It is what can see through a drug addict and see the evangelist, it is what can see through a prostitute and see a minister, it is what can see through your today and see your blessed tomorrow. GRACE, where would I be without grace. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

Stop looking down on those whom you think may not be living up to “the standards”. Remember, the best testimonies come from those who have been tested. Pray with them, Intercede for them then PRAISE with them. That is the Christian Life…

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

YES!!!!! All throughout the Bible we come across women who were used by God in a mighty way. Whether it be Deborah the great Judge, or Queen Esther who prevented the extinction of her people or Mary who bore the Son God or even Mary Magdalene who because the first evangelist spreading the message of Jesus’ resurrection. God has been using women to fulfill his mission for quite some time.

Unfortunately, many Bible teachers have misinterpreted the counsels of the Apostle Paul found in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. It reads:

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

In those days, the Corinthian women were a bit liberal in Corinth and as new converts, the Apostle Paul wanted to prevent these habits from sneaking into the church. Therefore, he advised that the women ought to be silent and learn from their husbands. We are to be very careful when translating this scripture. We don’t ever want to portray that our God is incapable of using any one of his creations. God is omnipotent and grants wisdom to whom he pleases and calls whom he wills. Therefore, if it be the will of the Lord to use a woman in his service, that ought to be respected and God ought to be given the free reign to do so.

We serve a mighty God who is concerned about saving the lost. His ways are not our ways, but his ways are sovereign. Let us look pass our biases and let our God be GOD!

Stay Blessed!

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

Have you ever had a nice tall glass of WARM water? Not so thirst quenching right? Revelations 3:14-22 speaks of being lukewarm in our walk with the Lord. The church of Laodicea had grown quite content BEING LUKEWARM. They were right in the middle. They were safe…at least that was what they thought.

God tells them that he would rather that they be hot or cold, but because they are lukewarm he will spit them out. Why? Well being in the middle or lukewarm in your walk with God means that you have opted not to make a firm decision either way. You have elected to play it safe and just live in the middle.

I too lived in the middle for about a good year. There was a decision that I needed to make, but I opted to play it safe and toggle between the two choices for quite sometime. After a while of playing it safe, I started to feel drained and lost. I realized that though God was clear on his instructions, I blatantly opted not to obey. It had become more important that I please those around me and God was now sitting in second place.  When I realized that I was the reason for my unhappiness, I made a firm decision to follow his instructions and not look back. By making a choice, I boldly declared that God takes precedence over the opinions, comments, criticisms and thoughts of those around me. I had come to realize that at the end of the day, I alone will stand before the throne of God. I alone would stand in judgment.

There are many decisions that we fail to make not because we don’t know what to do or because we can’t do it. We fail to make a decision because we are afraid of outside influences. Granted some environments are not conducive to any form of free thinking and I am not a fan of any environment that prides itself on keeping its people ignorant. Yet, regardless of whether the environment is conducive or not, we cant allow anyone or thing to hinder us from following the will of God for our lives. Making others happy should never supersede making our heavenly Father happy. We were created to worship him and bring glory to his name. That is our purpose and that should be our heart’s desire.

Is there a decision that you have been wrestling with for a while? What’s keeping you from stepping out in faith? Today, take sometime to analyze the decision and seek God’s will. When you have clearly heard his voice, don’t play it safe, CHOOSE!

Memory Text:

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. – Matthew 6:24a

Prayer Prompt:
Dear Lord…please reveal unto me where I am failing t make a firm decision. Give me the courage to stand on my beliefs and to follow your will for my life even when it is unpopular.

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

When I arrived to work this morning, the recent disaster in Japan weighed heavily on my spirit. I pulled up the New York Times website and began to go through the pictures of the aftermath of the 8.9 earthquake and Tsunami. As I browsed through the pictures, i felt a sinking feeling. I realized once again that life is so fragile and at any moment we can lose all we have and everyone we ever loved. One particular picture captured my heart and stopped me in my tracks. It was the picture of a young 22 year-old man who found his wife and two children at a make-shift morgue.

As I try to imagine what could be going through his mind: “I didn’t even get to say good-bye.” “We were suppose to go to the park this week-end”…what was on this young father’s mind? He didn’t even realize that he would never see his wife or kids again. I can not begin to say I understand his pain because I really don’t. All I can do is place myself in his shoes and imagine how I would feel, but even that will never compare to the agony felt by Mr. Soi.

Pain, agony, sadness, disappointment, depression are all a part of life and all a result of sin. The stories hurt our hearts and the images cause our eyes to well up with tears, but even in the aftermath of disasters, I am comforted in knowing that God has it all in control.

Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:6:

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

These things must happen. We are no longer waiting for the end of time, we are living in it. Our Lord is coming quickly and these are just reminders that this is NOT our home. We are here temporarily and we have a mission to accomplish. There are souls to be won. There are lost people to be found. It is no longer about how many homes, cars and luxuries we can amass (it actually never should have been about that anyway). We were placed on this earth for a higher purpose and that purpose sits beside us on the train, walks beside us on the streets, stands behind us on the line and lives next to us on the block. We have a job to do and it is a job that is a matter of life or death. When will we start to do it? Will we wait till the trumpet sounds and time is no more? God is counting on us to plant a seed in everyone we meet. That is all that he requires. He wants us to plant and allow his Holy Spirit to water the seeds and cause them to grow.

In the aftermath of Japan’s disaster this year and Haiti’s still disastrous living conditions a year after the disaster, it is time for us to get out and proclaim that we serve a God who cares about every tear that is shed and every heart that is broken. In these times, this is the message that people need to hear. The life-giving, soul-saving message that can never fail. Today, my prayer is that we will obtain the boldness needed to share the gospel with those around us. Someone shared it with you, won’t you now share it with someone else?

Memory Text:

And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. – Revelations 22:7

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for reminding me that I have a higher purpose on this earth. Give me the boldness to share your message with everyone I meet. Teach me your word and enable me to use it correctly to share your love on a daily basis….

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

Yes, it is Monday and as I dragged myself out of the house my phone rang. I picked it up and it was my dear friend. I knew something was wrong because she was calling at 7:30 in the morning. I said hello and almost immediately she began to cry. She was having one of those mornings. One of those mornings where the burden of the world seemed to rest upon her shoulders. One of those mornings where it seemed nothing was going her way. It was one of those mornings where it seemed that God just wasn’t there.

As I listened to her speak through her tears, I couldn’t help but think that the enemy was having a field day. Though she was doing more than some can ever dream of, the enemy had her thinking that she couldn’t and would never make it. Though her deliverance was literally months away, he made it appear as thought there is no hope for her circumstances. I thought to myself. How “frekan” (rude/fresh in creole) of the enemy to make us feel this way. He literally lives off of our sadness and wants nothing more than to snatch the blessings of God right from under us. He wants nothing more than to make us walk away when our hope is but steps away.

I thought about all of the patriarchs who also felt the same way we do today. Abraham, who was promised a son through Sarah – but was aging and the blessing was no where in sight. I thought about Moses, who was told to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, but every time he went to pharaoh he was met with rejection. I thought of David, who often asked that God would not turn away from him. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own blood brothers and yes, Jesus who hung on the cross and screamed out:

“Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani” -My God, My God – why hast thou forsaken me?

Christ too experienced hardships, he too felt as though God was no where to be found. Christ understands our hurts and he sees our pains. He knows what we are going through. Today if you are feeling burdened, hurt, lonely, lost or simply feel like you’re going through the motions, Be encouraged because Christ went through it too and now he is seated at the right hand of God. Hold on, your blessing is on the way. Jesus is already working it out for you.

Memory Text:

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. – Romans 8:37 (NLT)

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for reminding me that you are here and you understand my circumstances. Help me to trust in you in all things. I claim victory in the name of Jesus…

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

This morning as I commuted to work, I listened to Earnest Pugh’s song “God wants to heal you“. I kept replaying the song over and over again. As I listened to the song, I thought about the number of times God sent this message my way. When I arrived to work, I pulled up YouTube to see if there was a video for the song. I found one and it truly touched my heart.

As I watched the number of people who are in need, I had to fight the tears that began to well up in my eyes. Here I am coming into the office with my lunch and snacks yet, somewhere across the STREET, someone may be wondering where their days meal will come from. I thought to myself, when was the last time I proactively did something for someone in need. Do I only go to the shelter on Thanksgiving day? Do I only visit the sick when it is one of my church members or a friend? Am I truly sharing the love of Jesus Christ the way that I should?

When I realized that I had to answer that question with a NO, I wrote the following prayer on my FB page:

Father, today I ask that you disturb my life. Shake my life upside down so that I may realize I was placed on this earth to worship you and serve my fellow man. Shake the “Self” demon right out of me. Help me to see with your eyes and love with your heart. Father, disturb my peace till I have shared with the world that you want to heal them……this is my prayer this day!

We are living in a time where things are not going to get better, they are just going to get worse. Our Savior is coming and he warned us that these things will come to pass. However, he has charged us with the call to share his life-giving, loving message with our fellow brothers and sisters. He is not just calling us to preach from the pulpits with our eloquent words, but he is calling us to preach from our hearts with a hug, a meal for one who is hungry, a prayer for one who is hurting. God is depending on us to share his love with everyone we meet. How long will we hold on tight to his life-saving message? Another year, decade? century? The Bible tells us that we know not the hour when our Lord will come bursting through the clouds. So why do we keep thinking that we have time?

Today, I have asked God to shake my life and disturb my peace until I have begun to stop thinking about myself and start thinking about others. There are souls out there who need to know God loves them with an unconditional love. There is a crack addict that needs to know there is another way. There is a runaway that needs to know that God wants them to come home.

