Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 6/24/14 “Deny some folk!”

If you have to worry about the folks you’ve surrounded yourself with, they aren’t worth being around. If you have to worry about your business getting back to the beauty/barber shop on Saturday, you may need to change your atmosphere. Yea, if you have to be someone other than yourself, you may need to change the place you’re in. And if you’re wondering why God won’t use you then you need to read Luke 14:26 that says “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple.” In order to work for God, you’ve got to first let go of self and then let go of man. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked. When you hold on to self, you’ll start second guessing what God said. When you hold on to man, they’ll have you changing the place God said go to. When you hold on to self, you’ll start pulling away from God. When you hold on to man they’ll make the world look better than worship. When you hold on to self, you’ll make yourself think that sin ain’t all that bad and when you hold on to man they’ll even make you feel good while you’re in that same sin. All I’m saying, you need to let go of self and some folk. Why? Well, thanks for asking. See, you keep allowing “them” to cause you to stumble on your journey but they won’t be the one to blame when the judgment comes, you will. Just because “they” smoke or drink, it doesn’t mean you have too. They sleep in on Sunday and miss worship, manage mess on Monday and miss Bible Study, wild out on Wednesday and miss prayer meeting, drink on two for one Thursday and skip choir rehearsal and now they’ve dragged you right along with them because you’ve yet to let them go. You don’t want to hurt folk feelings but you’ve yet to consider God’s. You don’t want to tell folk no but you are quick to tell it to God. You don’t hesitate to go when they come calling yet you question why when God does. Baby, when will you let go and let God? When will you lead and stop following? When will you stop conforming to their standards?

Don’t you know that you have to be willing to let go of yourself to get that which you’ve been yearning for, deny some folk to declare deliverance, block some things and folk to get your breakthrough, reject some requests in order to receive your restoration, throw away some things to realize your talents, release those that are ruining your righteousness and toss those things that are hindering you from transforming your tribulation into a testimony? Yea, you may want to look at denying some calls, deleting some text messages and discarding some phone numbers in order to get the blessing you’ve been waiting on. Yea, you may want to look at denying some friend requests, deleting some pictures and discarding some old memories in order to get the discipleship God has waiting for you. For Luke 14:33 says, “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.”

Daily Devotional – 6/23/14 “We are losing them!”

We are losing our children and it has got to stop! There is a commercial on the radio that says, the biggest influence our children have is us (parents) yet most times we don’t stop to realize that. No, I am not saying that we are responsible for all of the bad stuff they get into but I am saying that we are an influence. We are losing our children y’all! We are burying them and the sad part about it is; most of them don’t have a church home because most of the parents don’t. And even if the parent(s) are involved in church, you get up and leave the children at home on Sunday because you’ve given them a choice on when to serve God. These young boys and girls are trying to handle relationships when a relationship, some time, is even too hard for an adult to handle. Then you add on peer pressure, drugs, gangs, money and violence! Why has it become an epidemic of parents burying children or visiting them in jail? Why has it become common for young men to pose with guns, money and drugs or for young girls with their skirts up to their butts, tongue hanging out or doing stuff they shouldn’t be doing? Why is it cool for teenagers to become parents? Why are we losing our children? They are dropping out of school, drinking, throwing gang signs, sagging their pants, wearing their dresses shorter and being disrespectful and we, as parents, aren’t saying a thing about because we don’t want to hurt their feelings. You’d rather pay someone to cut your grass when you have teenagers in the house or buy something to eat rather than teach your daughter. When I was growing up, in the summer time we got up when my granddaddy’s feet hit the floor because he had things for us to do and once they were done we could play. We didn’t sit in the house all day because grandma would put you out. Oh, but now it’s too hot for the children to play outside. Chile please! Vacation bible school is empty yet the clubs are overcrowded with kids! They play on their phone all during worship service because we, parents, are too busy playing on ours to say something. We don’t take them to bible study anymore because we aren’t going. We definitely don’t read the bible at home because it’s staying in the car (if we even have one). Lord, help us because we are losing our children! We’ve got to take our children back!

“Father, I come petitioning your throne this morning on behalf of our children. God, right now I am praying that you guide their minds because we are losing them at a rapid rate. God, I ask you to destroy the chains of suicidal thoughts, gangs, drugs, violence, unprotected sex, STDs, rape, molestations, bullying and peer pressure and cast them back into the pits of hell. Bind the attacks satan has sent out to destroy our children. God, I need you to protect their feeble minds and surround them with a hedge of your protection. Cast out any demonic, evil spirit who has attached themselves to our children and remove the enemies who have surrounded them looking like friends and destroy the choke hold that social media has placed around their necks. Oh God I need you to heal those children who are fighting sickness and diseases. God I need you to replace depression with your deliverance, gangs with your grace, violence with your voice, hurt with your Holy Spirit, suicidal thoughts with your sanctification and anger with your anointing. For the child fighting with their sexuality or being abused and hurt by someone who is supposed to love them, I ask that you send help and protection to them now. Then God, I need you to strengthen the mothers and the fathers because even when we think we are winning this battle of raising children we are still losing. For the parent who has buried their child or those making funeral arrangements; comfort them. For the parent who is sitting next to the bed of their child and the doctor says there is no hope and for the parent who has to visit their child in jail; strengthen them. And for the parent who doesn’t know where their child is, for those who child is on drugs, in a gang or even fighting an addiction; I ask God that you send them the hope they need to see them through. Lord, as I stand in the gap today, I ask that you cover our children and parents so that we lose no more! I need you to do these things as I humbly submit this pray in your name. Amen”

Daily Devotional – 6/20/14 “Don’t you get it?”

Why do we only praise God when things are going good? Isn’t God worthy of our praise no matter what season we’re in? So many times we take time for granted until we realize there is no more time to grant. We stay shut up in past hurt that we allow time to slip away before we take advantage of it. We stay so bound in our mess that we don’t even see how quickly time is passing right before our eyes. But don’t you know that God still covers you even when you’re covered in filth? Don’t you understand, yet, that God still loves us in spite of us? Don’t you get it! God isn’t concerned about those scars of your past abuse because He says if you give them to Him, He’ll heal them. God isn’t worried about the tear stains on your face because He says if you point that same face towards Heaven, He’ll wipe it clean. God isn’t bothered by the many times your heart has been broken because He says He’ll replace it with a new one if you give Him the old one. God isn’t concerned with the names folk call you because when He calls you everything that was attached to that old name is cast into the sea of forgetfulness. Don’t you get it? God is worthy of our praise and thanks and we shouldn’t wait on Sunday morning to put on a fake show to Him because it’s time now to take off the mask, release whatever demonic spirit that is attached to you and praise God. Don’t you know that you can praise those chains of abuse, that bondage of past mistakes, shackles of angriness and yokes of depression free? Yea, instead of burying all the mess that you’ve held for show long, shout it out so that you can break free from it. Instead of pushing your past into the closet to hide it, tell somebody I was once that yet God has now made me this.

Even in my momentary moments of thinking I’m not good enough, my gift isn’t being used enough or could I be doing more; God calms my spirit and says, girl I got this. When I was a mess, God favored me; when I thought I was nothing, God made me into somebody; when I was in the midst of my sins, God saved me; when I thought I couldn’t go on; God pushed me harder; when I thought my storm would claim my life, God covered me; when I thought I’d drown in my sorrows, God pulled me out and cleaned me up; when I thought my grief would consume me; God comforted me and when I thought my nights of pacing would tear me down; God stepped in and gave me rest. Yea, I may have looked broken to man but to God I looked blessed! (Insert a shout here) Don’t you get it? If God can take me; a tore up from the floor up, raggedy, not fitting to live yet not ready to die sinner, snatch me from the pits of hell, clean me up, give me a new heart and spirit, make my hands and feet look new, a new set of eyes and ears, a new mouth, a brand new body that doesn’t show the scars on my legs from being dragged to hell and back, scars on my back from being used by folks who said they would love me, stepped on by folks who said they’d help me and abused by folk who said they had my best interest at heart; surely He has something greater for me. After all, He did choose me for a purpose! Now, if this isn’t for you, then move out my way while I thank Him now for the next promotion I’ve yet to even apply for, the healing that’s on the way, the deliverance that’s right around the corner, the light at the end of my tunnel, the silver lining in my dark clouds, the debt free status I’ll soon claim, for making my enemies my foot stool, for my books to be in bookstores and churches across many states (I’m claiming this thang!), for the increasing of my gifts that will enlarge my territory, for the healing of my family and friends, for the doors that He is about to open in their lives and for the things I’ve yet to even think of! Yea, I’m even thanking God in advance for the things He has yet to do for you. For the healing of your sickness or disease, your new career, your new home, your new car, your spouse, your deliverance, your debt free status, your new heart, your joy that’s on the way back, for your hope bucket that’s about to be filled, for your tears that’s about to stop, for your spirit that’s about to be renewed, for your regulated mind and for your peace. (And this is for somebody – that new kidney you’re waiting on) I’m thanking him for making your business successful, for enlarging your territory, for increasing your gift and for the anointing He is about to place over your life! (And this is for somebody else – for that ministry you’re being praying for) Oh, I’d better leave this thang alone! Yet, I thank you God right now! I praise you God right now because you are worthy! Don’t you get it? Your praise to God can make all your problems seem petty!

