tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648539836185837242024-03-06T01:31:00.333-05:00David Richardson's BlogDavid Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-28646324687230952232018-05-18T08:59:00.004-04:002018-05-18T09:27:41.516-04:00The Prayer In Rhode Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was a Sunday morning up north in the state of Rhode Island. I was standing in a church office with a local pastor and several other guys. We were about to start a worship service, so all of us fellows formed a circle and had a time of prayer.<br />
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The pastor of the church started our prayer time by saying, "Lord, this morning, I had a horrible attitude and snapped at my wife. I'm so sorry for that."<br />
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Then another guy in our circle prayed out loud, "Lord, I struggle and sin all the time. I'm truly sorry for how bad I am a lot of days."<br />
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This started an avalanche of prayers by guys who almost seemed to want to outdo each other on how depraved they were and how awful their behavior had been. It grew to the point of being uncomfortable for me. Never in my life had I been so ready for a prayer time to be over.<br />
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Then, something cool happened. The last guy who took a turn in our circle prayed this: "Lord, today, I just want to say I'm thankful to be forgiven. I'm so grateful that you have given me a pardon and you cleanse away my guilt. What a blessing that is!"<br />
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When he did that, it was like the dark clouds parted and the sun started shining again. Joy returned to the room. And a positive vibe was in the air.<br />
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Listen, folks. I realize there is a time for privately confessing to God our sins and transgressions. Believe me, I understand that and I do that when I'm by myself. It's totally appropriate and spiritually important.<br />
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But I think if we're not careful, we can get more obsessed with our guilt than God's forgiveness. We can become more fixated on our failures than on God's victories. I've seen some folks that carry on and on so much about how bad or awful they've been that it's almost like they're glorifying their sin. It's kind of like confessional showboating. I just don't think that's healthy. <br />
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Rather than beat ourselves up constantly for what we've done wrong, let's lift praises and thanksgiving up daily for what God's done right. He's saved us and forgiven us. God has washed away our wrongdoings and covered us up with His righteousness. We ought to feel good about that and rejoice over it.<br />
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So, yeah, if you need to confess some stuff to God, by all means go ahead and do it privately and experience His grace. But after that, receive and believe His forgiveness. And know that you can walk around with joy and gratitude rather than beating yourself up and punishing the guy or the girl who stares back at you in the mirror.<br />
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Child of God, you are forgiven for all of your sin. Believe that and receive that. Let go of your guilt, and latch on to His grace. Then, when you do this, move forward and enjoy your status as a loved, saved soul. That's when life gets really good!!David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-6503451771275562622018-05-14T14:58:00.002-04:002018-05-15T08:01:44.078-04:00An Unforgettable Hour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Saturday, May 12, 2018. That's a day I'll always remember. Here's why...</div>
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I was called to the home of a young woman who had a terminal illness. She was on her bed. Nurses had put her in a pretty dress and set a corsage on her as well. They had fixed up her hair and got her looking great. While she laid on her bed, a man was standing beside the bed with a smile the size of Texas on his face. See, this was their wedding day. And I was there to marry them. <br />
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It was a brief but meaningful time. They both indicated they wanted to be husband and wife. She even managed a smile or two. He was a happy groom. And when I told him he could kiss the bride, he did so enthusiastically, several times. It was a neat moment. One of the nurses quickly snapped the above picture, which was my hand holding on to the bride and groom .<br />
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The two nurses and I stood there by her bed, and we were touched by what we saw. Love was in the room. Joy was in the room. And, little did we know, something else was too.<br />
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That something else, was death.<br />
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See, just a few minutes later, things began to change. She started to act differently. We watched as she laid there taking some deep breaths. And then, this new bride, slipped away into eternity. She died right there before our very eyes. Less than an hour after she entered her marriage, her soul exited her body. <br />
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Her husband cried. Her son grew quiet and punched a wall as he walked out the room. The nurses and I stood there taking it all in.<br />
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Dell, Beebe, and I were reminded of something that day. Life is a heavily mixed assortment of joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain, beginnings, and endings. In life, we rejoice on the mountaintop and we grieve in the valley. And that's just as true for people who do believe in God as for those who do not. Nobody is immune to it. As Jesus once said, <em>"He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."</em> (Matthew 5:45)<br />
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Here's the one stabilizing factor in all this: Jesus. See, that young woman knew Jesus as her Savior and Lord. He had forgiven her sins. He had saved her soul. He had allowed her to marry the man she loved. And He made it possible to go to Heaven when most newly married couples would be going on their honeymoon. <br />
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As crazy and unpredictable as life can get, Jesus is the rock to which we can cling. He is steady and immovable. And no matter what may come our way in living, loving, and even taking our last breath on Earth, He will see us through. <br />
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I'll never forget what my friends and I experienced on Saturday. Never. Yes, it was painful. But, there was a glorious, silver lining to the cloud. In the midst of that painful moment, Jesus stayed with her, Jesus gave her entrance into Heaven, and Jesus granted her the ultimate healing. <br />
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Hold on to Jesus, friends. Hold on to Him. There's nothing more important than Him in this world of ups and downs.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-19120544938989558582018-05-11T08:15:00.003-04:002018-05-11T09:29:43.529-04:00I'm Staying Right Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My son is playing baseball again this year. He loves being around the game. And I'm glad to see him having fun with it.<br />
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Last week we were at one of his games. It was getting late into the evening. For whatever reason, Emerson was not getting any playing time. He was sitting on the bench. Not getting to hit. Not getting to play in the field. Nothing. The coach had him sitting there doing nothing.<br />
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As I noticed the clock ticking later and later, and as I realized my boy was not going to get to play that night, I thought about Dad and Mom. They were at the game too. And they both had to go to work the next morning, which was just a few hours away. So I leaned over to Dad and said, "Hey, I know it's getting late, and it doesn't look like Emerson isn't going to see any action tonight, it's ok if you and Mom want to head on home and get some rest. We all will totally understand." Dad sat there for a second, shook his head, and said, "No, I'm staying right here for the boy." And he did. Dad remained in the stands and supported his grandson even though there wasn't anything exciting going on.<br />
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Wow. <br />
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I've been thinking about that for the past week. "I'm staying right here." What an awesome display of loyalty, love, and patience.<br />
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On a much larger scale, that's exactly how God is with all of us. Sometimes we are the starting pitcher and totally dominating everything with excellence. And other times we are sitting off to the side on the bench, not doing anything of great significance. But every day of our lives, God is still there with us loyally, lovingly, patiently.<br />
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He doesn't pack His stuff up and leave when we're not at the top of our game in life. Not at all. He is an awesome Father who is always there through thick and thin.<br />
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People can let you down. Folks come and go in life. But God is different. He hangs around day in and day out. He looks at us and says, "I'm staying right here." And what a blessing that is.<br />
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<strong><em>"the Lord your God will be with you, wherever you go." Joshua 1:9</em></strong></div>
David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-17049896165681760242018-05-09T09:34:00.001-04:002018-05-09T10:09:34.978-04:00A Hotel Room And Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherU68-4gfvkPvOg0_9iiu1ZHyyBNRbgXmnQ14RnYmoJNEWhvhUjYC8l_TPk6pyEHUqolcFROGSuVPbsw5KkEkmyiUxROXSRjgNQfbvjqkQnpEvocUCSTmZx2dFh1zwI55d5UEXC6OQmY/s1600/hotel+with+no+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="550" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherU68-4gfvkPvOg0_9iiu1ZHyyBNRbgXmnQ14RnYmoJNEWhvhUjYC8l_TPk6pyEHUqolcFROGSuVPbsw5KkEkmyiUxROXSRjgNQfbvjqkQnpEvocUCSTmZx2dFh1zwI55d5UEXC6OQmY/s320/hotel+with+no+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My brother, Condy, booked a hotel room in Savannah. He and his wife were about to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, so he made reservations at a nice place where they could get away from it all and just enjoy a great trip. Several weeks after he booked the room, they got in their car and drove down to Savannah. Late that night, they arrived at the hotel. They checked in, got their key, went to their room, opened the door, looked in, and were greatly surprised at what they saw. There, in the room, was a kitchenette, a table with chairs, and NO bed. Yes, you read that right. They walked into a hotel room that had no bed.<br />
