LEARNING HOW TO LOVE AND FORGIVE...ME

One major lesson I've learned through 2020 is that I had to learn how to love myself. My mom put it like this, "You got to learn how to love Daniel." I don't publicize this a lot, but depression is something that I've dealt with since childhood. I think I can speak for a lot of people that this year especially, it feels like those of us that have those mental health issues, we hit a wall this year. It's something the church has finally become more vocal about it. I got trust issues too so I definitely don't open up to every body. When I say I got trust issues, the response is usually, "Well you shouldn't feel that way." Why do we feel that we can dictate how or what people feel from time to time? Every house is different. Even in the church. That line might cost me.

I found this definition of love, "to feel deep affection for" or "like or enjoy very much." So when one tells me, "You got to learn how to love Daniel," it tells me that I have to find deep affection for Daniel. I got to learn how to like and enjoy Daniel. I spend a lot of time alone by myself. When people talk about their circles, I barely got a dot. When I let people in, and when I feel that the circle is growing, it always seems like they disappear out of thin air and I'm by myself again. That's part of the reason why when you see me out in public, I usually keep a straight face so that I don't let people in only to have my heart broken again. Again, this line might cost me, but even amongst church folks. When I'm home, most likely I'm listening to music, or watching funny Youtube Videos just to help keep my head together.

I wrote a post some months ago taken from a New Edition song entitled, "Do You Really Love Me, Don't You Really Care." That was something I've asked myself regarding people around me all the time. Like when people ask me how am I doing, do they really want to know or are they asking to get something out of me. I want to publicly thank those that don't let me stay down when I get down. I want to publicly thank those that have the spiritual eyes and ears to know that I'm not ok sometimes. No matter how much I try to hide it.

I've had panic attacks at random times. The worse one came from when I was working at this manufacturing plant. I was at my station working and I couldn't stop crying. I could barely walk. I was dizzy. I ended up getting sent home because my partner that was working with me at the station saw that something wasn't right so she told the floor leader and she ended up sending me home. Here's the problem. My job was an hour away from where I live. So imagine in that state of mind driving home trying to stay focused. It was nothing but the grace of God that got me home safely.

I don't want to use that "s" word, but yes that has come to mind. In the state of depression that word is bound to come up from time to time, and believe me it has. I always went back to that old song, "Something down inside of me telling me to go 'head." But even with that something, I still needed to learn how to love myself and not be selfish to the fact that how would it affect others if I'd actually went through with it.

The problem then comes with the fact that I'm supposed to be a man of faith. I type all these blogs feeling dead inside sometimes and I get comments about how people enjoyed the posts and how the posts were inspiring. I remember at my 11th high school reunion, don't ask, I was approached by an old classmate and she told me that she enjoyed the posts. Even with those small glimmers of hope, I'd still feel empty like what is this all for in the end? 

Learning how to love yourself also means learning how to forgive yourself. If you've asked God for forgiveness, and you know that He has forgiven you, that should be enough for you to also say that you forgive yourself. I quote Kirk Franklin a lot, and I'm going to quote him again. On a interview on TBN, Kirk said, "David was a whore monger. David was a adulterer. David was a horrible husband. He was a horrible father, but somewhere in the text it says that David was a man after God's own heart." So what am I saying? God sees the worth despite of the mess. Somehow or another I had to learn how to see my worth despite of my mess. 

I talked about mental health, and it is an important subject in today's times more than ever, but we have to take the proper precautions to protect it. That means we can't watch everything. That means we got to cut off some dead branches so we can grow properly. That means that as much as I miss some of the people that used to be in my life, I got to let some if not all of them go. Song writer said, "I'm not going back, moving ahead. I'm here to declare to you my past is over in You all things all made new. Surrendered my life to Christ, and I'm moving forward." It is written, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Now with all that being said that doesn't stop life from happening. It is written, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above  that you are able; but will with temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." In other words, God will never put more on you than you can bear. Jesus said, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

All this to say that I'm on the pathway of learning how to love/like Daniel. I still got a ways to go, but with God's help and with the help of the right people, I'm going to make it. Paul told the Philippians, "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 before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Stay Saved, 

Daniel Richerson

If you search for Kirk Franklin Steve Harvey TBN testimony from 2011, you'll find the video of Kirk dropping a lot of jewels. 

DONT LET DOUBT KILL YOU

To those of us to put on the mask of smiling the mask of faking that we are ok. How are you really doing? Are you doing ok? Well, I just want to say three simple words. Don't. Give. Up. 

Oxford defines doubt, "a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction." The verb form is defined as "feel uncertain about." A lot of us try to take the leap of faith but end up falling before we get to the other side due to panic or doubt. We feel that surge of energy to chase your dreams or do to just do what God tells you to do, but that little hole of doubt sets in and you end up procrastinating. You end up sitting in fear because you're too scared to do something. James 2:26 in the Contemporary English Version says, "Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!" If it takes faith to get started, it's going to take faith to keep doing.

It is written that without faith it's impossible to please God. So why do we try to please God with our performance? That's for another post.

When we find ourselves holding on by a thin thread, we got to have faith enough to believe that God can turn that thread into a closet full of blessings upon blessings.  They say watch out for that first step it's a doozie. "Doozie" meaning it's a big step or it's a deep step. The late Pastor Gray would tell me to walk the path that God has set before me. The path is set before you, but you still have to get on the path and walk. 

I know you're nervous, but take the step anyway. I know you're crying but take the step anyway. I know you've been through ups and downs, but take the step anyway. 2 Corinthians 5:7 in the King James Version says, "For we walk by faith and not by sight." Again I quote the late Pastor Gray, "Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eye can see." Now that doesn't mean what you see is not there. That means you got to keep going despite of what you see. You got to keep moving. Don't give up. Things may be moving slow, but take the step anyway. Things may look to be in a stand still, but take that step anyway. 

Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14 (New International Version), "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I don't consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"

We're all taking this one step at a time. It's not wise to drive one way while looking in your rear view mirror. That's how crashes happen. If you're looking back, you're liable to run into a tree. You're liable to run into another car. You're liable to get out of your own lane and go into somebody else's. Don't let doubt of what's coming cause you to go back to what didn't work before. Or it may have worked, but what if God is taking you to new. We got some people letting the doubt of new hold them back. We sing songs like, "You make all things new, and I will follow you forward." But when new shows up it's, "We've never did it this way before." One thing about this Covid-19, is that it made people change. It forced people to think of "new" ways, when you had no time to dwell on your doubt and the doubt that comes from others, including family. Old song says, Keep your eyes on the prize, never mind what you left behind. Take the step anyway.

I thank you for reading. If you got something out of it, could you share please with your people. This was really directed at me. I'm 33. At times I'm scared, but I got to take the step anyway.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THE MESS

I've actually been working on this new blog for months now, but I could never get it to come together. So if this gets posted, then obviously I could get my thoughts together in a way that it made sense enough to post something. If this works, to God be the glory.

Since the last post I've started a new job. While on this job I sometimes zone out to some music that's playing in my head to try to keep my emotions in check. To try to keep that low self esteem in check. Sometimes it works. On two occasions it didn't. The first occasion, I was getting into my own head. I was being told what to do by literally everybody but the person who is supposed to tell me what to do. I felt like I was being pulled in every direction but the right one. Even by the person in charge. I would openly vent, not knowing or even caring who heard me. When I didn't vent, that's when I would zone out to that musical space. But one shift I couldn't take it anymore. I stopped trying to fight the tears. They just started coming down my face. I did my best not to be seen. I turned my head from my co workers and would try to wipe my face fast so no one would ask. Sure enough, know one asked what was wrong or maybe didn't even care, I don't know.

The second occasion was a mixture of things. The same old crap was going on at work, plus stuff outside of work as well. One night after work, I was driving home and I drove past cops who were apparently on the road with flashlights and green vests. I didn't see them. I got pulled over instantly and was told that I could've been shot due to almost running over cops. Again I didn't see them. Good news, I didn't become a hashtag, and I got let go without any ticket or anything. So that left me shook, then the next morning I had some business to handle so I couldn't get rest before going to work and didn't have anything to keep me awake. At one point, I was on a two line road, and I nodded off at the wheel and ended up in the other lane with cars coming. Fortunately I was able to snap out of it just in time before something drastic happened. I made it to work, and again the same crap. So again, I couldn't hold back the tears. They came down again. I started thinking I wasn't good enough for this job or for life in general. Nobody said anything. Nobody cared.

I'm still in the process of learning how to like myself. How to see worth in myself. That's why I started using this gimmick where I refer to myself in 3rd person like Eddie Murphy did in I Spy. Instead of Kelly Robinson, of course I use Daniel Richerson. I also take a little bit from the late great Don Rickles and point out my "greatness." All in fun and jest, but it's a way that I try to build up my self esteem. It was a way to keep a smile on my face. Other people started finding the gimmick fun too and they started running with it. Haven't really started using it at this new job yet.

All is not bad at the new job tho. Some of my co workers are actually patient with me. It's as if I haven't been there long enough yet and I'm still trying to understand certain things. I haven't really clicked with anybody just yet like I have some previous jobs I've had. I guess that all will come in time.

I guess the message in all this is that sometimes when you encourage yourself, you really got to encourage yourself. An old song says, "Nobody told me the road would be easy, but I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me." I know it's popular to talk about "The Universe", but I'm old school to the fact that I stand on the B.I.B.L.E. I stand for Jesus the son of God. I stand for the creator of the universe. One thing my current pastor told me some time ago, which he was quoting a verse from Psalms, that says, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." That has stuck in my mind and even when the tears were coming down my face, I would put my hand under my chin and try to lift my head up.

The first four letters in message is mess. There's a message in the mess. There's a saying that says, "There's a blessing in your lesson." Don't allow the mess to mess you up. Look for the message, wash your face, and go on with your day.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

PRAISE AGAIN

It is written, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

The New Living Translation says it like this, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!"

Tramaine Hawkins sang a song called, "I Never Lost My Praise" and it's a deep and good song. I was once a member of a choir that had that song on the set list. It says, "I never lost my hope. I never lost my joy. I never lost my faith, but most of all, I never lost my praise." Now may I throw this out there? I feel that if some of us were really honest with ourselves, some of us have lost our hope, joy, faith, and praise and still stand up on Sunday mornings and say, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Blood and his righteousness." to get over with the church goers. I recently heard a preacher say that we have been raised to lie in church. When someone asks how we are doing, we say something like, "I'm blessed and highly favored." or say what I say, "I'm good."

When we come to church honest and desperate, I believe that's when true work can be done. One Wednesday night, it was after a long week. I was heading to Bible Study, but I almost did a U-Turn because I was so depressed. To be honest I was ready to accept driving off road. Not going to go into detail, but let's just say, I messed up things like on a major level. So I was already beating myself up about that, but I pushed my way to church. Where I'd usually show up on time for prayer which goes on at 6:30, but I showed up right at 7 because again I was contemplating on whether even going to church that night or not. Come to find out, going to church that night was the best decision I could've made. I left that night feeling refreshed and healed. That night I really felt that the church was indeed a hospital. At least for that night, I found my praise again.

I used to loathe hearing people with the microphone say, "Y'all ain't praising!" My response would be, "How can you judge how someone praises God?" How can you praise something you have no faith in? I believe the level of your praise shows the level of your faith. If your hope is not where it needs to be, and you forget who God is and what God has done for you, of course your praise is not going to be where it needs to be. When the preacher says, "Give God a praise." and you give God a patty cake clap or you give God a monotone "Hallelujah." Expecting that to be enough. I'm reminded of a song that I heard growing up that said, "You oughta be happy, you oughta be happy, you oughta be happy just to praise the Lord." The Bible talks about the saints being the bride of Christ, right? I'm not married, nor have I ever been in a relationship, but from the outside looking in, I can tell if a wife really loves the husband. I can tell when a girlfriend really loves her boyfriend. Am I allowed to say that your praise level may show your love for Jesus?

I dare you to find your praise again. I dare you to hope in  God again. I dare you to forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him. One song says, "My Praise is my weapon." A weapon only works if you use it.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

GOT A STORY TO TELL...

2013 was a tough year for yours truly. I got fired from my job in January. And some months later I started having trouble sleeping at night because I couldn't breathe. I was told to go to the doctors, but I wouldn't go only because I hated the doctors. The old thing about I don't want to go to the doctors cause they might find something wrong with me thing? That was me. Went to California that July and still had trouble sleeping at night, but I did my best to no sell it. Everybody could see something was wrong but I was steadily trying to deny it. I was sweating more than I usually do, but still I refused to go to the hospital or the doctors, because I figured like a common cold that it would go away.

It wasn't until that September that I just couldn't take it anymore. I asked my sister to take me to Urgent Care. I was nervous. I couldn't lay flat back because I couldn't breathe. Every time I laid flat back I felt like I was suffocating. Come to find out my blood pressure was sky high, I had a lot of fluid, and I got diagnosed with Chronic Heart Failure, or CHF. Ended up staying in the hospital for like 3 or 4 days, but it felt like 3 or 4 months. One day as I was eating lunch, I got told by one of the doctors, that I'd be dead by 30.

When I got released by the hospital I was told to find a doctor. Didn't do it. Took my medicine for like the first couple of weeks, then I stopped. I was feeling ok, until...

Christmas of 2014, I was admitted to another hospital for the same thing. At least at this hospital I was given a couple of more years past 30. This time, with the help of my mom, I found a doctor and I continued to take my medicine.

Keeping up with my appointments, continuing to take my medicine, and with the prayers of the righteous, I can now say there's no trace of CHF in my body. And as of May 22, 2017, I'm 30 years old, and alive to type this post. I was sent tot he hospital for some test, and it came back that there was no trace of CHF, and my heart is beating regular. Now I just got to get this weight and blood pressure under control. Also finding a job wouldn't hurt either.