Who will tell them? I will, will you?

Memory Text:

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. – Mark 16:15

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for reminding us once again that it is not about us. Teach us to focus our attention on our fellow man and to find ways to share you love with them…

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

Last Night Kenton and I met with our videographer and signed the contract. As we headed out of the expo, I was amazed at how God has been managing to get everything done even when our addition and subtractions don’t seem to be making any sense. I often would catch myself trying to make everything add up, but they just wouldn’t. Yet, right in the nick of time God would bring in gifts, extra hours, bonuses, raises and more. God has proven over and over again to be a faithful God.

The Bible tells us in Malachi 3:8-12,

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.

But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’

In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

I remember struggling in this area for quite some time. When my dad fell sick and was forced to retire due to his health, I felt an overwhelming burden fall on me. I had a sick father and my mother also suffered from health issues. I often found myself wondering will we make it through without dad. I began rationalizing with God’s tithes. “If I give 10% of what I bring home, I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it.” God isn’t unreasonable! He sees what my family is going through. I just kept on rationalizing and making more excuses for keeping God’s money. Then one day I sat back and realized that my money was running out quicker than it was coming in. I said to myself, Girl, you keeping God’s 10% and yet your 90% plus his 10% is flying out of your hand before you can even get to it. I prayed to God and made a firm commitment to do just as God asked me to do.

Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Once I began giving God what he is due as he requires of me, I must admit that all my bills still got paid. I am able to support my parents and so much more. I can never figure out how things are getting paid, but they are. He stepped in and kept his promise and I am so grateful that I tested God in this. He more than just passed the test, he is blowing it out of the water. Today I share my personal experience because I am a living testimony that God is indeed faithful. You give God 10% and you will still seem to have 100% left. How does that work? IT JUST DOES!

We serve the God who can make 1+1+ 1=1….if he could do that, then we have no doubt that he can and will do much more for us if we would but trust him to keep his promises. If you are struggling today in the area of tithing and offerings, I encourage you to take God’s challenge. Give him what he is due and trust him to open the floodgates of heaven and bestow upon you blessings you won’t even have room to hold.

Memory Text:

Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. – Lamentations 3:23

Prayer Prompt:
Thank you Lord for reminding me that you have asked for 10% of everything that I earn. Lord, I know it is not the money that you want, but it is a practice that will build my faith and teach me to depend on and trust in you to provide for me and my family…

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first

Friday morning as I commuted into the office, I read Jeremiah chapter 29. In this chapter, the Lord promises to restore the children of Israel. Even though their sins were great and they would still be punished, he promises in verses 16-17 that he will fight for them.

But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord. – Jeremiah 29:16-17

As I read this verse I thought to myself, What is it about seeing others suffer or fail that causes some folks to throw a party? “Hey did you hear that little Susan is pregnant?” Suddenly, there is a spike in the phone lines as Susan’s challenge becomes the hot topic at everyone’s dinner table. Amazingly, Susan’s phone remains dead silent. No one calls to offer a listening ear, no one cares to care.

I have seen childhood friends walk away from the church for this very reason. They were the front page news for a season, but no one ever took the time to offer up a simple listening ear. It would appear that some were too busy rejoicing in their demise to care how this challenging season may affect their spiritual lives. Though Christ urges us to love one another and the Apostle Paul advises us to share in each others burdens, we have become a heartless generation. Why has the church that was once known for its compassion and love, become a den of HATERS?

The answer is simple. SIN!

Sin causes us to hate on one another and to have no compassion towards each other. We’re so busy caring about self that we can’t take a moment to understand what our brothers and sisters may be enduring. We’re so busy trying to maintain our masks that we can’t help but to rejoice in another’s rough time. Besides, by talking about and rejoicing in their failures – YOU LOOK GOOD RIGHT? NOT! The Lord promises to devour those who devour his children and plunder those who plunder them. Is that juicy gossip or hateration party worth God’s anger? Think about it!

It is time that we as children of the one and only loving God strive to become a real family. One that shares in each others burdens and rejoices in each others joys. One that lifts everyone up and not a select few. One that loves one another not because of who they are or the status that they hold, but because of whose they are. Sounds like a dream? It isn’t! The patriarchs/matriarchs of the early church were known for being a body of believers that truly care for one another. The rich sold their goods to help feed the poor amongst them. They cared for both friend and stranger. We can get there again if we seek God with all our hearts and with all our souls. This is what God calls us to do.

Today, find a way to show someone else that you care not because it will bring you something in return, but because Christ lives in you.

Memory Text:

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God, But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:7,8

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for reminding me that I ought to love my friends, family and all those that I encounter. Show me where I am failing in this part of my spiritual growth and strengthen me to change…

© 2011, Annointed Beauty Ministries. All rights reserved. We are committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you want to re-post our devotions, just ask first