Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 4/9/14 “The shedding process!”

If you’re like me, you probably don’t like snakes. No, I’m not talking about the ones who walk on 2 legs and look like you and I (even though I can’t stand them either) but I’m talking about real snakes. Have you ever wondered what makes a snake shed his skin? I know you’re wondering how this ties into a devotional, but go with me. See, I found that a snake has to go through a process to shed their skin because the skin they’re in no longer fit and to remove parasites that have attached themselves to their old skin. Now, the first step is their skin becomes dull. In our Christian life this is when the light of God is no longer evident in our walk. The next step, the snake’s eyes become impaired and sources say they become excessively stressed. In our Christian life, it’s the same because at this point we’re no longer looking through our spiritual eyes and all we see is burdens being dropped on our shoulders instead of the strength God has given us to carry them. In the next step, the snake’s eyes clear up although their skin still has a dull look. In our Christian life we are starting to see the break in the clouds yet God’s light is still too dull to even give off a glow. This is because although we can see God, our faith hasn’t caught up. Oh but then the final step is shedding the old skin that has now become loose enough to pull off. In this process, it is said that the snake will rub their nose against something to start the process of the shedding and I say, in our Christian walk, its falling flat on our face. Yea, it’s being knocked down to a point where you didn’t think you’d come back from. It’s having your back pushed up against a wall and you don’t see your way out. It’s being without and you see no way of being with. It’s constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul and you still owe Saul. Oh but here comes God and when you’ve accepted Him into your life, you become a new creature because He takes all of the old stuff we used to do and all the old things we used to be called and throws them into the sea of forgetfulness – thus shedding our old skin because it no longer fits anyway.

The dirt that has been thrown on you by folks when they tried to bury your dreams, all the scars you’ve gotten from being drug through hurt and pain by family and friends, the hate folks spoke over your life when they said you’d never amount to anything and the tear stains from crying yourself to sleep at night; was all removed when you shed the old skin. (I don’t know about you but I feel something stirring in my spirit) See, when you shed the old you’re taking off all the things folks thought about you, all the old stuff you used to think about yourself and you’re stepping into the new skin that has no scars, no bruises and it shines like gold. The new skin fits you perfectly because it was made just for you. Yea, you used to be a drug dealer, so what, now deal in the works of the Lord. Yea, you used to be an alcoholic and drug addict, so what, now become addicted to being a better Christian. You used to lie on folks and with anybody who smiled at you, so what, now lie in God’s word because He promised to give you all you need. You used to steal from folks, stores and whatever you could get your hands on, so what, now steal away to study God’s word. You don’t have to be the same you were on yesterday. Shed that old skin because it’s dry and cracked and no matter how much you try it won’t shine like it should because it’s covered in mess. Oh, you may not believe my words but trust God’s because 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” And once you’re in your new skin your walk won’t be the same because you’re now walking in your destiny. In your new skin, your talk won’t be the same because your tongue has been tamed. In your new skin, you won’t even look the same because you shine will now glow. Go on through your shedding process because you’ll look and feel better in your new skin!

A Secret Worth Keeping …. Is Free & Number 1

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AND

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Daily Devotional – 4/8/14 “Safe in His arms!”

You’re wondering why you can’t sleep at night, why you can’t get any comfort, why you can’t feel any love or why you can’t seem to find rest; well it might be because you’re in the wrong arms. Yea, I know his or her arms may make you feel good for a moment but baby, I’ve come to know this Man whose arms can rock me to sleep, make me feel loved and give me comfort on my worse day and He isn’t even in the same room. His arms pull me up when I’ve sunken to my lowest point. His arms catch me when I’m slipping down that mountainside I’ve been trying to climb. His arms reach over and grab me when I’ve stepped off the cliff of life. Oh, His arms wrap me up and protect me when man is doing me wrong. His arms provide protection when my storm is raging, sunscreen when the sun gets too hot and healing for the scars on my knees when folk knock me down. Oh, His arms … His arms … His arms make me feel safe. When all hell is breaking loose, there’s safety in His arms. When the death angel shows up, there’s comfort in His arms. When your heart is broken, there’s love in His arms. When man attacks you, there’s safety in His arms. A song says, “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in the meadows grass and He leads me besides the quiet stream. He restores my failing health and helps me to do what honors Him the most; that’s why I’m safe, that’s why I’m safe, that’s why I’m safe … Safe in His arms. When the storm of life is raging and the billows roll; so glad He shall hide me safe in His arms” Grandma says there aren’t any better arms to be in. Momma says when you’ve tried everybody else try God. Pastor says can’t nobody do me like the Lord. The bible says in Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; he cries out, ‘Destroy them!” Yes, I’ve found everything I need in His arms because there is where I am safe! When everything else has failed you, try Him. You may still have momma but she can’t do you like God can. You may still have daddy but even he can’t love you like God can! Grandma can pray but she can’t fix it like God can. Pastor can even preach but he can’t save you like God can. Oh, when you’re tired of searching, God’s arms are outstretched for you because Psalm 91:1 says, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty,” and Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” Safe in His arms!

Daily Devotional – 4/7/14 “Stop claiming what you can’t handle!”

Yea, stopping claiming a position if you’re not fully capable of meeting the requirements of filling it. You claim to be a teacher (of any kind) yet you don’t carry yourself as one and then you wonder why no one is learning when the bible says in Titus 2:7, “And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.” You claim to be a teacher of God’s word yet you act worse in the streets than nonbelievers when James 3:1 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” You’ve claimed God’s calling but you’ll stand in the pulpit preaching from your flesh because you’ve yet to seek God when 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” You claim to be a leader in the church yet you’re so full of hell no one would dare follow you. You claim to be someone’s husband but you don’t want the responsibilities of the title when you’re supposed to be the head of your house. You claim to be someone’s wife but you only do the things a wife is supposed to do when it’s convenient for you. You claim to be grown yet you act like a child whenever time permits. You claim to be a Christian yet you steal, lie, cheat and hurt folk every chance you get. You claim to be delivered yet you still dabble in those things that had you addicted. You claim to have a testimony yet no one has heard it. You claim to be healed yet no one ever saw you sick. You claim to have been made new yet all we still see is the old you. All I’m trying to say is stop claiming what you’re not and stop claiming that which you know you’re not capable of handling. When you claim it, you’ve asked for it which now makes it yours which further means you are now responsible for everything that comes with it. Don’t claim it if you can’t handle it!

Daily Devotional – 4/4/14 “A purpose for your position!”

Yea, it may be hard out here for a person in my position but what other position is there left to play but mine? See, I’ve come to realize that when I try to play someone else position, I mess up. When I veer over into someone else lane, I may just cause an accident. When I’m in someone else business, I can’t tend to mine so I’d better stay in the position I’m in. Ok, so someone makes their position looks better but what happens when the folks who are glorifying them are gone, the lights are on and the shade has been pulled back, now what do you see? People have a tendency, now days, to make even dirt look like grass so how do you know who they truly are? This is why you need to find your position and play it. Of course it’s hard, it usually is when you’re working for something you want but push through it. Why? Well because like I said on yesterday, there is a purpose for the position you’re in. That sickness isn’t really about you but God needed someone around you to know that He is a healer. That foreclosure you’re going through isn’t about you but God needed someone, maybe in your family, to see that He is a provider. That addiction you had to overcome wasn’t about you but it’s about that person who thinks they can’t overcome theirs. Your marriage that you fought so hard to make work wasn’t about you but it’s about the younger generation that’s coming up behind you in order for them to see that what God ordains, He maintains. That battle you walked away from wasn’t about you but it was about the naysayers that God has to shush to let them see His work when you still came out victorious. So you see there is a purpose for the position you’ve been placed in. Now if you would only learn your position and play it! Stop worrying about the mistakes you’ve made because you will make a few more; learn from them so that you don’t repeat them. Stop worrying about whose watching; give them a show because even Jesus had haters. Stop doing things to get the glory from folk because when judgment comes they can’t speak on your behalf anyway. Yes, God yes, it’s hard out here for people in most positions but know that there is a purpose in whatever position you’ve found yourself in. Learn the position and play your role! Your position, your purpose!