GOD MADE ME WHO I AM

I've gone through like five different intros to this post. I know where I want the body of the post to go, but how to get the ball rolling has my mind going back and forth. But here it is:

Remember the movie 8 Mile, and the final battle rap scene. The character, B-Rabbit, started the final battle by going down all his flaws so his opponent couldn't say anything about him. Something happened me recently to help me embrace who I am. I won't go into it, but I will say this, if you grow up being made fun of because of how you smell and how you walk or as they say now, bullied, you learn to get over it, but a piece of that never leaves you. You try to contain it as much as you can, but there's still a piece of that victim still in you. At least in my case. I can't speak for everybody else. So yes even at 28 years old, I still deal with low self-esteem regarding my flaws, looks, etc. But again something happened and it helped me really realize that not everybody is going to accept me. Not everybody is going to like the face that my head is bigger than average. Not everybody is going to like that I'm overweight. Not everybody going to like that my feet are not straight when I walk. But I realized after this incident, that God made me who I am, and in spite of my imperfections, God still loves me.

I know there's a lot of stuff out now for women to embrace their flaws, but not really much for straight men who also deal with image issues. I guess it's a pride thing men have that make them act like they're not insecure. Well it's not an act for me. I am insecure, or should I say still a little insecure.

Growing up there were those that took pleasure at laughing at my flaws, but at the same time there were those that looked passed my flaws, and got to know this mixed boy with image issues. So when ever there was times in my live to have my head down, there was at the same time reason to keep my head up. It was as if God was saying, "I got you, Daniel."

Like just some time ago, I was thinking nobody cares. Then my pastor asked me something I never really got asked before. He asked me how I'm doing mentally and spiritually. Never got asked that by anybody. Again, God was letting me know, "I have not forgot about you."

I've heard all my life, "What the devil, meant for bad God turned it around for my good." This incident was meant for me to go to another state of depression, but it turned out to teach me how to forgive and sleep peacefully. It taught me how to accept the flaws I got and go on living.

My dad preached a message one time that was talking about how Jesus was asleep in the midst of the storm before Jesus said, "Peace be still." Dad kept repeating, "Grab a pillow and go to sleep." That's just what I did. I forgave and got the one of the best nights of sleep I've got in weeks.

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17

Stay Saved, 

Daniel Richerson

GRATEFULNESS BRINGS BENEFITS

So the other day my sister treated to see the faith based film War Room, which is a brilliant movie, and as we were leaving my sister said something that stuck with me. She said, "I'm just waiting on a thank you." As soon as she said that it hit me that maybe we haven't received our "you're welcome" from God cause he hasn't received a thank you. For example, you ever do something for people and never receive one thank you? You usually stop doing stuff for them because of their what? Ungratefulness.

Being grateful is not only polite, it has it's benefits. Old saying in the church say, when the praises go up, the blessing's come down. The problem with some of us is that we want the benefits but none of the work.  Kevin Hart put it like this, "Everybody wants to be famous, but nobody wants to be the work in." I want to be an author one day. I hope to one day learn to play other instruments besides the drums. But I can't expect to get on a piano one day and automatically know the scales and the keys to put a singer in without any prior work. It has been said that some are just naturally gifted when it comes to pianos, but can't expect that for everybody.

Now I believe, my opinion, that God won't stop blessing because you didn't say thank you. I believe that's where grace and mercy comes in. They're not a excuse to sin or not say thank you, but it gives you chance after chance to say thank you. Shawn Bigby put it like this, "Lord I want to say thank you / I need to say thank you/ I gotta say thank you for always being there." Saying thank you should not be a forced thing. My sister shouldn't have had to ask me for a thank you. God shouldn't have to beg you to praise him. It's amazing that in Psalm 150 it's written, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Yet you seem to have to beg people to praise. A lot of us are so ungrateful it's no wonder we're going through what we're going through.

Ungratefulness can ruin relationships and future relationships. Cause you being ungrateful can travel like a plague and other people will hear about it and not do any favors for you. Imagine if God treated us like that. Imagine if because of our ungratefulness to God, He decided to cut us off. Imagine if because of our ungratefulness he never sent his son to die for our sins. Just imagine. How many of you are glad that God is not like man?

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

JESUS IS THE PROBLEM SOLVER

It is written in 1st John, "greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." Mary Mary had a song called "God In Me." Side note: should we really be surprised that I Luh God was released then? Just saying...Anyway, what I can't understand is why is it that in church we hear more about how bad the world is than how great God is? I thought we go to church to hear about the Gospel, but mostly we hear about how jacked up the world is. If somebody from the world comes into your church, the last thing they want to hear on a constant is how bad they are. 99% of the time they already know how bad they are, they want to know how to get out.

Whenever I hear, "You know in the world today, blah blah blah..." I roll my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I know we don't live in the most civilized society, but my thing is the "world" has been jacked up for years. I mean if the "world" today is so bad, then the world yesterday had to have it's problems as well, right? Today's generation learned it from somewhere, didn't they? Even if you blame the media of the day, the seeds had to planted by someone of yester-year, right? I always go back to what my dad told me, "You can't throw rocks from a glass house."

Let's go with that then, the world today is jacked up, but does that give you an excuse to be jacked up? I thought we were supposed to be "salt and light in the world?" I thought we were supposed to come out from among them and be ye separated? Talking about the world without offering a solution seems pretty "worldly" to me. That's like a math teacher teaching you that there's a math problem on the board, but has spent no time showing you how to solve it, but all the teacher has told you is that, there is a problem on the board. If you don't know how to solve a problem, then the problem will still be a problem that will grow into a major problem that will drive you crazy until you can get it solved.

Jesus is the problem solver. If we don't introduce Jesus to this world, the problems will never go away. We talk and talk about how bad the world is today, but if we never introduce Jesus to a dying world, then what have we don't to solve the problem? We talk and talk, but we got to do. I believe it's written that we need to be doers of the world and not hearers only.

You hear it all the time that, "Everybody is a Christian now." And we just accept it. We let it continue. We talk about it in our Sunday Schools and expect things to change. If we continue to treat this life as just another religion, that's how the world is going to see it. I was taught that this is a relationship not a religion. Can't we really be mad at the world making fun of the church, when we give them material? Maybe if the church will start showing more Jesus and less trying to keep the seats full...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

I DON'T REALLY CARE IF THEY LABEL ME A JESUS FREAK

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17

As I type this, a few days ago, I commented a status on FaceBook that was condemning "Jesus Freaks" by saying they all happy about going to church on Sunday then going back to the regular "B.S." by Tuesday. And I commented the status saying that some go back right after the benediction. At the time I thought nothing of it. Then I started thinking about it. I started to feel some discomfort about the whole thing. Then an old song came to mind that I first heard in Elementary School when this kid did it for a talent show thing we had to do in music class. The song was called Jesus Freak by dc Talk. Before that, I didn't know a gospel song that didn't have a choir or an organ in it. I heard that song and I was amazed at the sound of the music was putting out a message like Jesus Freak.