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Condy walked down to the front desk and told the guy that his room has no bed in it. The hotel employee explained to my brother that the hotel was full that night and they had to put them in that room. Then the guy told Condy that if he and his wife stayed in that room for one night, the hotel would give him a regular room for free the next three nights. While my brother appreciated the gesture, he told the guy that this was their anniversary, they booked the room weeks in advance, and they needed a normal room with a bed that night. To make a long story short, they ended up leaving and staying at another hotel that night, and everything worked out just fine at the other location.<br />
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A hotel room without a bed? That makes no sense. The bed is the main reason people book a hotel room. They need a place to sleep when they are away from home. That is the purpose for hotels to begin with. <br />
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That true story has me thinking the following: Just as a hotel room isn't complete without a bed, a heart isn't complete without Jesus. The bed is what makes the room what it ought to be, and Jesus is what makes our hearts what they ought to be. The same principle applies in both situations.<br />
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Jesus is who forgives sins and saves souls. Jesus soothes our aches, satisfies our longings, directs our steps, and secures our eternities. Jesus is what our hearts need and our well-being requires. There is nobody more important than Him, both now and forevermore. As my good friend Meredith said a while back, "I just don't believe you can have too much of Jesus." She's right! He is exactly what can make all the difference in our hearts and lives.<br />
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If your heart doesn't have Jesus, you're like a hotel room without a bed. Incomplete. Let Him come into your life. He will bring all the grace, love, and blessings you could ever want, and He will make an eternal impact on your life that will prove to be all you need.<br />
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My brother and his wife were so glad when they found a room that had a bed in it. And you, my friend, will be more than glad when your heart has Jesus in it. I can guarantee you this : Your heart will never be the same, and you'll be so much better off for all of eternity.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-4182822339922682662018-05-07T09:07:00.001-04:002018-05-07T09:07:11.447-04:00Caesar Salad And The Christian Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love Zaxby's. Really, I do. Their food is delicious.<br />
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But I've had one issue with them lately...<br />
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The past four months, I've been on this salad kick. Since January 1, I've eaten plenty of salads at this fine establishment. The deal is, whenever I pull up to place my order for a Caesar salad, the person taking my order always asks, "What kind of dressing would you like with that?" Think about that. They're asking what kind of dressing I want on a Caesar salad. Is there any other kind of dressing that I would want on a Caesar salad other than Caesar dressing? The Caesar dressing is what makes a Caesar salad what it is.<br />
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This went on for quite a few weeks. I found myself getting a little frustrated with the question about something so obvious. A time or two (I'm slightly ashamed to confess) I even responded to the question about what kind of dressing I wanted with a slightly sarcastic response of, "Ummm....let me think...how about Caesar dressing?" <br />
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Finally, one day, I pulled up to the window to pay and pick up the salad I had ordered. A kind, lovely, young lady smiled, took my payment, and handed me my order. Before I pulled off, I gently asked her, "Maam, I've got a question for you. I've been ordering Caesar salads here for a while, and I'm always asked what kind of dressing I want on it. Does anyone actually request anything other than Caesar dressing for a Caesar salad?" She calmly said, "You know, you'd be surprised at the number of people who come through here and request something other than Caesar on their Caesar salad." <br />
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I don't know about that. It just makes no sense to me whatsoever. Call me crazy if you want to, but in my mind a Caesar salad only has Caesar dressing. But, different strokes for different folks, I suppose. And, I reckon in the broad scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.<br />
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But I will say this ... Just as Caesar dressing is what makes a Caesar salad what it is, love is what makes the Christian life what it is. Jesus said the following in John 13:35 - "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Love has to do with being kind, patient, forgiving, helpful, and selfless towards other people. So when we are loving, we are being exactly what a follower of Jesus should be. Love is a key ingredient to what a Christian life is. It's what makes that kind of life so special and powerful.<br />
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Maybe you disagree, but I really do think that Caesar dressing is what makes a Caesar salad so unique. But regardless of whether you think I'm right or wrong on that, we'd all have to agree with Jesus on this: Love is what makes the Christian life so unique. Christianity without love is just not Christianity. Love is vital to the experience and way of life. May our God help us to have and share more of it everywhere we go, every day of our lives.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-51814364641928565332018-05-03T10:51:00.001-04:002018-05-03T10:55:11.846-04:00Crystal Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've got a relative who is a doctor. He's well respected and very good at what he does. Not too long ago, he and I were in a meeting with several other people. As he was discussing his medical practice, the good doctor said, <em>"Contrary to what some people may think, I don't have a crystal ball. I don't know exactly what's going to happen with patients and their health."</em> <br />
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The doctor was humbly admitting a simple truth : The future is a mystery to us human beings. We are <u>not</u> certain what will take place tomorrow and the days after that. Sure, we can make plans and have hopes for what will take place after today, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that; however, none of us knows with total confidence what is waiting around the corner.<br />
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Proverbs 27:1 states <em>"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."</em> James 4:14 also drives this point home with the following words : <em>"you do not even know what will happen tomorrow."</em> In the Old Testament and the New, we are reminded that if any of us thinks we know what the future holds, we are only kidding ourselves. <br />
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What is it that you need to be doing? Maybe it's one of the following: <strong>(1)</strong> Get right with God. <strong>(2)</strong> Repair a relationship with a relative or friend. <strong>(3)</strong> Lose weight and improve your overall physical health. <strong>(4)</strong> Organize and improve your financial situation. <strong>(5)</strong> Make a positive impact with your career. Or maybe it's something else.<br />
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Whatever it is that you need to be doing, just remember this : Life is unpredictable and uncertain, and that's why you need to maximize the moment and seize the day. Prioritize your life and begin focusing on those things which are the most significant. Do something with your life and make it count. Don't put the important stuff off for a later date. Refuse to procrastinate with significant life matters. Why? Because you may not have a chance tomorrow, and you may not even have a tomorrow.<br />
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My relative is right. He doesn't have a crystal ball that provides a glimpse into the future. And neither do we. Only God knows the future, and we're not God. Because of that, let's value every day, live with a sense of urgency, and take care of those things which matter most. <br />
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Don't be too certain about the future. Just be sure you do everything you can today. That, my friends, is smart living.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-17497691294063835582018-04-10T08:47:00.001-04:002018-04-10T10:37:00.773-04:00Keeping Herself Straight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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She's a dignified, wise, older lady. And I enjoy her company. Our talks are always positive and pleasant.<br />
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The other day we spent some time together. When I was walking out of the room, I turned to her and said, "Hey, keep 'em all straight around here." She looked at me, laughed, and said, "Tell you what. I'll just focus on keeping me straight." <br />
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What a great response. And what a fantastic motto to live by. "I'll just focus on keeping me straight."<br />
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There's an old German proverb that states, "Sweep in front of your own door." That means deal with your own issues and clean up your own messes rather than fixating on your neighbor's issues and messes. We're to focus on keeping ourselves straight rather than obsess with keeping others straight.<br />
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Jesus talked about this before. In Matthew 7:5, He said<em> "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."</em> Did you catch His point? Deal with your own matters first before you begin addressing other people about theirs.<br />
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The older I get, the more I feel the exact same way. I find myself minding my own business more, and monitoring other people less. The way I see it, I've got my own struggles, weaknesses, and tendencies to deal with. I'm not perfect and I'm not qualified (or even want to) sit around and tear down other people. I'd rather focus on becoming a better man myself.<br />
