Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 1/11/17 “Frustrated but not wavering!”

I’ve been back in school a year now, working on my Bachelors of Science in Bible. I struggled with going back to school because it takes time and a LOT of money. I prayed and asked God to lead me to the right school with the right people and He did. Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies (MCUTS). It meets my needs. Everything has been good. I spoke with our company’s tuition reimbursement department and my bible classes are covered. So I put in one request, no problem. Second request, ALL problems. See in the midst of me going to school our company merged and the new one doesn’t pay for bible classes. “They” said I can change my major but I don’t want a degree in Business, I desire one in Bible. Plus, I only have seven classes left. Ok God! Now, as I wait to get reimbursed from last semester, change after change. So, I go again to the dean of students (who has been great) saying, it’s going to be another 15 days, from the last time I told you 30 days ago, before I can close out my balance. On top of that, I now have to pay out-of-pocket. But you know what I told her this morning, I’m frustrated but not wavering.

I am sharing this because I need you to understand that when YOU can’t understand it, it’s God working. I BELIEVE THAT! See, someone is facing even harder obstacles and it seems easier just to wave the white flag or throw in the towel. Someone is looking into the darkness and about to turn around. Somebody opened an email and it was another denial. Sorted the mail and the check still hasn’t shown up. Going back to the doctor with no good news. Depending on some folk and they let you down. Calling for help and it still hasn’t shown up. Well beloved, you may be frustrated but don’t lose your faith. You may be discouraged but don’t you dare die yet. You may get depressed but don’t discard your deliverance. For just like me, you’ve got to believe something greater is headed your way. Yes, I am believing that if the enemy is trying this hard, it’s only because God has already signed the order of protection over my life. So, although we’re frustrated, we’ve got to still fight. Frustrated but don’t you fall. Instead, we’ll be frustrated but still faithful, favored and fearless! Because we still believe in God of breakthroughs. Even in the midst of your frustration, God is still God and He never fails!

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” —2 Chronicles 15:7

Help send my niece to Italy…….

Order Here and place “For Michaiah Fields” in the notes

img_20170109_070851 My name is Michaiah Fields and in September 2017 I will be leaving Memphis, Tennessee to study abroad with AFS Intercultural Programs for one year in Italy. Studying abroad is a great way to show younger generations that there is more to the world than just where you are from. I hope my year in Italy inspires them to broaden their horizons and explore outside of their comfort zone. I believe I will gain a once in a lifetime experience by going to Italy.

The cost to spend a year in Italy is very expensive and I am working and coming up with different ideas to get the amount everyday. One of those options is Goodness Gracious Cookies (www.cookiesformissions.com)! I have been given the opportunity to partner with them as a fundraiser. (The link to Michaiah’s profile on their website is in my bio). You can order online or from me personally.

I have also joined the Sponsor an AFSer program. The Sponsor an AFSer is an online fundraising tool provided by AFS-USA to allow potential contributors rgrate easy, secure, and non tax-deductible contributions to my AFS program fee. To sponsor my AFS program, visit my blog at michaiahs.blogspot.com and click the Donate Now button to make a non tax-deductible contribution directly to my AFS program account!

Thank you for your prayers, support, orders and donations!

Will you help myself and Goodness Gracious Cookies send this beauty to Italy to study!! It’s reallllyyyyyy simple, all you have to do is order some cookies! Not just any cookies but some that are soft, chewy, delicious and baked fresh daily. These cookies can be delivered (if you’re in the Memphis area) and/or shipped right to your door. And if you place the order in enough time, you may just get yours the same day! Just mention Michaiah Fields so she’ll get credit. If placing an order online is too much for you, no worries because we will come to you! We’ll setup at your event, we’ll send you a sponsorship packet, we’ll speak during church announcement period or whatever it takes to get your help and support! The link to view her profile is below and if you would like to get orders from your church, family, friends or coworkers; the order form is attached. Send it, along with payment, to me and I’ll get your orders placed. Please call/text or email, if you need too!

Click here to order:: Send Michaiah to Italy and place “For Michaiah Fields” in the notes

Daily Devotional – 1/9/17 “Suddenly!”

The other day, my husband and I were watching Family Feud. Steve Harvey introduced the families and one of them were the returning family who’d one 3 times already. Well, I watched and I couldn’t see how they’d won three games because they were struggling so badly this time. I mean, it was up to the third question and they were losing. By all accounts, there was no way they should win the game, this time. But then something happened. They ended up winning the third round which meant the two teams would have to go to sudden death. If you’ve ever watch Family Feud, then you know at sudden death, the person who gets the top answer wins. Well, they won. They’d been down the entire game and still won. They’d probably been counted out by everybody because even I didn’t think they could win. But they did. Why am I sharing this? Well because somebody is in the hardest struggle of your life and folk have already counted this as a lost. You’re at the toughest part of the fight and the referee is beginning to count you out.

You’re looking at the scoreboard and you’re still losing. You see the odds stacked and they’re not in your favor. You’re looking at the court papers and they still say guilty. You just answered the door or the phone and it was more bad news. You looked and you still can’t win for losing. You can’t get up for being knocked down. Well beloved, even when it looks like you’re losing we serve a God who has the power to change the game suddenly, in your favor. We serve a God who has the ability to still call you victorious after the lost. Baby, we serve a God who has the power to turn your default into deliverance, your forfeit into favor and your penalty into plenty. We serve a God who specializes in victories not scores. We serve a living God who counts you as the champion, not based on your wins but your faith. All you have to do is stay in the game, stay on the battlefield and stay in the fight. It may not look like it now but God can do it suddenly and without your permission.

Daily Devotional – 1/5/17 “Faith but no action!”

You still have time to make this year, your year. In fact, you have 360 more days! Oh, let me guess. You have an excuse. What is it, this time? You’re still trying to find pictures for your vision board, you still don’t have a way to bible study, you’re still trying to get yourself together or you’re still trying to find something to wear? I mean, come on. You do know that at some point in your natural life you’ve got to get up, right? You do understand that at some point in time, you’ve got to stop writing the vision and actually put it into action, right? You do understand that the only way you can get a job, you have to apply for one, right? Listen beloved, I am all for setting plans, creating goals and I like the vision boards but what are you going to do with the plans, the goals and how are you going to make the vision if you’ve yet to move? That’s like expecting a car to run without a motor. That’s like expecting your remote to work with no batteries. That’s like eating cereal with no milk. Well, not actually the cereal but you know what I mean. Who wants an empty bank account? What I’m asking is, when are you going to make some action happen?

I know you’ve been let down before. I know you’ve been turned down more times than you care to remember. I know you can’t understand why it seems like everybody is getting blessed but you. I know you feel as if you’re in a never winning cycle but baby, how can you test your faith in God if you never put it into action? That’s like saying prayer doesn’t work when you’ve never prayed. That’s like giving a restaurant a bad review when you’ve never actually been there. Aren’t you tired? Aren’t you ready to see what being victorious looks like? Are you not ready to see what winning feels like? Aren’t you even curious to see how winning sounds in front of your name? What about healed, delivered and being set free? They can all become a part of your vocabulary, if you believe. So, come down off the cliff ma’am. Step away from the edge sir. Put the gun down son. Throw away the pills, daughter. It’s not time for you to die. You still have time to turn this thang around. You still have time for 2017 to be the most blessed year of your life.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?” – James 2:14

Daily Devotional – 1/4/17 “When praise exceeds your pain!”

How can you garner the strength to go on when it feels like your living is in vain? How can you come out of the darkness when it’s a struggle to find the switch to the light? What are you to do when it seems like grief has taken the place of grace and fighting overshadowing your faith? How can you manage when it seems like you’re by yourself or when it seems like trouble is on every side? What are you supposed to do when you look in the mirror and see bruises from the person who vowed to love you through sickness and health? What becomes of you, now, that your normal is anything but? Asking yourself the questions, who am I and how did I get here? Trying to rationalize why you’re stuck in a place that’s causing more pain than joy. Looking for someone to lean on? Calling and texting for someone to talk too? Searching for something to help you fill the void. Seeking relief from nightly pacing and daily crying until your body hurt? Who can help you answer the same questions you keep asking over and over? Why me? What else? When will it end? How can I come out? Who can I run too? And where is God?

Well dearly beloved, stop trying to fill the void because you might fill it with someone who looks helpful but only makes things worse. Stop trying to find someone to lean on when God is using this time in your life for you to learn to lean on Him. Stop trying to make sense out of something that God is allowing to happen. How do you know it’s God? When your praise exceeds your pain. What do I mean? When you should have lost your mind but instead you rejoice. When you should be hopeless about your house being foreclosed on but instead you shout. When grief should have closed your mouth but you still show up with praise. When you’ve been so faithful yet cancer keeps showing up and instead of choosing to die you dance. When you keep getting defeated in battle and instead of breaking, you still believe God. I don’t know who you are but it’s not time for you to give up. Praise in spite of what it looks like because your access to THEE everlasting never gives out. And as long as you stay connected, stay praising and stay faithful; even when it’s the darkest, you’ll still survive. This is why you have to know that when your praise exceeds your pain, it’s God working. #Psalm142