Destination: Destiny (M2W Devotional)

Let's talk a little bit about destiny.

What is 'destiny'? It's defined as "the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible, course of events". The most important word being "predetermined". As believers, we know that the predeterminer of our destiny is God... the Alpha and Omega ...the author AND finisher of our faith. Remember that he told Jeremiah, '“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5). God's plan for your life was already designed before you were even born. Think of your destiny as a destination.

We see the destination but how do we get there? We must, daily, submit to the will of God. A lot of us are in the stages of our lives where we are really starting to seek God concerning his purpose and will for our us. As we start thinking of future plans for our education, our careers, our families...it is essential to make sure that our own wills are yielding to the will of God. Notice I used the word 'yield' and not 'merge'.

All too often we try to blend what we want with God's plan and what we end up with is a major crash because the will of God does not merge. It will not move over and allow your plans to come in. Your will needs to completely yield to God's will. Stop asking God to share the road and just get in his car. By getting in God's car, I just mean making a choice to do things God's way, as opposed to doing it your own way. We've already established that God knows the road to the destination a lot better than you do. Once you make the choice to get in his car, you can think of his will as the GPS.

 It will tell you which moves to make and when, if you consistently seek him through prayer... "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). ... and the word of God.... "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).  Remember that God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. "¹But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you." (John 16:13-14) 

We all know that the only time a GPS system really works is when we actually use it. That's where your faith comes in. It's easy to do what God says do and go where God says go when the conditions of your life are pleasing to you or when things appear to be moving in your favor. But what about when it doesn't look so good? What about when the road is so cloudy that you can't even see in front of you? Can you trust God to maneuver as we wills even then? God said go to grad school. But, your GPA isn't good enough to get in. Do you trust God enough to apply anyway? God said the job is yours. But the requirements for the position prefer a lot more experience than you have. Do you believe God and submit your resume anyway? God called you to ministry. But everybody knows your past is questionable. Do you worry about what people will say? or do you trust God and do what HE said? It's time to get serious about exercising and growing our faith. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 1:20 that God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen"... meaning they are guaranteed. We must always walk by faith and not by sight.(2 Corinthians 5:7). That might mean that sometimes you have to move in a way that raises some people's eyebrows. It might mean that you have to go even when everybody else is staying. It might mean that you have to walk alone sometimes. But that's ok. Just remember that there's a destination in mind and everybody won't go with you. Philippians 1:6 says "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Know that if God said it, he WILL perform it!  Remember that every time you do something other than what God says do, he is forced to reroute you to your destination. That doesn't mean you won't ever get there. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). But it takes longer that way. You have to go through more when you are disobedient.

As you travel the road to your destiny, know that God has amazing plans for your life! The conditions might not look good right now, but keep in mind that this is the journey, not the destination. And be encouraged! You WILL get there!

Be blessed. 

No More Drama (Devotional for M2W)

'Make sure that no one repays wrong for wrong. But always strive to do what is right for each other and everyone else.'  1 Thessalonians 5:15
The book of 1 Thessalonians is the first letter that Paul wrote to the people of Thessalonica. In this particular chapter, (I encourage you to read it in it's entirety at your convenience.) Paul talks about what seperates us, people of the light, from non-believers, people of darkness. He, basically, gives us a rundown of how we should behave.....how we should treat our leaders and how we should treat each other. One of the things he talks about is being patient with each other. He challenges us to be long suffering with each other and to do it in love.

The verse that I would like to pay special attention to, in this devotional, is the 15th verse. It's in this verse that Paul presents the greatest challenge for most of us, as believers. He tells us to not repay wrong for wrong and to do what is right for/to everyone. Have you ever noticed how it seems like the people that do the most wrong to you, are the same ones that need your help down the line. They talked about you, lied on you and to you, disclosed things about you that were said to them in confidence, stole from you, turned others against you, ect. And now....they need you. And guess what.... God requires that you not hold the wrong that was done to you against them and lend your hand to help them.

I can't tell you how many times I've been presented with this challenge. I can't tell you how many times I've asked God why he would allow them to call on me for help knowing the wrong they've done to me. And God's answer is always the same.....'This is how you will show them who I am.' Anybody can quote scripture and use scripture to tell someone else how wrong they are. But God wants us to be doers and not just hearers of the word. It is our actions that change hearts and lead people to Christ. The Bible says, 'Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.'~Matthew 5:16

A lot of us say that we want to be drama free. We declare almost every week that we are done with the drama of our lives. And yet....every other week we find ourselves right back in a personal soap opera. I challenge you to think about how much of the drama in your life could be avoided if you just made up in your mind that you are done repaying wrong for wrong....that you are done hurting people as a reaction to them hurting you. Think about this: The drama in your life does damage to your witness. Ain't nobody interested in hearing about the God you serve when your life looks like never ending episode of All My Children for all to see. When we engage in the exchanging of wrong for wrong, hurt for hurt, evil for evil....that is exactly what our lives look like, a dramatic mess.

You can't control what people do to you or how people treat you. But you can control how you respond and how you treat them. In fact, God requires that you do control how you treat them. He requires that we don't repay them wrong for the wrong they've done to us. We are the light of the world. He requires that we let our light shine so that he may get the glory.

Be blessed =)

The Choice to Die...Daily (Devotional for M2W)

One of the many phrases I, often, hear tossed around among Christians is the idea of 'dying to the flesh'. For years and years I've heard it tossed around, but it wasn't until recently...when God started dealing with me on a personal level about 'dying to my flesh' that I really began thinking about what it really means and how my neglect of it has impacted my ability to function in ministry the way God intends.
At the very beginning of our Christian walks, when we first accepted Christ as our Savior, most of us were baptised. That baptism was symbolic of the choice we made to deny ourselves or die in the flesh and be reborn in the spirit. One thing that we must realize, though, is that this 'fleshly death' is not a one time thing. Rather, it is our responsibility, as servants of God, to crucify our flesh on a daily basis. Why is this necessary day after day? Paul said it best... 'For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other so that you do not do what you want.' ~Galatians 5:17. Let me just make it plain... Your flesh and the spirit of God are not on the same page, never was on the same page, and never will be. Since our flesh does not agree with the spirit, it is our flesh that must be sacrificed so that we may operate in the spirit. This is especially important when it comes to operating in ministry. We don't move in steps that are ordered by God when our flesh is governing our actions.
The Bible says in John 3:30 that 'He must increase, but I must decrease.' Less of me, more of him....we should be living our lives, daily, with that in mind. It's not easy. It means that you won't be able to go all the places you used to go, hang with all the people you used to hang with, participate in all the activities you used to participate in, or even listen to all the music you used to listen to. Needless to say, it's a complete lifestyle change. I'll be the first to admit that I mess it up more than I get it right. But I thank God that with every new day comes brand new mercies. 
If it is our goal to function in ministry according to the will of God, we need to, daily, go through the process of purging ourselves of pride, self-will, and all the other things that cause us think of ourselves first and God somewhere after that. Our wills must yield to his will. When we hold ourselves accountable to doing this everyday, humility develops and our faith is strengthened. We are, then, able to be used by God the way he has purposed. Make the choice to die to your flesh today and everyday.

Be blessed =)

Is There A Such Thing As Being Too Real?

'I'm in my own world. I speak how I feel. Sometimes I feel like, I'm just too real.'

Lil Kim said that a few years back. Well, with a couple of explicits added in. That quote, though, has always stuck with me. Anybody that knows me, knows that once I decide how I feel about a something, I have no problem whatsoever speaking on it. I've always been that way. In school, my teachers often described me as 'opinionated' and having 'strong convictions'. It was never a surprise to my mom, though. I got it honestly. My grandmother was the type of person that always shot straight from the hip. She told you how she felt and she let you deal with your own emotions about it. She never forced it on you. She wasn't aggressive with it. But if you asked her for her opinion or talked to her about your situation....she gave it to you raw. I'm the same way. I always just assumed that this characteristic didn't bother the people around me. In fact, up until recently, I never even thought about it at all. People would tell my that I'm extremely blunt, but I didn't know what they meant. And to be real, I really didn't care. I was just being the only me I know how to be.

