“Look, baby, I need some money. You need to figure out something,” was Tee-Tee’s heartless statement that lingered in my head.

Later on that evening, I met up with my best friend, C, at a gas station that sat on the corner of 17th Street and East Broad Street. Like most nights down Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom, the old, historic streets were busy with people fixing to catch a buzz and have a good, adult time. The street lights blended in with colorful neon signs that substituted the retired sun. It was a warm, friendly vibe.

“I like you and you’re a good guy, Latif, but my daughter is no good. Leave her alone before you end up in some mess,” was the collaborate warning I got from my then-girlfriend’s mother and sister.

I didn’t listen.

Months after I had run away from home at 17. I met a beautiful 29 years old woman name Latisha Cosby. Unable to seek employment because of my situation, I worked under the table and sold cocaine. Through my initial perspective, Latisha was a hustler’s wife – the kind of woman you read about in an urban or street lit novel. We began dating, and of course, I moved in with her.

In God I Trust

For years on top of years, I have tried to venture my life’s journey without God’s total involvement. How foolish, right?! Better yet, how human of me to think I would fulfill my purpose without God leading the way?! How ignorant was I?! If I am a part of God’s plan, how the heck could I do anything worthy of Him without Him?!

God has been the pioneer of my 180. If it wasn’t for God loving me the way He does, I probably wouldn’t be here to share this Uncut Truth with you. God saved me. God forgave me. God healed me. And God blessed me. So if there’s anyone who deserves credit for my turnaround, it’s without a doubt my Lord, Christ, and Savior.

Pray, pray, and pray!

In my recent children’s book project, I am hinting to kids the importance of prayer and just how powerful prayer can be. “The Little Stories of DeeDee’s Life” is a series that I began writing in 2020. I’ve completed 10 manuscripts, and I’m currently working on the 11th, which is in my opinion, the second best of my DeeDee’s series.

DeeDee’s most challenging subject in school is math. She hates it. However, DeeDee leans on prayer to help with her math work. The more she prayed, the more her confidence grew. When her teacher told her about a big math test soon, DeeDee continued to pray. As it was a part of God’s plan, DeeDee passed her math test with an A+. Just from prayer, DeeDee overcame her problem with math. The moral of the story is that she gained strength through prayer, and the A+ was was a part of God’s plan.

Sin is Certain

Genesis 2:17 “In the day that you eat of [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] you shall surely die.”

My interpretation of this verse is obvious: sin is certain. He (God) didn’t say “if”, He said, “… the day that you eat …”, as in it’s destined that you’ll eat from the tree of knowledge. It’s just a matter of when? This isn’t this implication of certainty is supported by the rest of the Scripture. Read it!

Taming Lust

The word ‘lust’ is often limited in its meaning. We should carefully consider this word and the broad spectrum of sin that it describes. It is likely that many of us are guilty of the sin of lust without ever realizing the bondage that it has placed on us. Lust is greed for pleasure and lack of contentment with what God has provided. It involves an improper desire for things that may not be wrong in themselves, but our focus on them takes us into sinful lust.

Talk It Into Existence

In the beginning of my second year of high school, my then girlfriend and I established a bet that whoever earns the highest GPA (Grade Point Average) in the first semester gets bragging rights. Although my girlfriend wasn’t as serious about the bet, I didn’t take the it lightly. Everyday I touted on how I was going to claim victory. I can’t remember one conversation during that time where my prediction of winning wasn’t mentioned. I teased her about it everyday, I even dragged our peers in on our academic competition. About three months later when the report cards rolled out, not only was my GPA higher than my girlfriend’s grade point average, I had the highest GPA (3.5) among 9th and 10th grade students. As I received my certificate for having the highest GPA in my class, my girlfriend and peers all gave me my props and the right to brag. I bragged, bragged, and bragged throughout the next semester.

As of date, my then girlfriend, who is the mother of my son, Latif Jr., can bear witness to this testimony. One thing I know for sure about life, regardless if it’s positive or negative, if you consistently speak on it, it’ll likely become a reality. I’ve known this practice to be true for a long time; however, it wasn’t until a few years ago where I began putting 100% confidence into this exercise. It is God’s work at the end of the day, though. Therefore, look at it this way: if you continue to pray for something, He (God) will eventually answer your prayers. You may not get it right then and there, but sooner or later He’s going to grant your prayers. It’s that simple. Keep on talking it into existence!

Cash App over JPay

Have you ever wondered why your incarcerated loved one asks for Cash app?

In the Virginia Department of Corrections, the appropriate way for an inmate to receive funds is through JPay.com; however, some inmates would have their loved ones send money to someone else, using apps other than JPay in order to transfer funds for multiple reasons – and most of the time it’s not for canteen.

Tired of Being Tired

Do you know how the “bucket of crabs” saying goes? Imagine you’re a crab trapped in a bucket of full of crabs, and you’re the only crab trying to get out. That’s how my life feels in prison — I’m tired.

Every morning when I wake up, I am disgusted with my current circumstances. The thought itself of being incarcerated is like a prison within a prison. The majority’s mentality is not free, but more so depressing. Vibes of negativity lingers in the dusty, stuffy air because the stagnant minds of my peers are filled with counterproductive thoughts, in other words, distorted thinking. Positivity has no place inside this dark environment, it rarely comes around like a leap year or a distant cousin. I’m tired.

For January 2024 it is Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott.

After 35 years of educating students in several private schools in Southern California, Dr. Sharon N. Elliott put down her last dry erase marker and officially retired. The Compton native and BIOLA graduate, however, had no plans on settling down. Having started 4 companies which she worked on the side while she taught, in 2020, Sharon pursued another passion full-time and founded AuthorizeMe® Literary Agency, which as of date represents more than 50 clients across the country.

Sharon, who is author of nearly 20 books, has steadily climbed the ladder of success. In the 2021 edition of Publishers Weekly magazine, the devoted Christian made the Top 100 Literary Agents list, ranking as high as No. #8. If that’s not impressive, her most recent project, Didn’t See That Coming: When How They’re Living Not How You Raised Them, won the 2023 Christian Book Market Book of the Year award. Furthermore, Sharon’s second release from her children’s series, Mommy Cried This Morning, won Honorable Mention in the 2023 AWSA Golden Scrolls Awards (Advanced Writers & Speakers Association).