Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 2/17/14 “Willfully worship!”

You know, I had to come to the realization that my worship isn’t dependent on those I worship with because I should willfully worship at all time. See, I was getting burnt out on church, I was tired of driving 45 minutes to church on Sunday morning only to have a dull service and if the truth should be told, tired of church folk but then God got all up in my business. Yea, He got all up in me to let me know that I was wrong because here I am thinking the church was dead when all along it was me. I had to understand that my worship depends on me and no one else. I had to recognize that my praise counts for me and not the preaching that my Uncle does. So, my attitude had to change and now when I’m headed to worship, I do so with the mindset to worship. Yea, I now go to worship ready to worship and I do. I know you’ve been told that you shouldn’t leave church the same way you came but if you come in with praise and thanksgiving on your lips then you should leave the same way. If you come into worship service with the intentions on praising then maybe the Preacher can preach instead of pumping and priming you to say amen. Yea, if we would come into worship worshipping maybe the minister of music can actually minister through music instead of trying to get you to get involved.

Yes, God had to chastise me but I’m okay with that because I needed it and now my praise is better, my studying is different and even my worship is restored all because I now willingly worship. This is why you shouldn’t have to wait until you hear your song to praise God. You shouldn’t have to wait until you’re going through hell at home to worship God like you should. You shouldn’t have to wait until pain is hitting your body before you actually pray at the altar. You shouldn’t have to wait until your child is in jail or the hospital to seek God because our praise shouldn’t affected by our situation but our situation should be affected by our praise. “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23.”

Daily Devotional – 2/14/14 “Then and now!”

My sister and I were having a conversation on last night about some of the things the bible speak on that are so hard to follow now. Most people still follow 1 Corinthians 11:3 that says, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” Now, please understand I don’t have an issue with this verse however now days most men aren’t husband material and the wife surely isn’t a Proverbs 31 woman. (I’m just keeping it real.) See, the man wants to lie in the house all day while he sends his wife to work and then he calls himself the head but didn’t the bible say in 1 Timothy 5:8, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever?” And in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat?”” Yes, in the bible days the men worked, provided, maintained the worship places, ruled and fought in wars while the women stayed home to maintain the home, bared and raised the children, cooked, cleaned and etc., so then the men could be the head in everything. Oh but now, it takes 2 sometimes 3 incomes to maintain the household so she has to work. Now, men aren’t being raised to be men so the women have to step up in order to make sure her family eats. Now, women aren’t being raised to be a wife because many don’t even know how to cook, clean and less known raise children so then the entire household is falling apart. Families don’t worship as a family because momma is going to church, daddy is staying in the bed and the children are being given a choice on whether to go or not. Some older men have an issue with women working in the church but they want them to pay their tithes, sing in the choir, usher, cook in the kitchen, make the announcements and print the programs. Isn’t that working? She even has to sometimes turn the lights off after the deacons leave.

All I’m saying is, we tailor scriptures to fit our lives every day and these are no different. No sir, no ma’am; I don’t have an issue with my husband being the head of our household even though I’m working as long as he’s the head of his household. (You’ll get that later!) I, also, don’t have a problem following his lead as long as I trust him to get us to the right destination. I also don’t have a problem standing behind him because then I’m better protected. And just for the record, being behind the man doesn’t make you less than a woman because no matter where you’re standing, your light of God should be shining bright enough to be seen. And as long as God is the head of your life and you’re allowing Him to run things, everything else will fall into place. Read and study the bible for yourself that way you’ll understand what is being taught which will then lead you to be a better man or woman of God.

A Repost from my devotional blog! “Good Ole Faith!”

I had a topic in mind to write about this morning but God had other plans. Yea, I know I’ve written a lot of devotionals on faith but somebody is having a hard time this morning dealing with something. Maybe you’re trying to decide whether or not you should go for that job, try that new medicine or procedure, start a new business, write that book or even about that relationship but whatever it is, try it. Will you fail? Maybe you will and maybe you won’t. Will it be what you thought it would be? Maybe yes or maybe no. Will it be hard? Definitely. However, how will you know if you don’t try? And why should you try? Well because Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Let me share this once again for those of you whose thoughts are still wavering over this faith thing. I didn’t set out to start a devotional blog yet it was already destined, meant and ordained for me so instead of continually running from being chosen by God, I took the step. Now, I didn’t just take any step but I took the step of faith and if you wondering why refer back to the definition of faith. Baby, it’s isn’t easy writing a devotional blog because although these are my thoughts, they have to be grounded in God’s word and in order for my words to be grounded, I have to be and because I am, the enemy sometime attacks me harder. Oh, but get this … My foundation of faith is solid so although I may sway, sometimes, from the blows I don’t shift. Although I may stumble, my faith doesn’t spill. Although the punches may sometimes hurt, they don’t hinder me. Yes, sometimes they even cause tears but they’re temporary. Did I ever think I’d have people who are encouraged by me, no but God did and sometimes when I have a momentary lapse, He sends someone to remind me? This time it came by way of an email from this young man. (Subject of the email was Love your blog). So, I open the email and I begin to read and my spirit began to be filled and so did my eyes with tears because here I am, me a simple nobody by folk’s standard yet a chosen somebody by God who inspires someone I don’t even know. (God amazes me!) I won’t make this long, however, he works for a company called Good Work(s) and they make inspirational bracelets and he wanted to share some with me so that I can share them with you as a way to show appreciation and admiration for what I do (I’m speechless). Well, I received the package on last night and when I tell you they are absolutely gorgeous, it doesn’t even do them justice. These bracelets are amazing. I’ll add a few pictures for you to see them but please go to their website

www.goodworksmakeadifference.com/

And see for yourself. And get this … Use the code FAITH for a 30% discount. (WOW! I didn’t even remember this was the code until I went back to my email just now.) God is faithful and will do everything He has promised and all you have to do is have faith enough to believe that He won’t leave you nor forsake you! Faith! That good work(s) faith!

Daily Devotional – 2/13/14 “Good Ole Faith!”

www.goodworksmakeadifference.com/

And see for yourself. And get this … Use the code FAITH for a 30% discount. (WOW! I didn’t even remember this was the code until I went back to my email just now.) God is faithful and will do everything He has promised and all you have to do is have faith enough to believe that He won’t leave you nor forsake you! Faith! That good work(s) faith!

Daily Devotional – 2/12/14 “Enjoy this phase!”

On yesterday Pastor Aaron Letcher posted this tidbit of wisdom and I have to share it.
“The hill of maturity is one in which we speed so hurriedly to peak; but once peaked and passed prime the gravity pull towards senectitude is one we so frantically desire to slow.”

Of course in Lakisha’s common sense thinking, I had to break it down to simply say, “The hill of maturity is one in which we rush to climb but once we’ve reached and passed the highest peak; the serious pull towards getting older is one we so desperately desire to slow.” See, we rush to grow up only to grow up and act like children. We rush to move out on our own and then complain about bills. We rush to get old and then complain about the aches and pains that come along with it. We rush through every phase of our life’s journey that we never actually take the time to appreciate the scenery on the path. Yea, we’re so busy rushing our storm to end that we haven’t even noticed that it’s washing us clean. We’re so busy trying to get to the yes that you didn’t even read the fine print that’s now causing you hell. We’re so busy rushing down the marriage aisle that we don’t even include God anywhere in our plans. Yea, even worship centers are rushing through service and then wonder where the Holy Spirit is. Baby, slow down and enjoy this phase because it’ll soon end and another one begins. Please understand, a phase is defined as a period of development or a stage in a process so why are you rushing this phase of your test when you’ve yet to learn what is being taught? Slow down and enjoy this phase because it may just be the peace you need. Yea, this phase isn’t to punish you but it’s simply the process of perfecting the purpose that you possess that makes your praise powerful because you’ve been picked by God to be placed at this point and after you’ve prevailed you’ll receive that predestined promotion that God promised! So enjoy this phase of life you’re in and stop rushing to get old!