God Gives You Beauty For Ashes

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3

So, you feel like you are immersed in quicksand. Well, the good thing is that when you sink all the way down to the bottom there is no place to go but up and God is your hot air balloon to elevate you.

We all go through seasons in life (yes, I did say seasons with a plural) where things are awry or abase. It happens to all of us on this journey of life. These are the times when we must press into God and cast our care or else, we can wind up in the psychiatric care unit. God Gives You Beauty For Ashes.

For those of you that love school and are scholars and enjoy testing trust me the testing that life brings are very sharp, biting, and unpleasant. However, after you have suffered a little while God will give you beauty for ashes. Unfortunately, there is no timetable or tracking device to determine when he will lift the veil, but he will.

In the Bible is the story of Job and the hardships he endured that God allowed to prove to Satan that Job was a good man and would not buckle under immense pressure and stop serving God. http://www.miraclebook.net

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, the fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” – Job 1:1-19.

So, as you can see here is this righteous man of God named Job that had to deal with very severe testing however at the end of his testing period God restored to him everything that he lost and gave him double for his trouble. “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found as fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. So, Job died, being old and full of days. http://www.miraclebook.net

So, as you can see God gave Job beauty for his ashes and because God is no respecter of persons, he will do the same for you. Whether you have tried multiple times to have a baby and it didn’t happen due to miscarriages don’t give up, keep trying God has a child with your name on it or maybe you can adopt and that will save you the nine months of hormone changes. Maybe you lost a home to foreclosure, fire, or a hurricane. God will restore you and give you another one. If you had your car totaled in a wreck or had it repossessed don’t panic God has a brand new shiny one waiting for you. If you lost, you job and the door was closed on you and you though you would retire from that job God has a new door and better position waiting for you. With the loss of that job, you had to cancel your dream vacation and now you think you will never have the opportunity to take that trip again. Don’t faint in heart God has it all worked out and not only that trip but several others you will embark on. Possibly the love of your life walked away from you, or they passed away. God knows you are lonely and hurting and he will bring you love again. You have been dealing with a long-standing health issue and now the last medical report is still unchanged, and the doctor tells you that you will have to live this this condition for the rest of your life or even worst you may not live very long. Remember God always has the final say and he will give you beauty for ashes.

Stay in faith, keep believing, keep trusting God, praise and worship God for the victory in advance. Don’t do like the children of Israel did and wait until they had crossed the Red Sea and then they broke out their tambourines and started to praise God. Your victory is coming, God Gives You Beauty For Ashes.

Jesus The Way Maker

Do you wish you had your own personal Houdini? You know the great escape artist! How many situations have you been in during your journey of life and didn’t see a way out?

At one time or another we have all wished to have our own personal magician that we could whip out at those critical times when we don’t see a way out of a situation that either we created or was just sprung on us. Well, I have great news for you that person has been with you always and he is called Jesus The Way Maker.

There are many names for Jesus but that would be a blog for another time. However, no matter what situation or crisis you find yourself in just call on the name of Jesus and he will fix it. Now don’t get me wrong he may not fix it immediately or in the way you want it fixed but he will do what is best for you and his best is unmatched to anything you think you can do on your own. http://www.miraclebook.net

On this journey of life, we will all encounter challenges, trials, testing of all types but the good news is that Jesus already has your solution even before the problem arises and he will make a way out for you. The Bible says so, “No temptation regardless of its source has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance; but God is faithful to His word. He is compassionate and trustworthy, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability to resist, but along with the temptation he has in the past and is now and will always provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it without yielding and will overcome temptation with joy.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13.

We all have at one time, or another called on everybody to save us except the one person who can really help us, bail us out, and place our feet on sturdy ground and that is Jesus The Way Maker. For those of us who are daring like myself and will try almost anything once like (Octopus Salad) invest in trying the real thing. All of us if we will just place our faith and trust in Jesus will be on cruise control. “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize him, and he will make your paths straight and smooth removing obstacles that block your way. – Proverbs 3:5-6. http://www.miraclebook.net

The Despondency Test

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. – Psalm 42:5

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. – Jeremiah 29:11

Expected – to anticipate or look forward to the coming or occurrence of. – https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expected.

According to Jeremiah 29:11 God has an expected end for all of us and according to the dictionary that is something we all should be looking forward to. So then why are so despondent? http://www.miraclebook.net

Despondent – means having lost all or nearly all hope. Implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

From the time God created the world he gave us all free will and with that we believe everything should always go our way and that we should always be living on easy street. When that does not happen and when we are going through extended seasons of challenges, trials, discomfort etc. we become despondent. We all want things to happen fast, quick like warp speed for the star trek fans reading this but that is not the way God operates. He expects a degree of FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF from us all. When we do not have those, we can expect to sink into the abyss.

According to our God given heavenly assignment in life not the man-made ones we decide God is going to keep us on the potter’s wheel until we are what we need to be to complete those assignments. Being on the potter’s wheel means we are being shaped, molded, refined into what God knows we need to be. It is what you would call the HOT SEAT! Don’t try to escape it because no one does. God created all of us and either we do things his way or we will be in the gutter. http://www.miraclebook.net

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” There are many different tests in life that we will be expected to pass and one of the big ones is the despondency test. If we are always going to moan, complain, despise when God is trying to do a good work in us and get us prepared for the abundance, he has for us then we will never attain all that he wants for us and what we want for ourselves. We will be like the children of Israel that never made it into the promise land and died in the wilderness.

So, what do you do when things are not going your way? Pray, keep doing good, keep going to church, keep helping and serving people, keep tithing, keep reading your Bible, keep up your praise and worship to God, always have gratitude. At the appointed time God will lift the clouds and bring you into the abundant life he has in store for you. We all think we know when we are ready to level up, but we don’t. You don’t want to go to a higher level of influence and success when you are not ready or mature for it because the platform that was built for you will just crumble. http://www.miraclebook.net

Trust God’s timing and pass the despondency test and make the devil mad as hell so when you are elevated like David, Job, Moses, Joseph, Abraham, Esther, Ruth and many other heroes in the Bible the devil will have to turn aside and look for his next victim, but it will not be YOU!

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Anxiety & Depression

“I found that with depression, one of the most important things you can realize is that you’re not alone. You’re not the first to go through it, you’re not gonna be the last to go through it,” — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

“There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” ― John Green

“I keep moving ahead, as always, knowing deep down inside that I am a good person and that I am worthy of a good life.” ― Jonathan Harnisch

“If you have been brutally broken but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with a heart of an angel.” — Keanu Reeves

Mental Health is a real issue that we all need to take seriously. If you know someone who may be suffering, then reach out to them and show them love. No man is an island and we all at some point in our lives must lean on someone else. If you see a person that is suffering don’t just shake your head and turn the other way. Don’t think that they are just a weakling so whatever happens to them they deserve. You might live to regret those unsavory thoughts. If Jesus had done that when he was here walking the earth where would we all be now? Check out my website

If you are a person dealing with mental health issues, please reach out and get help. Don’t think that you are the only one dealing with these issues. People in the Bible dealt with mental health issues as well. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Anxiety & Depression

Kind David battled depression, despair, fear, guilt, loneliness, anguish and much more. He detailed all of this in the Book of Psalms. ““My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.” – Psalm 38:4. “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 42:11. He also spoke about his grief regarding the loss of his son in the book of 2 Samuel Chapter 12. David sinned a great sin against God by sleeping with a married woman named Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah and then married her and she conceived. God struck and killed his son even though David prayed for forgiveness and fasted. Check out my website

Elijah the prophet who had a multitude of spiritual victories was fearful, tired, and distraught and ran away and said, “I have had enough Lord, he said. Take my life, I am not better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Anxiety & Depression

Jonah who ran from God when he asked him to go to Nineveh to preach to the people was ultimately swallowed by a whale. After three days God had the whale spit Jonah out and he headed to Nineveh. He had great success there with the people, but he was angry instead and said, “Now O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:3. And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.” – Jonah 4:9.

Job was a righteous man and loved God, but he lost almost everything enduring great devastation and physical illness. “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” – Job 2:9. He then said, “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” Job 3:11.” Job also said, “I have no peace, no quietness, I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Job 3:26. Job continued to also say, “I loathe my very life; therefore, I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.” Job 10:1. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Anxiety & Depression

Jesus was deeply depressed and distraught knowing the things that he had to deal with including the cross. Jesus prayed to God saying, and saith unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt. – Mark 14:34-36.

If you see something say something. If you are the person suffering you speak up and say something. No matter how it may appear there is still more good in this world than bad and there are people waiting to extend their arms and help you to overcome. Remember God says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”.

Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

God is a God of restoration on any level for all things

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. – Joel 2:25-26. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

God is in the restoration business. If you have lost a job, you had a loved one walk out on you and left you, your health has deteriorated, you have lost your home, you have lost your business, all these any many more can be restored to you by God. Don’t believe those lies that come to your mind that it’s all over, life is forever going to be a downward free fall and you will always be spiraling out of control. The same way that Peter started to drown when he walked on water with Jesus and Jesus extended his hand to Peter and pulled him back up and saved him is the same way that God will do that for you. Check out my website

I am sure you all have heard or read the story of Job in the Bible. Well Job was a righteous man who loved God and lived a righteous life. One day God put Job through arduous testing and took away all that he had. Job lost his business, home, family, and his health. His wife being the only one left told Job to curse God and die. Job did not do that, but he was miserable and at one point did say, “Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?” – Job 3:11. After God was finished testing Job the Bible says, “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.” – Job Chapter 42. Christian Books – Donna Louis – Restoration

No matter what you are going through God can restore you. If it is a health issue call out Jehovah Rapha which means the Lord that heals. If it is a financial issue like your job, your business, paying for your home or apartment, paying your bills etc. call out the name Jehovah Jireh which means the Lord will provide. There are several Hebrew names for God in The Old Testament in the Bible. I have just listed two but you can look them up. Check out my website

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. – Psalm 51:12

For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. – Isaiah 61:7

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

God is in the RESTORATION business.