My tongue has always been sharp. I know this about me. If I'm not careful, I'll rip a person to shreds not even thinking about it. This is why, even when I'm provoked, I try really hard to walk away from verbal altercations. Words can be damaging... in an irreversible kind of way for some people. A person with an extended vocabulary such as myself *clears throat* can do a lot of damage in just a few short sentences. So, I censor. I know that's hard for some of yall to believe. But, YES, I DO censor. What comes up does NOT, in fact, come out as some of you have alleged. LoL. One thing I don't do is: fake. I love being Mikki....the REAL Mikki. I find the unadulterated me quite refreshing. *takes sigh of relief*  And as long as I'm coming from a good place, I don't see anything wrong with being real.

I've found though, lately, that everybody does not appreciate the kind of real people like me bring to the table. I'm sure some of yall can relate to this. Ever say something with the most genuine of intentions and have the person respond negatively? Ever say something SO real, that it cost you a relationship, friendship, a job, ect? Ever have someone completely shut down on you after you told them how you REALLY feel? Then you know what I'm talking about. I never thought about being 'real' as only an option until recently. I don't think anybody that's, genuinely, real ever does.....until it costs them something. I was faced with such a situation, recently. I was real. And it cost me. A lot. For the first time, I had to ask myself if speaking on what I really feel is worth the potential for loss that it comes with. See, that's what a lot of people don't think about. You can be as real as you want to be. But you have to be willing to take some personal losses because of it. That's the trade off. You get to be real, but they get to disassociate themselves from you if they don't like it....and YOU have to be ok with that. I'm always sceptical about people who claim to be real 100% of the time and also claim to have many friends. It sounds good in theory, but it just doesn't work that way in practice. The truth in inconvenient for a lot of people and 'real' is not nearly as popular as people claim it is. And THAT'S real.

So what do yall think? Is there a such thing as being too real? Have you been in a situation where being 'real' cost you something you didn't want to lose? Tell me about it...

IT'S ALIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!: The Monster of my Heart

Now I know how Frankenstein must have felt.

I know what you're thinking... 'You're gone for 2 months and the 1st thing you say when you come back is THAT?' LoL. Just stay with me. It'll all come together at the end.

I know how Frankenstein must have felt. I, too, created a monster. I wasn't trying to, but I did. I'm not gonna bore yall with the details. Let me just say this:

1. Be careful about allowing someone to think they can enter and exit your life at will. Your life does not have revolving doors at the entrance. I'm not saying that you shouldn't give second chances. Hey...give as many chances as you want, but know that, at some point, you have to say "Either you're going to be here or you're not." You have to do that for you. Otherwise, you'll be stuck with a person that never feels the need to commit one way or another....... a monster.

2. Always put a voice to your feelings. Express feelings of insecurity, doubt, confusion just like you express feelings of love, concern, or satisfaction. You have to air those feelings out. If you don't, there's a good chance the object of those feelings won't know you feel that way. And if they don"t know you feel that way, then they don't know there are things that need to change in order for you to be happy. The last thing you wanna do is create a false sense of security. You'll end up stuck with a selfish person that can't take criticism...a monster.

3. If you create a monster, know that it WILL, eventually, kill you. It's a monster, after all. And that's what monsters do. As hurtful and crushing as that is to hear....it's the truth. And when it happens, you can't even be mad, because the reality is that you created it. And we KNOW when we've created a monster. Don't be in denial. Let it go before it kills you.

4. Never build your 'Happily Ever After' around a person. I know that sounds like common knowledge, but it's easy to do when you've been with a person for years upon years. People are not possessions. At any given moment, someone can decide to not be a part of your life anymore and there's nothing you can do about it. Build your happy ending around the promises of God. He KNOWS the plans he has for your life. He's not still trying to figure it out. And the best part of the whole thing is this: He has never, ever failed. He gets it right every time.