As I got older I liked the song more and more. And there's a part of the song that says, "People say I'm strange. Does that make me a stranger that my best friend was born in a manger." So why are we ashamed to be "Jesus Freaks." Atheist are unashamed. Gay and Lesbians are unashamed. Some celebrities are unashamed of how they live. Yet, you find some believers ashamed of their lifestyle. When most of us were "out in the world," as it is said in church, we were unashamed. Some of us made it known. We didn't have social media growing up yet people knew what y'all were about. Now with social media people REALLY know what you're about.

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

Stop worrying about what people think. It's funny how the world today is all about anti bullying yet the world tries to bully you into a "politically correct" way of thinking. Saying you have to accept everybody the way they are...except if you profess Jesus Christ. Interesting isn't it?  Even with all that being said, be ashamed. David said it like this, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:  what can man do unto me?" I believe that's another verse that says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will lift up a standard."

Stay saved. Stay Unashamed,

Daniel Richerson

LOVING KINDNESS DRAWS, THAT MUST MEAN HATE AND MEANNESS TURNS AWAY

"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." Jeremiah 31:3

Jesus drew us with lovingkindness. There's an old song that the church sang when I was growing up, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee. I will lift up my hands unto thy name" Based off Psalms 63:3-4. I've been thinking on this for the past couple of weeks. How important loving kindness is. Why is loving kindness important? Well I think we all can say there's a lot of fake kindness going on in the world today. I like to call it sometimes PC kindness. Ellen at the end of her talk show says, "Be kind to one another." If one would truly take heed to that alone. Be kind to one another. There's a "golden rule" if you will that says, "Who ever has the gold makes the rules." Also there's another one that says, "Treat someone how you want to be treated."

You reap what you sow. That's not only biblical, that's life. You sow an apple seed, you get an apple tree. You saw an orange seed, you get an orange tree. You sow loving kindness, you should get loving kindness. But we learned from the Charleston 9 situation that you can treat one with loving kindness and still get a bitter treatment in return. Now do you let that stop you from being kind to people? No. I've always said that you don't treat people how you were treated. You treat them how you want to be treated.

When I worked customer service at a call center we were taught to be kind no matter what. No matter how the customer treats you, you still treat them with respect. I never really got cussed out but I got fussed out many times and I had put the phone on mute many a call in order to keep my job, if you catch my drift. Amen praise God. Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath:  but grievous words stir up anger." And allow me to say the softest answer you could give sometimes is saying nothing. Old saying says, "If you got nothing nice to say--"

So if lovingkindness draws, then hatred and meanness must turn people away. Be careful of the attitude and look on your face because that may be why you have nobody around you. Oh me. My pastor says, if you can't say amen say oh me. That's where some of these debates miss with me. You can't draw people to your argument by calling people out their name. Name calling doesn't draw anybody, but if you talk in a calm tone and eloquently present your thoughts, you still may not draw anything, but you'll definitely be more respected that way. It takes respect to get respect. That's where the "God hates Fags" people miss the mark. First of all, God so loved the world, and if God hated anybody, why would there be grace and mercy? Second of all, name calling never ends up in a positive situation.

He who has friends must show himself friendly. Again, oh me. But nevertheless...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

TEMPORARY THRILLS ARE JUST THAT TEMPORARY

Before I go on, and I know this guy is like Ice Cube in the fact he somehow turned into the N**ga you love to hate as far as Gospel music, but one of Tye Tribbett classics is song called Everything. I have it on repeat right now. For some strange reason Tye Tribbett and Bishop TD Jakes have turned into easy targets for the religious in the church as far as hating. May not be where you all are at, but I hear it all the time. I guess they are not traditional, and of course tradition is all what Jesus was about, right? Or it may be the fact that Tye got caught and they didn't. Moving on...

Thrill seekers. We seek stuff that will thrill our flesh. Like you hear bungee jumpers and sky divers talk about the thrill they get when they do what they do. But after the thrill is gone, what's next? Like these marriages that come together for the sex part but forgetting that marriage requires relationship. The sex is a thrill but the relationship requires actual work. For some reason, the word "work" has become like profanity. It's not just the young generation which gets accused of being lazy. Some of the older generation is just as or even more lazy than...

A lot of people seek the thrill but don't seek the consequences of the thrill. Consequences? Yes. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't seek the thrill or enjoyment of certain things. If you're a bungee jumper or a sky diver, do your thing. I'm not mad at you, but as for me, that's not a thrill I'm seeking to have in my life.

Some want the prize of work, but don't do the process of work. Some want to eat and not work. It is written, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Like some want to make to heaven but don't want to travel the road to get to heaven. Taking the road to hell will not get you to heaven. Taking the road to NY will not get you to California. If you want to get to a specific destination, you have to take a specific route. Not to say there won't be detours on the way, but you still have to head a certain direction to get to that specific destination.

Thrill is defined as a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure. A temporary fix if you will. Like why some get high looking for that temporary fix. It's like cell phones. Some of us always wants the newest phone, even when your current phone works fine. You just want that temporary excitement or thrill of having the newest gadget on the market, that will only end up getting replaced.

All these thrills we seek is all well and good for the temporary, but there's still a void looking to be filled. A hole in the soul if you will. Only Jesus can feel that void. Only Jesus can feel that hole in the soul.

Bottom line, the thrill our flesh seeks are temporary thrills. But why not seek for an everlasting thrill? Why not seek for a thrill that will give you a feeling that you'll never get past? Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but Jesus never fails. Have you tried Jesus?

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

NEVER THOUGHT I'D KNOW GOD LIKE THIS

June 11, 2015 marked 4 years since my mom picked me up from the hotel to take me to Greenwood, SC. The night before that my Dad and I slept in a bed for the first time in 3 days. More than that if we're talking comfortable bed. First time taking a shower in days. First time taking a good shower in probably weeks. Just coming off sleeping in a van in parking lots and spending the day at the park. Dad took Ginger, our dog at the time, to the human society. I really don't know what happened to her after that, but I like to think that she found a good home. I hate to think the worse. I wasn't the best owner when it came to Ginger...

Back to that day of June 11, 2011. Mom picked me up and I had some of my clothes in a garbage bag. I was badly in need of a haircut. And I got one. No charge at that.

A lot has changed since 2011. I've been in the hospital twice for high blood pressure. I got a full time job and got fired after a year and 4 months. Had a few temp jobs. Finally got my drivers license.  I became one of the sound men at church. I started teaching Bible Study on Wednesday Nights. To the same most of the same folk my Dad was the pastor over. Never thought that would happened. I remember when Bishop Johnson would ask me, "You're going to be preacher like your dad?" I would quickly shut that down. I really should've known better than that. My mom and Dad both teachers in their own right, and now here I am. My current pastor would ask me, "Daniel, are you ready to teach?" My eyes would get wide and I would say, "No sir." The seeds were watered.

Now negative, I'm staying under my mom's apartment at 28 wasn't a life goal I had in life. Neither was going to the E.R. Never thought I'd still be single and not ever have a date. I'm learning more and more that God's timing is not our timing. Never thought I'd have an EBT card at 28. Never wanted that to happen. Never thought I'd be starting the day off taking 6 pills for my blood pressure, weak heart, and one kidney. Never thought I'd be on a low sodium diet. But God is still faithful.

Song writer said, "Who would've thought I know You [God] this way?" I will admit that resistance is not my strong suit, but I am still here by the Grace of God. I'm also learning how to be myself. Like really not be ashamed of Daniel Richerson. I am who I am. I'm crazy. I'm learning I have a choice to be weird or mopey. I choose to be my weird self more than my mad mopey self. I tell my family all the time in responds to "You seem chipper today."I say, "It's better than the other mood right?"

God is not through with me yet.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

RIGHT IS RIGHT...AND WRONG IS WRONG

We live in a confused society. We as a whole seem to think that one sin is bigger than other sins. I was raised to believe that sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Right is right. If you're wrong you're wrong. If you're right you're right. Truth is truth. So forth and so on. I watch this satire news show on Comedy Central The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I don't agree with everything Jon Stewart says on this show, but he does make strong points in my opinion. On a recent show he interviewed presidential hopeful Rand Paul. During that interview he made the point that if you see people you don't ask them what sin they committed, but some how when it comes to homosexuality, they automatically get questioned. Honestly, when the subject of homosexuality comes up on The Daily Show, it's always on the side of the LGBT, and I usually change the channel. But, I watched this interview on a rerun that came on in the morning and I thought what he said it was a valid point. And it really struck me that we as a Christian or "Kingdom Minded" society has made the lifestyle of the LGBT the major cause of the world's issue. Because they compare it to Sodom and Gomorrah.

Now here's my belief on that and I may have blogged about it before, but here we go. If you really read up in the Bible about that, yes homosexuality was involved in the story line, but remember God said, if he could find 50 righteous, he'd spare the city. Could not find 50, could not find 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10. Maybe America has been spared all this time because He found...

Back to the point, sin is sin. Not one sin is bigger than the other. Liars get served all the time without being questioned. Liars preach in our churches without any conviction, but let a homosexual lead a song or play the piano, all of the sudden, now the church is in trouble. Sin is sin. It is written that all of us have sinned and fallen short. We got praise and worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, and other leaders in the church have done crazy things that God consider sins, and they come back week after week like nothing is wrong. But when it comes to homosexuality, they are automatically condemn to hell because homosexuality is the worse sin of all the times.

John 3:17-18 says, " For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Jesus didn't come to condemn, but for some particular reason, some of us feel we have the God given right to condemn folk. Word? Quick question. What makes you better than Jesus? The only begotten son of God? Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Yes, but we have no right to condemn anyone. The bible says that those who do not believe are already condemned, what more can you do?

John 14:6 says, 'Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"'

So Jesus is the door. Stop blocking the door for people who are trying to get through. I recently saw an interview that really bothered me. Secular rapper Tech N9ne did an interview with Rapzilla stating he wanted to work with Christian Rapper Da Truth but Truth's people blocked it. Tech then went on to say that he needed help with certain things, and wanted to talk to Truth about it, but it didn't happen. People are begging our help, and we are so close minded, that we can't see past a lifestyle we don't agree with. We have no heaven or hell to put ANY body in. If someone asks for help, we should try our best to help, or lead them to who or what can help them. We're supposed to lead people TO Jesus not AWAY. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

EVERYDAY IS A MIRACLE

I've heard it said that everyday you give a gift. When you open your eyes, it's a gift. I was at the barber shop waiting to get my haircut and there was a conversation going on and it was talking about high blood pressure. Go figure that I happen to have high blood pressure issues, right? Anyway, I was sitting there and they were talking about high blood pressure and then something was said that really stuck. It was mentioned that this lady died of a sudden massive heart attack, and after further research it was found that she had not took her medicine in months.

Why did it stick hard with me? I already documented that I spent my Christmas of 2014 in the hospital. Before that I had not took my blood pressure pills in months. Through God's grace I didn't have a heart attack, but it easily could've been me. My blood pressure had 3 digits with a 2 in front of it. It was very very high. If I remember right, the lady in the Urgent Care said it was high enough for stroke.

So now when I wake up every day, I'm very grateful. Cause it's another night I didn't have a heart attack or anything like that. I make it a priority to take my medicine everyday when I'm supposed to. This past May 22, I turned 28. It's a miracle that I made it to 28. Song writer put it like this, "It's really no goodness of my own, but it's by the grace of God that I've been kept all this time and I still have the mind to go on."

Everyday is a miracle because it's written in the bible that the wages of sin is death. Some of us have done some stuff that we will never tell anybody. Some real diabolical things, but because of God's grace and mercy we're still here. We thank God for new seasons, but why not thank God for a new day that you made it to? I'm not going to say everybody, but for Daniel Richerson, everyday is a journey. Everyday I have a choice to make. I don't make the right choice every time. I don't live pure and holy every second of the day, but I'm trying to make the right choice.

Old song says, "I am a promise. I am a possibility. I am a Promise with a capital P. I am a great big bundle of potentiality. And I'm learning to hear God's voice and I am trying to make the right choice. And I'm a promise to be anything God wants me to be."

I'm learning to live by this creed. Like the song says, "I say to my soul, soul take courage. The Lord will make a way somehow." Sometimes you really have to encourage yourself. It's not just a good slogan or a good quote. Put some action on it. 

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

AN EXAMPLE, GOOD OR BAD, IS BEING SET BY YOU

You really can't be mad if the next generation follows your example. Good or bad, what you do is being watched and learned by the next generation. Even when you think you're getting away with it, you're being watched by the next generation. You know that saying, "Actions speak louder than words?" Best believe your actions are being watched also. From the day you're out the womb to the rest of your life, you watching the next generation. We never stop learning. I'm almost 28 and I'm still learning watching the next generation. Good and bad.

That's why you always gotta be careful of what you do and say. Because somebody's watching. That's why you always hear this excuse, "Hey, I didn't know anybody was here or watching." Can't always pass the blame on the media. Music gets blamed for stuff that it has nothing to do with. Don't get me wrong, music is influential, but you can't just put all the blame on the music that's not your style for what's wrong with a particular generation. That's where the next generation gets it from of not taking the blame for stuff because they see our generation and older generations passing the blame for stuff that we clearly brought on ourselves. 

I hear all the time that this generation, "don't care about anything or anyone." Well I ask, do you show that you care or do you give the shoulder shrug and eye roll if they want to show you something they find interesting. How many times has a kid came to you and say, "Hey look at this!" and you groan and roll your eyes? And you have the audacity the unmitigated gall to pass the blame on the media for the fact that the kids don't care when you show that you don't care?

