THIS BLOG TOOK A TURN

This was originally going to be another blog about my depression and suicidal thoughts. Then I realize that I couldn't do that. I didn't want to continue to live in misery. We all got issues. We all have bruises. I just thought it wasn't a crime to say "Ow" sometimes. March 23rd I wrote a post I titled, "Unspoken", and I was very open about mental issues and anxiety. I would say that I had them. My little sister left me a comment that said, "you’re working through anxiety and mental health issues, sibling. It does not have you nor do you have it!!" And I thought she was crazy. Like I'm living with this. I know what goes on through my head on a daily, how you going to say I don't have anxiety, and mental issues? 

I believe she was trying to tell me that I have to be careful what I speak over myself. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7a "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." The last clause of Luke 6:45 "...for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." The song writer said, "Sometimes you have to encourage yourself." It's nice to get encouragement from love ones. I believe we all like a little encouragement every once in a while, but when you feel like you're not getting any encouragement, why not encourage yourself? You may not see what you're speaking, but as my old Pastor once said, "Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eye can see." Song writer said, "I may not see it, but I hear it." Somebody else says, "You got to see it before you see it if you're ever going to see it" Let's go Bible. Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Proverbs 18:21 in the Good News Bible, "What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words."

Now the question comes how can you truly encourage yourself if you don't like yourself? I would say that's a legit question. I'm still growing in that department of liking Daniel. Find a reason to smile. Find that reason to laugh and smile. Some would say as a Christian, you don't do what necessarily feels good to you all the time, which is true, but you can find a reason to laugh. Don't let depression kick your butt. Turn the news off. If you can't turn social media off, you can at least hide the posts you don't want to see or unfollow. Radio personality Charlamagne tha god often says, "Protect your mental health." By any means necessary. Instead of watching the news, watch a good movie. Listen to your favorite song. Distance yourself from people that mean you no good even if that includes family or the people you may go to church with.

I've been told for years that I got to start looking at myself through God's eyes. What does God say about you? Forget what other people say about you. Jeremiah 29:11 in the Amplified Bible, "For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope." Another verse comes to mind Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Song writer said, "His report says I am healed/ His report says I am filled/ His report says I am free/ His report says victory." Take notice what report didn't say. Nothing about anxiety, depression, etc. Not saying those feelings won't come, but don't give in. Keep walking. 

I want to take this time to thank my sister for checking on me just about everyday to make sure that I'm ok. I want to thank the people in some of the livestreams I go into, for making a person dealing with being alone among other things feel welcome. From the church streams to the gaming streams. Thank you. I want to thank all of you who has help me keep my head up and in the game. I know I don't communicate like I should, but thank you for loving me anyway. I want to thank all the people at the cardiac rehab center I go to for helping me get through my workouts. Thank you all for reminding me that I'm not walking alone.

I hope something was said that helped out. I hope if you feel led, you share this post all you can. Continue to pray for your boy.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DO YOU STILL BELIEVE?

 Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."

1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." 

The bible is still right. I know the phrase, "Holiness is still right" is the big cliche in the Pentecostal church. While I agree that Holiness is still right, but I question what are we really talking about. Are we talking about Holiness or are we talking about tradition? Are you talking about holiness or are we talking about style? 

Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things where with one may edify another."

How can you say Holiness is right when we can't even get along with each other sometimes? Holiness is right while at the same time what we say on Social Media...it's not adding up. 

1 John 4:20-21 "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." 

How can we say holiness is still right while at the same time hate a person based on the lifestyle they live that may be different than how we live? So again, I ask, what is holiness? Again I say, the bible is still right. We're in the 4th quarter of 2020. The Bible is still right. Covid-19 doesn't seem to be going away, but the Bible is still right. Those verses I quoted at the beginning still hold up. I still believe eyes haven't seen the great things in store. I still believe God's promises are still yea and amen. I still believe His yoke is easy and His burden is light. I still believe 2 Chronicles 7:14. "If my people..." I still believe  in "they that wait..." 

The old song asks a question, "Whose report will you believe?" The response is, "We shall believe the report of the Lord." Do you still believe that God has the final say? I watched an interview with Dave Chappelle and Dave Letterman on Netflix. Chappelle, who is a Muslim, said, "I believe that God is in control, no matter what I worry about." I was going to write a post about are you walking about faith or by sight? It is written, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I know, but the question still remains, are you walking by faith or by sight? Is what you're seeing affecting your relationship with your Faith?

Romans 10:9 "...that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart the God hath raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Whose report do you believe?

Cue Awesome by Pastor Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago. A song that is probably being sung at every church around the world. I know the last couple of blogs have been venting. I probably should apologize---


So as I was studying in the Word of God, a little song came to me that I haven’t heard in years. It says, “Whose report do you believe? We shall believe the report of the Lord.” Think about it. How many times has the doctor said there’s no way and God made a way? How many times have folks been told that they’re nothing and God made something out of nothing? Whose report do you believe?

So people talk about you, so you’re called ugly, so you’re called worthless. Whose report do you believe? I believe the bible says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. More than a conquer. Chosen generation. Royal priesthood. So you’re sick. You need surgery. You need a transplant. You’re told that only have a certain amount of time to live. Whose report do you believe? His report says I am healed/His report says I am filled/ His report says I am free/His report says victory.

The same God that did it before, He can do it again. I’ve been out of work since January 28. This Thursday (June 26), I got an interview for a potential job. 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 a mind to go on.

So this may be for somebody or may be just for me, whose report do you believe?

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

http://www.facebook.com/bigdusty

http://www.twitter.com/big_dusty