“Don’t stop believin’, hold on to the feelin’!” Steve Perry had it almost right. Feelings come & go though and if we hold on to them, they’ll take us on a ride – usually right up a creek w/out …! I’ve found that it’s best to keep on believin’, no matter what the feeling. It all started at the altar of a little church in Fulton, New York when I was around 7 years old. There, stretched out on the altar, was a 30 foot snake. This wasn’t one of those weird snake handling churches we’ve see on 60 Minutes. A Missionary brought this skin of an Anaconda from somewhere in the jungle. I was hooked and began to dream of being a Missionary in some remote corner of the earth. God gave me that feelin‘ that day. More like a passion or desire. Check out Psalms 37:4.
Through the years that feelin’ would be tested until it was hardly recognizable. It was birthed and put to rest almost daily. More important than the feelin’ was the believin’. I chose way back then to believe in God as my Dad and to follow His Word. He can’t leave me and His Word doesn’t lie. A lot of years have passed, highs & lows, life & death, great experiences, a wonderful family, and now the dreams of a 7 year old are being lived out. May our journey inspire you to run after God and His promises, never give up and – Don’t stop believin’!
03/31/2010
great post Matt… and oh yeah welcome to the blogging world….
04/01/2010
Thanks for sharing! Just found out what you guys are doing….thanks to Lissa’s post on FB. How exciting! I’ll definitely be following your site and praying for your family.
04/02/2010
a 30 foot snake skin!? great post! we have to keep believing!
04/02/2010
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22
God’s timing is always perfect!
We’ll be following your mission and believing for the impossible with you.
04/08/2010
GO Team Richardson! For others it would be going to a foreign land. But not ya’ll. You’re going home, Bro. Home. The Bedsole’s are believin’ (& we do love that song!)
05/10/2010
You guys are going to be awesome missionaries for God no matter where your family goes. We will never stop believin’ in ya’ll and for ya’ll.
05/20/2010
We believe in you and love you guys so much! Praying!
05/22/2010
I am sure you will run into a few snakes in Ecuador! EEEEWWWWWW!!!!! I love you guys!
07/02/2010
I love the video. I’m praying for you guys daily and looking forward to seeing you at Garywood!
08/01/2010
Matt, this was very well done. Man, where did you get the poetic abilities. I’m sure many more great experiences await you and your family as you go forward on your journey.
Hey, ya’ll be able to say for real ,”Keep trustin’ in Jesus, it’s a jungle out there.” love you guys, Mel
01/07/2011
Hey Matt,
I remember that snake,it was huge and it smelled.
You felt the call to the mission field and I thought what a nice pair of cowboy boots that snake skin would make!
Is.55;8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
IN HIM
Mike