Daily Devotional – 9/20/16 “It’s time to upgrade!”

As time changes, an electronics company will put out an update for their devices. Their updates normally fix issues with the device, give updated information and sometimes there are new things to get you excited. This is because the company is consistently looking for ways to keep us, their customers, coming back. As I was thinking about this, I began to wonder why as worship leaders, pastors, preachers and etc. we can’t recognize the need for some upgrades. I mean, we are quick to buy the latest gadgets but we are okay with singing from the same tired list of songs. We cannot wait to get the latest update on our stuff but when it comes to God’s work, we’ll settle for what’s been there since 1982 because we don’t want to ruffle any feathers. Well baby, in actuality, some of those feathers need to be ruffled and plucked! Times are not the same as it was when grandma nem worshipped. We’ve got to meet people where they are, spiritually, and sometimes that means getting out of our comfort zone. Sometimes we need to lay some hands and slang some oil to get the devils out of the church. What I mean is … It’s time to upgrade. It’s time to finally say, this isn’t working anymore? Hold up boo-boo, this isn’t just for the leaders because as worshippers within the body of Christ, you have to be acceptable to the upgrade too. Yea, I know things have been the same since you were little but baby, that was 42 years ago; times have changed and things have to be updated. You might not agree with it but when you don’t upgrade after a while, things stop working.

Oh, please understand, this isn’t just for worship places; it’s for relationships, jobs, cars and houses too. And it’s especially meant for that lowdown attitude of yours. Look, at some point in your natural life you ought to wake up and realize, this isn’t working anymore. I mean, what’s the sense of constantly arming an alarm on your house that’s been there since the 50’s that isn’t securing anything? It won’t stop an intrusion. And it’s the same way with worship places and relationships. If you’ve yet to upgrade your ‘system’ what good is it to arm it when it can’t stop an intrusion? Why do you think the enemy can get in so freely and wreak havoc? Why do you think you keep having issues in your house? How do you think the hell is getting in your worship places? It’s because you’re trying to download some stuff into a ‘system’ that isn’t compatible. Haven’t you seen the warning, “Your app isn’t compatible with this version?” Well, this is what you need to say to some folks and some things in your life. Tell them, you are no longer compatible with this version. Yes, I appreciate the time but we’re upgrading and you’re either for or you ain’t, either way it’s happening!

upgrade

Daily Devotional – 9/19/16 “9/19/16 – Oh change … “

Change comes with or without warning and believe this or not, you have to (sometimes) accept it or not. When I say sometimes, I mean that there are times you will have no choice but to choose the change. It’s like death. We have to accept the change that comes with the passing of a loved one, whether we want to or not; it’s a part of life. But when it comes to things like jobs and such, you can make the choice to accept the change by either staying or going; again, your choice. It’s like here at my job, we had a change to our management team. Although I’ve only been in this department for a year, from what I can gather, it is a welcome change. However, I’ve come to realize and understand this … WE can make change hard by complaining and being unacceptable to it. Think about it. A lot of parishioners within a certain place of worship can make the assignment for a new pastor hell (and we know it). It’s because we’ve been accustom to the old pastor who has been there thirty years letting us get our way so when new leadership comes in, we don’t know how to respond. And instead of getting to know him or her, we cause hell, raise hell, sell hell, support hell and sometimes tell them to go to hell. All because WE don’t like it.

But baby, haven’t you realized by now that the world doesn’t revolve around you and your way of thinking? Don’t you understand that with every season, you’ve got to change to accommodate it? Yea, you know this but you’re being stubborn. I mean, you wouldn’t wear summer clothes in the winter neither will you wear winter clothes in the summer. You adapt to the change. So, why is this so hard for Christians? Now, this isn’t just for worship places because it fits your life too because your parenting style changes as your child(ren) grow. Your household changes as things evolve within your life. We even tend to change as life happens. You hair goes from the natural color to gray. You may gain or lose weight. You may hurt a little more than you used too in parts you didn’t even know you had. Your eyesight may require some help and you may not get around as fast as before. But this is all a sign of change. Not bad change but good change. And we have to change with it. Otherwise we stay stuck in a place that no longer fits with where you are. We cannot stay in the same place forever because eventually we’ll have to change. Not because we have too but because we need too. Change, when it comes from a great place, has great outcomes. You simply need to be ready and willing to accept it and this comes by the continual renewing of your mind.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

Pruning

Daily Devotional – 9/14/16 “Love doesn’t hurt!”

Each time I hear news of another woman being murdered by the hands of someone who claimed to have loved them, my heart drops. Every time a child has to watch their mom die, in front of them, my soul aches. With every death, there is a yoke being attached to those left behind. A yoke bonding pain to love.

Love doesn’t hurt.

Sure, love can sometimes take you through trials, put you on a roller coaster ride of emotions or even cause you to do some stupid things; nonetheless, love shouldn’t hurt. Love should never give you the right to take another person’s life. Love shouldn’t give you the right to dictate, “if you can’t have me no one can.” Love isn’t bruises, black eyes, broken bones … love shouldn’t hurt like this and neither should it leave a person damaged or fearful of love.

Bible tells us in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Yes, I’ve said some things that probably hurt more than words, then I had to learn how to govern my mouth. That started by treating folk how I want to be treated. Please understand, I’ve never been in a physically abusive relationship, so I will NEVER tell someone how to handle theirs. All I can do is imagine the fear running through the head of a mother who’s trying to protect children from the monster daddy becomes. All I can do is imagine how scared she is each time she hears his key in the door. All I can do is imagine the many times she’s replayed her leaving, over and over; only to hear a news story of how the justice system failed someone else, so she unpacks her bags.

Here’s what I can do. Pray without ceasing until God deals with every abuser and there are no more casualties. I can fast until the cycle of abuse is cleansed from bloodline. I can be the listening ear for those who don’t need judgment, but hope. I can be a place of refuge until she decides to leave for good. I can post devotional blogs, like this, with resources to help. Then I continue to pray, hoping they’ll find the strength, courage and stability to get out before it’s too late.

Love doesn’t hurt. Love isn’t fear. Love isn’t tearing me down. Love isn’t control. Love isn’t you forcefully trying to prove you’re a man or a woman. Let’s be clear, abuse goes both ways and this is why we’ve got to educate our children on what real love is and what’s acceptable and unacceptable in a relationship.

Love doesn’t hurt and if you’re in an abusive relationship (emotionally, physically, mentally, verbally, socially or any other), get help. I don’t want to see a hashtag precede your name. I don’t want you to be another statistic. If you need help, contact the local abuse shelter in your area, visit www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).

Midnight Prayer with Rev. Lakisha

I am in no way affiliated with the companies and websites listed below. I am providing them as a source of help for those who may need it.

If you’re in Memphis, contact Montoyia McGowan, LCSW – https://www.stoppingthechase.com/ | 901.273.3485

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1.800.273.8255

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration – 1.800.662.4357

Find a Therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Black Virtual Therapist Directory – https://www.beam.community/bvtn

Therapy for Black Girls – https://therapyforblackgirls.com/

Daily Devotional – 9/13/16 “Pain has a way…”

I’ve been dealing with a pulled muscle or something in my back the last few days and it hurts. Yet while dealing with it, I’ve realized that pain has a way of reminding you that you’re still alive but more importantly, pain lets you know that something is wrong. Think about it. Whenever there is pain, there is an ailment that needs to be dealt with. Rather it be a migraine headache, high blood pressure, heart disease, sinus or even a hang nail, you’ve got to deal with it in order to stop the pain. If you don’t, the pain will increasingly get worse. It’s the same when it comes to physical and mental ailments because pain is associated with it, letting us know something is wrong and it needs to be dealt with. You cannot allow pain to continue without dealing with the cause of it. Yes, you can self-medicate but then what? You can try to cover it up but it’ll still be there. Why? Because you’ve yet to deal with the real source of the pain. It doesn’t matter if you have a high tolerance for pain, it can still bring you to your knees.

Oh but I’ve also found that pain can bring you closer to God. See, it’s when we’re hurting the worst that God’s name slips from our lips. You know it’s true. When our ‘ailment’ begins to be too much, our crying gets louder. When our pain starts to beat us down and interrupting our sleep, our praise becomes real. It’s when it begins to wake you up in the midst of the night that you realize, what you’re doing for the pain is no longer working nor is it strong enough. Pain has that effect. So, whomever you are on today, reading this; you who’ve been in pain too long, you whose pain is getting the best of them, you whose pain is winning at this very moment; you may want to get the doctor on the case. No ma’am, no sir; not the one you have to call for an appointment, fill out paperwork, give them a copy of your insurance card and pay for the diagnosis but I’m talking about THE doctor who has never lost a patient. THE one who diagnoses you right the first time. THE one who can deliver a prescription that’ll work with the first dose. THE doctor Jesus. Aren’t you tired of being in pain? Aren’t you sick of trying to hide your ailment? Aren’t you tired of crying like Jeremiah 15:18, “Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?” Or are you ready to hear God say like Luke 17:19, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well?” It’s your choice?

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Daily Devotional – 9/12/16 “It is well!”

Sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on. Sometimes you have to take the L just to keep your mind. Sometimes, you’ve got to walk away with a “It is well,” praise on your lips! See, we’ve been so accustomed to, “After you’ve done all you can do, just stand,” but then what? Yes, you should stand on God’s word but what I love about God, He allows you to take His word with you. This means, stop standing still in places and with people that have yet to yield anything positive. Baby, sometimes you have to release folk and places and while you’re packing say, ‘it is well.’ While you’re pulling out the driveway, say it is well. And even while you’re starting over, say it is well!

Losing friends who I thought had my best interest but turned out to be users – it is well. Moving on from places that stunted my growth – it is well. Doing God’s will despite what you think – it is well. Letting you go even when it hurts – it is well. Walking in my purpose even if I can’t see the way yet – it is well. For the bible says in Psalm 62:5, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”

In other words, what you meant for my bad – it is well. What you say about me, it is well. How you treat me when I was the one who fed you, it is well. When you ignore me after I spent time away from family to be a shoulder for you to cry on, it is well. When you can’t celebrate with me, it is well. Why? Well because my soul finds rest in God. Why? Because God is my hope! Why? Because this world can’t do my any harm. Today, it is well! Tomorrow, it’ll be well!