Through the roof

We all know that God can make a way, out of no way, but do you know, so can you? All you need is faith. In some areas of your life, you’ve become lame, stuck, or stagnant. No matter how long you’ve been this way, what you’ve tried to do to get out, or change your situation, nothing seemed to work. You’ve tried to go through the window, but it was shut. You’ve tried to go through the door, but it was closed, but have you tried to go through the roof? Luke 5:17, tells the story of a lame man, carried by people of extreme faith, who sought Jesus for his healing. No matter what they tried to do to get him to Jesus, they couldn’t. Sounds familiar? Not willing to give up, they climbed atop a house, tore a hole in the roof, and lowered the man who lay lame on his mat, directly in front of Jesus. Astonished by their faith, Jesus made the lame man well.

Moral of the story, no matter what you’re going through, or how difficult it is to to get up, never lose your faith in God, because within an instance, He can take you through the roof!

Until next time my next NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

Tag team

Am I the only one who loved watching WWE? I’m sure I’m not alone on this. My favorite wrestler then, and even now, is the Undertaker! Not only was his wrestling moves fire, but so was his intro. Seriously, who do you know would show up to a fight, in a casket? Aside from his antics, one thing he was notorious for, was picking up his opponent by the neck and slamming them down. Sometimes, he’d take on two wrestlers at once, because his statue often made it impossible for you to go at it (or him I should say) alone. Right when he’d suspend his opponent in the air, they would frantically extend their hand to tag their teammate in, for help. As tv would have it, the teammate always entered into the ring in the nick of time, and ultimately saved the day.

How many times has life held you in a chokehold, and you had no one there to help? While you might have not personally set foot into a wrestling ring, I know you’ve definitely had your fair share of fights. You’ve probably won some and lost too, but I want to tell you this, the next time life snatches you up, call on God, and watch how fast He enters the ring. You may feel as though you’re alone in your battles, but I assure you, you’re not. He’s right there, anxiously waiting for you to tag Him in. Once inside, He’ll take it from there.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

You can’t miss it

If you’re generous to the less fortunate, especially when you aren’t in a position to give, it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

If you’re always supporting others, even though it’s not reciprocated, it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

If you put others and their needs before yours, and it causes you to lack, it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Your generosity, kindness, and good deeds, have not gone unnoticed. Not only do people see what you do, but so does God. As a result of your faithfulness, God is going to reward you greatly! To paraphrase, Hebrews 6:10 tells us that, “God will not forget your work, and the love you have shown Him by helping others” (NLT). You will not be forgotten or overlooked, and you certainly can’t miss what God has for you.

Keep doing good, and being of service to others! Remember, it “pays” to be nice.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

No limits

As I gear up for the release of my new book, not only am I excited to complete yet another milestone in my life, but I’m beyond excited with what this book is going to do for the lives of others. This book was supposed to have been completed and released almost a year ago, but I was met with so much opposition. Part of it was largely due to me being unmotivated, as a result of the personal difficulties I was going through, while other times was a result of me allowing others to impede my progress. Whether it be me giving them all of my attention and time, I just could never really pull it together. Almost everyday, I’d get up to write more, but would stop when the words didn’t make sense, or when I didn’t want to be transparent.

Nonetheless, I continued to push through, even when others or myself didn’t want me to. I now realize, I didn’t want to complete the book, because I thought I didn’t matter or really have any worth, because my previous books didn’t bring me the success I wanted. As a result, I postponed writing, because I honestly figured no one wanted to read anything I had to say. On the flip side, those who wanted me to not finish what I started, did so, because they not only knew my worth, but they knew I was destined for greatness. Therefore, they tried to limit me, without realizing that, because of God, there’s no limit to what I can do. Because of that, I won’t allow anything or anyone to get in the way of me going to the next level, simply because they want me to stay on theirs.

What you have in you, is more powerful than what anyone can do to you, and they know it! Don’t allow anyone to tell you to stop, when God has already given you the greenlight.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

Wait for it

Hey NOTE takers! I have some exciting news!!! Are you ready? Wait for it……surprise! The “wait” is almost over. I have a new book coming to you soon via Amazon, entitled Surviving the wait. How I learned to be still and wait on God. Although pretty self-explanatory, I have compiled many of my life experiences which has required me to wait, and some things I’m waiting on God for. Nonetheless, I’m very proud of this book, but more importantly, thankful that God saw fit to use me again to help others. I know I’m not alone with many situations I’ve gone through, and sometimes it helps others to make it through, when they realize someone else shares their story. I hope all of you purchase a copy, or two, and it is my prayer that my story gives you the strength to help you survive your wait! God has not forgotten about you, so continue to be still and wait on Him!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

The Potter’s Touch

Many years ago, there was a movie that I loved to watch, but it made me incredibly sad. Ghost, which starred Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg, was such a tear-jerker, and if it came on tv right now, I’d watch it, and cry again. Whoopi, or Oda Mae Brown, as she was known in the film, was a Medium who worked with Patrick as he warned his wife, Demi, of unforeseen danger. There were many scenes throughout the movie that I loved, especially the one involving the sliding of a penny on the door. If you haven’t seen it, you’d have to watch it to know what I’m referencing. However, my most beloved scene was when Patrick sat behind Demi and put his hands up against hers, as they both sculpted and molded the pottery clay.

Although it’s not intentional, at least for me, I can almost always find a biblical association or reference, from things I see and/or hear. After watching that scene, my mind began to paint a picture of God sitting high, carefully shaping and molding us. The word says, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8, ESV). A lot of the things we go through are not meant to hurt us, but to strengthen and shape us into who God has called us to be. You may feel as though you’re being stretched beyond measure, but if you don’t go through anything, how would you be able to handle what’s ahead of you? “But is this really necessary you ask?”

Yes, because God is making sure you’re strong enough to handle the magnitude of your blessings, so you won’t be broken by them, or more importantly, try to hand them back. I don’t know about you, but I have seen glimpses of what’s ahead of me, and I’m not giving anything back! If anything, I’m going to continue to build my strength up and make the necessary changes God requires of me. My blessings are ready, but on standby, as they await until I’m ready to have them. So, don’t worry! Everything you’ve been praying to God for, you’ll get, but before you get it, you’ve got to first “get in shape.”

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

Where are we going?

It’s normal when you are going through tumultuous times, for you to have feelings of frustration, anger, and resentment. It’s normal that you have mood swings, an unpleasant attitude towards your situation and life, and it’s perfectly normal that you question God, “Why?” I know a lot of people take issue with questioning God, being angry with Him, or wonder why He allows bad things to happen. However, it’s within the human nature to do so, and by doing so, I don’t believe it to be a bad thing. More than anything, l’m completely transparent with God, but it’s not like He doesn’t know what I’m going to say beforehand. To add, He doesn’t just want us to come to Him when things are going well, but also in our times of distress. In other words, He wants the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Surprisingly, we may consider our seasons of struggle to be ugly, but God knows in His timing, He’s going to make all things beautiful. We have to endure and trust the process, and hope for the best. So, the next time you’re experiencing difficulties, setbacks, and delays, don’t ask God, “What are you doing?” ask Him, “Where are we going?” Chances are, if God is taking you through some of the hardest and toughest times in your life, it’s because He’s getting ready to take you somewhere, and not just anywhere. I’m talking about a place of abundance, restoration, and expansion. A place where you not only get back what you lost, but you’ll acquire more. A place where God gets the glory, and you the blessings. A place where others will look at you and say, only God is responsible for that. A place that may take you going through hell to get there, but a place of comfort and reward for all your struggles.

I don’t know where you’re going or when you’ll get there, but I can tell you, it’s going to be great!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

Do something

Many of you have been given a blueprint, yet you’re still questioning, “What’s next?” Do something, that’s what’s next! Stop making excuses. Stop being lazy. Stop waiting on help. Stop waiting on the right time. Stop waiting on people. Stop postponing your plans, because you’re still insisting on dreaming. Start building, or watch the blueprint fade.

