Heavy Breathing Just Before Midnight: Recent Episodes
Of Ashes and Beauty
The podcast series by Sandi Maki exploring fun and inspiring topics that usually have inspiration hitting just before midnight. Enjoy!
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 3, 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 Urrego 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!
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 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!
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 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
“ 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
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 got to spend time with a good sister, Lynne Shenk. I have to say that I was truly blessed to hear what she has to say about Advent, Emmanuel and God being called “El Roi,” God who sees me, by Hagar in Genesis 16:13. Yes, He does see us. Enjoy!
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 got to spend time with a good sister, Lynne Shenk. I have to say that I was truly blessed to hear what she has to say about Advent, Emmanuel and God being called “El Roi,” God who sees me, by Hagar in Genesis 16:13. Yes, He does see us. Enjoy!
We all have those times in our life, where we are pressed to rethink our surroundings, affiliations, relationships and even ourselves. It’s a good thing. It’s even healthy. The one thing that is consistent in this life is change. And many times, we are the better for it.
There is something unprecedented however about how God brings about change. What God did on that faithful night that Jesus, was born was beyond change,.. it was,… new.
In the Old Testament of the bible we encounter the tellings of several prophets. One of them was Isaiah. Isaiah has some of the most beautiful and most quoted prophesies of the coming of Christ. There is one scripture however that I believe is so subtle, and yet so refreshing. It reads:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” – Isaiah 43:18-21
The people to whom Isaiah would have been addressing, or professing to, more than likely would have known about the Lord delivering the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. They would have known well that God had made a way, out of no way, to both free them and to part the Red Sea for them…
Yet and still he says that He is about to do a new thing.
The thing that He is referring to is a new thing indeed. He is foretelling of the Lord Jesus, coming into this world… The One who is called the Living Water. Moreover He is addressing not only those who have seen his deliverance from Egypt, or who walked through dry land in the middle of the Red Sea…
No, No,… this passage is addressed “to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” This reference makes me think about a passage that addresses believers in the New Testament, Ephesians 1:4-6. It reads:
” even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
How wonderful is our God, that He would assure us of the newness, of the security, of the confidence we have in Jesus?
This Advent season, My prayer is that we would live out our days this Christmas season in expectation.
This is, an expectation that the Lord God is not a stagnant God. He is not one that is incapable of catching us by surprise in the way that He chooses to deliver us, nor in the ways that He allows us to delight in him in each moment, each holiday season. Let’s pray that He would allow for us to treasure him in new ways.
Sincerely,
Erika,
Of Ashes and Beauty
We all have those times in our life, where we are pressed to rethink our surroundings, affiliations, relationships and even ourselves. It’s a good thing. It’s even healthy. The one thing that is consistent in this life is change. And many times, we are the better for it.
There is something unprecedented however about how God brings about change. What God did on that faithful night that Jesus, was born was beyond change,.. it was,… new.
In the Old Testament of the bible we encounter the tellings of several prophets. One of them was Isaiah. Isaiah has some of the most beautiful and most quoted prophesies of the coming of Christ. There is one scripture however that I believe is so subtle, and yet so refreshing. It reads:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” – Isaiah 43:18-21
The people to whom Isaiah would have been addressing, or professing to, more than likely would have known about the Lord delivering the children of Israel from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. They would have known well that God had made a way, out of no way, to both free them and to part the Red Sea for them…
Yet and still he says that He is about to do a new thing.
The thing that He is referring to is a new thing indeed. He is foretelling of the Lord Jesus, coming into this world… The One who is called the Living Water. Moreover He is addressing not only those who have seen his deliverance from Egypt, or who walked through dry land in the middle of the Red Sea…
No, No,… this passage is addressed “to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” This reference makes me think about a passage that addresses believers in the New Testament, Ephesians 1:4-6. It reads:
” even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
How wonderful is our God, that He would assure us of the newness, of the security, of the confidence we have in Jesus?
This Advent season, My prayer is that we would live out our days this Christmas season in expectation.
This is, an expectation that the Lord God is not a stagnant God. He is not one that is incapable of catching us by surprise in the way that He chooses to deliver us, nor in the ways that He allows us to delight in him in each moment, each holiday season. Let’s pray that He would allow for us to treasure him in new ways.
Sincerely,
Erika,
Of Ashes and Beauty
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
– John 1:14
This verse literally leaves me speechless. How is it that the One who created all things, the One who gives life… humbled himself to become like one of us?
The Game Changer There are many beliefs that are ever before us, in this pluralistic society. There are many doctrines (many false ones to be specific) that are presented daily, in passing and on purpose. But this idea, that a sovereign God who is self-existent, dependent on nothing and no one,… would humble himself, cloak his deity in human flesh, for the sake of those who did not know him is… well incomprehensible.
This Jesus, the God of the bible stands alone in the way He brought himself down, in the likeness of men,… to save us. Yes, for people like us, who did not recognize him.
Think About It Jesus knows our dignity (because He created us) AND He knows our dirt ( because He is omnipresent and promises never to leave us)… even so, He chose,… to become like us. Practically, this means that:
He knows what it is like to be a human being
He knows what it is like to have joy,.. to have sorrow
He knows what it is like to be betrayed and outcasted
He knows the difference between close friends and fake ones
He knows death… in a very real way
We must remember Jesus’s willingness to become human whenever we doubt his love for us.
The Distinguished Jesus “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
Talk about admiration, respect and some next-level type of stuff! So, this scripture means to say that Jesus knows what it is like to be me,… and yet without sin!? So He knows what it is like to be human?
While I am mostly talking to myself here, I urge you to join in with me and think on the life of Jesus as you think on your current season… He has been there,.. yet without sin.
This is the Gospel A holy God, creates a world, creates people in it and gives them free will. They use the gift of free will to go against Him and decide what is best for themselves. He disciplines them and yet tells them that He will make a way for them to be right with Him once again. He sends His One and only, perfect Son to live the life that we live, being tempted in ways that we are tempted, and yet without sin.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
And he became the punishment of our sins,… for our sake!?
If you are reading this, especially anyone who has grown up as a “traditionally nominal Christian,” I beg of you right now to consider this.
God himself, who made you, sent his very only Son, to be born, to live, to be murdered, to be buried, and to be raised up … for you.
So that you might confess the truth about yourself, knowing that He has been where you have been.
So that you can acknowledge the perfection in him, knowing that his perfection can be credited to you when you, confess and believe on who He is and what He has done.
Yes, with Jesus, the playing field has been eternally leveled. Please, let’s take some time together to confess, accept, thank and worship Jesus,… treasuring him in our hearts,… for He is truly worthy!
Sincerely,
Erika
Of Ashes and Beauty