HOW LONG WILL THIS CYCLE CONTINUE?

"When the weight of this whole world
Tries to slay me
A strong tower from the enemy
You will be for me
So I need to find this place
Yes the special secret place
I'm assured of Your embrace
The place I ca'll my sanctuary
There You are" ~ Lead Me To The Rock, Stephen Hurd

"Truth is I'm tired
Options are few
I'm trying to pray
But where are you?
I'm all churched out
Hurt and abused
I can't fake
What's left to do?
Truth is I'm weak
No strength to fight
No tears to cry
Even if I tried
But still my soul
Refuses to die
One touch-will change-my life" ~Take Me To The King, Tamela Mann

"Pass me not oh gentle savior
Hear my humble cry
While on others thou art calling
Do not pass me by"

The last few posts were focused on mental health. Focused on not holding stuff in and finding people to talk to. Talking about all that, and then the reality of America comes to fruition. The reality that if you're black in America, you are still counted less than a human being. It feels like being black in America, you're still counted as 3/5 of a human being. One would think that the 3/5 compromise was not in affect anymore. Michael Jackson, God rest his soul, put out a song back in 1995 that says, "All I want to say is that they don't really care about us."

Proverbs 23:7a "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" America has tried to push racism under the proverbial rug, but never bothered to address it. I watched this adult cartoon, Family Guy. On a particular episode they had a cut away where the slave owner told the slave he was free and then asked the slave, "So, we're cool right?" It feels like that's what happen after the civil rights movement. America to black people, "So, we're cool right?"

There's a Will Smith quote making the rounds, "Racism is not new, it's being filmed." That's facts. But even when it's not filmed, we should care just as much. People were mad at the group NWA back in the late 80s when the song, F The Police was released. Instead of looking into why the song was written in the first place, or listening to the rallying cry that the song was talking about, they got brushed off as just about of "thugs." Good thing that doesn't happen in 2020....cough cough. The world did to NWA what the church does to the world which is look at what they look like and what they're wearing and disregard them. Maybe the problem is not the clothes. Maybe the problem is the heart that's corrupt. 

Now some may look at me as a mixed man and ask why do I care? Why do I care about Blacks Lives Matter. Why I do I talk as if I'm a black man when I'm mixed? Well first of all, let's not act like being mixed is all Sunshine and rainbows. Let's not act like when I go out in public I don't get looks. Let's not act like when my parents were together, and we went out as a family, we got stared at like we were illegal. Like we were in South Africa during apartheid. I can remember when we would visit my Dad's side of the family in Kentucky, we'd stop at Wendys to get something to eat, and the atmosphere was scary. I remember feeling like I didn't belong. Kinda like I was counted as 3/5...yeah so that's why I speak up. I may not have had a bad encounter with the police, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. All it takes is one time. All it takes is one time for me to get pulled over by the wrong cop and all the sudden I'm a hashtag.

The church has been quiet on this issue for too long. The church has swept this under the rug for too long. It's time to speak up. It's time to say hey, enough is enough. It's to work the faith. It's time to as my dad would say, "Put feet on them prayers." How many more wake up calls do we need? How many more decades have to pass? How many more generations have to hear songs like "F The Police" by NWA or "Good Cop Bad Cop" by Ice Cube and say, "That's still relevant today." How many more moments do we have to get by? How many more deaths do we have to "get over?" When is enough really going to be enough? When are we going to stop hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock? When are we going to listen to the cries of the people and stop putting a pacifier in the mouths so they will shut up? 

This world needs hope. This world needs Jesus. This world needs love. Agape love. True love. That love of Jesus that we say we have? The world needs that. The world needs to see that. Put down the religious rule books. Put down the religious traditions, and show people Jesus. If Jesus gives you joy, why not present that to this joyless society? I'm tired.

I know it's not all police. I know it's not all white people. I know it's not all---but one bad apple...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DO YOU REALLY LOVE? DON'T YOU REALLY CARE?

For Hana Kimura. 22 year old professional wrestler. Death by suicide. 22 years old. Adult life never really got started. I never watched her perform, but that doesn't matter. What hurts is that she was so young and thought that life wasn't worth it. What also hurts is that what about those that are not being reported that's happening right around your block or dare I say right in your church. What about them? What are we doing as a body of believers to show that we care? What are we doing as a body to show that there's hope? Why are we continuing to sing to each other that "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness" and not singing that to people that need to hear it? How long will we say that we need to get out the four walls of the church and...get out the four walls? Shouts out to the people and the ministries doing the work.

Mark 2:16-17 "And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are w'ell have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:15-16 "This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them, but God was merciful to me in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me, the worst of sinners, as an example for all those who would later believe in him and receive eternal life."

I once led a song by Dewayne Woods called God is that said, "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Based off Psalm 73:26 that says, "My flesh and my heart faileth:  but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."

If we're going to present that God is love and we don't show love, then what's the point? Salvation is an action. To live is an action. We got to learn how to love each other. I think one of the problems may be as to why we don't show the love of Jesus to the "world" is that we don't show it to each other. How can we tell people that they need Jesus and we can't even show the love of Jesus to each other? We don't even care about the mental health of people in the sanctuary.

I understand that you can't go to everyone to vent because some people just don't care. They'll say anything to end the conversation because they don't want to dig in to what the real issue may be. There's some people that really care. Some people need an ear not a mouth. That'll preach. Sometimes in prayer you need to be more of an ear and less of a mouth. Moving on.

How many more suicides do we need to see before we start to care? How many more leaders have to commit suicide before we pray for our leaders? The Clark Sisters put out a song "Pray for the USA." Are we? Am I? I know this is random. New Edition's first hit, "Candy Girl." There's a part of the song that repeats in my head. "Do you really love me? Don't you really care?"

Thanks for reading. Please, if you need an ear, there's someone willing to listen. There's someone that cares. I'm going to end it like this. "Souls in danger. Look above. For Jesus completely saves. He will lift you by His love out of the angry waves. He's the master of the sea. Billows His will obeys. He your savior wants to be, be saved today." I know I repeat myself in some of these posts, and that's not my goal. My goal is to spread hope through this hopeless time.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WE CAN'T BREAK DURING THIS SEASON

I'm not going to try to speak for everybody, but I will speak for myself. My anxiety has been making itself known during this season we're all going through. As a church kid, we don't get much teaching on how to handle anxiety. I'm glad that finally mental health is getting the focus it's been needing for years.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. There's a saying that goes, "A closed mouth don't get fed." Another one goes like this "We have not because we ask not" You can't get an answer if you don't ask the question. I once heard Kirk Franklin break it down like this, "A doctor can only heal what we reveal." Don't wait until it's too late. Have a little talk with Jesus tell him about your troubles. He'll lead you in the right direction. You want to talk to someone that won't prejudge you while you're talking. You won't find a lot of people like that. Not saying there aren't any, but it's not a guarantee. Jesus is that guarantee.

With that being said, I'm not going to sit here and say that it's easy to go to Jesus for your problems, when some of the people that serve Jesus won't even lead you to Him. People give you such generic responses to you pouring your heart out because the odds are some people don't care anyway. I believe one of the problems is that when people come to Christians for advise or just to have a heart to heart, some believers can't lay down the man made title and put on the title genuine. If there was ever a time for people need to genuine care for each other is now.

I have a tendency of holding stuff in for a long time. I'm not good at calling people because I need to talk. Even though at times that's what I really need to do, I don't. My fear of reaction stops me from calling people. I've always had anxiety anyway, but with this "pandemic" it feels like it's become harder for me. I put so much pressure on myself because of comparison. Meaning that I often find myself comparing my situation with that past generations and that's when the fear of "generational curse" comes in. I get in a mood set sometimes when I live not to disappoint. Sometimes I find myself doing things not because I need to do them, but fear of not pleasing people that have gave me advise of what to do. So in my mind, if I don't do it exactly how they told me to do it, I'm doing it wrong. This is what I live with. So when if I'm giving someone a ride or if you see me at church, the mask is on. Doing what I got to do to get done what I need to get done only to come back home and have the same anxiety that I hide from everyone. 

One of my go to songs has been Okay by Canton Jones. I just want to hear to Lord, it's going to be okay. Another go to song for me has been Help Me by James Fortune. The title speaks for itself. Sometimes that's been my prayer, help me.

We got to find a way to continue to lift our hands. We got to find a way to not break. We got to find a way to stay in the field until the war is ended. We got to find a way to meditate on the Bible day and night "so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Find a way to put it on the altar and leave it there. God did not bring us this far just to leave us. So what i'm saying to everybody reading, and what I'm saying to Daniel, don't be afraid to ask for help. We can't break in this season. I heard a preacher compare it to a pine tree. Bend but don't break. 

Thanks for reading. Be sure to leave a comment and share with your peoples.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

KEEP ME WHERE THE LIGHT IS

For most the first Bible verse they remember learning is John 3:16. For me, the first Bible verse I remember learning is Psalm 119:105. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." I remember my sister and I was at this day care on East North Street in Greenville SC that's not even there anymore. It was called Rocking Horse Daycare. One day they had this video in that was like a biblical music for kids. One song that stuck with me for some reason was a song based on Psalm 119:105. I had no idea what it meant at the time, but of all the songs that was on the video that was the song that left its imprint.

Another version of that verse says, "Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me." Joshua 1:8, "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 there in; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." 

John Meyer penned this song called, "Gravity," and I came across a cover of that song from Clark Beckham and Yebba Smith. And the part of that song that stuck with me is where it says, "Keep me where the light is shining." An old hymn says, "Keep me on Your pathway Lord. I don't want to stumble, I don't want to fall."

Can I be honest? My prayer during most of this whole thing that we're going through has been, "Lord, keep me where the light is shining." With so much distractions from social media, to the news media, and from religious people, I just want to stay in the light. I just want to be found where light is shining bright. Old song says, "Shine on me. Let the light from the lighthouse shine on me." The thing about the lighthouse is the light has to be bright so that the boats in the sea can see where to go. If the light is dim, how can people see? If you're stopped by the police at night, those blue and red lights are bright for you to see that the cops want you to pull over. Some of us have allowed our light go dim and we don't even know it. We're trying to shine it in the midst of the darkness, and people can't even see it.

How can you know where to go when you can't see? It's hard to read a book while it's closed. A flashlight doesn't fulfill its purpose when it's turned off. Song writer said, "Whatever you do, don't let your light go out." Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." If your light is shining, sometimes you don't have to say a word. The reason why this can't just be a Sunday or Wednesday thing is because the people that need to see that light may not even walk in the sanctuary. They may be at the store. They may be at your job. They may be in your neighborhood. When I was a kid we sang a song based on Matthew 5:16. All my cogic kids know what I'm talking about. "Let it shine! Let it shine all over the world. Let it glorify the Lord."

Can I share something? I was watching this video and in it this guy said every where he walks he sees darkness, but somehow he knows there's a light. Keep me where the light is. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my face. That was a moment with God that I didn't know I needed. No shout music. No fabrication of what we have turned church into. It was just a simple message. I just want to be where the light is shining bright.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

SAME JESUS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, HE'S STILL

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

A commentary says, "In a changing world we can trust our unchanging Lord." What was Jesus to you before quarantine? Was He your healer? Was He your provider? Was He your shelter? Whatever He was to you, He's still that. The 5th and 6th verse of that same chapter in Hebrews in the ESV says, "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" 

I mentioned this in posts before, Psalms 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?" 2 Timothy 1:7 in the KJV says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Same verse in the ESV says, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control." Keep your head in the game. This is not the time to let go. Song writer said, "The devil really had me, but Jesus came and grabbed me." He had you and He still.

Psalm 30:11 "Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou has put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;" (KJV)

Psalm 30:11 "You turned my loud crying into dancing. You removed my clothes of sadness and dressed me with joy." (New International Reader's Version)

Song writer said, "What ever your problem is wave it away. What ever your trouble is wave it away. Give it to Jesus. He can bare them." Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." 

That still applies today. The same love of Jesus that lifted you, is still holding you. He hasn't let go so you don't either. Hold on a little while longer as the song says and "everything will be all right." The name of Jesus still has power. Demons still tremble at the name of Jesus. The same Jesus that you couldn't live without when you first received Him, He's still. Psalms 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." He still.

The same Jesus that worked it out, is working. The same Jesus that healed, is healing. Be not dismayed, what ever be tide. God will take care of you. He hasn't gone anywhere. He's still there. Old Hymn says, "He was there all the time. He was there all the time. Waiting patiently in line. He was there all the time." Will you let him in? Will you let him stay in? Jesus is still.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DON'T FORGET

At this point there's a lot of doubt setting in. At this point some of us don't know who or what to believe. Being it from the news media or from the pulpit. You got this news station saying this and that news station saying that. At the same time you got this preacher posting this and that preacher posting that. I'm nothing more than a guy who's trying to stay positive. Trying to stay vertical and not horizontal. Trying to build my hopes on things eternal. Trying to hold on to God's unchanging hand and not depend on the fear mongering news cycle.

Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak." There's a saying based on this verse that says, "Watch, fight, and pray." What I see going on is that there's a lot of watching and praying, but the fighting is with each other. Don't forget we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, "but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Do I believe the devil caused this pandemic? No I don't. I do believe that the devil is using this as leverage to cause believers to forget old songs like, "I will trust in the Lord until I die." Forget old songs like "God has everything and everything belongs to him." Forgetting old songs like, "No ground, I'm giving up no ground. We got a cause worth fighting for, Satan we're not going to take no more. No ground, I'm giving up no ground. Cause I'm absolutely, positively glory bound." "Hallelujah anyhow. Never ever let your problems bring you down. If those problems come your way, hold your head up high and say, Hallelujah anyhow." "Don't wait 'till the battle's over, shout now."