Some lessons are hard to learn. I can, honestly, say that these have been the hardest. But I learned them, and that's the important thing. I know I've been MIA for a while, but life has been kinda hard on the emotional side lately. Sometimes I have to take a step back and regroup. I took a hard a punch in September, another one in October, and then another one last month. It's enough to knock anyone off their block for minute. I'm back though! And I'm excited about new things happening for me, as a writer, this year. Details will be coming very soon!!! Thank you all for being patient with me. LET'S GET IT!!! :)

Pep Talk for my People (...currently in a Quarter-Life Crisis)

Lately, I've been in this thing they call a 'Quarter Life-Crisis'.  (Don't know what a Quarter-Life Crisis is? Click HERE.) Actually, it's been longer than lately.... it's been about a year now. One year ago, almost to the day, I started to realize that I was very close to all my dreams never coming true. I realized that I had, basically, made a mess of my life.... that I was unsatisfied in almost every area. Don't get me wrong, I was, generally, a happy person. I had everything I needed, but I wanted so much more. I don't think I knew, specifically, what I wanted more of at that point. And to a certain extent it's still hard to name. I just like to call it 'space', now.... an 'enlarged territory', if you will.
(Do you have the sudden urge to listen to Donald Lawrence's "Bless Me (Prayer of Jabez) right now? I thought u might. Click HERE. You can thank me later.)

Anyway, the more I talked to my friends and associates in my age group, the more I started seeing that yall are, basically, feeling the same way. I've heard all of yall express the same, general dissatisfaction with the status quo of your lives. I've heard all of yall express a sense of urgency in changing things in your lives now in order to reach that point where dreams meet destiny faster. I want to put that out there because one of the most frustrating aspects of this 'place' we're in is the feeling of isolation...that feeling that no one really understands. The truth is quite the contrary. We ALL understand. I have the most diverse circle out here.... rappers, singers, producers, writers, event planners, doctors, nurses, professors, ministers, accountants, entrepreneurs, lawyers, chef's.... we got it all, yall. Look around you.

Some of yall do a few of these things, with yall's bad selves! Stick with it! I know it's not bringing in the money yet, but hang in there. No matter how many times you fall, always find the courage to get back up. Continue to walk by faith. Know that there is a plan.
To those of you that haven't tapped into your dreams yet....Be encouraged. Just because you don't know what the plan is, doesn't mean there isn't one. God has a plan and a purpose for all of us. He has not forgotten you.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~Jeremiah 29:11



Take faith in the fact that the Lord himself has an 'expected end' for you. We need to all make sure that we are lining up with his plan and not wasting time trying to come up with our own. There IS no other way. Think of it as a GPS system. The destination has been established. The first route he gives you is always the least complicated. Every time you go off course, he's forced to reroute you.... that's when things start to get complicated and time consuming. I'm telling you. I have tried (to make it. I couldn't take it. I. had. to. face. it. That there is no other way.... HAHA) to make God work my plan. He just doesn't operate that way. I've wasted time, energy, and youth trying to do it my way. It just doesn't work. I'm enforcing that and reinforcing that, because some of yall really think you can be successful without total submission to the will of God. I love you all. That's why I need to flat out let you know that it's not going to happen. Only God can give increase.

"So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase."~1 Corinthians 3:7



Anyway, I just wanted to take a minute to encourage the people I love. I know it's hard and the path is unclear, but just keep walking and trust that the path is still there and that God is still faithful to keep you on it. That's what they call 'walking by faith'. You are not alone. God cares and so do I.

That's my word... and I'm out. Be blessed :)

The COTLG Total Worship Experience!!!

COTLG Total Worship Experience


The Church of the Living God
© Copyright-The Church of The Living God
Record Label: The Church of The Living God

So....it's only by sheer accident that I have not promoted this CD on this blog before now. Look. Peep game. This is a great gospel CD!! And I'm not just saying that because it's the church I attend or because I'm on it (background). If you want a good praise and worship CD that will bless your mind, heart, and spirit....this is IT! There's something on here for everybody!!! They make great stocking stuffers and can serve as a reminder that Jesus is, in fact, the reason for the season. If you don't have your copy yet....order it now from CD Baby!

Here's the link
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tcotlg

GO! Listen to the snippets! Order it TODAY! Do it NOW!

or...if you know me, personally, hit me up and I can get u a copy. Either way... Do it NOW!