Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 9/26/13 “You aren’t being punished!”

Yea, stuff happens but that doesn’t mean that God is punishing you for something. Oh, you think just because you missed church on Sunday, God is punishing you by letting your tire go flat or because you didn’t say grace before you ate, He is allowing your stomach to hurt or because you didn’t pray, now you can’t sleep; right? Well, God doesn’t work like that. Yes, we are supposed to pray every day but we are also supposed to not lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, judge folk, gossip, idolize material things and kill yet we do. Oh, but God gives us repentance that allows us to be forgiven. This is why 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Yes, there will be times you don’t always act “Christianlike,” you are entitled to a bad moment every now and then but don’t make those times a habit. If you are tired of struggling, getting frustrated sometimes happens, but that makes you human. I know I should quote a bible scripture here to let you know that God is your provider in the time of need but you know that already, so now is the time for me to tell you that it’s alright to have a momentary temper tantrum but then get yourself together. Chile, who isn’t tired of struggling to make the ends meet, tired of working all day and then your check is so small it almost like you are paying them to work, tired of being without, tired of doing without, tired of eating chicken when you want beef, tired of scrapping together a meal when you want to go out to eat, tired of patching up your jeans when you know you need a new pair, tired of getting taps put on your shoes because you can’t get another one; just plain ole tired of being tired? I am but that’s alright and you’ll be alright but don’t think this is God’s way of punishing you. For 1 Peter 4:12-16 (The Message Bible) says, “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!

No, you aren’t being punished when you go through yet you are being placed in your predicament to feel the power of the potter who is piecing you back together with patience and passion. No, you aren’t being punished but you’re simply passing through this peculiar place on your way to a perfect palace. No, you aren’t being punished you are simply practicing your praise until it’s time for your proclaimed performance. Oh no, you aren’t being punished but you’re being picked out to be part of the predestined promise of promotion to proudly prove that your purpose is bigger than your problems!

Daily Devotional – 9/25/13 “Stuff happens!”

You woke up this morning, that’s a blessing. You can still use all of your limbs that worked on yesterday, that’s a blessing. You still have your mind, you still got a little sleep and you have a place to call home; that’s a blessing. Yea, I know that you may be going through something and you’re probably sitting there wondering why, why me, why do I have to go through this, or why is this happening to me but you were chosen by God for a time such as this so that’s an even bigger blessing! I get it and trust me I understand how it feels to get paid on Friday and your account will barely break even, the more you do for these ungrateful kids the more they act up or beg and the more you do for your job, the more they act up or beg but get this … Stuff happens. That’s life! What are you going to do about it? Do you sit around sulking, throw a 1 person pity party, whine, cry and throw a tantrum or do you do hold on until your change comes? You have read your bible haven’t you? You do know that everything happens at its due time, don’t you (Ecclesiastes 3)? You understand that we all have a storm to endure, a battle to fight, a cross to bear, a Goliath to defeat, a sickness to go through, debt to overcome, an addiction to break, a break in the rope to reach beyond, a no (sometimes 2) to face, a closed door, lying friends, hating family, a dark path, a test to take and a testimony to make; right? However, yet, but, nonetheless; the bible says in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Now, God promised you a crown of life on the other side but on this side 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” Doesn’t that make you rejoice? It should because after everything you go through there is a yet in between your test and testimony.

I may have cancer yet I will survive. I may have this disease yet I will be healed. I may be without a job yet I’m living. I may be down now yet I will get up. I may not have all I want yet I have all I need. I may be going through yet I don’t look like it! Stop rushing to give up on things! Stop wallowing in self-pity because things aren’t going your way or because you didn’t get the job that you thought had your name all over it. Stuff happens in your life every day. Stuff happened yesterday and will happen tomorrow. What you do when you get knocked down, is pick yourself up, dust off the dirt and keep going. Eventually you’ll stop wobbling and falling, just like a baby that’s learning to walk. It doesn’t matter about the number of times you fall, as long as you get up. The only thing you should be doing on your knees is praying because digging a hole for yourself won’t help. God has made you and He has already destined you for greatness but you’ll have to work for it. Anything worth having is worth working for! Stuff happens, get over it!

Author! That I am …

Never would I have imagined that I would be adding author to my resume! Oh but God had a plan all along and I am grateful for it. See, when I received the phone call that Delphine Publishing was interested in my book, I couldn’t do anything but thank Him. See, it’s not because of me; it’s not about me but it’s about the gift that God has blessed me with. So, yes; Me, little ole me, a nobody by the world’s standards, an African-American, raised in the ghetto by a single mom, counted out as just another statistic, cast down as just another person in this mean world who wasn’t expected to be nothing has exceeded the expectations of many to become an AUTHOR!