Daily Devotional – 6/19/14 “Dipped but not delivered!”

My sister and I were joking around on last night at church and I told her that she had been dipped but not delivered and of course, if you know me by now, you know I jotted this down in my phone. See, while we were playing around this is actually true because a lot of us Christians have been dipped in the baptism water but we’ve yet to be delivered from those things that keep us out of the will of God. And if you’re wondering what those things are, it’s those things you repeatedly ask God’s forgiveness for. Yea, I know that God knows your heart and you ought to be grateful for that because it’s the main reason He has kept you. While your heart is yearning to find love, your eyes keep going after that lust in the short dress or nice suit. While your heart is saying forgiveness your mouth keeps saying but they hurt me. While your heart is saying Lord I trust you, your actions are saying you are undecided in your decision. While your heart is saying you have faith, your legs and feet are running in the opposite direction. Yes, I know you’ve been dipped but you’re still not delivered because your praise doesn’t show it. Yea, you’ve been dipped yet not delivered because your worship doesn’t even show it. (Please don’t get this twisted, this is for me too.)

Nonetheless, let me point this out … The bible says in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.” Simply saying, when we go down in that baptism water, our old lives die and when we come up we should now walk in the new life that God has now granted us. Will it be easy? No because if the truth shall be told, it gets harder because the enemy has to work harder now to keep you off the path God has set before you. Will you get everything you ask for? No because God only gives you what you need. Yet, it’s worth it. And you chose to be baptized and although some of us get baptized at an earlier age, there is no time like the present to be delivered from the mess that is keeping you from the message God has for you. No, I don’t mean the sermon on Sunday but I’m talking about the message God is waiting to drop in your spirit. You’ve been baptized now be delivered. All you have to do is give whatever has you bound over to God, He’ll handle the rest! Declare your deliverance on today! You don’t have to wait until it shows up to dance, dance until your deliverance comes!

Blog Tour … Double Back by Author Jamie Dossie

Growing up on the west side of Chicago to a dope fiend, Rashad Miller aka- Goldie never knew his father. Tired of the neighborhood kids laughing and staring at him, he missed many days of school, and saw drugs as the only way to make money and have things he wanted in life. Goldie was made to believe that this would be the only life he would ever know. Jasmine moved after high school graduation to start a promising writing career in New York City. The thought of Goldie never left her mind. The love they shared as kids was sweet and innocent; now both grown-up, a loving relationship with Goldie is what Jasmine dreams of. Jasmine comes back to Chicago to live, where she and Goldie try to rekindle a lost love. Goldie s inability to stop his menacing ways was tearing him and her apart. Hustling helped him live, and the love he craved from Jasmine helped feed his soul.

Excerpt:

Goldie was parking his truck outside of Fatty’s Soul Food Restaurant when he saw a group of girls going in, of course this manhood stated throbbing on sight.

“Dam, there she goes again.” Goldie mumbled to himself. Goldie had seen her briefly a few days ago with the same group of girls, he was on his way to see another young lady but made a

mental note to return to Fatty’s Soul Food Restaurant where he saw her last. It was like seeing a ghost from the past.

He only recognized one face in the group, but it was the only on e that mattered. He shook his head and checked out her ass as she walked through the door the restaurant. He walked in to Fatty’s behind them and noticed that they had already placed their orders and were laughing and

chatting while they waited. He walked up to the bulletproof glass and told Fatty to him the usual.

“Alright and I’ll put it on your tab baby,” Fatty said through the protective glass. Jasmine

looked up when she heard the familiar voice.

“Goldie is that you? Oh my God, I haven’t seen you in like forever, give me a hug man!”

she said with excitement. Jasmine and Goldie embraced tightly.

” Damn he fine as hell!” One of Jasmine’s friends said. Jasmine and Goldie grabbed their

orders. “You know Goldie I never stopped thinking of you, not one single time,” Jasmine said

while gazing into his eyes. Goldie felt that it was the perfect opportunity to steal a kiss like when

they were kids. He leaned down to meet her 5’2″ frame and planted a sensual kiss on her full lips.

“I never stopped thinking of you either. I’m glad you’re back home” Silence lingered in the air before the sounds of gunfire started ringing through the neighborhood streets and broke them out of their love trance.

“Get down! Everybody get the fuck down!” Goldie yelled while trying to take cover and pull his gun from his waist. He was ready to pop off at the first person who thought they were going to run up in Fatty’s. He made a quick scan around the restaurant and saw everyone huddled in the corners. after the gunfire ceased he asked, “Is everyone ok?”

One by one they all said they were fine. Goldie stood and put his gun back in it’s original place. He helped Jasmine up and saw that she was a bit shaken up. He caressed her to calm her down before walking outside to make sure the close was clear. All of Fatty’s customers grabbed whatever food that didn’t spill out of their bags and went home. Even though gunshots just rang bells of fire, seeing Goldie made Jasmine feel like she was floating on air all the way home.

Fatty came from behind the protective glass. “Well looks like you are going to finally meet your match on this one,” Fatty said.

“What! You know her?”

“I have known her all her damn life and she don’t play. I demand respect when it comes to her,” Fatty said while looking above the rim of her glasses. Fatty offered Goldie a seat in the small six table dining area.

“Let me tell you a story son.” She threw her hand towel across her left shoulder and put her hand on Goldie’s arm. “Her mother and I use to be running buddies back in the da. We use to hustle men, run numbers, whatever we had to do to make ends meet in these streets. Then on day Jasmine’s daddy up and shot himself and her mother was never the same after that.”

Fatty took a long pull of her cigarette then put out she took a deep breath and continued her story.

“Right around the time Jasmine was six her mom, Carol, couldn’t take being here with out Jerome and she overdosed on the same shit she swore she would never touch. Crack killed her momma if you ask me she died the same time Jerome died.”

Fatty wiped a tear with her towel, Goldie didn’t know what to say, he never expected to hear a story like this about a girl he’d known for practically his entire life..

“Why are you telling me this shit Fatty?”

“I’m telling you this because I have seen you play all sorts of women over the years. This on is not like that. I consider her my daughter. I have raised her since her momma died and I am very protective of he, so I wasn’t you to think long and hard about this one, before you decide to pursue her. I love you as well , but that’s my family. Goldie peered through the window of the restaurant then stood, taking a deep breath.

“I hear everything you are saying, and you know I got respect for you, but who I fuck and who I am fucking is clearly none of your business.” Fatty looked at him over the top of her rimmed glasses and stood up.

“You are absolutely right, but if you fuck over that one then it becomes my business,” she said in a harsh tone as she began wiping the tables off with her rag. “See you next week Goldie.”

Goldie walked to the door, threw the deuce sign up, and headed to his truck.

Jamie Dossie is the oldest daughter of three girls. Jamie was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. She fell in love with urban novels, after her mom gave her a book by Terry McMillan called-Mama. After reading that book she began to read another and noticed that the books was similar to the life she was living or have seen others live. At that very moment she knew that these were the kind of books she wanted to write someday. She could relate it moved her, to want to write the same type of books she was intrigued that books were being written about this urban life.

After the passing of her mom she began to write notebooks full of poems and short stories. She knew it was a way to cope with her pain; she used this time to build her writing skills. As she was growing up people didn’t express their dreams too often which made her shy away from telling people that she wanted to be a well-known published author someday.

Jamie is always looking to improve her writing craft. She has a long list of great authors that she would love to work with someday. She has written two books with one being published called “Double Back.” She would like to tell everyone to always follow their dreams, if not someone else will dream and live it for you. She is currently living in Chicago with her children and is brain storming on her future projects. And she is currently working on “Double Back 2.”

Get to know Author Jamie Dossie…

1.)What influenced you to write Romance?

Jamie : Honestly I am in love with Love.

2.) What’ s on Author Jamie Dossie Bucket List ?

Jamie:Never thought about it but I would have to say Travel to exotic Countries like Spain,Paris, Brazil.

3.)What is Author Jamie Dossie Biggest Fear?

Jamie :Not being loved enough the way I love people.

4.)How did you come up with the concept for Double Back?

Jamie : I have Doubled Back and so many of people do.

5.)What is one of your major goals your want to accomplish in life

Jamie : My biggest Goal is to show my kids that I can achieve anything and they can to it’s very important for them to see that you have to go for your dreams.

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