We are excited to launch the Beauty for My Ashes Devotional Series on Friday, September 16th! This will be a 13-week series that will cover each chapter of the book. Each weekly devotional will include the video and a study guide for the viewer to participate with and use throughout the week. We know that you will be encouraged by God through this series. This is the page where you will be able to view the latest posts and review the previous ones! We look forward in expectation to what God is going to do!
-Whitney 

Legacy: Don't Let A Scene Define Your Story [VIDEO] 

Don't confuse a scene in your life to be your story! You have the power to decide that your story doesn't have to end this way. What is the legacy you are leaving behind?
Enjoy the final devotional of the Beauty for My Ashes series titled, "Legacy". 


Same Place, New Level [VIDEO] 

Ever feel like you've grown so much only to get stuck back in an old familiar place or environment? Have you found it difficult to be the new person you feel you have become in an old place or relationship? This week I want to talk to you about "Same Place, New Level." How will you respond when God puts you back into these old places?



Same Place, New Level Study Guide PDF

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Twelve 
  
Video Questions 

1. Same place, new ________________________. 
2. It’s hard to be the new person in the old ______________________________________. 
3. Seeing from an ___________________________________ perspective. 

  •       In Revelation, God says, “Come up higher and I’ll give you directions for the future.” 

4. You’re not there to __________________________ back to who you were. 

  •     You’re there to see things from an elevated perspective and to speak into the atmosphere. 

5. God is going to put you back in those places when He’s done a great work in you so that you can ________________ from a new perspective, _______________ new things, and ________________ differently than you ever have before. 
  

  
Questions for the Week 

1. Throughout this healing journey, do you feel that God has done something new in you or that you’re a different person than you used to be? If so, describe what you feel is different. 

  
  
  
  

2. Have you experienced God placing you back in “old familiar places or relationships”? If so, what are those places or relationships? 

  
  
  
  
  

3. Was it a challenge for you not to fall back into old patterns or habits? How did you respond? 

  
  
  
  

4. Do you feel you are seeing old things from a different “elevated” perspective now? I encourage you to think of ways that you can speak, think, and respond differently than you ever have before to people or circumstances around you. 





 

A New Routine [VIDEO] 

Whenever we desire change or growth in our lives, we have to begin by changing the way we think, speak, and act. We cannot use the protocol of yesterday to enter into our next season. This week's devotional is titled "A New Routine." 




A New Routine Study Guide PDF
 

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Eleven 

Video Questions 

1. Really pray and ________________________ God about this next step, because He will answer you. 

2. The language of the Holy Spirit is _____________________________. 

3. We remain stuck when we _________________________ the same way, _________________________ the same way, and _________________________ the same way. 

4. If we ever want to move beyond where we are now, we have to start _______________________________, _______________________________, and _______________________________ things differently than we ever have before. 

5. The protocol of ___________________________ isn’t the protocol for _____________________________.   

6. The same old way gets the same old ______________________________. 

7. Count the ____________________. 

8. With growth comes _____________________. 

  
Questions for the Week 

1. Do you feel like it’s time to make a change in your life or maybe start a new routine? If so, what do you think it is? 

  
  
  
  

2. I mention how the language of the Holy Spirit is peace. If or when you have ever felt like God has spoken to you, did you feel at peace? Have there ever been times when God has asked you to do something that you didn’t want to, yet you still experienced peace and did it anyways? 

  
  
  
  

3. In your own words, describe how a person could remain stuck in a situation whether it be through their actions, thoughts, or words. 

  
  
  
  

4. What are some practical ways that we could implement into our daily routines that could help us to speak, think, and act differently? 

  
  
  
  

5. Do you find growth to be painful at times? If so, explain a time when you experienced this. 



 

Life Isn't Over for You [VIDEO] 

Don't write your story too soon, because with time comes perspective. You will function at full capacity once again, you will have more to offer people and the world than you ever have before, and God IS able to bring beauty from the ashes of devastation and loss. Check out this week's devotional video, "Life Isn't Over for You."




Life Isn't Over for You Study Guide PDF
 

Video Questions 

Beauty for My Ashes
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Ten 


1. Life in not ______________________________ for you. 

2. It’s okay if you’re not _______________________________________ at 100% yet. 

3. One day you will function at full ________________________________ again. 

4. Don’t write your story too soon because __________________________ will always bring ________________________________. 

