Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 9/26/16 “LIVE LIFE HAPPY!”

The bible says in Romans 14:8, “If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” So, my question is, “Why aren’t you living before you die?” We spend so much time on negative things, stressing over stuff that can’t sustain us, fretting over bills, and killing ourselves trying to keep someone who doesn’t want to be kept or mad because somebody said something about you; when does actually living come in? Yes, I know you value the sanctity of marriage but if it’s causing you more harm than good, something needs to change. You can’t sleep for bills, can’t eat because of nerves, can’t enjoy life because you’re too wound up; when does living fit in? If you can’t afford where you’re staying, move somewhere that you can. If you aren’t happy, find the reason why not and fix it. You and your spouse are probably fighting, right now, over finances instead of sitting down like adults and figuring out how to fix them. Get on a budget, file bankruptcy or ask for help. You are probably at home stressing over the folk on the job instead of leaving that mess on the job.

At what point will you actually enjoy the life that God has actually given you? Ecclesiastes 2:24 says, “So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.” This means you can enjoy the fruits of your labor every now and then. If you work, why shouldn’t you have some enjoyment in your life? Baby, life should be enjoyable, your marriage should be enjoyable and your home should be enjoyable because it’s your place of refuge. You shouldn’t come home dreading to be there. Oh but look now, don’t go home giving your spouse a Dear John letter talking about Lakisha told me to do it, that’s not what I said. What I am saying is, life is too short to live each day stressing, losing your hair, getting sick, balance is off, running up doctor bills because your pressure up, can’t get prayers through because your heart is hateful, worship ain’t about nothing because your praise is so full of crap, you can’t smile because all you know is crying, not allowing yourself to be happy because you might enjoy it, can’t be love because you’re so caught up on dude or dudette who broke your heart years ago, selfishly not allowing God in because you’re still holding church hurt from 82; baby LET IT GO! Momma hurt you; she gone. Daddy didn’t love you, he gone. Baby daddy did you wrong, he’s moved on. Baby momma put you on child support, pay it and move on. Cousin didn’t pay you back, forgive and let it go! Job laid you off, find a new one. Whatever it is, LET IT GO! For the bible says in Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” This is my good word for you today … LIVE LIFE HAPPY!

Daily Devotional – 9/23/16 “It takes more than you!”

I had the opportunity to visit the newest craze in town, Memphis Escape Rooms and I must say it was a challenge. You along with several other members of your team are placed inside a room and you have to work together to figure out how to open the door, in less than 60 minutes. Yes, it sounds like it’s easy but it takes some thinking AND team work. And if you cannot work as a team, the chances of figuring out the clues to get out is close to impossible. However, with my team, when one person couldn’t figure it out, they passed it to another person for them to take a look. Not one person took credit for our team winning (and we were the only team) because it was OUR win! Now, this made me ponder the thought of how much greater our worship, fellowship and relationships would be if we all worked together instead of apart. I mean, just think of how much greater things could be if you admitted what you’re doing isn’t working and asked for help. Just imagine how many more lives can be saved if we lost the “I” mentality and change to an “US” ministry. See, pastor can’t do it all no matter how high you’ve placed him/her. The deacons shouldn’t run it all, no matter how long it’s been working. And you can’t have the final say, I don’t care how long you’ve been there. It takes a team. When it comes to the trinity, there’s three … The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who all works together for our good. So what makes you think you can do it all?

The bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Yes, I understand you’ve always done it your way but look around, is it still working? Yea, you’ve always been by yourself but aren’t you tired of not having someone to lean on? When you’re by yourself, your thoughts sound great but when you have someone there, they can listen and let you know, “Nawl dude, you’re tripping.” When you’re by yourself, you think you look good but having someone else lets you know, “Girl, that lipstick is not right.” Being the head is good but it’s nothing without the body. This is why the bible says in Ephesians 4:16, “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” We can make this thang work but you’ve got to lose your selfishness because the only way it can work, we have to first link our faith together to ensure it does. A chain without links is just a weak piece of metal however a chain with links is a strong defense mechanism! Which one are you?

Daily Devotional – 9/21/16 “Cry loud!”

I’ve never lost a family member or friend to tragedy. I’ve never received a phone call or a late night/early morning knock on the door notifying me of death. Yet as I watch the news and see the social media posts, my heart breaks. I am sadden by the increase of unarmed black men and women being killed by the hands of those who have sworn to serve and protect. I am dishearten by our police departments. I am sickened at the thought that yesterday it was somebody else brother and today it could be mine. What happened to the days when you got pulled over by police and left the scene alive? Where are those police officers who aren’t afraid of the neighborhood they’re in? Yes, people have said it’s not a black and white issue but I’m not so sure anymore. Because I’ve seen the news reports of supposed terrorists being taken alive but a black man with his arms in the air being shot dead. I’ve read the reports of white men, with guns, making it safely to the police station but an unarmed black woman never making it out. You have to know that I am not turning this devotional blog into a rant and raving post but I just know that God isn’t pleased with the state of this world. As I read my bible, I’m reminded of the things the Israelites did to cause God’s heart to be hardened towards them and I’m just wondering if this doesn’t.

See, I used to be fearful for the black men in my family but now I’m afraid to be pulled over because if I happen to move suddenly, there’s a chance I can get killed. Don’t you see that we are living in a world, now, where police bullets have no respect of person? There was a time when an officer killed a man or woman and it was justified by their crime but now it’s indicative of skin color or if you look suspicious. Why? What happened? When did this become acceptable? And what can we do to fix it? Oh, we can pray but what will we do when we get up? We can march but then what? We can riot but that’ll only leave a ruined city. WHAT. MUST. WE. DO? What can we do as a city, a state and a nation? What must we do to ensure this new normal is demolished? What can we do as blacks and whites to save a dying world? I could plug 2 Chronicles 7:14 here but instead I’ll share Isaiah 58:1 that says, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” It’s time we cry loud and spare not the feelings of those who do nothing. It’s time we cry loud and spare not the looks and the stares. It’s time we cry loud and spare not because we are losing! Don’t wait until trouble attacks your house to cry loud and spare not because while it may not be there today, it could be me or you who becomes a hashtag tomorrow. It’s time to cry loud!

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!

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