Daily Devotional – 1/2/19 “I pray this year…”

Happy New Year! I pray this year is the beginning to being the best of your existence. May you become more faithful to God and His call on your life, find a church home, say yes to God and take the limits off Him, love thyself, end fruitless relationships, remove the fear, take off the glasses of hurt, be healed and made whole, overcome, be set free, find comfort in your grief, refuse to let depression have the last say, deal with the buried anger, apologize for your wrong and make amends, gain the strength to say no, forgive yourself, forgive those who hurt you, stop counting those who don’t support you and appreciate those who do, tap into your courage and strength to love yourself enough to get out of a bad/abusive relationship and learn your worth; secure the bag (bag i.e. money), learn how to manage said bag, become debt free, charge your worth and be okay when ‘they’ decline to pay it, publish the book, get your business license and step out on faith, get that check-up (physically and spiritually), take your medicine, talk to a therapist and own your truth!

I know this is one long run on sentence but in order for this year to be “THE YEAR,” you’ve got to come out some stuff that you’ve become accustomed too. In order for this year to work for you, you’ve got some work to do and it doesn’t start by making resolutions you know you will not keep. In order for things to be different, you have to be because it starts with you. Let go of what you’ve gotten comfortable in, if it doesn’t fit with your purpose. Walk away from what doesn’t have the ability to push you to be better. Yea, it may have been good enough for the old you but it’s time the new you stepped forward. Stop giving yourself away to what used to make you feel good, temporarily. Ladies, stop chasing after a Boaz because some women’s day speaker told you it was the right thing to do and prepare yourself to be a wife and your husband will find you. Men, stop making baby momma’s when God has called you to be a husband, father and head of your household. I pray this year, you change your way of thinking and definitely how you react. Change your expectations and trust the power of God and what He created within you. God made you for a greater purpose. Find it, learn it then faith it. 18, biblically means bondage but 19, biblically means faith. I pray this year … your faith does not fail.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

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Happy Holidays!

To each of you, your family and friends; I pray you have the merriest of holidays. To you who may be grieving the loss of a loved one(s), I am praying their memories and love will get you through this time. To you who may be alone and feeling as if you can’t make it, I am praying your faith does not fail.

The holidays really aren’t about presents, it should be making memories, laughing and loving.

Don’t take those minutes for granted because a physical gift is something you can replace, time isn’t.

I love each of you and thank you for supporting me. I look forward to what the New Year will bring for me and you! ♥

Lakisha

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12

Happy Holidays!

To each of you, your family and friends; I pray you have the merriest of holidays. To you who may be grieving the loss of a loved one(s), I am praying their memories and love will get you through this time. To you who may be alone and feeling as if you can’t make it, I am praying your faith does not fail.

The holidays really aren’t about presents, it should be making memories, laughing and loving.

Don’t take those minutes for granted because a physical gift is something you can replace, time isn’t.

I love each of you and thank you for supporting me. I look forward to what the New Year will bring for me, you and this devotional blog as I return January 2, 2019 eager to be used by God. ♥

Lakisha

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12

Daily Devotional – 12/11/18 “But what do you believe?”

I saw an episode of #Blackish where Dre (the dad) was serving on a jury that had to decide the fate of a young man, I believe for stealing. While in the jury room, Dre was adamant the young man was innocent but all the others were convinced he was guilty. In fact, they had their mind made up before the door was even closed. Yet Dre fought, every day, being the only not guilty vote. Yet as days went on, he started to believe what the others in the room were saying and on the last day, when they voted, he was the only one who voted guilty. The others finally started to believe what Dre was saying, even if it took it being restated by someone else, however they’d already worn Dre down. Due to this, he’d convinced himself that he had to be wrong. But what do you believe? It doesn’t matter about who’s in the room, what do you believe. When no one else is on your side, what do you believe? If it means losing, what do you believe? In Mark 8, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do men say I am?” They replied verse 28, “And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.” In which Jesus replies, “But who do you say I am?”

Jesus knew what man thought but He needed to know what those who were with Him daily believed. See, it’s one thing to have those in the world believe something about you but it’s entirely different when it’s those you live with, eat with, sleep with and etc. I can take folk, over there, believing one thing but what do you believe, the one who I see every day. I can accept folk, who may not know me, to believe lies and rumors but you, the one who is with me all the time; you should know my character. I can halfway accept folk talking about me, who only know me through social media but you, the one who really knows me; what do you believe. After you weighed everything, what do you believe? After you’ve viewed the evidence, what do you believe? I know the opinion of pastor, sister, cousin and friend nem but what do you believe and will you stick to your beliefs. I know it may mean you won’t fit in out but what do you believe. You may even be talked about but what do you believe? Will you uphold your beliefs even in a room of unbelievers? Will you stand strong in your faith even if nobody at the table does? Bible shares in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Daily Devotional – 12/6/18 “The right reaction manifests!”

Yesterday, I told you about the issue we encountered trying to get our backup camera repaired. Well, the camera was fixed, that’s wasn’t the issue. The issue was the terminology the service adviser used when talking to the warranty people. He told them, the wires appeared to be cut, leading them to think the wires were deliberately cut thus them denying the claim. Understand something. The box to the camera is down under some stuff, enclosed by insulation and a harness (box); in other words, nobody can just walk up and cut the wires, it would have taken work. So, I call them because it’s clear, by the paperwork, the wires weren’t cut. The young lady said, the service adviser would need to call and explain this. I call the dealership and leave a message for Jeff and after 2 hours, he calls back. I tell him what the issue is and this man says, “I never said they were cut, I said broken/cut.” My reply, “Sir, the only reason they are denying this claim is due to your use of the word cut.” We converse for a few minutes, only hanging up with him saying he’d call and “explain to them again,” in a not really but I’ll say what I have to say tone. Needless to say, he didn’t call. However, my faith was already working. I called the warranty people, a third time and the gentleman says, email us the paperwork and I’ll have a supervisor look at it. A few hours later, Chris, the supervisor, calls back and says, “Mrs. Johnson, this paperwork clearly states your deck harness failed which caused the breakage of wires. I’ve already processed your claim and you’ll have a check in 7 to 10 days.”

Usually, I would have been angry at the entire situation, starting with the initial call, especially after spending $500 for something we know should have been covered and even after the situation looked like it wouldn’t work out in our favor, on paper. But then I realized, it wasn’t me but it was him, the service advisor. I don’t know what his issue was, I’ve never met this man but it seemed like he was intentionally trying to wrong us. This is why I didn’t get angry or upset. I didn’t allow it to affect my mood. I paid the amount, got my keys then went and had dinner with my husband. Why? Because I knew, it was him and not us and whatever intent he had, it wouldn’t prosper. I am sharing this to let somebody know, you don’t have to fight folk, all the time. You don’t have to negatively respond, all the time because sometimes, the situation you find yourself in, is them and not you. And the way you respond, might just be your test. I told you yesterday, the right words matter and let me add, the right reaction manifests. For the bible tells me in Ecclesiastes 10:4, “If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your place, for calmness puts great offenses to rest.” Don’t allow people to talk you out of who are you because bible shares in Stay who you are because the offense against you will not prosper.