2 Timothy 4:2 says, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." The 5th verse of the same chapter says, "As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." Just because you can't preach behind a podium right now, doesn't mean you stop preaching.

Psalms 24: 7-10 "Life up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."

Psalms 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?"

Don't Forget.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

CORONA

Corona Virus. I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what it is. I'm not going to pretend that I know exactly what we're supposed to do. I do know that it's being used to scare people. I do know that it has become a distraction. I do believe that God is control. I do believe God knows what He's doing.

It feels like God is using this to expose some things as well. Stevie Wonder said, "Tell me Holy, Holy Roller, Are you standing like a soidier? Are you standing for everything you're talking about?" In other words, are you hot or cold? Revelation 3:15-17  "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

The corona virus has become water to a seed of disagreements between preachers. Have you noticed that there has been arguements between pastors on how to handle the Corona virus? Some preachers have even resulted to name calling. My belief the corona virus is not just a physical thing. It's a spirutal thing as well. I say spiritual because "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)

Psalm 27:1-5 "The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the Lord , this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock."

Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord , and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord ."

Psalm 73:21-23, 25-26

'When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.'

Fear is going to try and set in. But as I heard my pastor say recently we got to put no parking sign up. We cannot allow fear and doubt to hinder our faith. Song writer said, "Keep the faith, don't give up. It's only a test." Another song says, "I know somehow, I know some way. We're gonna make it." Continue to love each other. Continue to pray for one another. Even after this passes by. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, but we need to stop allowing things to separate us from the love of each other. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S TOO LATE

"For you and me this life is not promised. Tomorrow may never show up." - Mos Def, Umi Says, 1999

Like a lot of you I was taken back by the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, and my heart goes out to his family and to the families of the other lives that were taken. I found myself crying thinking about how life can end in just an instant. We take life for granted. We focus on trying to extend life besides just living for the moment. I understand getting healthy, and me myself I have to do much better with that. But if I focus on getting healthy and forget that I'm still angry at this or that person because of something petty, or I haven't been completely honest with this person and that person because of fear, then I'll just be healthy and miserable.

Please don't let another death come before you forgive. Don't let death come before you let your love ones that they are loved. Don't let another death come before you ask for help. My pastor said this today, "A closed mouth don't get fed." Stop hesitating. There's no progress in hesitation. Hesitation brings procrastination. Can't move forward and procrastinate at the same time believe me I've tried that for years and it hasn't worked yet. Matter of fact that is what I tried to do 10 years ago when I was supposed to have a "fresh start" and all I did was get a hair cut. You can get a a new hair cut and new clothes, but if your heart is still in the wrong place, it doesn't matter what you do on the outside. A makeover on the outside doesn't necessarily mean a makeover on the inside.

 

Hezekiah Walker put out a simple song years ago that says, "Won't He make you clean inside." The "He" is Jesus. The late Bishop G.E. Patterson preached, "Salvation is An Inside Job." There's an old song that says, "Get right church, and let's go home." It is written, "The day you hear my [Jesus] voice harden not your heart." John 9:4, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."

Now I know that every after death, especially if it's a celebrity, everyone has a message. That's not what I'm trying to do. Truth is I've been wanting to post a new blog for some time now, I just couldn't get my words together. I didn't mean to type all this, I just wanted to get my thoughts out due to Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and the other people that were on the plane. Don't waste time in pettiness. Check on your people. Love on your people. If you got something to say, just say it. If you got something to do, then do it. 

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

THERE'S A MESSAGE IN THE MESS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

PRESSURE IS REAL, BUT SO IS GOD

Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

All my life I dealt with pressure. Whether it's pressure I put on myself or pressure from others. Either way, I've never been able to handle it. I'm 31 now, and just recently I dealt with pressure that I thought I could handle. I thought I was strong enough to say no and that will be that. How many of y'all know that the devil is persistent? The devil doesn't care about your no. He'll keep blowing smoke trying to make you feel guilty about not being part of the crowd. Not being into what's happening now days. Never in my life have I been pressured more to smoke or have sex. None of which I've done. I will admit it breaks me every now again. I leave work, get in the car, and start crying because of the pressure. Again I've been dealing with stuff like this my whole life, and at 31 I thought I would be past that mess, you know? At least I hoped I was.

I tried to get my mind off of the pressure by music which usually works. I went to the My Prerogative by Bobby Brown playlist because I thought it would work, but this time it didn't. I still felt bothered by all the pressure. Then I went to Jesus Will by Anita Wilson which I should've done in the first place, but I didn't feel like crying at work. I was the kid that cried at school. When I started working I didn't want to carry on that tradition. Whoops.

