Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 11/18/16 “After everything God has done …”

Let’s say you have a lot of money saved and you decide to build a house. You make the necessary calls to get everything you need and you start building. Putting your blood, sweat and tears into building the home of your dreams. You hardly sleep making sure every piece of wood and nail is in its rightful place. The home is finished and you decorate it. And now its move in day but you decide, that’s alright I don’t want it anymore and walk off from it. Crazy, right? Well, think about how God feels every time you think He’s forsaken you. Just imagine how God feels when you treat Him as if He’s left you by yourself. Do you not realize all that God has done for you? He created heaven and earth in six days, giving us everything we need to survive. Then sin was introduced so God gave us hard work and pain as a consequence to the action but then He insured we’d be able to endure it by making us extra strong. Then sin began running rampant so God sent His only Son, as a living sacrifice, in order for us to be able to repent, when we sin AND still live. So tell me again why you think He’ll forsake us?

God has put His spiritual blood, sweat and tears into creating us. He’s spent His time to mold us. He’s even given us His breathe so that we might live. He left His word so that we might fill up on His knowledge and wisdom. He gives us His anointing that seals us with the power to cast out, call down and destroy strongholds. We’re granted new mercies, every day that keeps us in our right mind. So, what makes you think He’ll leave us without a thought about our wellbeing? After everything He’s sacrifice for us, why would He abandon us now? After everything …. God said to Jacob, while he dreamed in Genesis 28:15, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” And I just believe and trust God enough to know this is meant for us too, even now. Beloved, whoever you are, God has not left you. He has too much invested in you to just abandon you. You just have to believe that even when He doesn’t show up or say anything, He’s still there. This pain, this momentary moment of feeling defeated and this dark place you’re in, you’re not alone. God is always there. After everything, are you willing to trust Him?

Daily Devotional – 11/17/16 “I’m willing!”

In Daniel 3, the 3 Hebrew boys had been summoned by the king because they wouldn’t bow down in worship to a golden image. When they reached the king he gave them one last chance to bow down. He told them in Daniel 3:15, “I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Now these boys could have been frighten at the sound of the threat. They could have hung their head in defeat and gave in. They could have turned their back on God but instead they replied, in Daniel 3:16-17, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.” Oh but that’s not the part I need you to get. For the boys said in Daniel 3:18, “But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

I need you to understand that giving in/up isn’t an option. Stop settling because you’re fearful of what might happen. Stop giving in because you don’t understand. Stop giving up because it looks like it might hurt. Baby, you have to get to a place where you’re willing even when it doesn’t make sense. See, God never places us in a position to hurt or harm us. You don’t have to believe me. Come here Abraham who was told to sacrifice his only son but didn’t have too. Come here Job who lost everything and everybody but got back double. Come here mother who had to bury your only child but you still have your mind. Come here daddy who lost the only means of money in the household yet still maintaining. Chile, God never leaves or forsakes but you have to be willing. What do I mean? Being willing to go into the fire shows your trust in God’s ability to remove the heat. Being willing to go into the darkness, shows your trust in God to be your light. Being willing to go into the battle, shows your trust in God to be your protector. Being willing to fill out the application shows your trust in God to be your provider. You may not understand but trust God enough to say, I’m willing!

The Family that Lies

The Family that Lies

Born only months apart, Merci and Grayce Alexander were as close as sisters could get. With a father who thought the world of them, life was good. Until one day everything changed.

While Grayce got love and attention, Merci got all the hell, forcing her to leave home. She never looks back, putting the past behind her until … her sister shows up over a decade later begging for help, bringing all of the forgotten past with her. Merci wasn’t the least bit prepared for what was about to happen next.

Merci realizes, she’s been a part of something much bigger than she’d ever imagined. Yea, every family has their secrets, hidden truths and ties but Merci had no idea she’d been born into the family that lies.

Available now on Amazon!

Click HERE

Daily Devotional – 11/16/16 “Whose fault is it?”

Many times we get let down by people we’ve placed into positions they couldn’t handle. And you saw the blinking lights over their head but you like them and they smell good. You noticed the warnings but they make you feel good. You even know their track record but you believed them when they said “I’ve changed.” Now, you’re pissed off because they really hadn’t changed. You’re mad because they didn’t keep their promises. You’re angry because they didn’t hold up their end of the vows. You’re mad at the world because the person who said they’d be there still hasn’t shown up. But whose fault is it really? Go on and say it, I won’t even type it. However, let’s take ownership of our mess. See, if I put my hand in the fire, I can’t be mad when it burns me. I can’t pet a venomous snake and then get irate when it bites me. I can’t be furious at you for not showing up, this time, when you never showed up last time. Whose fault is it really?

OK, you can make up excuses if you want, you know the truth. You knew good and well they were hellish, the last pastor warned you. You knew doggone well he wasn’t daddy material, his other 3 baby mommas told you. You knew she wasn’t first lady material when she’d been with all your friends. And you know your momma told you to leave him/her alone because they weren’t any good. Oh but nooo, you fell for it, buying what they were selling because you like the taste but now your heart is broken. Well baby, whose fault is it? In the words of my friend, Minister Lashundra Richmond; calm down and breathe because the same shock that almost killed you, can be the same shock that revives you. However, it depends on if you’re willing to live. Either you allow the shock to prematurely put you in the grave or it’ll be the jolt you need to get up and change your heart. Because changing your heart changes your life. BUT the choice is yours and it starts by realizing who’s at fault.

“Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” – Ezra 10:4

Daily Devotional – 11/15/16 “May the God of hope …”

As the holidays approach, a time when families should be happy, there are a lot of you who are anything but. The majority of you are stressed, overworked, underappreciated, depressed, suicidal and on the verge of throwing in the towel. Some of you are grieving and have been for so long that you don’t even know how else to be. Some of you are still trying to figure out how you ended up here, again. You’re looking for a way out yet you’re fearful of trying the way maker. You’re trying to make ends meet and they aren’t even close. And still thinking of a way to tell the children they can’t get what they want this year either. Contemplating check advances and title loans when you’re already in over your head. And for what? To cut thanksgiving dinner short to stand in a line to buy something your children probably won’t appreciate and you don’t need. Yes, this may be the first or tenth holiday without your loved one but in the midst of grieving, don’t forget to live.

Listen, I don’t know what you’re dealing with ma’am. I don’t know what you’re toiling with sir. I don’t know what you’re fighting about or why you’re crying. I don’t know what’s causing your sleepless nights or your dark days. However, I do know that better days are possible. I don’t have to quote scriptures because you can probably recite them all but when will you start believing in them. I don’t have to tell you that God is right there, you know this but when will you start to trust Him? Yes, I get it because I, too, used to dread the holidays. It seemed like every black Friday I would be temporarily out of funds while trying to scrape together enough money to get the children something but I’ve lived long enough now to realize, just waking up is enough for me and if I put my hands in God’s hands, He’ll blow my mind. And get this, I don’t need the details, I simply need the blessing. So to you, whomever you are, who are in the dark place of life right now, I need you to know this … “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” —Romans 15:13