DAMAR HAMLIN'S STORY

This is a follow up to a blogpost I uploaded back in January

called The Humanity in Us.

Here's the link: https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-humanity-in-us.html

In the post I talked about Damar Hamlin

who had a heart attack on the football field

in the middle of the game.

The response was uplifting!!

In these times when Mass Shootings have become the norm,

my heart is still warmed by Damar Hamlin's story.

❇❇❇❇❇❇❇

UPDATE 4/25/23 ◼ Damar Hamlin isn’t going to let a heart attack (1/2/23) stop him from doing what he loves. During a press conference on Tuesday (4/18/23), Hamlin said he was diagnosed with commotio cordis and described the condition as "a direct blow to the chest at a specific point, causing cardiac arrest, and five to seven seconds later, you pass out." The 24-year-old NFL safety officially announced that he does plan to return to the NFL this next season.

“Over these last few months," he said. "I've been on a journey and I’ve seen some of the top professionals across the country and their answers to me were pretty much all the same. This event was life-changing, but it’s not the end of my story. So I’m here to announce I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.”

Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE SATURATION OF LIVING WATER

If God’s mercy and grace is like water, and I'm a dry sponge, then all I need for complete and total deliverance is to be soaked with His living water. All I need is for Mercy and Grace to saturate the fiber of my soul and all the dryness will wash away. God’s presence fills the cavities and holes in my soul and my stony heart becomes a heart of flesh. There is nothing and no one beyond God’s reach. All He needs is for an intercessor to bring them to the living water so Mercy and Grace can saturate them.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Isaiah 65:1 NKJV "I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that was not called by My name."

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

A VISIBLE ENCOUNTER OF GOD'S PRESENCE

I was in bed asleep one night and woke up feeling uncomfortable so I flipped over on my other side, looked at the clock — it was 2:22, and I went back to sleep. The very next night the same thing happened. I woke up uncomfortable and flipped over and glanced at the clock and it was 2:22 again. I laid there for a little while, wondering if that was just a coincidence or if God was trying to tell me something. I am one of those that really don’t believe in coincidences where Christian believers are concerned. A week or so passed and it happened again a third time. I knew for sure that this must be God. I thought it was just me feeling uncomfortable, but it was actually the Holy Spirit causing me to feel uncomfortable so I would wake up and see the clock.

During that season of my life, I was feeling like God had distanced Himself from me. To realize that He was coming to me, instead of me going to Him lifted me up tremendously. Generally, when we pray to God, it is us going to Him, but He was creating a way for me to know that He was coming to me as well. The 2:22 awakenings happened over and over after that. Then I started seeing 2:22 in the afternoon. I would happen to pick up my phone for something and it would be 2:22. I would walk into a room and it would be 2:22. I would be playing a game on my tablet and glance at the clock and it was 2:22. Over and over and over this happened.

Months passed and then I started seeing 3:33 and 4:44 and 5:55. Recently I started seeing 11:11 as well. These moments have become most precious to me, because God is coming to me in those moments, not because I invited Him, but just because He wants to. He is letting me know that He is here with me.

In those moments, I started speaking with Him. “Since You’re here Lord, I have something I need to speak with You about.” Then I launch into my prayer concern.

I used to wish that the Lord and I could meet up at Starbucks and have lattes and talk things over. He fixed it so we could. It’s not Starbucks but it accomplishes that same purpose and He is approaching me first.

I’m reminded of how Adam and the Lord God walked in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day. What a refreshing to have a visible encounter of God’s presence.

Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT) How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove