It's not just writing, it's ministry
On May 2nd, my twin sister Laquisha and I have plans, with God’s promise, to take Chapter#45 by storm and we’d love for you to celebrate with us.
How? Glad you asked. By sending us a card or whatsoever you’d like. Our goal is 45 cards and we’ll share each and every one!
You can mail them to us at 1519 Union Ave #130 Memphis, TN 38104!
Simple right? I know! Help us make this one #BIG 🎉🎈
I shared this yesterday, but somebody needed this reminder today.
Don’t panic!!
Sometimes you can leave familiar only to feel as though you’re lost or wandering. You can step out of faith, only to feel like you’ve stepped in quicksand. You can leave all you know behind and it’ll feel like the worst mistake you made. Change jobs and find yourself struggling worse than before or simply feeling as though you’ve failed.
God told me to tell you, don’t panic … ask for help.
I don’t know who this is for, but what you’re going through at this very moment isn’t for you to panic. Yes, you made the move or decision and now you’re feeling like you made a mistake, you’re lost, wandering and unsure of what to do … don’t panic, ask for help.
Maybe you’re embarrassed by how things worked out, don’t panic. Ask for help. The enemy is making you feel like the biggest fool, don’t panic. See, it’s the enemy’s job to make you question what you heard God say. It’s the enemy’s goal to make you oppose what you know God promised.
The enemy, the devil, your doubt, your circumstance and storm will NOT have the final say. All you have to do is stay calm, especially in the face of struggle, turmoil, chaos and confusion. People talking about you, don’t panic. Being lied on, don’t panic. Cutoff, eviction, repossession date drawing near, don’t panic.
Instead … Stay calm, don’t panic, and ask for help.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
I’m a little late, but I thought I’d share this again. DON’T YOU DARE GO BACK!
Here it is, Valentine’s Eve. The stores are filled with baskets, teddy bears, candy-shaped hearts, balloons, chocolates, and cards of love. Flower shops and jewelry stores are overflowing. Restaurants have double stocked for the crowds. Yet, the sad reality is, some of you haven’t felt loved in a long time. It’s not that you haven’t tried, but you find yourself on the receiving end of hurt. You’ve fasted and prayed, yet still feeling fatigued and passed over. You’ve tried the relationship thing, sometimes giving the same person chance after chance and in return, nothing.
Right now, you’re probably looking at a text or inbox from somebody in your past and you’re contemplating answering because you’re longing for love. Sis, before you make a rash decision to accept the gift, respond to the “Happy Valentine’s Day. You know I’ve never stopped loving you,” or the “hey big head,” text or reopen the door to your past; stop and think. Before you get under the influence of sex, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, lust, and/or plain stupidity and do something you might regret; stop and think.
How did they handle you, the last time? If it left you with unhappy tears, anger, depression, and acting out. If you had to detox, repair, and start over. If you had to pray for God to sever the tie … don’t you dare go back.
You owe YOU more than that.
Oh yeah, Happy Almost Valentine’s Day ♥️
I’d initially shared this on my #DearSis blog, but I believe someone else needs this too. Maybe it’s you, the person who’s struggling to survive this journey called life. Maybe it’s you, the person who found it hard to get out of bed, just this morning. Maybe it’s you, the mother who’s praying for a child to live. Maybe it’s you, the father who’s fighting mental illness/depression and afraid to say it.
Maybe it’s you, pastor, who’s on the verge of walking away from the calling that’s been attached to you since birth. Maybe it’s you, educated person, who’s can’t make sense of what’s happening in your life. Maybe it’s you …
BREATHE.
Breathe because somebody needs you.
Breathe because you deserve to live.
Breathe because you will survive this.
Breathe because it won’t always be like this.
Sure, it’s easy for me to say when I’m not walking in your shoes, but if I can be honest with you. There were times I didn’t think life would ever get easier. I thought I’d be suffering, broken, and barely making it all the days of my life.
Then one day, I took a breath and allowed my vision to clear. It was then I realized, my suffering was due to me. So, I took another breath and decided to live a better version of my life.
It changed my life.
Today, breathe. Whatever you’re facing, breathe through it because where there is breath, there’s life and where life is, there’s hope.
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.” — 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 NLT
We’re in a season of fasting and praying. Some of you may have already begun or about too but fasting isn’t to be played with. Fasting is real and when used properly, it has the power to shift your life. Therefore, fasting isn’t done to be with the crowd, for quick weight loss, to appear holy or for show. Fasting is a vow between you and your God. It’s abstaining from food and drinks, (not social media-that’s consecration) replacing them with Bible study, praying and worship. It’s not a time for gossiping, anger, bitterness, and negativity. Fasting is a spiritual and physical detox of body, mind, and spirit. Fasting is seeking God for something you can’t do on your own. You fast for spirituality, strength, instruction, guidance and clarity with prayer, pure intentions, a clean heart, and hands.
Fasting is when your prayers should be strong, increased, more reflective and thoughtful. This isn’t a time for quick, soft, begging prayers because when you fast, the enemy’s attacks become more intense due to a void. Where there’s emptiness, the enemy sees an invitation and the more you fast, the more it’ll feel like things are working against you. Attacks will come out of nowhere, arguments with family and friends will pop up, messy coworkers will try to get you to gossip, supervisor acting silly, children out of order and etc. Don’t fall for it. Also, if you happen to mess up while fasting, don’t let the guilt trick you into giving up. You aren’t cursed, you simply broke a vow you made. Ask for forgiveness, get back on track and keep going. And please, don’t ever think you losing something during your fast is because you didn’t fast correctly. This is a ploy by the enemy.
We don’t fast for physical things. We fast for power to destroy chains/yokes, to cast out demons, to do the will of God, to hear God, to heal, to save, to lead, to teach, to pray, etc. Bible says in Isaiah 58:6, “No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people.”
We don’t fast to play. We fast to slay every stronghold.
We don’t fast for fun. We fast for our future.
We don’t fast for weight loss. We fast to lose the weight of every unhealthy attachment.
We don’t fast for show. We fast for spiritual wisdom.
We don’t fast for rewards. We fast for reconciliation with God.
We don’t fast for nothing. We fast for everything God said we can have.
If you’re going to fast, fast properly and get exactly what you need from God.
Lakisha, the Author