Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 6/3/16 “The way you left things!”

Are you okay with the way things were when you left the house this morning? Are you good with the way the conversation ended with your loved one? Are you fine with the way you left things with your pastor? Are you cool with the relationship with some family members/friends? Was the last conversation you had satisfactory with you? I’m only asking these questions because the way you leave things could possibly be the way you leave things. Are you good with it? See, you aren’t promised tomorrow and although you think you may have the time to get it right; you may just find you don’t. This is why I am asking you … are you alright with the way things were left? If you’re not, you need to fix it. Ephesians 4:26 says this, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” You should never go to bed angry with anyone because there’s a chance you or they may not wake up. Would you want to take that chance? Yes, I know you’ve done it; a lot and nothing has ever happened but think about the one time it does. Don’t you realize you can’t apologize to a dead person and they forgive you? Don’t you understand that once the blood in your body is cold, there is no going back?

This is why I am asking you the question, again … Are you good with the way things are? It doesn’t matter that folk have hurt you, forgive them. Not for them but for you. It shouldn’t matter that you haven’t spoken in years; send a letter, Facebook message, smoke signal or whatever and end the feud. The last thing you want is to be standing over the casket of a family member or friend crying, “I wish I had told you,” it won’t matter then. Yes, I get it; someone has done you grievously wrong and there is no way you can forgive them but you have too. Forgiveness releases you from the prison you’ve placed yourself in. I know because I’ve been there. For as long as I can remember I had a strong distaste for the man who laid down with my mom and conceived my sister and me. I couldn’t understand how he, living in the same city, could act like we didn’t exist although we have his last name. But then God happened and He told me it wasn’t my battle to fight so I forgave him. I sent him a message through Facebook and I let him know that I forgave him. It wasn’t for him because there is still no relationship but it was for me. I had to let it go because whether I wanted to admit it or not, it had me hostage and stagnant in a place I no longer wanted to be. In a sense, he controlled me and my emotions. Yet forgiving him released me. And whomever you are, you’ve got to forgive. You’ve got to fix it. You got to let it go. Not for them but for you. Aren’t you tired of being imprisoned? Are you tired of being locked up, spiritually? The bible says in Matthew 6:15, “But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Don’t lose any more time because you may not have any more to waste.

Daily Devotional – 6/2/16 “Labor to deliver!”

God will never allow you to go through pain without something manifesting from it. Oh, it may not look like it now, you might not be able to explain it in words and you’re at the end of your rope but I promise you this … God has His reasons. For God knows the plans He has for us. (Sound familiar?) Chile, you’re in the birthing process; go through it. Does it feel good? No but when has giving birth ever felt good? There’s a process that has to happen. Now, I know men aren’t really aware of the pain a woman’s body goes through during labor so let me give you the quick tutorial … IT HURTS! Let me tie this together for you. See, there’s three stages to labor and delivery. The first is dilation which means to enlarge or expand. This stage can last longer, if you’ve never been through the process. You have pain but it’s not bad and your water can even break. Yet, as you get to the transition phase, things start getting real. The pain is intensifying, you may be crying and with so much going on, you don’t know what way to go. You’re in labor. The second stage is pushing and birth. If you thought it was real before, baby just wait!

You’re fully dilated and you’re praying for it to be over. You have this feeling to push but it’s not time yet. You just want it over but ‘they’ keep saying, not yet. You’re hurting, in pain, crying and you want to give up but now is not the time. Then you hear the words PUSH and you do. It hurts like hell and you want to stop but you’ve come too far now, PUSH! Everything is hurting, your head is pounding but PUSH! For after the final push, the pain subsides because you’ve now given birth. You breathe as you go into the final stage, delivering the after birth. Some don’t even pay attention to this but spiritually it simply means you’ve just delivered by way of the blood! Now, you realize the pain was preparing you to receive that which you’ve asked for, your territory had to enlarge (dilate) in order to receive it, you had to birth it by way of the pain and then you had to push! Now, you’ve delivered which ought to make it worth it. Just to look upon the face of your blessing, ought to be worth it. So beloved, whatever pain you’re dealing with; God has a purpose. You just have to be willing to go through it. Isaiah 66:9 says, “Would I ever bring this nation to the point of birth and then not deliver it?” asks the LORD. “No! I would never keep this nation from being born,” says your God.”

Daily Devotional – 6/1/16 “FOBO Syndrome!”

With a new month upon us, it’s only right that I ask this question … “What are you doing?” What are you doing with your spirituality, yourself, your family, your job and your talents? We’re six months in now, anything changed? Have you seen some improvement from January or are you still waiting? Or could it possibly be, you’re fearful? I’m only asking because we will allow fear to run us. I’ve been hearing this commercial (a lot lately) from HH Gregg that says the lady wanted to buy new appliances but she had FOBO, which stands for Fear of Better Options. And of course, this piqued my interest because a lot of us are walking around with this same syndrome. Yea, we suffer from FOBO because we are scared that we might actually get something better. Think about it. You won’t let that no good man or woman go because you’ve become comfortable in the situation of not really having to tap into who you really are and you’re afraid you might just find someone who’ll treat you like you’re supposed to be treated. You’re still holding on at that place of worship because you are afraid that you may go somewhere else and find what you’ve been needing spiritually. You’re staying at that job because you’re afraid you may just get the career that actually utilizes your skills. You’re afraid of going to another doctor because he or she may just be better than the one you’ve been seeing for the last 15 years. Yes, you have the FOBO syndrome. You are afraid of better options.

It’s like this. The washing machine you’ve had for 22 years breaks down. You go into the appliance store and have the option to get the same model you’ve had or an upgrade for the same price. Now, you’re actually standing there trying to decide. Why? Because you’re used to the old model, you know how it works and you’re fearful of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new. You’re not looking at the fact they don’t even make parts for the old one anymore, you want what you’re comfortable with. You are fearful of something better. Why tho? Don’t you believe you are worthy and deserve better? Then why are you afraid of better? I don’t know about you but I serve a God who says if I ask in faith, I shall receive that which I ask for. So, every day I seek better because I know I deserve better. And so do you. Why do you think cars, electronics, houses and etc. are upgraded constantly? It’s because things change. Of course, not all changes are good but the majority are and we shouldn’t be fearful of them. This is why we seek knowledge, to become better. The bible says in Joshua 1:9, “This is my command–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” God gives us the strength to overcome fear, we have to tap into it. Stop allowing your ideas, your vision, your work, your talents to be swept aside all because you are fearful of something better. There’s a remedy for this syndrome, it’s God!

Daily Devotional – 5/26/16 “Thank you!”

Thank you! Yes, you … thank you. Thank you for choosing to read my devotionals, thank you for looking to me for a word of encouragement and thank you for believing in me. See, I’ve realized, sometimes you just need to tell folk thank you. Don’t wait until they do something for you, show them you’re thankful simply because they are there. A lot of times, we get in our feelings saying things like no one cares about me, they just take me for granted when in reality; all they need to hear is thank you. It goes a long way. It lets them know you’re appreciative of them. It lets them know, I may not be able to show my gratitude by way of monetary value but I want you to know that I am thankful for all you do. And whether you know it or not, genuine thanks is worth more than money; there is no value. This is why I said thank you. It’s because I need you to know that I appreciate each and every one of you. Yes, I could write devotionals without you but what good is that if no one reads them but me? I need you. This is why I had to let you know that I am grateful for you.

Saying thank you, I appreciate you, your hard work isn’t going unnoticed, I’m proud of you, you can do it, don’t give up or I believe in you means more to a person than buying them flowers that will soon die. Let me show you what I mean. There’s an older lady, at the church I grew up in who used to give my sister and I a dollar on our birthday every year, she never forgot. I haven’t been a member there in over six years but I still visit. This year on our birthday, she called. She called to let me know she was proud of me and the things that I’d done and do. I let her know that I am the woman I am today partly because of being raised there by women like her. She had me in tears. It wasn’t about the dollar that I’d normally receive but it was the genuine love she has for me. Her call, her words, her love meant more to me than anything. These are the type of people you ought to have in your corner. Those who will call you out the blue and say I love you, I see you working, I’m proud of you and etc. Saying thank you even to someone who should say it to you throws them off. Saying thank you to your spouse, your family and friends; it helps. Saying thank you to God, lets Him know His sacrifice doesn’t go unnoticed. Try it and I can bet you, it’ll go farther than you’d ever expect. Thank you!

Full Series – Ms. Nice Nasty

Ms. Nice Nasty is the one series that you should definitely read! Yep! Please note, I am not saying this because I wrote it (maybe I am) but I am saying this because it is a great series.

Download, read it and see for yourself. Then once you are hooked on Cam, leave a review and share it with all your reading friends and family. I’d really appreciate it.

Here are the books within this series:

Ms. Nice Nasty

Camille Holden-Shannon has always been who she says she is, a woman who can command a courtroom and bedroom without opening her mouth! She’s sexy, confident and not afraid; her credentials speak for themselves. She loves her family and her career but she cannot deny the fact that she loves sex and lots of it. She doesn’t break up homes; she simply gets what she needs and she’s gone!

Her career suddenly takes a turn in the right direction and she is thrown into the public’s eye and all hell breaks loose! A secret adds more fuel to the fire already burning inside her chaotic home and to make matters worse she finds herself being tormented by a ghost from her past! Can she hold it all together or will she break under the pressure? Will Ms. Nice Nasty hang up her stilettos or can she come out on top like she’s known to do.

You can download it for $1.99 by clicking HERE

Ms. Nice Nasty: Cam’s Confession

When you allow your past hurt to push you into present sin, it may not work out so well!

For Camille, she proudly proclaims to be “unapologetic” about the way she lives her life but when her actions start affecting everything she knows, she has to make a choice between being ‘nice’ or ‘nasty’.

In Cam’s Confession, Camille finally takes therapy serious. She slowly opens the box of her past as she deals with the hurt that made her a woman scorned. Dr. Scott hopes with her finally releasing this demon, she can now move on with her life. But can she?

She thought revenge was what she needed but it only made matters worse. She thought sex would do it but it only made her worse. Now what?

With her life, marriage and career barreling out of control; will she be able to stop the train before it wrecks?

Find out in this 11,000 words special edition of Ms. Nice Nasty. Also, get a sneak peek into the first two unedited chapters of Ms. Nice Nasty 2.

You can download it for FREE by clicking HERE

Ms. Nice Nasty 2

All of her past skeletons come tumbling out at the same damn time!

Just when Camille thinks she has the chaos of her life under control, the clouds break and she has a hard time controlling the storm. Her already shaky marriage is crumbling before her eyes, add to it her husband’s pregnant side chick and all the skeletons in her closet; she may be in over her head!

Now, she’s standing face to face with Karma and it’s the last person she’d ever expect it to be. The same person, who has been tormenting her the last six months, is now threatening to ruin everything she has worked so hard for.

She should have listened when her mom told her, “your actions have consequences” because now she’s finding out the hard way. Will she back down under the pressure of being exposed or will she lay all of her cards on the table? What will it take for her to open her eyes?

Maybe she should have listened to her therapist or maybe it’ll take the possibility of losing her career, a near death experience of someone she loves or the unexpected death of a loved one, to open her eyes. Or is it simply too late?

Has her actions left her with more than she can conquer or can she survive with her mind, marriage and career intact? Find out in the series finale of Ms. Nice Nasty!

You can download your copy for (a limited time) for $0.99 by clicking HERE

I hope once you’ve downloaded, read and reviewed that you liked it enough to share with others. If you have a book club, reading group or social club that would like to feature any of these novels, please contact me at authorlakisha@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

As always,
–Happy Reading!
Lakisha