A CHALLENGE DURING THIS THANKSGIVING TIME

"I will bless the LORD at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1, KJV

We quote the verse all the time. A lot of folks open up the worship service with that scripture. It's even a song. What does all mean though? What does the word all mean? It says "at all times" so what does all mean? Well I looked it up and one definition puts it, "the whole, entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of." That same verse in the Good News Bible says, "I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, KJV, "16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Same verses in the GNB, "Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus."

"In every thing give thanks..."

"I will bless the LORD at all times..."

"I will always thank the LORD..."

"...be thankful in all circumstances..."

During this Thanksgiving time, I dare everyone reading this to be thankful no matter what's going on. A song writer put it like this, "Praise now. It could be worse." Some of us are dealing with pain that feels like it's never going to go away. "Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, though it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." I know it's a process, but a process can't be a process unless it gets started. So if you're been slacking on your gratefulness, I dare you and I dare myself to be thankful in spite of everything that's going on. Let's all start the I'm thankful in spite of process. I'm sure when we do that, God, in His own way, will show his gratitude.

Another song writer penned, "I'm covered, I'm not worried. Rest. On His promise. I'm still singing. I'm still shouting. I'm still dancing. I'm still praising." I dare you to get your still back. As the old saints say, I dare you to make a devil out of a lie, and say, "I'm still singing. I'm still shouting. I'm still dancing. I'm still praising." Why? Because "I'm covered. I'm not worried."

Proverbs 18:21, KJV, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

in the GNB, "What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words."

My prayer is that all who read this and don't read this have a blessed Thanksgiving, and use this time to be thankful in all things. Despite of what is going on, be thankful. So much false hope is going on today, but my hope is built...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

As I type this it's now the day after the election of 2016. Donald Trump became the new president elect. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. I couldn't get comfortable. Not because Trump became won the election. Honestly I feel that it was because it seemed as if the ones that are supposed to have hope were hopeless. The same ones that were posting stuff like, "No matter who wins the election, God is still on the throne." were now the same ones with no hope. How are ones seeking for hope supposed to find it when the ones that have the answer are acting the same way? If I was a smoker looking to stop smoking, I wouldn't go to someone like Dave Chappelle for advice on how to stop smoking.

John P. Kee sang, "There's a lily in the valley, found it to be bright as the morning star." I find that to mean there's hope. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Matthew 28:20 says, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." That right there is reason to have hope. That right there is a reason to continually "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10)

If people are really as scared as they say they are they're going to be seeking some answers to what to do. That's why it's important to stay strong. Not just in face but in spirit as well. It is written where it said, "I'm not afraid of the darkness. Whom shall I fear if God before me. What shall we say to these things, I'm not afraid anymore." That is where we should be, but to keep it real, life happens, and fear sets in. But there should be something in us that reminds us that our "

hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand."

So while I couldn't sleep, I went to God in prayer after trying other things to get to sleep. As I was praying I got reminded of a story my dad would refer to sometimes when he was preaching. The story is found in the Bible, 2 Kings 6:8-23. The main part I focused on was verses 15-17a, "And when the servant of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." One commentary says, "Faith reveals that God is doing more for his people than we can ever realize through sight alone. When you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember that spiritual resources are there even if you can't see them."

Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us." 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles." Exodus 14:14, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WHAT IS BRAINWASHING YOU?

Dictionary.com defines "brainwashing" as any method of controlled systematic indoctrination, especially one based on repetition or confusion. I believe that we are all brainwashed in one way or another it just depends on who did the brainwashing. We're all, I believe, are a product of who ever brainwashed or taught us. If what was taught to me doesn't agree with what was taught to you, in today's society, it turns into disagreement which sometimes leads to hatred. The problem then lies when it comes trying to teach people the same way you were taught until you realize that who you're teaching is not accepting the brainwashing like you did. Is it the fact that they are smarter than you are? Have they already been brainwashed? What is the problem?

Roman 12:2, GNB, "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."

Philippians 2:5, KJV, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

Philippians 4:8, GNB, "In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable."

Eddie Murphy has a song which I've used in these blogs before, but I think it fits with this blog/speech/message call it what you want. The song says, "Temporary, everything's is only temporary, but God, God, God is everlasting yeah." We let our minds conform to temporary thinking when there's an everlasting mindset that we need to seek after. Again I do believe that we're all brainwashed it just depends on who did the brainwashing. Did you let Jesus do the washing, or are you still walking in the brainwashing of opinions and traditions? There is a difference.

Jesus said in John 8, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." So if the truth makes you free, think about what lies do? Elisha Hoffman penned, "Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood? Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?"

I don't know about you but I have never in my life known an opinion to bleed. I've never known tradition to bleed. The blood of Jesus is what can give you that everlasting mindset. My blood or anybody else's can't do that for you. The blood of Daniel Richerson can't do a thing for anybody. The blood of my or your pastor, can't do a thing for anybody. The blood of our president can't do a thing for anybody. "O! Precious is the flow. That makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Let Jesus brainwash you. Let Jesus clean you. Let Jesus in your heart. Let Jesus give you that everlasting mindset.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WE NEED MORE CONVERSATION

"Eat the meat, spit out the bones" We've all heard it. We've all used it. May I throw this thought out that maybe the fact that our churches are not being filled, and maybe the fact that "the world today" is not coming in, is because all we're doing in the Kingdom is throwing out recycled bones? I've experience gagging on small little bones while eating meat. Nobody likes to gag. Maybe people are just sick of gagging. If you see somebody hungry on the street, would you give them a bag of chicken bones? or would you give them the meat from that was on the bones? Don't get me wrong, I love and respect the older generation. But when I see condemning trying to get passed off as helping and teaching, I see a problem. When I hear, back in my day, back in my day, back in my day, the young mark in me wants to say, "Well, what made your generation so perfect?" Just because it wasn't talked about, does not mean it never happened.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."

Now, I am a part of that young generation that gets talk about, and some of stuff that's said is warranted. I'm not going to name everything, but one thing I do want to address is the way that the young generation don't care. This young generation doesn't want to listen. Can I throw another thing out that may cost me getting this blogged shared, re tweeted, and liked? Maybe, part of the blame needs to go to the older generation for teaching the younger people how to act? Maybe the younger generation decided, right or wrong, they're going to be the same person they are at church. Maybe the younger generation doesn't care because they see how much the older generation doesn't care. Maybe the younger generation doesn't listen, because the older generation doesn't listen? Maybe, just maybe, the younger generation learned it from somewhere not just the media?

Before the torches and pitchforks take me out, let me say that the same talk that we say the police and the community need to have, the generations need to have a talk. The generations need to have some dialogue so there can be some understanding. The older generation is looked at like some of the police is looked at today. Overbearing and not willing to listen. We respect your position, we just want to be free to be imperfect like you're free to be imperfect. We do listen, but we want a chance to respond. We want our position to be heard. Some of us just want dialogue.

I think some of the older generation have become so sanctified, set apart, that they became separated. The Bible says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." Now that separate is an adjective meaning forming or viewed as a unit apart or by itself. Meaning people should be able to tell if you're saved when they see you. My Pastor once preached a sermon titled, "Preach the Word When Necessary use words" which means you got to walk the walk. A lot of people like to talk and talk until they get called out on they're nonsense. Don't let your walk become nonsense. Stayed prayed up, stay studied up. It's not a sin to say, "I don't understand." The Bible says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Both generations, ask questions. We've become a society that likes to talk about each other but not to each other. Let's do better.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

CHECK YOUR SOURCE AND/OR YOUR LIGHT

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever" Hebrews 13:8

I learned that verse at a very young age. I was thinking about the "power" I heard the church used to have. Like there used to be wheel chairs and crutches on the walls. Then a question came to mind. Did the power change or did we forget how to use it? A better question might be did we ever learn how to use that power? We've seen the power in use, but were we ever taught how to use it? Either way I came to this conclusion, the power is still here. The church is still powerful. There's still power in the name of Jesus. Just because we don't use it right doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

There's an old song that says, "Hold to His hand. God's unchanging hand." I think part of the problem we've let go on God's hand and we're trying to hold on to the man made tradition. As what was said in the Eddie Murphy classic, Coming To America, "It's also a tradition that times must and always do change, my friend."

