Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 10/18/16 “Remove the mask!”

As the world prepares to celebrate Halloween, by dressing in costumes and masks, it makes me realize that a lot of us have been wearing masks, all year. Yea, if I shall tell the truth; there have been a lot of folk walking around under the disguise of a smile when you know good and well, you cry yourself to sleep every night. Some wear the mask of happiness, when in fact, you’re living in hell at home. Some wear a mask of sanity when you’re one cry away from depression. Some even have a mask of prestige when they know, if they miss one day of work, they won’t eat next week. There are folk who show up on Sunday with their shouting face on but one breakdown from suicide. Pastors who stand in front of congregations, Sunday after Sunday, with their mask on, only to be secretly tormented by demons of past and present.

When will we, as children of God, remove the masks? When will we own up to who we really are and stop running from the realness of it? You do know that you’ve got to admit your true faults before you can begin to get help, right? It’s not so that you can be judged but it’s so you can get your joy back. Aren’t you tired of wearing this mask? Aren’t you sick of being someone you’re not? Lying to live but really not living. Faking it until you make it but not surviving. Where is your faith? The faith that will sustain you, even when it feels like everything is going wrong. The faith that will give you the strength to stand even when the mask comes off. The bible says in Romans 5:2, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” But we can’t do this if we live under a sham of being someone we’re not. This is why it’s time to remove the mask. Who are you, really?

Daily Devotional – 10/14/16 “Our Manufacturer’s spare!”

In the majority of cars, there’s a spare tire placed in the trunk. This is because the manufacturers know or assume that a time may come when you’ll need it. They only give you one because it’s to be used for emergency purposes only. See, a spare tire isn’t made to driven on, long term. It’s only there to replace the bad tire until you can get the damaged tire fixed or repaired. Now, as I was on my way to work, in the rain, I thought about this. And then the Holy Spirit said to me, our manufacturer is better than that. You didn’t know? Well, when God made us, He made us with spares because He knew there’d come a time when we would need it. A time we would become damaged. A time we may get low and unmovable. A time we’d break down and in need of the spare. So He, our manufacturer, ensures that our spare will be there when we need it. Oh but the good thing about our manufacturer, He made our spare to be used more than once. He made it so that if we just happen to need it long term, it’ll work. This is why you can be damaged and still used. This is why although you break down, you can still go.

Aren’t you glad, this day that our manufacturer, God, didn’t stop at just one spare? Aren’t you excited that our manufacturer, God, didn’t make our spare for just short term use? And aren’t you glad that He doesn’t charge us to replace the spare? I don’t know about you but there’s been some times in my life, I wasn’t even worthy of the spare yet when I looked up I saw the lights behind me which meant, my help had shown up. Yea, there have been some times when my manufacturer should have said, you’ve used up all your spares but instead He said “I’m on the way daughter.” Baby, there was some times when I found myself needing help for the spare. You know those times God showed up and got me out of the enemy’s camp even though I told Him I wouldn’t go again but I did? Those times I promised Him I wouldn’t do it again but I did. And He simply showed up with the spare, replacing my damaged parts, saying, “Daughter, your sins are forgiven.” Anybody else been there? Standing on the side of the road trying to figure out if you should call for help or try to fix it yourself only to see help coming? Anybody else got a “Thank you God for sparing me” praise? Can anybody else say like David in Psalm 30:3, “You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit?” Anybody?

Daily Devotional – 10/13/16 “I’m not there anymore!”

You may not be where you want to be but I can almost guarantee that if you were to stop and take a look over your life, you’re better than you used to be. Just take a moment and reflect because more than likely you’ll see that you aren’t there anymore. That’s my testimony because often times, lately, when I step on the scale; I get discouraged. But then Facebook shows me some memories from years ago or I think back on my life and I realize, I’m not where I used to be. See, I used to wear a size 20, 22 and some 24 size pants and when I can gladly slide on a size 14/16; I know I’m not where I used to be. Look, I could be ashamed but why now? If the truth shall be told, I should have been more ashamed back then but I wasn’t. Yet it took me looking at pictures, from a vacation, to know I needed to do something better. And I did. I started watching what I was eating and I got in the gym. It was hard but it was worth it. No, I’m not at my ideal weight but it could be worse. Why am I sharing this? Number one, for somebody who is ashamed of where they are now. Beloved, even if you happen to be in a low place right now, you’re better than you were. Plus, there’s hope because whether you realize this or not; you are worth saving. If you weren’t, God would have closed your mouth and stopped you heart but He hasn’t.

Number two, I’m sharing this because you also have a testimony and it needs to be heard. Stop hiding behind what you think folk would say. Stop hindering your victory because you’re afraid of how folk will receive it. Chile, do your dance. Dance because you’re free. Dance because you’re not what, where or how you used to be. And dance because you can. Stop being ashamed of your testimony. Don’t you understand that when you allow fear to hold you hostage, you can’t move forward? No matter how you try, you’ll only get as far as the rope will allow you to go. Why do you think you keep being pulled back to the same kinds of people, doing the same kinds of things and getting the same results? Baby, it’s time now for you to cut the rope and move forward. Ok, the process is slow but you’re getting somewhere. And I’d rather have slow moving than no moving at all. Look at where you are, even if it happens to be a place with no furniture, a job with less pay or even a worship place inside a store front/community center, you aren’t where you used to be. Because you used to be an unclean, raggedy, good for nothing sinner but God answered when you called, He cleaned you up and deemed you worthy of the new title, Saint! So, tell yourself, I’m not there anymore and then shout!

Everyone has an opinion …

As an author, it’s always nerve wrecking to release new books because you never know how someone will feel about it. However, I’ve learned that a 1 star review can sell a book the same way a 5 star can.

I’ve also learned that people’s opinions are based on their feelings so I can’t be mad at you for how you feel (good or bad) because you’re entitled to it. I can, on the other hand, control how I react to it.

My reaction … I keep living and I keep writing!

Be blessed and keep reading.

— Lakisha

Daily Devotional – 10/12/16 “Stay there!”

I told you on yesterday about my flat tire and how my help (my husband) was on the way. Now, the only way I could receive the help, he was coming to give, I had to be where I said I was. See, moving would have delayed my help. Had I not been in place, I quite possibly could have missed what I needed. And had I tried to do it myself, I probably would have messed some stuff up. Yet I waited and because I did, I got the help I needed to be on my way. And for somebody today, you can’t get the help you need because you aren’t where you’re supposed to be. Yes, your help is on the way but why delay receiving it by being out of place. Yea, you can try to do it on your own but you might just mess some stuff up. So just wait. Ok, it’s hard waiting but what has running got you? You may not like where you are but aren’t you tired of starting over only to get the same results? You have a hard time depending on someone but aren’t you tired of trying to figure everything out on your own? Chile, stand still! For you church hoppers who run every time your feelings get hurt, for you who throw in the towel when it gets too hard and for you who thinks it’ll be easier if you do it yourself – stop! Your help is coming but can’t get it if you’re out of place.

In Luke 24, after Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples and says in Luke 24:49, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” See, Jesus left them with instructions on the work they were to do but they couldn’t do the will of God until they had been clothed with the Holy Spirit by God. And in order for them to get this power, they had to stay where Jesus told them. This is why, child of God, you’ve got to quit running. Yes, your help is on the way but you’ve got to be where He told you to be. Even if it looks like it won’t show up, it will but you have to be in place to receive it. Even if the waiting gets to be too much, wait some more until help comes because you ought to know that God is no short of His word. The bible says in Psalm 46:7-10, “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”