I feel like that it's in times when I crash and burn like this is when God speaks to me the loudest. That's when verses like, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." And, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Then old songs like, "Pass me not o gentle savior. Hear my humble cry. While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by."

"There are some things, I may not know. Their are some places that I can't go. But I am sure of this one thing, that God is real and I can feel him way down deep within. Yes God is real. Real in my soul. Yes God is real for he has washed and made me whole. His love for me is like pure gold. Yes God is real and I can feel Him in my soul."

"He never has left me alone. By night and by day, He's with me all the way. He never has left me alone."

The Bible says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

So what am I saying to the readers and what am I saying to myself? God is not through. God has not given up on us. Song writer said, "Don't give up on God cause He won't give up on you. He's able." Hold on. Keep the faith. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy is coming in the morning. Most of all

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

31 YEAR OLD...etc etc etc

I don't know how to type this so I'm just going to type what's in my heart. First let me say that I know that I haven't been blogging as much as I used to but I would in previous years, but I've come to the point now where when I do blog I want to them to have some kind of meaning behind them. I could usually blog about nothing, but I'm 31 now. I'm working now. Granted I'm a cook at Zaxbys, but gotta start somewhere right?

So recently, while at work a couple of young dudes were talking about sex. One of them asked me about it, and I told him silently that I was a virgin. Almost as if that I was ashamed of it. The kid was shocked that I said that and then tried to say that he could fix that problem for me. I'm not 41 yet, but you get the point...

It's a weird position to be in honestly. I look at other people in my age group, and their much further along in life than I am. I can't say that I'm married. I can't say that I'm a parent. I can't say that I'm making decent money. As I mentioned in previous posts, I'm still trying to figure things out. Some are even trying to help me out by asking me stuff like like, "Have you ever thought about---" I've thought about a lot of things. I dream about a lot of things. 

I can say that I'm a survivor. What people have died from, I've survived. Congestive heart failure, I'm still here. Homelessness, I'm still here. Depression, I'm still here. Not saying that to boast. Trust me. I'm NO where near perfection.

Here's what's crazy tho. Before all stuff that happened, I was meditating on a song by Tye Tribbett, oops, that says, "Let us worship/Let us Sing/Hallelujah to the King/Let us raise our voices high/Praise the name of Jesus Christ." The drive says this, "Halleu ooh yah/Halleu ooh yah/Halleu ooh yah/Hallelujah we praise Your name" Through most of the shift I was humming this to myself. It's like what the Bible says, "When I want to good, evil is always present."

It's not easy. This whole being single thing gets lonely sometimes. I remember when I was high school I would write quotes like, "I'm so sick of being lonely." Practically I was begging for help but afraid to ask for it. One time though a classmate read it and wrote under it something like, "You're never alone with Jesus" or something like that. I had wrote sentences like that all the time but never showed them to anybody or never told anybody. This classmate even gave me like a happy face cookie on a stick. Obviously it left an impact cause I still remember it all these years later.

Recently I've find myself liking who I am. Liking the fact that I like to laugh and have fun sometimes at wrong times. Liking the fact that I'm sarcastic. Liking me. Liking Daniel. With that, I still find myself down sometimes, but usually when that happens I find something to laugh at. Think of something funny to get my mind out the dumps. It's an up and down thing. 

I don't know of any of this made sense. I just needed to get all this out. Hopefully you got something out of this. Thanks for reading either way.

Stay saved,

Daniel Richerson

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

As I'm typing this I just turned 31. Some told me that I wasn't supposed to make 30. Some said I'm not going to make it past the next couple of years. I'm single. I really don't know what to do in that department, but that's not what this blog is about. I work at as a cook as a fast food restaurant. My coworkers consist of mostly teenagers. I hear them talking about what do they want to do after high school because some of them are about to graduate. They talk about other things as well...moving on.

So I feel like I'm ready to move on from where I'm working now. I find myself getting more angry at little things. I'm getting bored. I'm feeling like I need more. I'm feeling like I need to do more. I'm feeling like there is more for me to do. One of my problem is, is that I don't know what that is. I don't know what I want to do. Some people know what they want to do at 12. I'm 31 one, and I find that question, "What do you want to do?" is one of the hardest questions I've ever been asked.

When I went to college after high school, I picked a major that I thought was something, but I soon realized that I didn't pick the right major for me. Besides picking a different major, I just left because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was 19 or 20 at the time. So we're talking 11 years or so of trying to figure this out. Something something something, and now I'm working at a fast food restaurant. I've heard it said that when you turn 30, that's when the "light" turns on. I think for me it was 31.

Recently I was having a conversation with a guy and he plainly asked me, "What do you want to do?" Per usual, I didn't have a solid answer. I mentioned that I like to write. It is well known I liked to write blogs such as this. Thanks for reading by the way. I've always wanted to write a book. Like a novel. I've always written short stories since I can remember. I feel that as soon as I started using Microsoft Word for the first time, that's when I really started typing short stories that I would never finish. I remember in Middle School, I would continuously print out new chapters of a story and it would end up going around the school. At the time I was voted something like best author or something like that. I do remember it had something to do with writing.

I've often had dreams of singing on a big stage. I've lead songs at church and I remember dreaming that I would sing with the artists that originally sang the songs I led at church. I see singers sing on Instagram all the time. When it comes to singing on camera or singing out outside of church, I choke. Nothing comes out. I think singing and music at work. It's usually what's gets me through a shift by the night, but I try my best not let a single note come out my mouth because of fear. Even when I lead songs now, I tend to sing under the key I'm supposed to sing on because of, you guessed it, fear.

"What do you want to do?" Good question. I hope to figure it out one day. It's not as if I don't have dreams. I just don't know how to pursue what I think and dream about. And when I do hear about ways to go through a door, I become fearful. Have you heard that old saying, "fear of the unknown" ? #Storyofmylife Even my coworkers, the young coworkers, that I work with, some of them can see that I'm not satisfied with the job. It's as if they know I don't want to be there for the long term. It's a shame that all those years I heard, "You got to do what you have to do, until you can do what you want to to do?" that it took me too long to get that.

So again the question is, "What do you want to do?" Sounds cliche, but I definitely want to be the best Daniel that I can be. The best  Daniel that I'm supposed to be. I'm just trying to figure that out.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

DON'T GIVE UP ON THE PRODIGAL SON/DAUGHTER (HAPPY 2018)

Happy 2018.

So one Sunday I was sitting in church and I happened to be scrolling on my Facebook timeline…sorry…but it hit me as I put my phone to sleep. The thought that hit me was, “Don’t give up on the prodigal son.” I don’t know if I hid it well, but my instant reaction was, “Wow!”

Most of us know the story of the prodigal son in the bible. IF you don’t know, where have you been? Anyway, the story is found in Luke 15: 11-32. To summarize, this father had two sons, and the youngest son decided to take his share of his father’s estate and go out and enjoy life. To put in a terms of now, the youngest son wanted to turn up. Wanted to go wild. Etc. So the son left his father’s house where he had everything he could’ve wanted, but yet he wanted more. It’s amazing you can have everything, and yet you feel like that’s not enough. So the son blew his money and ended up finding work feeding pigs. Being hungry as he was, he gladly ate the stuff he fed the pigs with to get something to eat. Later on he came to his senses.

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son,, make me as one of thy hired servants.” (verses 17-19)

So he went to his dad’s house. The father saw the son coming towards home, and before the son came to the house, the dad ran to him and embraced him with hugs and kisses. So son said what he had to say, and the father decided to have a big celebration because, “…for this my son was dead, and is now alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (verse 24)

Now the oldest son, the one was home the whole time, felt some kind of way about this. Like why would you celebrate the fact that wasted your money living with prostitutes. The father put it like this, “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:  for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” (verse 31)

So that’s the story. So why bring that story up in 2018? Cause I believe it won’t be long until that prodigal son or daughter will come back to the “father’s house.” We used to sing a song at church that said, “Come and go with me, to my Father’s house. There is joy. Joy! Great Joy!” It is written, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

Now when they do come back in the forefront, and there’s a praise break, don’t fold your arms and be like the big brother to the prodigal son and be bitter. I think we all know or have seen people like that. Get so easily jealous of someone’s deliverance. Rather than praises God with the prodigal person, they become like the Pharisees were in the Bible days. I read somewhere that the Pharisees were “angry and resentful that sinners were being welcomed into God’s Kingdom.” The question would often come up in Bible Study at church, do Pharisees exist today? Yep.

Some are already in the “eating pig food” situation, or close to it, but when it comes, just know that soon they’ll be coming back home. And it’s I believe it’s on us to be like the father in the story and embrace them. Not to disregard the ones that has been there long, but I believe the bible says, “Likewise I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” And we are created in God’s image, and yet and still when they come back home, some of us hold that sin or sins over their head until they leave again. We got to remember that we were all once lost in sin until Jesus took us in, and that little light from heaven filled our soul.

You may be that future prodigal son or daughter reading this, and I say to you go ahead and come back home. Fred Hammond pinned a long time ago, “I’m running back to you, I see you standing there for me. Your arms are opened wide, and I don’t have to cry no more. You’re standing there for me and I am running back to you. Why do I go away when I know I am no good when I’m on my own?” I think Fred was speaking for a lot of people. God is not going to just take you back and let you go astray. The same promise he made back in Jeremiah 4 still rings true today: “I will give you pastors according to mind heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” So come back prodigal son. Come back prodigal daughter. Don’t wait until you have to eat pig food to survive. There’s a saying that goes, “After you tried everything else, try Jesus.” No. Try Jesus now. Come back now.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

CHECK YOURSELF

Ice Cube once said, “You better check yourself before you wreck yourself.” Urban dictionary defines this particular phrase as, “Take a step back and examine your actions, because you are in a potentially dangerous or sticky situation that could get bad very easily. Often in a harmful manner.” May I say that some of us need to take heed? A lot of us like to wave the “I’m a Christian. I go to church on Sunday” sign, but how many know this is more than a Sunday thing? Imagine if Job was just a “Sunday Christian” You think if Job wasn’t living his faith out loud that he would’ve been able to “sin not nor charge God foolishly” after his possessions and kids were taken away from him? Check yourself.

We tend to think just because the punishment didn’t happen immediately, that we got away with it. Especially with God. That’s a dangerous mindset to have. Check yourself. Ever think that the punishment didn’t come automatically is because maybe God is giving you a chance to confess? Giving you a chance to repent? Some like to say that God is a God of a second chance. I don’t know about y’all, but I passed the 2nd chance a long time ago…I’m a least on…let’s just say another chance. Or as the song writer put it, “He gave me one more (chance).”  Check yourself.

Now this is a major check yourself. Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon meaning money. The Bible says, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” People like to say that it’s just money, but it’s the love of money. 1 Timothy 6:10, to quote the whole verse, says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” I like the next verse that says, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Meekness does not mean weak. It refers to humbleness, and being humble, does not mean you go around saying that you’re humble. Moving on. Check yourself.

Ephesians 5, the whole chapter, is crazy, but focusing on verse 5, “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” As my dad once said in a message, “Ouch, amen.” Or as my pastor now says, “If you can’t say amen, say oh me.”

If the only time you open your Bible is at church, how do you fight when not at church? A young basketball player is usually not far from a basketball. Usually see them practicing in some form or another. Joshua 1: 8-9, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein for then: thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

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.” And you only want to use this on a Sunday? Do you homie. Check yourself.

“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5. We all got stuff we need to check. None of us our perfect but we all strive to be in our own way. Hopefully something was said that was an encouragement. Hopefully you got something out of this, I know I did. Just trying to help.

Check yourself.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

PRAISE AGAIN

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

GOT A STORY TO TELL...

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

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

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

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

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

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


Stay Saved,


Daniel Richerson

FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

HE HEARS YOU TOO

It's gonna get to the point where you're gonna have to pray for yourself. You're gonna have to have a relationship with Jesus for yourself and stop trying to live off of someone else's. The topic at a recent bible study was, "Walking With God," and the first thought that came to mind with that topic is that you can't walk someone else path. You can't have someone walk your path.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6 KJV

" Jesus said to him, 'I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" John 14:6 AMP

So we all got to go to Jesus for ourselves. Now at first we need to prayers of our parents and pastors to get the train going. But sooner our later you're gonna have to open your mouth. Like let's say you get an interview for a job. If someone else does the interview for you, they're going to get the job and you're still going to be jobless. The first couple of jobs I ever had, my dad helped me get them, but the bosses still wanted to know who I was. Daniel still had to shake hands with the bosses, even though the meeting was initiated through my dad.

Don't get me wrong there's power in residue. There's power in being in the midst of praisers and worshipers, but if the residue is powerful, imagine if you actually participated in the praise and worship. We got a lot of people trying to live off residue. The prayers of the righteous availeth much. So I understand asking those who really know God to pray for you. I get it, but let me say, don't use that as an excuse to not pray at all. He hears you too. That's one thing I had to learn for myself. One time my sister took me to somewhere to fill out some paper work. I asked her to pray for me because I was nervous and I know she's more spiritually mature than I am. But she told me, paraphrasing, "God hears you. It's time for you to pray for yourself." I did, and everything actually went fine. I was actually like the world was going to blow up if I actually prayed for myself. I do realize, a song says, "It's really no goodness of my own, but it's by the grace of God."

Romans 10:8-9 AMP "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach—because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

In the King James is says, "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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."

So you're going to have to do some talking. The power of life and death is in the power of the tongue, right? Your tongue works for you. It's your choice of how your use it. It is written out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So it's not only a tongue issue, it's a heart issue.

I'm not a parent, but I know some parents. I've known my parents for at least 29 years, almost 30 (May 22). I know I've disappointed them. I've done things they don't like, but when I'm ready to talk they are willing to listen. I don't have to call my brother or my sister to talk to my mom or dad for me, even though sometimes I want to, but they are willing to listen. God is willing to listen. You got to be willing to talk.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

HYMNS

I was talking with God before falling asleep and I started thinking about hymns. I hear it in church all the time. "It's nothing like those hymns." or "I go back to hymns because they had power." So, being the mark that I am, I started thinking about what exactly is a hymn? If you look at Ephesians 5:18-21, it says, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Then you look at Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heats to the Lord." Donnie McClurkin had a 2 disc album called, "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs" So again I ask the question, what is a hymn?

Webster defines a hymn as, "a song of praise to God." I do understand and realize that when the word hymn, our minds immediately go straight to the hymn book. Don't get me wrong, I love those old hymns. Those old songs are timeless. One of my all time favorites is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. So please don't get the idea that I'm burying those old songs. All I'm saying is that just because it's not in the hymn book, doesn't make it any less powerful. Personally, a lot of songs NOT in the hymn book have spoken to me. He's Able by Deitrick Haddon. It Could Be Worse by James Fortune. Made A Way by Larry Trotter, and not just because I used to sing lead on it. God Is by Dewayne Woods, again not just because I used to sing lead on it. Alpha and Omega, as sung by Israel and New Breed. Smile by Kirk Franklin.

I'm sure who ever is reading this, have songs not in the COGIC hymn book or what ever denomination you are in that have ministered to you. "...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" Another song I love that has been sung in churches all around that's called, "Sound of Praise" as sung by Larry Trotter. Song says, "There is a sound that is pleasing to His ear. A sound of praises lifting into the atmosphere. Every time you lift your voice, you need to know. Jesus loves to hear the sound of praise. Hallelujah the sound, He loves to hear."

I do agree that some of these new songs that play on radio is not the most church friendly type songs, but that doesn't make them bad songs. By church friendly, I mean, it's not the taste of music by the majority of the older members. Because we want the lyrics to talk about Jesus, but the music has to be what we like or it's not right. That's about how it is in the mind of some people. If the music doesn't sound like all the older songs, It's not gospel. It's not just the lyrics. It's the music. So when Christian rappers rap lyrics about Jesus, it's bad because the music doesn't match Jesus I Never Forget. Sigh.


Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

P.S. Yes, I was contemplating quitting these blogs, but as Steve Harvey once said, "He's not through with me yet." Keep praying for me.

Do we remember how to love?

An artist put a song out about 6 years ago called, How To Love. A lot of stuff has been happening lately. Not just in the "secular" world, but also in the "Christian" community. Someone makes one statement going against what the majority agrees with, then automatically they're buried so deep almost never to rise again. And all that got me to thinking, aren't we supposed to love each other? I guess nothing says I love you like I'm going to bury you alive because I disagree with your opinion. I always go back to this verse. I think I first heard it from Donnie McClurkin one time, I'm not sure, but as soon as I heard it, it stuck with me.

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

An old hymn says, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee, thus will I bless thee. I will lift up my hands onto thy name." 

The Lord draws us with love, but besides drawing other people with love, we bury them because they're not like us. Dare I say, some of us hate Trump for doing publicly what we do privately. I believe that is called hypocritical. 

My mom recently preached a sermon talking about the church needing a heart transplant. She said some of us have spiritual congestive heart failure. She also said, you can't love God and you don't love people. Citing this verse as a reference, "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?" (1 John 4:20)

Needless to say we have a lot of liars walking around here. Not just in the church either. Some of these entertainers as well. Say they love God but hate anybody that disagrees with their logic. Amazing how some people in the church love to drag these entertainers for doing that, while at the same time they do the same thing. Can't have it both ways. Don't get me wrong, the truth is the truth, no matter who's mouth it comes out of, but as my dad always told me, "Don't throw rocks from a glass house." Better yet the Bible said it like this, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (John 8:7)

The truth can hurt. Usually when you're in the wrong, the truth does hurt. I believe that in order to be the church God is calling for in these days, love has to be restored back in our hearts.

"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." Luke 6:45

If love is truly in the heart, then that's what's going to come out. Jesus is love, right? So if Jesus is love, and Jesus has your heart, then why are we hating and burying people? What is really the problem?

I hope you got something out of that. I hope it blessed you. I went into this blog thinking it might be my last one. Due to lack of feedback I get on them, I figured what's the use of continuing them? I don't know what's going to happen moving forward. I'll just ask God for guidance on what I should do.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson