It's not just writing, it's ministry
Did I ever tell you about the time I wrote for The Virgo Girl? No? Well baby, let me tell you.
I had the opportunity to share my love for writing, in the form of a blog post.
It’s titled, The Issue with Vision Boards and it’s kinda good. (LOL).
You can check it out by clicking HERE.
Let me know what you think and keep an eye out for more blog posts.
Happy Reading
— Lakisha
This morning I have this feeling in my spirit and I don’t know who it is for. To be honest, I don’t even know what it’s for but I’ll tell the Lord, thank you sir. Thank you for whatever it is you are about to do for somebody today. Thank you for the healing you are about manifest today. Thank you for the return of every seed that has been sown in good ground, today. Thank you for allowing the suffering to pay off, today. Thank you for promotion, today. Thank you for enlargement, today. Simply thank you sir.
I could go on and on but God, I just want to thank you for what you are about to do for my brother/sister who is reading this. You know, the one who tossed and turned all night. The one who was counting on the income tax check to help keep their head above water but didn’t get it. The one whose car wouldn’t start this morning and they have no more money to put into it. The one who is going to yet another job interview and still waiting. The one who has to sit through more hours of tests at another doctor’s office. The one who is still grieving. The one who has to make funeral arrangements. The one who has to look their abuser in the face. The one who is still fighting charges for a crime they didn’t commit. The one whose electricity is turned off for nonpayment. The one who is drowning in debt. The one who wants to do right but wrong keeps showing up. The one who believes in you but the enemy is using that small twinge of doubt. The one who is still bitter and angry. The one who is being haunted by generational curses. God, those who have need of you. Whatever it is you are about to do, thank you God in advance. They may not believe it but I believe enough for them so I am standing in the gap declaring that it is so. So beloved, rest while I thank God on your behalf. While you get yourself together, I will tell God thank you on your behalf. For Jesus prayed to God in John 17:14-15, “I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”
Jesus has you covered beloved so I’ll thank Him for you!
Clap back is now a common term being used in reference to a response to criticism. Urban dictionary defines it as, a comeback most likely pumped with attitude, sass and/or shade. I know you’re wondering how this ties in to a devotional but let me share with you something. We are quick to clapback to what folk say yet we won’t clapback on the enemy that shares our bed. We are quick on our feet when we think somebody is coming for us yet we shy away from denouncing evil that’s in our worship places. When are we going to clapback, with some attitude against the way things are; those we know are not right? When will we clapback on these perverted, proph-a-lying prophets, idol worshipping intercessors, marred and messy ministries and selfish seed seeking serpents? When will we clapback against those who aren’t speaking the truth of God’s word? When are we going to clapback against those who always got their mouth of the church but never go to church? When are we going to clapback on those deacons who run the church their way and not God’s way? When are we going to clapback against the Facebook Live Preacher who doesn’t have a bit of oil?
Yeah, even the bible speaks of the clapback in Isaiah 58:1 where it says, “Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 40:6-8, “A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”” Beloved, where is your clapback? Yes, you are great at calling folk out on social media but what about speaking against that’s trying to prevail in your home? You are quick with the clapback against the folk at the job but what about crying out against the war within your children? Where is your clapback against sickness, depression, suicidal thoughts, crooked politicians, government shutdowns, school shootings, mass murders, police brutality, sexual abuse and molestation, spousal and elderly abuse, cancers, heart attacks, strokes, aneurysms, unfair wage gaps, miseducation of our children, predators and predatory lending? Where is your clapback on stuff that matter because this is where we need your voice?
People, even I, have said; “You shouldn’t look like what you’re going through.” And as I sat in a meeting this morning, I began to question myself asking, “why not?” Can’t I, even once, show the hell I’ve had to endure? Can’t I, at least once, show the tears I’ve had to shed? Can’t I, if only for a moment, allow you to see that I hurt too? Bible shares in Job 1:20, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” Ezra 9:3 shares, “When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.” 2 Samuel 1:11, “Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.” Beloved, just because you appear to be strong doesn’t make it true. And just because you show a little weakness, it doesn’t prove to be correct either. However, if I happen to pick, today, to let you see my hurt; it doesn’t take away the fact I love and trust God. It simply means, I am human and having a moment. Is that okay with you?
I’m only asking so that you can hush when you see somebody who doesn’t look as put together as they normally would. I’m asking so you can keep your mouth off folk who look a little different, today. You assume by the tears of the pastor’s wife during service that they are headed for divorce but couldn’t she be having a private moment with God? You see Judy without her makeup and automatically conclude she’s having man issues but couldn’t she be allowing her skin to rest? John hasn’t had a haircut and you surmise he’s broke but could it be, he’s been working 12 hours days and haven’t had a chance? Just because I look like I’m going through, it doesn’t mean I’ve given up on God or that I am. Today might be a day I don’t feel like getting dressed up because I’m too busy going to war for my marriage. Today might be a day I don’t feel like looking cute because I’ve been laying on my face, praying for my church. Today might be a day I don’t care what you think because I’m too caught up with crying loud and sparing not to save some sons and daughters. So if the way I happen to look, this one day, bothers you; so. I don’t feel like being cute because there are souls on the line and one of them might be mine!
I wish I had the antidote to cure what ails you. I wish I had enough money to pull you out of debt. I wish I had the one prayer that can ease your troubled mind or to take away your worries. However, I don’t have all the answers but what I do have is faith and who I have is God. Yes, I know it doesn’t make your pain disappear but beloved, sometimes the stuff we are going through isn’t due to our sacrifice. If I shall be honest, some of our suffering is because of our sin. You can stop reading if you want too but the fact still remains. Yes, the enemy is busy, the storms are raging and you got hell in your home. Yes and yes but the enemy isn’t always to blame for the misery, it could be the company you keep because misery does love company. Confusion always seem to break loose in your home, watch who you’re inviting in because evil is an intentional spirit. You keep ending up in dead-end relationships, be careful of the ‘who’ you allow to drive your heart. Sir, you cannot keep complaining about your inability to find a wife when the places you’re looking do not hold wife standards. Ma’am, your argument cannot be “there are no good men,” when your basis is by the job he has. Your missed promotions could be due to your lack of valuable work ethics. Keep hearing no, look at who you’re asking. Can’t get well, watch what you speak with your own tongue. Ends never meet, look at the end you’re starting with. Your gift isn’t being multiplied, count the number of times you’ve used it versus taking it for granted. Can’t sleep, check where you’re laying your head and who you’re sleeping with. Can’t bear any good fruit, reevaluate where you are planted.
I shared on Facebook yesterday, “God doesn’t need our help to change our situation but He does need our help in making sure ‘said change’ isn’t in vain. What are you doing with the change?” Yes, God will hear and answer us but what happens after He delivers us from evil? What happens after He walks with us in the valley? What happens after He has given us strength to climb the mountain? What happens after He has changed our walk and talk? What happens after God changes our situation? Is it in vain? What are you doing with the change? Because we cannot keep asking God for a change and then doing nothing with it. It’s like dropping change in the cup holder of your car. You don’t use it until you find yourself in a situation of really needing it. Well, it’s been there all the time and just because it doesn’t look as grand as that twenty-dollar bill, it still has the power to pay for what we need. What are you doing with the change?
Lakisha, the Author