Lakisha, the Author

The Family that Lies Excerpt

Merci

“No Mother dear, I do not know where your precious Grayce is.”

“Yes, I am still here but the answer is still the same: I don’t know where she is and you asking again won’t change that!” I say, raising my voice.

I hear the alarm chirp and just when I am about to repeat myself again I see Grayce standing in the living room mouthing for me not to tell Mom she’s here.

Laughing, I say, “Yes Mother, that was the alarm you heard.”

Rolling my eyes while wanting to hit my head against the wall, I go on, “If it was Grayce, don’t you think I would have told you? Hell, I wish it was so you can get off my phone.”

She yells that this conversation is useless.

“You’re right, but I do believe you called my phone, ma’am. You can hang up at any time.”

After she swears, she says to have a good day. “I will, and you have a great day as well,” I reply.

“Damn!” I yell, putting my phone on the counter as I finish fixing my coffee.

I look up to see Grayce trying to exit stage left.

“No you don’t, heifer! I’ve been on the phone with your mother for over thirty minutes and you think you’re going to just walk away?”

“Merci, I am not in the mood, ok?”

“And do you think I am in the mood to deal with the same question of where you are every time you don’t answer your freaking phone? You are a grown ass woman who is still afraid of her parents.”

“I am not afraid of them.”

“Then why not answer your phone? Or were you too busy getting your back tilted?”

“Don’t start. I was not out having sex. Unlike you, I am not a whore.”

“Are you sure about that, oh sister of mine? What is it the bible says? Um, something like, before you talk about the speck in my eye remove the one from yours.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your shirt, saved one, it’s on inside out!”

“Merci, I…”

“Girl bye, your walk of shame is waiting.”

Pre-order your copy now HERE

Daily Devotional – 10/25/16 “Where is the help?”

I’ve been working on this presentation for my psychology class and the topic I have is suicide. And as I’ve been studying and putting it together, I thought about how psychology and the church are connected. A lot of times, we don’t want to speak on certain topics in the church. We don’t want to deal with sexual abuse, sexuality, domestic violence, mental illness and especially depression; in the church because it’s been such a taboo subject. I mean, how can a person be depressed when they stand to preach every Sunday? How can she be battling with a mental illness when she seems to be so blessed? Who would know he was being belittled by his wife and he’s the head of the deacon board? We don’t deal with issues such as this because we, often times, don’t think it can hit close to home. And when it does, it shakes us to the core because we weren’t expecting it. But why not? Why can’t Pastor be depressed when he/she has to fight just to do what God has called him/her to do? Why can’t that sister/brother be suicidal when they consistently think about how the church may treat them if they find out they’re gay? Why can’t that woman, who is pregnant out of wedlock, be suicidal when she walks into worship every Sunday knowing somebody is talking about her?

But oh, how we tend to forget the mistakes of our past and present. We get a little holy and think we can now put our mouth on everybody who doesn’t look the part of being saved. When will Christians stop being so critical of one another? Why can’t I have a glass of wine at the bar and not be talked about because I’m a preacher? Why can’t a man or woman of God go out to a secular concert without it being the end of the world? Why can’t a child of God dance, as long as she/he doesn’t forget who they belong to? Yes, I know there are times when a person, in the church, needs to be criticized but that’s only when you are willing to offer real, genuine help. And if you aren’t, keep your mouth closed because you don’t know what a person is dealing with, secretly. If every time you open your mouth, you have something judgmental to say; close it and keep it to yourself. We need true folk who are willing to help and not hurt. This is why the bible says in 2 Timothy 2:14, “Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” If you can’t offer help, stop hindering with your mess! Are there any true, genuine helpers left in the church?

Daily Devotional – 10/24/16 – “The anointing makes the difference!”

The anointing WILL make the difference, if you let it because God’s anointing, on your life, has the ability to shift your atmosphere. The anointing on your life has the gift to get you recognized in places, you’ve never stepped foot in before. The anointing has the skill to make your name known to folk you’ve never met. The anointing has the power to change your name, your place of residence, your bank account and your destiny. But you have to be able to handle it, wear it right and walk in it because the bible says in James 2:24, “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” Baby, you can’t claim you’re anointed and your work doesn’t show it. You can’t speak of the anointing, if there’s no power in your tongue. And you can’t wear the anointing with a jacked up attitude because they don’t mix. What you need to understand is this … God grants us access to the anointing so that we now have the capability to do the things He has entrusted us with. And this is why the anointing has no choice but to make a difference in our lives. See, in my days of living, after truly walking in the anointing, I’ve found out a few things. It wasn’t by accident because the anointing opens our eyes to see things and people for what and who they really are. What do I mean?

— The anointing will get rid of the undercover enemies you’ve been feeding as friends and He’ll show who your real friends are. Don’t miss this though … The anointing also comes with naysayers who act like supporters – You have to stay alert in order to know the difference.

— The anointing will give you a new perspective on the places you’ll go. It won’t stop the messy invitations from being sent, you’ll just have to be mindful of those you accept.

— The anointing will change the direction you’ve been going but it won’t stop the distractions, you have to be careful what you look it.

— The anointing will also change your name but it won’t prevent folk from calling you by your past indiscretions, you’ll need to be mindful of what you answer too!

Beloved, the anointing will make the difference! You will just need to ensure you’re ready to accept the differences? Because when you are, you’ll begin saying like Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

New Book Alert – The Family that Lies

A standalone novel written by twin sisters Lakisha Johnson and LaQuisha Rucker.

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.

Pre-order your copy today by clicking here! You’ll be glad you did.

Thank you and as always Happy Reading

-Lakisha

Daily Devotional – 10/21/16 “What’s your fear?”

Do you remember the show Fear Factor? It was a game show that would put people in places or have them doing things just to test their determination to face their fears. This show was gross and it would have people doing all kinds of things. And if the person competing, failed or refused to face the fear they were eliminated. I was thinking of this as I started to write my devotional because how many times have we been eliminated from stuff that’s ours because of fear. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is because somebody, somewhere, woke up facing fear yet again. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve tried, you just can’t seem to get him (fear) to leave you alone. You’ve even prayed, a lot, and he still has the audacity to be waiting for you to roll over in the morning. You’ve tried the drugs, pills and alcohol and even they can’t silence his voice in your head. You’ve taken the PM medicine and even it didn’t stop him from waking you out your sleep. And now, you’re sitting on the edge of give up because he’s said you can’t do it. You’re standing on the outside of the celebration because he said nobody wanted you there. You want to tell somebody but then he said they wouldn’t care. Leaving you depressed, emotional and on the verge of breaking down. Well beloved, I stopped by to tell you that fear only has the power YOU give it. How do I know? Baby, the bible tells me in 2 Timothy 1:7, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” This is why you have to get like David when he said in Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise– in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

See, fear is doing his job, he’s stopping you from doing yours. Yep! Fear has a job and that’s to get you eliminated from this game of life. And for a lot of us, it’s working. You won’t get married again because you’re fearful it might not work. You won’t go for that promotion because you’re afraid you may get turned down. You won’t step out on faith because you’re afraid it might not work. For some of us, we’re afraid because it just may work in our favor and that scares the hell out of us. I mean, who would have thought YOU could do it? Who would have thought you could build a house. Who would have thought YOU could run a company. Who would have thought you could pastor a church? Fear! It has a tight grip on a lot of us and it’s spoiling the plans God has for your life. You’ve got to over it and that happens by – 1. Knowing what you’re fearful of. 2. Thinking of what this particular fear can do to you. 3. And gradually exposing yourself to the fear. If you don’t know what you’re fearful of, how can you get over it? And you can’t get over it if you don’t face it. So, I have to ask, what are you fearful of that is hindering the greatness within you? And why has it held you hostage this long?