There's nothing to hard for God. I've seen Chronic Heart Failure kill a lot of people, and for some particular reason I'm still hear. Who wouldn't want to serve a God like this. I should've been dead. As a matter a fact, not too long from when I got out the hospital the first time, I went to a funeral or home going service, and I was struggling because I was telling myself this should've been a double funeral. But God. There are somethings I may not know. There are some places I can't go, but I am sure of this one thing, that God is real and I can feel him in my soul. Yes God real. He's real in my soul. Yes God is real for He washed and made me whole. His love for me is just like pure gold. For God is will for I can feel Him in my soul.


Stay Saved,


Daniel Richerson

FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME...

"In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. We have the victory. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Satan, you have to flee. Oh, tell me, who can stand before us when we call on that great name? Jesus! Jesus! Precious Jesus! We have the victory!" ~ In The Name Of Jesus, congregational song

"There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain." ~ Break Every Chain, Will Reagan

Peter said in Acts 4:10-12, "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (kjv)

It's also written that demons tremble at the name of Jesus. What I'm getting at is, we get so triggered at the names of people that wouldn't know who we were if they had a picture of us in front of them. From Bishop T.D. Jakes, Kirk Franklin, Tye Tribbett, Creflo Dollar, Brian Carn, just to name some. You mention those names in the midst of some people, watch the atmosphere change. Watch the mood change in the room. just because they were brought up. Some of these people have done nothing wrong, and I sit there and wonder, "What did they do?" To be honest, some of it is because they're different or they have made mistakes that were in the spotlight.

I don't think any of us understand what is like for anybody to be under the spotlight. I would imagine that it's harder for Gospel artists and ministers, because if they don't cross every "T" and dot every "I", the piranhas will eat them alive. Heck, even in the local church, if the piranhas smell blood, it's over. Why do you think B. Slade is not Tonex anymore? Piranhas.

Back on topic. We give people way too much power over us. I get it though. It's real easy to let anybody become a distraction. We as humans tend to find one thread of something we don't like about a person and then turn that thread into a sweater of reasons to not like the person. To the point where they get so much power that when we hear the name, our blood instantly begins to boil. I'm a wrestling fan, as some of y'all know, and when some of us here certain entrance music, our blood boils over. Examples being John Cena and Roman Reigns. Only reason is because the bosses see money in them. They see "box office", and as soon as we as fans realize that, we get so angry. John Cena and Roman Reigns really did nothing wrong other than doing their jobs. But because they are not who we chose to be the "top guys" we boo the decisions of the creative. Reason I brought that up is that some fans have given Roman Reigns and John Cena so much power that even hearing their names brings about an angry response. Some even begging to riot when Roman and Cena win at anything.

The only name that should have the kind of power to trigger anything in you is Jesus. At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. It is written that all power is given unto Jesus, so we need to stop giving the power away. I believe if we start pleading the blood of Jesus over these common names that trigger such emotion, and over our own minds, we'd be able to move forward as a body. 

As my pastor often says, "You got to love me to go to heaven." Jesus is love.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

BE THE CHRISTIAN YOU WANT UNBELIEVERS TO BECOME

"The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." ~ Brennan Manning

There's a phrase that says, "Actions speak louder than words." So naturally so spiritually. I can say I'm a good basketball player all I want, which I'm not this is just an example, but until you see me with a basketball on a court, all I'm doing is running my mouth. There's a lot of us believers running our mouths and that's all we're doing. Not throwing stones either, because I'm guilty of it myself. A lot of us honor God on social media and in church because it's easy. We share posts that say stuff like, "Share this if you believe in God." or "Share this and you'll receive a miracle." With stuff like that, I see why some see Christianity as a fantasy. Someone that's on the fence about their spirituality will share one of those posts and then realize that miracles don't work that way, and that little thing right there can be the period on the sentence of unbelief.

We get mad at problems that we ourselves cause. It's like putting your hand on a hot stove then getting mad at the stove for being hot when we're the ones that turned the stove on. The fire usually doesn't start by itself. Someone has to ignite the flame.

You know they say, be the change you wish to see in the world. Let's put it like this. Be the Christian you want unbelievers to become. Good fathers live like the man they want to see their sons end up being. Good fathers live like the man they want to see their daughter marry one day. Nobody is perfect, but that's no excuse for on purpose imperfection. You can't purposely do something wrong then use the excuse, "Nobody's perfect." 

Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect, but it's you trying every day to be like someone who is. So when someone is not perfect, we shouldn't give them the scarlet letter treatment. Especially when we're supposed to be in the business of winning souls. We can't win souls when we're disowning with those who don't agree politically. We got to realize that even though we're all striving to have the mind of Christ that we are all still individuals. So we can still be saved and not think the same on politics.

If we can't still show the love of Jesus to Christians that we don't agree with, how can we expect to win unbelievers? Some of us, when we see a brother or sister in Christ slip just a little bit, and we forget that all have sinned, and we automatically assume that they never knew Jesus in the first place. I can't speak for others but what I try to do is pray for those who are going through. I've learned in life that prayer changes things that talking about them cannot do. Prayer can do what dragging on social media can't do.

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

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

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

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

I GOT A SMALL WITTLE PROBLEMO

Why do we as a people, I mean us a human beings, not talking race or ethnic groups, but why do we as a people believe he say she say more than we believe visual evidence? Back in the 90s there was a gentlemen named Rodney King. Y'all may have heard of him. But this guy was beaten on camera. I repeat "on camera" and all the officers got was a slap on the wrist. To old for ya? Ok let's go to the Garner situation that happened in NY. Again, on camera, caught choked out by the camera. Wasn't really a punishment for it, and America goes on it's "merry" way.

Let me mention Bill Cosby. It's my blog, I'll believe I'll mention his name again, Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby, third time, has been accused by over 40 women of being raped and drugged. No visual evidence. Just based on he said and she said. And just about everybody, expect for a few of us, believe Cosby did it. Cosby is guilty according to "public opinion." I remember another guy, Jesus,  that was guilty according to the public. I'm certainly not comparing the two, but it's amazing how he said she said can put a tarnish on somebody's life. I have read that Cosby was in trouble for the same stuff in 2004 and nothing came of it. But about decade later and comedian working a comedy club, said on stage that Cosby was a raper. And the video that was recorded got posted and spread, and then the accusers came out of hiding. Apparently what Hannibal Burris, the comedian, said, sparked a memory of "hurt" and they came out.

We all know what has been said by now, and if you don't you can google it. Because of all this un proven accusations, Cosby has been called out his name. Based of he said she said. Nothing yet proven. Now one asks, how can over 40 women be lying? I say, easy. They're lips are moving, no pun intended to Meghan Trainor. Or, for the love of money. I hear ya tho. "Daniel, it's over 40 women, he obviously did it." Word? Obviously? May not be obvious to everyone cause the old man is still working.

"How can money be made from this?" Books and Lifetime.

Now, those who know me, know I'm a big fan of Eddie Murphy. Some time ago, Eddie did a movie called Holy Man. Not a lot of people liked it, but I personally loved the movie. Anyway, Eddie played a character named G. G was a spiritual guy i guess you can say. He was on his pilgrimage and ran into this guy, Ricky, who worked for this home shopping network. Long story short, Ricky puts G on TV and sales sky rocket. G because a national phenomenon of spreading a positive message. Meanwhile another guy, Scott, is not understanding this popularity. So his motive is to take G down in any way. Spoiler alert, Scott, finds a family that G "abandoned" only to find out the woman was paid to accuse G. As soon as the accusations came out, the media lost all respect for G. Until the woman said she was lying, G was painted as the bad guy.

I compare Cosby to G because Cosby was a positive figure in the black community. Not all the black community, because Cosby told black people to act like they have common sense, he was painted as a old man who has no idea what's happening. So with the accusations, those same haters had more ammo.

I'm not trying to turn your thoughts on the Cosby situation one way or another, but what I am saying is don't believe the rumors of everything you hear. Check the motives. In church we often hear and say, "Try the spirit, by the spirit." Basically what I'm saying. And if you disagree with me, I don't hate you. I know that's a popular way to do things now, but I'm not that guy..

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

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

GET BACK ON FOCUS

Something that has been bothering me lately, and I talked to a couple of guys about it. Churches are getting off focus. Again let me say that the church is not a building. The church is the people. Without the people, there's no church. Now, we as the church, are losing focus. We're supposed to seek God. Focus on God. Keep God first. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. If there's one thing I can't stand it's when I go to a church that's not focused on the kingdom and more focused on what he or she is doing or not doing.

Nothing like going to a church that's actually God oriented and unashamed about it. We've become so focused on the entertainment aspect of church. Who can dance the best. Who can praise the best. Who can yell the loudest. Who can play the best. More about the show and less about the oil. The oil meaning the anointing. I guess being God oriented won't put butts in the seats, but I heard it said, "Take care of God's business, He'll take care of yours."

It is written, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Wondering why the church has no peace? The focus may be off. When the body is not listening to the head, it's out of order. We got body parts disrespecting the head and wondering why everything is all messed up. When I was growing up, and I disrespected the head of the household, I got what is missing in most homes today, disciplined. Discipline is missed in some churches as well.

Discipline is more than using the belt. It's defined, "the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience." If God speaks to you pastor what the church needs to do, or where the church needs to go, just shut up and obey. Don't say, "Well I don't think that..." You're the body part for a reason. God placed the pastor there for a reason. He sent the pastor there to lead. Stay in your lane. You're over the sound system. That's all you need to put your mouth on. Stop putting your mouth on what is not in your lane.

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) When worry come we tend to pass the blame instead of going to God in prayer. Instead of hitting our knees in prayer, we let the Devil come in and jack up relationships and close down churches. I wonder how many churches have closed the doors because of losing focus. Learn who God is again. The holy spirit is not the only spirit that talks to us. Think before you speak, and keep you mind stayed on God.

Two old hymns came to mind. One says, "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No not one. No not one. None else can heal all our soul's diseases. No not one. No not one. Jesus knows all about our struggles. He will guide 'til the day is done. There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No not one. No not one." The other says, "What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and grieves to bear. What a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit. Oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." "Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. All we got to do is take it to the Lord in prayer"

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

GET YOUR ZEAL FOR CHRIST BACK

This is going to be a bit of a call back to a blog I typed back in 2009. Before I get to it, I'm asking for your prayers. Now things may change after I post this but as of right now, I've been asked to do something real big. At least to me it's big. I'm not going to mention what that thing is just yet, but I'm asking for your prayers that God has his way and that no flesh gets the glory.

So back in 2009 I typed a blog called, "No Joy, No Strength. No Faith, No Strength." If you go back and read the blog remember it was back in 2009, and I've typed worse things in a blog. Anyway, this is the part of the blog I really want to call back to:

 You hear it said all the time, "The joy of the Lord, is my strength." Yeah, that really sounds good, don't it? But, do you really carry the joy of the Lord or do you let the Devil ride? (Shout out Deacon Moody, the coolest deacon I've ever met.) Do you carry joy, or do you carry hate? Some of us, including me, need to check ourselves. We say the right stuff, but do we really mean it? A lot of us are weak because of our lack of joy. By the way people can sense that, which is why you can't get through to people. We often use the Bible verse, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy's gonna come in the morning." That's true, don't get me wrong. I truly believe that, but I think and believe that we can cause the night to linger longer than it has too. For some of us, the morning could've been here, but we let the Devil influence how we think and feel. Thus we stop believing. Thus we start to doubt. When people go to the altar to give their lives to the Lord, the verse found in Romans 10:9 "That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved." A lot of people confess but they don't believe, and I think that's how we lose joy. In our heart, we truly stop believing thus we lose joy. Faith is also important for strength, because if we lose faith, we lose joy. My pastor defines faith as this, "You got to see it before you see it if you're ever going to see it." Now the Bible says, that life and death lies in the power of your tongue. So with faith, you got to see it, but I feel that speaking it will add more confidence to your faith. Now if you're gonna have faith, doubt has got to go. Trying to have faith with doubt is like trying to have a classy show on VH1. It's not going to work. I'm just saying if you're feeling weak mentally, maybe you need to get some joy in your life. Use your faith and speak that you will have some joy in your life. How to get joy, you ask? Jesus. Jesus can give you joy. As the late Rev. James Moore would say, "I know Jesus can give you joy! JOY! JOY!"

To be honest there's not much I can add to this but here's an attempt. Don't you wish that you didn't have to force a smile on your face? Don't you wish that you didn't have to be fake? There's an old hymn that says, "Since Jesus came into my heart,Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart." When someone really has the joy of the Lord, they don't need to fake it. They don't need to force a smile. That's not to say that they don't feel other emotions, but they don't let the devil upset their rest. It took me a long time not to let people get to me. I'm not perfect in that yet, but I've gotten much better with that. As far as letting people do what they do and not letting it affect how I act. There's a phrase that has been used in the past decade that says, "Haters are gonna hate." People are going to do what they do behind close doors. What's done in the dark...you can only hide who you really are for so long until the mask comes off.

So the question comes how does one truly be joyful. I said in the post in 2009 that Jesus can give you joy. Kurt Carr has a song that says, "We got to put Jesus back number one." We have become so dependent on our phones and social media that when we wake up in the morning what's the first thing most of us do? Check for text messages and notifications. What if we woke up and actually started off when a Thank you to the one that woke us up? What if we started with a prayer? What if we started off with meditation on the word of God? If we really put Jesus number one, make him the first priority of your every day, joy will follow. Real joy. No longer will we have to fake being joyful. No longer will we have to force a smile on our face. Get back to when you first received Christ into your life. We need to get back to the zeal we had when we first got saved.

Now if you're not saved, the bible says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

JESUS LOVES YOU....LOVE HIM BACK

Before I get going, just want to thank everybody who reads my material. If you're new, hello!

The other day I was googling time travel because I was thinking how cool it would be to travel though time. I know it's impossible, but let me dream. Some parts of my life I would avoid, because I know I wasn't the easiest mulatto to deal with. Still to this day I can be a major pain to some people. The difference is though is that now I'm starting to care. I'm starting to care how I act or react to certain things and situations. Not to say I didn't care then but I would not think before I did things. So googling time travel took me to an interesting video talking about reincarnation. In this video it showed this little boy that knew about what happened when the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor. Apparently he was one of the piliots that died. He knew everything about the pilots life and everything. I don't believe in reincarnation but this was interesting. And it was this other lady that apparently was Anne Frank. She knew where Anne Frank was hiding from the Germans at and all that. Now I know this maybe as some old country people say, "Horse pucky." But how does one explain that? I'm not buying reincarnation, I'm just talking bout the video I saw.

So I watched all that, and that lead to the story that the Heaven is Real movie is about. I watched a video regarding the little boy and going to Heaven when he was 3, and that lead to me watching two powerful video regarding aithest experiencing a little bit of what Hell is and turning their lives around. The one constant I found in both of the videos I watched was 3 words, "Jesus loves you." Like inspite of all you're doing or what you have done, Jesus loves you. Some people just need to know that because they feel alone. They feel unloved. Thy feel unwanted. You don't hear about the other gods saying they loved their servants. But Jesus loves you. He loves you. One more time for the trinity, He loves you. That's why we can't call the young people out their name. If God loves them, and we serve God, then who are we to call them out their name? or anyone for that matter? The Bible talks about drawing people with love and kindness. Can't win anybody calling folks out their name. That's not spreading love.

I heard a guy asked a question that it's not a matter of God loving us but do we love God enough to turn away from our sins? Some of y'all know what is sin and what isn't? Do you want to turn away from it, or continue there in? Believe me I'm not throwing stones from a glass house here, I'm just asking in general. They say love is a two way street. So wouldn't one to expect one that if some one loves you past you, you would love that someone back, right? I'm sure those who are married reading this love your spouse passed who they are, right? I haven't yet found my one, but I'm sure that I would love her like that. I believe it's written that Jesus is coming back for a bride. To become a bride or groomsman is based on love right? Should be anyway.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
facebook.com/bigdusty
Instagram.com/big_dusty
Twitter.com/big_dusty

Praise God for the residue

Isaiah 6:1 NLT It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

To be in the presence of the Lord is an awe inspiring thing. Some people embrace it while some watch for the entertainment value, and there's some people that don't believe anything is happening either way. But I believe that there is residue from being in the presence of God. It's becoming more of a reality that when your praises is not just for you but for the people that may be around you and for the people connected to you in one way or another.

I was having some issues for a couple of days. Let's just say my stomach was bothering me. Sunday at church the presence of God filled the temple. Young and old crying out. Went home and realized that the issue I had, I no longer had. I believe that was from the residue of the service. This is why it's important to go to the house of the Lord. My pastor quotes this all the time, David said I was glad when they said unto me let us go into the house of the Lord. Those who don't believe in "organized religion" and that being the reason you don't go to church...I heard a minister bring up recently that the Bible says God wants things done decent and in order which is one of my favorite verses. Also it is written, "How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

I'm not trying to force anybody to go to church, but I'm saying if you do find the right service where the spirit is high, expect some residue from being in the midst. I heard somewhere that a lady went to a tent revival to spectate and ended up getting saved when it was all said and done.

It is written to seek first the Kingdom of God AND his righteousness...anybody can seek God, but can you live right? Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and He will supply your needs. Paraphrasing of course. The residue is good, but I don't know about you, I would like to have more than residue. Praise God for the residue, but if you want more than that...you got to do more than go to church you got to be the church.

Mom told me this one time some years back and I'm going to share it with y'all. P.R.O. Pray, Read, Obey. Just came to me so I don't know who it's for may have been just for me. But I'm going to share it anyway.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Stuff on my mind...

So I've been thinking. About my future. About any particular dreams I may or may not have. What do I want to do in my life? For one, I want to one day be successful enough to help out my mom, dad, and sister because they've done so much for me and are a major part of the reason I'm still here today to type this. Also I want to give back to the church. And get a new snare and cymbals for the drum set. Travel these United States to meet certain people. Some would say travel the world and I'm not about that life. I want to travel to places where I don't need a passport. Feel me?

Something else I've been thinking about. When or if that day comes and I decide to tie the not. Get married if you will. Who would I choose for a best man? I mean the only people I "hang" with is at church and they're old enough to be my biological father (Tracy Morgan voice). Seriously though who would be my "best man?' Shoot scratch that, who would be my bride? I guess I'll cross that bridge when it happens.

I think about these things often. Like to one day again have cash of my own and not depend on anybody but Jesus. I also think of what if one were to ask me if I could change anything about my past would I? If you ask me this now, I'm going to be honest. I would change one simple thing. All of it. Again this is me right now. I would change it all.

To do all this though, traveling and such, it takes a dream. But it also takes action. I hear my mom telling me some time ago to put feet on my prayers. It's gonna take grind and time. But it will happen. As was said in the movie, Angels In The Outfield, It could happen. Just got to make it happen. Take that one step and God will take two as it's said.

There's a song out that says, "Who opens doors that I can not see, Jesus will. Jesus will." So my prayer is, "God lead me to the open door that I can't see." That may not make sense to you but it does to me. So why do I keep typing blogs with no comments on them since February of 2012? Because I like to blog, and if only my mom tells me what's she thinks so be it. It's something I like to do, and who knows, it may lead to something big.

Don't give up on your dreams. Don't give up on your purpose. Chase after them. Trust in the Lord, and He'll will make a way.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

INSPITE OF ALL I'VE DONE...

I'm going to go a different route with this one. I'm going to start off with song lyrics. This is Lookin' Out For Me by Kirk Franklin, one of my all time favorite songs by Kirk.

Remeber when the doctor said
He said he couldn't help you and
Remember when the money was gettin' low
You're hurtin' now your feeling low and just
When you thought the night would never end
The sun came out now you can smile again
Jesus you keep on lookin' out for me

You keep on lookin' out for me [3x]
In spite of all I've done
Jesus you keep on lookin' out for me

 I'm a living witness that in spite of all I've done, Jesus keeps on lookin' out for me. If you know should have been dead and gone, you should have been filing for bankruptcy, you should be in jail...it's not the "universe" that's making this happen. It's the creator of the Universe. The one who reigns over the earth. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus Christ the King.

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.

I said in the last blog that greater is here. We just got to believe and receive it. There's an old song that says, "You just trust and believe/and when you ask you shall receive/whatever you want/God's got it/Whatever you need/He will supply."

And I'm spent.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
Facebook.com/bigdusty
Twitter.com/big_dusty

USE WHAT YOU GOT

It's been a long time. Little over a month. With a lap top that doesn't work and a desktop that went out on me, it was hard to post anything, but let me take this time thank you all for sticking around. Thanks for reading my stuff. Got a wrestling blog posted, and got my ipod on shuffle. So with that being said...cue Prodigal Son ~ Tye Tribbett. Before I go into this blog, I've heard Tye Tribbett's new album and I'm going to say it's his best album yet. Just awesome. I also listened Isaac Carree's new album, and I liked it also. I'm an R Kelly fan so that Clean This House remix is the cut as far as I'm concerned. But anyway--let's do this.

You can tell somebody what their doing is wrong. You can even tell them the consequences of the actions, but to be honest, it sometimes is not going to do anything. Some people got to be experienced to finally get it. Like you can tell thief about how wrong stealing is and it'll go in one ear and out the other. But when that jail cell closes, not all the time, but usually the realization kicks in. A prime example is the late great Sammy Davis Jr. Just imagine if he would've left the cigarettes alone. He'd still be alive today and killing it, possibly. But he just couldn't stop smoking even when he told people he stopped, he'd sneak off and get a puff in. Don't wait until it's too late to get the realization. I know I got realizations in my life and thank God I'm still alive to get stuff straight.

Some of the bad habits you can't seem to break, I say if at all possible, change your habits, or seek help. Don't wait until the consequences of that habit start to happen to realize, "Hmm, I my need to stop this." Believe me on that. An old song has become one of my favorites. I encourage anybody going through to YouTube Wave It Away by John P Kee. The song basically says give it to Jesus because he can bare them. Matthew 11:28-30 reads like this, "Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light." Now that was Jesus speaking.

A popular song in the church now is Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs. It's an awesome worship song. I'm willing to bet it's a song sung out of key and tune at churches around the world. That's when you know you got a hit folks. Anyway the song says, "There is power in the name of Jesus. To break every chain." We love that song. We "go in" on the song. Yet we don't use the power. An old congregational song says, "There is power. Power. Wonder working power in the blood of the lamb." We don't call on Jesus nor do we plead the blood of Jesus anymore. That may sound old school but the blood still works. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big supporter of new school. But some stuff we shouldn't stop doing as believers. Calling on Jesus and pleading the blood is right up there. We are a generation that loves singing and quoting but doesn't like applying.

We're wondering why chains aren't being broken. We wondering why we're still bound. Seeking God might help. 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicket ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." #Boom! Let me bring this in the mix though. Acts 16:25-26 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were open, and every one's bands were loosed." Is your praise being heard? Maybe that's part of the problem.

Now the seed has been planted or watered. I pray that God provides the sunlight to provide the growth. I learned that I can't force anyone to do anything. I learned that what goes on in your personal life is just that. Personal. It's none of my business. All I'm supposed to do is speak truth. and the Bible says in John that the truth shall make you free. The decision is yours. Believe me that this blog is just for me as it is hopefully for some of you reading this.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty on Twitter and Instagram
BigDusty on Facebook