Kelli. in real life

I Get By With a Little Help From my SISTERS

Meet my sisters.

Up top is "Babe Cooper" and here below is "Babe Knight".

They're not my buddies. 

They're not my friends.

They're not my pals.

They're my sisters. 

Babe Cooper and I have been sisters for 6 years or so. We met when I started singing background for Dorinda Clark Cole, and immediately became close. On the day of my wedding, she was the last person I saw before I walked down the aisle with my father. She cried with me, rejoiced with me, and today is blessed with a wonderful husband and daughter. 

Babe Knight and I have been sisters for less than 2 years, but it feels like forever. Ours was an ironic meeting at a live recording on which we both sang. We didn't keep in touch like we promised, but a year later connected again, and have been stuck like glue ever since. Ours is a spiritual connection; divinely orchestrated.

As fate, or God would have it; Babe Knight and Babe Cooper hit it off right away, and now all of us are inseparable. 

Today I went to Babe Cooper's house to get my hair done. We were on a three way speaker phone call with Babe Knight (who lives in Cali) and I began to be transparent and tell my sisters that I was afraid. I told them how I couldn't stop thinking about the miscarriage in March, and how it was taking everything within me to believe that the baby I'm carrying inside of me now is alive and well. 

Babe Cooper immediately said, "Babe...I believe everything's ok. At church on Sunday I was praising God and thanking Him in advance for this healthy baby you're going to have. YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE GOD"

Babe Knight chimed in and said, "You have to speak the word to your mind and tell your mind to tell your body to line up with the Word of God. Don't allow what may be a reality that yes you lost a baby, to dictate to you that you're going to lose this one. We're going to believe that this baby is alive and well and you're going to have a healthy pregnancy."

Then because Babe Knight was at a church function she went into many salutations and blessings with people around her. Babe Cooper and I had a field day teasing her about her "meet and greet". 

A normal conversation. A normal banter of mockery back and forth. A normal exchange of sisterly love and laughter. 

But yet, I drove home with tears pouring down my face. 

I am SO BLESSED to have TRUE sisters, who although not my blood have been joined to me through the covenant of Christ. They wouldn't let me fall today. They didn't pat my back and baby my emotions.

 They spoke the WORD and helped me to stand on it. 

Once home, I grabbed a book I read regularly called "Supernatural Childbirth". I began to read and recite the scriptures listed inside and I came to this ...FEAR is F(alse) E(vidence) A(bout) R(eality).

Everything my sisters had spoken to me today was confirmed. 

I will spend the rest of the day reciting and meditating on Gods promises and thanking Him for sisters who care enough to remind me of those promises. 

Bold! Right! Life!

This is Ms. Kierra Kiki Sheard.
She's a recording artist in the gospel music industry.
She's the daughter of legendary gospel artist Karen Clark Sheard of the famed Clark Sisters.
She's got a voice that can calm an anxious soul and and send a waiting crowd into a frenzy.
But most importantly, she's in love with God, and his hand in on her life.

This week Kiki is embarking on a new era of her ministry. She started a movement called BOLD! RIGHT! LIFE! designed to empower the youth of today to boldly live a life that is right in the eyes of Christ. Already, many young people's lives have been changed through her willingness to be transparent about her own struggles, but consistent in her progress to be more like Christ.

If you're in the Detroit area, swing by Greater Emmanuel Institutional COGIC August 6-9. Such speakers and artists include Tye Tribbett, Prophetess Kim Daniels, Bethany Dillon, and many more!
Visit myspace.com/boldrightlife for more information.

Wherever you are, visit itunes and check out my "lil sisters" music. She's definitely a light for this generation.

This is me in real life, Kelli

I Wish I could Be There......

This is my L.A. sister.
Today marks a culmination of lessons learned, trials overcome, and a birthing of a "new thing" in Christ for her.
Today is her ministerial ordination.

I wish desperately to be there to celebrate this achievement with her today; but finances and other commitments wouldn't allow me.

But I am SO proud.

I type this with tears streaming down my face as I thank God for bringing my sister into my life. People are often amazed when they find out we've only been close friends for a year or so. The sovereignty of God literally brought us together as friends, intercessors, and carriers of the gospel.

My sister was the only person, (outside of my husband) who I could bring myself to talk to the day I lost my baby. After miscarrying here at home I felt unstable and delirious. I needed something I could lean on, something solid, and she was there.

I cried uncontrollably that day. And she listened.
My speech was fragmented. And she listened.
My mind was scattered. And she listened.
She was just what I needed.
When she finally did speak I felt the love of God penetrate my heart, and I knew He hadn't left me.

Today, I wish I could be there just to listen.
Listen to the charge and challenge she is given; to preach the gospel in and out of season, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to live a sober life, to teach the younger women, to uphold the standard of holy living presented to us by the scriptures.
And when I finally would speak, I'd say this......

Although you are a gift to me; it is now time for the world to experience that gift. Before you were even born, Christ predestined you; to carry the gospel to the nations; to carry the song of the Lord,; to lay hands on the sick and watch them recover; and to prepare the way of the Lord. Your perseverance, and commitment to ministry has challenged me to be a better Christian. I pray that today you feel the overwhelming embrace of God's love as you are elevated to another level in ministry. You'll never know how much I appreciate you.

From the Heart,

Kel

This is me in real life, Kelli.

Yesterday, I Cried

Yesterday, I cried.

My L.A. sister was in town this past week for a church convention, and the last 3 days my other sister and I had the chance to spend some girl time with her. Yesterday, my new niece turned a month old, and we went to see her get her first portraits taken. While we looked through the proofs we took turns holding her, and delighting in the outcome of her pictures. We walked aimlessly through the store while waiting for her pictures to print; laughing at inside jokes, looking at baby clothes and toys, and even posing for a picture or two.

For some odd reason as we were looking at girl's clothes my L.A. sister said something about my future child(ren). Immediately, my stomach began to cramp, sweat started pouring down my face, my skin was hot, and I felt light headed and dizzy. I sat in a rocking chair for a few moments to try and collect myself, but the pain would not subside. "I'm just hungry. Go on and check out, and I'll meet you there in a few minutes, " I said to my sisters. As soon as they were out of sight, I rushed to restroom.

I cried because I lost him.

I cried because I wasn't pregnant.

I cried because he hadn't met his aunties who had screamed with ecstatic joy when I took the test and it came out positive.

I cried, and it hurt.

Somehow, I collected myself after a few minutes, and returned to my sisters.

I held my niece close to me and nuzzled her cheek.

I cried because I lost him.

But I smiled, because she's here.