Welcome to 2026

Dear Reader,

If you are reading this, you might as well shout! You made it to another year.  (Cue shouting music). Lately, I’ve been noticing that many people still feel a sense of hopelessness, even during a new year. Today, during my quiet time, I read this scripture in 2 Corinthians 4:16: “So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day”.

After reading  this, I got this revelation:

I think hopelessness becomes strong as we end a year and start anew. It feels like a failure… that the conquer we are to be is lost somewhere, or doesn’t exist. But I think this is because our human nature wants to keep yesterday in today. Ok… let me bring clarity. We keep saying we surrender, we let go… but reality is…we just change the packaging of things. We feel like if we do enough tweaks and changes, it will make us feel better. Not realizing that we are not making room for the manifestation of GOD’S promise to do something new. He can’t do new with old. He is not in the business of refurbishing. New today is just that.  Something we have never experienced, no knowledge of, or awareness of how to move through without Him. I think that’s why He gives us new grace and mercy.  It’s an opportunity for us to trust and lean on Him.

Prayer: Daddy, help us to make room for your new by being ok with the fact that we don’t have to know or understand it to embrace it. Help us understand that trusting and leaning on you is all you need from us. We surrender our imperfections,  perfectionism, and doubt to you. You never see our mistakes and failures as we label them. You see them as opportunities for detours and recalculations to get us to your will, assignments, and perfect peace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen! 

2024 and More

 Happy New Year Readers!

It has been a while I know and that is because life has been lifeing. I have had so many changes and challenges while still trying to keep the faith that  Daddy says that it will all work together for my good and will bring him glory. But where is the glory in disappointment and delays? OOOO…. that just hit me like a ton of bricks.  I am sure I am not the only one who has asked that question at least once in their life. However, we are in a new year and you know the saying “new year, new me”! I don’t always agree with that, because there are some things from the previous year that I probably still need to work on in this new year. With that being said I am inviting you to come on a 21-day journey with me as I fast from personal things. I am doing something new and including a video with the blog. GOD is really creating this fast as I work on developing it. The fast will start January 22-February 12, 2024. I know you asking now Shawndrika what’s different about this fast, versus the one that I am doing with my church or small group. Well, this fast is personal. 

Let me explain, I have fasted on numerous occasions with my church, friends, and small group. Though it yielded some great fruit, it had me hyper-focused on dos and don’ts versus the GOD will and have your way. Let me be honest it didn’t feel personal. It didn’t feel like what I was giving up was a sacrifice that could move the heart of GOD to see how committed I was to making room for Him in the area(s) I didn’t trust him with. Yes, the Daniel fast is great, but because it’s one of the popular fasts it starts to feel like a cliche that we do as a church at the beginning of the year. Translation it is a routine to add to the many routines we already have. This fast creates a level of accountability and self-examination. It dives into a space of personal sacrifice on an individual level versus that of a collective, while still creating discipline, community, and consistency. This fast will make you evaluate how you trust and see GOD in this present moment and cause you to start your own record book with HIM. Listen, I am getting excited thinking about it. I am in a place where I have to take GOD out of my comfortable box of how I know Him and expand how He wants me to know Him. In other words, I can’t keep limiting my intimacy because I fear the process that comes with it. *So if you are curious about this fast join me on the 22nd and see if this is for you. If not that’s cool. However, I challenge you to check how you box GOD. Does your relationship with Daddy cause others to be curious about how to get to know Him? 

Prayer: Daddy, we thank you for this new year. Help us not to box you to our comfort level, allow us to meet you where you desire us to see you. Let us never become comfortable with our level of intimacy with you. Help us desire more of you in a world that is forever changing. In Jesus Name, AMEN

* To be a part of the fast you will have to go to my blogger page at: https://daddydaughterconversations.blogspot.com/

And It’s A New Year!

Great Day DDC Readers!!!

It’s been a while I know and every year I say I am going to do better with my blogging and engagement. Life has been somewhat a roller coaster in 2021. A lot of loss and a lot of life-changes that equate to grief. First of all, let me first say HAPPY NEW YEAR! Second, please check out season 1 of my newest project with my sister Jesus +Therapy, Sis Podcast ok, now that the announcements are out the way let’s get down to business.

The scripture that has been running through my head is something that I am sure most of you have heard and/or read “But don’t dwell on the past; don’t concentrate on what happened back then. Just look at something new I’m going to do now! In fact, it’s started already. Can’t you see it? Yes, I’m making a way through the wilderness, rivers in the desert”! FBV This bible verse speaks volumes on what our mindsets should be in 2022. For the last two years we have dealt with covid and can we be honest it ain’t going nowhere (yeah I know what I said and how I said it; however, you know the disclaimer, this blog is imperfect in grammar and open in heart thoughts). We are so caught up in trying to navigate the disappearance of it, that we are missing the moments of GOD’s newness in it. So, let’s break this scripture down so it can be a guide on how we are to navigate through 2022. 

1) We can’t allow the past to be the guide or map of our current. The past will always come up and the memories of the past may seem more powerful than present moments, however, the present is the gift we have to focus on. Let me summarize, don’t miss your growth because you think you have not learned from your past.

2) Focus on the new things that GOD is doing. Don’t allow your old to outweigh the new. 

3) Change your response and perception. Your ability to be open to a new vocabulary and to see things through GOD’s eyes will create a better perspective of what life really looks like. 

4) Be prepared to win! Winning comes with a process, don’t allow the process to discourage you from reaching and enjoying the win.

5) Don’t get comfortable. You should maintain a posture of discomfort at all times as you go through this year. If you feel yourself getting comfortable, do something uncomfortable so you will not stop growing in the things of GOD.

Prayer: Daddy thank you for this new year. Help us to be in a place of trusting you will all things and being ok with the new things you will do this year. Help us to see things from your perspective and not our own. In Jesus Name. AMEN!

Happy New Year! Time To Apply The Lessons

DDC Readers!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I know it’s been a while and due to Corona my therapist calendar has been booked and continues to fill, as people start to realize that their mental health is not as healthy as they thought it was. Now can we have a moment of silence for 2020… Moment over!!! LOL Listen, if 2020 didn’t teach you anything it should have taught you the value of time and people. The whole world shut down as we tried to wrap our heads around this virus and the destruction it was causing on a global level. Also, we have to be aware of the time that was produced during these shutdowns. (I didn’t have that time as I worked as an at home essential work….a.k.a. “Therapy Life”). You know the time I am talking about. The time that we talked about during those busy workdays, traffic jams, and errand runs. You know the time we talked about when we said, ” I wish I had time to do__________ (you fill in the blank). Not only did we see time become more of something that we gain in 2020; we also saw the loss of valuable people in our lives. 2020, gave us the manifestation of death like never before. When I was watching the news, I heard a report refer to the death toll of 2020 as the biblical 12 plagues that the Egyptians faced while keeping the Israelites hostage. I can kinda agree. It did feel like the death of all deaths.

However, there was something that I heard in my spirit the whole time of 2020 as we endured so many losses and heartache. Are you ready for the revelation?  I heard the Holy Spirit ask me this one question… “Who ARE YOU”? I responded “A Daddy’s Girl. A Daughter of the Most High…then he reminded me of John 15:19 CEV “If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don’t belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is why its people hate you. ” Despite all the losses we endured in 2020, those losses will never equate to the power we carry as children of Daddy. Even when it looks like we are losing we are winning. I need us to remember that as we go into 2021. Even when it looks like we are losing or things are not working out for our good due to the principles of the world, we can’t get fixated on it. We must realize that what the world is experiencing doesn’t apply to us. We are in this world, but not of this world. “Them principles don’t apply to us”! (LOL)

Prayer:  Daddy, we thank you for the constant reminders that no matter what happens around us, or in this world, in the end, it doesn’t apply to us. We thank you that because of your adoption we have the authority to tap into your power, favor, joy, peace, and grace. That even when the enemy thinks that we are losing, we still win, because everything works out for the good of those that trust you and follow you according to your word. In Jesus Name! AMEN

Merry New Year

It’s 2019 and I don’t know about you, but I am so excited about everything Daddy has planned for me to accomplish this year. I was really feeling lost, unprepared, and unplanned about this year.  But, during vision casting today I realize I just need to have a board meeting with Daddy A meeting to ask  Him what is it that He is requiring of me, and what I need to do in order to get those things accomplished. The answer He gave was so profound. I will share it with you.

Know this is the year of activation and cultivation. This means that you can’t hide behind the scenes anymore. I am going to pull on your gifts… Yes, gifts… You have become comfortable with one gift, and I have many more in store for you. Don’t allow constructive criticism to be seen as a personal failure. Know that it is pruning and refining you for your next. It may not feel good and yes it’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for this season. Here is what I need from you:

– Eradicate, the root of generational curses that have caused you to fall. Seek me for the strategy to do this.

– Place, yourself in a position where you can be used for my will, not yours. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

– Openness. Be open to hearing me, feel me, and know me at another level and realize that I am about to do something new, and you are worthy of what I have for you.

-Opportunity. Position yourself in a place to be poured into and cultivated. Be ok when people pull on your gift. Don’t be a shame of the opportunity I present to you.

-Obedience is better than sacrifice. You can’t sacrifice who I called you to be in order to fit in. This is the season that you need to learn how to be ok with sticking out. Be obedient to the crazy instructions I give. The ones that don’t even make sense.

-Press, beyond your emotions, feelings, disappointments, discouragements, and discomfort. I am a prize worth fighting for.

-Pursue, me like you never have before. Know that I seek for you to be lost in me until there is no more you, only me.

If you do these things daughter I will show you my favor, you will experience a new level of joy, peace, grace, love, and your self-control will go to another level.

These instructions aren’t easy nor are they hard. They are a challenge to trust Daddy in His word, actions, and your relationship with Him. Question: How much do you trust Him?

If you aren’t new to this blog,  then you know that I have an issue with trusting Daddy with my all, but in 2019 my prayer has been… Daddy, I trust you with me and all of me !!!  I won’t worry. I won’t doubt. I won’t look back.

Prayer: Daddy this year we seek to be what you called us to be, and not what we are comfortable being. We seek to walk in your will, word, and way, trusting you all the way. We seek to fall in love with you and we know that it’s you we pursue. Thank you, Daddy, for this new year, and please forgive us for not being comfortable with being uncomfortable, as you take us to a new level. In Jesus Name! AMEN!!

Good Grief

Hey DDC Readers,


This DDC blog is something different. Today I want to address grief and the spirits that come with it. I want to help someone that is not only dealing with the grief, due to the loss of a loved one, but due to life changes. Let me put on my therapist hat and educate on grief. Grief is not the result of a loss of a loved one alone, it comes with life changes good, bad, and ugly. I always give the example of how someone that lose something like their keys goes through the 5 stages of grief while looking for them. (*the stages of grief are not in a 1,2,3 format.  The five stages of grief are: 1) Denial, 2) Bargaining, 3) Anger, 4) Depression, and 5) Acceptance  You can jump through stages and repeat them often) When you first lose your keys you may be in denial. you may make statements like ” I know left the keys right here.” We may find ourselves bargaining, especially when someone else is in the house. “Look, whoever moved my keys, please just put them back.” After, that statement we may find ourselves angry and frustrated, especially after retracing our steps. We will say things like, “I know my keys were right here, who moved them?” Because the anger can truly be overwhelming we can get depressed, especially when we have exhausted all resolution and actions. Lastly, we will get to the acceptance stage. We will make a statement like “Oh well, I guess I lost my keys.” At that moment we find the keys and the grief moment is up. We don’t realize that we have experience grief due to the fact that we bounce back so easily from it   I hope that this blog helps everyone that reads it and it helps you move from grief to good grief and healing.

Post:

“As a counselor, my job is to help those in need and remind myself to be a rock so that the person on the other side of the conversation can be vulnerable and get what they need to get out… I pray daily GOD use me to be your vessel that you may get the glory out of the gift you have given me as a counselor. Well, this month has been one of the months where I really need GOD to manifest that prayer 10x. For some reason, the holidays seem like an open door for the enemy to come in like a flood. But can I tell those that have lost a loved one, remembering a loved one, grieving, grieving over a marriage gone wrong, feeling lost, depressed, numb, distraught, discouraged, confused, in pain, bewildered, frustrated, negative, and drain something… He will… HE will remove, restore, renew, heal, protect, provide, pour out, give victory, rescue, and save you in a breath of our Yes and an action of your surrendering! I don’t care what it looks like or how you feel.. My DADDY is THE on-time GOD he says he is. Not only that, he will overtake your desires, depression, and desperation with his glory, presence, love, peace, and joy. You will survive the holidays because your purpose is not over. Pick your head up, cry your tears, scream to the top of your lungs… but take of the ashes of mourning and put on the garment of praise… If you leave it on long enough you will start to fill the effects. #gottoresponddifferently #thisishispurpose.”


What do you do when your message from 5 years ago still holds weight even now? You share it! This message has more value now than then. I have seen my friends struggle through the holidays, my married friends say goodbye to their long marriages. I have tried to encourage my friends to keep moving as they grieve the loss of their loved ones or marriage. I am here to share this message with them. Because in this season you can’t allow the enemy to take away your joy even in their physical absence. As long as you live they live!! Don’t allow your want to grief hinder you from your need to heal. I am going to say that again Don’t allow YOUR WANT to grief hinder YOUR NEED to heal. Being paralyzed in the moment of their absence will only give the enemy more room in your life. Yes, life will be hard without them, but it doesn’t make it impossible. I always encourage those that have lost loved ones to do three things. 1) create a night of memories with family and friends. This night should not be a night where you reflect on the person’s absence but on their effects. What can you do make sure that their legacy lives? What I love about great leaders that have gone on before is that even in their death they still live. You can do the same with your loved ones. 2) Create a tradition that allows you to incorporate new family memories. Creating a new norm is not easy but it’s doable. 3) Don’t fake the funk! It’s ok to grieve, cry, get mad and/or angry, but you can’t stay there. You can’t make statements like: “I am not going to make it through the holidays.” “I just want to be by myself.” or “You don’t understand.” Why? Because you can make it, one step, moment, and second at a time. (it’s an everyday process), You can’t be by yourself, because that will cause you to be paralyzed in your grief. Last, everyone may not understand, but there is someone around you that does and wants to be there for you. So, this season I need you all to grieve yes, but let’s grieve in the direction of healthy grief and not unhealthy grief. Let’s do our loved ones the justice of living because they would not want it any other way.

When it comes to other life-changing events apply the same three steps but add one, let yourself heal. Don’t be a shame of your brokenness, remind yourself that you are in the process towards your wholeness.

Prayer: Daddy, I thank you for every reader that will read this blog. I thank you that you will heal them in the area of grief and brokenness. That you will manifest your peace, joy, love, and comfort in their lives as they continue to deal with the life changes that cause them to experience the process and emotions of grief. I pray that when they read this, they will become free and that everything that was holding them back from experiencing good grief is loose off of them and sent to a dry place. I thank you that as of today, they will experience the healing process of good grief. In JESUS Name. AMEN!!!

 

Good+Grief+Logo+FOR+REAL+REAL

The Stretch

I know it’s been a while, but I have a good excuse… I’ve been stretching and the stretch has not been easy. So let me tell you what this looks like and why the stretch has been one for the record books. Last year I  talked to Daddy about my next. I had a conversation about what to do now that I was finished with school and I was in a high leadership position. For a while, I didn’t hear anything. I keep praying and being silent, but nothing. One day an event at work happen and it causes me to really feel like it was time for me to go, I prayed and this time Daddy gave me an answer. He told me a date that I would need to turn in my resignation and where to go afterward. Now it was where he told me to go afterward that had me kind of shook. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday. He said: “It’s time for you to trust me fully, and do what I have equipped you to do. It’s time that you go and do ministry at your church”. After hearing this I spoke with my pastors to see what we need to do, to get me set up for the transition. They were so excited and felt like this was the best time to do so. I, on the other hand, was feeling some kind of way, but I knew what GOD said so I was in an ” I trust GOD mindset”.  So long story short I resigned from my job and working for my church full time as the senior pastor’s assistant and mental health consultant. I have taken a $1400 pay cut, but nothing in my house has lack… NOTHING!!!

I know you are wondering what is the stretch. The stretch is letting GOD be GOD. How can we name Him provider and not give me the opportunity to actually provide? How can we call Him healer and not allow Him to heal us? How can we say we have victory in Him, but never give Him the opportunity to win the wars and battles that life throws at us? This is the stretch… Letting Daddy be all he says he can, will, and has been. Allowing Him to be everything we need when we need it as we continue to be obedient to all his instructions.

Let me say this… THIS HAS NOT BEEN EASY!!! I have tried to get another job, sought out ways to earn extra income, make my own plans, but GOD has blocked and convicted me of it all.  This stretch has really reminded me of  Jeremiah 29:11 where Daddy says: “I know the plans I have for your life, plans to prosper you, not to harm you.”  In this stretch, it doesn’t seem like the plan looks prosperous. It kind of feels like Daddy has brought me in the middle of the ocean and said now, swim. No direction, no guidance, only the action of doing what he said. Let me say this I thought that swimming in the ocean would be hard, but can I tell you I have been floating like a fish.

