It's not just writing, it's ministry
I am so excited to share that I, along with my fellow pub mate, Author Johnie Jay, were featured in Six Twelve Magazine.
Check out their website at sixtwelvemag.com where you can purchase a copy of their magazine in print or digital format. You can also check out the digital version by here.
God is doing amazing things!
What shall I write about today that you haven’t already heard? What can I possibly share that you aren’t tired of hearing? I don’t know. I will tell you this, on yesterday on the way to church, I posted this to Facebook, “Headed to worship service to worship! See, I’ve realized that in order to get worship out of worship service I have to first offer my worship. So, here am I Lord, willing and yet able to give you worship for absolutely everything You’ve done, doing and will do! #thatisall,” and when I tell you that we had an absolutely amazing worship experience; it would be an understatement. I told you a few posts back that it felt like I was getting tired of church but then God got all in my spirit to let me know that maybe it was me and it was. Yea, because it finally clicked that I can’t get out what I am not putting in. Oh but then my uncle Pastor preached on “Grow up” from Galatians 6:1-5 and this verse stuck out … “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1).”
Now, this stuck out because there are a lot more “church” folk chastising and criticizing rather than correcting and directing. Yea, “church” folk are quick to tell you about your sins when they were in theirs last night and just didn’t get caught. Yea, “church” folk find it easy to dabble in your business instead of minding their own. Yea, “church” folk! And I put quotation marks around church because I need it to stand out because most of us have forgotten what church really means. Church is us as we are the living word. I don’t have a lot to share today so it won’t be long because all I need you to get out of the devotional today is, help me if I sin but don’t hurt me because you can be tempted as quickly as I can. Romans 15:1 say, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” However, please understand this; I am not trying to give you my burden, I just asked you to help me carry it. I didn’t ask you to pay off my debt, I simply ask you to let me borrow something. I didn’t ask you to heal me, I just asked you to pray for me. I didn’t ask you to lie about me, I asked you to love me. “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).”
A lot of people think the only person that is called by God is a minister but I don’t believe that’s true. Now, this is only Lakisha’s thinking because 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “He has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” Now, it doesn’t stop there because it then goes on to say in 2 Timothy 1:10-11, “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.” Get this, a herald is defined as somebody who brings or announces important news; an apostle is a prominent Christian missionary, especially one who is responsible for first converting a people; and a teacher is somebody who teaches, especially as a profession. Ok, so if all these are true and it is our responsibility as Christians to save the unsaved through studying, sharing and teaching of God’s word; doesn’t this mean we are called? 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Again I asked, doesn’t this make us called?
Being a child of the King makes our living called because it is up to us to glorify His word so that those, who are unsaved, can know that God gave His only Son to hang, bleed and die on an piece of wood that had been carved into a cross, just so that we could one day be called to do His will. Yea, He knew this old world would be a jacked up mess yet He also knew that there would be folk He could call to save those capable of being saved. No ma’am, no sir; it isn’t only up to the ministers and preachers to save souls but it’s up to every blood bought believer who has been washed and redeemed and call themselves Holy. It is up to each one of us. How do I know? Well because not every saved person is in a church on Sunday morning, which is why the church is us and not a building. This is also why the bible says in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” This didn’t say to glorify their father but your father because it’s up to us to make sure the unsaved gets to know our Father. So, the next time you choose to put your mouth on a minister who may not be living up to your standard, look in the mirror. You have the responsibility to save souls just like they do so when you think they shouldn’t be drinking, you shouldn’t either. When you think they shouldn’t be in the same place you are, you shouldn’t be either. Oh, I know you think just because someone stands in a pulpit on Sunday they’re sins are greater than yours but it’s not. The unsaved are looking at you the same way they look at a minister and it is every Christian’s charge or obligation to live a life that will make someone who hasn’t accepted Christ want to get to know Him. Therefore, please understand, we are all called when we accept God which is why, 2 Peter 2:10 reminds us, “So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things and you will never fall away.” Yes, you will sin but repent for it, learn from it and move on. God doesn’t cast you away when you do wrong because His word tells me in Romans 11:29, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.” You are called, how will you answer?
I know I haven’t updated in a few days but I wanted to share with you all a few blogs I’ve been featured on lately. I am really appreciative of all of you who support me daily as I work to get Lakisha’s name out as an author. As I stated in a previous blog, writing isn’t for wimps because it takes a LOT of hardwork. I won’t go into that again but I am very thankful for fellow bloggers who feature my work.
Please take a moment and stop by their blog to show love because they didn’t have to be kind to me.
On Facebook the other day, one of my friends posted a status that said “All Christians are not disciples but ALL disciples are Christians!” Now, of course this piqued my curiosity because reading this it seemed to be one in the same so I had to dig deeper to get a better understanding. By definition, a disciple is somebody who believes in and follows the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion and a Christian is defined as somebody whose religion is Christianity and someone who shows qualities such as kindness, helpfulness, and concern for others. Again, this seems to go hand in hand so I turned to my bible and John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Ok, so in Lakisha’s logical thinking it breaks down like this … If you love me regardless of my wrongs, my past mistakes, the mistakes I still make, the times I sometimes say something unchristian like or go somewhere I shouldn’t be going; then you are a Christian and a disciple. Oh, but if you judge me because my skirt is a little short, laugh at me when I fall even though you said you’d pick me up, hate me in your heart even though your lips say you love me, hurt me when you said you’d help me and even kick me while I’m down; then you are a Christian only.
See, God’s disciples are those who, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15,).” For Jesus said to the people in John 8:31, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.” Meaning you’re not riding the fence being indecisive on which side you want to be on, acting like a faithful worker on Sunday then a “flodger” on Monday and riding with God on Tuesday yet you let the devil drive on Wednesday. No, Jesus says if you remain faithful to His teachings because His teachings said love thy enemy even though they spitefully use you because in turn they are used to become your footstool. His teachings says don’t seek revenge because it is mine yet you try to hurt folk worse than they hurt you. His teachings say a man unwilling to work shall not eat yet you’d rather steal from someone who is. Yea, you do all these things and still stand before the altar on Sunday morning; this simply means you are a Christian. Yes being a Christian is great but when will you be willing to become a disciple; a willing worker for God, one who He can put His trust in to see about His people, one who isn’t lazy but a laborer, one who isn’t fearful but faithful, one who isn’t perfect yet passionate and one who isn’t wandering but willing? You are a Christian but Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If any of you wants to be my follower (disciple), you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” You can’t follow Jesus and the world because they aren’t going the same way. Yes, everyone who believes in Christianity is a Christian but not everyone can proudly proclaim to be a disciple. Can you?
Lakisha, the Author