PRAY MORE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

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

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

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

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

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear form heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

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

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

Pray for me.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

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