Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!

I don’t know who needs to hear this but getting up is going to be one of the hardest things you’ll have to do today. Somebody, once you get up you have to deal with the funeral arrangements, hurt and grief of losing a loved one. Somebody else, getting up means having to face the reality of the relationship ending. Somebody else, getting up means looking at the debt that didn’t disappear while you tossed and turned last night. Somebody else, it’s another day of sickness that won’t leave you alone. Somebody else, it’s the spiritual war you’ve been fighting or the call on your life you’ve tried to ignore. Somebody else, it’s this or that but you have to get up.

Yes, it hurts but getting up is necessary to your survival. You don’t have to believe me, but have you ever had to get up after surgery while pain coursed through your body? Do you remember how much it hurt while the doctor and/or nurses told you how essential it was to your healing? See, doctors need you to move, even while in pain to prevent blood clots, to reduce swelling, decrease gas pain and weakness and it’s good for your lungs.

Getting up is hard and it hurts, but walking promotes the flow of oxygen throughout your body, it sustains normal breathing function, it strengthens your muscle tone, and it reminds you that you’re alive. Being alive means there’s still a remnant of hope for you to hold onto. When Jesus met the man at the pool of Bethesda who couldn’t get himself into the water to be healed, He told Him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,” because although this man’s faith played a part, his healing came by getting up.

Why am I sharing this? For somebody who dreaded getting up today. Ma’am/sir, I don’t know what you have to face today, but I pray your strength to get up even if it causes pain to course through your body. Ma’am/sir, I don’t know what you’re trying to avoid but get up because it’s not going away on its own. Get up, it’s the only way you can deal with it. Ma’am/sir, get up even while it hurts because it’s necessary to your healing. And while you get up, I’m going to pray your faith doesn’t fail.

Ay … Issa New Book Alert

It’s been a minute since I’ve released a book and well, that’s over now because … Almost Destroyed is now available.

BUY HERE

What’s it about? Glad you asked.

Ava Gentry met Andre, thirteen years ago, when he was the officer who responded the night she was attacked. Years later, he’s still treating her like that scared and broken girl with no self-esteem in need of saving. Every chance he gets, he tries to destroy her with his words and actions leaving her feeling unworthy of love and respect.

The sad reality was it wasn’t the first time she’s felt this way. From being abused by her grandfather to even worse foster homes; suffering has almost destroyed her identity and ability to love herself.

But she’s had enough.

Finally standing up for herself, Andre throws her out, destroying her belongings while almost destroying her. On her own and starting over, she realizes the first thing she needs, besides a place to stay and a job is a relationship with God. Yet, things prove harder than she ever imagined, especially when trouble won’t let go, and neither will Andre.

In Almost Destroyed, follow Ava’s journey from heartache and brokenness to restoration and finding the strength to love herself again.

BUY HERE

Excerpt:

“Can we start over?” Andre asks.

“This conversation? Sure.”

“No, our relationship. Boo, I’ve made a lot of mistakes concerning you, especially the way I talked to and treated you. I took your presence for granted and now, if you’ll give me the chance, I will make things right. I’ll be a better man and well, here. I have something for you.” He smiles.

I place the napkin in my lap and take the envelope. Opening it, I shake my head.

“A $500 gift card?”

“I know it doesn’t cover everything I destroyed, but it’s a start and I promise to replace your computer too.”

“I’ve already replaced the computer but thank you.” I say putting the card in my purse.

“How? I thought you didn’t have money.”

“No, you assumed.”

We sit in silence as I finish the appetizer before pushing the plate away. “Andre, what’s my favorite color?”

His brows crease. “Um, white.”

“Green. What’s my middle name?”

“Janice, no Jackie.” He snaps his finger, excitedly.

“Justine. When is my birthday?”

“Why are you asking me all this?”

I pause while our food is put in front of us.

“Is there anything else you need?” Fred inquires.

We both nod, no.

“Enjoy.”

“Because you don’t know me. Andre, you don’t miss me. You miss what I do for you. The cooking, cleaning, paying bills and the sex. Any other time I’m fat, ugly, uneducated, sleeping my way to the top and nobody would ever want me. Today, I’m boo. Okay.” I laugh cutting into my steak. “Since we’re laying everything on the table, let’s be all the way real. You’ve never loved or hell, even liked me unless there was something in it for you. It didn’t matter how much I tried or gave it was never enough. Now, I’m supposed to accept the new you who magically appeared in three weeks when you’ve had thirteen years? No thank you. Pass the steak sauce.”

“You’re right. I didn’t put any effort into our relationship because, honestly, I didn’t believe I had too. Ava, you never required me to show you anything else.”

I chuckle. “So, it’s still my fault? If I was in the hospital, unable to tell the doctors and nurses how to care for me, does that give them the right to mistreat me? As an officer of the law, should a person you’ve pulled over have to tell you to treat them with respect?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why should I have to tell you how to treat me?” I say louder than I expected. “Andre, I get my part in this relationship, but you also have blame. Yet, even sitting here, your apology is voided by but. Ava, I’m sorry for calling you out of your name every chance I got, but you never did anything about it. Ava, I’m sorry for ruining your credit, twice, but you let me. Ava, I didn’t love you, but you never said I had too.”

“I’m sorry.” He whispers. “This isn’t going how I planned.”

“Because you expected the same Ava you threw out along with everything I owned. I’m not her. Yes, we both went into this relationship with our eyes closed and expectations low, yet even when I was changing, you were staying the same. My only regret, putting more into you than you were worth. Andre, I’m not the same and you need to recognize this.”

BUY HERE

Birthday Wishes

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 🎉🎈

Devotional Nugget

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

Don’t you dare go back!

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 ♥️