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It seems to me we all would be wise to deal with ourselves first before we even think about getting into the business of carrying on about the flaws of other people. That's what Jesus wants us to do. And that may, in the long run, help each of us to become more and more of the men and women God wants us to be.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-27203115369538897432018-04-06T09:06:00.001-04:002018-04-06T09:09:27.910-04:00Elizabeth's Haircut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CS0S5k-cUtl6RO4q5KFzZGbH6308RTk8GIVnxvjA8aOcA-fd66Wv9J_2sOQJ9aBRZXibkiqIM5PSSzGuSe280wbyjQwzz8MuvuVgbgvRRxRTMEPby4cmcm4LdALkBAepUjmxVnMAJmo/s1600/haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="688" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CS0S5k-cUtl6RO4q5KFzZGbH6308RTk8GIVnxvjA8aOcA-fd66Wv9J_2sOQJ9aBRZXibkiqIM5PSSzGuSe280wbyjQwzz8MuvuVgbgvRRxRTMEPby4cmcm4LdALkBAepUjmxVnMAJmo/s320/haircut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
While standing by the kitchen sink, I noticed it. My daughter, Elizabeth, walked into the room. There it was. A change in my girl. "Elizabeth, you got your hair cut. I like it. You look great, girl!" As soon as I said that, she started laughing, looked at her sister, and said, "Dad I've been wondering when you would notice it. I told people that I was going to wait and see how long it took for you to catch on." I responded, "Well, how long did it take me?" "About 24 hours," she said with a laugh.<br />
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Then, that afternoon, I walked into a restaurant here in Sumter. There was a group of girls by the door. They're good kids who are friends with Elizabeth. One of the girls smiled at me and said, "So, Mr. Richardson, I heard it took you 24 hours to notice." Then that group of girls laughed out loud. I couldn't help but stand there and laugh with those kids.<br />
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Yep, sometimes we fail to notice things in each other. Whether it's haircuts or someone going through a tough time, our attention doesn't always lock on to everything around us. This can happen when we are distracted, self-absorbed, or even apathetic to what others are experiencing in our lives. Of course, it can also happen accidentally because we are human, which means we are not always on our "A game".<br />
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But here's the great thing : God notices everything. He sees, hears, and knows all. Nothing and nobody escapes His attention. Our awesome God is completely in tune with you, me, and everyone else. Proverbs 15:3 tells us "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch." Also, Psalm 66:19 states, "God has surely listened and has heard." Then, in Psalm 139:3, the writer says this to God: "You are familiar with all my ways." <br />
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That's a good thing.<br />
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God's awareness shows He values us. We matter to Him. He is a watchful Father who keeps His attention locked onto His daughters and sons. Just think about it: With all of the many different things competing for God's attention in the universe, He still maintains a laser-like focus on us. Wow, what an honor it is to matter to God!<br />
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I'm sorry it took me a little while to notice Elizabeth's haircut. But I'm glad it takes God no time at all to notice who we are, what we are experiencing, and what we need. There's a lot of comfort in knowing that we are always noticed by the Lord who loves us immensely. David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-61951132080886098162017-12-24T22:50:00.001-05:002017-12-24T23:24:54.126-05:00Three Reasons Why Christmas Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-IgHVjsB4TKPWk95To23tz0aBc74TH9RxS83ihD_GgPYVpiXtXF1lYncgo1hMJZAnrlYZwPXFHPuNeRrdwJOotu5ts0-HQAtoPeUtXNZAlna0RXFMReJbRbvlSfftf-LHJ7aLaXaV3E/s1600/birth+of+christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="810" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-IgHVjsB4TKPWk95To23tz0aBc74TH9RxS83ihD_GgPYVpiXtXF1lYncgo1hMJZAnrlYZwPXFHPuNeRrdwJOotu5ts0-HQAtoPeUtXNZAlna0RXFMReJbRbvlSfftf-LHJ7aLaXaV3E/s320/birth+of+christ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's Christmas Eve, 2017. A joyful time! And here is why it matters so much...<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">At Christmas, we are reminded God can do anything.</span></strong> Young Mary was a virgin. She had saved herself for her future husband. But her world turned upside down when an angel said she was going to conceive and give birth anyway. Needless to say, that made her scratch her head and wonder how this would happen. After explaining that God was going to do a miracle in her life, the angel said in Luke 1:37, <em>"For with God, nothing shall be impossible."</em> Isn't that awesome?! God can do anything, anywhere, anytime, with anyone that He wants. I find a lot of comfort in knowing God is all-powerful and without limits. That lets me know that whatever we all go through, God can more than handle it. He's omnipotent, and that's a vital truth to keep in mind.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><strong>At Christmas, we are reminded that God's plans are better than our plans.</strong></span> Joseph was engaged to Mary. He didn't understand everything that was going on, but he did know this: Mary was pregnant, and the child was definitely <u>not</u> his. So, understandably, Joseph was going to quietly walk away from the relationship. But an angel appeared to Joseph, explained the situation, and encouraged Joseph to stick around. The Heavenly being told the struggling fiancé to take Mary as his wife and help raise the baby she was carrying. Now Joseph had a choice. He could live his own way and leave Mary, or he could live God's way and keep her and the unborn child in his life. In Matthew 1:24, we see that Joseph <em>"did as an angel of the Lord commanded him."</em> What a smart move! He chose to live God's way. And because Joseph followed God's plan, he got to witness the birth of Mary's miraculous child, name that child, and raise him in his own home. Joseph experienced amazing, life-changing joys because he lived out God's perfect will instead of his own. And so will we if we do the same. Sooner or later, we will get a blessing if we follow God's plan for our lives.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">At Christmas we are reminded that God is in the saving business.</span></strong> In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph to name the baby <em>"Jesus"</em> because <em>"He will save His people from their sins."</em> And in 1 John 4:14 we read, <em>"The Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world."</em> Amen to that! We've all sinned. We've all done wrong. And we're all guilty. But Christmas is special because it's when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came here to save us from our sins. He saved us by paying for our sins on a cross. Because of Jesus, we are forgiven and rescued for all of eternity. What a blessing! God loves us enough to send His Son, Jesus, here to save us. That's the best gift we've ever received.<br />
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So those are three reasons why Christmas matters. God can do anything. God's plans are better than our plans. And God is in the saving business. That's more than enough cause to celebrate!! And that ought to light a fire of joy in our hearts.<br />
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God is good. All the time. May we remember this at Christmas and all the other days of the year.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-41192810441622924322017-12-20T08:53:00.000-05:002017-12-20T13:39:48.907-05:00Leave A Tip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__8EOh70vlGNt0ElbhPQjeWJ33VSO2dnMynxlgN8EroxRXwTqyxbSXSlnYjySz5NL_NOXDYMGfKMW9N8TwejJ5b6HGGHjlWAPdlDPRiJaz6HK9AxJZfKGJoApPMbWP_2vWzNR-jXU6xw/s1600/tip+em.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="630" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__8EOh70vlGNt0ElbhPQjeWJ33VSO2dnMynxlgN8EroxRXwTqyxbSXSlnYjySz5NL_NOXDYMGfKMW9N8TwejJ5b6HGGHjlWAPdlDPRiJaz6HK9AxJZfKGJoApPMbWP_2vWzNR-jXU6xw/s320/tip+em.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's not something I've thought about much before my daughters started doing it. Then it began to make sense. All three of my girls have worked in a restaurant here in Sumter over the last couple of years. And they've all had great experiences doing it. I've been proud of them for getting out there and learning how to work hard.<br />
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I listen to them talking about what it has been like for them and their friends in that line of work. And here is something I've noticed them talking about: Some people really understand tipping and some people don't. <br />
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Now that I've watched and listened to my girls, I'm much more aware of why this is so important. And I interact with waiters and waitresses with more understanding now wherever I go. I guess I understand them better because of what my girls have told me.<br />
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Here are a few quick thoughts to keep in mind when you go out to eat....<br />
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That guy or that girl who is waiting on your table does not get paid much money at all by the restaurant. You'd be surprised at how little they make from their employer. Their main source of income is tips. That's how they make money. They depend on tips.<br />
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I remember when I was a kid most folks tipped 10%. That was pretty normal. These days it's more like 15% - 20%. I tend to lean towards 20% now wherever I go. And if I can't afford to tip that day, I just don't go out to eat. Please consider doing the same.<br />
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Remember that if your dining experience isn't everything you want, it's not always the fault of the waiter or the waitress. They're not cooking the food. They're not controlling the thermostat. They're not in control of the noise level. Be reasonable with them and keep in mind that if something goes wrong in whatever restaurant you're at, it's not always the fault of the waiter or waitress. So don't financially "punish" that one who has waited on your table just because the experience didn't live up to your expectations.<br />
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Christians, that's fine if you want to leave a gospel track. But do it in addition to a tip, not in place of one. Yes, a track can help their souls get saved, but it won't help their bills get paid.<br />
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Be patient with that one who is waiting on you. They're human. They have good days and bad days, just like you do. They have other things going on in their lives too. So keep in mind you're dealing with a human being, not a robot. Also, ask yourself, if that waiter was your son, or that waitress was your daughter, how would you want them to be treated?<br />
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I think ultimately, this is about more than tipping. It's about being good to people. It's about treating people the way we would want to be treated. And it's about behaving like Jesus would. He was loving, kind, patient, and forgiving. It seems to me that whether we're in a restaurant or not, we ought to treat people the same way.<br />
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The next time you go out to eat, be good to that waitress or waiter. It'll bless their heart. And you'll have a good feeling for doing it.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-17065839603878641522017-12-18T10:15:00.002-05:002017-12-18T10:15:50.397-05:00My Magic Ears<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQf5FvUWfHIc5B8ORMI1cda5XHBCUvCOrmEggsPuUKBsdCgtWCLvp9CJeAJgXr5Qq1ph1a2NfM2WjAxwpC4e6p2c70yeT4NiJGRcZA2NNvs0fkB48RJcupDjsgfNHSurzWHUEdZDzJYg/s1600/ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="732" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQf5FvUWfHIc5B8ORMI1cda5XHBCUvCOrmEggsPuUKBsdCgtWCLvp9CJeAJgXr5Qq1ph1a2NfM2WjAxwpC4e6p2c70yeT4NiJGRcZA2NNvs0fkB48RJcupDjsgfNHSurzWHUEdZDzJYg/s320/ears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For years, I've struggled with hearing. It's been difficult, frustrating, and embarrassing. At times it's been so bad that I've acted like I heard people when I actually didn't hear them. Why? Because I was too ashamed to ask them to repeat themselves again.<br />
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Finally, Marsha, a friend of mine, encouraged me to go get my hearing checked and do something about my problem. After some gentle pushing from her, I gave in and went. The experience went smoothly. My hearing was tested. The problem was identified. And finally, I got hearing aids. <br />
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Folks, let me tell you something: It's like I'm living in <u>a whole new world</u>. Finally, I'm able to hear. Now I don't have to turn the tv up so loud. When I go to the movies, I can understand what's being said. The sound of birds chirping is beyond beautiful these days. I can even hear Coke fizzing when I pour it into a glass, which I couldn't hear before. Best of all, when family and friends are talking to me, I now can hear what they're saying with ease.<br />
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My family has nicknamed my hearing aids "magic ears". Ha! And that's a good name, if you ask me. This transformation has been absolutely incredible and it has changed my life in some neat ways. I'm beyond grateful for being able to hear!<br />
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With that in mind, here's something to consider: <strong>God hears us perfectly.</strong> He doesn't struggle to make out what we're saying. Not at all!<br />
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Check these out...<br />
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<em>I John 5:14 - "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us"</em><br />
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<em>John 9:31 - "if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him"</em><br />
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<em>I Peter 3:12 - "for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer"</em><br />
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That's awesome news. When we sing praises to God, He hears us. When we express words of thanksgiving, God hears us. When we cry out for help, God hears us. When we're lonely and just need someone to listen, God hears us. There's a lot of comfort in knowing that this awesome God of ours hears us. And not only does he hear us, He responds perfectly in the right way, at the right time. <br />
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Yep, I'm mighty happy about my magic ears. It's a thrill to hear what's going on around me. But I actually find greater comfort in knowing that God hears clearly with ease. That means He's in tune and fully aware of my joys and sorrows on a daily basis. And He's the same way for you.<br />
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Today, let's praise God for His amazing hearing! David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-49708677231150475962017-12-16T19:50:00.004-05:002017-12-16T19:55:08.752-05:00Why I Believe In Hospice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJGjh-_DRTHUUs5JRnMR_K41tYGGfqpXNvNI5_YVVuQzMn5inqGTytvkMZ3EJzCJzldK2NHQJPf45uUHm2Yx70HCMvaP-NVDVVpiypWSqkO1a1s-JAWXMl8RkMTHmiafeJB7yA6BiHpw/s1600/hospice+care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJGjh-_DRTHUUs5JRnMR_K41tYGGfqpXNvNI5_YVVuQzMn5inqGTytvkMZ3EJzCJzldK2NHQJPf45uUHm2Yx70HCMvaP-NVDVVpiypWSqkO1a1s-JAWXMl8RkMTHmiafeJB7yA6BiHpw/s320/hospice+care.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>(Here is my hand holding the hand of a hospice patient under our care)</em></div>
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Since the summer of 2016, I have worked as a hospice chaplain. Before my work here, I've never had any dealings with hospice. Since I was brought on staff, however, I've come to really believe in it and appreciate what it's about.<br />
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When someone is dealing with a life-limiting illness, and it appears they may be approaching their final season of life on this Earth, a hospice team can come into the home of the patient and their family to provide needed assistance. The team works hard to help protect the comfort and dignity of the person who is ill. Also, hospice focuses on the emotional and spiritual needs of the family members who are providing care for the patient.<br />
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A hospice team is made up of many different members. Nurses, CNA's, social workers, marketing directors, bereavement coordinators, chaplains, office support workers, and volunteer coordinators unite as one group to help hurting families. Each role is important, and everyone makes a valuable contribution to the care of the patients.<br />
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Obviously, many patients who receive hospice care do eventually die. There are some individuals, however, who do get better, no longer need hospice care, and are discharged. As one doctor told me, "I don't have a crystal ball and I don't know for sure who is going to live and who is going to die. I just do the best I can when I recommend someone for hospice care." So the end result is not always the same for every hospice patient.<br />
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Something important to know about hospice is this: The patient is no longer treated to be cured of their illness; instead, the goal is to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. If pain can be managed or reduced, that's a good thing. And that is something hospice workers definitely want to see happen.<br />
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I enjoy working with hospice. That does <u>not</u> mean I enjoy watching people suffer. Not at all! What it means is I enjoy bonding with patients and their families, ministering to their spiritual and emotional needs, and pointing them to God, who offers the greatest comfort they can find. <br />
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Yes, I believe in hospice. Totally. It's all about ministering to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hurting people. And as a Christian, I believe that is really important. David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-25988685040586324622017-12-08T08:51:00.000-05:002017-12-08T10:47:02.029-05:00No Emotions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NFSiq-MKQjW3n94fELjTWyGuSevV3hiTEwaZDm-VkFOty9-VnYK218yT7YKWHXcZbs4R92nU4xXcb94zFh4xZv9SrbDuBb-GAzS-zyTpa5cH-OnyT8gh2CraHmpPjCYwDn46AzmxBPg/s1600/spock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="880" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NFSiq-MKQjW3n94fELjTWyGuSevV3hiTEwaZDm-VkFOty9-VnYK218yT7YKWHXcZbs4R92nU4xXcb94zFh4xZv9SrbDuBb-GAzS-zyTpa5cH-OnyT8gh2CraHmpPjCYwDn46AzmxBPg/s320/spock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Like a lot of you middle age folks out there, I grew up watching Star Trek. The original series. And I always enjoyed it. <br />
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Spock was a fascinating character. While he was intelligent and helpful to the crew, what set him apart was this: He had no emotions. Zero. None. Because Spock was Vulcan, he did not get happy, sad, scared, angry, or anything else. He was just the same guy all the time and was 100% logical. Spock and feelings did not go together.<br />
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More than once in my life I've thought, "Man, it would be so good to live like Spock and not have to deal with emotions." It has really appealed to me quite a few times along the way. Maybe some of you think that's crazy talk, but I know a lot of you understand exactly what I mean!!<br />
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Think about it this way. With emotions in the mix, many people have a "roller coaster" life with drastic ups, downs, twists, loops, and turns. Furthermore, the phrase "I feel" is often uttered around drama, foolish decisions, and exhaustion. It's hard to deny that life is complicated and difficult quite often when emotions are at play.<br />
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So what if we didn't have emotions? What if we, like Spock, had no feelings? Would that make life better?<br />
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Well, when I think about this, my mind always goes back to the same conclusions...<br />
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<strong>First</strong>, God made us in His image. He created us the way He did for specific reasons. And, He did hardwire us with feelings. We are emotional beings because God formed us in this fashion. He gave us the ability to experience happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and peace. So when we say we wish we had no emotions, we are questioning God's creative workmanship.<br />
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<strong>Second</strong>, emotions add color to life. It would be a dull, flat existence if we never experienced feelings. Feelings strengthen relationships and enhance the journey of life. They make life special and they add to our time here on Earth. And feelings can be the spice of life at times.<br />
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<strong>Third</strong>, maybe the solution is in the middle. Some folks are dominated by their feelings. Then, on the opposite end of the spectrum, some want a life that feels nothing. It seems to me that the best life resides somewhere in between these two unhealthy extremes. I think the answer to all of this is to accept and enjoy the reality of our feelings without falling into the trap of worshipping them. The key is for us to manage our feelings instead of letting our feelings manage us. Yes, we will feel certain emotions. That's just who and what we are. But we don't have to be controlled by them. What is pleasing to God and what is wise has to matter more than what we feel. And we've got to remember that.<br />
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So when I think about this, here is my conclusion: As appealing as it would be to live like Spock and not have to deal with emotions, that's just not going to happen. God has given us emotions. And that's more than ok. The key is for us to thankful for feelings, but not let them rule from the throne of our hearts. It's far better if God, instead of our sometimes flawed feelings, is the dominant factor and guiding light of our lives. Feelings can lead us down some dark paths, but God will always lead us the right way.<br />
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It's ok for us to have feelings. Let's just be careful with them. They can be enjoyed and even helpful. But they don't have to dominate our lives. That's God's job. That's what makes our time on Earth better. And that's what makes us wiser.<br />
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<strong>P.S.</strong> May you all live long and prosper.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-34203548739748660272017-12-06T09:41:00.000-05:002017-12-06T10:18:23.587-05:00Learn To Take A Compliment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISTnZ8sPzRnPMWq6atjS93ijJIFtzQp75p3KkYIokoDT8HA3r2Vgs51FIj0OlCeKncL0rQwA0UC2U-7MUW-FoCgIX74OVE2T4KwsELnrSLmkKsqnUjrCPJpyD4EtbeRrS0a8wYuknk8s/s1600/compliment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1000" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISTnZ8sPzRnPMWq6atjS93ijJIFtzQp75p3KkYIokoDT8HA3r2Vgs51FIj0OlCeKncL0rQwA0UC2U-7MUW-FoCgIX74OVE2T4KwsELnrSLmkKsqnUjrCPJpyD4EtbeRrS0a8wYuknk8s/s320/compliment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I've noticed this tendency in people for years. And so has Dustin Wax, who is someone I don't even know. Check out this brief statement he posted on a website I stumbled across: <em>"A surprisingly large number of people do not know how to take a compliment."</em><br />
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Since I've become a pastor in 1996, I've witnessed this in numerous churches I've served or visited. When people get complimented for singing a song, preaching a message, overseeing a project, leading a ministry, or doing something really well, they just don't know what to do in response. <br />
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Often times I hear folks say, "Don't thank me. It was a team effort." A handful of times people have said, "Don't thank me because then God won't give me my reward in Heaven." Sometimes folks will say, "I didn't do it for thanks, so you don't have to say that." Once I saw a singer in a church service almost chastise a congregation for clapping after a song. He said, "No! Don't you clap for me. Give God the glory."<br />
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Some people mishandle compliments because they wrestle with a low self esteem or various insecurities. Other people do this because they're theologically confused. And a few people fail to receive compliments well because they're unsure of whether or not people are sincere in praising their efforts.<br />
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If you're someone who does this, please hear me out. I'm <u>not</u> picking on you. I'm <u>not</u> down on you. I just want to help you understand a very important truth: It's ok for people to compliment you, and it's ok for you to receive it with a grateful heart.<br />
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Paul opened up the book of Ephesians in the sixteenth verse of the first chapter by telling his audience, "I have not stopped giving thanks for you." He's paying them a compliment. The missionary is acknowledging something good about them and is expressing gratitude for the church of Ephesus. You see what's going on here? God told Paul to compliment fellow believers! God is behind the words of affirmation. I sure hope the Ephesians didn't write Paul back with the words, "No! Please don't thank us." Ha! No, I've got a pretty good feeling they accepted his words and were just thankful for the meaningful message.<br />
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When someone gives you a compliment, it may be that God is blessing you through their affirming words. Possibly He's whispering words of comfort and approval into your heart at that moment. After all, everyone from time to time benefits from being told they're making a difference.<br />
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If you are a person who constantly shoots down compliments that come your way, you need to be careful. Your response, though well intentioned, can actually be a turn off to the person who is trying to bless you. It can come across as ungrateful, rude, or self-righteous. Think about it this way: If you gave someone a gift and they quickly said, "No, don't give me this", you'd be offended or confused, wouldn't you? Well it's the same way when someone is pointing out something good that you did. They're extending you a gift and you're saying "No, don't give me this." It's possible you're confusing or offending the person who is simply trying to be good to you and encourage you.<br />
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Folks, it's important to be humble. And certainly we do want God to get the glory and praise in our lives. But with that being said, it's still completely acceptable for people to tell you that you did a good job with something. And it's equally appropriate for you to take their words to heart and simply say, "Hey thanks for your kind words. I really appreciate it."<br />
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In Matthew 25:23, we are introduced to the idea of God giving a compliment to one of His people. "Well done, good and faithful servant", He says. God deems it appropriate and right to affirm this man. When those words are uttered, I think two things. First, I'm sure the servant is thankful and wouldn't dream of telling God, "No, don't thank me." Second, I'm reminded that the offering of appropriate, well-deserved, compliments is acceptable in God's eyes, and should be in our eyes as well.<br />
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Work on this, ok? Learn to take a compliment. Accept it as a gift that is intended to make your day a little brighter and your life a little better. Ultimately, know that it's ok to kindly say, "Thank you" in response to the one who gave you a word of praise. See it for what it is: A special, blessed moment for you to cherish and enjoy.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-85083382281821798232017-11-27T09:34:00.000-05:002017-11-27T10:08:21.526-05:00A Family Of Togetherness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm-FF467kzuGcSWCocSELFTzRduCMPq0kGCV9YS4f6y4sWPx5SlIIKek38ioz7UniOcuR9Bkk95zcUZ_OQ3H8R8PMBj2hAR998dsyFrRptOBfwHxjB7eDCzxfJs93AxZ37NNfBkzcOyU/s1600/holdinghands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="376" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm-FF467kzuGcSWCocSELFTzRduCMPq0kGCV9YS4f6y4sWPx5SlIIKek38ioz7UniOcuR9Bkk95zcUZ_OQ3H8R8PMBj2hAR998dsyFrRptOBfwHxjB7eDCzxfJs93AxZ37NNfBkzcOyU/s320/holdinghands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a neat moment that a lot of folks probably didn't see.</div>
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Yesterday at church, we all were singing a worship song. God's presence could be felt in our little sanctuary in a neat way. About halfway through the song, I noticed something. Two senior adult ladies were standing beside one another in the choir loft. They've been friends and known each other for years. As they sung out together, one of them reached down and held onto the hand of the other. They both looked at each other, smiled, and sang out, united by their hands. There they stood, connected in friendship and Christian love. Sharing a moment together of praising their God as one. Experiencing a bond as sisters in Christ. Then after a minute, the song ended, they let go of each others hands, and the service continued. It was a neat moment for me to see.<br />
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Those two wonderful senior adult ladies unintentionally reminded me of something: The church is to be a family of togetherness. We are to love, comfort, and encourage one another. We are to assure each other that we all matter. This can be done by the holding of hands or a number of other ways. And this is all done under the grace, protection, and leadership of our awesome Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. <br />
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Church can become a lot of things for people. It's easy to lose sight of its purpose if folks aren't careful. Because of that, may God help us all to remember who we are: A community of faith and a family of togetherness. <br />
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I'm sure they didn't intend for anyone to see it. And it only lasted for about sixty seconds. But I'm glad God let me see that special moment those two senior adult ladies shared. It was a needed reminder that we all who make up the church should care about each other and be willing to show it one way or another.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-47022871396687685472017-11-20T20:46:00.005-05:002017-11-20T20:46:57.829-05:00Whatever It Took<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Cj2vJ0ARtCkpM-PLA7bQugApRN7oeBBzDJ0E7-A3rCouBGk2feJK3-Bmu5PIVYNnFh5QMWj5VsGMatL__oBPLZCb3dwqkV5JvBOcst_TD7aXU53XWr3cMx7CT7hwO1lqdH15rbRgu1A/s1600/rescue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Cj2vJ0ARtCkpM-PLA7bQugApRN7oeBBzDJ0E7-A3rCouBGk2feJK3-Bmu5PIVYNnFh5QMWj5VsGMatL__oBPLZCb3dwqkV5JvBOcst_TD7aXU53XWr3cMx7CT7hwO1lqdH15rbRgu1A/s1600/rescue.jpg" /></a></div>
Three of us were sitting in the living room of their little home out in the country. The husband was asleep in his recliner. And the wife was talking with me. A time or two I glanced over at the poodle that was asleep in her husbands lap. The wife noticed me looking at it and she said, "That dog really isn't supposed to be here." Then she proceeded to tell me, "A few years ago, we had another dog. She got pregnant. But she also had health problems. So one day she crawled up under the house. One of my sons kept a close eye on her. Then, one day, she died. We knew that she was pregnant and something had to be done or we'd lose the puppy she was carrying. My son quickly pulled the dead dog out from under the house. Then he took his pocket knife and opened up her stomach. He pulled out the unborn puppy, quickly wiped it as clean as he could, and he did CPR on it. That dog started breathing and he lived! This dog, on my husband's lap, is that unborn puppy which my son saved." <br />
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That story blew me away. What an inspiration her son was. He did whatever it took to save that little unborn puppy who was unable to save himself.<br />
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That has me thinking about our God. He did whatever it took to save us. We were born with a sin problem. Because of this sin problem, we were guilty and condemned. Also, we were bound for a hopeless eternity in Hell. Just as that little puppy was stuck inside of his dead mother, we were stuck inside of sin. But God, in all of His goodness, didn't leave us in that position. <br />
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Here's what He did about it: God sent His Son, Jesus, down here to Earth. He was born in Bethlehem to a young lady named Mary. Then, a little over 30 years later, God sacrificed His Son on a cross. Why? God allowed His own Son to suffer, bleed, and die, so that our sins could be forgiven and our souls could be saved. In a radical series of events, our loving God did what was necessary to rescue us. And because of this, our lives have been changed for the better.<br />
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Thanks be to our God. He did whatever it took to save you and me. What an awesome expression of love it was!! <br />
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I'm pretty impressed with what the young man did to save the puppy. But I'm far more blown away by what God did to save us. By all means necessary, He got the job done. Let's thank Him for doing whatever it took. And let's honor Him with our lives as long as we are on this Earth. What an awesome God He is!!David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-21846185252472088872017-11-17T10:24:00.001-05:002017-11-17T10:49:24.899-05:00Sometimes, People Get On My Nerves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I find myself getting frustrated with people every now and then.<br />
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When I'm driving, I wish people would use their turn signals. Travel would be so much simpler and the roads would be so much safer if people would simply take a second and let others know they are turning left or right. That gets on my nerves. <br />
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When I'm sitting in a movie theater, I wish people in front of me would quit looking at their cell phones. The light from their phones shines right into the eyes of everyone sitting behind them. That gets on my nerves.<br />
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When things like these happen, I find myself tensing up and wanting to vocalize my frustration. I imagine really throwing out some verbal zingers. But normally I just keep it to myself, shake my head, and move on.<br />
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When I calm down after a minute or two, I have to remind myself of some important truths. And maybe if people sometimes get on your nerves, these could be helpful for you to consider too. We all ought to keep these in mind...<br />
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<strong>#1</strong> <em>Everybody can be irritating at times...including us.</em> The older I get, the more I realize I have my own habits, quirks, and idiosyncrasies that can grate on people. I'm just as weird as the next guy. And before you get too smug, remember you're weird too. Ha! Ha! We all are. None of us are perfect. All of us can be aggravating occasionally. So let's stay humble and avoid putting ourselves above other people.<br />
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<strong>#2</strong> <em>Patience with others is a must.</em> Look, I get it. We're emotional beings that can't help but feel frustrated at times. That's normal. But we still can choose to stay calm and conduct ourselves in the right way. James 1:19 tells us "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." Before we make matters worse by shooting off at the mouth inappropriately or blowing our stack aggressively, let's slow down, take a couple deep breaths, collect our thoughts, and maybe even whisper a prayer. Why? Because when we do this, we have a much better chance of reacting wisely instead of saying or doing something that we later will regret.<br />
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<strong>#3 </strong><em>God sets the best example.</em> Always remember how He deals with each of us. Psalm 103:8 tells us, "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love." Did you catch that? God doesn't flip out with knee-jerk reactions. Not at all!! He gives us time and opportunities to learn and grow. He shows us grace. And He loves us immensely. That's how God handles us, and that's how we need to handle each other.<br />
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Yeah, sometimes, people get on my nerves. And I'm pretty certain the same thing happens to you. During those moments, let's stay humble and remember that we're not perfect either. Let's stay calm and be patient. And let's look to God for help in handling people the way He does. If we do these things, we will handle stressful moments a whole lot better.<br />
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PS - But please use your turn signal when driving and stay off your phone during movies. Ha! Sorry, I couldn't resist. :-)David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-18775015795559194682017-11-13T08:57:00.000-05:002017-11-13T10:06:22.194-05:00Cremation. Ok or no way?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd9f0GPJJscjpPVm2eeCCNyaQ9MiFXFvM9JG1ueMfWoWwzVeG_2BYbMZF7TgjdcxEuZCQxeBHgOT2OvL8jWY9WTzcuMyDEspD8c959qwq1K20Hcg6bfGH00TZvA9tJnM_aniDd1XkJHA/s1600/cremation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="1120" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAd9f0GPJJscjpPVm2eeCCNyaQ9MiFXFvM9JG1ueMfWoWwzVeG_2BYbMZF7TgjdcxEuZCQxeBHgOT2OvL8jWY9WTzcuMyDEspD8c959qwq1K20Hcg6bfGH00TZvA9tJnM_aniDd1XkJHA/s320/cremation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Because I'm a pastor, hospice chaplain, and have experience working part-time in a funeral home, I get asked about cremation quite a lot. Some people are fond of the idea. And others quickly reject it as an option for consideration. <br />
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Just in case you don't know what cremation is, it is the process by which a dead person's remains are exposed to intense heat. This process reduces the body to a pile of ashes. Then the ashes are placed in a container and given back to the surviving family members. At this point, the family can decide what to do with the remains. Of course I have simplified the process in my description, but that is basically what happens.<br />
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With that in mind, I'll share a few quick thoughts on it now...<br />
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<strong>(1)</strong> To state the obvious, the person being cremated does <u>not</u> know they are being cremated. They are already deceased. So he or she does not feel any fear, anxiety, or pain because they have already died and their soul has left their body.<br />
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<strong>(2)</strong> On a financial note, cremation is normally a few thousand dollars cheaper than a burial.<br />
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<strong>(3)</strong> The Bible does not address cremation. There is no verse that calls it a sin. And there is no verse that says it is a good thing. Simply put, the Bible is silent on the topic. If you're looking for a verse on cremation, you will not find one. <br />
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<strong>(4)</strong> Cremation ultimately comes down to your personal preference. There is no "right" or "wrong" when it comes to this. You should do what makes you the most comfortable in this matter. That is why I do not tell people they should or they shouldn't be cremated. It's a personal choice, and either way is totally ok. Do what works for you.<br />
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Ultimately, I'll say this: I'm glad to know that in the eternal perspective, it won't matter whether we are cremated or buried. Regardless of how we're laid to rest, we are going to get a new body in Heaven anyway. So it won't matter if we're buried or cremated down here because we're all getting a big time upgrade in Paradise!! 1 Corinthians 15:53 tells us that these new bodies will be "imperishable" and "immortal". Also, Revelation 21:4 tells us these new bodies will never cry, hurt, or die. So there we have it! If Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, we will have a new body in Heaven. And a far better existence than we have down here on Earth.<br />
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Do whatever you think is right and practical when it comes to cremation or burial. Do what you are at peace with in your heart. And know that neither option is wrong. It's ok either way. Find comfort in knowing there is eternal life with God in Heaven when our time on Earth comes to an end. And rejoice in the truth that new bodies await us all, regardless of how we died or were buried. <br />
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What a glorious, positive, safe, perfect future awaits us because of Jesus Christ!!David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-82154705644622672972017-11-11T07:35:00.001-05:002017-11-11T07:49:08.049-05:00Jim's 8 Words Of Urgency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg17fYlnzv60QJ06Q2O5oWchNOvwVHGzx3Uzgxe7ewZOP2DyGnj2pPdEDpNmMJIPvhf47PAHlfyC3G0vAuus_4SUPWsbeUVkM3Slj3u-34B_bIbBz80B9-G1nNo3j9qRpmzNPgfomJDJE/s1600/Time-flies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="638" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg17fYlnzv60QJ06Q2O5oWchNOvwVHGzx3Uzgxe7ewZOP2DyGnj2pPdEDpNmMJIPvhf47PAHlfyC3G0vAuus_4SUPWsbeUVkM3Slj3u-34B_bIbBz80B9-G1nNo3j9qRpmzNPgfomJDJE/s320/Time-flies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was visiting my 96 year old friend, Jim. We were sitting in his little apartment yesterday talking about life. He was wearing khakis, a blue button up shirt, and a blue baseball hat. On his walls were pictures of his family and an airplane he flew in World War 2.<br />
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At one point of our conversation, we were talking about time. I asked, "Does it seem to you that time goes by faster ever year you get older?" My elderly friend looked at me with a smile and said, "Oh yeah it does. It flies by faster every year." Then, he spoke the following 8 words with a sense of urgency in his voice: <em>"Go ahead and do whatever you gotta do."</em><br />
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Wow. That hit me hard. I've never had an older person put it to me like that. And it made perfect sense.<br />
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James 4:14 states, "For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Psalm 144:4 proclaims, "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." And Psalm 78:39 says, "He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and comes not again." These three scriptures all make a similar point: Our life on this world is brief. It does not last long at all. And the older we get, the more we understand that. The years we spend here will be over much quicker than we realize.<br />
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This was Jim's message to me, which obviously was anchored in scripture: Time flies. So whatever important things you need to do, go ahead and get them done. <br />
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God created each of us for a purpose. We're here to make a difference. And He wants us to maximize our moments. We are to make the most of our time on this planet. <br />
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What should you be doing with your life? It could be any number of things. Making your house more of a home for your family. Comforting hurting people. Starting a new business that your community needs. Writing a book. Educating young minds. Preparing meals. Calling people and checking on them. Encouraging people. The list could go on an on. Just think on it. What should you do with however many remaining years you have left? Now, let me ask you another question. Why not go ahead and get started now?<br />
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Jim's 8 words of urgency ought to light a fire of motivation under each of us. Time is short. Life races by. And because of that, we need to make the most of the days we have. We have to carry out our purpose. We must make our contribution to this world and to the people around us. God didn't create us and send His Son to save us so we can lazily sit around on our posteriors doing nothing of significance. No, not at all! He put each of us here to do something. So what are we waiting for? Time is running out. Let's get busy. Let's get moving. Let's fulfill the purpose for which God put each of us here in the first place.<br />
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Jim's right. Remember his words. "Go ahead and do whatever you gotta do."David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-5533079729140826182017-11-02T00:30:00.000-04:002017-11-02T07:57:00.735-04:00What God Has Been Teaching MeRecently, I turned 47 years old. Along with that, I've reflected on some of the things God has been teaching me so far. There's no doubt I have <u>A LOT</u> more to learn in life. But here are just a few things that have started to make some sense along the way...<br />
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<strong>IT FEELS GOOD TO WORK.</strong> Here's a confession: I don't think I truly began to understand what real labor was until 4 years ago. Now I work multiple jobs, and I love it. Being productive and having my hands in several projects gives me a satisfying feeling. I don't think God put us on this planet to lay around lazily. Not at all! So let's maximize our opportunities and utilize our abilities. Let's do something with our lives and leave this world a better place than it was when we entered it.<br />
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<strong>I NEED THE CHURCH.</strong> Regardless of whether I'm a pastor or not, I need to be around other believers. Encouragement, guidance, accountability, and inspiration are just a few of the multiple benefits that come out of spending time with brothers and sisters in Christ. No, the church isn't perfect. But she is the bride of Christ. She is precious to Him; therefore, she is also to be precious to us. And being a part of this body of believers makes us better along the journey of life. Let's be an active part of His church. <br />
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<strong>I WANT TO DEAL WITH MY OWN ISSUES INSTEAD OF GETTING WORKED UP ABOUT YOURS</strong>. We all stumble and fall one way or another. We all make wrong choices and do wrong things. Because of that, I think it's better for me to just deal with my own struggles rather than give you a hard time about yours. I'm not in a position to criticize and judge you when I have my own shortcomings. Let's all deal with the person who stares back at us in the mirror before we even think of dealing with other people about their flaws and quirks. <br />
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<strong>I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE MYSELF RATHER THAN BEAT MYSELF UP FOREVER ABOUT FAILURES</strong>. At times, I've been hard on myself. Even after receiving forgiveness from Jesus, family, and friends, I still wouldn't let go of my guilt. But over time, God and family have helped me to forgive myself and move on with life. We can't charge into the future if we're still holding onto the past. Let's confess our sins to God and receive His forgiveness. Then we need to forgive ourselves and let it go.<br />
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<strong>I CAN'T SPEND MY DAYS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF ME</strong>. When it's all said and done, what God thinks of me is far more important than what people think of me. And I've realized that living for the approval of other people is an exhausting exercise that never really ends or satisfies. Let's all live for God's pleasure and approval through Jesus Christ. What He thinks of us is what matters most in life. As long as we are right with Him and walking in His will, we are exactly where we need to be. And that's what ultimately matters most. <br />
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Those are just some of the things God has been teaching me in my life. Hopefully He will continue to help me learn more lessons along the way. Learning from Him makes our lives so much better.<br />
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May He continue to teach you and bless you as well!!David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-9766588896626953322017-08-09T14:24:00.000-04:002017-08-09T14:35:25.180-04:00Fellowship Over Chicken WingsI was the only white guy there.<br />
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Recently I went to visit an elderly lady who has poor health. When I knocked on the door and was welcomed into home, I met about six people who were all very kind. They were all African American, and I only knew one of them. For a moment, we all stood there quietly and awkwardly. </div>
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Then I noticed a plate on the table. "Hey, are those Leo's Chicken Wings?", I asked. One of the young men responded, "Yeah, they are. Want one?" I thought for half a second and said, "Sure, that sounds great!"</div>
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Then, they started passing out plates and napkins. One of the wonderful hosts gave me a chair. Then we all sat there together and ate chicken wings. While we ate, we told stories, laughed, and had a blast. It went from a silent room to a joyful place of fellowship. I had a wonderful time with my new friends, and I'll always remember it.</div>
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That whole experience reminded me of something important: If we human beings will just sit down and talk with each other, we usually can find common ground and similar interests. Though we may look different and have varying backgrounds, most of us are alike in many ways. Most of us want our families to be ok, our bills to be paid, and our communities to be safe. Most of us want to have purpose, hope, peace, joy, and strength. And most of us just want to get along with our fellow man.</div>
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What I'm saying is regardless of whether we're black, white, rich, poor, Democrat, Republican, educated, uneducated, liberal, conservative, or whatever, we can usually get along with each other if we just put a little effort into it. Let's sit and listen. Let's try to understand each other. And let's remember that the world will be a much happier place if we learn to calmly co-exist together.</div>
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I'm not so naive to think a plate of chicken wings is the key to world peace. Things can be way more complex than that. But I do believe with all my heart that if people would sit down and communicate with one another, usually some common ground will be discovered and a bond can be formed. </div>
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Most importantly, if we look to God, He can pull us together and make us one. After all, when you and I both seek Him, it becomes obvious we're a lot more alike than we are different. And that makes it easier for us to get along and work together.</div>
David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-24895843812110549562017-08-08T09:00:00.002-04:002017-08-08T09:45:12.891-04:00The Right Kind Of ChurchWe've got a Presbyterian church here in our neighborhood. It's right around the corner. Almost daily, I pass by it in my car. But it wasn't until last weekend I noticed something on it's sign out front. In big letters I could see the name of the church. But underneath, in small letters, I finally saw this little message: "A Place Of Grace".<br />
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I don't know much about that church. No clue who the pastor is. No idea what the budget might be. No guess as to how many people attend its services. But I do know this for sure: A place of grace is the right kind of church.<br />
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See, we're all sinners. I know I am. And so are you. We've all done wrong. We've all made poor choices. We've all missed the mark. But the great thing about God is He forgives us and wipes our guilt away. He doesn't hold our wrongdoings over our head. And He doesn't expect us to live eternally in shame. When we confess our sins to us, He forgives. And He treats us far better than we deserve. That's what grace is. And it really is an amazing thing!!<br />
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So because God shows us grace, we also need to show each other grace. That's what a good church does. People fail. People do dumb things. People make foolish decisions. And we have a choice: We can beat up on these people, condemn them, and kick them while they're down, <strong><u>OR</u></strong> we can love them unconditionally, offer them forgiveness, and point them to our loving God who has all the blessings they could ever want. <br />
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The older I get, and the more life experiences I have, the more I'm a grace guy. Yep, I'm really thankful for God's grace in my life. I'd be lost without it! And I really want to show grace to others. I want to show them forgiveness, love, and help, because that's exactly what God has shown me. And I firmly believe with all my heart that no matter who they are, where they've been, or what they've done, the church should be the one place where they're welcomed, treated with kindness, and offered a word of hope. <br />
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So may all of our churches here in Sumter, and around the world, be places of grace. Let's share with others what God has shared with us. It'll bless people more than anything else we give them.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-81747522430318753632017-08-04T07:57:00.003-04:002017-08-04T08:30:02.072-04:00One Day At A TimeRecently I was sitting alone in a Mexican restaurant and enjoying a delicious lunch. When I finished my meal, I sat there quietly and started thinking about my life. Things I needed to do. Places I needed to go. Issues I needed to handle. Challenges I needed to overcome. All of these different thoughts were going through my head. And I found myself not wanting to get out of my booth. It was kind of like I just wanted to stay put and hide from life a little while longer.<br />
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As I sat there, I just froze. I started feeling overwhelmed. My life was feeling like an uncontrollable avalanche, and I started thinking, "Man, this is just too much for me to handle."<br />
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It was at this time that the waitress walked by my table. I suppose my face was showing how I felt on the inside because she looked at me and asked, "Hey, are you ok?" I responded, "I'm just feeling overwhelmed with life right now." Then she smiled and said something I'll never forget, "You just gotta live one day at a time."<br />
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Wow.<br />
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She was right, you know?!<br />
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Sometimes it can be a lot to process when we start thinking about all the things going on in our lives. Things can begin to feel like a bit much. The big picture can be overwhelming.<br />
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But when we live one day at a time, we're just calmly taking one small step after another. And we're not worrying about crossing bridges we haven't even approached yet. Rather than stressing over the multiple issues we must address in our lives, we're instead dealing with a single issue right here and right now. That's a little easier to manage, you know?!<br />
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When that waitiress said that, I was encouraged. The dark clouds started drifting away and sunshine re-enetered my heart. And I felt energized. So I got up, paid the bill, left her a tip, headed out the door, and got back to work. Simply put, my day was changed when I was reminded of that very important lesson.<br />
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Are you feeling overwhelmed with your life? If so, let me assure you that <u>we all</u> feel that way at times. You're not alone. It happens. But the good news is this: You can find peace of mind. Look to God and whisper a prayer. Accept the fact that yesterday is over and tomorrow hasn't even arrived yet. And decide to focus solely on today. When you do this, you're living one day at a time. And doing that will make your life so much calmer and better.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-73900082711890326572017-08-01T09:31:00.002-04:002017-08-01T19:16:21.508-04:00Just Like The Old ManWell, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Others have had the same experience in their own lives. And I reckon it's probably inevitable. What am I talking about? Well, it's simply this: I'm turning into my dad.<br />
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Seriously. I'm noticing it in a few areas here and there. And my kids are pointing it out to me at times too.<br />
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It's not that I'm trying to do this. And I'm certainly not opposed to it either. But it's just happening naturally without me thinking about it.<br />
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For instance....<br />
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It seems that daily I'm walking around my house and turning off lights that kids leave on. "We're running up the power bill around here people", I'll announce loud enough for everyone to hear. Dad did that.<br />
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Last night I was sitting on the couch watching a PBS documentary about South Carolina wildlife. My oldest daughter, Katie, said, "You're watching that? Wow, you're turning into Wade Richardson for sure." See, Dad watches that kind of stuff all the time.<br />
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When my son, Emerson, pours a glass of milk and only drinks half of what he poured, I'll say, "Come on, man, you're wasting money right there." Dad said that to me quite often about drinks and food when I was growing up in his house. He'd always say, "Take what you want, but eat what you take." <br />
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I like to drive with my knees and back into parking spaces. Dad does that.<br />
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I listen to Garrison Keillor's "Tales Of Lake Wobegon" and enjoy every second of it. Does does that.<br />
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I enjoy science fiction movies and quirky comedies. Dad does that.<br />
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And I find myself caring less and less about what other people think of me. Dad really does that!!<br />
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These are just some of the many things I and others have noticed. And maybe you're going through the same thing. It seems like a lot of us somewhat turn into a version of our parents. I've heard plenty of women say, "Wow, I'm turning into my mom." So yeah, it's kind of a common thing.<br />
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But you know what I've noticed? The greatest person we can become more like ... is God. He's our Heavenly Father, and if we become like him, that's a game changer. <br />
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I like what Paul wrote here in Ephesians 5:1-2 -- <em>"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love."</em> Did you see that? We're really becoming more and more like God when we love. In other words, when we treat people right, we're "imitators" of our Heavenly Father.<br />
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Do you want to become more like your Heavenly Dad? Then try loving on people. Be patient with folks who are difficult. Be forgiving towards those who royally mess up. Be helpful to those who are in need. Be encouraging to those who are down in the dumps. Just treat people right.<br />
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Don't be so doggone critical, harsh, cruel, bitter, impatient, cold, and difficult. That's not love. And that's nothing like God. There's already too much of that stuff in the world, and we'd be better off with less of it. Choose a better way!! Choose love. Treat people right. Be a blessing to folks. Make days better for others. When you do that, people will see a reflection of God shining in you. And their lives will be better off because of it.<br />
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Yep, it's a simple fact of life: We're most like the Heavenly Father when we love people. So let's do that today, with His help from above. Loving on folks will make the world a better place. And it'll help others see what God is really like.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-864853983618583724.post-47199053438598071402017-07-30T14:51:00.004-04:002017-07-30T15:01:50.165-04:00We're All The SameI once read about a group of kids who started their own neighborhood club. They just got together and had a good time goofing off and playing around. When they started the club, they came up with three rules. And this is what they were: <strong>[1]</strong> Nobody acts too big. <strong>[2]</strong> Nobody acts too small. <strong>[3]</strong> Everybody acts just right.<br />
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It seems to me that those are rules we all would do well to abide by, even as adults.<br />
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<strong><em>Let's not act too big.</em></strong> In other words, don't walk around acting like you're the greatest thing since sliced bread and Coca Cola. Abstain from acting like you're better or superior to other people. That's called arrogance. God doesn't like that, and most people don't enjoy being around that either.<br />
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<strong><em>Let's not act too small.</em></strong> In other words, don't walk around talking negatively about yourself. Avoid putting yourself down and acting like you're beneath everybody else. God didn't make you as a piece of trash or second-rate human being.<br />
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<strong><em>Let's act just right.</em></strong> In other words, let's have a healthy perspective of ourselves. We're not better than other people. And we're not worse than other people. We're <u>all</u> somewhere in the middle. We all have strengths and weakness. We all have moments of thrilling victory and agonizing defeat. When we all strip away our bank accounts, jobs, homes, achievements, and images, we're pretty much just alike.<br />
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The truth is this: We all are imperfect. But we also are all created by God, loved by God, and offered salvation from God. That means deep down, you and I, along with everyone else, are basically the same.<br />
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So don't get too cocky about yourself. And don't get too down on yourself. Just realize you're like everyone else on the planet: A work in progress that is highly valued by God.<br />
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I like what my Grandaddy Richardson wrote about himself years ago inside the front cover of a book he gave me. This is what we wrote: <em>"Leon Richardson. An old sinner saved by grace."</em> He had a healthy understanding of himself. And that's what it means to act right. <br />
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Remember who God is. Remember who you are. And always keep in mind that as we stand at the foot of the cross, we're all on even ground. Nobody is above us or beneath us. <br />
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Yep, it's true. We're all the same. And that'll always be the case. So act right.David Richardsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01906369923707588813noreply@blogger.com0