When I was coming up, we had bracelets that had the letters W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do). Basically telling us to follow the example of Jesus. I was told to wear this and always look at it and think about that before I did anything. Didn't last long but that was the thinking behind that. Let us not be ignorant to the fact that Jesus is the only example we're following. Those that say they following Jesus has an example to set to. Those that say put God first has an example to set to. Like back in school in math class there was always an example of how to solve a problem. What example are you setting to the problems you face? Think about it, the next generation is watching. Or are you just going to pass the blame again.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

ELIMINATE THE HATE...NOT FOR WHAT YOU MAY THINK

Warning: If you're a fan of G. Craig Lewis and Ex Ministries, you might as well leave the blog now. You will not agree with this blog. If you preach against rap music, you might as well leave the blog now, because you won't agree with this blog. If you don't believe in delivering the gospel through rap, you might as well leave the blog now because you won't agree with this blog. Ok, you've been warned.

The LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transsexual) community uses the term sometimes, "Eliminate the hate" in regards to their rights. I'm going to take a switch with that term. If you've been reading my blogs for some time, you know that I'm a fan of gospel rap. I believe it can be used to spread the gospel. The Gospel is not changing it's just the delivery of the Gospel. I look at it like this. Some preachers you don't like to listen to. Some like Bishop T.D. Jakes, and some like Joel Osteen. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different. Some like Rod Parsley, and some like Billy Graham. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different.

Now to the point. Some like the Canton Spirituals, and some like Lecrae. Both spreading the gospel but the delivery is different. It's not for everybody. Me advocating Gospel rap is not going to change your opinion on the genre. But if you don't like the genre, don't hate on the individual doing what he do to spread the Gospel. It's not for you. Paul said it like this, "When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law."

For some particular reason, when something comes along that's different, it's wrong. It's satanic. It's the devil. It's a sin. The Bible talks about nothing being new under the sun. Going back in history when TV's first came out, they were considered a sin. When movie theaters came out, a sin. When Jazz was big, it was being preached against, and in some places still being preached against. Why? It's different. We are scared of different. So naturally so spiritual. Naturally, the LGBT sees disagreement as hatred. Spiritually, when you disagree with ones thoughts, or opinion, it turns into a rift or hatred.

We need to stop hating one another over petty little things like disagreements. The Bible talks about we got to love everybody to go to heaven. Stop hating people that are different from you. That's called being prejudiced. Disagreement shouldn't mean hatred. I don't hate my family members because I disagree with them. I don't hate some preachers cause they say things I don't agree with. When disagreement turns into hatred, that's when it comes a time to check yourself. Don't let your misconceived notions on anything, turn into hatred.

One argument on Gospel rap I hear, is that, "Gospel music should lead your to worship not to twerk." My response, twerking is something that was already in you to do. I think if some music leads you to twerk, it's something you got to do some self checking on yourself. Twerking came from the strip club, did it not? If twerking is what you do, don't blame hip-hop, blame the visual the videos give off. Not all hip hop gives the visual of sex sex sex. Don't blame what people of done to hip-hop and put that on everybody. Now again, if you hate gospel rap, what I'm saying is not going to change your outlook on it. I hate quartet music. I don't like it at all. It's not for me. But I respect anybody that spreads the gospel. I'm not in the quartet audience. I'm in the gospel rap audience. Should that mean we hate each other? No.

Let me put this out there, just because it's has the label hip-hop does not mean twerking is involved. Ok? Strip clubs has been out before hip-hop. Music was talking about sex before hip-hop. Hip-hop gets blamed for stuff that was happening before the genre even started. Lest we forget some of our favorite Gospel artists does not have the cleanest record out there. Kirk Franklin, he put his stuff out there so there's no reason for me to bring that up. James Cleveland? I'm not making this stuff up, you can look it up. Donnie McClurkin. Tye Tribbett? My point is, it's not the genre that's the problem. Da Truth said it like this on TBN, "It's nothing wrong with hip-hop culture. It's something wrong with the heart that's corrupt."

And that's really all I have to say about that. All and all, let's stop allowing the devil to make on disagreements lead to hatred. Stop giving the Devil more power than he actually has. You may not be a fan of Gospel rap, I'm the minority in my house hold when it comes to the genre, but I respectfully disagree with them and continue to do my thing. Some of the dislike for it is fair. But I feel it's no different than raising the roof in church or saying, "Ain't no party like a holy ghost party cause a holy ghost party don't stop." I don't see it as we're bringing the world into the church, I see it as an evolution of delivery.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DON'T TURN A MISTAKE INTO A HABIT

I was thinking of going one way with this post but then it would come off as "why couldn't you say that to that person's face" type blog. Been there done that. Don't do blog's off conversations...especially if you feel "some kind of way" about it. I've learned that the hard way. By the way, those blogs are still up.

A mistake is defined as an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Everyone make mistakes. If you say you don't, that leads me to a question, you know where liars go? The point is though not to continue to make the mistake. You learn from the mistake and not do it again. Get away from what started the mistake. Stop turning the mistake into a habit. Once it becomes a habit can't really call it a mistake any more, it's just a way of life by that point. The Bible says, in James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." In other words, if you know better but continue to do what's wrong, it's a sin. As my sister tells me on a constant, I never listen but she continues to say, "Get your life together, Daniel." Your name may not be Daniel, but you get me?

Don't be one of those, "you know the devil's busy" type people. If the Devil is busy, then get busy getting closer to God, and get busy resisting the Devil. If your excuse is "the devil is busy" that's like saying "the devil made me do it." Flip Wilson is dead, so let that excuse die with him. The Bible says in James, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Now changing the subject completely, I've been seeing all over Instagram, post talking about surrounding your self with the right people. Surround your self with good people. Takes me back to a mens meeting I was at, and my pastor at the time said that everybody needs at least 4 people around him. Using for an example the story of the lame man seeing Jesus from Mark, "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." Anyway, it was like post after post on Instagram about surrounding yourself with the right people. I'm thinking I haven't found that group of people yet, but I'm not giving up. I'm not big "it's a sign" type of guy, but I do believe God has ways of telling you something. He used a donkey and a rooster in the bi-ble to get a point across, so...

Guilty by association. Can't surround yourself with just anybody. Can't let everybody in your friends circle, whether we talking online or off line.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS

Watching a service where Wess Morgan brought the word, I sent out a tweet that said, “the internet is not bad, it's what you do that's bad.” Stop putting the blame on what you’re using to do what you do. It’s not the internet, magazines, or dvds that’s the issue, it’s the heart that’s corrupt that’s the problem. What are you using the internet for? What magazines are you looking at? What DVDs are you buying and watching? What are you choosing to watch on the internet? Who are you letting feed your spirit on social media? It all starts with you. You make the decision. 

The devil is doing his job. You’re just not doing yours. It’s written, “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” You don’t resist, he’s not going anywhere. If you know you shouldn’t watch certain shows because it vexes you, makes you feel some type of way or some kind of way, then you take the initiative, make the choice to not watch said show. I’m not going to sit here and say that’s an easy choice to make. It’s like if you exercise something they always say is push your body past the pain. In other words, force your body to do what it doesn’t want to do. Your flesh wants to continue to be in bondage because it’s used to the chains. But if you want to be free, you got to force your body to change. It’s not going happen instantly for most of us. Not saying it can’t happen instantly, because it can, but I wouldn’t go in thinking that it will happen instantly. I’ve heard it said you got to make a habit of not doing the habit.

