Beauty for Ashes Women's Ministry

To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” - Isaiah 61:3

The purpose of these Bible Studies is to free women of the guilt and shame they carry as a result of their past hurts. Many times, these hurts rob Christian women of their joy and freedom in Christ Jesus.

For a woman who has been sexually wounded, seeing herself as holy, pure, and full of God’s light, does not come easily. She may feel ashamed to stand in the presence of a holy God, not even worthy to receive love from her heavenly Father. A post-abortive woman, however, carries a unique burden. This particular sin comes with the defilement of not only her own body, but the taking of life of her unborn child.  Many times the Christian woman is stuck in not only thinking that God can’t forgive her, but she also cannot forgive herself.

Both of these Bible studies use the Word of God to rightly divide the truth from the lies (Hebrews 4:12-13). These studies are designed to replace each of the untruths held by hurting women with truths that God loves her, He always has loved her and He always will love her. Nothing can separate her from the love of God (Romans 8:28). When she is able to receive God's love, then she can fully trust Him enough to bare her burdens and bring them out into the light where there is healing. When the lies are replaced with the truths, and the woman has reckoned with her past as unto the Lord Jesus, she is now able to walk freely, free of the shame and the guilt that binds. She now can share her healing with others and use her past experiences for God’s glory.
What the enemy meant as harm, God wants to use to bring life, light and encouragement to other women. It is my prayer that hurting women would run to their heavenly Father and receive the healing that only He can offer. It’s a free gift for us, yet it cost Him everything.

“No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who loved Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

Ministry Leader:  Sandi Stauffer

Email:  sandistauffer (at) gmail (dot) com