The stretch has taught 5 things… (If you don’t know I love the number 5, it’s the number of Grace):

1. Learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

2. The weight may seem unbearable, but the wait is worth the process.

3. Remind Daddy of his word and promises. Daddy sees your heart, but HE responses to his word. He said that his word will not return to him void, so speak what he already said and watch him work.

4. Stay focus. When you are being obedient you may feel like you need to explain yourself, but there’s not needed when you trust Daddy… Which brings me to number 5.

5. TRUST DADDY!!! When I tell you that Daddy has met needs before I even ask…He has. It can be as simple as lunch to money. I have never been a place where I’ve never seen His word manifest so quickly. But because I was obedient and I speak His word even in the midst of distractions, I have seen Him come through for me like never before.

Prayer: Father right now we thank you that you have already given us an example of the effects of what relentless faith looks like. We thank you that greatness is in us and though we may never see the whole promise we are grateful for the position to see pieces of the promise. We will pursue you like it is our last time, and seek your face over your hand. In the Name of JESUS… AMEN

Sweet16

Well it’s that time of the year again. The time we talk about the new beginnings of a new year. The time were we sit and think about what we want to accomplish, speak into the atmosphere, and just really press towards. I am super excited about 2016! I mean it’s the year of the expectation of Daddy. I am really ready to see the promises of what Daddy’s YES and AMEN looks like aren’t you? Well with all this expectation and excitement can I talk to you about new beginnings and how to really look at 2016?

As children of Daddy we forget three things when it comes to our new beginnings in a new year. These things are: Last year’s lessons, Daddy will for us, and faith. Yep, these three things are things we forget to continue to incorporate in our new beginnings. Let’s talk about he first one “Last year’s lessons.” I don’t know about you but last year was the greatest lesson plan that I think Daddy could prepare for me. I lost my mother’s side of the family with disconnect due to the death of my grandmother, had to move out of the house I lived in for 15 years into an apartment with my mother, lost my daddy’s mother whom I was close with but never got the full closure I needed from her death, because my cousin got into an major accident on the way to funeral and I saw it all; and last I was in a major car accident in another state that left me with a totaled car. What lessons!?! Well let me tell you what I got from all of that which were great lessons for me to apply to 2016. Lesson 1. Never ever allow what you feel to predict your assignment. You are not your own, you are just a steward of the body you were given. This life you live is not about you and your glory, but about you completing the assignments that Daddy has give you the honor to carry out. Never allow how you feel to dictate how you respond to life and its situations no matter how much you feel it will bring productivity to the situation. Lesson 2. Have faith and stay faithful. Hum, I think I am about to cry about this lesson. Because it’s hard to have faith when your integrity is being drugged through the mud by family, you have so many life changes going on that you don’t know if you are coming or going, and you feel like you about to lose it, but you never do. But can I tell you if Daddy is faithful you can be faithful too. Because his track record in your life is greater than the moment of foolish and temporariness that is cause by others or yourself. Lesson 3. Always rest. I know this can be hard when you are looking for answers, solutions, and resolutions to life, but if you rest in the peace, love, and joy of GOD he will become your strength and the rest you thought you would never experience will be one that you desire more and more every day. Lesson 4. Change your vision. How you see things are not how things are actually seen. (that’s deep I know). What you see in your face doesn’t hold value to what Daddy is doing behind the scene. I am always reminded of the story where the prophet Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes be open during a time of war. And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2Kings 6:17) It wasn’t until he prayed for the spiritual vision of his servant that he could see the true vision of victory. Always know that fight is rigged you win every time all you have to do is show up. Here is the final lesson. Lesson 5. Stand on the word of GOD. His words will not return to him without purpose. “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

So now you have the lessons you need to enjoy your new beginning apply them to your 2016 and watch Daddy do what he does best…manifest greatness!

Prayer: Daddy as we go into our new beginning help us to never forsake the lessons of our last year or the years before, let us always have the mentality of a student that seeks to learn more  and the characteristics of a child humble, but assured that there is nothing to big or hard for our daddy to do. Let us always remain in the place of faith, hope, and love, realizing that nothing is ever in our control only yours. Let us always speak life where death tries to rest, remaining assured that your word will not return to you void. But Daddy most importantly let us never take your grace and mercy for granted. Let us always be in the position were we realize tomorrow is never promise to us ; therefore, we will rest in today and allow you to take care of tomorrow as we complete what you have called us to and become great stewards of the the life you allow us to live, no matter what our expectations for it is.  In Jesus Name AMEN!

Categories

Follow me on Twitter