This song title came in my quiet time w the LORD. I had been unpacking old prophetic words about Mount Baker blowing its top in light of prior song lyrics mentioning “Dark Winter” and old prophetic words about “the year without summer.”
I discovered before COVID that Mount Baker is known as Koma Kulshan in the native Indian tongue, meaning “White Sentinel”. The contrast of the saying “keep a lid on it” with “blowing its top” stood out.
Isaiah 32:3 &5 -6 NLT – “[3] Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it…. [5] In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Scoundrels will not be respected. [6] For fools speak foolishness and make evil plans. They practice ungodliness and spread false teachings about the Lord. They deprive the hungry of food and give no water to the thirsty.”
Pharaoh’s baker lost his life while the butler was reinstated.
As I pondered the phrase “beauty for ashes,” I was prompted to study WHY Isaiah 61 would require people to be redeemed from ashes in the first place, showing the road map to possess beauty once again.
“Beauty” is not merely a pretty face, but rather the Hebrew refers to the turban that priests and princes would wear. It denotes position, authority, and honor.
I find the timing of these lyrics worth noting, as the American midterm elections during President Trump’s second public term are tomorrow, Nov 3rd, 2026. A declaration of hope and restoration.
Title: BEAUTY FOR ASHES
By Julia E. Kelly, Nov 2, 2026, AM
[Verse 1 — The Good News]
The ANOINTING THAT BREAKS THE YOKE has come,
With GOOD NEWS for the humble and poor;
What the CROWN OF PRIDE would not receive
Brings the broken to mercy’s door.
We DISOBEY’D HIS LAWS, refused His ways,
Built prison walls with our own hands;
But Jesus bore the curse we owed—
His blood breaks chains and prison bands.
[Chorus]
Give us BEAUTY FOR ASHES,
Joy where mourning used to stay;
Clothe our heaviness with praise,
Wash our guilty stains away.
Raise us from the dust and ruin,
Let Your living waters flow;
Plant us, LORD, in righteousness,
For Your glory let us grow.
[Verse 2 — The Ruined City]
Jerusalem fell beneath her pride,
Her words and deeds defied Your face;
She flaunted sin for all to see,
And scorned the shelter of Your grace.
Still clinging to iniquity,
The bloody city wasted away;
The cleansing she would not receive
Came through fury’s dreadful day.
[Verse 3 — No Refuge in Religion]
Eli’s sons fell beneath the sword;
Their stolen gain could buy no peace.
Their lust profaned Your holy courts;
No sacred relic brought release.
Before the ARK, proud Dagon fell,
His head and hands upon the floor;
With rats and tumors, PLAGUE swept through—
False gods could guard their land no more.
[Verse 4 — The Fire of Rebellion]
BALAAM’S DOCTRINE lured hearts astray,
To other gods through lust and lies;
The PLAGUE raged on till judgment fell
Upon the sin before Your eyes.
KORAH’S REBELLION challenged those
Whom You had chosen for Your name;
The earth engulfed the gathered rebels,
Two hundred fifty fell to flame.
[Verse 5 — The Stripping]
Zion’s daughters walked in pride;
Their finery could hide no stain.
Their titles could not shield their heads;
Their glory fell beneath their shame.
The priests withheld Your holy laws,
And led Your little ones astray;
“You have forgotten Me, My Ways;
Your children’s blessing slips away.”
[Spoken — Over Sparse Music]
You would not keep the knowledge of your God.
You wore His name but would not walk His ways.
Your honor turned to shame upon the ash heap.
Come—let us return to Yahweh.
[Verse 6 — The Turning]
For Zion’s sake, you will not rest
Till righteousness breaks forth as light;
Till her salvation, burning bright,
Becomes a lamp against the night.
You wounded us; now bind our wounds;
We turn toward Your outstretched hands.
The gift we spurned, we now receive—
Forgiveness where the cross still stands.
[Chorus]
Give us BEAUTY FOR ASHES,
Joy where mourning used to stay;
Clothe our heaviness with praise,
Wash our guilty stains away.
Raise us from the dust and ruin,
Let Your living waters flow;
Plant us, LORD, in righteousness,
For Your glory let us grow.
[Bridge — Rebuild and Return]
Like Nehemiah, build the walls;
Repair the breaches sin has made.
Restore Your Sabbaths and Your feasts;
Let faithful hearts be unafraid.
Like Ezra, read Your law aloud,
Let young and old its meaning hear;
We own our fathers’ sins and ours—
With hearts made pure, we draw You near.
[Final Chorus — Beauty for Ashes]
You give us BEAUTY FOR ASHES,
Lift the needy from the clay;
From the dunghill to the princes,
Clothed in linen, clean and white.
Barren hearts shall bloom with children,
Holy seed within Your house;
Purified, Your living vessels
Overflow with living streams.
[Outro — Prayer]
Open our eyes; unstop our ears;
Let understanding reach our hearts.
We turn to You—restore and heal;
Let holy worship rise again.
Turn Your face toward us, Yahweh;
Hear the prayers Your mercy raises.
From the ashes, let us rise—
Healing trees to show Your praises.
© 2026 Julia E. Kelly. All rights reserved
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