5. You are going to begin to _________________ up and ____________________ out again. 

6. Spiritually speaking, we’re in the best position to build up from the __________________________ up. 

7. We can do __________________________ because of our losses. 

 

Questions for the Week 

1. At any time in your healing journey, have you felt that life was over for you? Did the enemy speak the lies to you that you could never function again, that you had
    nothing to offer anyone, or that nothing good could ever come from this situation? 



 

2. Do you feel that you are functioning at full capacity once again? If not, do not be discouraged; you will one day soon! 



 

3. Have you found that time has brought you perspective? If so, elaborate on new perspective you have gained through time that has passed. 





4. I mention in the video and book that there are now things I am able to do because of the losses I have faced. What are some things you are able to do now that you
    were unable to do before your loss? (I even noticed empathy was something new I gained.) If you are unable to fully answer that question yet, what are some things you
    would like to do that you couldn’t do before? 




 

It's Time To Dream Again! [VIDEO] 

Often times when we face tragedy and loss in our lives, we lose much more than we realize. Not only do we lose the person, relationship, home, job, finances, or whatever it may be; we often lose our motivation to wake up each morning. Our desire to live begins to fade away, and we start living life just going through the motions. In this week's devotional, I want to talk about our hopes and dreams after facing devastation and loss. I believe in my heart that for many of us, it's time to start dreaming again! Be encouraged as you listen to this week's "Beauty for My Ashes" devotional video! 

Click the image below to view the full video "A New Reason to Motivate Us Each Morning." I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video.          
-Whitney  



A New Reason To Motivate Us Each Morning Study Guide PDF

 

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Nine 
  
Video Questions 

1. There are still dreams that you ________________ accomplish. 

2. There is a great _________________________ of witnesses cheering us on from Heaven. 

3. There are some dreams that you can ______________ accomplish without your loved one here. 

  •       This can be difficult because we not only lost a loved one, but we also lost a dream. 

4. These dreams we lay to rest are ___________________________________________ in our lives. 

5. It’s time to _________________________________ again! 

6. It is not in any way ____________________________________________ your loved one to start dreaming again. 

  •     Instead, it’s a way to honor your loved ones; carrying on their legacy while beginning your own. 

  

Questions for the Week 
 
1. During the video, I challenged you to set apart special time to spend with God this week. If there are dreams that you can no longer accomplish with your loved one gone, lay them down at His feet. Begin to ask Him for a new motivation and to awaken new dreams inside of you. 

  
  
  
  

2. Are there dreams you shared with your loved one that you can still accomplish in their honor? If so, what are they? How will you accomplish them? 

  
  
  
  
  

3. Did you notice a loss of motivation to move forward or accomplish your dreams when your loved one passed away? 

  
  
  
  
  

4. As you seek God, what is He showing you? What is a new desire or dream that is being awakened inside of you? If you cannot answer this right now, continue to seek God; in time He will reveal it to you. 

  
  
  
  
  

5. In times of loss, tragedy, or devastation, it’s important to remember to find new reasons to wake up each morning. When you begin to feel unmotivated or hopeless, begin searching and asking God for this new dream, desire or hope. He will always guide you in the right direction. 

  
  
  
 

 

Are You Sad or Depressed? [VIDEO] 

I've learned first-hand that there is a very fine line between being sad over our circumstances and falling into depression because of them. It's a natural, flowing movement that can overtake us if we do not learn to recognize it and adjust accordingly. In this devotional, I describe the differences between sadness and depression caused by our circumstances, and offer some helpful tips on how to keep moving forward. 

Click the image below to view the full episode of Chapter 8: "Sad or Depressed?" I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video.         
-Whitney  





"Sad or Depressed?" Study Guide

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Seven 
  
Video Questions 

1. There is a difference between clinical depression and depression caused by our ___________________________________. 

2. Sadness is an emotional __________________________ that we can come in and out of.   

3. Depression is there for the _______________________________________. 

  •       Depression can feel like a pit that we can’t climb out of. 

4. The first part of the battle is being able to ________________________________ when we move from being sad to being depressed. 

5. Do not change your environment to ______________________________ to depression. 

6. Stay __________________________________ with people. 

  

Questions for the Week 
  

1. At any point in your healing journey, do you feel that you have suffered from depression caused by your circumstances? 

  
  
  
  
  
2. Are you able to recognize the difference between being sad and being depressed? If so, what are some of the distinguishable traits that you notice between the two?  If not, I would highly encourage you to pay close attention to what happens when you begin to feel sad for long periods of time. 
  
  
  
  
  

3. Have you noticed yourself changing your environment to conform to depression at any time in your healing journey? If so, what did you change to conform to it? 

  
  
  
  
  

4. What are some positive ways you can change your environment the next time you recognize depression setting in? 

  
  
  
  
  

5. List anywhere between one to three names of trusted people you can connect with whenever you begin to feel depressed. 

  
 

The Firsts After Losing A Loved One [VIDEO] 

The firsts. Some of the times we dread the most after losing a loved one. The first holiday, birthday, or anniversary; the big occasions such as weddings, graduations, and the birth of children and grandchildren. The truth is, they can be very difficult times; but through my healing journey, God shifted my perspective to begin seeing these dreaded "firsts" as milestones. It's my hope that as you watch this week's video, God can change your perspective, too.  

Click the image below to view the full episode of Chapter 7: The Firsts. I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video.        
-Whitney   

 

Click Here For The Study Guide PDF

Beauty for My Ashes  
STUDY GUIDE  
Chapter Seven  
   
   
Video Questions  

1. The firsts ______________ be very difficult for us.  

2. The firsts may _____________ be as difficult for us. 

Embrace these “grace” days.  

3. _________________________________ are times when we sit down with God (figuratively) and work through some things, then move forward.  

4. I think milestones are times we will come across our ______________________ lives.  

5. Milestones are so crucial to our ___________________________ journey and moving ______________________________.  

Some milestones are big moments in our lives, while others are small milestones we experience throughout our daily routines.    

6. You can hold what you’re holding right now and stay ______________________ where you’re at, or you can ________________________ it, work though it with God, 

and continue to move forward and gain healing from it.  

   
   
Questions for the Week  

1. What kinds of “firsts” have you walked through in your healing journey?  

   
   

   
   

2. Have you found them all to be extremely difficult, or have you experienced some of the “grace” days that I referred to in the video?  

   
   
   

   

3. Now that I have introduced this concept of milestones, can you look back thus far on your healing journey and recognize times that you would now call milestones, 
whether big or small?  

   
   
   

   

4. If you feel that you have experienced a milestone or milestones, describe what God revealed to you in your latest milestone.  
   
   
   

5. Do you feel that there is an area or areas in your life that God desires to make a milestone? One example for me was the anger I was holding onto of which God wanted 
me to let go. Is there something that you need to let go of so that you do not remain stuck? If so, define it. 

How do we relate? [VIDEO] 

WEEK 6
 Each day brought a new challenge to face and overcome during my healing journey of losing my father. As if it wasn't enough trying to figure out my own life and what my new normal was, I also had to learn how to relate with those grieving around me. We had all lost someone so dear to us, but we expressed our grief very differently. How do we relate with those who are grieving around us? I share my thoughts with you concerning this in this week's video, and I truly believe that the sooner you can grasp what I'm sharing, the smoother these relationships can continue moving forward. 

Click the image below for the full episode of the Chapter 6: Those Grieving Around Us. I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video. Enjoy week six of the Beauty for My Ashes Devotional Series!      
-Whitney    



Click Here For The Chapter 6 Study Guide PDF
 

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Six 
  
Video Questions 

1. We cannot _______________________________ loss. 

2. Everyone involved has faced a _______________________. 

    -It’s important to stay sensitive to this reality; it is a starting point to help us relate to those around us.   

4. Everyone grieves _________________________________. 

    -We may express our grief differently outwardly and need different things poured into us. 

6. What helps you may not help someone else; what helps someone else may not help you. 

7. _____________ are not the problem; _____________ are not the problem. 

8. Be quick to ________________________________. 

   -They may offend you today, but it is likely that you will offend them at some point, too. 

  
  
Questions for the Week 

1. Who are some people around you who are also walking through a healing process from losing a loved one? 

  
  
  

2. Have you noticed yourself grieving differently than those around you? What ways do you express your grief that you find helpful? 

  
  
  

3. In what ways do those around you grieve differently? It’s important to remember this: it’s okay that we all grieve differently.   

  
  
  

4. Have you been quick to forgive in this healing journey concerning those grieving around you? 

  
  
  

5. Are there any instances in which you feel you need to ask for forgiveness? How about any instances in which you feel you need to forgive someone around you? It’s crucial that we live in a state of forgiveness during this time. 

  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 

 

The Ones Still Here [VIDEO] 

WEEK 5

It was so easy to forget everything else, and everyone else, and focus in on my loss. I knew there were ones still around me that loved me, cared about me, and supported me, however, I couldn't escape remembering the one who wasn't here. The times that we would never share, the memories that would never be made. This week, I talk about the "tunnel vision" that many of us take on when we lose a loved one. It's crucial to remember and recognize the ones still here. Join me as we talk about ways that God showed me in my healing journey to draw from those around us and how to Remember the Ones Still Here. 
 

Click the image below to view the full episode of Chapter 5: Remember the Ones Still Here. I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video. Enjoy week five of the Beauty for My Ashes Devotional Series!      
-Whitney   



Click Here For The Chapter 5 Study Guide PDF


Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Five 
  
  
Video Questions 

1. People are so _________________________________ and so _______________________________ in our healing journey. 


2. It’s very easy to have ____________________________ vision on the loss, losing sight of everything around us and the people around us. 


3. We grieve deeply because we _______________________ deeply. 


4. Each loss in our lives is ______________________________, and we will grieve them differently. 


5. We cannot ______________________________ the ones around us. 


6. We cannot allow ourselves to _______________________________________ from the people around us. 


7. “There are still __________________________________________ to be had, ____________________________________ to be made, and life to

______________________ and ______________________.” 

  
  
  
Questions for the Week 

1. This week, I asked you to speak with at least one person that you love and appreciate, and let them know how much they mean to you. Who is that person (or people) you are contacting this week? What attribute means the most to you about this person (or people)? 

  
  
  

2. Have you noticed yourself, and/or the ones around you, having “tunnel vision” like I mention in the video? What are some ways that we can prevent having tunnel vision? 

  
  
  

3. Who are some of the ones still here that you appreciate having in your life? 

  
  
  
  

4. Have you found yourself withdrawing from the people around you at any point in your healing journey? If so, why did you feel the desire to withdraw? 

  
  
  
  

5. What importance do you believe having people around you plays in your healing journey? 

  
  
  

6. It’s important to remember this: We grieve deeply because we love deeply. 

  
 

Taking 1 Step forward and 2 steps back [VIDEO] 

Week 4

I hated this feeling. Every time I thought I had worked through something or finally began to move forward, I was met with a setback. When I thought I had dealt with the anger, overcame the sadness and loneliness, and truly felt happy again, it was a only a matter of time until these feelings tried to overpower me once again. It was like taking one step forward and two steps back. Have you ever felt this way in your healing journey? Well if you have, know that you're not alone. It's something that many of us experience, and it's something we can all overcome. Tune in this week as I speak about what God showed me through this process of taking one step forward and two steps back. 

Click the image below for the full episode of the Chapter 4: 1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back. I have also designed a study guide for this video along with questions for the week. If you desire to use this study guide, a printable PDF version is provided by clicking the link below the video. Enjoy week four of the Beauty for My Ashes Devotional Series!     
-Whitney    

Click Here For The Chapter 4 Study Guide PDF

Beauty for My Ashes 
STUDY GUIDE 
Chapter Four 
  
Video Questions 

1. God will not allow your forward ____________________________________ to be destroyed. 

2. Our ________________________________ and ______________________________ are just temporary. 

3. You will still be able to access the knowledge, wisdom, peace, and presence of God that you did in your _____________________________________ forward. 

4. It won’t take you as long to ______________________________ _____________________________ again. 

  
Questions for the Week 

1. When was the last time you felt that you had taken one step forward and two steps back? Why did you feel this way? 

  
  
  
  

2. Do you easily become discouraged when you experience times of standstill or setbacks? 

  
  
  
  

3. What are some wisdom or truths that you learned in your most recent advancement forward? 

  
  

4. In the video, I mention how we have an “external hard drive” through the Holy Spirit that “backs up” everything that we learned or gained in our advancements forward. This week, make a conscience effort to access what you gained in your advancements forward whenever you feel as if you’re taking steps backwards.
Remember: Standstills and setbacks are only temporary.