Of Ashes and Beauty

What a Treat!

My sister in Jesus, Elicia Horton, joins us today with amazing insight on how we can truly fight for a gospel-centered marriage by embracing Jesus's likeness. Today we dive in to the scriptures on marriage and she shares about her and her husband's upcoming book (releasing on January 2, 2018!!!):

"Enter the Ring: Fighting Together For a Gospel-Saturated Marriage"

Click here to learn more and to pre-order: entertheringbook.com

Elicia Horton

Elicia Horton has a strong desire to see people liberated from their broken pasts and then used as models to be put on display for the glory of God. She travels and speaks around the nation teaching the scriptures and encouraging others by using the platform of rap/poetry. Her passion for sports and the Bible lead her to Calvary Bible College. While there, she played two seasons of basketball for the Lady Warriors. She then went on to earn an M.S. in Religious Studies as well as an M.S. in Organizational Development from Calvary Theological Seminary.

Wife of D.A. Horton (who she met as a little girl), has served as a church planter/pastor’s wife for over 10 years while serving as a mother to her children. She has co-authored her first book with her husband D.A., titled, Enter the Ring, which deals with how to develop and maintain a strong gospel-saturated marriage and relationships in the midst of hostile attacks on the sanctity of marriage. This book will be released Spring 2018.

This episode will stay with me for life. My sister in Jesus, Jennifer, chronicles her challenges this last year as she lost her little sister to cancer. 

Most importantly, she shares her hope, which is Christ Jesus,… the one who has NEVER left her or her sister’s side through this challenging time. Be encouraged as you listen to this sister’s challenging and yet uplifting journey!

Sincerely,

Of Ashes and Beauty

Today we take a transparent journey with my sister in Jesus, Mihia Mells. Her testimony is one that speaks much of the power of Embracing the presence of God when everything around you comes crashing down,... even to deep depression and suicidal thoughts.

Today we are encouraged to know, that God is able and faithful to be with us in these times, to bring us through them and sustain us forevermore!

Enjoy!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Today we are truly blessed to embrace God's Presence, Emmanuel, God with us with my sister in the faith, Nancy Crane. Please enjoy and remember that the Lord is with you wherever you go this day,... and each day! He is with us!

Sincerely,

Erika

Of Ashes and Beauty

Please enjoy this insightful podcast with The Love Activist, Krista Idowu,... my sister in Jesus!

The Advent 2016 series is a combination of both podcasts and written reflections. Advent, in our modern day (see Advent history here), is the season in which many people who believe on Jesus reflect on his coming to save his people (his birth, Christmas).

This Episode of Pondering Emmanuel

We spend a much needed, sweet and sobering time with our sister Dominique Dawson. She graciously walks us through the scriptures and her personal experiences with grief. How rich! How real! Thanks Dominique!

The Advent 2016 series is a combination of both podcasts and written reflections. Advent, in our modern day (see Advent history here), is the season in which many people who believe on Jesus reflect on his coming to save his people (his birth, Christmas).

This Episode of Pondering Emmanuel

A sweet time with Eulice Hooper. We talked of health, being tired, trying to figure out what Advent is hah! We had a good and honest time full of laughter and encouragement. Please Enjoy!

This post has been contributed by Jenny. Who has answered the call to serve in India, sharing the hope of Jesus to those that the Lord has placed around her. I know you will enjoy her reflections. I certainly am!

He Is Faithful

It was by faith a young girl from Galilee could sing her heart out in praise to the Father after receiving the most terrifying, yet greatest news of all time. She, a virgin, was to give birth to the long-awaited Emmanuel (Luke 1:30-33).  For the people of Israel, the birth of Jesus meant the wait was finally over. God the Father had given them the promised Savior –He was now with them.

 

About two years ago, in a hot and muggy hotel room in Agra, God told me He was going to bring me back to this country. I wish I could say I was overflowed with joy and obeyed immediately; but unfortunately, that was not the case. For a while there, I wrestled with how India could possibly be part of “The Plan” –or what I perceived to be God’s plan for my life. I was scared.

 

However, the Father reminded and comforted me with the promise that is found in His son, Emmanuel –a promise that He is with me, always. Which brings me here, two years later –I am currently serving in India, sharing the same hope that has faithfully carried me through many up and down seasons with those who have yet to hear that a Savior has come. Every day, I can walk in confidence knowing that God is with me. And if God is who He says He is –if God is perfect in love, and Jesus is love embodied –I have nothing to fear.

 

Christ’s birth was and is a reminder that God continues to prove Himself faithful. The prophesied Messiah of old came and we know He dwelt among His people in all perfection. Unlike human affection, His love is perfect and is never fickle. I have that as a guarantee –my God is faithful, He is unfailing, and He is with me, always.

 

Love incarnate was born to set us free.

Love incarnate was born to dwell with thee. 

 

Jenny

This post was written and contributed by Emily Zanke.

 

God With Us 

Immanuel, God with us, is one of my favorite names for Jesus. I became a believer when I was fifteen years old after hearing the Gospel for the first time. Up until that time I was unaware of a beautiful Creator let alone one that would go so far as to send His only son to come down to me, to die for me just to have a beautiful relationship with me. As many of us know, life didn't magically get better, but life never looked the same either. Through life's course He has continued to be the hope my heart can hang on and through relationship of being with me He has given me deeper freedom from any deep valley.

Gazing over my life’s past eleven years, I realize many major meaningful milestones where Jesus’ faithfulness has been overwhelmingly evident.  I can look back over the past eleven years of Jesus being with me and recount His faithfulness in these major milestones in my little life. Orphaned in South Korea as an infant, my story begins with  being adopted to America at five months old.Because He came down to be with me and calling my heart to His, I no longer have an identity as an orphan. He has spoken and taught me to lean into my identity as His redeemed and renamed as His Daughter. When we speak of Jesus coming down and being with us, our circumstances may not change, but His presence with us changes everything. He continues to root this truth deep down in my heart.

Throughout my adolescence and young adulthood, my self-image was gravely skewed. This began a treacherous slope struggling through an eating disorder.Without Jesus walking through that season with me I would not have been able to claim freedom and victory over that dark struggle. Last year, my life shifted dramatically. I was engaged to be married, preparing for the wedding and walking into a whole new season of life. Plans changed and were redirected as the wedding was called off. All of a sudden my reality became too much to bear on my own in the midst of real heartache. Even though my reality did not change, His presence with me is what healed my heart. The promise of His presence became more real than ever, overwhelming and outweighing the burden of heartache.

In the midst of valleys and trials. Anywhere from not knowing your identity, to addictions, to a broken and fragile heart. Whatever it may be, whatever pain, whatever loss, Jesus stands right in it with us. He is deeply intimate, ever present, and He does not shutter or turn away in the midst of or in spite of pain. After all, He enwrapped Himself in all of those pains and bore it all fully just so that He could be that close to us. Closer than even our own skin. Immanuel, God with us, His presence truly changes everything we could ever face in this life. I hope that we, as His children, delight in this more than anything in this world, and I pray we be lovers of His presence in every season under the sun.

“ Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” Matthew 1:22

Immanuel. God with us. What a praise-worthy truth.

In the hustle and bustle of December, everything is oriented around Christmas. Trying to get work done before the holidays, arranging the “right” decorations, attending all the holiday parties, Christmas cards…you name it.

Over the past few years, Christmas seems to have lost is “shine” for me, and I have found myself wondering why Christmas didn’t feel the same…it just didn’t feel “magical” like it used to. At the end of the day, time seems to escape me and on Christmas day I try to muster up excitement for Christ’s birthday celebration.

But this year is different--Simply because I am taking the time to think. To actually think about what it means that God. is. with. us.

Christmas is a time where this truth is put on display and we have the opportunity to rejoice at his coming.

He has come! He is here! He is coming!

A virgin conceived a bore a son (Jesus)— he was with us!

Because of his coming Christ now dwells in our hearts and allows us to abide in Him—he is with us!

Not only is he with us, but we have the privilege of knowing that he will return—he will be with us as King!

The Birth of Christ .The Coming of our King. Glory to be God.

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)

Shade Perkins