Now I could use clichés and say, “Jesus breaks every fetter” or “There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain” but when you don’t use the name of Jesus, then what? Jesus works, don’t get me wrong, but if you’re not willing to use the name, don’t get mad if it feels that nothing is happening. You can hold the remote all you want, but that alone is not going to change the channel. You got to push some buttons and make something happen. Holding the phone is not going to make the phone call for you. You got to make some moves to put that call into action.

Don’t blame the phone if you don’t know how to use it. Don’t blame Jesus, if you don’t know how to call him. Don’t blame the Bible, if you’ve never opened it and read it.

Stay saved, 

Daniel Richerson

TRUE UNITY IS NEEDED

Unity can be defined the state of being one; oneness. When I think of unity or the state of being one, my mind goes to Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called to one body and be ye thankful." or Amos 3:3, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Can't be unity within a bunch of bickering and backbiting amongst each other. That's one of the reasons America is so jacked up. We call ourselves, "United" and yet we're the furthest from it. We in the church like to talk about how messed up America is when the church is not at a perfect state right now itself.

The church is supposed to be an example of unity, but it's the furthest from it. Prove it you say? What's the most segregated day of the week? Sundays. Unity? I know we as people have different thoughts and ways we do things, but why do we let that stop us from unifying? The head and the feet are different but they both serve a purpose on the body, right?

I'm going to use the Church of God In Christ for an example. The break down goes something like this: local church, then district, then jurisdictional, then national. It takes more than one church to make a district. So if the district superintendent wants to have a meeting of the churches and one church shows up it's not really a district meeting is it? Or if the jurisdiction calls for a convention and one district shows up, then it's not really a jurisdictional meeting. It takes more than one finger to make hand. It takes more than one house to make a neighborhood. It takes more than one car to have a collection of cars. It takes more than one team to make up the whole NFL.

Think of a family. If a family only comes together only during the holidays, where is the unity in that? Being blood related makes no unity. You have to spend time together. Get to know each other to create unity. Of course a family reunion is going to be awkward if you only have it once a year. The C.O.G.I.C. has multiple conventions for all the churches in the organization to come and worship together. That creates unity. "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)

How can you say you're unified with God when you don't pray. When you don't try to get close to God how is that being unified? Think of getting unified like a relationship, and what's one of the main keys to relationships? Communication. Usually when there's no communication, the relationship falls apart. Where there's unity, there's power. We as believers have to be more unified. I'm not talking denominations, I'm taking believers as a whole. Red and yellow. Black and white. We are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

TEMPORARY VS EVERLASTING...I CHOOSE EVERLASTING

Temporary: lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.

Everlasting: lasting forever or for a very long time

Eddie Murphy has a song called Temporary. Yes the same Eddie Murphy that did Party All The Time. Anyway the chorus goes like this, "Temporary. Everything is only temporary. But God is everlasting." Before you get thought that Eddie is trying to sing Gospel. Nah. It's just an inspirational song. Inspirational and Gospel go hand and hand, but just cause a song is inspiring don't make it gospel.

Let me go back on topic. Some of us that are addicts tend to look for the temporary fix. Whether it's a swig of alcohol, a hit of a joint, or sex, whatever it is, the satisfaction is only temporary. Why? Cause the next day or sometimes minutes later, you're looking for another fix. Why go for the temporary when you can go for everlasting? God's love is everlasting. It lasts forever. To me that's a no brainier. Don't get me wrong, I understand addictions. Some addictions you can't stop cold turkey. James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." How do you resist? Don't talk about it. Don't watch it. Get away from certain people that are no help to you. You may have to literally run away from it. Certain shows I can't watch. I have to change the channel. Music is usually my get away from a lot of things. A major way is to pray about it. Read the Bible. Fast. Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."

Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Another word for "filled" is satisfied. We go back to the temporary fixes looking for satisfaction but nine times out of ten we don't find it. If we start to seek ye first the Kingdom of God, we'll find an everlasting satisfaction worth it all. I know there's a saying out that says, "After you try everything else, try Jesus." Why not try Jesus first? Try God first. Don't try religion. Try relationship. Relationship with the try and living God. Temporary fixes vs an Everlasting loving God. Makes sense to me.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

CAN'T BE SILENT ANYMORE

October 03, 2013 I posted a blog entitled, THIS BLOG POST SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST, BUT GOD. Reason why I wrote that blog was to tell a little bit of the story of me going to the hospital that September because of my blood pressure and shortness of breath. I got out of the hospital for what I thought was motivation of a lifestyle change. Changed the way I ate, and all that. Only when it came time to testify that God brought me out of the hospital, I didn't say anything. Of course I blogged it, but life and death lies in the power of the tongue. I wasn't that good in biology, but I do know that my fingers have no tongue. Also what I didn't blog about, the hospital bill got wiped away through some kind of program through the particular hospital I was at. Again, said nothing.

December 25, 2014, over a year later. Back to the E.R. for the same issue. The night before I couldn't sleep a wink. I tried to lay down, but every time I couldn't breathe. I was also coughing my lungs out as well. So went to the E.R., and again, my blood pressure was sky high. How high? I would venture to say higher than Snoop Dogg on a 4/20. Of course got checked in to the hospital, and spent my Christmas in the hospital. During this stay, I found out that my heart was weak, and also that I have one functioning kidney. At age 27, this is unheard of. All the nurses, said, how did this happen? I really didn't have straight answer. But in all honesty, I didn't care about myself. I felt like no one REALLY cared, so I didn't care. Notice, I put the "really" in caps. I heard people say they cared, but in my mind, they were just staying face. I didn't buy it.

"What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around for my good."

The calls to my family, Facebook posts, some Instagram comments, and even a snapchat. I really felt that people cared for my well being. I can't tell y'all how happy I was to finally get out that hospital gown, and finally sleep in my own bed again. I was let out on that next Monday. That Wednesday night, I went to Watch Night at my church, Prayer and Faith Ministries COGIC where the pastor is Pastor Anderson Gray, I got a chance to testify and this time I did it. First words out my mouth, "I know if I didn't do this, I'd get a whuppin'."

Psalms 30:11-12 KJV

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Romans 8:28 KJV

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Again, I want to say thank you for all the prayers and the thoughts. As I'm typing this my weight is coming down, and my blood pressure is doing well. I've been taking my medicine and sticking to a low sodium food plan. Don't stop praying, the Lord is nigh. Don't stop praying, He'll hear your cry. For the Lord has promised, and His Word is true. Just don't stop praying, He'll answer you.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD (GIANTS WILL DIE)

1 Samuel 17:26b (GNB) "After all, who is this heathen Philistine to defy the army of the living God?"

Psalms 133:1 (GNB)"How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!"

U.S.A. United States of America. The country has never really been united unless a terrorist attacks. I remember 9/11 when it seemed that everyone was an American for like a week or two and then after that it was back to normal. What can I compare that to? Our denominations. When is the last time the body of Christ has ever truly united? We can't even unite on what the Bible says. We got the Baptist not liking the Pentecostal folks and vice versa. I hear all the time, "God delivered me from the baptist church." Word?

Homosexuality is not the only giant attacking the church. Don't get me wrong homosexuality needs and must be talked about, but it's not the only thing attacking the church. We got this giant of racism that needs to be dealt with. We got this giant of arrogance that needs to be dealt with. Who are the Davids to slay these giants? Who's willing to stand up these Giants with their rocks and sling shot? If Giants die, who's going to slay them? We can sing and talk about Giants dying and let's slay these giants, but there's got to be some action, right?

James 1:22-25 (GNB)  "Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is. He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice — they will be blessed by God in what they do."

What am I saying? All this talking about the world is coming to an end, and we're about to get out of here is all true, but sitting down saying it over and over isn't changing a thing. Action brings change. People want to know what to do, but if you're not willing to tell them, then what? People are giving up, people are throwing in the towel, and us preaching our denominations isn't going to help. Jesus gave this command that my Pastor recently preached on, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." I didn't read that it was a baptist gospel, or Mormon gospel, or a COGIC gospel. "This gospel" refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So if a preacher comes to your church to give the sermon, don't worry about the denomination, worry about if he has Jesus in his heart. Is he or she filled with the spirit.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

I'M TRIPPIN

Revelation 12:11 (GNT) They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.

So this was a few weeks ago now, but I was working at Velux. The lunch buzzer rang and we all went to lunch, and I had a little bit of Chinese food that I had from the night before. One of the co-workers, commented on the little bit of food I had. So I responded with, "It's better than nothing." Cause I remembered when I had nothing to eat. Anyway, that led into me  telling my story. Living in an extended stay, living in a Kia Sedona parking in parking lots to have some where to rest. Plus a little bit of other stuff. I knew I went through those things, but never talked about it. Never really talked about it to anybody. Not even my family or my spiritual family. I kept that stuff hidden. So after I talked with my co-workers, I felt myself tearing up. "I can't cry at work," I kept telling myself. I didn't want to cry at work because I was that kid that cried at school all the time. I really started thinking about my story, and how I was living then vs now, and realized that I was tripping. I was complaining about this and that, not being like this person or that person. Yet God brought me all that I've been through and I didn't have the courtesy to say thank you. To truly say thank you.

Anyway, and the buzzer rang and lunch was over. Went back to my post, and I was still crying. "Why can't I stop?!?" Co workers asking me what's wrong, I told the truth. Thinking about my life and how I've been trippin'. I mean I couldn't tell them nothing was wrong when they could easily see. I had to tell the truth. I told this one guy a little bit of it and he told me, "To go through what you've been through and to still be standing here working, you're a hell of a man." That helped. Then with the icing on the cake one of my other co-workers looked at me and said, "You're my role model." #waterworks I was crying like Jessie Jackson after Obama got elected the first time.

Why was I crying? Cause I know Daniel Richerson. Needless to say, I've known him my whole life. This guy is no role model. The guy that has an attitude problem. He has self esteem issues. He doesn't like his own face. He think the world is against him. He feels like he does nothing right. This guy has no right to be considered a model let alone a role model. Yet, God some how found a way...

"David was a whore monger, David was an adulterer. He was a horrible husband. He was a horrible father. But somewhere in the text it said David was a man after God's own heart." ~Kirk Franklin

In spite of all that I've done and do do, Jesus keeps on looking out for me. I don't know why He loves me so much, but He keeps on making a way. I'm not the only one that's been trippin' lately, but I can admit it. The fact that people in my life hasn't knocked me out yet is a miracle. I said all this to say don't think low of yourself. God made you for a purpose. I've heard it said, "For I was born with a purpose, placed in the Earth just to give You praise." We all don't have the same story. We all don't have the social security number. We are individually made. Be that individual God made you to be. Don't live to impress anybody. AN-Y-BOD-Y. Live so God can use you any where any time. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP YOU

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

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

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

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

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

MORE THAN LIP SERVICE...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

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

I'LL BELIEVE I'LL TESTIFY, GOD'S BEEN GOOD TO ME (THE DEVIL DON'T LIKE IT) 200!!

The devil doesn't like it when you proclaim the victory you have in Jesus. The devil doesn't like when you tell the good news of Jesus. The devil doesn't like the fact that you made it. There's a song that says, "Never would've made it." You either love it or hate it. Personally, it's my testimony. Because of Jesus Christ, I'm sitting here typing this blog now. I'm going to share this because again, the devil don't like it that I'm still here. About a year ago, I was in the hospital with oxygen in my nose, with an I.V., and was connected to a blood pressure machine. I was scared. I didn't know if I was going to make it. Before going to ER, I was apologizing to my little sister for being a "burden." She told me not to. I got to the hospital room, my mom called me, I was apologizing because I thought this was something I did. I'm not talking about what I was eating and not eating, I was talking about all the stuff like not looking for a job, being lazy, being homeless...I was thinking this was because of those decisions. But mom being mom, she didn't let me continue to think that way. When they let me go home, I requested to leave on a wheel chair, but they never got me. Mom pulled the car around but the hospital people never came back up to get me. I felt alone. I felt like no body cared. I put my head in my hand and tears starting to fall. Again I thought nobody cared. Mom ended up coming up to get me. She told me not to cry, but I couldn't help it.

Reason why I don't testify in church, like stand up and talk, because I'm not comfortable talking to anybody. That's why I don't "open up" like my little sister. I'm different. I'm me. I can't be nobody else. Which is why I'm probably so easy to think down on myself. I've had low self-esteem issues for most of my life. So when I say, I have a job. When I say, I have a drivers license. When I say, I can type. When I say I can put songs together on a mix CD that make sense. The devil doesn't like it. I'm learning that how ever I get treated, I got to be mature. I could easily sink to the level of others, but that solves nothing. I've learned that if you treat people nice that has done you wrong it'll messed them up. I've seen it work that way. It took me a long time, but I'm finally learning to apply what I've learned.

This is my 200th post on this blog site. Technically, it's probably like 202, 203, or something like that, but as of the posts I got now, this is 200. if you would've told me when I was in high school that I'd one day type my 200th blog post on this website, I'd tell you, in so many words, that you're out of your mind. I've posted some controversial stuff through the years. I've posted some stuff that's went over well, I've posted some stuff that nobody cared about. Through the ups and the down, and the good and the bad, thanks for sticking around folks. And thanks to all the people that mock me for posting these. Thanks to all the haters. Thanks for all the people that support.

There's more to come.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT

I've got a feeling that everything's gonna be all right. Be all right, be all right, be all right.

I've heard that song so many times, but it never really struck a chord with me. I now understand that song. Life has been not that easy for me lately, but I heard this song and I felt a relief. I now understand why my dad sat many a time playing Jesus Will Work It Out (Kurt Carr), God Is (DeWayne Woods), and Testimony (Rodney Bryant). Those songs spoke on his situations and gave him a sense of relief. That's why it's important to pay attention what you listen to. Especially young people. Be careful what you let enter your ears.

