by Tannika Nikeya

Off Course | Fall Fiction Fill-In Series

Welcome to our new 🍂Fall Fiction Fill-In Series🍂 where we invite you to finish the endings of our stories and poems. So, come join us and have fun because…

It’s your turn to….

Write. Imagine. Continue….

Today’s we have a poem titled:

Off Course

Written by Tannika Nikeya

The leaves gently dance to the ground,
Their vibrant reds, greens, oranges, and yellows swirl around.
The brisk, cold air greets each of us as we get in line.
I stretch gently but firmly and await the time.
With my bookbag on my back and my headphones on,
I crouch down, I get in position like the moon at dawn.

I glance up briefly to look ahead.
I put my head back down,
And I start to feel dread.
My stomach churns in knots.
Down my forehead, sweat slowly drops.

Yet, I haven’t even begun.
And then I hear the pop of the starter gun.
I take off.

I don’t believe I’m ready.
I try to catch my breath,
But it isn’t steady.
I jog at a slow pace.
I smile through every race.
I was taught to push through and mind my face.

With years of pain,
Tears rolling down my face
Like slow drips of rain.
I get pleasure as they cheer me on,
But then I lose focus once the praise is gone.
I pick up my pace,
And I begin to focus ahead.
But I hear others on every side.
I try to keep my attention forward.
My expectations are high, but my confidence is lowered.
Comparison is creeping up in my heart.
My insecurities I can’t hide.

Fear grips me,
Like we are running together,
Holding on to me like a child to its mother
In stormy weather.

I run ahead, remembering someone prayed for me
And remembering what I prayed for.
But I’ve come to the realization that I am weighed down.
I can’t run this race with joy
If I am trying to carry God’s crown.
It is something I am not capable of carrying,
So I am learning to lay it down.

With folly, I am running my race with heavy weights—
Doubts and fears,
Pride, grief, and past trauma
God wanted me to release for years.
Versions of myself
I had to outgrow.
He has been teaching me to trust Him
And to let go.

His yoke is easy,
And His burden is light.
I could win this race
If I believe He has already won
And can make me right.

My leg begins to cramp.
My head begins to hurt.
I slow down, but keep pushing forward
Because I have put in too much work.

But as I jog on,
I trip on a rock.
I keep going,
And I approach an unfamiliar block.

Did I detour?
Where is everyone?
Did I get lost?
My place in this race was paid for
But do I understand what it cost?

I am getting tired
I look ahead
I could give up
Or keep moving instead…

Hey Loves, now it’s your turn…

Write. Imagine. Continue….

the story!

For YouTube short video, visit https://youtube.com/shorts/oaDs0-O0hv8?is=7UJW_lt5vZupwQEj

08.27.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Throwback Thursday Poetry Time: Current Situation

I wrote this poem years ago and released it in my 2015 book, Wearing Someone Else’s Shoes Ain’t Never Been Me.

As I read it now, I realize life often seems to go in circles, and the world is so broken. I am grateful, though, that I have an anchor of hope and a Comforter within who reminds me of His love and care and that He will always be there.

These may have been things occurring some years ago, but they, and much more, are still going on today. I wrote this when I was looking at a broken world. Years later, I realize I am not exempt from that brokenness either. I have experienced my own struggles, imperfections, disappointments, and moments of fear. But through it all, God has continued to be my anchor.

Without further ado, here is one of my older poems that still seems to be the current situation.

Current Situation

Sink holes all over our land

But it’s not the only thing falling apart or sinking in

As our country gets farther from God

And more comfortable with sin

City officials on trial for scandals and deceit

Suicide is on the rise because of inner despair and defeat

Black men are being killed out of fear and hate,

Leaving families behind

Our children walking around with violence On their minds

Negative hustles are growing destructively strong

Begging is tough

And even our little girls are tremendously rough

For the poor, resources are scarce

But for the rich, they are not

Our nation is experiencing moral decay

And the core of family has begun to increasingly rot

College tuition increasing

And right along with debt

Sanity decreasing Right along with soul’ identity theft

The devil doesn’t just want to steal your mind

he hopes to put your soul in a bind

Living within the realms of the city

Cost too much too

Old ways, old things, old habits,

We need something new

Spiritual battles, internal wars

Aids cases rise as he/she scores

Emotions are cold

The wicked are bold

The hurt hurts

The confuse confuses

The dead walks

The gossiper talks

Oil prices rise

Then fall

The cost of bread is increasing

Hunger won’t stall

Politicians cheat and lie

Keepin’ up with the Joneses has gone wild

As we scram to get someone else’s life and style

That we cannot buy

We can’t even afford to die

Babies are being abused

Women coming up missing

Young children are being targeted with perversion and used

Children growing up fast

Childhoods don’t last

Life was hard

And is much harder now

For those who think they don’t have anything to lose

They throw in the towels

Nothing new on the news

It’s the same corruption, murder, and crime

Horror and fake stuff on TV helps to desensitize us

And it’s all about me and mines

Liars and disloyalty help us to distrust

It seems like this nation is on a collision course to hell

But the Kingdom of God will prevail

We, siblings of Christ, are the salt of the earth

And the light of the world

Have we been walking in God’s authority, His word

To push back darkness in the lives of every man, woman, boy and girl?

Have we erected altars of prayer to God

And welcomed His presence over and in our land?

Have we straddled the fence or are we taking a stand?

Have we emerged in selfishness, sugar coating, and pride?

Have we impacted the nations or are we still asleep?

Selah

07.09.26

by Tannika Nikeya

Martha’ing Too Long

I guess I have been Martha’ing for too long. Burned out. Tired. Stressed. Overwhelmed. And sometimes that’s when those old thoughts come back to visit. I pour out my tears to God for relief and I reach for Him spiritually to cradle me because no one is coming to save me or relieve me but Him. And sometimes I get scared and think He won’t come or come in time. Does this sound familiar?

But then you are reminded that He has come before and a flicker of hope turns back on and begins to get stronger. And you see His hand in the midst of darkness reaching out for me. And the light gets stronger. And all the tears that fell begin to dry up with breaths of relief.

There is a time and a place for everything but in this season Jesus wants you to sit with Him. Like Mary. And in every season actually, take time to sit with him. Rest in Him. Know that your worth isn’t predicated upon your titles or performance. You dont have to earn His love. He wants you to serve and give but not without His guidance, wisdom and love. Not with regret or resentment. Not in your own strength and unto burnout and weariness. He wants you to remember that rest is important. Trusting in Him is important. Depending on Him is necessary. And that He loves you with an unfailing love.

This week I plan to be still in my spirit and sit at His feet. And receive His love and Word. And to let His peace permeate my soul full of His providential care.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11: 28-30)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (Peter 5:7)

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

01.30.26

by Tannika Nikeya

The Real Beauty of Homeownership

The Real Beauty of Homeownership:

When it rains, it pours

Homeownership, like life, has a way of testing you at inconvenient times.

My kitchen doesn’t look like a grand disaster featured here in this graphic right now—thank God. Yet it surely felt this way upon my discovery.

The dripping sound, a cracked water hose, and the evidence of a familiar staple beneath the sink, now full of nasty water, made my heart sink (no pun intended).

Not another problem.

Not another leak.

Not another issue with this house.

We’ve had plumbing issues before—costly ones that we couldn’t afford. The kind that required parts of the backyard to be dug up, brought stress into the home, and turned what should have been simple into a season of headaches and discord.

And that’s just plumbing, lol. Experiences like that keep you also on high alert. And they teach you afterwhile to be as proactive as you can and how to maintain the sanctity and functioning of your home.

Lately, I’ve been stressed by this chaotic winter, trying to stay patient in my gardening journey, and by a financial surprise—hardly one to welcome and greet with glee—that reinforced my goal to aggressively attack debt.

Standing in my kitchen, I felt the weight of it all at once. Literally. To the point I slowly collapsed.

I’m learning to do small DIYs, but I still feel more comfortable leaving major things, like plumbing, in professional hands. That said, since this was easy to disconnect, I believe I can manage replacing the water hose sprayer tomorrow. Hopefully, it brings a bit of relief.

This is the beauty of homeownership—the real kind.

When things break, you fix them. Sometimes they break at the most inconvenient times.

And over the years, you learn to take one thing at a time.

One day at a time.

09.05.25

by Tannika Nikeya

🏃🏾‍♀️Persevere Series: Through Trials

Welcome to my Persevere Series. God has been teaching me that perseverance is less about how strong I am and more about how faithful He is. Through these posts, I want to encourage you to keep going, trust His timing, and remember that even small steps count. Perseverance isn’t about perfection — it’s about leaning on God’s strength in every season, whether you’re walking, crawling, or rising again.”

Reflection

Trials are never easy to endure. The pressure, fear, frustration, discomfort, grief, and worry can make anyone feel like giving up. But let us be encouraged: the testing of our faith produces perseverance. When we choose to walk by faith and not by sight, we are strengthened to press forward. As we hold fast to His Word and promises, we build both resilience and deeper trust in God.

One thing we must always remember is this: whether we are facing a trial or navigating a storm, we can not persevere without God Himself. It is His strength and His Spirit that lift us up and enable us to keep going.

Scripture

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” —James 1:2–4 (NIV)

Prayer

Father God,
Grant us the grace to navigate the storms and trials of our lives. Cover us with the blood of Jesus, and remind us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Help us to persevere with joy, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Accompanying Video of Encouragement:

01.18.25

by Tannika Nikeya

A Meeting

My new poem for a new year! Encouraging you and I to make the most of this year and to face one fear at a time.

Check out my new poem:

A Meeting

I stood here waiting for you
I moved not one bit
I endured cold nights
Winter covered me with its blanket
I sat here quiet amongst my kind
Awaiting our meeting
Awaiting our time

Through the valleys
Amidst the fog
Times of uncertainty
And a land full of smog
What hindered you from getting here?
Your heart full of clog?
What or who got in your way?
Was it the years of heartbreak and disappointments
Or you yesterday?

How about fear?
I hear
it can cause a delay
Year after year
But I waited for you patiently to arrive
To thrive and not just strive
You prayed and prayed
There are times you fought
And remained
Steadfast,
Stood on business even when in despair and drained
You persevered and yearned
Applied wisdom and learned
But made it to me and now you froze
Is it because you have to again believe
And be reminded of past victories

Have you ever seen a mountain of such stature.
Am I intimidating?
Are you afraid of heights or the unknown?
I welcome you here
And I know someone who is not visible
But has been ever present and will not leave you alone

To the mountaintop and to the other side
I welcome you to recover all that has been lost
Birth that which almost died
Hold on to your faith no matter the cost
Uncover blessings you have not seen
Reach your full potential and fulfill your heart’s dream

And if you tell me to move with all of your heart
And with His word
Dont be surprised if I do what I heard
Face me.
You will overcome
Don’t give up and retreat
You have already overcome
I will surrender to defeat
As you stand victoriously.

08.24.24

by Tannika Nikeya

Group Outing/Movie Experience (The Forge)

I had not seen any promos about the film, so I did not know what to expect, and I didn’t even look up who produced it. I just knew it was a Christian film. I had attended one or two other Christian group film viewings before and have enjoyed it, so I had hopes I would enjoy this one.

Today, my nephew and I joined some of the members of my church and other sisters and brothers in Christ to see The Forge at a neighboring Marcus Theater. We were able to purchase our tickets as a group in advance. Prior to the start of the movie, our group was met with such a kind gesture and blessing: a fellow minister paid for our group’s popcorn and drink. A great kick-off to our afternoon and great group event.

Eight years after War Room, the Kendrick Brothers brought us another powerful movie called The Forge.

And must I add that the Kendrick Brothers once again did not disappoint. Some of the characters from War Room appeared in this film, but this is not a sequel to War Room.

The Kendrick Brothers produced another film with quality production, great acting, laughter, power, and impact. As Mr. Moore, played by Cameron Arnett, mentors Isaiah, I realized that his nuggets and advice about life and becoming a man was not just for Isaiah but for the audience, and I like to think moreso for young men. I was glad that I got a ticket for my nephew, and he was able to hear the same advice Isaiah was hearing. One of the questions Mr. Moore asks Isaiah is what type of man he wants to be.

The Forge is a film in which Isaiah, played by Aspen Kennedy, faces the challenge of steering his life from being irresponsible with a chip on his shoulder due to disappointment and hurt. His mother, played by Priscilla Shirer, doesn’t just challenge him but prays for him and even gets help from more prayer warriors. In The Forge, we are also reminded that the prayers of the righteous availeth much.

This film was embraced with hand claps on victorious moments, laughter, and some tears from me, and I am sure some others.

There are moments in the film that gave a Miss Clara and Elizabeth Jordan moment but also with the men. This film is a must-see for every Christian and also for those who are not. I definitely encourage men to go and see this film, too. I think it really did a good job showing scenes and moments of encouragement, brotherhood, mentorship, and fortitude for men as well as discipling others.

My nephew says he, too, liked the film. He says he even liked it better than War Room.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxeuHgeQ_PhwH2D_JkZeuMl-vlHyFx1ira?feature=shared

12.28.22

by Tannika Nikeya

2022 In Review

This year was rough. It was filled with a lot of tears, anxiety, stress and healing journey setbacks. I got hit by a car & my wallet stolen. I also discovered some things that broke my heart. And then I am raising also now a teen. Despite all, I had some fun in between, am still here & God is & has been faithful!

These are just some things that happened in 2022. We also lost one of our dear mothers of our church as well as my precious baby cousin this year. It has been a rollercoaster of a year; some ups and downs but thank God for the lessons and love we also received.

God bless you all and have a wonderful New Year Day!!! See you in the New Year.

Tannika Nikeya😘