The News

 Dear Gentle Readers!

I come into a still place of process. I come sharing that I do not want to be part of the trials and tribulations, a strong soldier list as part of being in the Army of the LORD. Take me out of the game, coach (not death), but this game. This part of the process… this lesson plan…this moment. Fast-forward me to the “finish work”, the “victory place”, the blessed place.”I don’t want the trials and tribulations!!!

I know you are wondering where this is coming from…. Well…. last week, my mom got the news that she had cancer, and this week we got the news of the status. So, on Monday morning, while my mom was in Birmingham, Alabama, and I was in Washington state, my best friend and my mom went to her first oncologist appointment. I sat in the bed with my husband…praying… crying… being cool on the outside…but having a whole panic attack with an overstimulated nervous system. I went through the worst of the worst thoughts in preparation to execute an action plan. I created the most chaotic situation that my heart could handle. Yes, I am a therapist, and I know none of this is healthy, but here I am doing the opposite of what I tell my clients to do… sue me… I am human…lol! Before this information, I got the news that a good friend of mine died. Her death affected so many people, paralyzed a lot of us, and just made me think… What do I need to do with my time here on the other. Fast-forward in my still process about the friend’s death, I get the news about my mom. Back to the story… So my mom calls me calmly, saying… they say I have a tumor on my uterus, and nodules on my lungs. She then gave the phone to my friend, who sneaked into the bathroom to say in a shaky voice, ” Drika, it’s bad! Baby, you have to come home”. I am like ok, tell me what’s going on (I was calm when I said it) as I had her on speaker phone with my husband next to me. She then tells me the details, and I say ok, I can’t come home by Friday. Y’all, it wasn’t that I couldn’t come home, because Daddy had shown out financially, it was that I didn’t want to come home. I want to be on the road home with my husband, enjoying the open space. Being a wife and making memories. I know that sounds selfish, but here I am allowing my only child’s syndrome to speak. Yes, I am going home, but the journey is overwhelming to my soul. This was not where I wanted to be. 

If you are new here, I apologize that this is your first read. For old readers, you know your girl will spiral out of control and then come back. I call it the David complex. You know, through his psalms, he will start with praise and worship and then go into his emotions and end with praise and worship. In the words of Vivan Green… “I am on an emotional rollercoaster.” But this news does not stop the reality of GOD’s healing. I literally just wrote about the wait and how I want a baby… Now I am writing about trusting GOD again!!! Begging GOD for the miracle of healing my mother, at the same time healing me. Looking to write about the testimony.  I forgot to tell you that for the past month or two I have been praying for wisdom…. MAN, this is such a test of that. 

Today I prepare for my flight home, tomorrow I arrive, Friday I get the clarification and treatment plan of the news. But as this is taking place I am still asking GOD for wisdom. Wisdom on how to be a daughter in the midst of her own healing. How to ask for help when I am usually Miss. Independent. How to be present and not predict what GOD is going to do and how I should respond. This news is drawing me to watch GOD with my eyes wide open. Yep, I need the confirming signs, wonders, miracles, reminders, and insight. Because this feels different. It feels out of my control, and it hurts, because the fear of this healing leading to death is a reality. But I was reminded in my spiraling that I know several people who have survived this journey… Who have are walking testimonies of  GOD’s healing power and grace… And that is my stand… GOD, if you DID it for them, you do it for my mom. Give me the wisdom to do and handle the process. 

My scripture while on this journey of process, wisdom, and trust is this: “Show me your faithful love this morning. I trust you. Show me what I should do.  I put my life in your hands.”~Psalms 143:8 ERV

I am sure I am not by myself. I know someone reading this has gotten some news that has shifted them into process mode and wants to catastrophize the situation to the point you are having internal panic attacks. But let’s take a deep breath and trust the process in the midst of the news. We can’t predict what GOD is about to do, but we can be assured of one thing… It will bring Him glory and work somehow, some way in our favor… Though the grief my hid the victory.

Prayer: Daddy, the news has us discombobulated, overwhelmed, and overstimulated in solution focus process. We want the victory ASAP. We want the miracle right now. We need to see your hand at work and your peace at play. We want to trust you, but it is hard when the news is heartbreaking, when the emotions are filled with weight, when everyone is looking for us to be the faith carriers. We are lost, we are hurt, we are broke, we are speechless, and honestly, we don’t know how to pray when it comes to this news. The reality of the results runs through our heads, and they do not look like the promise of your victory. Remind us through this journey that you are the author and finisher of everything, you have equipped us with everything we need to move forward, and this is not about us; it’s about you. In Jesus Name! AMEN

As part of this news, I have rebranded myself and created a logo for this blog.  Check out @CEOtherapist22 on IG and follow me.

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! 

They Watching

Great Day Gentel Readers!

So, today’s blog is brought you by the words “they are watching you”.

Over the the 4th of July holiday I ran into a person I went to college with. In our conversations I learned so much about him that I did not know. I was honored that he shared a personal testimony with me. During our exchange I told him about my own testimony. When I told him, his response was…. “Man, girl you spoke that thing into existence “. Now, I’m trying not to look shock as he hug me to congratulate me on the manifestation of the testimony.

I know you wondering, why were you shocked? Well, it is because I never knew he was watching me. I never knew he saw my struggles, the tears, the faith, and my desperation to trust the GOD process. It really blew my mind! I hold him in high regards. (I do not think he knows that). He was so sweet to me as a freshman and always made an effort to speak to me on campus no matter how big he got or who was around him.

As we part ways he asked me to keep him in my prayers (which I do) and told me how excited he was.

Meditating on that moment made me realize that their are people watching me. They are encouraged by the process of my testimony and truly will root for me when I share my wins.

I wonder how times how you missed the opportunity to encourage someone else because you think your testimony has no purpose, power, or value beyond you.

Today, I encourage you to consult with the Holy Spirit, and ask him to reveal to you who you need to share you testimony with.

Prayer: Daddy thank you for reminding us that the process and finish work of our testimony is not only for us, but for those watching us. Daddy continues to work in favor of those wondering is the process worth the work. Encourage those losing hope, desiring to give up, and overwhelmed by the discomfort of blind obedience. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

The Yellow Brick Road

If you have ever watched any version of The Wizard of Oz, this message will hit you like a ton of yellow bricks. Get your notebook out because you are about to be blessed as we break down Dorothy’s journey and her ability to get back home.

The GOD of Through

 Great Day Reader!

Look at me posting three posts in one month!!! LOL This is going to be a good year. The other morning during my quiet time I got a revelation about GOD. The revelation didn’t make sense until I started thinking about one particular scripture…Psalms 23:4 “Even when I walk THROUGH the darkest valley, I will not be afraid (NLT). That word THROUGH stuck out to me like a sore thumb. It rang in my spirit and I to do more research on scriptures with the word THROUGH. Now these are just a few but they hold true to the revelation that I got.

  • When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk THROUGH the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
  • For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.(Phi 4:13) The verse most people know

Do you see the revelation? Ok, Maybe not. The Through of GOD is the power of His resiliency, the grace of His peace, the unconditional actions of his love, the limitlessness of His Mercy, and the reminder of your purpose. The Through of GOD creates a space of stillness. It reminds us that we have to be in a place where we make space for GOD to do His job. The Through of GOD allows you to be in a place to see His hand at work in real time. 

This revelation of the Through of GOD is deep and it really has allowed me to realize how to apply the THROUGH of GOD in real-time, especially during these difficult times and unknown spaces. Today, I challenge us to active  the Through of GOD so we can be beyond the space of survival to the place of victory and live in the blessings of GOD found in John 10: 10 “I came that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This scripture emphasizes the abundant life that can be found THROUGH Jesus Christ.

Prayer: GOD right now let us work the power of your Through by letting good of our expectations of what we want things to look like for our lives. Help us to take hold of your stillness, bask in your peace, walk in the purpose of your will and love, and expose our struggles to you. We trust your GOD and we thank you that in your Through we can do the mind-blowing things you called us to. In Jesus Name! Ament

Rainbow Year

Great Day Reader!

The other day I was talking to my big sister and she was asking me about what I would be celebrating this year, especially when it comes to me. I told her that I did not think there was anything to celebrate; however, I was grateful for the things that I had overcome during the past couple of years. She then began to tell me that this is your rainbow year. I was like rainbow year? See I always associated a rainbow with the promises of GOD, but also with miscarriages. I am sure you have seen mothers say this is our “rainbow baby.” My sister immediately told me no, your rainbow year is about you recognizing the fact that you overcame your trials, tribulations, difficulties, cycles, and you have conquered your fears and built up your faith in areas where you struggled to trust GOD!

Listen!!!!! That blessed me!!! Maybe we have lost our ability to celebrate the wins and the victories in our lives, because we are so busy trying to get to the next blessing, goal, dream, happiness, or survival tactics for each year. But, can I challenge us to do five things 1) slow down. 2) rest. 3) be still. 4) reflect. 5) create the capacity to celebrate. Let me say it for the people that still may be processing… IT’S TIME TO MAKE THE CAPACITY TO CELEBRATE YOU!! 

I know you may be asking now how do I make the capacity to celebrate me. How do I enjoy my Rainbow Year. I am so glad that you asked because this is going to be the simplest thing you do, but the hardest thing as well, because change has to be a lifestyle not just a decision. So here are five things I am challenging us to do as we celebrate our rainbow year. 

  1. Forgive others and yourself daily. GOD gives us new grace and mercy daily. Let’s stop trying to store the grace and mercy from yesterday as a backup or just in case GOD doesn’t come through today. 
  2. Allow yourself to enjoy grace. Grace is a gift we did not earn; so there is no need for us to try to figure out how to keep it or gain more of it.
  3. Give yourself permission to heal. I know it hurts and that this space of healing can be uncomfortable, but you need to in order to create the capacity to celebrate.
  4. Breathe. You do not have to rush. This is a marathon, not a rat race. You are in the world but do not have to conform to it. Slow down it’s ok to breathe and rest.
  5. Surrender and boundaries. Know your capacity when it comes to being around people and allowing people in your space. You have to know how to say No, stick with the No, and realize the power of your No. You also must under the power of yes as well. Yes to surrendering your all to GOD. Yes to surrendering the difficult stuff as well as the easy things. Yes to surrendering daily and being ok with the process, plan, and purpose GOD has for you. 

This year we will stick to these five things and ask the Holy Spirit to bring them back to our memory when we need to do to enjoy the Rainbow Year GOD has given us. 

Prayer: Daddy, thank you for this rainbow year. We do not take this moment and year for granted. We understand it is a reminder of your promise to us, your word of truth, and your ability to come through. We are reminded that if we trust you with all things at all times we have nothing to worry about. We appreciate and honor who you are. We are grateful fo your plan, even when we do not understand it. In Jesus Name. AMEN

2025 is Among Us

 Dear Readers,

You hear me say it every year… “I am going to do better”. Well, I have too many accountability partners to fail this year!

If you are new to this blog, welcome! If you are a faithful reader, thank you for being with me through the journey. Disclaimer, this is an imperfect blog. Yep, I have grammatical errors, properly misspelled words, and some thoughts that may seem unGODly. But what’s the trend…”WE Listen (read) and DON’T Judge”! (LOL)

Ok, now that the preliminaries are out way let’s talk about this year of 2025. So, I want to first say that this is going to be a year of “mind your business and drink your water”. If you didn’t know, now you do. This is a year of true focus not from a selfish standpoint, but one from where is GOD calling you. I think a lot of times we are minding our business, without action, without purpose, and without listening. We find ourselves so caught up in what we should be doing based on our own will that we forget about the will of GOD. Been there and done that so many times, I should be tired, but unfortunately, I find myself going back into the cycle.

 This year we will learn. We will take from the years past and apply the lessons, not the responses. We will do the uncomfortable things, with boldness, with grace, with joy, sometimes with tears in our eyes, and hesitation in our hearts. We will do the obedient things, trusting the plan and process of GOD. I am calling this year, the year of #outthebox. We will not do what we feel like we should be doing, or what fits the agenda of who we see ourselves to be. We will do things that make us grow with frustration, yet it births patience and peace. We will sow seeds of faith in the midst of doubt. We will meditate on joy in the midst of grief. I know these all sound like contradictions, but they aren’t. They are moments of training and reality. The reality is you will have doubt when you don’t know the outcome of the situation. You will grieve the feeling of no and rejection while finding joy in getting a bigger blessing. I mean who wants to let go of something that makes them feel good, to gain access to something they barely know if it will work. 2025 is about to be the year of “GOD you said you would, so I will too.” Listen, and read this out loud, IT WILL WORK if I COMPLETE MY PART. 

You praying to GOD to do something when maybe GOD is waiting on you to move something, do something, sit somewhere, and be still. “Faith without works”, is not about the action of faith, it’s about the obedience of your stillness sometimes. You think the work is action when the work could be surrender. As a matter of fact, the work is ALWAYS the action of surrender. GOD can’t get you what you need and ask for if you are filled and full of what you want, and won’t let go of it. You asking for healing when GOD needs your action of forgiveness. You can’t ask for wealth when you not sowing something… Maybe you are not at the place where your faith will allow you to sow 10%, but sowing something is better than sowing nothing. Let’s move beyond that maybe you struggle to say no, so GOD can trust you with his yes. The list can go on and on, but the point is you have to let GO of something to gain access to what you want to possess. 

In 2025 do me and yourself a favor, make room, let go, trust GOD, build community, sit still, become uncomfortable, surrender even if you go it handled, and tell your truth to DADDY before you do man. 

Prayer: Daddy this year is about to be different, not only because we speak and believe it, but because we understand that we must be different to get to the next level you have in store for us. We realize that surrendering is uncomfortable and out of our control. We realize that we are control freaks, and it hinders You from taking control of our lives and the situations we are praying about. Help us! Help us be still, help us be obedient not by force, but by choice, and help us see your will, purpose, and plan working for our good in the tough moments.  

In Jesus Name!

AMEN

Welcome to 2025 

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/

The Sense Available to You

Great Day Readers!I’m so excited to get back into the flow of blogging. A lot has happened and I’m ready to share the journey.

So, today I want to share this scripture from my devotion and the revelation with you. I am going to meditate on this for a while I challenge you to do the same.

“You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands”. Psalms 119:73 NLT

Did you read that? Listen, that scripture hit me like a ton of bricks. I feel a lot of us are book sense Christians, we read the Bible and try our best to follow the principles of it. But this scripture give a whole outlook on what sense we should have. It literally says that we should ask for the sense to follow GOD’s commands.

Proverbs 2:7 tells us that common sense is a gift. “He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walks with integrity”. NLT

This scripture reiterate what we need to add on from Ps 119:73. In other words common sense and the ability to be obedient to GOD is not in the actions its in the asking. When was the last time you asked Daddy to give you the sense to follow Him and the gift of common sense to sustain your walk with Him? I hope this bless you.

Chew on it and see how you can apply this to your now. It may be the missing piece to your next level, faith growth, miracle, increase, and breakthrough.

Prayer: Daddy today after reading these scriptures we realize that our ability to follow you and be Christ disciples is not in the actions its in the asking. Daddy we ask that you give us the sense to obey you and that you continue to offer the gift of common sense so we can maintain our obedience to you. In Jesus Name. Amen

I Am Worried

Hey Readers!!! 
I know it’s been a while and I promise you all have been on my mind, but life… I am sure you all can understand how life’s ups and downs can get you so off-tracked and discouraged that you start to place energy away from your assignment onto the things you should surrender to GOD.  As I prepare to celebrate another year around the sun and a new year. I find myself worrying about things I haven’t worried about in the past. I am worried about being a great daughter to an elderly parent as an only child. I am worried if I am prepared to deal with the single life for another year with no children. I am worried if I can deal with the ups and downs of life healthy.  These worries have had me up since 4:34 am this morning asking Daddy to come to the table with Jesus for a “Come to Jesus” meeting. I asked Daddy how did I get here. What did I do or go wrong when it comes to how I have been living life for Him and with Him? I was so frustrated to point that I stop speaking and surrendering, that I start asking for a word. You know what Daddy did?!? He gave me a word not once but twice. The first word he gave me is found in
 Proverbs 12:25 NLT ” Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up”. The TPT version says “Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart”.

Both versions address what I have been feeling, worry and anxiety, which leads to a place of depression and lack of joy. But what really got me was part B of the scripture “an encouraging word restores joy to the heart.” Listen!!! I almost lost it because I realize I was so busy dwelling in the cave of worry and anxiety that I was not making way for the encouraging word. The word that could restore me… The word that would cheer me up. David said it best in 1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” 

There are times in our worry and anxious moments when we must encourage ourselves in GOD. This means we must surrender. Let’s focus on part B of that scripture using the word surrender. “David surrendered himself to the LORD his GOD.” That scripture and the action of David take on a whole other meaning of what we should do when it’s time for us to encourage ourselves. It reminds us that to truly be in a position of encouragement we must surrender… not just the things we don’t have handled, but the things we have a handle on. 

The second word came from an ex that is a friend. He struggles with his GOD relationship and from day one of us meeting I have prayed that he would have an encounter with GOD that would change his life and push him into his GOD destiny and healing. This morning he says to me:

“Hey, something told me to call you to give you this scripture Phillipians 4:13, I am sure you are familiar with what it says, but I am going to remind you what it says…You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. This doesn’t include failure. So, no matter what you go going on, you are promised success”. Now I am on the phone with tears coming out of my eyes saying, ok Daddy you really do love me. Because he got out of his comfort zone just to be obedient to give me that word.  I want to encourage someone you may feel like your ability to encourage others may be in vain or you may be sowing seeds on bad ground, but let me tell you the process, the seeds, the wait, and obedience are so worth it. Mind-blowing blessings are on the way keep up the work and stay in the posture of surrendering. 

Today I challenge us to do three things 1) surrender EVERYTHING to GOD; 2) give an encouraging word to someone so you can have room to be encouraged; 3) trust the timing and promises of GOD. The wait may seem heavy; however, the fruit is great and worth the process (preaching to myself)

Prayer: Daddy we surrender all!!! All to you and the things you have in store for us. We surrender the things we think we have control of, and we make room for you. We expect you to handle everything that concerns us because you are not a man that you would lie to, and your words say we can trust you.  In Jesus’ Name. AMEN!

Previous Older Entries

Categories

Follow me on Twitter