Daily Devotional – 8/5/15 “Don’t you give up!”

Somebody woke up singing …

I don’t know why Lord, I have to cry sometimes.
I don’t know why Lord, I have to sigh sometimes,
but I know there will be a perfect day,
when trouble gets out of my way;
I don’t know why but I’ll find out by and by.

Yea, somebody woke up crying with the same worries they laid down with on last night. Someone woke up sighing with the same pain from yesterday. Somebody is worried because they can’t afford to get their kid’s any school uniforms or supplies. Somebody is concerned about their son or daughter who is seemingly headed down the wrong road. Somebody is struggling in their spirituality and don’t want to say anything out of fear of being laughed at. Somebody is struggling in their body with a silent disease and scared of getting help out of fear of being judged. There’s a young man who is on the verge of suicide because of his sexual orientation. There’s a young woman suffering right now at the hands of someone who is supposed to protect her. There is a mother sitting somewhere after putting in yet another application, waiting on a phone call. There is a father out there who is feeling ashamed because he can’t seem to take care of his family like he should. There is a pastor who is feeling overwhelmed at the way his ministry is going. There is a family, at this very moment, being rocked by death. There is somebody being laid off, somebody being given terrible news by the doctor, somebody going through chemo or dialysis, someone saying goodbye to a loved one for a final time and they haven’t spoken in months …

Oh but there’s going to be a perfect day when trouble will have to get out of your way but until that time; stay in God and don’t you give up! Instead get up! Yea, I get the fact that you may be tired of hearing all of the prepared words of encouragement so baby; I won’t even tell you any. Instead; cry if you must, scream if it helps, break a dish if it takes away some of your frustration but don’t give up. As long as you’re in the fight, you have a chance of winning; you lose when you stop fighting. You are defeated when you lie down and give up and you become a victim when you allow yourself to be labeled as one. Chile, can’t anything that you’re up against prosper unless God says so. For the bible says in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Yes, things will happen (those are the weapons formed) yet they won’t prosper. All you have to do is get up and refill your cup with your dontgiveupaide! It’s good and it comes in whatever flavor you want. Try it!

Daily Devotional – 8/4/15 “What are you doing now?”

It’s another month, another month closer to the end of the year … what are you doing? Are you still in the same shape you were in last year? Is it worse? What are you doing? Have you started on any of the goals you set at the beginning of the year? Have you made any steps toward the vision you wrote? Have you gotten up to do anything differently other than change your clothes? Have you worked on that mouth of yours that stay on folk? Have you worked on your attitude that is always rude? Have you worked out your schedule to pencil Jesus in? I’m only asking a simple question, what are you doing now?

You cannot continue to blame folk, society, momma nem, the folk on the job, the man for holding you back, your baby daddy or baby momma or even your fear because at some point; you’ve got to get up and do something. You cannot continue to wallow in self-pity, it isn’t working anymore. You cannot continue to play the woe is me song, it’s played out. Aren’t you tired of being in that pit, it has to be dark? Aren’t you tired of crying, your eyes have to be tired? Aren’t you ready for a change? You have the opportunity to do something differently because you’ve been given a fresh anointing of today. And if you didn’t know this, let me tell you … You may not get tomorrow. You can do whatever you want, stop letting fear stop you! You can be whomever you decide, stop letting the enemy talk you out of your purpose and destiny. I put this on the new postcards I created and it just happens to fit here, “Don’t ever allow the ink to dry up in your pen!” You have a story to write, do it!