So what is the problem? Why is it that we don't see the same move of God that we hear the older generation talk about? Are we trying to do what they did in the old days, but are not using the same power source that they did? I noticed that some outlets don't work because the light switch is off. Maybe the power source is not working because our light is not shining like it's supposed to. We tend to think we can do what we want and still think that we can have power. I understand that God can and does use anybody he wants to to get the job done. Don't get me wrong, but I also understand that the Bible talks about you can't serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). Also the Bible talks about that Jesus would rather us be hot or cold because if we're lukewarm, He'll spit us out His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).

We got to get back to the basics of this. If we're going to be who we say we are, we got to get back to the basics. Like fasting and prayer. Like, I don't know, following the 10 commandments. Praying for folks and not participating in putting someone down.

Believe me, I'm not casting stones. I said, "We."

If we want to see God moved liked he did before, we got to be connected to the power source like the saints of old. What they did back then still works today. Not talking the man made traditions. I'm talking about the casting out of devils. People coming to Jesus. People getting filled with the Holy Ghost. It can happen in this new age. We got to get back to the Lord. We got to get back to preaching Jesus.

What or who is this source I keep talking about? The source is Jesus. The source is where your help comes from.

Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

As the song writer put it, "Do you know Jesus? Does he live in your heart?"

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

GIVE IT TO JESUS, NOT SOCIAL MEDIA

I was driving and this hit me so hard that I had to remember I was driving. You know when that feeling of emotion hits you and you have to fight those tears from even starting up? So, Give it to Jesus, not social media. Every day on social media somebody is putting all their business on it with nothing to show for it. One major thing that can happen from putting it all out for the public to see is turmoil. Because people are just looking for a reason to try and cut you down like a tree. People are looking for a reason to hate you more than they already do. What happens when you put all your business on the internet? Usually nothing positive. The intent is, I'm guessing, is to receive some kind of help, because these people are supposed to be your friends, but sometimes all you get is your so-called friends gossipping about you when they said they were going to pray for you. There's a saying out there that says, "After you tried everything else, try Jesus." Why not try Jesus first?

Why not try the man who died for you? I don't remember reading anywhere how Facebook died for you. I don't remember reading anywhere that MySpace rose from the dead justifying you. Jesus is that man. Jesus is that guy. Jesus is that He. Jesus is whatever you need him to be. Jesus is that He. The He in Living He loved me, Dying He saved me, Rising He justified, freed me for ever, one day He's coming back, glorious Day. Jesus is that lily in the valley, bright as the morning star. Jesus was wounded for your transgressions. He was bruised for your iniquities. The chastisement of your peace was upon Him, and with His stripes you are healed. Jesus is that guy.

Song writer said, Jesus I'll never forget what you done for me/ Jesus I'll never for get how you set (made) me free/ Jesus I'll never forget how you brought me out/ Jesus I'll never forget/ No never. Now as soon as Social Media does ANY of that for me, I'll go to Social Media with my issues. As for me as my house, we will serve the Lord.

I was going through a little something. I blew up. I got, in lay men's terms, pissed off. I was ready to go on a tangent on Facebook. With this epic rant or shoot promo about the whole situation, but then I just talked to Jesus about it. Old hymn says, Have a little talk with Jesus/ Tell Him about your troubles/ He'll hear our faintest cry/ He'll answer by and by/ When you feel the prayer wheel turning/ And you know the fire is burning/ Just a little talk with Jesus will make it all right.

Talking to Jesus will relieve stress. Putting it all on social media will cause more stress than what you're already feeling. Venting to Jesus will do more for you than putting it on social media. People say their ear is always open, but to be real, that's a maybe because all of us get busy. Jesus is never too busy to hear you. And sometimes your posts get scrolled by because it's you that posted it. Jesus won't ignore you because of who you are. I'm so glad Jesus is not like some of y'all. 

Now I could've posted on social media what happened to me and why I got so pissed off, but would that have changed anything? Would that have calmed me down? Why give people some material when I just go to the man that can solve all my problems? Everybody tries to seem deep when you're the one going through. Thinking they have the answer for you. The song writer said, "Jesus is the answer for the world today. Above Him there's no other, Jesus is the way." It is written that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man gets to the Father (God) except through Him (Jesus).

When social media wasn't there, Jesus was there. We live in a time when people are looking for hope and the church is not giving an answer of where to find that hope. All that some of the churches seem to be doing is bashing the people looking for hope. We need less bashing and more helping. More conversation. Especially since some of us have been through what they are going through and we can help them find the pathway. We can help them find Jesus.

What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grieves to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

I call Him sweet peace. I call Him bread of life, I call him Comforter. He is Lord.

What can was away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Social Media is a good place to socialize, but if you're looking for answers, may I suggest going to the Answer. Not Allen Iverson. I'm talking about Jesus. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT

Over the years I've blogged a lot about fear.

"My old manager would tell me when I didn’t have the guts to give a girl a note, “Man, just give it to her.” In other words, put some action on your faith boy. Faith without works is dead. What my manager was teaching me was that in order for the note to do the purpose it was written to do, I had let go of all fear, gain confidence and put action on it and give the note away. Some of us lost all faith because of fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of what other people think. Also because of fear, we lose confidence. Deuteronomy 31:6b says in the CEV (Contemporary English Version), “The LORD your God will always be at your side, and he will never abandon you.” Now my manager was a big dude, and I imagine if anything would’ve happened to me while giving away the note, I’m sure he’d have my back. It doesn’t come any bigger than God. With God on your side, there’s no need to lose confidence. In Deuteronomy 31:8, again in the CEV, Moses told Joshua, “The LORD will lead you into the land. He will always be with you and help you, so don’t ever be afraid of your enemies.” ~ Who Got Your Back?

"“I’ve been running for Jesus a long time, and I’m not tired yet.” Y’all ever heard that song. It’s not a song that will be on my iPod at ever, but it’s a song that plays on the radio a lot. Probably one of those good cliches to say in church to get a reaction. Anyway, I got to thinking. While some of us are running for Jesus, a lot of us are running from Jesus. Running from what we are called to do in the Kingdom. Running from what we are chosen to do in the Kingdom. Why do people run? Fear. Fear of losing friends. Fear of family members not believing in you. Fear of how you’re going to even start walking in the calling that God has for you. Believe me, I understand…" ~ RUNNING FOR OR FROM? 

"I’m not asking all this to sound depressed. I was watching this dude do his thing at a church and I played drums behind this dude for about 6 months while he was on the organ. As I was watching him sing on stage, I had to fight back tears thinking back on how I messed things up during my six months up there. So to not cry I had to stop watching the video and get to this blog. As y’all know this is where I let my thoughts out because I don’t talk to anybody. I have numbers I can call on my phone but I don’t call them out of fear of the reaction. I’ve painted myself as a black sheep. Notice I said I’ve painted myself as a black sheep. So with that pressure I’ve put on myself, I think nobody cares. Even when I know for a fact that is false. Anyway, so missed opportunities. What did I do after I messed up the Midwest trip? Not a thing. I didn’t do a thing. Nothing to move life forward. I took the low road. I beat myself up. Which lead to situations that I never thought in my life I would be in." ~ 05/08/2013 early morning thinking

"We live in a generation of people that are scared to preach Jesus. That are scared to preach the gospel. And these are the same people that quote, "I'm not afraid of the darkness whom shall I fear if God before me. What shall we say to these things. I'm not afraid anymore." We talk about it, but now is the time to be about it. Faith without works is dead. That simple." ~ INSPITE OF ALL I'VE DONE

"What stuck with me was the "running" part. How many of us are running from what God is calling us from? I know I've been guilty of it. I understand the "fear of the unknown" if you will. There was a line I heard in a movie one time, House Arrest, and it said something like, "Feel the fear and go for it." I got asked once, how do you sing in front of people. I just do it. I'm still nervous. I'm still fearful, but once I knew there was no backing out and me "going to the bathroom" or crying to get out of it was not going to work any longer, I just had to suck it up and do it." ~ STOP LIMITING GOD

But where does fear come from? 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." A definition of fear says, "to expect or worry about (something bad or unpleasant)" Fear is a spirit. That same verse in the CEV says, "God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control." So, what is really going on? A spiritual battle is going on. Ephesians 6:12, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Yet we get mad at each other and we get mad at the police, and, hate to sound like a church mother, but that's how the devil gets in. How? Cause we pass the blame on the flesh and blood while the spirit we should be mad at is laughing at us.

Luke 8:17, "For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad." Ecclesiastes 1:9, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." So just because it hasn't been seen doesn't mean it's new. What's going on to day has been going on it's just now there's a camera on it. 1989 NWA shared what was going on, but were ignored because of what they looked like and the vulgarity. Now with it all coming to light, people acting all baffled and shocked. Stop ignoring the warning when it comes. Racism never went away. Fear never went away. We just chose to ignore it because it wasn't talked about. Just because it's not talked about doesn't mean it's not happening. Racism is alive and well. Like bullying, it is not going away anytime soon.

Psalm 27:1, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. If there was ever a time for the light to shine--Stop letting fear enter in, and walk in faith. I'm talking to myself as well. I've let fear keep me down far too long. I let fear stop me from doing what I'm supposed to do. I let fear keep me from doing a lot of things. I got to learn to walk by faith and not by--and you too, walk by faith and not by sight.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

STAY THE COURSE

Sometimes when I'm driving by myself, I talk to myself. I give myself a "motivation talk" if you will. 1 Samuel 30:6 "...David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." So on this one trip I was telling myself that I have to stop certain things. Telling myself that I know better.

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." I've heard it said once or twice that if you know better you do better. I was reminding myself that if I can do good on Sundays and Wednesdays, I can do good on the 5 other days of the week.

Proverbs 18:16 "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." Had to tell myself to keep blogging. Keep writing. Keep going. Don't give up. Your time is here. God is not through with you yet. You're not second fiddle. You're not a second class citizen. You matter. Your gift will make room for you. Song writer said, "God has not forgot. If He said that He would do it. It will come to pass. God has not forgot." That song applies to everyone. It is written that God's word will not return unto Him void. Which means God's word is valid. Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Old hymn comes to mind that says,

"Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives."

Now all this may seem simple to some, but sometimes it's the most simple things that we forget about this walk as a Christian. A lot of people say they're a Christian now. But being saved is more than a talk. It's the walk. Not just publicly or in the right surroundings, but as one artist put it, "After the show, after the set. After the music stops, what's next?" Anybody can act the part when the camera's on, but when the camera's off do you change character or do you continue to live it out loud. You got to live the life, even when no one is watching. Even when you're home alone and the temptations are at a all time high, what do you do then? Do you stay the course or do you get a little fix in thinking God understands, and I got time.

If you can't tell that in this year alone that life is not promised to any of us, I don't know what to tell you. I haven't seen so much death back to back like this. It's not even just famous people dying, It's family members, friends, enemies, etc getting out of here. It's time to make a decision.

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

I know this entry was kinda all over place, but I hope some kind of message got through. I hope you were blessed and encouraged. Feel free to share your thoughts and such in the comment section. Feel free to share the post, also. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

MAKE SOME NOISE

But thou art holy that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalms 22: 3

Some of us having made noise in a long time. The song writer said there is a sound that is pleasing to his ear. A sound of praises lifting into the atmosphere. Every time you lift your voice. You need to know. Jesus loves to hear the sound of praise.

God inhabits the praises of his people.. For some of us then, we’re not giving God a home to live in. Old song says because He lives in me I can face tomorrow, Because He lives in me All my fears are gone. Because I know who holds tomorrow. And I know Who holds my hand. So if He lives in you there should be some praise somewhere. There should be some noise somewhere.

There’s a song that says, "You are just a praise from a breakthough. Just a praise away from a blessing. If you’d just reach down inside from the depths of your soul and bring forth a right now praise that’s already you." The old saints would say, when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he’s done for me, my soul cries out….Thank God for…When’s the last time you thought of the goodness of Jesus and something began to bubble in your spirit that you had no choice but to open your mouth.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O maginify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34: 1-4, 8

I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. There’s a definition of sought in the Hebrew that says, “ask, request, seek, beg, demand, desire.” I imagined David just didn’t just seek the Lord like we seek people playing hide and seek. I imagine David was hollering. You know when you’re desperate the quiet stuff goes away. If you’re trapped, you’re not quietly doing nothing. You’re screaming for help. David didn’t just seek any body. He didn’t seek just a god. He sought THE God. He sought the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. He sought the Lord and the Lord heard him. When the last time your praise was so crazy you wanted to make sure the Lord heard you? When the last time you didn’t praise God cute. Pastor always says you can’t praise God cute. When are we going to start listening.

O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Psalm 47 :1

We got the first part of clapping of the hands down pact. Just about every service you go to, somebody said, “Give the Lord a praise.” It’s usually the sound of clapping of the hands. When the last time you lifted up your voice? When’s the last time you opened your mouth to praise God, and not to gossip and talk about people. When the last time your spoke life and not death. A lot of us have been making noise, but the noise you’re making has no benefits. The bible say, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…”

Psalm 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice and sing praise.”

Some of you want to sing but don’t want to sing praise.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones should immediately cry out. Luke 19:40

Stop letting these Pharisees stop you from making a joyful noise to God. Don’t let anybody stop your praise.

Song writer said, “You don’t know my story. All the things that I’ve been through You can’t feel my pain. What I had to go through to get here. You’ll never understand my praise. So don’t try to figure it out. Because my worship my worship is for real.” Then it goes on and says, “I’ve been through too much not to worship him.” Old song says, “When the praises go up, blessings come down.” I think your praise should identify how bad you want it. Your praise, I feel, should match your desperation. 

How desperate are you? 

Stay Saved, 

Daniel Richerson

PRAY MORE

It's been too long since I've posted. That was on me. I could've posted something more recently, but I didn't want to post without thinking. Without praying. I didn't post out of reaction, like I did with some FB posts that I know has cost me, but it is what it is.

Here's a little background. I was watching this parody periscope video featuring two characters, Mother Walker, a church mother played by Lexi Allen, and Antwan, a gay man played by DW Bass. Periscope for those who don't know is an app that allows users to do live video shows or sessions. So Mother Walker and Antwan was doing what some would consider a mockery of an old school prayer service. They were taking prayer request and all that. I will admit that I was laughing and laughing hard. But there was one part where I feel that they went a bit over the line, and I felt convicted after laughing. The name of Prophet Brian Carn came up, and the real mockery started. If you don't know who Brian Carn is, he's one of the well known prophets. I guess best known as a traveling evangelist.

Before I go on, let me say that I'm not going to offer an opinion on him or his public perception right now because this is not the place for it. And I got enough heat on me already.

Anyway, they began to make a mockery of the accusation of him being a false prophet. I was aware of the story, and I was laughing. Where I got convicted is that it came back to my remembrance when  my pastor talked about the story in the Bible about Elisha and when some youth made fun of his bald head.

"And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them." - 2 Kings 2:23-24

So I looked at those verses and then I read the commentary which had this to say, "When we are cynical and sarcastic toward religious leaders, we are in danger of mocking not just the person, but also the spiritual message. While are are not to condone the sin that some leaders commit, we need to pray for them, not laugh at them." Now that's heavy. How many times have we mocked people and not prayed for them. Now let me say that I'm that guy that mocks and makes fun. So I understand the gimmick. But, how much is too much?

"...men ought always to pray, and not to faint;" Luke 18:1

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honestly. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Luke 6:28

When you hear about the "old school church" you hear about the healing that took place. The miracles, signs, and wonders that took place. And you hear about the prayer that used to take place. Of course some focus on the part of the old school that is about make-up and the women wearing pants thing. I say let's focus on the parts of the old school that made it work. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't the clothes they were wearing that made things go the way they want back in the day. I could be wrong, but I read no where in the Word that these things come by wearing a long skirt and no pants.

Back to prayer tho. Prayer is how most ministries got their start. Stop allowing the devil to take prayer out of your life. I hear it talked about all the time that prayer got taken out of schools. Well it didn't get taken out of your home or your church did it? You don't have to be in the school to pray.

"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 I will hear form heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

I think the old school church really understood that. The same God back then is the same God today. God hasn't changed, We have. We need to get back to basics. Not talking about clothing. I'm talking spiritual. Get back to prayer. Get back to fasting. Get back to the "songs that brought us over." That can still bring us over. Those old songs still work if sung with power. Lets get back to prayer.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

Pray for me.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

THEN WHAT?

It's black history month. We just had a Superbowl. Beyonce performed during the halftime, which always brings from controversy. Cam Newton has everybody up in arms over how he handled the post game conference. I got my own issues to worry about other than commenting on other people's issues. So I'll just leave the criticisms to youth leaders and ESPN.

Anyway, I was driving to get my medicine. To whom it may concern, yes I'm taking my medicine like I'm supposed to. So as I was driving, I was talking to myself about people that are marks for themselves. Ones that like to use cliches to get themselves over with the churchy crowd while in between the cliches, aren't saying anything at all. At some point it has to be more than what you say. Everybody is a Christian now. So it's like then what? What are you doing? I've been hearing this verse a lot in Sunday School, even if it doesn't pertain to the lesson:

Matthew 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

That tells me it's more than what you say, it's what you do. I believe being "saved by grace" is more than who you are, is what you do. Even outside the 4 walls of the church. Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Don't be fooled by the suit and the word play. Then what? What are they doing past the suit and fancy word play?

There's a old song that says, "To be like Jesus, oh how I long to be like Him." Yeah? When I was growing up we had, W.W.J.D. bracelets, If you don't remember, W.W.J.D. stood for What Would Jesus Do? My aunt gave me one and told me before I made a decision think, what would Jesus do, but what if i think it and still choose to do what I usually do? There's a lot of folks out there that look like gang members, but lack the capacity to be one. A lot of people like to wear the uniform but not live what the uniform stands for. Ouch.

There's a lot of people that can quote the bible, but then what? Don't get me wrong, I realize that if God can use a donkey, he can use anyone or anything he wants, but I'm speaking towards the individual. James 1:22, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." This is something I'm still working on. Just keeping it one hundred.

All I'm saying is this has to be lived not just said. I quote Jason Crabb who posted on Facebook, and said, "Let your life preach more loudly than your lips." The way you live is important. It is more than what you say. Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said,  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." So that tells me that some will say that they're a Christian, and at the same time still trying to live any kind of way. Your motives are important also. What are your motives for what you do in church? Do you follow that spirit or emotion? Do you speak in tongues with the spirit gives utterance or when the emotion gives utterance? Then what? Y'all pray for me.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

YOU'RE LIVING FOR A REASON

In my opinion, one of the best movies of 2015 was Straight Outta Compton. I was a fan of the movie even before it was filmed. I'm a huge fan of good biopics and documentaries. If you're into good biopics, I suggest Straight Outta Compton. It's not the cleanest movie in the world, but when the movie is about a group called N.W.A., Niggaz Wit Attitudes, you can't expect a G rated picture.

Anyway, I bring up this movie because at the end, Eazy E, spoilers, ends up in the hospital. I've watched this movie a lot and that scene has never got to me, but for some reason it got to me the last time I watched it. I started thinking about the two stints I spent in the hospital. Now, I'm not comparing my stint to Eazy's because he was dealing with HIV, and I was dealing with Congestive Heart Failure. But in the movie, Eazy had visitors coming in crying to see him in his condition. Immediately, I was taken back to my sister's face when I was in ER. She was crying. I felt myself getting emotional while at the same time thinking, "I've watched this movie all these times, and it's just now getting to me? Why now?" 

When the tears started to flow was when they showed Eazy in an AIDS-induced coma, again spoilers, and was only breathing because of a breathing machine. Again I was taking back to my stint in the hospital. I wasn't on a breathing machine, but I had an oxygen gimmick up my nose, and I got the best sleep I had gotten in months before that. That was it. I usually try to fight the tears before they fall, but I just let them fall. I usually don't cry at movies or TV Shows. I really don't. But for some reason, that darn Straight Outta Compton--

Both instances of the hospital could have been the end for me, and yet here I am typing this blog. Takes me back to when my Pastor's wife at the time passed away. When I went to the home going, I was not too long out the hospital, and sitting there messed me up because I realized that it easily could've been my home going as well. That was exact same emotion I felt watching that scene in Straight Outta Compton. It reminded me not to take this life for granted. Which I admit I have been. I take it for granted sometimes that I'm breathing. I take it for granted that I can now lay flat on my back at night without feeling like I'm drowning. I take it for granted that I actually get sleep at night now. 

God has been too good for you to just live and do anything you want. He gave you this life for a reason. You're breathing for a reason. You're living for a reason. This verse gets thrown around and gets used as a cliche now. But this verse took on a new meaning for me. Psalm 150:6, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD"

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WHERE THERE IS HELP, THERE SHOULD ALSO BE GROWTH

Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

I was sitting in bible study, and the discussion was on Jesus being the resurrection and the life. Based on the John 11:25, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:" The discussion was also talking about "I am." All I kept hearing is "help." I started thinking back when I played C-Team football for Eastside High School, when I was in the 8th grade. I wasn't athletic at all. To be honest I really didn't want to be there. I was just coasting the whole time. Anyway there was a part of practice that was called conditioning, and it mostly evolved a lot of running. I wasn't the fastest runner in the world, so sometimes my teammates would help me out by pulling my shoulder pad. They helped me out so that I became dependent. When they didn't help me I thought, I couldn't do it without their help. So I would ask, "Who's going to help me?" I didn't have the confidence in my ability to even try to do it on my own because I became dependent. I probably could have done it without help, but I didn't think or believe that I could. Then this came to me, "Where there is help, there should also be growth." I became so dependent on the help that I didn't learn from it.

Like in school when the teacher gives you an assignment, and you need help with something. The teacher may help you with that question once or twice, but they expect you to learn through the help and sooner or later get it on your own. So the teacher helps you so you can grow in knowledge to sooner or later do it yourself. When the teacher doesn't help, how do you feel? You feel like no one cares, right? You feel helpless. Now teachers get tired sometimes. They sometimes get to the point where they don't feel like helping. They'd rather sit at the desk and do other things other than helping you with what you need help on. How many of you are glad that God is not like man?

God will help you through anything, if you let him. First you got to want the help. You got to let go and let God. God won't infringe on your freewill. You can say, "Jesus take the wheel" but if your hands is also on the wheel, what's the purpose? When in school if you got a question or you need help, you raise your hand, right? Maybe if some of us lifted up our hands in surrender, we'd be closer to getting the help we need. Second you got to open up your mouth and ask for help. A closed mouth don't get fed. You don't ask for help in class when you needed, you are likely to fail that class right? So naturally so spiritually. You ask God for help, he'll help you. Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Lastly, don't be afraid to ask for help.

I knew I needed help with getting buying groceries. So when I finally filled out an application to get an EBT card, I got the help I needed. If I had not gone to DSS and filled out an application, I'd have no one to blame but me. Sometimes the answer is right in front of our faces, we just got to get up and move. Nobody is going to force you to move. If you can still make your mouth move to form words, you have all you need to ask for help and grow in knowledge.

Some people are dumb because they choose to be. Some people refuse help. And they got to live with that. But Jesus is standing there ready to take you by the hand and lead you in the right direction. Don't feel bad for asking for help. We talked in bible study that it's a shepherd's job to help because sheep are dumb animals. Jesus is the good shepherd right? Let him lead you.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

RECYCLING IS IMPORTANT BUT ALSO CAN BE A BURDEN

It's a new year. 2016. There's a lot that I could say about how I entered this year. A lot of stuff I have a problem with, which I will not air out here. But here's what I will say....

I posted this on Facebook before I went to sleep, "Let's stop recycling things that should have been thrown away." I looked up what recycling means for the effect, cause I know what recycling means, don't get me wrong...anyway, "convert waste into reusable material", is the definition I found via google. Convert waste into reusable material. Think about it. Converting waste or trash. Stuff that should be in the dump. Us. We should have been in the grave. We should have been dead and gone. We were waste. Until God did some recycling and made us new. As it's said, "tried in the fire but came out gold."

But some waste has no need of being recycled. Old habits. Bad relationships. Hidden agendas. We need to recycle. Recycling is important, but in some ways it can be a burden. Some people you know are not going to do you right. You know they're going to use you. You know some people continue to take your kindness for weakness. And then you go into a new year and say, "No longer will I be used. I'm a new me. I'm a new (insert name here)" Then you come to the same problems you had for years because why? You do the same things that got you in to the trouble to begin with. You recycle the trash you threw away into new issues and new problems for the new year. 

Proverbs 26;11 says, "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." Stop going into the new year being the same fool. Stop recycling the same crap that you dealt with before. If you went through it before, you should be able to see the signs of the same stuff about to happened. Like let's say I'm going to church. I know the way I go to church. I go the same way every time. If I continue to go the same way, I will get to the same destination. The way you choose to go will determine your destinations. Let me say this, taking detours does not count as going in a different direction if you're going to end up at the same destination.

Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." How Sway?

Ephesians 6:10-18, "

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

Happy New Year.

Stay Saved in 2016,

Daniel Richerson