Friday, October 31, 2014

SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP YOU

Ladies and gentlemen I have a problem. My problem is this new generation of saints or christians. When I was coming up, the truth was the truth. It wasn't judging. It was the truth. The folks that taught me believed what the bible says, the truth shall make you free. But we live in a generation now where you tell the saints what they're doing is wrong and a sin, they get offended and lash back like it's an argument. There was this famous line that was quoted many times after it was heard, "You can't handle the truth."

My mom told me in no certain terms one time that the truth is the truth no matter who says it. Like shacking up before marriage or cussing. Folks get real offended talking about that. Or the big one, homosexuality. No don't talk about homosexuality. Don't talk about shacking or cussing. Don't talk about why we don't celebrate certain days. I think the problem the devil is trying to shut our mouths. He knows he's heading to the lake of fire and he's trying to take any and everybody he can. I understand that the government is corrupt. We've known that for years. But let's not act like the body of Christ has been perfect. I think the same way we give the devil too much credit, I think we give the government too much credit. We got to take responsibility for our own actions at some point and time. Like black folk blaming the white man for everything.

Now I for one don't like to be singled out or judged if you will. One the many lines I quote often is, "Don't judge me." But yet and still, wrong is wrong. The world as well as the church has become such a "politically correct" society. I hate to tell you but the truth hurts. The truth will offend if you're not willing to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." It is written, "With loving kindness have I drawn thee." There is a difference between condemning and showing loving kindness. I think we as a generation have been condemned so much that we don't know what loving kindness is. We don't know how to take the truth because we take EVERYTHING as condemning or judging if you will. But I got news for you, not everybody is trying to send you to hell. Some people are actually trying to help you. Stop being so sensitive, oh me. I say oh me, cause my pastor says often, "If you can't say amen, say oh me." .

I can't tell you what to do behind closed doors. I can't tell you how to live your life. But I suggest that you read and study the word for yourself so you can grow. A song I learned as a child says, "Read your bible, pray and everyday and you'll grow grow grow." Shout out to Sunshine Learning Center. Anyway, we got to learn how to accept help. We pray to God for help, he sends it, and then we reject it. Something's gotta give.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Friday, October 17, 2014

MORE THAN LIP SERVICE...

" Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, Bible, KJV)

Salvation is more than lip service. It's more than saying the right cliches or quotes to get the people to say amen. In professional wrestling they call that a "cheap pop," when the performer gets on the mike and says something cliche to get a reaction the crowd. A lot of people know how to say the right things on Social Media and not live worth a nothing off of Facebook. A lot of people do that the same thing in church, and at the same time judge the people on Social Media.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2, Bible, KJV)

Salvation is an inside job. Can't lived saved with the old mindset. You got to renew your mind. You may have to delete some friends and stop following certain people. And if or when you do stop following people or delete them as friends, no need to make an announcement about it. Just do it. If there's one thing i can't stand it's when people make an announcement about unfollowing somebody. Trust me, the people you unfollow could care less. I've stopped following lots of people on social media and guess what? They've moved on and so have I. Amazing isn't it?

Please don't get it twisted when I type these blogs.

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, Bible, KJV)

I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to come off as perfect. To be honest, I've been slipping lately. I'm not trying to be one of those who judge others who are not "saved like me." Believe me, those people work my nerves. That "ain't nobody saved but me" mentality has messed up the body of Christ. How? Cause we're supposed to be leading souls to Christ. So how can we do that when ain't nobody saved but us? We got to renew our mind as a body. We got to humble ourselves. It is written, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, Bible, KJV)

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Thursday, October 09, 2014

JESUS HAS YOUR HEART, THEN YOUR SPEECH SHOULD SHOW IT

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (The Bible, KJV, Luke 6:45)

We got everybody claiming to have Jesus in their hearts. If you truly have Jesus in your heart, your actions and speech should show it. That's why I have a problem with the term, "cussing Christian." I understand nobody is perfect. I get that none of us want to be judged by what we get caught doing, but I believe that showing Jesus, actually means showing Jesus. You can't show Jesus by living like the World at the same time. It is written that you can't serve both God and mammon. Choose ye this day.

If there's one thing I can't stand is that when I hear one talking some of the nastiest things that could come out of a human's mouth and then claim to have Jesus. Now I was taught that I can't question any one's salvation, but come on now. Never have I seen such lack of Jesus in the midst of Christians. Back biting, gossip, fighting, hate, and everything else. Kurt Carr has a song that says, "We got to put Jesus back number one."

Now let me put this out there for anybody that may be reading these for the first time. When I talk about Jesus, I'm not talking about religion. In religion there's no personal relationship. Never once have I heard somebody say, Buddha just told me...or Muhammad just told me...cause dead people can't talk. Jesus is alive and doing well as I heard it said one time. Why put faith in something that's dead when you can be serving and believing in who is alive?

Let me go back to putting Jesus number one. Jesus never fails. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus never fails. That alone should be reason enough to put and leave Jesus number one. If Jesus is in your heart then speak Jesus. Stop trying to give Jesus a roommate. We want Jesus in our hearts but don't want to stop cussing, stop lusting, or stop anything else that is unholy. I'm not saying we got to be perfect, but we got to stop purposely making the wrong choices. We got to stop blaming the devil over the choices we make. It is written that if we resist the devil then he will flee. 

If Jesus is in your heart, then let him have it.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson