RAISED IN CHURCH

Raised in Church

My grandparents on my mother’s side were true worshipers and devout Christians. My grandfather was a traveling evangelist who pretty much covered the state of Texas preaching the gospel.

My siblings and I were raised going to church. I remember my sister and I, sitting next to my mother with our feet dangling off the pew — my brother was not born yet, but they faithfully drug us to church. There were times when I dreaded it. I could tell some stories — but we’ll save those for another day.

I am 58 years old now and looking back I am really glad and thankful to have been raised in a Christian family. It was to my advantage. When I was in elementary school, the pastor was my Sunday School teacher and he made us learn our books of the Bible and recite them in front of the church. To this day I utilize those skills on a regular basis. God called me to be a Bible teacher, and having attended hundreds, maybe thousands of Bible classes has put God’s word in my soul so deeply that I feel committed to it.

There’s a blessing in being in the presence of God. His favor was handed down to me by my grandparents through their seed, and I’m walking in His favor because of them… and all the other brothers and sisters in Christ that came across my path since my feet dangled off those pews.

The Easter speeches, Christmas plays, youth choir, usher board participation, Bible drills, and numerous Sunday school teachers all played a part in who I am today.

The apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy who was also raised in a godly family saying…

“I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I’m persuaded is in you also. You must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14-15)

My earthly father is in heaven now but today would’ve been his 80^th birthday. I hope my life honors him. Happy birthday!

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

COINCIDENCE? PROBABLY NOT!

I put a question before God that if I prayed for a need that would not "glorify" Him, would He still answer my prayer; even if He would not get credit for the blessing. The reply I got was that He's been doing it all the time. He protects me from dangers seen, and unseen. I never saw it coming because He redirected my path away from it.

I applied for a job that I thought I was sure to get. The recruiter was excited, and so was I. My references were great, but they turned me down. I was very disappointed.😢

God closed the door on that job. He knows better than we do what the future holds and He decided not to put me through that.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SECOND TIME AROUND

10-Minute Meditation

It was April 2008, I was still married to my first husband at the time. 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 He had something to say. This particular day, I was sitting in the middle of the bed, and right before the microwave timer went off, I got a word.

“You shall be successful the second time around.”

I had no idea what that meant, but I wrote it down. The very next month in May 2008, my first husband and I split up and went our separate ways.

Now fast forward to the Fall of 2010. I ran into my now husband (Greg) while I was having lunch with my friend, Maria. He came over to our table and we chatted. He got my phone number and started calling me.

About two weeks later, I was driving down the road heading home from having lunch with Maria again. There he was again. He was standing on the sidewalk taking a cigarette break. I picked up the phone and called him. He said, “Come back! Turn around and come back!” So I did. We talked a long time. It was like old times again.

Greg and I used to live together back in the 1980s. We were both in our twenties, and cared about each other a lot, but we were not as mature as we needed to be, and could not seem to make it work out.

About a month later, I was meeting Maria at Ojeda’s Restaurant after work. I was sitting outside on a bench waiting for her, when guess who walks up? Greg! I couldn’t believe it. He was coming to meet friends of his too. We had run into each other 3 times in less than two months, at three different locations.

On February 27, 2012, the Lord reminded me of the word he gave me in April 2008. “You shall be successful the second time around.” I finally knew what He meant by that. It was in reference to me and Greg. It didn’t work out when we were in our twenties, but we shall have success this time around.

I am so thankful to the Lord for how He worked this out. Often, we are totally unaware of how God is leading us down the path of life. We are just trying to make it through each day. I thought Maria and I were just hooking up, but God was performing a hook up of His own.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

Thank God for my husband, this second time around.

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

GO LOOK AGAIN

ELIJAH PRAYING

After 3½ years of drought, Elijah is praying that it may again rain on the land. Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed down on the ground with his face between his knees and earnestly prayed. He told his servant to go and look toward the sea. He is looking for any sign of rain, but the servant came back and said, “There’s nothing.” Elijah kept praying and said, “Go again.” Six times the servant went back to look out toward the sea, but saw nothing. Elijah said, “Go again.” The seventh time, the servant returned to report that he saw a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising out of the sea. The sky became black with thick clouds. The wind began to blow and there was a heavy downpour. Time and again, the servant returned with a negative report, but Elijah kept saying, “Go again.”

James 5:16-18 The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

I am reminded of the parable Jesus told about the persistent friend. He kept knocking at his friend’s door even though he was told to go away.

Luke 11:5-8 NKJV And Jesus said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

~ Watch and Pray ~

~ Be alert. Keep on your toes. Keep your eyes on Jesus. ~

~ Remain devoted to prayer with persistence. ~

~ Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Keep the faith. ~

~ God will come through. ~

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Click To Previous Post About Elijah:  Elijah Prayed For Rain

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LET GO AND LET GOD

GIVE IT TO HIM

Eleven days ago I wrote out the following prayer...

Heavenly Father, on Christmas Day 2021, You let me know that You are training me to trust You instead of relying on my independent spirit all the time. My times of confusion should be the signal that I need to turn to You for guidance. My times of certainty is when my independent spirit bursts forth and takes the lead, but You are teaching me that You are the lead. Therefore, I let my independent spirit decrease, so that You may increase. Help me become less self-reliant and more God-reliant so that You may have Your way in my life. James 4:15 declares we ought to say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Help me to remember that as soon as I feel an uncertainty rising up that I should immediately come to You for counsel for You are my Wonderful Counselor. These and all blessings I ask and pray in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

John 3:30 (NKJV)

He must increase, but I must decrease.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OUR PRAYERS MATTER (2)

Prayer, in some mysterious way, activates some of God’s work on earth, and pushes back Satan’s efforts to hurt and destroy God’s people. God doesn’t necessarily need our prayers to do this, but He chooses to work in concert with them to accomplish His work in the world. There is no substitute for prayer, especially in circumstances that seem impossible.

Matthew 16:19 (NKJV) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Click here to go to the Our Prayers Matter Series

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

DAY BY DAY

EVERYTHING!

Luke 11:3 (NKJV) Give us day by day our daily bread.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your daily care… for seeing us through the everyday ordinary stuff. We are thankful for Your presence, even while we go about our daily lives. I know that You are concerned about all the things that concern me (the big things and the small ones)… how to style my hair today, when it’s time to mop the floors, what we should eat for dinner, how to handle financial obligations, or that nagging pain that won’t go away. There is nothing beyond Your reach. Not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from Your will, and even the very hairs on our heads are all numbered, including the ones that came out in the comb and brush. Nothing I face in life is too insignificant for You. You care about all of it.

Our lives on this earth are but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Help us to appreciate our everyday walk with You by our side. As we look forward to life eternal in Your holy city, let us not take for granted the small things You do for us down here while we’re on our way up there. These and all blessings I ask and pray in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

DISAGREEMENTS AMONG CHRISTIANS

Paul and Barnabas Disagree

I heard a sermon two days ago on Unity in the Church and was captivated because I was already working on this post about the contention between Paul and Barnabas and it coincided beautifully.

Paul and Barnabas had previously gone on a missionary journey together and won many to Christ starting up churches all throughout the southern region of Asia Minor. They had taken with them Barnabas’ cousin called John Mark to be their assistant, but halfway through he decided to quit and return to Jerusalem.

When Paul approached Barnabas about going on a second missionary journey to revisit the churches they had started, Barnabas was determined to take John Mark with them, but Paul insisted that he couldn't be trusted to finish the job. The contention between Paul and Barnabas became so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus and Paul took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches they had started.

This disagreement and parting of the ways between Paul and Barnabas caused the two of them to open up two missionary endeavors instead of one. Later, they met and worked out any remaining hostility between them. Also, Paul later used John Mark in his ministry stating that he was useful to him.

Our attitude toward others reflects our attitude about the relationship we have with God. First John 4:20 says, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

But if they will not receive you then shake off the dust from your feet and move on. Pray sincerely for them. As Jesus said, “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

Jesus did not approach every scribe and Pharisee that found fault with Him to gain reconciliation with them. But he said if a “brother” has something against you, go to reconcile with them if possible.

It is also necessary to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith. I had been praying about some issues going on in our neighborhood. I know that many feel as I do concerning these issues. But I was quickened by the Holy Spirit that I might be a little mean-spirited in my attitude toward the guilty parties. I changed my prayer from ‘Lord change them’ to ‘Lord change me’. That didn’t resolve the issues, but two wrongs don’t make it right either.

Now some people will definitely make it hard to love them. I had worked with an individual for about a year. I knew she was very self-centered and I had fallen victim to her antics so many times. But what I had been doing in the name of keeping the peace was going-along-to-get-along. I never confronted her antics, I just figured a way to get around them to keep on track with my assignments. But inside, my animosity toward her was building like steam in a pressure cooker. For a whole year I fumed inside, without any steam being released, and then one Thursday morning… the explosion. I found out the hard way that this kind of pinned up anger is not healthy and is like a pressure cooker ready to explode. You think you’re keeping the peace by not making waves but the person in chaos is you. Eventually, she was fired and God relieved me of her antics.

Tolerance is the capacity to endure continued subjection to something, like the antics of my former coworker. Being tolerant is good when it means treating people with other points of view that are different from ours, with kindness and not retaliating against them. It does not require us to agree with them or applaud what they say or do. We can be kind to them without compromising what God defines as true and good.

For unity’s sake, Jesus said, try to reconcile with your brother that we may be one in Him, and the world will believe that the Father sent Him (John 17:21).

Paul and Barnabas disagreed, but they were anointed by the Holy Spirit to win disciples to Christ, and later they reconciled with each other, and Paul even used John Mark in his ministry.

I used to be a Sunday School Superintendent, and I openly corrected someone in front of the class because a heated debate had gotten out of control. The injured party boycotted Sunday School which caused a chain reaction throughout the congregation till only two people were regularly attending. Looking back, what I should’ve done when I realized they were offended, is gone to that person privately and discussed the issue to make every effort to squash the resentment toward me, to keep us united in the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:2-3). Bitterness toward one another is a hindrance in the body of Christ, just like one organ not functioning well can cause all kinds of other issues in our natural body.

Fortunately, in Paul and Barnabas’ case, all things worked together for the good. All’s well that ends well. Amen?

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST

Salvation is for everyone.

The one who believes in Christ is not condemned; but the one who does not believe is condemned already (because we’re born condemned with Adam’s transgression handed down and condemning us).

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS!

When we believe in the only begotten Son of God, we are born again out of that condemnation into a new life with Christ. This is a picture of the baptism — going down into the water condemned and coming back up born again into a new life.

Romans 5:18-19 (NKJV) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

For as in Adam all died a spiritual death, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. He takes away the first Adam, that He may establish the second Adam (Christ). That’s why we’re called Saved! I’m saved from condemnation, and sanctified by the offering up of Jesus’ body on the cross, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

WHAT NEXT?

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer of Faith:

Heavenly Father,

I confess today that Jesus Christ is Lord, and I believe in my heart that He died for my sins and You raised Him from the dead. Thank You for sending Him to set me free from condemnation. Please forgive my sins and come into my life and be my Lord forever. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Welcome to the family.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE ROAD AHEAD

Brethren, I (Paul) do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind me, I reach forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

The apostle Paul had reason to forget the past — he was guilty of persecuting Christians before he himself became a Christian. He held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 22:20). When Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, he was on his way then to persecute more Christians.

Because our hope is in Christ, we can let go of past guilt and regrets and look forward to what God will help us to do and become. Don’t dwell in the past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now.

The apostle Paul turned 180 degrees and became a great man of God, receiving an abundance of revelations, and scripting two-thirds of the New Testament.

"We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it." (Rick Warren)

Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Glance in the rearview mirror as needed, but keep your eyes mainly focused on the road in front of you.

Check out my 11/18/20 blogpost, All Things Working Together.

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2020/11/all-things-working-together.html

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

DIVINE DESTINY

Joseph's Divine Destiny

Joseph's Brothers Bowing To Him

Joseph's father, Israel, loved him more than all his other children, and his brothers hated him for that.

At the age of 17, Joseph had two dreams that foretold of his greatness. He arrogantly told both dreams to his brothers who already hated him, which caused them to hate him even more.

Genesis 37:6-7, 9 (NLT) “Listen to this dream,” Joseph said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly, my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”

The dreams were not about Joseph’s greatness, pride, and self-esteem. It was about God wanting to use this young man to save many people’s lives. That was Joseph’s divine destiny, not so that people could bow to his greatness, but so that he would be in a position as Prime Minister of Egypt to bring about the Sovereign God’s intended results, to save lives in a famine so severe, it would’ve wiped them out (Gen. 50:20).

We all have a divine destiny, but in so being, we are simply servants of the Most High. The calling is not so we can strut around with a halo over our heads, but instead remain surrendered and yielded to God’s will as vessels of honor, sanctified and suited for the Master’s use and prepared for every good work (2 Tim. 2:20-21).

So… if divine destiny happens to take you to great stages and big audiences, please remember Jesus’ words in Luke 17:10, “When you have done all those things which you are commanded to do, say to yourself, I am just an unprofitable servant, doing what is my duty to do.”

Psalm 16:2 (NKJV) O my soul, you have said to the LORD, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.”

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NLT) Preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me (Paul) if I didn’t preach the Good News!

(To read Joseph’s full story, please go to Genesis chapters 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 50.)

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THIS WAY, THAT WAY, OR GOD'S WAY

Psalm 5:8 (NKJV) Make Your way straight before my face.

Psalm 25:4-5 (NKJV) Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.

Psalm 27:11 (NKJV) Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path.

Psalm 44:18 (NKJV) Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from Your way.

Psalm 77:13 (NKJV) Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?

Psalm 86:11 (NKJV) Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.

Psalm 119:15 (NKJV) I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.

Psalm 119:37 (NKJV) Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.

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Psalm 81:13 (NKJV) Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!

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BE CAREFUL OF THE FRIENDS YOU CHOOSE

I was in the ninth grade in high school and there was a girl that lived next door to us named Connie. We went to the same school, but many days Connie would just stay home. She wasn’t forced to go to school, and she took advantage of it.

I didn’t know her that well because they had recently moved in, but one day she invited me to walk with her to the bus stop. So, I did. When we were dropped off at school, she invited me to skip first period class with her and hang out in the ladies’ room. So, I did. Study Hall was my first period class, so I didn’t think it was a big deal.

While we were playing hooky in the restroom, the school principal burst in and took us to his office. We were expelled from school on a parent/principal conference. That meant that we could not report to class unless our parents came with us to meet with the principal first.

My mother had just had surgery and was still recovering. She walked bent over in pain because she still had the stitches. But she came with me to meet with the principal because he would not take no for an answer.

I don’t know how long they lived next door to us, but after that I had nothing to do with Connie even if we walked right past each other. I let her lead me down the wrong path and lived to regret it. I’ve had other friends since then that also proved to be a bad idea. We are encouraged in the book of Proverbs to be careful about the friends we choose.

Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man do not go. Prov. 22:24

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27:17

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Prov. 12:26

I stumbled across Proverbs 12:26 this morning and thought about Connie. I forgive Connie and let her off the hook. Connie had a sister that everybody called Sister. She and I became friends, and hung out with each other everyday at school. Sister never asked me to skip class with her and she never skipped class herself. I came to appreciate the friendship and had no regrets as we both moved on in life.

I learned to be careful of how I let others influence my decisions.

At my last church, I experienced some unfortunate disappointments that left me somewhat broken. After seven years, I figured it’s time to be moving on from that. God has healed my brokenness and I need to let everybody off the hook and seek out new church friends. Closing chapters. Turning pages. Moving on.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove  🕊

LEAD ME ON A SMOOTH PATH

Psalm 27:11
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
and lead me in a smooth path.

Two days ago, I published a blogpost called “Is It God’s Voice or Just My Thoughts?” Link To That Post  I told the story of a guy named Kevin that was fixing his washing machine, and God spoke to him, but he didn’t realize it was God until it was too late.

We feel spiritually high in church on Sunday morning in the presence of God, but we don’t expect that same presence while repairing a washing machine, or washing dishes, or mowing the lawn, or grocery shopping. It might be easy to forget that He is still with us, at all times, and in all things. Access is always available.

This morning I came out of the restroom and headed down the hall to the living room in the dark. I have walked this path many times and feel comfortable navigating without the lights on. However, this time, I bumped into the buffet table that is in the hallway and stubbed my baby toe really hard.

When I got settled in my chair, I got to reflecting on the life journey I’m on right now and my throbbing toe caused me to connect the two.

Lately, I have been feeling like I’m on a journey that I don’t know how to navigate. All the confusion is making me seek to hear God’s voice more clearly, and be led more specifically so I can stop bumping into stuff. The Lord God said of the spiritually blind, “I will bring them by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.” (Isa. 42:16)

He is the way, the truth, and the life, and although I am navigating some rough terrain, God has said that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

I read a story about a guy that was seeking God regarding a job transfer within the organization where he worked. One of the positions was in management and the other was in editorial directing and writing. He did not receive God’s audible voice or concrete evidence telling him which job to take. He just felt an uncomfortableness about the management position and a lot of peace about the editorial position. The tug in his spirit was toward the editorial position, so that is the one he took and he was happy with the job. By faith, he followed the quiet nudge, and turns out that was God leading him.

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a smooth path. Lord, help me to be sensitive to Your voice and Your word that I may know Your will and avoid confusion. Give me discernment of the sound of Your voice, that I may know the difference between Your voice, and the voice of the enemy, and my own wayward thoughts. Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard and rule my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus, my Mediator. You are not the author of confusion. Take away my uncertainties. Take me by my hand and lead me on a smooth path, that Your will and purpose may be fulfilled.

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove 🕊