Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 8/31/16 “That’s the easy part!”

Giving up, that’s the easy part but what will you gain? Yea, you could forfeit your assignment today but you’ll see it again so why prolong completing it. Yes, you can throw in the towel but you’ll see it again so why not just hang on until it’s over? Yes, you can throw your hands up in this relationship however if you don’t deal with the issues, they’ll come again in the next. Yea, you can cover up the open wounds but if you never seek healing, they won’t heal properly. Baby, you can mask the pain but it’ll still be there when you take it off. See, giving up, that’s easy but going through, that’s hard. Divorce, that’s easy but fixing what’s broke, that’s hard. Walking out, that’s easy but staying is hard. Excuses, that’s easy but owning your mistakes, that’s hard. The bible says in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” It’s like me and this weight loss thing. Chile, it’s hard for me to go to the gym but easy for me to eat a box of chocolate covered peanuts. It’s easy for me to say I want to lose weight but it’s hard for me to get up and do something about it. Why? Well because the easy part is EASY!

But what have you honestly gained that was easy? Think about it for a second. What do you have, now, that was easy for you to get? You can probably say things like my car, my house, etc. but if you really think about it, you’ll see that you got those things because of good credit and job history … neither of which were easy to gain. Right? Keeping your credit good isn’t easy when you get fifteen credit card offers in the mail daily. And in this day and time, keeping a job isn’t easy either. You have to work HARD for these things. However, when you work hard on the front, it’ll be easier on the back. So what else? What else do you have that was easy? I can personally say that nothing is. Ministry – it’s hard work. Marriage – it’s hard work. Children – They’re hard work. Job – it’s hard work. Relationships (family/friends) – they’re hard work. But you don’t give up on them. At least you shouldn’t. This is why I said, in the beginning that giving up is the easy part. Now the question is, are you really willing to give it all up? Please understand this, I am in no way talking about the assignments that ended long ago that you should have given up by now. No! What I’m speaking of are the things that you are contemplating giving up on that you haven’t even tried to work at. You can give up but then you’d be a quitter and that doesn’t look good on your resume. Giving up is easy but is it worth it?

Daily Devotional – 8/30/16 “How do you look?”

When I got into work this morning, two of my co-workers were having a conversation about how to properly dress when it comes to worship. One of the questions asked to me was, “How would you tell the pastor’s wife she’s dressing inappropriately for worship?” My answer to them was to talk to the pastor because he has a responsibility to address his wife, not the members of the church. Look, there are too many distractions within the body of Christ as is, we shouldn’t have to deal with a ‘First Lady or Man,’ who dresses like they’ve forgotten where they are. Please understand, I am not saying a ‘First Lady’ has to dress like a nun neither the man like a priest however in these positions, you have to carry yourself to a higher standard. The bible says in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (ESV)” Even as women in ministry, we have a responsibility to carry ourselves in a way that’s pleasing to the calling over our life. Baby, everyone knows I love a nice pair of stiletto heels yet I wear them in a way as not to distract you by what I have on versus what I’m preaching about. I get sick of hearing people say ‘God called my spouse, not me,” as an excuse to why they don’t do, say, wear or go certain places. As the spouse, you have a calling over your life to be a help meet to your spouse and if that means lowering the skirts or putting on a nice suit, do it. If you second guess it at home, take it off!

Think about it. If your spouse is the VP of the company, would you show up to a black tie gala dressed like you’re going to a hole in the wall club? I would think not because you should carry yourself as a reflection of the person whose arm you hold. This holds true for worship too. It doesn’t matter if ministry chose your spouse after you got married, it has so govern thyself accordingly. Even if you got into a relationship with a man or woman already in ministry, you should have known what to expect; grow up and deal with it. Save the short skirts and spaghetti straps for the times you aren’t in worship. Save the jeans and t-shirts for casual Sunday or kicking it with the boys. People are looking up to you. Yea, I get it; no one asked them to look up to you but no one asked you to marry a pastor either and now that you have, act like it. This also carries over to your social media accounts and where you hang out. You don’t have to change into someone you’re not but be mindful of the position you’re in. Ministry is hard enough, by itself, without the added stress of having to deal with the deacon board on why folk are complaining about your spouse’s dress code. Again, I am not saying you have to cover with dresses down to your ankle or a suit & tie every day, just be mindful of what you do wear. That’s all.

Daily Devotional – 8/29/16 “Get in your lane!”

This morning, on my way to work, I was behind a truck that was driving slower than the speed limit on the expressway. Now, you know how we get (maybe I’m the only one) but before I could even get upset, I looked up and realized that I needed to get over anyway. So, it didn’t matter how slow that particular truck was going, if I moved to the right lane I could go as fast as I needed because … get this, don’t miss it … there was no one in front of me! Ha! Come on God! See, many times we complain about not going anywhere fast enough, being stuck and not moving, not being promoted or elevated quick enough and many times we blame it on being behind somebody moving slower than we are, only to look up and realize we’re in the wrong lane. Think about it. We’ve heard the saying or the song that says you’re next in line for a miracle yet no matter how long you stay in line the miracle never shows up. Well, what this saying or song didn’t tell you is, you have to ensure you’re in the right line.

It’s like on last year when I had the privilege of having to visit 201 Poplar (courthouse) for a speeding ticket five miles over the limit. I’d never been there so I assumed the line I was standing in was the right one and man was it long. Long as in about a hundred people (in front of me) long. I stood there for a few minutes only to overhear somebody else mention this line was for the court division I didn’t need thus making me realize, I was in the wrong line. I was in Division 2 but my ticket was in Division 1 and had I stayed in the wrong line, I would have spent hours there only to get to the front to be told they couldn’t help me. However, when I moved to the right line, that only had about 20 people, made it to the front, my ticket was quickly dismissed. Understand this, my ticket would have been resolved either way but had I stayed in the wrong line, it would have taken me a lot longer than it should have to reach a resolution. And it’s the same for life. You may reach your purpose/destiny eventually but don’t prolong getting there by being in the wrong lane. Get in your right lane and then stay there. And while you’re there mind your lane and you’ll limit the possibility of crashing into someone else.

Daily Devotional – 8/26/16 “Broken but usable!”

Stop letting folk speak negative stuff over your life! Yes, your mom wasn’t perfect but you aren’t her. So what if you dad wasn’t present, you are not him. It doesn’t matter that your great grandma was a whoremonger, you are not her neither are you your granddaddy who was a rolling stone. Don’t you know our God specializes in remodeling? Yea! God can take an old filthy, beat up and broken vessel and remodel it into greatness. I’m a living witness. I just believe that God uses those of us who are the most broken because He’s knows we’ve already been through hell and if we could handle that, we can handle what’s to come. Think about it. A drunk usually never shut up so why not take him/her, clean them up and restore them with the anointing so that, now, they never shut up about God. An addict will do anything for his/her addiction of choice so why not take them, clean them up and restore them with the anointing so that now, they’ll do anything to get to their new addiction, Jesus! Why not remodel a whoremonger who used to lie with anybody, restore them with the anointing so that now they’ll lie at the feet of God on the behalf of others.

Oh, I am just spiritual enough to believe that God chooses folk who’ve been there and done it because He knows they’ll be here and do it. God will use you just to use your testimony. God will pimp you out but it’ll be for His glory. This is why you’ve been picked out. It’s not for you to be picked on but God has need of you and He trust you enough to do it. All you have to do is trust in Him to remodel you for the work. Please understand, the remodeling process hurts but it’s necessary. But look at it like this … You could be broken down during your remodeling phase yet you aren’t so tell folk, pardon my dust. You could be closed down for repairs during the process yet there’s work to be done so let them know to excuse the construction. Baby, God could have boarded you up yet you got up this morning and that’s because your contractor won’t leave His job undone nor will He run out of finances or time before it’s complete. All He needs you to do is trust that He knows His responsibility as foreman. God says, I am about to take you to some places your old self can’t go and this is why remodeling has to take place. He says, “Take your hand off child, I got this!”

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world.” – 1 Samuel 2:8

Daily Devotional – 8/25/16 “This journey’s soundtrack”

Do you enjoy music? Is there a song that ministers to your spirit when you’re down? Is there one that gets you pumped? Is there one that gives you encouragement when it feels like you’re about to throw it all in? Do you keep these songs in mind on those days you get in the car and you can’t stop the tears? I’m only asking in order for you to think about it. See, I’d never really thought about it until one day, one of my blog followers sent me this as a devotional idea and although it’s been in my notes for a while, the Holy Spirit released it into me, this morning. You have to understand, music is a ministry all by itself and this is why you have to be careful how you utilize the gifts God has given you. I mean, if you’re a singer and it’s one of those days you woke up being petty and messy, it’ll reflect when you grab the microphone. This is why as a choir member, minister of music or worship leader; you have to be prepared to minister every time you stand under the anointing of God because worship creates an atmosphere for God to dwell. Beloved, you can’t just sing any song neither can you play any ole thing. You have to be in tune with the move of the Holy Ghost throughout service and know exactly what needs to be played. You can’t open up worship service with just any song, the same way you cannot play ‘Put a praise on it’ by Tasha Cobbs at altar call but what you can play is ‘Pray for me’ by the Mighty Clouds of Joy. Music is a ministry inside and outside of church.

And you need to make sure you’ve made note of your soundtrack. For me, I love a mixture of songs so don’t be surprised by mine. See, when I wake up in worship, I sing an old Dr. Watts that grandma taught me. ‘I was glad this morning …’ (You real Saints know about that) and then it’s ‘Use me Lord’ by Minister Cedric & the King Sisters. When I take a look back over my life, I play ‘This Place’ by Tamela Mann and it quickly reminds me of where I am versus where I should be. Then I follow it up with ‘I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now,’ by Shirley Caesar. When I’m down, it’s ‘Motivation’ by TI. When it seems like the enemy is winning, ‘Safe in His Arms,’ by Avery Sunshine pricks my spirit offering a reminder of whose hands I’m in and then ‘Lose to win’ by Fantasia finishes. And when the enemy tries to make me think the storm is against me, I play ‘Necessary,’ by Dennis Reed & Gap. Chile, there are a lot of songs on my soundtrack, it just depends on the mood and where I am on this journey. What about you, what’s your soundtrack for this time in your life? I say this time because as you get further on your journey, the music has to change. This is why you need to keep your soundtrack updated and easily accessible. If you don’t have one, get one. You’ll understand later.