David Richardson

*  Been a positive weekend in our corner of the world.

*  So excited about watching Emerson score his first two baskets yesterday at Upward Basketball.  He had a smile the size of Texas on his face.  Will never forget that!

*  We had our first family picture taken in years yesterday afternoon.  It was for the church directory.  To be honest, I DREADED doing it…but I was pleasantly surprised.  The crew made it a quick and easy experience for us.  A painless procedure.  I’m now glad we did it.

*  Revival services started off with a bang today!

*  Strong crowds in both morning worship services.

*  Best Sunday night crowd I’ve seen in a long, long time anywhere.

*  Wyman shucked that corn in the pulpit!  The boy can flat out preach.  I dig his communication style.

*  More important that that, however, is the presence and moving of the Holy Spirit.  You can feel GOD at work in the place.

*  Amazing response during the invitation tonight.  People all over the place praying and responding to God.

*  I’ll be posting notes from each of his sermons on the blog this week.

*  Please come join us for each service this week.  We are having lunch time services at noon, and evening services at 6:30.

*  We had a fantastic time with some great church members today.  After a delicious lunch, we took some rides on their airboat, which was more than cool.

Below is a picture of the ladies hanging out:

Below is a picture of us guys getting ready to enjoy the airboat.  Wyman and I are on the back:

Below is a picture of some of the scenery we enjoyed on our ride:

Below is a picture of Emerson and me enjoying our ride:

Below is a picture I snapped of another group taking a turn:

*  I am wore out, and ready for bed!

I sit here at my computer and feel mighty good about what GOD is doing in my life these days.  He is blessing me way more than I deserve.  I am truly grateful for all the good things going on right now.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you our 4th “Live It!”  If you are interested in seeing the others, go to the right side of this screen, scroll down to the heading “Categories” and click on “Live It! Video.”  This will take you to a page that contains all of the “Live It!” videos we have released so far.

I want to say something that has been rattling around in my brain for a while now: it’s time to retire some overused words and phrases.

Here is my list of words and phrases that I would love to never hear again…

[1] “Divisive” – What people really mean when they say this is, “Surely you can’t be disagreeing with me!?!”

[2] “Baby bump” – I think this is plain cheesy. Just say, “Look, she is pregnant!”

[3] “I’m just sayin’” – This little number is tacked on to insult after insult. It actually means, “Don’t get mad at me. I’m just being honest here. At least I’m not lying!” An example would be, “Your girlfriend looks like a cow. I’m just sayin’.”

[4] “It’s just so surreal” – I firmly believe that 8 out of 10 people who use the word “surreal” do not actually know what it means.

[5] “It hasn’t sunk in yet” – Athletes who win championships and actors who win awards say this in the interview immediately following their great victory. Of course it has sunk in! You won. People clapped. You’re now being interviewed. What else has to “sink in” after that? I’ve won some awards, and I never needed time for anything to “sink in.”

[6] “I know, right?” – This one drives me nuts!! It was ok the first 274 times I heard it…last year. Somebody may say, “Those kids on Jersey Shore sure do need to be sent to manners school!” The response that follows this is, “I know, right?!” Why not just say, “Yeah, I agree.”

[7] “Whatever” – This one has been around for years…and it has to go. I think it was born on the Jerry Springer show in the 90’s, around the same time that “talk to the hand” made it’s grand entrance. It is normally utilized like this: “Son, go clean up your room, do your homework, cut down that loud music, and go get a haircut!” The son replies (while rolling his eyes), “Whatever, Dad.” Of course, where I come from, that was NEVER said.

[8] “Hot mess” – I’m not even going to comment on this one. I just don’t like it.

If these words and phrases disappeared from the planet, it would be just fine with me. I’m just sayin’…

My four-year-old son had a little, short-term trauma today.  During a routine physical, the pediatrician said that Emerson would need some blood drawn, and he needed a shot.  We were talking “in code” so that my little guy would not know what we were talking about.

A few moments later, the nurse walked in.  She had me hold my boy down on the table.  She then started drawing blood from his tiny arm.  He cried and looked terrified.  While he was going through this, I just looked at Emerson, and said, “Son, I’m right here.  Don’t look at her.  Just look into my eyes.”  And he did!  With big, crocodile tears he locked his eyes onto mine.  As he looked at me, I smiled and said, “I love you.  Everything is going to be ok.  It’ll be over in just a moment.”

It worked.  I’ll never forget it.  In the midst of a tough time for the little fellow, he was able to find peace with his father.

Maybe you are going through a tough time right now.  Financial hardship.  Marriage problems.  Health difficulties.  Emotional trauma.  Whatever it is, let me encourage you to do something:  look into the eyes of your Heavenly Father.  He is looking at you.  He cares about you.  He can comfort you.  He can rescue you.

Looking into the Father’s eyes will also remind you of something else:  He is a whole lot bigger and tougher than any problem you are facing.  Your greatest trial is no match for His amazing, sovereign power.  He is the God with whom all things are possible, and there is no stopping Him in heaven and on earth.

If you’re hurting, don’t stare at your circumstances or even at yourself.  Lock your eyes onto your Lord.  What a difference that will make!