GOD'S GOT THIS

Joshua 1:9 NKJV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

God's got this. No need to fear.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BUILDING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE

Many years ago one of the ministers at church called me up to talk out our differences. I was the Adult Class Sunday School teacher. I felt that he and a couple of other brothers loved giving me a hard time by debating with me over the lesson. We hashed it out and cleared the air. But before we hung up he quoted me a Scripture out of the book of Jeremiah, that has stayed with me all these years.

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?" Jer. 12:5

If I am wearied by 2 or 3 brothers in a Sunday School class, how could I possibly manage the masses... if I believe God has called me to the masses?

I recently asked the Lord if there was a better way to get from the pit to the palace (Joseph's story in the book of Genesis) without going through a bunch of trials and tribulations. After much deliberation, I received the understanding that the only way to build spiritual muscle is to work them out. 💪💪 He has to build us up before He can send us out.

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matt 16:24

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LET GOD BE YOUR COUNSEL

Pillar of Fire

Maybe God doesn’t keep you in the dark all the time because He’s cruel; maybe sometimes He keeps you in the dark because He’s teaching you to trust and rely on Him for guidance. He’s allowing the darkness to drive you to His pillar of fire.

Nehemiah 9:12 (NKJV) He led them (the children of Israel) by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Recently, two dogs moved in next door to us, one to our immediate left and one to our immediate right. Long story short, they LOVE to bark, both of them, very loudly. I prayed and prayed that the Lord would rebuke the devil for putting these dogs here to torment me day in and day out. I even spoke with one of the owners. Nothing! Finally, I heard the voice of the Lord say, “I put the dogs there! I am trying to teach you endurance. Where I’m taking you, you will experience many loud barkers. You need the stamina and endurance to face it.”

The neighbor I spoke with concerning his barking dog... eventually, someone killed it, and the noise eased up a bit. God had mercy on me, but I'm still struggling greatly. At times I just feel tormented because all I want is some peace and quiet and it doesn't come. The Lord is not taking away my thorn in the flesh, though I have begged Him many, many times.

The apostle Paul begged and pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh but the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” This was an aha-moment for Paul. He began to see his thorn in the flesh with a new perspective, and stated that he would now take pleasure in insults, hardships, persecution, and trouble, for Christ's sake. "For when I am weak," he said, "then I am strong."

Paul was able to see God's power manifested in his weakest moments. The apostle Paul was taught under Gamaliel, a well respected teacher of the law and member of the Sanhedrin council. He learned many things at his feet but Gamaliel couldn't teach Paul about God's grace. It took a thorn in the flesh to reveal that. Paul would not be tormented any longer by his thorn in the flesh but said, "Most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Therefore, I pray the Lord will also change my perspective about the German Shepherd next door. When he goes on a barking tangent, let me fall to my knees and pray for the Lord's sufficient grace to strengthen me, and empower me, and cover me. Increase my faith Lord, for utter dependence on You. When the noise is overwhelming, let me fall at Your feet and receive Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Let Your peace guard my heart and my mind through my Savior, Christ Jesus... in His name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:11 NKJV Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BROUGHT TO HIS KNEES

A story is told about a man who worked the late shift and it was way past dark when he got off work. Sometimes he would cut through the cemetery as a shortcut to his home. One night it was very dark and he didn’t know the grave diggers had dug a grave and he fell into it. He shouted and hollered and pulled up dirt, rocks and grass but no one came to his rescue. Finally, he sat down in a corner to wait until morning.

Along came a drunk guy named Buddy, from the pub up the street, and he also stumbled into the same pit. He shouted and hollered and pulled up dirt, rocks and grass but no one came to his rescue. Just as he was about to give up, a hand tapped him gently on the shoulder and said, “Hey buddy, you can’t get out of here.” But he did, because he was suddenly motivated with athleticism that he didn’t know he had.

When Buddy got home and turned up the sidewalk to his front door, the devil jumped out of the bushes and poked him with a pitchfork. It was actually his wife dressed as the devil, in a Halloween costume. She was tired of him coming home drunk every night and thought she would scare him to sobriety. With his heart still racing from the cemetery experience, he jumped three feet off the ground and when he landed, he fell to his knees and cried out, “You’ve got my attention. Save me! Save me, Lord.”

That night, he came to himself and gave his heart to Christ, and God cleaned Buddy up.

Psalm 40:2-3 (NKJV) He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

God knows how to bring us to our knees.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SISTER, YOU MISSED IT

About 15 years ago, I delivered what I thought was a very moving sermon one Sunday morning. After church, one of the ministers came up to me and said, "Sister, you missed it." His statement was intended to let me know that I had failed to preach the truth. I was stunned... and completely baffled. As I preached, I felt the move of God upon me to speak. How did I speak untruths in the process, and not know it? I believe the Holy Spirit would’ve nudged me and gotten me back on track if that were the case.

I went home from church that day, and sat down at my study table and prayed, "Lord, please show me where I missed it." I began the study of the text once again starting at the very first verse, and in the second go-around, the Lord gave me the exact same revelation that He had given me the first time.

I slammed my Bible shut and said, “He’ll get it later.” Neither he nor I, ever brought it up again.

The apostle Paul’s prayer to God for the Ephesian church was that God would give them the ability to see with their spiritual eyes the true riches of God, and that they would be filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

In this age, we may not see everything with perfect clarity. Again, the apostle Paul said, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Cor. 13:12). We may not agree on everything concerning the Bible. For some, enlightenment will come later as they receive the faith to believe and receive the truths of God. Even so, we still have the ability to dwell together in unity even while we disagree.

When we build our house on the foundation of the Rock, it will stand. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and revealer. He uncovers truth when we really want to know the truth, and when we’re ready to handle it. He will make it known to us and cause us to see, just as Paul prayed in the first chapter of Ephesians.

There have been times when I asked God hard questions and He said that I was not ready to know the truth about what I asked. Then as years passed, He revealed it to me as I was mature enough to receive it. A newborn baby cannot consume a steak when he is first born but as he grows and develops, in time he will have the capacity to digest a steak.

There is no need to agonize over who is right, and who is wrong. In time, the Holy Spirit will work that out. Just keep growing.

James 1:5-6 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

1 John 2:20-21 (NKJV) You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove