Daily Devotional – 6/25/13 – “What you answer too…”

Why is it that we, as African Americans or blacks are cool with calling each other the N word but as soon as someone else does, we’re ready to fight, sue or kill? I mean, isn’t it the same thing? If you are referring to yourself as the N word then isn’t it cool for you to be called that? If someone hears you referring to yourself or your friend, brother or sister as the N word then wouldn’t they think it’s cool to call you that? (I would) Don’t get me wrong, someone who is racist is just that, racist and no amount of money or time will change that because a person will be exactly who they are. However, I’ve lived to learn that it’s not about the name you’re called but it’s about the name you’re given and then what you answer too. See, you can call me Lakisha (or Marcy) and I’ll answer to it because that’s my name but when you call me anything other than that I keep on going. You can call me blessed and I’ll answer because that’s what I am. You can call me living and I’ll answer because that’s what I’m doing. You can call me God’s chosen and I’ll answer because that’s who I strive to be. What you can’t call me is a bitch because that’s defined as a female dog, a difficult thing or situation, a nagging complaint, a vulgar woman, a woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing or a man considered to be weak or disgraceful; I am none of those things so I won’t. You can’t call me a hoe because that’s defined as a gardening tool used to weed; I am not that either so I won’t answer. You can’t call me a hater because that’s defined as to dislike somebody or something intensely, often in a way that evokes feelings of anger, hostility, or animosity; not me so I won’t answer! You can’t call me jealous because then I would feel bitter or unhappy about the things you’ve got and nope, not me either so I won’t answer! Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” So, go on and call me what you want because I know my name! Go on and talk about me, I know who I am! Go on, if you will because I know whose I am! Proverbs 10:7 says, “The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.”

It doesn’t matter what folk call you, it’s what you answer too and act like. Yea, I know that words hurt but that’s only if you let them get close enough to pierce your ears and heart. Stop using the N word if it offends you to be called that. You can’t call yourself that or allow some to call you that and get offended when others do. Plus, the N word isn’t the only word that should be taken out of the language. Just like you get offended when Whites/Caucasians call you the N word, they get offended when you call them cracker; it’s a double edge sword. Learn and then do better. “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them, Ephesians 4:29.

Daily Devotional – 6/24/13 “Deny them!”

Luke 14:26 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.” Now, I thought about this scripture and at first it was puzzling to me because I was trying to figure out why I have to deny folk in order to follow Jesus and then it donned on me. See, if you stop and take a look around at the folks who are in your circle, you may find that some of them are the obstacle blocking you from getting your breakthrough. Yea, one of them talks so much about themselves that you can’t even hear God’s voice telling you to move. One of them brags so much about the material things that you can’t even see God working in front of you. One of them is even probably talking down about your relationship and you’re too busy nodding and agreeing that you don’t even realize they’re the ones causing the issues in your home. Yea, you may need to start denying some folk and some things because they may be the ones causing all the hell you’re going through. Stop trying to keep up with folk, slow down and get what’s yours. Stop pretending and conforming to this world of mess when John 12:25 says, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Yea, you’ve got to hate this worldly life in order to get to your eternal life yet, you’d rather enjoy the world and take a gamble with your salvation but baby you better recognize, before it’s too late, that you may not have time to get it right. I know, you enjoy drinking on Friday, dancing on Saturday and detoxing on Sunday but when will you have time to devote to God? In the midst of your hangover will you help someone who needs you? In the midst of your partying, would you pray for me if I called? In the midst of your cheating, would you comfort me if I needed a friend?

All I am saying is you need to start denying some folk or some things in order to get what you need and where you need to be. You can’t keep allowing “them” to cause you to stumble on your journey because they won’t be the one to blame, you will. Just because “they” smoke or drink, it doesn’t mean you have too. Just because “they” wear that it doesn’t mean you have too. Just because “they” sleep in on Sunday and miss church, manage mess on Monday and miss Bible Study, weep on Wednesday and miss prayer meeting, drink on two for one Thursday and skip choir rehearsal; it doesn’t mean you have too. Stop following and lead sometime. Stop conforming and change every now and then. Stop doubting and start denying all those requests that you know won’t mean you any good tomorrow. 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.” You have to be willing to give up some things to get something, deny some folk to declare deliverance, reject some things to receive some others and throw away some things in order to transform your tribulations. 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.

Daily Devotional – 6/21/13 “Reach beyond and pull!”

Are you at edge and it seems like you can’t hold on; you’re tired of being broke when you just got paid, kids acting like strangers in your home and it seem like all hell is breaking loose around you no matter how hard you pray? Do you want to let go because your rope is breaking? Well baby, reach beyond that break, hold tight and pull yourself up! See, if you pull yourself up, you’ll eventually reach the top of that cliff and once you reach the top of that situation that has you feeling like you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you’ll get your healing. Once you’ve reached the top of that circumstance that has you feeling like you’re bound and in prison, you’ll get your breakthrough. After you’ve reached the top and passed all those footholds the devil was hiding in and the bumps and sharp edges that used to be haters; you’ll be able to stand tall, wipe the tears from your face, the dust from your clothes, dirt from your hands, footprints from your shoulders that folks used to push themselves up and bandage the scars from the knives that were stabbed in your back to shout loud and proud, “I’m so glad I made it!” After going through the storm, you’ll appreciate the sun. After being broke for so long, you’ll manage the increase that God sends. After being used, abused and lied on, you’ll wait for God to send your friends and/or spouse. Yea, I know it’s easy to get caught up in what other folk do and say but most of them are simply misery looking for company. When all those friends are gone after your money runs out, God is still there. When your boyfriend leaves because your coca cola bottle shape is gone, God is still there. When your girlfriend packs her bags because your black hair is now gray, God is still there. When the job closes down after you’ve given it your all, God is still there because He never abandons you although you often leave him for His word says in Deuteronomy 31:8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Yea, it may seem like you’re walking this path all alone but you simply need to go back where you left God because He doesn’t leave us and He won’t force His way in we have to open the door for Revelation 3:20 says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

In Jeremiah 1:5 God says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” This means, God has you covered and He won’t allow anything or anyone to stop you from reaching the place He has designed just for you. Now, wait because there is a catch! The only person that can take this away from you is YOU! So get out of your own way, stop sabotaging your own dreams, stop talking yourself out of the blessing that’s in front of you, stop settling for anything, stop falling for everything and stop listening to other folks because not all of them want you to be blessed like that! Yes, you are worthy, you can do this, you can be that, you can go there, you can live there, you wear that, you can say that, you can marry who you want, you can date who you want and you can do whatever you want to do because God has given you exactly what you need to do it! Don’t ruin it for yourself because you’re too good for that. Reach beyond that break in that rope and watch God work this thang out for you in your favor! Everybody can’t handle the favor that God has, so put it on and rock it and show them how it’s done!

Daily Devotional – 6/20/13 “There is a Man!”

There is a man that stepped out of nowhere and spoke the world into existence. With His voice He commanded the creation of day & night, the Heavens & the Earth, the seas, grass, herbs, seeds, fruit trees, seasons and signs to tell the difference between the days & years and He even spoke the creation of the living animal. This same man created man out of dust and woman from the man’s rib. This man called God. Do you know him? Have you accepted him? Have you opened the door to let Him in? Yes I know that while you were in the world you had to deal with temptations but now with the acceptance of Christ you got trials too but just hold on! See, with God you’re transformed from worldly temptations to trials because trials are God’s way of testing us and through these tests and trials we are taught talents that allows us to tolerate the torment of those who trespass against us so that we triumph over the trouble and get the treasure that turns tests into testimonies, toiling into teaching and tears into thankfulness.

So be thankful for the tests and for the trials that you go through because God won’t ever take you to a place that He hasn’t already prepared with an escape exit. He won’t take you down a road that doesn’t have road side assistance and he won’t ever back you up against a wall that doesn’t have a secret passage way out. Yea, even with the things you’re battling now; hold on because there is a Man who can turn those things around. Even with the doctor’s face looking grim and the words coming from his mouth feels like a knife cutting you; there is a Man who can heal and restore your health. With the laying off of hundreds of teachers and school workers, there is a Man who is able to provide just in the nick of time. With the many obstacles you’re facing, there is a Man who has given us the faith to say to those obstacles, “MOVE” and they shall be moved and if that doesn’t work; He’ll give us strength to climb. Even with the hell roaming the streets, killings are rising, people don’t even speak to one another anymore, children dying at the hands of folk who are supposed to love them, husbands & wives aren’t speaking and living in the same house, forgiveness doesn’t exist because hate has replaced it, love doesn’t live in your heart anymore because lust has taken over, grace and mercy aren’t invited to your house because gossip and mess beat them there, friends are being replaced with dressed up enemies and your own family is starting to hate on your blessings but that’s alright because there is a Man that can turn the wrong way into the right path, the wrong words into a worship experience, a diagnosis into a dance, pain into praise, stumbling blocks into your shouting area, jealousy into joy, a victim into a victory, evil into your elevation, abuse into your anointing, rejection into your reaping, refusals into rejoicing, weakness and weeping into willing workers and pity into passion for picking up and pushing on! Oh, there is a Man who is able if you accept, willing if you want it and capable if you care. You need to believe in Him, accept Him, trust Him and then work for Him and allow Him to do it!

Daily Devotional – 6/19/13 “Sweep your own porch!”

I wonder if you think you feel or look better when you talk about me. Well, if the truth shall be told, I’m not worried because I am covered by the blood you see. I don’t have to try to fit in with the world to be cool because God promised in His word, that He’ll make my enemies my footstool. You do know what that is, a footstool, I mean? Oh, well it allows me to reach things higher than you and I don’t even have to lean. Yea, God has placed a shield around me to protect me from folk like you, when you always gossip and lie; it seems that’s all you do. You’re always throwing rocks and then running to hide your face, but baby I suggest you get yourself together before it’s too late. Stop worrying about what’s sitting on my front porch or the many leaves in my yard because if you want something to fix, look at home, you don’t have to look far. No, I don’t have to worry about the skeletons in your closet, the secrets you have buried or the things you do when you creep because I’ve lived long enough to know that when you sow, you shall reap. So, stop dragging my name through the dirt in order to make yourself look good, because you’ll be blessed just like me if you do what you know you should. Stop digging ditches for me by scandalizing my gifts, because I have struggles and strife too but it’s God who gives me the lift!

If you took as much time minding your business as you do mine, then you’d be able to do more of God’s work and let your light for Him shine. Yet, instead you find fault in belittling your sister and brother, whom God says you should love because you’ve allowed the enemy to put his hands around your neck tighter than a glove. Yea, you call yourself a Christian when it is convenient for you, but even the devil studied and he knows God’s word too. So, don’t be fast to sweep my front or back door, when you got chaos, backbiting, and judging laying all over your floor. Clean up your own house sometimes and then invite me in but don’t expect me to join in with you in your daily sin. Yes, I make mistakes too because I’m not perfect but a work in progress; so I don’t need your messy self adding to my stress. So when you feel the need to peek through the hole in my fence to see my mistakes and faults, I hope you have your eyes closed when God starts throwing salt. See, He is the only one able to make you pay for the things you try to do, so I can’t worry about the things you try to put me through. You can continue to talk, spread lies and drag my name through the dirt, because you won’t have a bearing on where I go when I leave this earth. For God has promised me an eternal home in paradise, the one He built; so I’ll continue to prepare myself for that trip. So clean your yard before you try to jump the fence into mine because you may just trip coming over and then what will you find? Sweep around your own porch before you try to sweep mine because you may just use all the time cleaning yours when there’s no telling what you’ll find.