Psalm 30:5 "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" I'm not going to lie, I was contemplating on writing this blog. Reasons will be kept to myself, but let's just say, the people you expect to support, really don't care at all. I get mocked because of these blogs. Now this is coming from a guy that was mocked most of his life growing up. So being mocked for who I am or what I do is nothing new.

Never the less, here I am in spite of, doing what I do. So here's a little background. The other night I was watching videos on YouTube. I'm a music lover. People that know me know I love music. Playing music between Sunday School and Worship service is actually a joy for me believe or not. I wish I knew how to DJ. With that being said, I found this song by Kabra Benford and Psalm 100 out of Columbia, SC, called Be Alright. It's goes a little bit like the hymn with some extra flavor with it. So when I said in the first paragraph that it struck a chord with me, this is what I meant. I watched the video and listened to the song be sung under conviction and under the anointing, and it messed me up. A realization of everything's gonna be all right was just to heavy for me.

Which goes back to a song I led which I've blogged about before that says, "I don't know why You love me so much, but You keep on making a way." I now realize that it's no coincidence of the songs I've led over my short time on this planet. Song's like God is (Dewayne Woods), Made A Way (Bishop Larry Trotter), I Won't Forget (Norman Hutchins), For The Rest Of My Life I'm Gonna Praise Him (Sammy A Young), Jesus Is Real (John P. Kee). Was it because I could lead them better,, or was it that God was trying to tell me something? I like to consider that it was the latter.

Speaking of latter, another song came to me one night as I was praying that, "Your latter will be greater than your past." Of course my first response is, "Word?" Just keeping it real. But regardless, everything's gonna be all right. I can say that until there's no breath in my body, but if you don't believe it, or if it doesn't marinate in your soul, it's nothing but words. But I do believe despite everything thing that's happening, everything's gonna be all right. Inspite of the wrong,

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Here's the link to the video I watched: http://youtu.be/3ilqlIYE7PI

I'M HARD HEADED LIKE THAT...

God is alive. He's a living God. Why put your faith in one that is dead I don't understand. Muhammad died in 632. He was alive in the 3 digits. Joseph Smith died 1844. Buddha is dead. My bible says those trust in the Lord shall renew their strength. I blogged last week about the Bible. The living word. His word is alive. This same Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. In order to inhabit anything you got to be what? Alive, right?

I've been talking with Mormons lately and they've been trying to get me to read the Book of Mormon. I told them I would think about it, but like I said last week, I stand alone on the Word of God. Another testimony of Jesus Christ they call the book of Mormon. I personally believe the Bible speaks for itself. They gave me a verse to justify the Mormon book, the last verse in John which says, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." So they claim that Book of Mormon is everything else Jesus did? The verse says, the world can't contain it. Which means to me the World would not be able to handle it. Don't give me a verse to justify your thoughts and don't expect me to read it. I'm hard headed like that.

I watched a video on YouTube where a couple of Mormons tried to talk to this guy about Jesus, but the guy knew the Word for himself. He old them the truth and one of them got mad. Ain't it funny how mad people get when you don't bow down to their thoughts? Or when you use the same thing they try to use against them? Now I don't want to use this blog to blaspheme anybody, but I realize the skepticism I've been getting when I say I've been talking with these two Mormons. I know one is named Elder Borrows. I apologize to the other gentleman for not remembering his name.

All I'm saying again like I said last week you got to study the Word of God for yourself. Don't just take what anybody says verbatim. Trust in the true and living God.

In that video I mentioned earlier the guy that was talking to the Mormons, brought up this verse Luke 21:15 which says, "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." I looked into it and the study Bible I use went back to Luke 12:11-12, and it hit home with me, "And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say."

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Side Note: I hope this doesn't come off as hate. I have no hate for anybody...that you know of.

THE B-I-B-L-E YES THAT'S THE BOOK FOR ME.

The B-i-b-l-e yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-i-b-l-e.

The above are lyrics of a song I learned when I was a little kid. It came back to me when I was thinking about some things. Lately I've been having conversations with some Mormons. Cool couple of guys. They strongly believe in what they believe. Should I say boldly believe in what they believe. I don't agree with most of it, but I have to respect the boldness. Why do I respect the boldness? Because it shows what kind of boldness I should have for what I believe in. What do i believe in? The Bible is what I believe in. There's an old song that says, "I know the bible is right. Somebody's wrong."

What I have a problem with is people putting other books on the same par as the Bible. Same level as the Bible. I have a problem with that. I read (past tense) in the Bible, Word of God, that in the beginning was The Word, and the Word was with God., and the Word was God. So if God is the Word, then isn't putting another book on the same level like worshiping another God? I believe that one of the 10 commandments is, "thou shalt not have no other gods before me." Around the 4th to 5th grade my sister and I want to this daycare, Sunshine Learning Center. There they taught us a song that says, "Read your Bible, pray everyday, and you'll grow, grow, grow." Read your BIBLE. Get to know your God. Study your God. Stand on the Word. Believe in God. Can't believe in God and not believe in the Bible when they are one in the same.

The Bible says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV) In other words you have to study the Word yourself. Don't just go by what you've heard all your life because 9 times out of 10 you might miss something. For example, most of my life, I've been hearing about Sodom and Gomorrah. Every time I hear about that it's mostly about the homosexual stuff that's happened in that. But once I studied it for myself, I realized that the ones that brought up that story nearly always never brought up the fact that no righteous living people could be found in that city therefore God destroyed it. Now a lot of people call America modern day Sodom and Gomorrah, and believe me I get the comparison. But again I bring up that God could not find 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10 righteous living people in that city. So you mean to tell me that America has no righteous living in the country? America is going to have to pay for it's sins, I know that, but I believe the reason it's still running is more than "In God We Trust" on the money.Why I say that? Because mainly the bible says if you love God you will keep his commandments. It's more than lip service. I believe that, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken..." Then again, I could be wrong. But this is my blog, and--

Anyway, another good reason to study is your success. It is written that, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8) So with that being, making your way prosperous can't come by depending on whoever your spiritual leaders are. You have to read the Bible for yourself. It clearly says, THOU shalt make THY way prosperous. Not your pastor, not your bishop.

The B-i-b-l-e yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-i-b-l-e.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Facebook.com/bigdusty

Twitter.com/big_dusty

Instagram.com/big_dusty

Big_dusty on Vine and Snapchat

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

SHOW JESUS...

Doing this via a blog may seem like a real punk move, and I know I have to do this in person. Yet I go on. I would like to apologize to everyone who may be reading this that I may have offended or bad mouthed in anyway shape or form. I also want to forgive anyone who may have done it to me. The bible says that if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. i don't know about any of you, but I want to be forgiven. Will this change anything doing it this way? Time will tell. With that being said...

