by Tannika Nikeya

Can’t Move Forward

After reading the first six chapters of first Samuel, I am beginning to understand how God’s presence and God’s glory are important to the believer, the Body of Christ.

The glory of God, which is seemingly difficult to define, is basically the external manifestation of God’s presence (http://www.biblestudytools.com).

The presence of God is also difficult to define. However, the Hebrew term for presence in the scriptures is translated as “face”. Dwelling in the presence of God means to have a deeper closeness and fellowship, close and personal encounter, a response of worshiping in spirit and in truth as well as a total surrender to God, His sovereignty, and His love.

We can’t move forward without either God’s glory and presence. We need God’s glory in everything–not our glory but His. We need His glory during decision-making, good times, special events and family time, travels, and during trials and tribulations. Where the glory of God goes, there is power, deliverance, and victory.

Living in the presence of God ensures safety, joy, sustainment, and the blessing.

Please read 1 Samuel 1 to 6

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, The Great I Am,

I worship You today! I ask for forgiveness of my sins, disobedience, and even my fear that keeps me focused on my circumstances, frailties, and man. Help me to overcome the fear of man and to have the fear of the Lord. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of my faith. Help me to remember that You have all authority and power even over the devil himself. Forgive me for living my life contrary to this. Now God, I ask You also to help me and the rest of my siblings-in-Christ to seek Your presence and glory. We want to live in Your presence and we want Your glory to accompany us daily, even going before us. Have Your way, Holy Spirit, and thank You God for answering our prayers in Jesus’s name, amen!

Trust God & Set The Captive Free,

Tannika Moore

http://www.stcfpoetrybook.com

02.18.17

by Tannika Nikeya

Writing Tip Jar: Just Write

Writing Tip Jar is a series to help encourage other writers and inspiring authors along their journeys. Happy Saturday, and pull out your notebook or click on your cellular notepad! It is time to write.

Are you having trouble confidently expressing yourself in your writing? Putting your writing out there can be a very rewarding thing but also a nerve racking one. The fear of not being politically correct, fear of offending others, fear of hearing others’ critiques, fear of not being an expert, fear of releasing too much of our business or imperfections tend to surface and introduce roadblocks to our writing. Or maybe we just dont have the courage to let our hair down and write something challenging and new, thus stifling our ability to be free in exercising and building our talent/natural gift.
I was a person who was proficient in sugar coating, people pleasing–afraid to step on someone’s toes and afraid to displease someone–(still need work on this) and sometimes it carried into my writing.

It was sometimes difficult to organize experiences and feelings in words. Years ago, I felt blocked because I couldnt translate what I was feeling on paper out of fear.

Later, there would be times, I would hear “just write.” Trust God and just write. And when I obeyed, great sparks emitted through my writing releasing an energy, a flow, and revelations like none other.
Sometimes we think some great big monster is suffocating our writing. But could it actually be that we may be suppressing our own writing from flowing naturally from the streams of our hearts?

Today’s tip does not condone writing that is birthed from a heart or goal of pushing immorality, unkindness, or prejudice, or tearing down others, or even heartless, undisciplined writing. That is not writing freely, but rather harshly as well as misusing this talent/natural gift. Yet, today’s tip is about just writing freely, being yourself, being authentic, being honest, letting God fully work through you. It is about using our God-given superpower to impact and bless others on paper or screen.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
http://bible.com/111/ecc.3.1.NIV

There will be times that you hopefully put the pen down and just experience and listen. There will be times also when you have to pick up the pen and just release.

Don’t block your writing. Don’t suppress what you are feeling. Don’t suppress what needs to be said. Don’t suppress what can save someone else’s life. Don’t suppress the truth of what God wanted you to shine a light on. Don’t suppress the goofy, bubbly personality you have.

Show and tell it on paper, and if God leads you to omit or even postpone something in release during the editing process, then hold it back or don’t release it. You have that right. But until now, let it out. Don’t block your writing because you are afraid to tap into what you’re feeling, or dont think it would sound beautiful, or because you are talking about something different than everyone else.

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:2 KJV
http://bible.com/1/hab.2.2.KJV

Someone needs that encouragement, that frankness, that “get yourself together”, that revelation and “aha” moment, that laugh, that realization that one is not alone, and that imperfect writing–yet full of heart and humility on its way to being beautifully and excellently skilled.

Just write.

Start there.
Put your shoes on honey, your journey awaits,

Tannika

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Come join me along my journey to learn to Trust God and Set The Captive Free. Visit www.stcfpoetrybook.com and get my books, Setting The Captive Free and Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me.

01.30.17

by Tannika Nikeya

Tannika’s Free Writing & Flash Fiction: Help

Welcome to my new series where I will be free writing and writing flash fiction to have fun, to regain my discipline as a frequent writer, and to stretch and strengthen my writing skills.

Recently, I had an anxiety attack. But….I’m happy to say I fought it but not without God’s grace and strategies. Alone in a classroom with worn carpet, ununiformed chairs, desks, and tables, I prayed, sang along to worship music, recited God’s Word with as much confidence that could be mustered, took deep breaths, focused in on my breathing, texted my best friend to share my ordeal, and then I tried to face it. But when the Holy Spirit also led me to pick up my pen and grab my notebook, I was able to release it. (A couple of lines were added after the initial writing.)

Help

She could no longer run. She tried to hide but her breathing was as loud and frantic as the rain.

As the rain pranced on the pavement and tapped against her window, she began to pray that the nerves in her stomach would relax. That the hairs on the back of her neck would comfortably rest upon it instead of standing erect in fear. That her breathing focused and grew patient.

That the intruder would be revealed. What did the intruder want from her? How did the intruder find her? She gave no permission for this being to inhabit her space.

Even if she could, she would not scream. She gripped her knees with one arm as she leaned against the wall next to her nightstand. All the while, she kept her eyes fixed on the door that was shutting out the intruder and his intensions. She reached for her pad and pen to scribble for help.

She needed help. There is an intruder but the intruder feels so familiar. She was being dragged towards despair yet frozen in fear. Her thoughts churned, her pen moved, and the rain continued to tap also for her attention. She needed help.

Little did she realize that help was already present. He had arrived when she began to pray. He was devoted towards saving her life. She paused her pen and closed her eyes. She managed to quiet her soul for it had grown loud with fear. She focused on her savior. “I am a present help in the time of trouble,” he said. She could no longer hear the intruder, no longer feel the intruder. Maybe this was a false alarm, but her body and soul had believed it was real.

For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

01.28.17

by Tannika Nikeya

Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes

For those who have read my latest book, you are most familiar with its leading poem, Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me, for which my book was named from.

For those who have not, here is a chance to read my poem which centers around coming to the realization of one’s one-of-a-kindness and purpose. It details the confidence that God created you with a destiny in mind and that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. If your DNA wasn’t proof enough that God wanted you to take off another’s shoes and embrace the destiny and being that He purposed for you, then your individual spiritual gifts, and talents, and His setting you apart unto Himself has got to be further clues.

So enjoy this poem and be encouraged!
Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me

I was meant to be free/Wearing someone else’s shoes ain’t never been me/With whom I carry on the inside, I shall find my way through the dark/I was meant to not only shine, But carry His spark/By allowing God’s Word to take root in my heart

Don’t limit me with your small beliefs and hindering measures/And don’t block the path to my destiny, my heart’s treasure

Don’t assume that I am through/When I am down and nothing’s new/Keep saying “I’m not going to make it”/Before you know it, I’ve made it, And made it past you!

Keep spreading lies ‘cause you can’t handle what’s true/Get back, Get yourself out of the way ‘cause I am coming through/Some of you trying to latch on Might have to let go/‘cause I have to let go too/

I was meant to be free/Wearing someone else’s shoes ain’t never been me

Those shoes don’t fit/And forcing them to doesn’t seem legitimate/The shoes that were framed and molded for me/Will help me embrace my own destiny/I am set apart and unique
No longer conformed/And I took off my uniform/That kept me fitting in and walking the same/I took off my complacency and no longer walk in shame

No longer seeking the approval of man/ Took some practice and stumbling In these shoes/But now I can stand

I was meant to be free/Wearing someone else’s shoes ain’t never been me

Tannika Moore

Visit http://www.stcfpoetrybook.com for more information on Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me or my other book.

01.26.17

by Tannika Nikeya

Top Ten: My Writing Goals

Ever since I can remember, I have loved writing down my goals as much as I loved writing itself. Writing down my goals gave me a visual and accountability as well as kept me organized and motivated. Checking off or crossing off a goal helped me to feel good about myself. However, sometimes a goal stayed on my list for months; some never met a line or a check mark and have gotten the opportunity to join new goal lists. However, I continue this habit of writing down my goals. According to GoalBand, people with written goals are 50% more likely to achieve than people without goals (http://www.goalband.co.uk/goal-achievement-facts.html#sthash.PldSO1j0.dpuf).

So with that said, I am going to write down (well type) my top ten writing goals for 2017 and share them with you all.

Top Ten Writing Goals

To write daily or weekly, for the mere purposes of just writing and rebuilding my discipline of a frequent writer.
To reedit/rewrite my children’s book and find an awesome illustrator.
To write some fiction and revisit my old short stories I wrote in my teen and college years.
To devote quiet and prayer time towards the preparation of the devotional God gave me the idea to write.
To brush up on my editing and writing skills. Got to strengthen my writing and editing!💪
I know this is not writing or editing, but to read more books. It is great ro read the works of inspiring accomplished writers who have been where you have been and have honed their craft.
To write more poetry and try to remember my poems (Help me Jesus!).
To be as authentic and unafraid in writing down what’s in my heart.
To help many of the young people I work with become better writers and thirsty readers excited to embrace books and unafraid to mark a paper with the beautiful arrangements of words.
To remember writing is always fun, well always to a writer!😉

Are you a writer? What are your writing goals? If you aren’t a writer, share your goals too. I’d love to hear your 2017 goals!

01.13.17

by Tannika Nikeya

Flashback Friday: Walking In Your Own Shoes

Today, I would like to share with you my top read post of last year which was originally published on January 8, 2016.

On December 5th, I introduced my second poetry book to the world. It is titled Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me. It is a long title but every word is imperative. The theme of my book is “walking in your own shoes”, not someone else’s shoes, but your own.

Walking In Your Own Shoes

So, what does “walking in your own shoes mean”? I define this idiom as walking in your own identity, learning and using your own voice, finding and fulfilling your purpose, and living out the destiny God created for you to walk in. It is not a physical walk but a mental, emotional, and spiritual flow you possess all your own. You are the only you God created and although there may be people who look or act similar, no one can fulfill your destiny like you can, the way you can, if you set out to do so. I love Sarah McLachlan lyrics, from In Your Own Shoes, that says it best, “Time for you to walk in your own shoes/Lay down your footprints wherever you choose/Leave it all behind and move on ’cause you are your own woman” (or man, if you are reading this).

Masks, Enormous Loads, And Broken Heels

“Walking in your own shoes” also means letting go of the baggage that has been holding you down and keeping you from moving forward. Are you walking with an enormous load or a broken heel and a broken heart? “Walking in your own shoes” too means removing the masks we often put on to appease others and keep up a facade of how we want to appear before others. What masks have you been wearing?

Walking In My Own Shoes

I wrote this book, like any other books, poems, or writing I do, to get out whatever I need to sort out within and to put down on paper the things I had been learning about life, people, and myself. I wrote some of the poems years ago and the rest I wrote last year, 2015. I have been learning to grow comfortable in my own skin as well as outside of my comfort zone, and I do stress learning. It has to be true about life after 29 (do I have to tell my age, Laughing out loud) when you start to come into who you are because I am experiencing that, amidst some fear and a little anxiety. Although, I have always been goal-oriented, I would not have been able to tell you my purpose before now. I often let people chime in on what I should do and be. But thanks to my strong mom, who has encouraged me to always get off the couch and live and my pastor who impressed upon me to find my purpose and fulfill my destiny, I would not have committed time to seeking out my destiny and purpose these past few years. In this moment along the journey, I am also learning to deal with my flaws, past issues, insecurities, and emotional wounds I’ve incurred along the way. So, I too, am still learning how to walk in my own shoes.

Named for its leading poem, my book, Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me, poetically talks about finding your destiny, living life on purpose, embracing your God-given journey and even allowing yourself to be vulnerable (not naive and gullible, but vulnerable) and trusting God to protect you in doing so. We will talk about vulnerability another time.

As always, I love to encourage, so here are some Tools for your Journey!

Here are 24 Walkisms you should have:

Walk in love.
Walk in forgiveness.
Walk in desperate pursuit of God.
Walk in humility.
Walk in peace.
Walk (or dance) in the rain every now and then.
Walk in justice and integrity.
Walk with patience.
Walk alive, not like the living dead.
Walk, smile, and laugh. A smile and laughter are medicine for the heart.
Walk out of your comfort zone.
Walk to give a hand to those unfortunate than yourself.
Walk and make your mama proud. Return the love and create memories and moments for her like she did for you.
Walk in confidence.
Walk according to your own pace.
Walk in healthy attitudes and habits.
Walk in faith and trust Jesus who died for you because He has your back like no one else can or will.
Walk to make an impact.
Walk in the present, not the past, not the future.
Walk accordingly to the plan God has for you.
Walk in originality. Be yourself.
Walk up to fear, knowing it’s bluffing.
Walk in your season.
Walk, not looking back.

Put your shoes on honey, our journeys await,

Tannika

How have you begun to walk in your own shoes?

12.20.16

by Tannika Nikeya

The Walls Have To Come Down

What a rough year this has been and we keep coming to these mountains and walls. They got to move! So, when we started reading Joshua and then came to Joshua 6, we got the unction to pray concerning those mountains and walls and to pray in the prescribed method the Lord told Joshua and His people to march around Jericho.

What walls you desperately need to come down in Jesus’s name? Is it recurring debt, low self-esteem, issues on your job, issues with your children or your spouse, an issue that is recurring in the world that God has moved you to pray about, issues in your church, issues with your health? Gather scriptures concerning the matter because without God’s voice, wisdom, promise, Word on the matter, it won’t happen captain.

Then pray you won’t doubt even when it seems like there isn’t anything happening. We, ourselves, are on day 2 and day 1 yielded no change, but God had to remind us that the wall didn’t collapse on the first day. So keep going! Have courage. Fight the good fight of faith. Pray without ceasing. Sisters and brothers-in-Christ, you are more than conquerors. He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.

March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of ramsʼ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” Joshua 6:3‭-‬5 NIV

What walls got to come down in your life? What don’t you want coming into 2017? Declare it be moved in Jesus’s name?

11.25.16

by Tannika Nikeya

Writing Tip Jar

Happy Friday and Happy Post-Thanksgiving!!!! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Last Friday, I shared some writing tips with all my aspiring authors and fellow writers. Here are some more concerning a favorite method I use during my prewriting stage or even when I am planning an event.

It is called outlining.

Outlining is a great method or tool to use for just about any writing: research writing, creative writing, news writing, etc. Outlining allows you to map out in sequential order your main points. It also allows you to organize your thoughts whether you are writing on a particular subject or character sketching. Outlining also allows you to write concisely, stay on topic and make easier transitions when writing.

Try It

Outline your main points, set up a variable structure of what you want to say, and how you want your writing to flow, and allow it to guide you. You will find it easier to flow in writing once you know what or who you are writing about and have drafted an outline.

Put your shoes on honey; Our journey awaits,

Tannika

Any questions or comments about today’s writing tip, comment below or tweet me using hashtag #WritingTipJar

09.09.16

by Tannika Nikeya

Go To War

Recently, while reading the bible, I realized this wasn’t just my daily routine reading (which it should never become just “I read it just to say I read it”). I was reading Deuteronomy 20. This chapter details Moses teaching Israel the laws for going to war. I realized God was speaking to me. In fact, He was teaching me and revealing to me things I had not come to understand until now.

GOING TO WAR

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. ²When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. ³He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. ⁴For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

⁵The officers shall say to the army: “Has anyone built a new house and not yet begun to live in it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else may begin to live in it. ⁶Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoys it. ⁷Has anyone become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else marry her.” ⁸Then the officers shall add, “Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too.” ⁹When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it.

¹⁰When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. ¹¹If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. ¹²If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. ¹³When the Lord your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. ¹⁴As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the Lord your God gives you from your enemies. ¹⁵This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby.

¹⁶However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. ¹⁷Completely destroy^[^a^] them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the Lord your God has commanded you. ¹⁸Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

¹⁹When you lay siege to a city for a long time, fighting against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by putting an ax to them, because you can eat their fruit. Do not cut them down. Are the trees people, that you should besiege them?^[^b^] ²⁰However, you may cut down trees that you know are not fruit trees and use them to build siege works until the city at war with you falls.—Deuteronomy 20

BATTLING

Plenty of times in my life, I’ve let the devil intimidate me. I start to focus on the problems, storms, and the SIZE of my God-given assignments and subsequently my weaknesses and insecurities to keep me from fulfilling the things God has for me to do and overcome. I have went to the battlefield trembling and unprepared to put up a fight. I have had battles at work, in my relationships, and with anxiety and fear. Yet, we all have battles and you probably either just came out of a fight or going in one. Real talk, this is life. No journey is all roses and beautiful green grassy fields. Sometimes, your fields become brown and your grass becomes flat because Goliath stepping all in it and messing it up. But God!

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.—Ephesians 6:12 KJV

As always, here are some Tools to encourage you along your Journey!

You have to remember that although some battles you may lose and some fights may wear you out, Jesus won the war and every believer is on the winning team. You are more than a conqueror and God has given you every weapon you will ever need to beat the devil’s behind and walk victoriously. Here is what I learned about going to war:

Don’t be afraid.

Naturally, you begin to assess your opponent’s strengths as well as your weaknesses. The devil gets you to do that—focus on the problem, focus on how he can retaliate, and what can further go wrong. He loves to intimidate.

God will neither leave you, nor forsake you.

God will fight for you.

Jesus doesn’t just have the solutions; He is the SOLUTION!

Talk with a spiritual authority and especially JESUS FIRST.

A spiritual authority/mentor such as your pastor will help you to get some clarity on the situation.

They will encourage you.

They will intercede for you and pray with you.

Get your affairs in order.

Put things in perspective.

Pray for God’s perspective so you can see it the way He does.

Assess how and when you should be “fighting”. Do you just pray and be quiet? Do you seek outside help? Is this a preparation period or a go period?

Have you forgiven others and have you mended what God has told you to mend? Are you walking in love? Are you providing for your household?

Is this really a battle or a diversionary one? The devil loves to distract us.

Are you pessimistic?

Do you have disbelief that God can move and do what He said He will do? Are you surrounded by other believers like this?

If you are pessimistic, those fears, disbelief and negativity can rub off on others.

Get with people who not only will help you to search God’s Word on the matter but believe and fight with you and vice versa.

Get with believers who remember that they already won because they are on the winning team.

When you are struggling with someone, be a peacemaker.

Don’t go looking to fight naturally.

Handle any wars period spiritually for we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Right? I know some people TAKE you there. Sometimes, I too have to catch even my thoughts because that is where the suggestions of giving someone an old fashioned butt whooping starts. Jesus, helps us!

Perhaps that person is too struggling with something and cannot see clearly. Perhaps they are not. In any event, ask God for wisdom.

God will make your enemies your footstool, but the key is to LOVE and don’t be so proud. Love them anyway no matter the outcome.

Check the sin in your life.

Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ Jesus.

Cherish sin no more.

Ask God to reveal the root cause of any sin in your life and give you grace to repent.

Repent wholeheartedly.

Be a life-giver and a fruit-bearer.

When you are hurt and wounded, sick and frustrated, tired and fed up, you can do and say things you regret.

You can make decisions that you would later regret.

You can take every innocent thing a person does and think it was meant for harm, become easily offended, and want to retaliate as well as cut people off for good.

Don’t destroy others around you. Don’t stunt the growth of your love walk and yourself.