Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 2/1/16 “Are you ready?”

As a Saint of God, I won’t lie and tell you this journey is always easy because sometimes it can get overwhelming. I’m not just talking about me but I’m talking about all Saints of God. But being in ministry, for me, it’s even harder. Why? Well, because you have people looking up to and looking at you. For this reason, we have to be a good example but please understand this … we have flaws too. How do I know? Everybody has flaws. However, that’s not the basis of the devotional today. To be honest, I don’t have a specific topic in mind. And as I sit and pray for God’s guidance on a specific word for this devotional, for even bible study, sermons, encouraging words; etc., sometimes it doesn’t come until I begin writing. That’s when the Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf. Because it is then, God leads me to share with someone what they’ve been asking Him for. I know you may ask, “Why didn’t God tell me?” Maybe it’s because you aren’t listening. See, I’ve come to realize that God will send a word to you in any form, to get your attention. This is why if you ask of God, you have to be willing to receive of God. Oh but it may not be the answer you thought it would be. Yet, accept it.

I’ve been praying lately for guidance on a number of things and I’m waiting on God to respond. I don’t know when or how I’ll get the message but I’m waiting. What about you? What have you been praying for? Are you waiting? Well in your waiting, don’t rush God because you may not be ready to hear what it is He’s going to say. And don’t count God out because He moves in His time. What have you been asking for? You don’t have to tell me, it was simply a question to get you to think. Are you really ready for that? You ask God to open more doors, to enlarge your territory, to send you a spouse or maybe it’s for a promotion on your job; you ready? You can’t complain when you get what you’ve been asking for, when you asked. If you aren’t spiritually prepared to receive what you’ve been asking for in this natural space you’re in, stop asking. The same way you have to prepare for a test, an interview, a race, a workout, to write a book, to minister, to sing or perform; is the same way you have to be prepared to receive that which you’re asking for. Are you ready? Don’t take a long time to figure it out especially if you’ve already asked.

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” James 1:17-18

Daily Devotional – 1/29/16 “When?”

I am often reminded that time isn’t at the mercy of us. Yea; death, sickness, being misused by family and friends, being talked about and sold out can give you a quick dose of reality that time doesn’t wait on you. When I consistently see RIP attached to someone else name, it’s a sure reminder that death waits on no one. Time is swiftly passing by. So, tell me again what you’re waiting on to get yourself together. Y’all the bible says we have to be ready at all times for we don’t know the day nor the hour when our time is coming (Mark 13:32). This means we have to keep (not get) our house in order. Please understand, I am not perfect by any stretch of anyone’s imagination but I live today trying to be better than yesterday. I’ve told you before that I never could have dreamed I’d be in this place in my life. A place where people inbox me, not with mess but for encouragement; where people dial my number for prayer instead of gossip. A place I write a devotional blog that has new followers every day and in a place where I stand in the pulpit to preach God’s message as a way to pull His people up. I’m in a place where I’ve added published author to my resume and where folk remember my name and it’s not for something bad. I never thought I’d be here but I am and because of that I am living every day. I don’t want to get on my sick-bed and then have regrets about what I could have done. I don’t want to leave this world without helping all I can. I want to leave a legacy.

This is why we have to make the most of every opportunity, every chance, every second, every minute and every day. We are the only ones who can make the most of our happiness. Start today. I don’t know who this is for but baby you’ve got to let go of the hell you keep holding on too. You’ve got to step out of that comfortable place and trust in the faith you have. You’ve got to let go of folk who are hurting your chance of being greater. You’ve got to get up. The bible says in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” I don’t know what you are dealing with ma’am, sir but you’ve got to get to a place in your life where you’re happy. Not for anyone else but for you! Don’t wait until tomorrow because you aren’t promised to see it. Don’t wait until the children are grown to do you. Don’t stay at that church because it’s family and you don’t want to hurt nobody when clearly you’re hurting. Get to a place in your life where you say, “I never thought I’d be here” and it comes from joy and not jack up. God has invested in you, when will you invest in you?

Ms. Nice Nasty 2 – excerpt

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 35 of Ms. Nice Nasty 2.

What will it take for Cam to open her eyes and change her ways?

“Cam,

If you’re reading this, please forgive me. I know this is hard to wrap your head around but don’t hate me for choosing my way to leave this world, I just couldn’t take living anymore. I know you’re questioning why I didn’t tell you when I came to see you but you would have talked me out of it. Don’t blame yourself. I’ve always loved you and I know you love me, this is why I had to say goodbye in person one last time. Don’t cry for me because I am finally at peace. I know it seems crazy but I just couldn’t find the peace in living that I hope I can find in death. I prayed and I asked God to forgive me too and I believe He has.

I left a safe deposit box for you at my bank; you should get all the details in the mail in a day or so. It will have everything you need to take care of all of my affairs. Tell the girls I love them and don’t be mad. They may not understand it now but I pray one day each of you will see that I had to do this, for me.
This is not goodbye, it’s just goodnight for now. I love you always.

Love …

Will this do it? Find out and see what this letter mean by getting your copy of Ms. Nice Nasty 2 today.

As always,
–Happy Reading!
Lakisha

Daily Devotional – 1/28/16 “God’s review!”

On your job, you are usually given a review once a year. Based on that review it may determine the increase of your pay, the amount of your bonus or if you’re due for a promotion. This review reviews your progress and if you haven’t made any or you’ve become stagnant, then it may not come out as you would like. Yet, if you haven’t made progress then surely you can’t expect anything other than what you’ve received, right? I mean you certainly aren’t expecting a five (5) for great when you’ve been given one (1) type work, are you? Let’s be serious in this thang. Stop acting like folk owe you because you show up every day when that’s your job especially if you’re expecting to be paid. Well, on this spiritual journey; it’s the same. The reason most of us aren’t on the level we should be, by now, is because we’ve yet to pass our review. You do know that God promotes us based on our progress and not our personality, right? Yea, God promotes us based on our growth and not our gender. God promotes us based on our development and not our degrees. God promotes us based on how we’ve evolved and not our earnings. Beloved, God promotes us based on how we’ve changed and not by chance.

This is why you have to put in the work, ALL THE TIME! You can’t expect to get a year’s worth of bonuses when you’ve only shown progression one month out of that year. It doesn’t work like that. That’s like expecting a 40 hour check when you’ve only worked 4 hours. It doesn’t make sense. You cannot expect God to continually pour into you if you’ve yet to present yourself to Him to pour into. You can’t expect God to answer you if He’s never heard your voice. How can you honestly expect God to answer your prayers, if you never pray? That’s like waiting for a cab you never called. It’s not coming. Oh but you can get to where you need to be in order to get promoted. How? Well, you’ve got to put in the work. You’ve got to show up and work. You’ve got to participate in some stuff, you know be a team player. You’ve got to support those in charge. You’ve got to stop calling in sick (to church), you’ve got to stop making excuses and you’ve got to study. Just like the job offers on the job (OTJ) training, well God offers in my word (IMW) training. Yea, all you have to do is open up your bible and it will blow your mind! God has your promotion waiting but you have to be ready for it because He will never put you in a place to fail. Yes, it may get hard but keep pushing because the increase, the bonus and the benefits of God’s promotion is well worth it!

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24

Flash Sale Ms. Nice Nasty 2

Hey all you book lovers! For a limited time, Ms. Nice Nasty 2 is on sale for $0.99. That’s right $0.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited … All it takes is one click from you.

Click HERE to get your copy.

Download it, read it, review it and then tell somebody about it. The best publicity is word of mouth.

Thank you for being my support team! I cannot make it without you.

As always,
–Happy Reading
Lakisha