Lakisha, the Author

Daily Devotional – 11/14/19 “Go on and cry!”

Here it is, another Thursday, in another month, almost at the end of another year and somebody is still tarrying at the table of the tempter. Yeah, you’re being troubled by temptation, yet you will not trust the one on the throne. The toil of tomorrow is already terrifying you because you will not use your tongue to trample against your tormentors. You are being tortured by your transgressions and you’re trapped. What now beloved? What are you going to do? Are you going to die there or will you choose to live? Will you drown where you are or will you come up for air, one more time? Are you willing to give up or will you try again?

I’m only asking because giving up shouldn’t be an option. Sure, the enemy is picking with you and your family, folk on the job acting crazy, spouse is sick, children trying your patience, car is costing more than it’s worth and on top of that, your sinuses and migraines have come back with a vengeance, dog keep running off, your lashes won’t stay put, lace front coming up on your wig and your heel just broke on your shoe.

What more Lord?

Here’s what you do. Get the tears out. Yeah, go on and cry because research says that crying is good for the soul. South China’s Morning Post says, “Crying is known to have a soothing effect and ‘emotional tears’ can even help rid our bodies of stress hormones. When we cry, our heart rate and breathing slow down a little and we start to calm down. We might even experience a mood boost after a good cry. Crying is useful for helping people release and express their suppressed or repressed emotions.”

For me, I cry when I get angry because it’s better than murder. I cry when I’m feeling a heaviness in my spirit because my tears are liquid prayers. Beloved, this may be your season of planting and it can very well be the hardest of your life. This could be your season of storms and it is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to face. This season could be the most pain you’ve ever felt. DON’T GIVE UP. Even if you have to cry while you plant, weather the storm or deal with the pain. DON’T YOU DARE GIVE UP! Why?

For the bible tells me, in Psalm 126:5-6 that “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” Go on and cry, it’ll do you some good.

BIG DEAL

The Love Connexion

Hey everyone we are so excited because we have a guest blogger today! Her name is Lakisha Johnson and she was kind enough to bless us with an awesome blog today. The blog is entitled Big Deal

My son asked me a question the other day and it’s something I’ve been pondering on. He’d seen a post on social media and wanted to ask me for clarification. He asked, “why is marriage such a big deal in the eyes of God and He isn’t married?” Here’s what I explained to him … God is married. His bride is the church which is known as the Bride of Christ and He is the groom or the head of the household. As being the head of the household; God is protector, provider, faithful, loving and committed. Marriage is a big deal because God sees marriage as a sacred covenant between two people…

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Daily Devotional – 11/8/19 “God is working!”

I’ve shared this before but sharing it again, won’t hurt. I’ve always loved to watch my Grams cook, especially during the holidays. There are pots covering every burner on the stove, cutting boards on the table and pie crusts waiting to be filled. And while she is preparing cornbread for dressing, sweet potato and egg pies for the oven; we will be busy chopping onions, celery and bell peppers, peeling potatoes and etc.; silently watching her work and trying not to interrupt her. See, an interruption causes delays and a delay meant I’d have to wait longer for my request to taste test.

So, I would do my part only stopping when she interrupted me. Why am I sharing this? Well, many times we make a request of God and instead of waiting and watching Him work, we constantly interrupt. Truthfully, we don’t mean any harm, we just need assurance that what we’re doing is right but I’ve come to realize that interrupting Him can cause a delay. Understand, I am not talking about praying but the, “why me God,” the “when me God,” the “how long God,” and etc.

Yes, I know you’re eager but wait because causing an interruption versus allowing God to interrupt does not have the same kind of outcome. Our interruption can cause confusion, whereas God’s interruption can cause revelation. Our interruption can cause us to become depressed in the waiting but God’s interruption can cause a shift in our atmosphere. Our interruption can cause things to halt but God’s interruption can cause things to happen. Beloved, God is working and He can interrupt our formalities to force our faith to kick in. God can interrupt our peace to test our trust of Him. God can interrupt our happiness simply to see if we can actually handle the harvest we’ve been waiting for.

I don’t know who this is for today but God isn’t intentionally ignoring you, He’s working on your request and He needs you to trust Him in His silence. He’s working, beloved, you just need to watch Him work it out. Can you do that? Yea, it’s hard, “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

Daily Devotional – 11/5/19 “Fear God”

Psalm 34:1-10 says this, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”

This Psalm was sung by David while he hid in a cave running from Saul. If you noticed, he used the word fear, a lot in his song. What I want to point out is verse nine where he says, “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” What is fear? We take fear to mean scared of but fear here means reverence; as in respect. What David is saying, when we respect God, we want for nothing. See, when you have respect for a person, you will not intentionally do anything to hurt them. When you respect someone, you will not purposely set out to cause them pain. When you respect someone, they are often who you think about before you do something out of character. And respect isn’t something that goes away.

Sure, we sometimes lack it, but it doesn’t go away. For me, I’m a 42-year-old who still respects my husband, parents, grandparents, elders, family, friends and those in authority. Even when I’m standing face to face with someone who doesn’t deserve it, I still give it. Why? It’s about me and not them. When it comes to serving God, I give Him the same respect because I chose to follow Him and say yes.

Look, God doesn’t want us to be afraid, but He desires that we reverence Him. See, when we serve out of fear, we do so from a place bondage and control and this isn’t the God we serve. And, why would God need to control us by fear when serving Him is a choice we make? To fear God is to respect Him because if we respect Him, we will not do anything deliberately to hurt Him. When we fear God, we serve willingly and not reluctantly. When we fear God, properly, His word tells me, “fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.” In other words, when I respect God, I shall lack for nothing.

Daily Devotional – 10/25/19 “The ministry of the deuces!”

Dear sister and brother,

Stop feeling guilty for walking away from an unhealthy environment, relationship, job, friendship, situationship or place of worship. Read these words carefully … YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE BEING HURT, USED, TAINTED, MISTREATED, WALKED OVER, LIED ON AND ETC.! Sure, there are times our assignments and relationships are hard but willingly putting up with the nastiness of folk, for the sake of saying you hold a position … HELL NO! When God sent out the twelve disciples to heal, teach and reach the people; He gave them some valuable advice. Yes, I know this devotional isn’t about sending you out to do the same but the advice, He gave then, allow it to bless you, now. He told them in Matthew 10:12-14, “As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”

Baby, some of y’all are suffering because you haven’t been blessing folk with the ministry of the deuces (two fingers you throw to tell folk, I’m out and goodbye). See, truth is, you need to learn the difference between suffering for Christ’s sake and suffering for folk. Suffering for God has its rewards but suffering for folk has its repercussions. Suffering for Christ is meaningful but suffering for position, well that’s useless. Beloved, lookahere, you are not obligated to heal a grown man or woman. You are not obligated to fix their brokenness. You are not obligated to stay and be walked over. You are not obligated, pastor, to be somebody’s stepping stone. You are not obligated, daughter/son, to be somebody’s punching bag. You are not obligated, ma’am/sir, to be somebody’s atm. You are not obligated, dear employee, to be used. And for the love of all things Holy, stop staying because you see potential without actuals. Fire has potential too, to either keep you warm or burn you up. All I’m saying is, be happy and if you’re not, stop feeling guilty for choosing to be. And that ministry of the deuces, it’ll bless your spirit and your sanity.

Sincerely,
Your sister in Christ, Lakisha