Full Of It

Yesterday, I received some news and it sent me into tears. I couldn't help but cry and this morning I still am. I made phone calls, talked to my husband and then went to my neighbor's house. I couldn't hold it in because I was full of it. I am full of tears of joy. I am full tears of release. I am full of God's awe and wonder. I am full of it.

Do you know what it's like when God answers a prayer that you've had for years? There are no words but thank you. I have more tears than I do words. I won't get into all the details because it's not mines to tell but I will say this; my niece is with her father. She is in the safety of his arms. I'm proud of my brother...Godly proud. He held on and stuck it out even when he was in the thick of it. Now, because of God and him walking on water, he has FULL custody of his daughter. It was a long and very, very, very hard road. If you love your children, nieces, nephews, etc; you don't want to see them endure harm at an alarming level. My brother endured pain as well. It was hard for him to take but God knew he could handle it.

My niece is a gift from up above and is forever in the grips of HIS grace. God saw fit to snatch her out of harms way and placed her where she is safe and free to be who He created her to be. She is so full of life and talent and to see someone else (who is supposed to be the one to help her bloom) try to keep her down is painful.

If you know of someone in child abuse and or neglect, I know it's hard but take the time to collect the data and proof you will need to make a strong case. Then wait for the right time to take it to court and it will work out for you. Don't give up on that child. You are their only hope. You are their only fresh air (besides God). You are the only one they see. Don't give up. Get strong to strengthen them. God will make sure they are alright and that's DEFINITE!!!

Writers Get Away!

As writers, authors, bloggers, etc, we are always surrounded by life. That's not bad because most of us are inspired by the things going on around us however, sometimes our week looks a little like this:

Yes, we make it through but after a week like this or maybe even months, we would like to get away just to write in some peace. Life comes at us many different ways and we are troopers. I know for myself and a few of my friends (who are writers) need that time alone. We get up in the morning preparing everyone including ourselves for the day, go throughout the day working then come home to a house full and by the time all of the work is done, there is either little time or we're too tired to even press a letter on the keyboard. Well, I have the answer for you!

We are hosting a WRITERS GET AWAY RETREAT!

It's time to do away with the picture above and get refreshed!

This retreat will be just what the doctor ordered. No electronics will be allowed (except for the laptop obviously needed for writing), plenty of time for writing in a room by yourself, peace and quiet, along with some refreshing time.

The cost is only $250. You pay half of the cost upfront then the other half by September 30th. This fee is non-refundable due to the costs of everything having to be paid upfront.

Be sure to bring your networking business materials! Sign up today! Rooms are limited.!

If you need more information, please contact me, Keisha Lapsley at favk@ymail.com.

You can sign up immediately at http://writersgetaway.eventbrite.com

We also have advertising available in our new film coming up. See how you can benefit!
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Suit Up!

After talking with many friends and family, I realized a lot of us are going through some really difficult times. I constantly ask God what this is because it has to be something. What are we to do in this time? What do we say to these times? One answer: SUIT UP! We have dropped or taken off our armor completely. The Armor of God was never meant to be taken off. SUIT UP! Just like in the military, God has issued us armor. When a soldier is in war, deployed in a combat zone, they are REQUIRED to SUIT UP. The issued articles are to protect the soldier from as much harm as possible. It may not totally prevent it but it can lesson the impact. God is requiring us to SUIT UP! 

Your issued attire is as follows:

1) Your loins girt about with TRUTH
2) Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS
3) Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of PEACE
4) Shield of FAITH
5) Helmet of SALVATION
6) Sword of the SPIRIT
7) PRAYING with all prayer and supplication in the SPIRIT

Many times we focus on the first part of the attire instead of the important part. Let TRUTH be in your womb flowing with living water and thirst no more. Cover your heart with RIGHTEOUSNESS because that's the best way to protect it. Always, always, walk in PEACE everywhere you go. Let FAITH shield you from doubt, fear, test and trials. However before all of it SALVATION has to be what covers your mind and governs your thoughts. Fight in the SPIRIT!!! Lastly, PRAY about everything. Never cease to pray about anything whether big or small, tiny or humungous.

Lesson the affect of the attacks by SUITING UP!!!

Be blessed in the Lord and NEVER take off your armor.
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Who Said?

"Why are we so quick to run out of relationships and situations when things get tough? Why is it that we believe that we shouldn’t have to endure this or that? Why is it that we believe not to love like Christ and think that it’s alright? Why are we so quick to give up and give in? Christ said that his grace is sufficient. What would we do if Christ didn’t endure for us? What would we do? All of our sins, He took on and bore on the cross. What about those secret sins that is just between you and God? What about the secret affair you had? What about the night you gave into your flesh and watched porn? What about the time you smoked that cigarette knowing you weren’t supposed to and then act surprise about an incurable disease and He still heals you? What about the time you didn’t stand up for righteousness and went to the club with your friends and feeling guilty the whole time? What about the time you knew you should have spent more time with the children but your television show was more important? What about the time you hit your spouse and is still doing it but you think no one knows? What about your sin of not acknowledging God? What about the sins of doing what you are big enough and bad enough to do? What about not giving God praise when he does something awesome for you, blesses you, get you out of that situation or answer your prayer? What about not giving Him your life to show your dedication, commitment and gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross? What about turning your back on Christ when things got rough? What about all of that?"

I wrote a book called "Who Said Love Doesn't Hurt?" The above synopsis is an insert from the book. It can be found at www.kingdom4.com.

Keisha Lapsley

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Everything

We, as people, tend to always look at what we need, what we want, what we don't have and what we need more of but have looked past who has everything. As I sat one day praying, looking all around and weeping, I came to the realization that as long as I have Jesus I have everything and there is nothing I am lacking.

Everything we need is found in Jesus. When we decide to make Him apart of our everyday lives, there is nothing we lack or are in need of because of who He is and what He is capable of handling. This captivating realization caused me to stop weeping and worrying about everything I need and instead began to weep because of the conclusion I came to, which turned into worship.

If you have Jesus, YOU - HAVE - EVERYTHING!!! Turn your worry and weeping into worship and it will be the peace you need to calm all of your storms.

If you do not know Jesus, make Him your personal Savior today. Repent of your sins and turn to Him.

Have a blessed day!

Exceptional Woman

I met two army wives this weekend at church. The first wife I met was standing in line at the bookstore to buy the weekend sermon for her husband who is currently overseas. It was crowded in there with very little room to move about and yet we conversed with each other about the military and couponing, all the while, her baby in tow.

 

She shared that her husband had to leave for deployment one week after their baby was born. That has to be hard. The baby is still on their own sleeping schedule and the fact that the mommy is missing her soldier is a lot to take in all at once. Nevertheless, she is doing it and what makes her exceptional is that she was willing to fight the heavy traffic flow within the church building, battling through crossing the hallway of the hundreds of parishioners that are coming out of the sanctuary, just to get to the other side where the bookstore is, only to buy one small CD for her soldier, again, all the while with her baby in tow. Getting God’s word to her husband every week is important to her and to him.

 

Being a military wife myself, I understand the struggles all to well. After the recent redeployment, my husband and I was sitting on the couch talking and he was mentioning what the chaplain was saying in one of the briefings. He said the chaplain said that they don't know just how tired they are because they have been pumping adrenaline for months on end, handling this problem and that problem, going here and going there and sleeping but never really sleeping." It makes sense because as military spouses, we put out this same adrenaline to endure the deployment. I've been so tired since he's been home and now I understand why.

 

At one time or another, we have all been here before. It may not seem like much to some people but for us, the load is much heavier than the baby or toddler that we have in tow. Let’s give this new military mom and others like her a HOOAH! They are all in much need of encouragement. Remember one another when one is in need. Love you ladies…YOU ROCK!

Homeless: My Favorite Park Bench

I wrote a book called Homeless: My Favorite Park Bench. This is the beginning of a series of Homeless books. Have you ever been in a church and felt homeless? I have and that is where this series derived from and I wanted to reach everyone else who felt that way. Here is a snippet of a piece of the book:

As Joe hung up the phone after speaking with his mother he says to me, “Did you think about the question I asked you this morning?”

“You mean about the expecting thing?” I retorted with my eyes in the air.

“Yes the expecting thing,” he said with a smile on his face.

“I had no choice but to think about it all day,” I said as he cut me off.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“When I left the soup kitchen this morning I went to the Arts Center and this lady named Karen asked me the same question you asked,” I said.

“Well, what did you tell her?” Joe asked.

“I gave her the same answer I gave you, nothing changed,” I told him.

“What happened next?” he continued to inquire.

“As I was leaving the center she stops me in the parking lot...I say that as if I have a car and was driving off, huh,” I said sarcastically.

“Things will get better for you. I know the God that I serve and if you want it He will give it,” he tried to persuade me.

“Anyways,” I said rolling my eyes and twisted my lips to the side and continued to say, “She caught up with me and gave me this book.”

“I saw you reading something when I was calling your name. What is it?” he asked me.

“It’s called, “Expecting When You Don’t Know What to Expect” and it’s a poetry book. I didn’t know why Karen gave me this book and what would it actually do for me but when I read the first poem it surprised me. The author really captured how I felt and my current situation,” I said as water filled my eyes.

“Hmmm…sounds like God is trying to get you to have expectations in Him. He is not keeping you here. You are keeping you here,” Joe stated.

“Excuse me,” I said appalled, burning up on the inside.

“You heard me,” he said in a deep tone of voice.

“Do you really think I like being homeless? I mean really, is this where I want to be?” I asked him to make him think about his choice of words.

“No, I am not changing what I said. I am not taking it back. You need to hear this and today is the day. I’ve watched you for the past two years be down on yourself but you never do or say anything to pick yourself up. I understood it at first because anyone being on the street for the first time is not a good feeling or experience but you stayed there. I won’t let you do that anymore. When God gave me the go ahead, I went ahead and sistah today is your day,” Joe said as he let some things off his chest.

“I guess you told me,” I said giving a little chuckle.

“We will talk more about this later,” Joe said as he pulled up to his mother’s house.

“Your mother’s house is beautiful Joe,” I said in astonishment and also thinking, “This brotha has some change in his pocket.”

“Thank you Samantha,” he said politely.

 

            I was in amazement when we walked up to the door. When Joe rung the doorbell a beautiful woman (that doesn’t look a day over thirty) came to the door. She had long dark curly hair, beautiful skin lightly touched with eye shadow, lipstick with a hint of gloss and foundation, sharp clothes with strapless heels and a smile that could light up the darkest of days (just like Joe I might add).

“Samantha, meet my mom Mrs. Hernandez,” Joe said as he introduced her.

“Hi, I’m Samantha,” as I restated the introduction because I didn’t know what to say. This wasn’t at all what I expected.

“It’s nice to meet you Samantha. Come on in and relax,” Mrs. Hernandez said as she put her hand on my back to welcome me.

 

            This home is stunning. Her foyer is huge, tall ceilings with engravings on them. The curtains are flared just right to give the right amount of light throughout the downstairs. There are stairs on the left and right of me going up in a curving motion and the railings looks to be handcrafted. The dining room looks like it should be seating royalty. I have never seen anything like this before in my life. I mean I’ve seen it on television but never actually stood inside one let alone know anyone that lives in anything like it. 

 

This e-book can be purchased online at www.kingdom4.com.