Daily Devotional – 8/3/15 “The enemy’s open position”

The devil will use you as long as you’re usable and as soon as you’ve done that which he has endorsed you for; he’ll cast you aside. Yea, the enemy makes your living good, while you’re on his payroll but soon your assignment will end and then you’ll be right back in a jacked up situation trying to figure out how you ended up there. Aren’t you tired of playing both sides, yet? Are you not tired of being used, yet? Chile, the enemy doesn’t care whether you survive in this thang because all he cares about is getting the job done. It’s like working at a temporary service. They send you out to these temporary jobs and they really aren’t concerned whether or not you have benefits, they just need workers. They really don’t care if this is your area of expertise because they’ll train you to do what they need at the time, they just need workers. They really aren’t concerned with much because as soon as you stop doing what they ask, miss a day, be late or better yet; finish the assignment, your job is done. And now, here you are back at the drawing board looking for another job.

The enemy is the same. He’s conniving and doesn’t give a darn about you or your feelings; he just needs workers. Yea, he’ll pay you and he’ll even give you a few rewards but when you’re done; he’ll cast you aside. Then you’ll be back in your pit, crying out to God for help when you should have cut ties with the enemy to begin with. God keeps saying, I’m here but you’re still crying. And then He’ll ask the question like Jesus did in John 8:43, “Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!” He’ll say like John 8:44, “For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Is this you? Is this your character? No, then why consistently be used by the enemy? You do understand his retirement plan, don’t you? (I’ve heard it’s hot). But when you get tired, you’ll give your resignation letter and God will be waiting for He forgives and forgets (when you repent) but you have to get up and make the first move!

**Cover Reveal – Ms. Nice Nasty, Cam’s Confession

11791849_861706553917678_840585635_nCamille Holden-Shannon has always known who she was, well that was until she faced the ultimate betrayal at the hands of someone she thought she knew. It forced her to hide the person she was and become a force to be reckoned with. She created the facade of Cam to mask her pain and now it’s become first nature. Yes, in the courtroom, Camille commands the attention but in the bedroom; it’s Cam that is laying down the law!

You got to know Cam in A Secret Worth Keeping and even better in Ms. Nice Nasty but in this special edition of Ms. Nice Nasty, Cam’s Confession; Camille finally breaks her silence and lets you in on how Cam came to be. Is she ready to let Cam go in order to save her marriage and possibly her career? Will therapy finally give her the breakthrough she needs to let the secret life go? Or will Cam still be in denial about it all? Find out in this 11,000 word addition of Ms. Nice Nasty.  Also, get a sneak peek into Ms. Nice Nasty 2 with a look into the first two unedited chapters.

– Coming in September!

Daily Devotional – 7/30/15 – A prayer for the need of God!


Our Father in Heaven, Holy is thy name; may your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Father, as I come petitioning your throne, I first thank you for another day you’ve allowed your children to see, thank you for another opportunity to experience your anointing and thank you Father for another chance to witness your grace. Now, oh God, I lay out in the spiritual before your throne, pleading for my Christian brothers and sisters. I stretch out my hands before you Father, praying on behalf of those who can’t seem to find the words to pray for themselves. For the parent who is standing vigil by her child’s hospital bed, for the parent who is looking at the balance in their checking account trying to figure out how to make it until next week with no groceries or gas, for the parent who is trying to see how to purchase school uniforms and supplies, for the parent who is still trying to pay last month’s rent, for the parent who is still without their medicine and for the parent who doesn’t have air yet is still trying to put on a brave face; God, I come before you on their behalf crying out to you to see about them! For the parent who has to bury another child, for the person who has to bury another family member, for the person who lost their job and is now on the verge of being homeless, for the person who is on the way back to the doctor for test results, for the person who needs a job and keeps getting turned down; help them now Father! For the person who is dealing with a demon on the inside of them that they can’t seem to let go of, for that person who is secretly battling an addiction, for the person who is abusive at home to their spouse and children, for the person who won’t let go of anger and bitterness; help them Father and forgive them in the pardon of their sins. Lord, we need you here. We need your help to stop the senseless killings that are going on in our streets. We need you to shut the hands of those who seek to do violence. Shut up the mouths of those who speak evil. We need you! Oh God! I come praying to you, standing in the gap; crying out for you to come and see about your people! Do it now Father for your children.

Amen!