You Are Strong!

Hi Beautiful, 

Just in case you needed a reminder today, you are strong!!

Some of you, maybe you know you are strong- and that's great, but I KNOW others of you that need this encouragement, and I have a word for you! And it's a word for myself too.

Many of you feel tired, worn out, weak...you need reviving.  You need STRENGTH.

When you are exhausted from the day to day grind, when you are tired of being alone, when you fight with your spouse, when your job is wearing you down, when you've lost a loved one, when you don't have the money to pay the bills, when you can't catch a break, when you are tired of that chronic illness, when you get a bad report, you are STILL strong...

IF you stand on the ROCK.  

There are many scriptures that refer to God being our rock and firm foundation, and a lot of them were written by David who was in distress.  When he was feeling weak and stressed he encouraged himself . 

2 Samuel 22:32  "For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?"

Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 62:2 "He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

I know sometimes where I go wrong, and maybe you do too--is when I lean on OR STAND on my own understanding.  Trying to figure out the why or the how or the when.  Maybe you rely on your friends to lift you up.  Or it could be the things you go to for that quick fix or pick me up-- food, alcohol, drugs, facebook, guys...I am sure you could identify what it is that you stand on when you don't feel strong.  But I am here to remind you that all of those things are shaky and shifting ground--unreliable and will leave you feeling weaker.  
When I was thinking about relying on all these sources for strength, I had this image of someone being swept off their feet in a river- fighting to find solid ground.

When you rely and stand on the Rock that is higher than you, the foundation is strong and you won't feel as though you are being swept away.  This rock's name is Jesus- our hope, our salvation and our strength.  This rock will sustain you.  It's sturdy and firm and will leave you feeling more stable.  
It's the hoping in Him, the encouraging yourself in Him, and the talking and praying to Him where you find your strength.  

"He ALONE is my rock...I will never be shaken."

That's why I say you are strong...IN HIM!  Remember today that the ROCK is your source of strength. Plug in to Him before anything else and begin to feel strength rise in you. 

Xoxo-
Ashley 

He alone is my ROCK…I will not be shaken

You are Beautiful!

Hi Beautiful!

I wanted to remind you today that YOU are so incredibly beautiful.  Everything about you was made with careful thought!  Your eye color, your hair color and thickness, your skin color, your fingers and toes, and the shape of your body.  YOU are so stunning to your creator, and it's time that you see yourself through His eyes.
Without makeup...you're beautiful, in your grungy sweats...you're beautiful, messy hair- not done...you are still so beautiful! 
Seeing yourself through His eyes isn't easy at times, so it must be intentional, especially if we have had people make fun of certain things about our looks.  But first, you might just need some encouragement to know that what your creator sees is a perfect creation!  His masterpiece! 
He says that you are "beautifully and wonderfully made."
So, this week I want all my subscribers getting this email to do something that maybe you've never done before! 
And no matter how you "think" you look, I want you to go look in the mirror, with a smile on your face, and say to yourself, "(your name), you are beautifully and wonderfully made."  Say it again when you do your makeup, and again when you do your hair...every single morning until you feel it! 
And as you go about your day, tell another girl or woman that she's "SO beautiful," and watch her light up.

I hope that this week you are able to appreciate the masterpiece that you are!

Email me and let me know if this encourages you! 
ashley@thekeeperofmyheart.com

Xoxo
Ashley 

Your Worth is not in Your Body

Dear Beautiful Girl,

Your worth is not found in your body.  You will never find what your SOUL is looking for in what your body can give you... no matter if it's pleasure, strength, or the type of body you are trying to achieve.  

Your worth isn't found in any of these.

Maybe you've tried to find your worth in giving your body away, only to find that it left you more empty.

Maybe you are looking for approval by having to have what the world thinks is a perfect body type.

Maybe you've looked to the toilet- thinking if you were able to get skinny enough, you could find the approval you need.

Or maybe you are looking for worth at the gym?  Are your muscles where you find your worth?

In no way am I saying that you shouldn't be healthy and keep your body in good condition.  What I am saying is this...

There is nothing that can satisfy your soul and make you comfortable in your own skin like Jesus can. 
And the many things that we believe can satisfy our souls, only leave us feeling more empty!

Jesus knows every. single. thing. about you.  He's the only thing that can truly satisfy the approval you are longing for if you let Him.  

Go to Him instead of letting guys take advantage of you.  Go to Him before you go to the gym every day.
Go to Jesus to nourish your soul, because it's there that your worth is found.  He will make you feel worthy of the best kind of love.  Pure love.  

If you don't know Jesus, He's only a breath away, and He's waiting to hear from you...

When you don't know the TRUTH, you believe the lie.

Hi Beautiful,

Do you know the truth about who you are?  If you don't, then you will believe the lies that this world has to offer you.  If you don't know who you are in Christ, then you will settle for the things of the world to define you.

What is the TRUTH? 

The truth is that YOU are a child of God, a daughter of the King...YOU are Royalty if you believe in Him. You are not defined by this world, a guy, your job, your body, your sins, your looks... YOU are now defined by Jesus.  And He says that you are His. 

it can be so difficult to really know this truth deep in your heart because there is so much influencing us to be everything other than what god has called us to be.  they don't call the mind the battlefield for nothing...

the enemy is real, and because you are a child of god, he will try to do everything in his power to get you to believe that your identity is found in the world, in the opinions of others, in your body, and in your looks, in the number of likes and follows, or the daily grind of your job.

the enemy even spoke to jesus when he was in the wilderness...and jesus spoke back to him.

Jesus said, "It is written..."  and He used the word of God to fight back!

It is time to know your worth and fight back with the Truth.  

today, when you start to feel like you aren't special, pretty or strong... say "it is written!" and then quote these scriptures...

You are Royalty: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood...God's special possession..." 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

You are Beautiful: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

You are Strong: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Know the truth and then say it out loud.  the word of god is powerful!

I pray that you walk in confidence today, knowing who you are and whose you are.

Love,

Ashley

 

photo by Lindsay Weiser

Let's talk about the past...one last time, so you can be free!

Good Morning Beautiful!

Do you ever find yourself pining over things of the past?  Or thinking that something you did long ago defines you? Or is it hard for you to forgive someone that is trying to move on from their past?

I would like to give you some good news and remind you this morning that you don't have access to the past... IT. WAS. PURCHASED!  And you don't go and steal something back that someone bought from you, so it's gone...not yours anymore. 

I remember a point of time, years ago, when I was struggling with the past, and from time to time I still do... I think we all do.  But at this particular time I just couldn't shake it.  I found myself constantly praying about it, couldn't enjoy life, and my head was just somewhere else. Long story short, I found myself rescuing a bird from the beach, taking it to the animal hospital, and when walking back to my car, looked up and saw a church sign-

"Remember Lot's wife"

That's it, that's all it said.  And immediately it shook me, enough to take a picture! (If you don't know the story of Lot and his wife, look it up- Genesis 19).  Lot's wife looked back when she was seriously told not to, and she turned to a pillar of salt! I mean bam! That quick!

There is a reason why God says not to look back, why Jesus said not to look back, why Paul says he presses forward not looking back.  

You are NEW if you live for Jesus. EVERY DAY you are NEW! And if you don't know Jesus- email me.

Your identity AND the way you see others has to be how God sees us. This is when freedom in life really begins.  This is when destiny comes.  This is when you truly influence others because you are seeing the soul behind the wounds.  When you are in Christ, you really do have a responsibility to see yourself through the eyes of Jesus...and the rest of the world as well.

You have TODAY and you have TOMORROW...but you do not have the PAST, so don't try and visit it.  It's now in the hands of a miraculous God who is currently turning it around for our good (Romans 8:28)!!

Have a great day and share this if you feel led to.

Love,

Ashley 

You, beautiful soul, ARE WORTHY of the BEST!

 

Do you ever find yourself thinking about something amazing happening to you, like finding your dream job, or meeting your dream guy, or whatever it may be that you desire, and then BAM! The thought enters your mind...

"I don't deserve that."

I am here to tell you that, darling, YOU ARE WORTHY of the best that love and life have to offer!

Do you know why? It's not because you are "good" or every time you go to the store you donate to the charity of choice, or because you try your best at everything you do, or that you're kind to everyone around you, or, or, or. 

You are worthy of the BEST simply because you are a DAUGHTER OF THE KING, and the king died for you to have the best life.  That sacrifice was a high price to pay for a daughter that thinks she doesn't deserve the best.  

Many times we often settle for less than what's best with guys, friends, jobs... and maybe it's because we think we wont have anything better... but what if better was coming?  

I know that I have been there before, and I have settled for things that only hurt me and hurt my soul because I didn't feel worthy of better.

What are the things in your life that you are settling for instead of pursuing the BEST that God has for you, His daughter. 

I would love to pray for you, comment below or send me a message on the contact page. 

All the BEST,

Ashley

The Mirage

We all find our worth in something.

Maybe it's your job- and climbing the ladder of success. Maybe it's in the words of others-good or bad, and those words either make or break you. Is it in how you look?  Who you know? Your boyfriend, husband or crush? Or could it be in the past, something you regret?

The issue with finding your worth in a label, is that it's not reality.  You are defining yourself through a mirage, it's false but seems real.  What IS real and true is how God sees us...and THAT is who we are.  

"...let God be true, but every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4, KJV).  

But you must first know how He sees us, and that is the key.  If we don't know that truth, then we will see ourselves through the eyes of lies. 

What happens to to someone in the desert when they see a mirage?  They believe it's real, and go towards it thinking it will offer them some sort of help to their destination.  When they get there they then realize that it was false.  

The same thing happens with us when we find our worth in anything other than how God sees us.  We may end up putting our efforts in something temporary that makes us feel worthy, only to find that we got lost in the process and now somewhere that we never wanted to be.

This website and the purpose of my book is a place of truth...where there really is water to drink- but it's living water.  No mirages here! This is a place where you will find how God sees YOU, so you can then see yourself clearly.  And when you see yourself in the light of truth, THEN you will be headed on the path to freedom- OUT OF THE DESERT AND INTO YOUR DESTINY!