Daily Devotional – 11/20/18 “Check your pot!”
Growing up and even today, I watch my grandmother take care of her plants. Sometimes, this meant moving them from one pot to another. When I was small I didn’t understand it but as I got older, I realized the original pot was too small to handle the growth of the plant. See, had the plant remained in the small pot, it’s growth would slow. Had the plant remained in the same pot, it wouldn’t receive all of the nutrients it needed because the pot couldn’t handle the amount of soil and water required. Had the plant stayed in the small pot, it could possibly fall over, depending on the weight it carried. Do you read where I’m going? Some of you aren’t growing because you’re in the wrong pot/space. Some of you aren’t growing properly because the space you’re in will not allow you to grow, receive the nutrients you need or spread your roots. Some of you are stagnant, where you are, because the space cannot accommodate your growth. And if I can be honest, the reason some of you haven’t left yet is because the space is comfortable. Sure, you know it’s too small but it fits within your budget. Here’s the thing, it fits within your budget but you aren’t moving on yours, this next move is on God who has unlimited resources.
Beloved, you can’t grow, properly, in small spaces. I don’t care how well you fix it up, you will not properly develop in a place where you can’t spread out. You don’t have to believe me but try raising a large family in a small place. I don’t care how much you like where you are, you cannot grow in a place that cannot meet your nutritional needs. Sure, you can stay but it may get painful, very painful. Think of a pregnant woman who is close to term and her baby is running out of space in the womb. She experiences unbelievable pain every time the baby moves. Why? Because the space no longer fits. I don’t care how good your name looks on the roster, your gifts cannot be cultivated in a place that cannot meet your needs. Why do you think you keep falling from the weight? Your pot is too small. Why do you think you’re still thirsty and hungry? Your pot is too small. However, let me make something clear. If you are okay with where you are, stay. If you are good with the small, comfortable place; by all means stay put. But if you’ve asked God to enlarge your territory, fulfill the desires of your heart and to bless you abundance; chances are you got to move. When was the last time you checked your pot?
As an author …
As an author …
I wish I could tell you I know all there is. I don’t.
Truth is, when i first started writing I barely saw a return on the investment I put in. Hours upon hours of writing but no money was being made. Time spent away from family and friends and even some of them will not support. My name printed real cute on the front cover of books and you can find me on Amazon but that’s about it.
I should quit, right? I BET NOT and neither should you.
Here’s some unsolicited advice.
1. Invest in yourself and your gifts. The same way you go to school for a degree or certification; study your craft. Spend money on the best book cover, editors, proofreaders and promoters. Cheap is not always the way to go. Trust me, I know.
2. Build you a team. People who will push you, encourage you and pray for you. Have someone on your side who will tell you the truth, even if it hurts your feelings. Get to know people who are on the level you’re trying to make it too and one day surpass. Ask their opinion and take their advice.
3. Do NOT write book series if you don’t have the time to finish it. You will lose readers that way. If I have to re-read the first book just to read the second one, issa no for me.
4. Believe in yourself. There will be some folk who will not like what you put out and you may get some bad reviews. Trust your gift. Family may not support. Trust your gift. Nobody showing up at your celebration, trust your gift. It will pay off.
5. NEVER GIVE UP. I told you, for years the royalties I received couldn’t even pay my water bill (the cheapest bill in the house) but I did not quit. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not in a position to quit my jobs but I am finally seeing a return on the investment I’ve been putting in. IT TOOK YEARS though! You will see it too.
6. Stop comparing yourself to someone else. You are you and they are them. I don’t care how many of their books you read, you will not write like them. It’s their gift the same as it is your. Find your own footing. Sure, I said before, take advice but don’t copy them because that will only make you a copy of them and not you.
That’s it for now.
I don’t know it all. I haven’t made the New York Times’ Best Seller. My books are not in Barnes and Noble or Walmart stores. My name is not rolling in the credits of movies. I am not being called on to headline book events. Fact is, I’ve never even won a book award but I’m Lakisha … Author Lakisha and people know me and they read my books.
“Writing didn’t find me, God etched it within my soul when He formed me in my mother’s belly.”
Keep writing, keep trusting, keep believing.
— Lakisha ❤️
Daily Devotional – 11/19/18 “It’s due!”
When I miss writing devotionals, I feel as though I am missing an important event and I am letting you, the person I told I’d be there, down. I don’t know why and I can’t explain it but I do. See, penning a devotional is a release for me. It’s like preaching but I don’t have to stand before a congregation and sweat out my curls. LOL. You get it, right? I love Jesus and when He has instilled in me the gift, to share Him; through blogs, books, preaching, posting and etc. I try to be as obedient as I can but sometimes, God quiets me. I’m okay with that because it’s in those moments. when God doesn’t release me to share, that He is refueling me. This past week, I’ve been in and out of social media because I just wasn’t feeling it. God was quieting me. It’s not that I’d done anything wrong but I believe God is about to shift me again, spiritually and I’m okay with that too. I don’t know what He has planned for me but it is well because I trust Him. I can’t explain why I’ve been feeling like this but it is well because I trust God. My only prayer is to make God proud with every action AND reaction that comes from me. Why? Well because bible tells me in Galatians 6:9, if I don’t get weary while doing good, I shall reap in my due season when I don’t faint (lose courage). This is why I am feeling led to tell somebody, today, don’t get tired now. You’ve come too far to forfeit the harvest of your due season. This is for those of you who have planted ‘WELL DOING’ because you do know that you reap what you sow, right?
Yes, I know you’ve got to be tired of helping only to get hurt and hate back but your due season is approaching. Yes, I know you’ve got to be fed up with being what everybody needs when nobody is there for you but your due season is coming. Yes, I know you’re drained from giving and getting nothing in return but your due season is approaching. Don’t mess up your harvest by pulling up what you’ve planted prematurely. Don’t be quick to pack up the tools needed to harvest when your due season is coming. Sure, it’s growing slow but it’s growing. Sure, it looks like it will not pay off but it will. It looks like you’re spinning your wheels but aren’t they moving? Then that’s something. Beloved, don’t get tired in your season of doing good, even if people don’t tell you they appreciate you. Don’t get weary in doing good, even if nobody comes back to tell you thank you. Don’t get weary in well doing, even if it looks like your help is in vain. Because here is what I’ve come to realize. Somebody is always watching even if they never open their mouth to tell you. Somebody is proud of you even if they never come out and say it. Don’t get weary, servant, your due season is DUE soon and you SHALL (this means have to) reap. You have too because you’re owed what you planted. You shall reap because you’re owed a return. You got to get your due season because it’s due just don’t get weary now because you shall reap, if you faint not.
New Book Alert
Has fear of the past ever kept you stagnant? Ever felt like you were been chased but didn’t see nobody?
Magnolia is a 32 year old female who was recently asked to lead the congregants of a growing church in Memphis, TN. She thought she’d be happy but as soon as the words, “We want you to lead…” left the mouth of Senior Pastor, Lucas Carrington, fear set in.
It isn’t fear of the position because Magnolia has been under the leadership of Pastor Carrington for five years. It isn’t even fear of being the church’s first woman pastor. Her fear is the secret she’s carrying. Her secret … Magnolia is being chased.
Chased – pursued in order to catch.
Magnolia is being chased by the demons of her past and it is the one thing she can’t get away from. No matter how much she prays and fast or the many times she lays on the altar, she cannot outrun it.
But she’s tired.
Tired of running but afraid of being caught. Will Magnolia finally surrender to stop the chase or will her fear be too hard to face?
Happy Reading,
Lakisha ❤️
Lakisha, the Author 