WALKING IN THE NEWNESS

Cue Leaderless and Enlisted by Norma Jean. And cue blog!

"I've been delivered. I've been delivered. The hold the devil had on me, he ain't got no more. I've been delivered. I've been delivered. I've been delivered by the hands of the Lord!"

Not only did that song save me from a spanking when I was little, true story, it's also the story of my life. It's one thing to say that I've been delivered, but to know that you're delivered it's something to be joyful about. About a month ago I wrote a blog titled, Time To Know That You're Free.  I wrote that blog still bound. I'm not going to lie. I guess I was just trying to motivate myself to get better, but I didn't want to let go. Let me say this, I wasn't in a struggle. It's not a struggle when you want to do it. You're not struggling with smoking when you're buying cigarettes. You're not struggling with drinking when you're still buying the drinks. You're not struggling with sex--need I go on?

So what's next? For one, I cannot go back. I can't go back to the way I did it before. Which means if I can't watch the same things I used to watch? If I can't stay subscribed to the same YouTube channels? If I can't stay friends with the same people on FaceBook? If I can't follow the same people on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr? The Bible says, "Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, GNT) So, why can't I go back? Because God has something new for me. Can't expect new in old situations. New way of thinking. Can't think the same way. The Bible says, paraphrasing, that we should not conform to this world's thinking but we got to be transformmed by the renewing of our mind. In other words, we got to change our thinking. "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." (Romans 12:2, GNT)

We got to get past lip service and put some action into it. We keep saying we got to let go and let God. How long is it going to take for us to actually do it? God is waiting. I'm telling you that when you actually let go and let God, that's when deliverence truly comes. That's when freedom actually comes. But it's not going to come until you change your way of thinking. It's not going to come unless you open your heart and let God in to clean you up. When you really learn to praise God outside of the four walls, that's when true deliverence comes in. When you get to the point where you can literally say I don't need an organ, piano, or praise team to get my praise on, I'm telling you, it'll change you.

I'm ready for the new. The old life was not really fun. It was not really satisfying. Can't wait to give back to those who's help mold me to where I'm at right now. Can't wait to travel and meet new people. Can't wait to get out of the oridinary. Can't wait to get my career started. Can't wait to really walk in my calling. Can't wait to connect with that one woman that is just for me. It's a new season for yours truly Big Dusty, D-Rich, Big d...call me what you will. "So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above." (Phillippians 3:14, GNT)

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WHAT IS KEEPING YOUR ROOTS ALIVE?

Cue I’m Going On by Commissioned. Thanks for all the continued support.

What happens to plants if the roots die? The whole plant dies right? The most important part of a plant is the roots. The roots keep the plant alive and functioning. Some of us get rooted in the right direction but don’t water the roots. Dreams die because the roots are not watered. We got dreams and aspirations. We get planted and rooted and a stem pokes out of the ground. Here’s the issue. When’s the last time you got an apple from a stem sticking out the ground? We get satisfied that we’ve grown out of the soil but for some strange reason we refuse to grow. Some of it has to do with fear. Some of it has to do with what people say or what you think people say about you. Some of it has to do with your mind set. Some of it is that you are getting watered, but you’re not drinking the water. It’s getting you wet, but it’s not getting inside you.

How many dreams have died because of lack of nutrients? Believe or not, I got a YouTube channel. The channel is basically just sitting there doing nothing for the most part. Why? Because I haven’t posted anything, yet I dream of some day entertaining masses, whether it’s by singing, comedy, or whatever. So with dreams like that, I can‘t even keep a YouTube channel alive to put myself out there showing what I am capable of. Now is it YouTube’s fault that I’m doing nothing with it? No. It’s mainly the soil that is being used to make dreams come true, and I’m using it wanting to make my dreams come true, but don’t want to water it. Don’t want to let it get some sunlight.

Which leads me to another thing. Sunlight is a very very important source for a plant to survive. What’s your source? What’s your source of getting growth? What are you depending on? There’s probably not a choir anywhere that hasn’t sang Total Praise by Richard Smallwood. The song says, “You are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my life.” Really? Then why are our dreams and aspirations dying at a high rate? Why not let God be the source of your strength so your dream can get some growth. Some use the wrong light and wonder why depression sets in. Here’s a theory. Maybe it’s not just the life or dream that’s causing the depression. Maybe it’s what you’re using for nutrients for that dream. God is not the source. Not necessarily saying that it’s the devil either. Maybe it’s that agent. Maybe it’s that friend. Maybe it’s that family member. Maybe it’s that church member. You’re depending on people killing you with junk, where there’s a God that’s ruler of everything with His arms open waiting for you to let Him in. Keep God first is not just a good saying to say when trying to motivate someone. It’s actually a good thing to do believe it or not.

