Alright, I know quite a few of you have been waiting for this blog! This week, I’m doing a mini update about the tattoo I got. But don’t worry—next week, I’ll share a full “week in the life” of ministry, where I’ll dive into both ministries I’m working with, what my typical week looks like, and some testimonies of what God has been doing.
Let’s talk about the tattoo. I’ve known for a while that I wanted to get a burning heart. 
The design came from a blend of ideas I found on Pinterest and a little Photoshop work of my own. I wanted something bold but also delicate and feminine. I got it on the inside of my right ankle. Now, I know some people thought I was crazy for getting it done in a third-world country, but hey, it was cheaper, and now it comes with the story of getting it on this life-changing World Race Gap Year trip!
The Meaning Behind It
One of my favorite things about this tattoo is that it carries a few different meanings for me, so let’s break them down.
1. Burning Heart Testimony
This is the biggest meaning behind the tattoo. It marks the turning point in my faith—when I went from following Jesus just to get to heaven, to truly wanting to follow Him with all my heart. I was in a season of burnout, caught up in leading The Gathering and focusing too much on how others were encountering Jesus. I was so worried about how I was “performing” that I lost sight of my own relationship with Him.
Then I attended a women’s conference called Testify and experienced a physical touch from God like never before. I encountered the Holy Spirit, and my heart began to literally burn for Him. That moment completely transformed my faith. I went home with a new heart, fully committed to following Him. Since then, I’ve grown so much in my relationship with the Lord. Whenever I struggle or feel distant, I look back on that moment, and it reminds me of His presence and faithfulness.
I even had the opportunity to return to the conference the next year and share my testimony. If you want to hear the full story, you can listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CXPAaL96cnJ9aCcLX0w9t?si=onER73abRcmWqCRG4qQbUw.
2. The Pure in Heart
My go-to Bible verse is Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” I’ve been blessed to lead in various areas of my life, whether it’s within my family as the oldest sibling, leading The Gathering, or other moments where I get to share my faith. In those roles, I want my heart’s posture to always be about glorifying God, not myself.
This verse is a constant reminder to check my motives: Am I doing this for attention or to honor Him? I pray often for God to purify my heart, to burn away anything that’s not centered on Him. When we have pure hearts, we leave so much more room for God to move in our lives. That’s what I want—a pure heart, always.
3. It’s About What’s in Your Heart
This one comes from my dad, who I look up to so much. He’s an incredible leader—someone who makes you feel seen and heard, and is always there for you. We often have deep conversations, and sometimes we don’t always agree. One of his famous lines is, “At the end of the day, it’s about what’s in your heart.” In fact, that’s how we wrapped up a conversation about tattoos once.
I want to grow up to be like him—not someone who’s just focused on achievements or where I end up, but someone who cares deeply about what’s in my heart.
And that’s the story behind the tattoo! I hope you enjoyed reading, and I can’t wait to share more about what God’s been doing through ministry next week.
With Love,
Ashlyn
