac was desired, but Ismael was birthed out of impatience. If God told you that you were going to birth something beautiful, no matter what your season may look like, bank on the Lord’s promises. Your Ishmael does not have to be a man, your Ishmael can be an opportunity. Don’t walk into just any ole thing because you got tired of waiting on God. If God promised you something in 2016 and you didn’t see it in 2017, that does not mean that He forgot about what He promised you. Isaac had a set season and ...

Why I Won't Date: Second Wind and Fresh Fire pt2

Some people think that waiting on God for your husband or wife is " to saved". They say that you don't know a person until you live with them or that you have to test them out sexually before you commit, but those things are not true when you really decide to wait on God. God knows your heart and knows what will keep your attention. The most important thing to keep in mind is that marriage is ministry. God is not going to send you someone that does not know how to listen to Him or take care of his or her home/ family. I see so many wome n who complain about being a good woman but their man is dogging them out. He prefers the drama over a home that is a sanc t uary . Don't be offended by that particular man's vice because now you have a way of e scape if you choose to take it. "The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22 ) . My heart was broken all over again when someone from my pa...

War For Your Destiny!

Not only is there a war for your destiny, but YOU have to war for your destiny. Disadvantages and hardships came against Moses when he was a baby because of the size of his purpose. The level that the devil fights you gives an indication of the multitude that God wants to use you. God has placed such awesomeness on the inside of you that you don’t even know about. You are a threat to the devil’s kingdom. He wants you to not know who you really are. He wants you to believe that you are not special. Your destiny is why you go through so much. I met a young girl today that blowed me away with her talent. She could not only sing, but she could also play the piano. What impressed me most about this young girl is that she talked about grace. This let me know that she knew something about God. Where I work, I hear about God, but not his grace. In the midst of every emotion, set back, and battle that we encounter, we have to know that God is graceful. The enemy attempts to come agains...

The Stage is Set!!!

Your hard moments, setbacks, short comings, and tough times is what builds the “ tada ” for God to be revealed in your life. 2016 set the stage for 2017. People are watching you and trying to figure out how you are going to make it another moment. God has set the stage and you are the one that He has chosen to show His power through so that others may believe. God never left you, He prepared you. How any times did you think that you would die, but God provided a way each and every time? So many people have questioned God about the promises that He made to them. They are questioning His timing and praying that His timing will align with theirs. God is going to do everything that He said He would do, but it will be in the season that He has appointed for His word to manifest. Don’t try to move ahead of God because you are likely to get results that He did not intend for you to have. In Genesis 16, Sarah had a call on her life to be the mother of nations, but she wanted the c...

This New Place of Faith: Perception

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” ( Isaiah 43: 18-19 ). A lot of times I miss the former things. I miss the things that God has called me out from. Sure I had a horrible boyfriend and sure I was depressed beyond measure, but my misery was comfortable and familiar. This new place, this process, is hard and lonely. I feel misunderstood everywhere I go, but I am aware that God is doing a new thing. Leaving Egypt was painful, uncomfortable, and loud. The problems in our lives can be so loud that they threaten to drown out the voice of God, but this new thing, this new thing has a process attached to it because the Egypt in us has to die. It takes a process to be comfortable in misery and it takes a process to understand that loving misery is dysfunctional. In this new place of God, our eyes have to be fresh an...

JaNina B.

Search This Blog