Imagine how much further some of us would be if we really put God first and really pursued our dreams? Probably more happy than we are now. Probably more financially stable to pursue our dreams. I keep hearing that this financial struggle that most of us is going through will soon be over. Please believe that I’m not questioning any one’s Holy Ghost, and I’m a firm believer that a God is about to drop a financial boom on some of us. I just think there’s a step some of us are missing. The Bible says to seek ye first the what? Kingdom of God. And then what? All these things shall be added. Keep God first. Also please believe that I’m not just typing this to try and preach or motivate you. I’m not throwing stones. I’m motivating myself as well. I know I need to do better in certain areas of my life, and as soon as I do better, I believe God will bless me better. I think we’re all fortunate that God loves us so much that He keeps on making ways out of no ways in our lives. We don’t deserve it. You know what you did and are doing. I know what I did and am doing. Yet He keeps on making ways for us. Song writer says, “He keeps on doing great things for me.”

Follow your dreams. Pursue your dreams. Put some water on your dreams. Don’t take a break, because that will stagger the growth of the dream, and at sometimes kill it. Keep going. Keep pursuing. Keep God first. Pray about any and everything. Follow God’s lead. Now, let me say this. Following God’s lead does not mean that you sit and do nothing. You can still follow God’s lead and continue to pursue. We get told to be patient and wait, then with that we do nothing. No. While you’re waiting, water your craft. Practice your craft. Perfect your craft. Perfect your dream.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

NEVER LOSE THAT KID IN YOU

Cue Dominion by Jason Nelson. This song has been one of my anthems lately. If you haven’t heard it, y’all got to buy this track. It’s a powerful one….BLOG!

First of all I want to thank all of you that have been reading my blogs over the years. I broke 6000 views here on blogger. Hopefully I will continue to post stuff that will continue to inspire and/or make you smile. Again, thanks to you all.

Trying to think about something to blog about tonight. All I can really think of is growing up and seeing the tables turn. I remember when I was a kid, people would comment on how much I’ve grown just about every time they see me. Now at 25, I find myself doing the same thing. I see kids I’ve seen since they were little, and now all the sudden they’re at my height or taller when a voice deeper than mine. Like what the what? When did this happen? Don’t get me wrong, I still get those, “I remember when...” comments from time to time, but to be the one saying, “I remember when…” just doesn’t feel right.

To be honest with y’all, I don’t feel 25 yet. Almost 2 months in, and I still do not feel like as if I’ve grown up sometimes. I say sometimes because when I see that I have to buy groceries, pay for student loans, plus half of the internet bill, then I realize I’ve grown up a little bit. But at the same time, there are times where I feel like I haven’t grown up at all. Like those times you get that good advice and you’re a kid again sucking the information in like a sponge. Then you get to the point where little kids are saying yes sir to you. Ugh! Please stop! I understand it’s polite and correct to do, but at the same time, it hits me that I am actually an adult.

Then there the times when my sister and I clown around like we’ve done all our lives. I think we’re always going to be like that. My sister and I are probably always going to be like that. I don’t ever want become an adult to my sister. I don’t ever want to get to that point where I’m too grown to do silly stuff around my sister. She will always be my little sister, and I will always be her big brother. God willing if we both make it to be old, we can be like a real version of Madea and Joe. Except hopefully I won’t be staying in her house, know what I’m saying?

We all got to grow up. It’s life, but I say don’t ever lose that inner child. Don’t ever become too good to make a silly fool of yourself in front of your family. Don’t ever be become too grown to laugh around with your siblings, if you have any. Don’t ever become to grown to be your parents’ child. When I see my dad, I’m a kid again. When I see my mom, I’m a kid again. Yes there’ll be times where it will become real and we have to talk like the grown folk that we are, but always leave room for fun and laughter.

 As much as I hate my job, and I say that openly that I do, if I make a customer or a co-worker laugh or smile, it makes me feel good. It gives me open opportunity to be that kid again making people laugh by just being a kid. I hope to be like Jerry Lewis in a way that I never lose that inner kid. Jerry Lewis is pushing dirt in age, and yet when you see him, he’s that nine year old crazy kid. That’s how I want to be. Even at 25. I want people to see that crazy kid in me that is just wanting to laugh and have fun.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty