CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

To MEDITATE on God's Word is to call to mind — mull it over — reflect on it — ponder it — dwell on it (and in it) — and apply it to oneself. It's spending enough time in God's Word until you recognize what God may be speaking to you personally. It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the watchful eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.

Christian meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire in prayer as a way to find closer union with Christ.

Blessed is the one who meditates on God's word. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and whatever they do prospers.

My advice:

~ Read from your daily devotion ~

~ Read a Verse of the Day text ~

~ Keep a journal of what became significant ~

~ Close with a word of prayer ~

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

RECOGNIZING GOD'S VOICE

About 17 years ago, I used to do daily 10-minute meditations to see if I would get a word from the Lord. If I heard something, I would write it down and date it. I did not always get a word from the Lord, but I tried to make myself available just in case God had something He wanted to say. I would set the microwave timer for 10 minutes and go sit in complete silence until the buzzer went off. While, I was really just seeking to get a word from the Lord, this exercise actually trained me to recognize the voice of God a lot more clearly.

Hebrews 5:14 (KJV) - Those, who by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We can think God's thoughts, and He can hear our thoughts. God's thoughts rise up within us as a still small voice, and the sound of a gentle whisper in the quietness of a humbled heart. Like newborn babies learn their parents voices, we can train our senses to discern the voice and thoughts of God.

TRAINING EXERCISE

— Set timer for 10 minutes —

— Sit quietly with pen and notepad —

— Write down what God says —

You may not get something every time you do this. That's part of the training exercise, because when you do hear God's voice, you'll immediately recognize that was Him.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

SERVING WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE

Clear Conscience:

inward cleanness and peace,

with no guilt and no regrets

When the Israelites brought their gifts and sacrifices to God as sin offerings, it cleansed them of the sins they had committed, but couldn't give the worshiper a clear conscience for those sins.

However, the blood sacrifice of Christ Jesus does much, much more. Christ offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice without blemish to God. His blood cleanses us from sin, and gives us clear consciences so we can worship the living God.

1 Peter 3:21 (RSV) Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED

The chief priests, elders, officers, and all the council pressed Pontius Pilate (the Roman governor that ruled in Israel) to sentence Jesus to death for blasphemy. Pilate brought Jesus before the judgment seat to be tried, and then concluded that he found no fault in Jesus, and sought to release Him. The Jews pressed him even more and threatened to report him to Caesar. At that point, Pilate delivered Jesus to be scourged and crucified. That scourging fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy... by His stripes, we are healed.

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. (John 19:1)

I gave My back to those who struck Me. (Isaiah 50:6; also Matthew 27:26)

Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:4; also Matthew 8:17)

By His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5; also 1Peter 2:24)

Believe and receive.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

SERENDIPITY

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and a song came to me from back in the day (more than 10 years ago). I couldn't remember who the artist was but I just started singing in my head the small portion of the song I could remember. Eventually, I fell back to sleep.

When I awoke this morning the first thing I did was google those lyrics to see if I could find it. Nothing was coming up. I search everything, but got nothing.

Finally, I thought I would see if perhaps the song might be saved in the music app on my tablet. Boom! There it was! I've had it on repeat a lot all day, and it has blessed my soul. I said to the Lord, "This is one of those occasions when you seek for something so long and heavy that by the time you find it, it bears significant value."

I thought I would share it with you.

Enjoy!

You Are

Vocal Artist: David Daughtry

There is not "one" word in the English vocabulary that fully describes the Lord. We can say that He is holy, amazing, brilliant, glorious... and many other appropriate adjectives, but they don't fully describe all of God. Simply said... to Moses God said, "I Am." Simply said... I agree, "Yes You are."

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

YOU'RE AS OLD AS YOU FEEL YOUNG

Popeye's father, Poopdeck Pappy was trying to repair a broken down boat, and Popeye told him he was too old and needed to slow down. However, Poopdeck Pappy responded by claiming he was "as young as his son".

Then, while Popeye was sleeping, Poopdeck Pappy totally completed rebuilding the broken down boat, and woke Popeye so he could see the fantastic results. He boldly confessed to Popeye, "you're as old as you feel young," The concept was clearly demonstrated through Poopdeck Pappy's actions, and his bold response to Popeye's claim that he needed to go sit down somewhere.

Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT) Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

SIMPLE BIBLE STUDY METHODS

I.    OBSERVATION OF THE TEXT

• What do I see?
• What does it say?
• What are the facts?
• Whose speaking?
• Who is being spoken to?
• What issues were the recipients facing?
• What is the relationship of the speaker and recipient?
• Where is it taking place?
• When is it taking place?
• How does the context fit into what comes before and after it?

II.    INTERPRETATION (What does it mean?)

• Look up the cross reference Scriptures, using Scripture to interpret Scripture
• Consult trusted Bible commentaries
• Write out anything that seems confusing for future research
• For clarity, write down the point you think the author is making

III.    APPLICATION (Make it Personal)

• How is the passage relevant for me?
• How am I falling short?
• What can I do to specifically apply this truth to my life?

SOURCE:    Pastor Stephen G. Brown, Greater Life Church - Dallas, TX

                    https://www.greaterlifedallas.com

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

MY TYPING DILEMMA

I took my first typing class in the tenth grade in high school, but I sucked at typing. When we did typing speed tests, I would pull off 20 words per minute, while the the rest of the class was averaging 30-35 words per minute.

My typing teacher was insistently trying to talk me into dropping her class, but I didn't want to. It was very discouraging.

A few weeks after school started, the school district realized that I should've been bussed to a new school that had opened, but I was somehow overlooked. They got me situated with a new schedule at the new school. I attended typing class at the new school and seemed to do much better. I was still slower than I wanted to be, but not way behind the rest of the class.

As I advanced to my senior year, the instructor for Vocational Office Education (VOE) also just happened to be my typing teacher. I was able to participate in this program. This was an after school work program where I was able to attend 3 classes in the morning and go to work in an office setting in the afternoon (gaining much needed experience).

After I graduated, I knew that I wanted to go to secretarial school and make that my career, which definitely requires typing skills.

Years passed and I still struggled with my typing speed, even in secretarial school. When I interviewed for secretarial jobs, my typing speed would sometimes not pass the requirements.

One day, my mother asked me to run an errand for her over to my Aunt Paula's house. As she and I were talking, I told her about my typing dilemma. She encouraged me not to type by the letter, but type by the word. She said, "As you type, don't spell out words, just type the words you're reading." I began doing this, and practiced diligently. My typing speed increased dramatically.

If I had listened to my tenth grade typing teacher and dropped typing class, I would've never been able to pursue my 20-year secretarial career path. I would've failed at my love of writing because typing is a major requirement for writing.

Whatever your niche is, hold tightly. Don't lose hope. If that niche is God's will for you, it will certainly come to pass. Though it might tarry, wait for it, because in the end it will speak, and will not lie. When the appointed time comes, it will manifest (Hab. 2:3).

Let God's Will Be Done

Plant your mustard seed 🍯 and watch it grow.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

MORE THAN ENOUGH

Bible Characters That Were Unsure of Themselves:

🔹 Moses said, "Who am I?"

🔹 Gideon said, "Why me?"

🔹 Jeremiah thought, "I'm too young."

🔹 Esther considered her approach could get her killed.

In spite of their doubts, God’s faithfulness never wavered. God can turn doubt into profound spiritual certainty, with victories you never thought possible.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV) Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

A LOVE-RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

There are five basic things we can do to have a closer relationship with God.

1. confess sins everyday (Ps 51:17)
2. read the Bible regularly (Josh 1:8)
3. pray (Mk 1:35)
4. go to church (Heb 2:12)
5. live and walk in obedience to God (2 Cor 10:6)

I found the above list when I googled how to build a love relationship with our heavenly Father. I am not disqualifying any of these 5 things, but I'll just add my own 5 pieces to the list.

My answer to building a love-relationship with our heavenly Father:

1. Make God your all in all (1 Cor 15:28)
2. Submit to God. Draw near to Him and He'll draw near to you. (James 4:7-8)
3. Become rooted and grounded in love by letting Christ Jesus dwell fully in your hearts through faith in Him (Eph 3:17)
4. Pray that God will give you a heart to know Him (Jer 24:7)
5. Seek God with all your heart and soul (Jer 29:13; Deut 4:29; 1 Chron 22:19)

Philippians 3:8 (The Voice) And more so, I now realize that all I gained and thought was important was nothing but yesterday's garbage compared to knowing the Anointed Jesus my Lord. For Him I have thrown everything aside—it's nothing but a pile of waste—so that I may gain Him.

As we continue to develop our relationship with Christ, we find that living with integrity honors Him, and the love we have for Him desires to please Him in all we do.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

#NOTACOINCIDENCE

On 10/25/2019 I was on a private cabin retreat. I headed up to Brookshire's grocery store to pick up a few things but got lost trying to find the store. I finally found it, and picked up a few things to last till the retreat was done. As I headed to the checkout, I looked up and down each open lane and picked the one that looked like it would check me out the fastest. The lady standing right in front me turned around and stared at me with a furrowed eyebrow, and finally said the Lord told her to pray for me. She had absolutely no idea that I was in the middle of a spiritual retreat. Had I not gotten lost trying to find the store, I probably would've never seen her. We stood right there in the checkout line and she prayed for me. We shared a tight hug afterward, and I introduced myself and explained to her that I was having alone time with God. None of that was a coincidence. God connected the two of us that day, He answered her prayer, and the retreat was great.

What may appear to us as random chance, is in fact orchestrated by the sovereign God who knows our sitting down and rising up, and understands our thoughts from afar off, and comprehends the paths we go down, and is acquainted with all our ways, and knows even the number of hairs on our heads.

There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel  — that shall stand. (Prov. 19:21)

View From My Cabin

May I suggest reading the entire Psalm 139.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

THE VALUE OF MONEY

Thurston Howell the third, took hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, and changes of clothing with him for what was intended to be only a three-hour boat tour in Hawaii, on the S.S. Minnow. They got caught in a violent storm and ended up stranded on an uncharted desert isle that they called Gilligan's Island. No phone - no lights - no motor cars - not a single luxury. Thurston Howell's money was absolutely worthless on Gilligan's Island.

Many years ago, my aunt testified of a vision she saw of dollar bills just blowing up and down the street. No one was trying to pick them up, they just walked right passed money laying on the ground, as if it was as worthless as Thurston Howell's was while he remained on Gilligan's Island.

The "mark of the beast" in the book of Revelation refers to a physical or symbolic mark, often associated with the number 666, that individuals will be forced to receive to be able to buy or sell. Their money will be worthless.

As our world becomes more and more technologically advanced, accepting the mark of the beast will be a way of life when the anti-Christ rise up. Personally, I believe this will take place after the rapture of the church.

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers (1Peter 4:7).

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

GOD AND HIS REPUTATION

God And His Reputation - His Name's Sake

In my lifetime, I have probably read and heard Psalm 23 thousands of times. Recently, I was reading through it again, and made a hard stop at the third verse... "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." For His name's sake?

I thought, "You mean God does all this for His name's sake?" In other words, to bring glory and honor to His name. That bothered me because I assumed that meant, that He's putting us through hell just so He can look good. Of course, a Bible study ensued!

Job's Friends:

When Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had nothing more to say concerning Job's turmoil, Elihu became the fourth man up to get Job straightened out. This was the first and only time he spoke. Apparently Elihu was a bystander and much younger than the others, but he introduced a new viewpoint.

Job 36:26 (NKJV) "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; nor can the number of His years be discovered."

Job's three friends were mistaken about God in their speeches to Job. They clearly did not accurately reflect the character of God, and the reason He let Job endure his calamities. Because they didn't have any indepth knowledge of God, they assumed things about Him that is not His true character. In fact, God confronted Job's friends about that.

Job 42:7 (NKJV) The LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

The trials Job suffered were not related to his behavior at all. God said of Job that there was none like him on the earth, and that Job was a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and shunned evil? (Job 1:8) God used Job's sufferings as an answer to his prayers about his 10 children, that were possibly committing incest with their sisters (Job 1:4-5). Following Job's time of suffering, God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10). God also blessed Job with 10 new children, whose behavior was a lot different than his first 10, who had been tragicly killed (Job 1:18-19; 42:13-14). Job and his friends came away from his experience with a much greater knowledge of God's reputation, and who He really is.

God stakes His name (or His reputation) on how we come to know Him. As we read these Bible stories, we also come to know Him in the way Job did. As we endure our own suffering, we come to know God in a way we wouldn't otherwise.

Psalm 106:8 (NKJV) Nevertheless He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make His mighty power known.

God does not permit us to go through hell so He can look good. He does it so we can come to know Him better and better. It elevates us to the next level of our spiritual journey.

Now, no chastening seems to be joyful while we're going through it, but it's painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it - and we come to know God in ways we never could have, had we not seen it for ourselves.

Job's story had a very, very, very happy ending... and so will ours.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

GOD WHY DO YOU TOLERATE WRONGDOING?

𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗚𝗢𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗

Habakkuk 1:3

The prophet Habakkuk asked the Lord, "Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?" (Hab. 1:3 BSB) The Lord's response to the prophet was, "I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you." (Hab. 1:5 BSB)

Obviously, there's a specific purpose that the Lord did not disclose to Habakkuk. I read the whole book. I watch the news everyday and pray for victims all the time, but I don't always see immediate results. The children of Israel were sent to Babylon for 70 years as punishment for idolatry and disobedience to God. Inspite of any prayers, they remained there all 70 years, and then were released from captivity.

When Adam and Eve ate that forbidden fruit, they died a spiritual death, and we inherited it. Humans are innately sinful beings until we come to Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit. The psalmist David said, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity." Doing wrong is part of who we are.

Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

The apostle Paul said, "Right now we see life as a dim reflection, like in a mirror in a dark room; but following Jesus' second coming, we shall see Him face to face. Right now we know in part; but then we shall know fully, even as we are fully known." (1Cor. 13:12)

1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (NKJV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

I'm currently doing a study in the book of Lamentations. That's how this subject came up. We won't understand it all right now. The just shall live by faith. But one thing is for certainly sure, God does not approve evil.

Lamentations 3:34-36 (BSB) To crush underfoot all the prisoners of the land, to deny a man justice before the Most High, to subvert a man in his lawsuit — 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †

SIMPLE BIBLE STUDY METHODS

I.    OBSERVATION OF THE TEXT

• What do I see?
• What does it say?
• What are the facts?
• Whose speaking?
• Who is being spoken to?
• What issues were the recipients facing?
• What is the relationship of the speaker and recipient?
• Where is it taking place?
• When is it taking place?
• How does the context fit into what comes before and after it?

II.    INTERPRETATION (What does it mean?)

• Look up the cross reference Scriptures, using Scripture to interpret Scripture
• Consult trusted Bible commentaries
• Write out anything that seems confusing for future research
• For clarity, write down the point you think the author is making

III.    APPLICATION (Make it Personal)

• How is the passage relevant for me?
• How am I falling short?
• What can I do to specifically apply this truth to my life?

SOURCE:    Pastor Stephen G. Brown, Greater Life Church - Dallas, TX

                    https://www.greaterlifedallas.com

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove †