Patricia And The Prostitutes

I met Patricia for the first time the other day while I was in one of the larger cities here in South Carolina.  After a few moments of small talk, we told each other that we both are Christians.  Then she proceeded to tell me about one of the ministry projects she has taken on in her life.

 

One night a week she drives down to a busy intersection in her city, parks her car, and starts walking.  She goes to talk with the prostitutes that are on the sidewalk.  And her mission is to offer them help.  Patricia asks them how their chosen profession is working out for them.  Needless to say, that gets the discussion going.  Then she invites them to meet her at her church the next morning.  Finally, she tells them that the Lord loves them, and He can turn their lives around if they will let Him.

 

When I asked her if any of them ever show up the next morning, her face lit up.  "Oh yes, some of them actually do!" responded Patricia.  They show up, sit by her, enjoy a good worship service, hear the gospel, and meet several other ladies in the church, including the pastor's wife.  And the best part is this:  Some of these women have asked Jesus to be their Lord and have experienced wonderful changes in their lives, which includes getting off the streets.

 

Isn't that awesome?!

 

The ministry of Patricia reminds me of the ministry of Jesus.  See, He's all about saving sinners and fixing people who have made a real mess of their lives.  In Mark 2:17, Jesus told some self-righteous, "holier than thou", religious leaders, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  The mission of our Lord is to forgive faults and save souls. 

 

Jesus doesn't write off people who mess up.  No way!  He reaches out, loves them up, and transforms their lives.  And if we're anything like Jesus, we need to join Him in this work.  When we see someone who has made a real mess of things, let's not look down on them them with a heart of condemnation.  Instead, let's show some grace and offer them hope in Jesus.

 

God bless Patricia!  She's a special lady doing an important work.  I rejoice over her ministry.  And may God provide each of us opportunities to do His work in our own little corners of this world.  What a thrill it is to know that God can use us to turn lives around. 

The Spirit - Part TWO

Once I discovered it as a child, I loved doing it.  Pouring a glass of Coke and watching it bubble over the sides amused me for some reason.  I knew the glass was full when that happened.

While I desired Coke-filled glasses, God longs for Spirit-filled people.

Paul put it this way in Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the spirit."  This verse means that our lives can be filled up with the things of this world and under their influence, or we can be filled up with the Holy Spirit of God and under His influence.  Being "filled with the spirit" is to allow God's presence to pour into every area of our lives and take over everything.

Let me illustrate it this way: I read about these guys discussing Dwight L. Moody, who was a well-respected minister years ago.  One of the guys wasn't all that thrilled with Moody coming to his area, and asked "Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?"  One of the other guys wisely responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."  Bingo!  That's what being filled with the Spirit is like.  It's allowing God to take ownership and exercise control of our lives.  It is to be full of Him and yielded to Him.  That's what Moody sought, and so should we.

Let's allow the Holy Spirit to fill every corner of our lives.  When we do this, He is at the center of all that we are and all that we have.  The neat thing about this is that God won't show up empty-handed!  He will bring along His rich blessings such as compassion, peace, power, hope, purpose, wisdom, and grace.  Why wouldn't we want these wonderful gifts in every area of our lives?  I think that's what Andrew Murray had in mind when he wrote, "May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence, and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love."

Yep, that glass filled with Coke was a beautiful sight to my eyes years ago.  It thrilled me!  But it's way more beautiful to see a person filled with God's Holy Spirit.  That's far better and more satisfying than a drink of soda.

Fill us today, God.  Make Yourself at home in every corner of our lives.  Nothing will make our days better than that.

The Spirit - Part ONE

In January of this year, I went camping with some of the other guys in the Richardson family.  We ventured to Oconee State Park, South Carolina, which is up in the mountains.  When we arrived there, we scouted out the park and found the campsite that looked right for us.  Then we unloaded our gear from the vehicles.  Finally, we set up our tent, which was the most important part of all.  That was our home.  Our dwelling place.  And when it got late, we went in there for the night.

 

I love camping in a tent.

 

God loves dwelling permanently in a human heart.

 

Here's one of the awesome things about God that thrills me:  He does more than linger beside us, slide under us, or hover over us.  God actually takes up residence inside us.  You can't get any closer than that!

 

Just as a camper goes inside a tent, God goes inside a heart when someone says "Yes" to Jesus.  And now it gets even better:  A camper will eventually leave a tent when it's morning or time to go hiking.  But God will never leave a heart.  He becomes a permanent resident who never vacates the premises.

 

The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit that comes to live in you and me when Jesus forgives our sins and saves our souls.  It is the up close and personal presence of God that dwells daily and nightly within us.  What a privilege it is to have God get that close to us!

 

Jesus described this divine presence in John 14:17:  "He abides with you and will be in you."  Paul reminded Christians in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you."  In both of these passages, we see this amazing truth:  The Holy Spirit is God, who makes our heart His home.

 

Years ago, I was in Alaska on a mission trip.  Late one afternoon, I was sitting on a back deck of a church that was tucked way back into the woods.  We were in the middle of nowhere.  I had just told this guy about Jesus forgiving sins and saving souls.  Right there in front of me, he asked Jesus to become His Lord.  Then, when he finished praying, he looked at me and asked, "So now God's Spirit is living inside my heart?"  "Yeah man, he sure is," I replied.  A smile grew on his face as he said, "That is so cool."  "Yeah, it really is," was my response.

 

Isn't it cool?!  This great God of the universe wants to be intimately connected with us on a spiritual level.  So close, that He actually comes to live in us.  And in doing so, He helps us in more ways that we can count.

 

Thank God today for His Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving Rewind - 2015

*  It didn't start off so great, but it ended up being amazing.

*  Because of car issues, Lara, the kids, and I weren't able to be together on Thanksgiving Day.  But I was fortunately with my lovely daughter, Lizzie.  She and I had Thanksgiving lunch at Ruby Tuesday here in Sumter, while Lara and the rest of the crew were in Greenville, SC.  I did enjoy the time I spent with Lizzie.  She's a great girl.

*  The next day, the entire Richardson family (Dad, Mom, brothers, wives, and kids) was able to meet up in the mountains of North Carolina.  We all stayed in the same hotel and spent a couple days together.  It was an absolute blast!

*  My two brothers, Condy and Wyman, were there.  It's about once a year that we all get together, so we really enjoyed it.  Condy is a pastor here in South Carolina, and Wyman is a pastor in Arkansas.  I'm real proud of both of my brothers. 

*  My kids enjoyed getting together with all of their cousins.  That crew gets along really well, and they always have a blast.  I liked seeing them have such a good time with each other.

*  We ventured over to Bryson City, which is a neat little mountain town.  There we boarded the Polar Express for a train ride.  That was simply incredible!  Hot chocolate and cookies were served.  Christmas carols were sung.  The Polar Express story was told.  And Santa climbed aboard for a quick visit.  We all became kids again and had the time of our lives.  I absolutely loved it!  It should also be pointed out that Lara especially had a blast with Santa.

*  The rest of the weekend was spent laughing and sharing stories, watching the kids in the indoor pool, and exploring Bryson City.  It was the perfect getaway.

*  I love the mountains of North Carolina.  It's peaceful and beautiful up there. 

*  I took today off from New Calvary Baptist Church.  LC preached for me this morning, and Jock Hendricks preached tonight.  They're both good guys, and I appreciate them filling in.  I did miss our church family today, and I look forward to seeing them again in a few days.

*  This Thanksgiving season, I'm truly grateful for all the blessings that have come my way.  I'm thankful for my family, New Calvary Baptist Church, Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home, good friends, my health, and God's amazing grace.  Truly, this is a good season of life that I'm in right now.  Things are going well.

*  So now we're entering the Christmas Season.  It'll be a great time celebrating the birth of Jesus.  What a special time of the year that is!

*  I hope all of you had a Happy Thanksgiving.  May God allow us all to enjoy a special Christmas Season.

The Grace Of Mrs. Reaves

Thomas Sumter Academy is where I went to school.  And in my junior year, which was 1987-88, I took chemistry with Mrs. Reaves.  She was a great lady and a excellent educator.  

The problem I had that year in chemistry was not the subject or the teacher.  The problem was me.  I didn't pay good enough attention.  I didn't try to learn the subject.  And at times I just misbehaved in class.  Because of my choices, I failed chemistry.  That was a low point for me.  And all of the blame laid at my feet.  It was 100% my fault.

But let me tell you about Mrs. Reaves.  She didn't give up on me.  That good woman showed me kindness, patience, and forgiveness.  And when I finally decided to grow up and take chemistry again in my senior year, she let me back in her class for another round.  Yes, she welcomed me back and gave me another opportunity.  When I needed tutoring, she was more than willing to help.  When I didn't understand the material, she explained it in another way that clicked in my mind.  She did everything she could to help me succeed.

Mrs. Reaves showed me grace.  In other words, she treated me better than I deserved.  And it made a big impact in my life.  I still think about it 27 years later.    

In a way, God does the same thing with all of us.  Ephesians 2:8 tells us "for by grace you have been saved" and "it is the gift of God."  Isn't that awesome?!  God treats us better than we deserve.  

We deserve condemnation, but He grants us salvation.  

We deserve Hell, but He gives us Heaven.

God, in all of His goodness, shows us kindness, patience, and forgiveness.  He offers us the gift of a new life through His Son, Jesus.  This life is abundant and eternal.  And it's nothing we earn or deserve.  Far from it.  All we do is receive this gift by saying "Yes" to Jesus and placing our faith in Him.

Receive God's grace today.  It'll bless your soul and transform your life.  And show people grace today.  Grant them forgiveness and mercy.  It'll be a gift to them that might just turn them around.  And that's a good thing!

I'm thankful for the grace of Mrs. Reaves.  And by the way, my second year of chemistry went much better.  I passed with a higher grade and learned some things I still remember today.  And when I was later hired to work at First Baptist Church of Sumter, one of the first people to welcome me there was Mrs. Reaves!  Her grace towards me continued long after high school.  

And I'm especially thankful for the grace of God.  It has saved my soul and made all the difference in my life.  Truly, it is the single greatest gift I have ever received.

Grace.  It really is amazing.  Thanks be to God for it.

You Might Be Surprised!

Ashleigh is a part of our church family here at New Calvary Baptist.   She has been posting Bible verses on Facebook and texting them to people she knows.   At times she has wondered if this was making a difference.  But one night at a church service, another lady stood up and testified about a family crisis she has experienced.  She then looked at Ashleigh, in front of everyone, and said "You may not realize this, but those Bible verses you posted online helped me through some tough times."

Ashleigh was surprised.  God had used her.  And she had no idea what a difference her actions made.

I've been blogging for a while, and at times I've wondered if this does any good for people.  But one day my friend, Tim Baker, posted a message on my Facebook page.  He explained that he prints off copies of my blog posts and mails them to a friend, who is in prison.  So far, Tim has mailed him over 300 printed copies of these blog posts.  And the man in prison is sharing them with other inmates.

Like Ashleigh, I too was surprised.  God has used me.  And I had no idea what a difference my actions made.

These two stories combine to make one point:  God often accomplishes things through you and me when we do not even realize it.  At times, He flows through our words and deeds to touch hearts, stretch minds, open eyes, change lives, and bless others.  He is impacting people around us without even notifying us.  

Be faithful in reaching out and loving on people.  Care for the suffering.  Feed the hungry.  Shelter the homeless.  Befriend the lonely.  Defend the weak.  Share the gospel.  And do not think you're failing to make an impact.  You are a special tool in the hands of the Almighty, and by using you, He is accomplishing great things you may not be aware of.

Yep, you might be surprised at the difference God is making in the world through you.  So keep your chin up, refuse to quit, and stay faithful.  God is at work, even when you don't know it.

What Heaven Is Like

I was talking recently with a family here in Sumter.  One of the ladies told me about her uncle who had an unusual request.  He asked her to put his cell phone in his casket when he died.  She asked him why he wanted that done.  "So when I get to Heaven, I can call you and tell you what it's like", was his reply.  Sure enough, when he died, she remembered his request.  And shortly before his funeral, she placed his cell phone in the casket.

She and I both got a laugh out of that story.  Obviously the uncle and the lady knew it doesn't quite work like that.  But it was a neat moment that meant a lot to her.

I kind of doubt she will get a phone call from Heaven.  But I do know she and the rest of us can learn a little bit about what it's like.  How?  By looking in scripture.

Here's what won't be in Heaven: Revelation 21:4 tells us there will be no crying, no hurting, and no dying.  Nobody will suffer up there at all.  This world we live in now has plenty of tears, pain, and death.  But Heaven will have smiles, comfort, and life.  So if you're hurting now, just remember this:  better days are coming, and your difficulties will be no more. 

Here's what will be in Heaven:  John 14:2 tells us God's house is there, and it has plenty of rooms for His people.  Seeing that everything our Lord has and does is perfect, I feel confident in saying this mansion will be spectacular.  Then, in the next verse, we see that Jesus will there with us too.  We will get to see, hear, and experience His presence in an up close and personal way.  What a thrill that will be!  Interacting with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in that proximity will be an incredible blessing we delight in forever.  It will be wonderful to see our loved ones, friends, and heroes up there too.  But being in God's house with Jesus will clearly be the best part of all.

Do you know how to get to Heaven?  Ask Jesus to forgive you sins, save your soul, and reserve your spot.  That's what He meant in John 14:6 when He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  There you have it.  It is through Jesus that you have a meaningful life on Earth and an eternal life in Heaven.

If that lady ever gets a phone call from up there, I'll be sure to let you know.  But in the mean time, just keep your eyes on Jesus.  That will make life better down here, and it will give you something awesome to look forward to up there.

Courage On Broad Street

I came to a stop at one of the lights on Broad Street the other day.  In front of me was a truck with a sticker on his back window.  For a moment, I strained my eyes to read its message.  Then I was able to make it out.  The sticker read, "Nothing to Fear".

Now I don't know which organization put out this particular decal.  But I do know the message is totally true.  We Christians really do have nothing to fear.  Absolutely nothing.

 

What is it that scares you?  Be honest with yourself.  Is it disease, debt, divorce, or death?  Or maybe it's something else.  Whatever it is, know that you do not have to live in fear any longer.

 

Let's consider this call to courage for a moment...

 

It is Isaiah 41:10 which states, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  This Old Testament passage also applies to us today.  And what a great promise it is!

 

This verses reminds us to find courage in the following:

 

[1]  God's presence.  He says "I am with thee".  This means we are never alone.  Regardless of whether we are dancing on the mountain-top or grieving in the valley, God is over us, under us, beside us, and inside us.  This all-encompassing presence is a tremendous comforter.  God's going to be with us as long as we are on this Earth, and then one day He will take us home to Heaven where we will enjoy His company forevermore. 

 

[2]  God's assistance.  He says "I will strengthen thee", "I will help thee", and "I will uphold thee".  That's a big deal!  Some times we feel weak and unable to continue along the journey of life.  But thanks be to God, He offers a power, lends a hand, and provides a boost.  We have way more than our own power to utilize.  Thankfully, we have God's assistance available twenty four hours a day and seven days a week.

 

When I saw that bumper sticker, I was encouraged.  It felt like God was reminding me not to be afraid.  So when the light turned green and the traffic moved forward, I sensed a new boldness within my heart.  I was once again ready to face whatever came my way.

 

Courage.  It's available at more places than that Broad Street intersection.  It's yours and mine wherever we go.

 

Be strong in the Lord.

Our Avon Park Middle Dance Parties

A couple of years ago, I had the joy of working with some special needs students at Avon Park Middle School in Florida.  I loved that job.  Those kids were great, and I will always look back on my time with them fondly.

I started this fun thing with them one day when I could tell they were in need of getting away from their desks and stretching some.  We had a dance party.  Yeah, you read that right.  A dance party!

In between classes I turned on some music, sat back, and cut them loose.  Man, those kids went absolutely nuts.  They danced like I've never seen people move before.  They had smiles the size of Texas on their faces.  And a few of them could really bust a move!

Well, I did this once a day for a while.  And it kind of spread throughout our little corner of the school.  Other kids, who I did not teach, also stopped by between their classes to join in on the fun.  I had the music cranked, and the kids were laughing, showing off their dance skills, and having a ball.  As for me, I sat at my desk smiling and laughing while these kids cut the rug.

It was a great time.  Most likely the "powers that be" would not have smiled too much at this, but I was at peace with it.  No harm was done.

After a while, however, I began to notice something.  Some of the kids expressed a lot more interest in the dance parties than in hitting the books.  A few of them were way more thrilled with busting a move than exercising their brains.  That opened the door for me to talk with them about the need for a little balance in life.  They were fine after that.

In Ecclesiastes 3, we read "There is a time for everything."  Then we see there is "a time to plant" and "a time to build".  This has to do with work.  But later we read there is "a time to dance".  Obviously this has to do with play.

A well-lived life has a healthy rhythm of work and play.  There is a time to get things done, and there is a time to kick up our heels and have some fun.  It seems to me that joyful people know how to do both at the appropriate moment.

I'm glad I got to talk with those kids about balance.  And I really hope we all keep it in mind.  When it's time to work, let's take care of business with focus, excellence, and passion.  And when it's time to relax, let's have some fun and maybe even dance like we don't care if someone is watching.

Donna's Courage With The Snake

Donna is the wife of my good friend, Tim Sieberhagen.  She's a neat Christian lady who loves God and loves people.  Our whole family likes her.

One day, my crew was over at their home.  All of a sudden, the kids started yelling, "A snake is in the house!"  People were freaking out.  Tim and I decided to check out what was happening.  And when we (the two men in the house) saw the snake in their dining room, we became cowards.  Seriously, we did.  We looked at each other and said, "I'm not going to get that!" 

But Donna sprung into action.  Armed with a broom and a little trash can, she marched right into that dining room.  Carefully, she used her broom to get the snake into the trash can.  Then she calmly walked outside to their back fence, and let it slither away into the woods.

Wow.  She was sure brave!  Calm, cool, and collected.  Totally in control.

Tim and I, on the other hand, had chickened out.  We totally dropped the ball.  Our fear held us back from doing what was necessary.

We all still laugh about that moment.  It's been a favorite story of our two families for a while.  And I suppose it always will be. 

Courage.  It's desperately needed in our world today.  Why?  Because we're dealing with matters far more serious than a little snake.

Addiction.  Divorce.  Unemployment.  Financial hardship.  Moral decay.  Terrorism.  Godlessness.  We have some tough issues in today's world.  Lots of people are hurting.  And the time has arrived for men and women to step up with courage and strength.  We must address these difficult issues with the heart of Jesus and minister to those who are in pain.

It's easy to shy away and not get involved with scary things.  But it's also cowardly.  It leaves people alone in their suffering.

We Christians know the answer to life's biggest problems.  And we are equipped with love, hope, peace, and strength from above.  God has poured all of this into us, along with His own personal presence.  Our job is to get involved with this world and offer them what God has already given us.

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  That's Joshua 1:9.  And it's what we must always remember.  Strength and courage are found in knowing that God is with us. 

So, men and women of God, be courageous.  You're armed with something better than a broom and a trash can.  You have love to share, truth to speak, and hope to offer.  Let people know that God is there and He does care.

Thanks, Donna, for being courageous with the snake.  You've inspired us all.  May your example motivate the rest of us to step up and do ministry in difficult situations.