My Story
Hello and Welcome,
Firstly, thank you for visiting my blog. My name is Merlyn. But what’s in a name, you’d rather be interested in my story. And what better way can there be to describe my story than to describe it through my favorite phrase—Beauty for Ashes. Elisabeth Elliot said, “Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ashes.”
“Of one thing I am perfectly sure: God’s story never ends with ashes.”
-Elisabeth Elliot
My life is a testimony to it. And I want you to know that you can rest assured that no matter what you are going through today, or how bleak your future looks today, there is hope. Your story is not going to end with ashes. God will bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3).
I started my walk in the love of Christ at the age of 12. I had my ups and downs in life and my teeny-weeny disappointments, but still held on to my faith. As the years went by, the disappointments got bigger and frequent, shaking my faith and blinding me from the love of God. Like the prodigal son, I walked far away from the love of God, or so I thought. But little did I realize that His love is carrying me through. I gave up on myself, disappointed and tired running hard but going nowhere. I reached a threshold where I felt I had annihilated my naïve inner self; I had reached a point of no return, a place of ashes.
Beauty for ashes
But God’s ways are amazing. In my most desperate situation, He pulled me out from the pit, flooded my life with His unconditional agape love, lifted me from the ashes, and gave beauty for ashes.
There is no power greater than the love of Christ. There is no darkness so dark where His love can’t shine. There is no pit so deep where His love can’t reach out. Even when you feel you are miles away from his love, He is closer than you could imagine. Even when we feel we have done enough damage and destroyed ourselves, God is able and willing to give beauty for ashes. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8: 38-39).
This place is to let you know that you are unique, special, and loved. A place to give you hope, encouragement, and love when you feel discouraged, disappointed, and desperate. I would like to quote Joel Osteen here, who said that we have the power to put someone on their feet, the power to keep them from falling into depression, the power to cause them to pursue their dream. Your blessing your encouragement, blessing, and kindness will help people become what they need to become. Take time to be a healer, a lifter.
What Can I Do for You?
Life is not all about running one’s race and accomplishing one’s goals. This place is to encourage and lift your soul when you need someone to uphold you.