"Daughter of Destiny" pre-orders are on NOW!

In the second installment to The Last Shall Be First series, the main character, Caleb, takes a back seat as Noah's Christian Academy gains a new member to the student body. Jonetta Jenkins is a bright, but seemingly delinquent child who has had a few hang-ups in life. Raised by her single father, Jonetta has to come to terms with living a life without her mother. Until one day Caleb befriends Jonetta and embarks on finding out the real reason why her mother is not around, in the hopes of reconnecting the two together, if only for one moment in time.

Endorsement
In this book, Mrs. Ratliff-Jenkins uses her classroom experience to show the impact of teachers and classmates in healing the heart by walking in the fruit of the spirit. “Daughter of Destiny” helps children move past their beginnings. We do not choose how our life begins but we can choose to allow the fruit of the spirit to develop our character and move us into our destiny.

--Caterri S. Leaks
Willing Heart Creations
Founder & Author

To pre-order yours, go to The Last Shall Be First children's series website and order yours today!

August Book Give-a-way!

Hi Everyone! It's been a while since I've run a contest, so to show my gratitude for all of your generous support, and to lighten things up a bit, I've decided to offer an opportunity to win two of my books this month. Two winners will receive one copy of my new children's book, An Act of Forgiveness, from The Last Shall Be First Series, and my anthology, Have a Little Faith: Trouble Don't Last Always.

















All you have to do is one of two things:

1. If you are not subscribed to my blog, which also entitles you to get my monthly newletter, you will need to register your email on this page. Then put a comment for this post with the words, "Enter me into drawing" to be automatically entered.

2. If you are a subscriber, all you need to do is comment on this post with the words, "Enter me into drawing" to be automatically entered.

That's it! Everyone has the chance of winning in this drawing, the new subscribers and the veteran readers of my blog as well.

You have until August 31st in which to enter this drawing. Winners will be drawn randomly on September 1st and will be notified by email on or by September 6, 2010.

Thank you to everyone who has been following me thus far and good luck to each of you!

Ladies of Purpose Conference Call

Every Monday night at 8:00P.M. EST. Dial in at 712-775-7400 Access Code: 489795#

Ladies, Get READY as God renews your spirit and charges you with the tools to go forth towards your divine purpose for living! We are Ladies of Purpose: set to embark on an exciting journey of deliverance, clarity and empowerment that will truly open your eyes to see the hidden mysteries of God as well as what it takes to truly soar above the mediocrity of life as people without a true purpose experience.

You are skilled, intelligent and poised to receive all that God has for you! Let this be your YEAR that you establish a lifestyle change that will connect you to the throne room of God! Go with Elder Lily Jenkins as she teaches you the model of using Purpose Development in your everyday life!

March 21, 2010, A Life-Changing Event Takes Place

Thanks to everyone for your love, prayers, and constant support~~ Praise God for the elevation!

2010-The Year of Promise and Promotion!

Happy New Year Everyone! 2010 means many things to many people. For me, it's the year of promise and promotion! Hopefully during last year, you've set up some things. Let me explain: On your job, you should have laid some foundations, made some connections, put your best foot forward to show your colleagues that you have the skill set it takes to push your company or organization to the next level. All the while, you kept a smile on your face, didn't ruffle any feathers, but let your actions speak louder than words. You understand?

Maybe in your relationships, whether business or familiar, you've helped others along the way who were down and out, needed a place to stay, or a little extra to get them through until next pay day, or better yet, gave them advice for a major problem they were having. All the while, you continued to smile, even though deep down inside you were crying on the inside needing someone else to give you a helping hand.

But understand that in your patience and overwhelming love for someone else, God has counted all of your tears, has seen what you've put your hands to at your job, and in the community, knowing you never wanted anything in return.

Now in 2010, my friends, God is getting ready to do more than you could even ask or think! Hallelujah! You are being set up for the Promise and the Promotion. For as we know, Promotion doesn't come from man, but from the Lord (Psalms 75:6-7)! Keep on keeping on! Continue to put a smile on your face, for God is going to come through for you!

I know as I look back to 2009, I've had some down times in some areas of business, but I've had some extraordinary times in other areas. I had to decide that with all of the hats that I wear, which hat(s) could I put down and which ones do to hold on to in order to focus my efforts on things that gave me the most enjoyment, and where my gifts and talents really were. By doing that, I found myself many times with Favor from God and Man! I praise God for that because now within weeks, God is going to elevate me even further!

So get ready everyone! Change is coming and you are about to embark on an incredible journey this year that you will look back on and get excited about all over again! Happy New Year and God Bless!

What a long time coming...Huh!

Well, well, well...it's truly been a while since I've come up for air to post another update in the Life of Lily. I've missed you guys and only no one but God Himself, has sustained me. But nonetheless, I'm back and ready to embark on a continued journey of events, victories, and revelations that I hope will be a blessing for you as well.

What's been happening to me lately? Well, I have taken a hiatus from the literary world and have focused on my day job: teaching our youth. But during these last two months, God has opened up the gates of Heaven and poured out many blessings! First, I was awarded and given the title of Standards-Based Model Classroom Teacher! Teachers and district personnel come through for observations, workshops and seminars with me on Best Practices and Teacher Assessment and Learning. How did all of this occur? A few months at the end of the school year, I was observed by district personnel, and one day via email, it was announced that I displayed excellence in teaching, and wanted to compensate me by not only giving me this role, but also be given the opportunity to go to any conference FREE, in the continental United States! So in October I will be flying out to Washington, DC, to the Annual Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development's Conference-all expenses paid! What an honor!

God said, He would give you favor with man! I praise God that I can use my hands, and what I do with them for HIM, gives HIM the glory! But that's not all, now the District Office calls me to help with other district workshops, and expertise that I never thought possible. And I'm also up for another promotion. (Shhhh, don't tell anyone). I'm just claiming it now. But I have an interview on Sept. 28th!

Next, a few months back, as my first children's book was released, I got in touch with a charity called EMBRACE, which is a Georgia Foster Care Initiative that trains and mentors potential foster parents. Since I'm an adopted child, and my main character in the book, "An Act of Forgiveness" is a foster child, I wanted to find a way to use my book to give back to the community, and hence this charity. Well, it turned out very well, and all was benefited. A friend of mine, shortly thereafter ran across a contest called "The Pine sol Powerful Difference Contest." It's a contest honoring women who have made a Powerful Difference in their community. Well, my friend nominated me, and GUESS WHAT? I was a winner! Not the Grand Prize, but First Place, which entitled my charity to win $2000 and I to be featured in an upcoming issue of EBONY MAGAZINE (December issue).

So as you can see, I've been busy in so many ways. And I'm sorry to not have been more active with my blog. A lot of reflecting have been going into my business and writing career. All I can say is that a HUGE SALE will be taking place, bigger than the one you see on http://www.everythingthatslily.com now (presently at 40% off until end of the month). More details will come as to the reason for the sale and what to look out for! Be sure to tell all of your friends and family about it!

Know that I love you, and look for future posts to warm the heart and bless your spirit!

In God's Grace,

You Don't Want to Miss the Isaiah 40:31 Blog Tour!

Facing uncertainty in your life? Don't know if you can hold on for one more second? Is worry burdening you down?

If so, I encourage you to follow the Isaiah 40:31 Inspirational Blog Tour the week of June 15 - 19.

Five very talented and inspiring Christian fiction authors will share devotionals that are sure to inspire you and give you hope!

The tour will take place June 15-19, 2009, and will be hosted by Renee Williams of All the Buzz, Tyora Moody of Written Voices, and Rhonda McKnight of Urban Christian Fiction Today.

As you prepare to start this week, I would like to encourage you to "Rise Above it All" and “Let Nothing Turn You Around”. Listen to these songs and let the words minister to you and then join the tour each day for wonderful devotional messages.


Find more music like this on ACANETWORK


The schedule is as follows:

June 15 - MaRita Teague at All the Buzz
June 16 - Vanessa Davis Griggs at Written Voices
June 17 - Sherri Lewis at All the Buzz
June 18 - Lily L. Ratliff at Urban Christian Fiction Today
June 19 - Kimberly Cash Tate at All the Buzz

Mark your calendars now! You don't want to miss this week of motivation and encouragement!

Ch. 57 Atlanta Live Interview

I wanted all of you to be the first to view my recent TV interview on Atlanta Live Ch. 57. What a wonderful time I had on the show with Host Shelley Hendricks! Please be blessed by my testimony and be sure to share with others! God Bless!

Lily

My baby is growing up! Awwwh!

Asia and Mommy

I never thought I’d say that I would be sad about my baby’s first day of Kindergarten. But guys, I’ve got to tell you I was. Yes, that smile of ours above marked the start to her ongoing education for years to come, but deep inside when I left her on last Monday, I cried inside. If you know anything about Asia and I, you would know that we’ve been through some things. But all in all, it’s been together. Asia, now five year’s old, is a beautiful and strong little girl, with so much wisdom for such a small, compact, once pre-mature little angel. The times we’ve shared over the years I can not get back, but I look forward to what’s ahead. Friends, please pray my strength. She’s my baby and she’s growing up! I love her dearly and pray nothing but blessings over her life in the mighty name of Jesus! This truly starts the first day of the rest of her life!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way she should go: and when she is old, she will not depart from it” (italics and emphasis mine). Lord I ask that you help me to do just that all the days of my life. May she be blessed, prosperous, and remembered in the land as having a right standing with you and an example for others. May she bear children, that will follow in her footsteps as Kings and Queens of the Most High God! I thank you for the opportunity to bear her deep within my womb-at a time I never thought I would be able to. For that I am grateful. I pray protection, strength, and love to ever rest, rule, and abide over her life. Her friends and family will honor her, and her enemies will call her blessed! Hallelujah! I praise you Jesus this day and forevermore. Amen.

Asia near her classroom

Welcome to The Life of a Lily Official Blogspot!

The Life of A Lily

Growing in His Strength, Blooming in His Love

by Lily L. Ratliff

Are you going through life’s ups and downs alone? Are you a victim of the foster system or adopted and want to know, Why me? Can there ever be life after abuse or abandonment? If you have experienced opposition or neglect, this book is for you. In her autobiography, The Life of a Lily, author Lily L. Ratliff shows you that through all of your mess, God can bring you to a point of acceptance of what life has given you, with the vigor to carry on. A catalyst for hope and restoration in your life, with easy-to-read vignettes and relevant corresponding Scriptures, The Life of a Lily shows how a young girl triumphs by discovering what so many others failed to realize that God had a plan for her life.