It has been a long time since I allowed the devil to rob me of my peace. Last week, he did just that. Not for a second, a minute, or an hour. But for a whole day! It’s not that he hadn’t attempted before, but I try to keep my focus on God and listen to the Holy Spirit instead of the enemies lies. I honestly don’t know when I let my guard down but I woke up that morning with a piece of my peace missing. It was like the enemy had stolen it in my sleep! I believe God’s angels watch over us while we sleep, so maybe it was my first thoughts that morning that the devil capitalized on. Instead of thanking God as I usually do when my eyes first open, I started thinking about what I was going through and how long would I have to go through it. The next thing I knew I was having a full-blown pity party. I invited the tears, pain, frustration, and the “why me” and “woe is me” families to the party. I can bet you the devil was having himself a ball, the life of the party! Thank God in the mist of all that, before he stole my entire peace, I called out to my lifeline, my God, and He prompted me to reach out to somebody. Thank God I did. Thank God for praying friends, friends who will let you cry and vent for hours without judgement. Afterwards I felt better but a piece of my peace was still missing.  
As I lay in bed that day, I shifted my focus to God, and I talked to my Savior. He assured me that He was with me on this journey. He knew about it before it came to pass, and He knows the outcome. He reminded me that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. He reminded me that His grace is sufficient no matter the situation or circumstance. He reminded me of Romans 8:28, all things work together for those who love the Lord. He comforted me. My spirit lifted, the burden lessened, and my mind cleared. He replaced that missing piece of my peace. We need all the pieces for peace, it’s like a puzzle need all the pieces to be complete. I tell you God is good! He is too good to be a depressed, dejected, dispirited believer. Either we trust God, or we don’t!

When I woke the next morning, I was still on my journey, new day, same challenges. Nothing had changed except my focus was back where it should be, on God. Instead of a pity party, I was once again thanking and praising Jesus, in spite of. My pity party was now a praise party! I am not going to say it will never happen again, but I do know if I keep my gaze on God and just glance at my situation, it will be harder for the enemy to steal a piece of my peace. And I know the longer we stay in a pity party, the more likely he will steal more than a piece of our peace!
It was put in my spirit to share this because it may help someone keep their peace in the mist of challenges, trials, and tribulations. I am not saying that giving in to your feelings mean you do not have faith. I am saying we cannot let our feelings be bigger than our faith.  I’m not saying to disregard your feelings; pain, depression, frustration, fear, all those feelings are real. I am saying that the enemy knows they are real, he is the father of sin and feelings are his weapons. He will use them just like he uses all our weaknesses against us. But if we keep our focus on God, He will strengthen us. If the enemy does sneak in, the goal is to not stay at the pity-party, don’t give him time to steal all your peace instead of a piece of it! Call a praying friend! The enemy wants you to be excluded and ashamed for feeling how you feel. He can work your mind better that way. Don’t beat yourself up because you are having a bad day! However, give yourself a deadline to leave the pity-party. The longer you stay there, depression sets deeper in. And most importantly, put your focus back on God. Invite Him back in to help you through it. I promise you God will give you back the piece of peace the enemy stole. As a matter of fact the devil will flee, because he cannot dwell in the same place as our Lord!  
Love and Blessings…

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  
(Romans 12:12)

“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:25)

“For his anger endureth but a moment, in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

“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)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

We were created to do good works. What I have learned is that doing good is not always doing God. Sometimes we tend to think if we are busy doing good things, then we are doing godly things. Definitely not always true. It is easy to get caught up in business, mistaking it for godliness. Ask me how I know. However, if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us we can be sure our good works are aligned with the work God has assigned to us. In Galatians, Paul describes this life of faith as walking in the Spirit (5:16,25) which means to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Also to “being led by the Spirit”(5:18), producing “the fruit of the Spirit”(5:22,23), and sowing “to the Spirit”(6:8). “Faith working through love”(5:6) expresses itself in love for neighbors, especially other believers, and in bearing one anothers burdens (5:14; 6:2, 6) One of the problems Paul was writing to the church about then is the same problem many of us face now, rather than relying upon the power of the Spirit, the believer will start relying on the world and the corrupt “works of the flesh”. Works can only be truly good when they are accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit given to those who place their faith in Christ (6:7-10). Christians are not only to serve one another in love, they also should do good to non-Christians. In these times especially, we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in every decision we make. Foolish does not indicate lack of intelligence but lack of wisdom. Let me be clear, we are not saved by our works! We can thank Jesus Christ for the free gift of Salvation. What we are is God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10). Let us continue to do go(o)d!
Love and Blessings…

When we receive bad news of any kind, we react in different ways. Some people cry and others may shut down completely. We may scream or suffer in silence. Sometimes bad news will bring on fear and anxiety which can lead to depression. And sometimes we may pretend that we are ok even if we are not. It could be we want to protect others or that we want to appear strong. In my devotion this week, King Jehoshaphat, 2 Chronicles 20 revealed to me how we, as Christians are supposed to react to bad news. King Jehoshaphat received bad news. A mighty army was on the way to destroy his kingdom. Did King Jehoshaphat fall apart? I don’t know. Did he yell, scream, or cry? I don’t know. Was he afraid? I don’t know. What I do know is that he fasted and prayed. The Bible tells us that the people came together to seek help from God and King Jehoshaphat prayed, “0h our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do but we are looking to you for help” (V.12) Wow! He did not pretend to be brave thinking he could win this war himself. He said he was powerless. He looked to the one he knew could save them. When we receive bad news, our first instinct should be that of King Jehoshaphat. When it comes to our Father in Heaven, we should not pretend, it would be senseless to do so anyway. He already knows the bad news is coming just as He knows the outcome. It is the in-between where we have a choice in how we react to the bad news. Do we try to handle it ourselves or do we do as King Jehoshaphat did, look to God? I have tried both and I tell you looking to God is the best way to get through the bad news. When we look to God, His Good News trumps our bad news. When we look to God, He can turn bad news into good news. You may ask how is that? I am still in pain, I’m still financially struggling, I am grieving, the test results say….The last couple of weeks, the Spirit has been saying to me, “Curleen, do not look at the evidence or proof you see, look at Me who you do not see. Those things are there to show my glory in the end.” This was right on time for me, and I believe someone else out there needs to hear those words also. Yes, I know feelings are real, but if we look to God, He will sustain us. We can do (go through) all things through Christ who strengthens us. When we look to God, the weight of the problem is no longer solely on our shoulders. When King Jehoshaphat prayed, God answered him, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17) I love this! In other words, God was saying, “I got this! However, He still had instructions for Jehoshaphat. He told him to take their positions, then to stand still and watch. He told him not to be afraid or discouraged. He told him that He would be with him. It is the same instructions God gives us today when bad news arrive. To trust Him. To put our faith in Him. No matter the bad news, we must pray, position ourselves, and trust God. It is ok to cry or be afraid, but don’t let the fear overcome your faith. Focus on God who is always with us. Remember you are not alone. If you hold on, I promise you God will turn that bad news into good news! Love and blessings…

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4)

“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”  
(Philippians 4:13)

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:2)

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

These last weeks have been challenging.There has been tears, frustration, and at times anxiety.There also have been prayers, praise, and thankfulness.The one thing that’s been consistent is my hope. My hope comes from my faith, my faith comes from God’s promises. I stand on His promise in Romans 8:28. God made us a promise that all things work together for those who love Him, those who are called according to His purpose.  Problems can last a long time, but they can’t last forever. Promises can, and God’s promises do. In this world we never know what we may face from day to day. God’s promises gives us hope. God’s promises encourages us. God’s promises assures us that every problem will sooner or later turn out well for those who are committed to Jesus Christ. God said “all” things will work out for our good. Every tragedy, every trial, every heartache, every burden, and every diagnosis. Even death becomes a blessing for a child of God. All means all! I would be amiss if I didn’t tell you that although this promise is available to everyone, it is not for anyone. We must meet the conditions and exercise both obedience and faith in claiming God’s promises. We must love God and strive to be the very image of Christ. When we do that, He gives us peace and brings testimonies out of tragedies. Our problems work out for our good. I urge you to memorize Romans 8:28 and keep it close to your heart. No matter what your problem may be, stand on God’s promise. Love and blessings…

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) NIV

We sometimes hear stories of God supernaturally, miraculously appearing to people in dreams and visions, leading to them finding Christ and putting their trust in Him. This is awesome when it happens! But it’s not the norm. Usually, the way people hear about Christ is God sends someone to them to tell them the good news of salvation. Jesus was very clear and straightforward to his disciples on what he wanted them to do. The authority was delegated to the disciples to announce the good news to all and to make disciples.Today God still sends us as His disciples to spread the Gospel, so that the Lord will be with His people and live in them. Saving souls require that we introduce them to Jesus who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). Every Christian is either someone who is being sent to preach the gospel, or someone who God uses to help send those who are being sent. Either way, every one of us is called to God’s mission to save lost souls from a Christ-less eternity. God does not want to lose one soul! Whether it is around the world or across the street, there are people who need to hear the Good News. People need to hear this incredible story of love, sacrifice, and salvation! I pray that the Lord blesses us and makes us worthy disciples as we continue the task He gave to His beloved disciples. My personal prayer today is Lord use me to save souls, send me! What about you, have you inspired others to follow Jesus? Love and Blessings…

“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

“for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 13-15)

Sometimes I think some of us need to wear a sign that says, “CAUTION!WORK IN PROCESS”. I know I strive every day to be Christlike. To make the right choices and to walk in God’s Word. However, I am still a work in progress. We all are. All of us who believe and reflect on the glory of the Lord is being changed day by day, to be more and more like Him. It is a growth process, and we all are at different levels in this process. You may believe that all we have to do is say no to sin. It's not that easy. Our will power is no match for sin. The more we try to say no by our own efforts, the harder it becomes. Paul said it best in Romans 7:19,"For the good that I will do, I do not do, but the evil I will not do, that I practice." I thank God that these days it is harder for anyone to knock me out of character. However it does happen. But what I can honestly say is the deeper my relationship with God, the quicker I snap back into my character, the easier it is to apologize, and forgiveness comes easy. That is because my victory from every sin is found in Jesus, not me. I said yes to Him! He is my righteousness and holiness. When I am weak, He is strong. If you say yes to Jesus, His grace will transform you from the inside out. So if you come across a Christian that is acting out of character, please don't judge. They may not be wearing a caution sign, but just know, they, like you and I, are a work in progress. We must learn to forgive each other in the same extravagant manner our Father has forgiven us. Adam and Eve rebelled against God and His authority, and today, the tendency toward sin is alive and well in all of us. Our best efforts will always fall short. This could have separated us from God, but because of Jesus and His sacrifice, our enormous debt to God has been fulfilled. In this world, we may wrong others and we will be wronged. However, we must pray that God will give us the strength to ask for  forgiveness and the grace to forgive. We must pray that God will guard our hearts from bitterness and keep us ever mindful of what it means to be a forgiven servant of our God. We must acknowledge our sin against God, accept His  forgiveness with gratitude, and in turn be careful and quick to forgive each other. Love and blessings...

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;” (Luke 6:3)

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”(Ephesians 4:32)

“And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."(Job 42:10)

Marching into March with God on my mind and my mind on God. Is your life too loud? Is your schedule too busy? Are you human doings rather than human beings? That’s how, why, and when we can forget that God is God, we become distracted and God takes a back seat in our mind. Even when we are doing good, we must not forget to do God. Sometimes we just have to tune out the noice and listen to the small quiet voice within us. Someone once said, “What consumes your mind controls your life.” When  you want to hear the heart of God, be still and be silent. If you want the Spirit of God to fill you, open up your heart and mind. Ask the Holy Spirit to consume you. March is the Month of blessings! Love and Blessings…

“Because he has focused his love on me, I will deliver him. I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in his distress. I will deliver him, and I will honor him.”
(Psalm 91:14-15)

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

Author Christine Caine wrote, “If the light that is ON you is brighter than the light that is IN you, the light that is ON you will destroy you.”
I thought about what that meant as a Christian. It means if we want to know how we are growing as Christ followers, we should not focus on how the world’s light shines on us. We should focus on making sure the light within us shines through us so others can see Christ. The worlds light on us can be removed by man at any moment, but no one can remove the light within us. That is what shows our spiritual maturity and where we are in Christ. The worlds light on us can display our gifts and talents, and that is not a bad thing. God blesses us with gifts and talents. But we have to be careful because we can operate in our gifts while we are gratifying our flesh. However, when we operate in the light within us, it shows a manifestation of a transformed life by the power of God. You can operate in your spiritual gift but then immediately act in a sinful way. Maybe you’ve seen someone preach the most powerful sermon at church, only to see them be hateful to others at a later time. Or perhaps a person may give generously of their time and money to impact those less fortunate, but then turn around and be impatient and rude with their own family. What about the sister or brother who just sang the most beautiful song you have ever heard, and steps down from the choir and refuses to speak to you. The light on us can make us big headed, the light within us makes us big hearted. There is a difference in those people who continually let their light shine from within in their daily lives. The worlds light may not be shining ON them but you can see God’s light shining all THROUGH them.They may be serving behind the scenes, visiting someone in the hospital, or offering their time by just being with a friend in need. Their contribution to building up believers may not be flashy, but their character is deep because they have chosen not to focus on the worlds light. It really doesn’t take tremendous effort to operate in our gifts. On the other hand, to operate in the light within us, involves the difficult task of dying to self everyday. The light within us may not be shouting for attention but you best believe, we always know when that light is present in our lives and the lives of others. We also know when it is not. And most importantly sisters and brothers, God knows. Let your light shine through you! Love and Blessings…

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” ( Matthew 5:14-16)

Instead of pursuing a relationship with God, we often times chase after other things.We run around in circles like a dog chasing his tail looking for something or someone that will fill the void in our souls. This can leave us mentally and spiritually drained. We get weak and tired. The truth is nothing or no one can fill that void except God himself. If we stop chasing other things and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, to consume us, we then will find true happiness and peace. No man or woman, no amount of money or fame can fill the void. Scripture tells us that if we seek the Kingdom of God first, then all the things we need will be given to us. When we place God first in our life, we will see him working through all circumstances and events for our good. When we seek Him, we will find Him waiting and willing with open arms.We must keep our gaze on God and our glance on the world. Love and Blessings…
Matthew 6:33
Jeremiah 29:13
Psalm 34-10