Lakisha, the Author

Books and BBQ Festival – June 6, 2015 (Memphis, TN)

Hey! I know it’s been a minute since I’ve updated but I wanted to invite all of you to an event I will be a part of on tomorrow; Saturday, June 6, 2015. The event is called Books and BBQ and it’s being held at the Agricenter, located at 7777 Walnut Grove Rd. The admission is $3 for persons over 12 and free for anyone under 12.

This is going to be an exciting even and I am even more excited. I hope that each of you who are able, will stop by and see me, buy a book or two, snap a few pictures and eat some BBQ!

Visit their website for more information at www.booksandbbq.com

Daily Devotional – 6/5/15 “Trust God’s plan!”

I am a stern believer in faith and I also believe that if you do right by people that right will be done to you. I’m sticking to that belief. Even after having obstacles placed in my path, I still know there isn’t a man alive that can stop what God has for me. They can try but they cannot succeed and someone reading this post, at this very moment, needs to be reminded of that. Man cannot stop what it meant for you; stop giving them the power to think they can. Stop frowning in the midst of adversity, smile instead and show them you are not defeated. Stop getting angry when you think you’ve been overlooked, it just wasn’t your time. Stop giving up when doors keep closing, God may have stairs He wants you to take instead and you do know they take time to get you to your next level, don’t you. Enjoy the walk up. Stop fussing about the fact that others around you are getting blessed; rejoice with them because your time will come. You know this scripture but I’ll share it again just to remind you that no matter what it looks like – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).” Yea, you’re facing trouble but “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” Yea, man said you couldn’t but “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans (Proverbs 16:3).” Yea, it may not look like it’s working in your favor now but – “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).” Oh, it doesn’t matter what “they” try because “those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30).”

You are right where you are supposed to be! Stop rushing the process and trust God’s plan! Stop worrying about the image man sees, trust God’s instruction! You might not be moving fast enough for your schedule but you’re right on time for God’s.

Daily Devotional – 6/4/15 “Today’s Epidemic: A dying church!”

Isn’t it funny that you can post mess on social media and it’ll go viral but post something encouraging and it’ll get lost, overlooked or it’ll be too long for someone to read? Do you find it interesting that spell check will let you know that you didn’t capitalize the f on Facebook but not the G on God? Is it peculiar to anyone else how folk have more respect for the boss at their job than the man of God? Is it strange to anyone else that folk won’t pay you any mind when you’re reading a book with a half-naked woman or man on the cover but they’ll think you’re crazy when you walk around with a bible? Is it just me? I mean, folk will say you are a Jesus freak when you go to Sunday school, worship service and bible study all in the same week but they won’t bat an eye when you’re turning up at Two for Tuesday, Wild-out Wednesday and Thirsty Thursdays back to back. Something is wrong! When folk find it so easy to disrespect the man or woman of God who has been put into place to lead, something is wrong. When folk now attend church to find out other folk’s business, something is wrong. When worship has become so organized that even the Holy Spirit has to be invited in, something is wrong. When the cemeteries are being filled with our children, something is wrong. When folk can leave church and not remember the message but they can remember the mess, something is wrong. When Christians have the audacity to fight against the Pastor but not fight for him/her, something is wrong.

There’s an epidemic going on and it’s called A DYING CHURCH! I don’t mean the building, I mean the people. We are the church; the church began with us, people, not in a building. We are dying and it’s sad when the cure is within arm’s reach – God! We’ve gotten away from praying for one another but we’ll prey on each other. We don’t help but we will surely hinder. We won’t support but we’ll try to sabotage. We don’t aid but we shoal will aggravate! Isn’t that sad? Folk in the church are in trouble and in need yet they are afraid to come to the church for help out of fear of being talked about. They are too afraid to lean over in church out of fear of not having someone there to catch them. Folk don’t even shout anymore because too many folk are laughing when they should be joining in. You are wondering why you’re still in the shape you’re in, check your praise report! Don’t you know that some things can be loosened with our praise? Those things that have us bound, that hurt, that anger, that depression; baby try shouting it out and see if you don’t feel differently afterwards. This epidemic is rising but there is a cure, all we have to do is get back to being about our Father’s business. For 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We are in need of healing!

Daily Devotional – 6/3/15 “Vows!”

I was studying my bible study lesson for today and we are currently in the book of Numbers (on our walk through the bible) and in Numbers 30, the Lord gave a Law to the Israelite people concerning them making vows to Him. This piqued my interest because as children of God we are always making promises to Him that we know we can’t or will not keep. I’m just so grateful that God’s anger doesn’t strike us down in our mess like He could! In Numbers 30:1-2, Moses said to the leaders of the tribes of Israel; “This is what the Lord has commanded: A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.” Please understand; a vow is a pledge, a promise or an oath that we make with our mouth. You know how we say, “God, I promise I won’t drink like this again,” or “God, I promise if you allow me to get this car I’ll go to church more,” or “Lord, if you heal my body I’ll serve you,” or “Lord, if you send me a spouse I’ll do right by them,” or “Lord if you give me Sundays off I’ll go to church or Mondays off, I’ll go to bible study” or “If you allow me to see one more birthday, I’ll give up this or that,” “God, I promise I won’t hit my wife anymore,” “God, if you get me out of this, I promise I won’t come back here again,” yet we never hold to our end of the vow. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t strike us dead in our sins?

Yea, I know we make mistakes; we are entitled to a few because God knows we aren’t perfect but stop making vows you know you can’t keep. That’s like constantly saying you’re sorry when you know you don’t mean it. That’s like asking forgiveness for a lie. That’s like taking the blame for a mistake you have every intention of making again. It just doesn’t make logical sense. If you aren’t husband or wife material; don’t make a vow to become a husband or a wife. If you aren’t of leadership quality, don’t make a vow to become a leader. If you don’t have what it takes to be momma or daddy; don’t lie down and make a vow to become one to one or three. If you know you can’t be trusted to pay your bills, don’t make a vow with these folks to get their stuff. If you know you aren’t ready to be who God has destined you to be, stop making a vow to Him because He is holding you accountable and He comes to repossess what belongs to Him. Don’t you know that God will show up to snatch what is His? When you think all hell is breaking loose, that will be God reclaiming His stuff. You did make a vow, after all. And His stuff is you. Chile, God will lie you on your back to get you to see Him. This is why I tell folk, you have to be careful about this spiritual thang because it’s serious. Yea, we will make mistakes but that’s why we have repentance. God didn’t say we had to stop living, He simply says do all things decently and in order. All I am trying to get you to understand is this – don’t make a vow if you don’t have intentions on keeping it because they are easy to make and hard to pay for. Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 says, “When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.”

Daily Devotional – 6/2/15 “Hurting to heal!”

I am not at my computer today but I had to share this with somebody who needed to know this.

Whatever you’re dealing with, at this moment, it maybe painful as crap; it might be hurting you beyond words, it may even have you crying, pacing or wanting to give up but know this … you sometimes have to have bones broken to allow them to properly heal – it hurts! You have to sometimes go through surgery to properly heal what’s ailing you – it hurts! You have to sometime go through heartache to find love – it hurts! You may have to be laid off a few times to find your career – it hurts! You may have to lose some folk through your process of renewing – it hurts!

Oh but after the hurt comes healing! ..After the hurt comes healing! …After the hurt comes healing! Please note – Your healing times may vary depending upon your hurt but don’t rush the process because then you could have a setback! Trust God through your process, He will never let you down! (Oh Jesus!)