I am the newest author of Delphine Publications of Atlanta, GA. One that was founded by another African-American young lady, Tamika Newhouse simply because she didn’t give up. You can visit her website Delphine Publications to see her many works and the works of those under her and become wowed just like I was.

I am a living witness that your goals are attainable if you don’t give up. Don’t ever allow anyone to stop you from dreaming but when you wake up, make that dream into a reality.

Daily Devotional – 9/24/13 “Stressing for your blessing”

If life was always easy and everything you needed was handed to you, what would you work hard for? If you woke up, every day, without needing anything or anybody, would you try hard to get more or make a relationship work? If God automatically gave you every desire that your heart ask for, would you thank Him more than you barely do know? I’m just asking. See, stress that we know of is defined as mental, emotional or physical strain but it is also defined as special emphasis, importance or significance attached to something. So, Lakisha’s definition; the time, energy and importance you put into the gifts that God has given you and the work He has asked you to do in order to receive and then be able to handle the elevation that is about to come your way. In other words, you have to stress to be blessed.

Yea, you have to stress for a little while in that job you really don’t like in order to get the career that’s yours. You have to stress for a little while going through these relationships that don’t last in order for them to make you wait on the one God is sending. You have to stress for a little while in your sickness in order to appreciate the healing that God has for you. You have to stress, just for a little while, every now and then, just so your strength is built. How do you know how strong you are if you never have to show it? How do you know what you can bare if you never have too? How do you know if you can overcome your storm if you’re never in one? How do you know that God is a deliverer if He never had to deliver you? How do you know God to be a healer if He never had to heal you? How do you know God can break chains, if you’ve never been bound to any for him to break? Again, I’m just asking? Your strength comes from stress but after the stress comes your blessing. Don’t believe me? After sickness (stress) comes healing (blessing). After unemployment (stress) comes the job you’re appreciate now (blessing). After being hurt (stress) comes love, the kind you’ve never felt (blessing). Still don’t get it? Habakkuk 3:18 says, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Oh but before the rejoice there was stress because Habakkuk 3:17 says, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,” Yet I will rejoice! Or simply, stressing for your blessing.

With the stress you face you’re able to stand and look the devil and his followers in their face when they try to attack your life again because stress makes you strong and in your strength you gain salvation from the Holy Spirit who resides with you daily and in those moments when it seems like the stress is winning, the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf for the bible says in Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Daily Devotional – 9/23/13 “Have you ever?”

Have you ever wondered why a woman pats her head when it itches instead of just scratching it? Have you ever wondered what a baby is really thinking when you’re all in their face making those crazy sounds? Have you ever wondered why your eyes close when you sneeze or why women hold their mouth open when putting on mascara? Do you? Well, I would assume God has to sometimes wonder about some of the things we do. You know like pray for Him to do something and then worry about it or how we get blessed with something and then take it for granted or even how we ask for this and then act like He won’t do it. I mean, have you ever thought about it? Have you ever thought about how God feels when we doubt His power, second guess His decision or run from His answer? Have you ever?

Yea, you worry all through worship, pace when you should praise, sin when you should be sleep, raise hell when you really should be helping, spoil your spirituality when you settle for stuff, harbor hate when you should be healing your heart and mess around in mess when you should be making the most of God’s mercy. Have you ever stopped to think about how God feels when you don’t trust Him? Have you ever taken a moment to believe that God will do exactly what He promises? Have you never opened your bible, studied for yourself or taken God at His word? For Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Have you ever thought about how greater you can be if you stop giving up so easily on your ability to do things? If you don’t think you’re capable of doing it, why would God bless you with it? Stop allowing doubt and fear to rob you of what God has promised. Yea, you might fall and you might even fail but afterwards get up and try again. Stop worrying about tomorrow, when it is not even here yet. Stop worrying about the “ifs” because if God is for you who can be against you (Romans 8:31)? Oh but then Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Stop and take time to enjoy this moment because the next one is not promised. Stop stressing and start saying, “I am more than a conqueror.” Stop concerning yourself with things you can’t control and start calling on God, He’ll always answer. Stop being anxious and start accepting the anointing that has been appointed over you. Stop running and realize your potential. Stop hiding and hear God’s voice. Oh, have you ever?