My funeral

Just got back from the great state of Texas. Although I had a ridiculous amount of fun, the purpose for my trip was to attend the funeral of my great aunt Anna Bell Elder. She lived to be 84 years old. She was blessed to have a long life, tons of kids, grand kids, great grand kids and even some great great grand kids on the way.

As I sat in the pew of the church where her funeral was being held I could not help but think about what my funeral would look like. Like if I died today how would my life be presented in my final exit. What would the obituary look like?, what songs would be sung? Would people even come? But more importantly I wondered if the story of my life would be worth listening to...

What makes a life worth listening to...if one accomplishes great things like inventing the internet or if they were a family man with lots of kids and a wife...maybe if they are rich, really rich like Oprah or Bill Gates. I mean personally I would want to listen to those peoples life because they did accomplish great things. But what would my life story look like? Would it be worth listening too. I will probably never invent something great, with my track record I probably will not even get married so tons of kids are out of the question :) and I don't think I will ever acquire wealth that can even be mentioned in the same breath as that of Oprah and Bill Gates. So why will people want to listen...what I am currently doing with my life that will draw people into my story and make them want to listen.

While sitting in my Great aunt Anna Bell's funeral I figured it out. Auntie Bell did not invent anything, she did have a bunch of kids that, truth be told, did not amount to very much, and she did not die with a lot of money in her bank account. What then, you might ask, made me want to listen to the story of her life...well I will tell you...throughout the funeral it was apparent that Auntie Bell served and loved the Lord with all of her heart from the time she was saved to the time that she died in her bed last Thursday evening.

Roughly I will estimate that 15 people spoke at he funeral and they all had stories of her service and her love for others. They told funny stories of her prayer requests and heart felt stories of how she truly cared for them and help them get through some of the lowest times in their lives. Everyone that went to the mic left with tears in their eyes with the thought of losing such an amazing person in their lives.

That being said when my funeral comes along, whenever that may be, the story I want told is a story of service and obedience to my King Jesus Christ. A story much like my Auntie Bell's that moves and convicts people to truly carry out the most important commandments that Christ has given His people...To love God and then love people. A story that will be an example to those young and old that you CAN fully dedicate yourself to the truth of the gospel and that when you do you can leave a world changed for the Kingdom of God.

I don't know when my time to go home will come but I do know that this earth is merely my temporary dwelling place. If I died today I sadly admit that my story would not be much to listen to. I would not inspire. I would not convict. And I would not leave a world changed. Auntie Bell's death left those closest to her changed. Christ's death left all people changed. If I am striving to be like Christ, I too must make my death worthy to bring change...

richae

Humility

Anyone who really knows me would say I am pretty cocky or as some like to call it arrogant. I enjoy and appreciate being right therefore I try to be. Because of these character traits I am often told..."OMGosh Richae you need to be a little more humble"... WHAT!!!!

There are the definitions of humble according to the dictionary...

1.	not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2.	having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

3.	low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.

4.	courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.

5.	low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.

Now upon reviewing these definitions and even studying my Bible I will admit a little thing called conviction started to creep in. "Wow"...I thought... maybe I do need to be a little more humble...Okay... a lot more humble. For the past couple of days I have been praying and seeking the Lord on this whole humility thing...as you can probably guess this has been difficult for me :)! But I am slowly but surely starting to realize that my problem is not with humility it is just my approach to it I suppose...

MY APPROACH- Here is how I see it...I serve an all powerful God. This all powerful God now dwells in me upon my acceptance of Christ into my heart. In His  indwelling in me I now according to His Word have the powerful to move mountains...yes MOUNTAINS... with the faith of a mustard seed. Therefore I honestly believe I can do ALL things through Christ. I AM because HE IS 

On the other hand when I read these definitions I was not feeling them at all! For example definition 3- low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin. I look at this definition and I just cannot get with that. I am not going to take a positions that defines me as being low in rack or importance. I am a daughter of the Most High, coheir with Christ, predestined to reign before the world was formed...

so more research will have to be done

There will be more updates to come...

richae 

Youtube

Youtube...

Where to start about this site... I think youtube has become by far my favorite site to visit on the internet. Youtube is an amazing resource for people to post all kinds of stuff. I honestly find myself on youtube more than any other site just watching the things crazy people do. It is so entertaining to listen to the opinions of different people in the world or watch them make a fool of themselves.

Youtube is not only for entertainment purposes though. It is also extremely educational. I have learned to play songs on my guitar, line dance routines for when I go out with my friends to the country clubs and even sermons!!! I have grown in my knowledge of the Word of God because of youtube! This site has everything to offer!

Anyways now to the point of this blog...Last night I was hanging with some friends and we came across this youtube video called "White Women you have been Warned", after reading the title I should have known it was going to be crazy but I had to check it out for myself. In summary the video is of a older black women charging white women to leave their black boyfriends because they are no good or as she calls it "Broke, Busted and Disgusted". To watch this video one would think the lady was simply joking but at about the 3 minute mark you will begin to realize that she is DEAD SERIOUS. For some reason or another she honestly believes that if black men are dating outside of their race it is because they hate themselves, and all of the black women in their family...

Interracial dating is a hot topic and probably always will be for whatever reasons but I feel at this point in time it should no longer be an issue. We are so wrapped up in what people look like that we fail to even consider what may have brought them together. Who cares what the people look like as long as they are honoring God and care for and respect one another. God made us different not in order to keep us separate but so we could learn from one another and so he could be worshiped in our uniqueness. Having been a an interracial relationship and having friends that are in interracial relationship I can see how the hatred associated with it has been perpetuated. Fear of bring our significant others around our families and close friends have been conditioned in us because of the stigmas that surround interracial relationships.

In my prayers for the man I will marry I have never even considered what race he will be. I have never once asked for a black man or a white man. I just pray that he loves the Lord and is equip to love and care for me as an individual regardless of his background and ethnicity. Each person is designed to care for and love a certain type of person. So if a black man wants to be with a white women then I believe that is who he should be with. Why would you want to be with someone if they are not equip to be with you? Just because you have the some color skin? That is ridiculous!!! There are plenty of men and women in the world and as long as you carry yourself in a manner that can be respected then all types of people will be attracted to you.

I say all of that to say this...

Thank you for allowing me to vent...

richae

First of many?

Soo I let one of my pals...yes I say pal...convince me to start blogging...

I have no idea what I am doing but I have always been one to express myself through writing. So I guess I will just use this as a forum to voice my thoughts, dreams, confusions, aspirations and so on...hopefully those that follow will find some blogs that they can laugh at, cry because of and find some encouragement through...

I will do my best and keep this up to date with my life but no promises friends...

richae