I think one of the problems is that  we try to force people to accept salvation. Don't get me wrong. I know that we are in the end times. I do know that Jesus is soon to come. I do know that we are in the last and evil days. I also know that if Jesus came back too soon, some of the people that we would think would be caught up will be left behind. Matthew 7:21-23 says, "
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." I heard it said recently that we can't sham God. We can't fool God. God sees all and knows all. Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; god is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

You can't make someone get saved. You can't make someone accept Jesus. What we do is give the message and let them make the decision. Right? Think about when you accepted the Lord as your personal savior. Was it because someone forced you to? or did you hear a message that convicted tugged at your heart that you decided to follow Jesus. This is a debate in church believe it or not. People say you didn't decide to follow Jesus, you were chosen. Here's my take. Again I may be wrong on this, but I may have been chosen to play on a football team, but that doesn't automatically mean I'm going to play. It doesn't automatically force me to play. Like I was chosen to be one of the soundman at church. I didn't sign up for it. I didn't hold my hand up and say, "Pastor choose me I want to do it!" No. Pastor basically said, "Daniel, I want you to run the sound." and I said, "Ok." That's basically it. So yes God chose you and yes the bible does say that we are "a chosen generation." But does that necessarily make you saved? Does that necessarily get you in to the gates? You still have to believe in your heart and declare with your mouth that Jesus in the son of God and that he rose from the dead, right? You still have to choose or decide to do that right? I'm just saying...again I may be wrong...it's happened before, and it's bound to happen again.

All I'm saying is that we have to go out in he highways and byways as the Bible says, and allow me to say, that can mean Internet highways also? I know it means literal highways and byways, but if folks are always on the net, why not get to them where they're at? We got to show Jesus in and out the 4 walls of the church. There's some people that will never show up to your church or any church, don't they got to know Jesus too? I've heard it said that the church is a hospital, but some people don't know that their sick. So since they don't know we have to be prayed up and studied up so when the opportunity presents itself we'll be ready to speak the word. and you never know it may be the Word that leads them to Christ. Right or wrong?

If you don't know the Lord, 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." The song says, "Come to Jesus, while you have time. Come to Jesus, make up your mind. He will make your mind brand new. Oh He will take care of you. Come to Jesus while you have time."


Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

LET THE WORD WORK AS IT IS

"We no longer have to perform for God" ~Kirk Franklin

I was thinking of posting what I spoke on Sunday. And then I began thinking about ones that try to spice up the Word of God like it's an unseasoned raw piece of meat. The Bible is already good enough as it is. No need to put your opinion on it. The Word is alive by itself. Donald Lawrence had a song that said, "Let the work do the work." Part of the problem of why we see no growth in church is because, I believe, the Gospel is not being preached. Opinions are being preached. Your opinions are not going to get people saved. Your opinions are not going to get people delivered. Your opinions are not going to catch the fish you want to catch. Opinions fail. But the Word (Bible) will never fail. Opinions die when you die, but the Bible is what will stand forever. No matter what man says.

We live in a world now that is doing what is against the Bible, but we as a people have to be unashamed of the Gospel. Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Opinions are what you sometimes end up being ashamed of. Opinions have power. But you really want to really on the power of human opinion? That's called politics, and I'm know I'm not the only one that believes that we don't need any more politicking in the church.

We don't need to try to impress God with our fanciness. It's timeout to just dance and praise in church, then as soon as you leave the "church ground" you get mad of every little thing. It's timeout just showing the love of Christ in the four walls, but outside the four walls you show the false love of the Devil. Now is a time more than any to be real with God. To be real with your spiritual life. Now is a time to start applying church and stop just going to church. Now is a time to start living church.

Somebody is always watching. I'm not talking about God cause God sees all and knows all. I mean non believers and young believers. Keep that in mind the next time you let your temper get the best of you.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

*UPDATE 8/10/14*
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." let the word do the work

ARE YOU PERFORMING OR BEING?

"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:5.

A conversation with my sister prompted this blog. People know how to do church. People know how to dance, run, play the right chords, and make the right faces to get by. There's a difference between people that just do church and the ones that are the church. Church is not a building. Despite of what you may think. I learned a long time ago that the church is the believers. Which one are you? The ones that just do church, or the ones that are the church? 

Now let me say this that I'm not casting stones. I'm guilty sometimes of just doing church and not being the church. Before I changed the name, I called the blog site, Keeping It Real. I'm doing my best to not come off as a perfect guy. Please believe I'm far from perfect.

I heard it said that the anointing it will break the yokes. Dancing or shouting is all well and good but is anybody getting free? Or are all we doing is exercising? I'm half black, but I will say black people are known for enjoying a good beat. So with that being said, being saved has to be more than a dance, right? It has to be more than a song that gives you goosebumps and gets you emotional, right? I mean people get emotional over "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith. That's not a gospel song. Then the question comes is being a Christian about putting a performance or is about becoming Christ like to the point where people see more of the God in you rather than you yourself? 

Rapper Lecrae who is saved has a song from one of his old albums that says:

"After the show, after the set, after the music stops what's next?

Will there be fellowship, prayer, disciples?
Will you open your bibles after the music stops

After it's over, after it ends, after the music stops, what then?
Will you understand that Christ is King?Or will you just like the words we sing after the music stops"

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Big_Dusty on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and SnapChat

BigDusty on Facebook

EastsideAfro.podomatic.com (New Podcasts)

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

Nice try Devil but you have lost again...

I'm not going to go into detail. All I'm going to say is that the devil tried to get me. He thought he had me, but somebody prayed. But God has won again. When they say there's power in the name of Jesus? I dare you to try it. Try using that name and the power that comes with it. I'm a living witness that it works.

Now to the regular scheduled blog. Well not that scheduled and that's my fault. Cue The Chidrens Bread by Tonex.

I realize at I'm becoming more of a crier. I'm becoming a little more like my dad than I realize. I'm already like him in certain aspects, but never was that much of a crier outside of church of course. What brought this on is I was watching Kevin Durant's MVP speech an when he got to talking about his time growing up with his mom and all that she did, I had to literally scream to keep myself from crying because the tears were there and ready to flow. I fought them back though because that's not what I USUALLY do. We as people are scared to get out of our comfort zone and that might hold you back from a miracle. Step out on faith just one time and I promise it will make an impact. Now make sure that it's God leading you. Don't step out of the will of God, that's not what I'm saying. What I am saying is that if God wants you to do something that's out of your comfort zone, step out on faith and do it. And of course it might not be as bad as it seemed to be.

Like take the song I'm listening to now. God Is by DeWayne Woods. I'm a natural shy guy. Been one all my life. I'm just not one to open up to folks in person. So I bring God Is up because I led this song at this church I used to attend New Harvest Ministries COGIC. And it was always nerve wrecking. Every-single-time. But I stepped out on faith and did it. It ended up being like a release of some sort for me.

Next week I'll be 27 years old. I didn't think I'd make 25 let alone 27. To God be the glory for the things he's done. Yes I'm still single. Never had a date in my life. But is that necessarily a bad thing? I mean I'm still here. Sill alive. God has done too much for me for me to be ungrateful because I've never "had a girlfriend." That's not to say that I don't want to go on a date or have a girlfriend or one day have a wife and all that, but my life does not depend on that stuff. I'm not just going to settle for the first girl that winks at me. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
Big_Dusty on Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and Snapchat
Facebook.com/bigdusty