Don’t allow another day to pass, without you working towards building your future!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

Until it’s a reality

“Your life is like a stock chart. Stocks take dips so when your life takes a dip, it ain’t (the) time to trip. It ain’t (the) time to sell the stock. You have to remember, you are a blue-chip stock.” ~Steve Harvey

In a few weeks, I’ll be releasing my 4th book, Surviving the wait. How I learned to be still and wait on God. To say that I’m excited would be an understatement, yet at the same time I’m also little nervous. I’m not surprised though, because I get this way whenever I’m about to open myself up to the world’s criticism. Although I have many critics, I’m my own worst one. I relentlessly criticize myself and incessantly obsess over whether or not I took my time to write, if I paid attention to and wrote everything God gave me, or if I consider it to be my best work. “What if this book isn’t a bestseller, or no one wants to read what I have to say?” are the thoughts running rampant throughout my mind. Even though my last book didn’t sell as many copies as I’d like, I keep telling myself, “It’s okay, the next one will.” But what if it doesn’t? Does that mean I give up and stop writing, or keep writing until it becomes a reality? Like always, I choose to go with the latter, because I know that just because it hasn’t happened, doesn’t mean that it won’t, and I’m trusting and believing God that it will. I realize that I will go through ups and downs, have success and some failures, but what I won’t do is give up on a dream that God not only gave me, but told me would come to pass. I know that I am a Bestselling Author, and I don’t need New York Times to tell me!

If you’ve taken one-hundred steps and still are no closer to your dream, don’t stop. Keep going it becomes a reality!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue

A better place

June 13, 2021, was one of the worst days of my life! My mother called and informed me that my father had passed. Although I was extremely sad, I wasn’t the least bit surprised, because 2 years prior, God had informed and prepped me that his time was coming to an end. The day before his passing, I drove two hours to go see him, and it seemed as though everything was trying to stop me from going. Traffic was jammed packed and so backed up, I thought someone had thrown money on the freeway. We were literally driving at a snail’s pace, but I didn’t let the congestion turn me around. I kept going, because I was determined to see my dad. I had no inkling that he was about to speedily transition. All I knew, I just needed to get there. I must’ve called the nursing home at least ten times, to alert them that I was still coming, although I was delayed.

After what seemed like forever, I finally made it, to what I believe was in the nick of time. When I entered into his room, he was almost unrecognizable, because he looked like half the person he used to be. My dad had always been a pretty big fella, but when he became ill and reduced to a feeding tube, he was maybe a fraction of the size he used to be. I whispered in his ear and said, “Pops, it’s me, Deetra, your daughter.” I wasn’t expecting him to reply back or remember, after all, he had Dementia, and a lot of times, he didn’t know who I was. Nevertheless, I placed a Father’s Day card on his food table, and threw myself against him, while embracing him with a hug.

He was motionless and I was sad, because the man I had just seen 15 days prior, was not the man in front of me. I always knew my dad was racing against the clock, but I had no idea, his last hour was almost upon him. I went out into the hallway and found Daniel, his nurse, and I asked, “What’s going on with him? Has he been this way all morning?” He replied, “Had I known you were coming, I would’ve persuaded you not too, because your dad has been unresponsive all week.” I’m glad he didn’t, because I knew it was meant for me to be there. When I went back in, I took another good look at him, and said, “I’ll be back next Sunday to see you for Father’s Day,” not realizing he’d be dead the very next day. Although I felt like he had died alone, I find comfort in knowing, he somehow knew I was there. During the entire time of his demise, I always prayed to God to heal him. When I realized He wouldn’t, I prayed for a smooth transition.

A lot of times, we are forced to deal with some very unfortunate and hurtful situations. We think we know how to handle them, but when they come, it’s so much more than what we bargained for. Rather than continue to be selfish and want my dad around, so that I could be happy, I wanted God to release him from his suffering, so that he could be at peace. Now I have peace in knowing he’s no longer in pain, but also in a better place.

Although this post is quite melancholy, hopefully, it’ll give someone the strength to release and allow who or what they are holding onto, to peacefully move on.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Deetra La’Rue