One of the things that God called Jesus to do for us was to turn our ashes into beauty (Isaiah 61:3). In other words, Jesus turns evil into good for us (Romans 8:28). There is a picture of the Lord’s heart to do this for us throughout the bible, but let’s focus on it seen in the book of Esther. In the book of Esther, there was an enemy of the Jewish people named Haman, who used his position as an official of the king at that time, which was Queen Esther’s husband. Esther was a Jew, but neither Haman nor her husband, the king, knew it. Haman’s evil plot was uncovered and his intentions made known by the wisdom of God given to Esther. Haman was hung on the very gallows he had prepared for Esther’s uncle (also a Jew) to be hung on. Now, although Haman had been killed and the evil intentions of his heart exposed, the decree to kill and destroy every Jew which Haman had issued was still outstanding, because pursuant to the Persian laws of that day, it had to be executed once issued…no matter what. But God in His love and mercy for His people, gave them wisdom, and had them issue a counter-decree, which ultimately delivered them from this so-called set-in-stone death decree. Since God had already strategically placed Esther into the kingdom, she too had authority and power in Persia as the Queen. The king asked Esther what would she like to decree, and Esther, full of wisdom, used her God-given authority to issue a counter-decree that allowed the Jews to defend themselves, Haman’s sons to be hung, and his house to be given to her uncle Mordecai (Esther 7:10; 8:2). We, as children of the Most High God, must do the same, and use our God-given authority. Now, I know that someone may be saying, “but I’m not a queen and I don’t have the authority to issue court decrees like Esther.” But, indeed you are a queen, and for the gentlemen reading, you are a king in the eyes of God, and you have God-given authority to issue decrees in the highest court of heaven too. The Bible says that He made us kings and priests and Jesus has given us His keys to the Kingdom, and we have all power and authority over the enemy. Therefore, your authority is even greater than Esther’s was in that day, and Esther was used to save an entire nation! Therefore, with the wisdom of God, use your God-given authority, because we—like Esther—have authority with the King!
So after the counter-decree was issued, it happened that on the same day that the children of God were supposed to die, their enemies perished instead. During the month that they were supposed to be unjustly slain, God gave them rest from their enemies instead…turned their sorrow to joy, and they went from mourning to a holiday (the Feast of Purim, which commemorates this victory) (Esther 9). And to this day many Jews still celebrate the Feast of Purim with feasting, gladness, and sending one another gifts, because of the greatness of our God, and what He did in Persia. The Lord is willing and able to do the same for you. In fact, the God promises in His word (and God cannot lie), that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore, and He is not a respecter of persons! (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 13:8 & Acts 10:34)
Beloved, whatever was meant for your harm, God works it together for your good. And remember; don’t be afraid of any weapons that form against you because it will never prosper. And know that if God allowed the weapon to form, God can take that very same weapon and wield it against your enemy. The Bible says that the pit that the enemy digs for you, he himself will fall into it (Proverbs 26:27). That is what God did for Mordecai. God allowed his enemy Haman to build the gallows, thinking it was for Mordecai to hang on and die. The truth was, God knew Haman would hang on that very same gallows in his stead! And, God changes not! What He did for them, He will do for you. Therefore, don’t be afraid when you see your enemies digging ditches, because they are digging their own graves, and whatever ashes they threw your way, Jesus will give you beauty in place of them all!
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me…to give them beauty for ashes…” (Isaiah 61:1 & 3)
For more information, valuable resources and ways to support A Woman’s Worth Foundation’s purpose, please visit: www.awowwoman.com and https://www.amazon.com/author/siohvaughnfuncheswade
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Published by Dr. Siohvaughn Funches
Dr. Siohvaughn L. Funches is a loving mother, renowned public speaker and a now two-time published author! Spearheading her own publishing company, A Wow Woman Publishing Co., she has authored and released two books, The True Story for God’s Glory: The Life of Siohvaughn L. Funches-Wade and You Gotta Let God Finish! And being so filled with both the wisdom and revelation of God’s purpose for her life, this diligent woman has already commenced her third literary work!
To truly know Siohvaughn is to know that her greatest passion, aside from being a mom, is A Woman’s Worth Foundation, Inc., otherwise known as “A Wow Woman Foundation.” Having been inspired by God, she founded and remains President of A Woman’s Worth Foundation, a non-profit Christian organization with a focus on issues affecting women. In furtherance of this Foundation’s mission, she has dedicated a large part of her life to helping women know and understand their God-given identity in order for them to fulfill their God-given destinies. This is what inspired the WOW Woman idea. Christ has indeed made these women, WOW Women with a divine purpose! WOW women standing for: Women Of Worth, Women Of Wisdom and Women Of Wealth! Siohvaughn’s dedication to sharing this life-transforming truth as it is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ has her impacting this entire world in a major way, one life at a time.
Siohvaughn Funches is certainly a woman of worth. She is enriched with the love of God and is a continual support for women all over the globe. With a deep passion for purpose, Siohvaughn counsels women from all walks of life in order for them to understand their worth. This woman of worth knows that a woman’s true value does not lie in what she possesses, whom she knows, or what she looks like. Rather, her worth is found in whose she is, and she is Jesus Christ bride. This truth cannot be changed and likewise her worth cannot either. Women of worth are and always will be; the one God says is worth Him dying for! That worth certainly cannot be measured but is far above material possessions, outer beauty and the company a woman keeps. The worth is priceless! As Siohvaughn imparts these transforming-truths into women around the world, their whole lives are being changed and enriched for the better!
Siohvaughn is also passionate about restoring a revelation and sense of worth to women survivors of domestic violence (DV). Having overcome domestic violence and it’s deadly effects herself, she has dedicated a large part of her life and Foundation to helping other women survivors of DV be healed, restored and secure in their God-given worth. Dr. Funches has provided countless hours of Professional Domestic Violence Counseling to these brave women as well as provided transitional housing at The Safe Haven of Hope, a shelter she owns for women and children survivors of domestic violence. In sum, Siohvaughn is a most gracious and powerful woman who has had every area of her life transformed for the better because she understands the truth about a woman’s worth, and because of her love for women she continually shares these life-transforming truths with woman around the world so that they too will have their whole lives enriched!
Dr. Siohvaughn Funches is also a woman of wisdom. Dr. Funches has earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology, a Master’s level certification in Professional Counseling, a Doctorate in Theology and a Juris Doctorate degree in law. Having graduated from Law School Magna Cum Laude, this brilliant woman earned a multitude of academic accolades throughout her Law School career. Not only was she placed on the Dean’s List for outstanding academic performance in Law School multiple times, she also received the Cali Excellence for the Future Award on numerous occasions for being the top student in her class. In recognition of her outstanding pro bono work in the legal field, she received the prestigious Georgia Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears Award. Dr. Funches was also awarded the honorable Edward J. Henning Memorial Award for her excellence in the Alternative Dispute Resolution field.
Currently, as a part of her legal profession Dr. Funches owns her own alternative dispute resolution firm, The Mediation Matters Firm, LLC, and provides a variety of professional alternative dispute resolution services to clients. As a Registered Civil Mediator and Arbitrator with the state of Georgia she mediates numerous cases for several judges in Georgia. Sworn in as a Guardian ad Litem in the state of Georgia, Dr. Funches also advocates relentlessly in court for abused and neglected children.
Siohvaughn Funches is also a woman of wealth. This wise and savvy entrepreneur owns her own real estate investment firm, which provides hotel-style rentals for business executives as well as vacation rentals for families on the coast. Like any wise investor, Dr. Funches understands the principle of diversifying and therefore, has begun her own women’s clothing line.
To obtain more information on this WOW woman and to book speaking or event engagements visit her website at: www.awowwoman.com
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I received this today. Amen!
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