YOUR MOST HOLY FAITH

The story is told of a guy who purchased a fake ticket from a scalper, to attend a basketball game. When he gave it to the ticket agent at the gate, the agent spotted it immediately and said to the guy, “When you’ve handled as many tickets as I have, you can easily spot the fake ones.”

I was studying the Sunday School lesson and ran across the 20^th verse of Jude that says to build yourselves up on your “most holy faith”.  I scratched my head in confusion. I asked the Lord if faith has rankings so that it can reach a most holy point. His response to me was, “You must handle the real thing enough, that you can easily spot what is fake.”

Jude was warning the believers to beware of scoffers in the church, by saying that if we stay in the presence of God enough, we will be able to detect what is God, and what is not.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LORD, PLEASE HELP US

Heavenly Father,

Hallowed be Your holy name, for You are holy. I was watching the news this morning and thinking about how evil this world has become. We know that heaven and earth all belong to You, and all that’s in it belongs to You. You hold the keys. What You open no one can shut and what You shut no one can open. What the Holy Spirit binds on earth is also bound in heaven. What He looses on earth is also loosed in heaven. Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Father, help us with this torrent of evilness flowing throughout the world… in America, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, China, Mexico, and all around the world. People are fleeing out of their countries because of evil. Please help us O God. It is Yours and You have the power to fix it. I know it is Your will.

The mass killings have gotten out of control. People in leadership positions are using their authority for evil. We need Your help. In America, I pray for the White House administration, Congress, the Supreme Court, each state government official, each city government official, police officers, and military soldiers. Please help us O God. We need You in this hour.

In 1 Samuel, the Bible says that Hannah prayed and You remembered her. You opened her womb and she bore a son named Samuel who became a powerful man of God. Therefore, I ask that You remember us earthlings, as well as Your church (the body of Christ). We live on this planet that all belong to You. Please help us O God. Let the news anchors report the glorious deliverances that will come by Your hands.

Remember the Israeli / Hamas war.🙏

Remember the Ukraine / Russia war.🙏

Remember NATO and the alliances they agreed upon.🙏

Remember the upcoming elections we have this year.🙏

Let justice prevail in every area, because You love justice (Isa. 61:8).

Your word to me was:

“Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Lord, heaven is Your throne,

and the earth is Your footstool.

All of it is the work of Your hands

that You may be glorified.

Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Remember us, O God.🙏

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LIKE FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES

It was October 26, 2021. I decided I would take a break from ministry and put away all my books, study, and writing material for a while and work on a jigsaw puzzle and read my Football for Dummies book.

Less than 24 hours later, I had already published one blogpost (When Life Gives You Lemons), and was working feverishly on a second (Trials and Tribulations).

I’m reminded of the prophet Jeremiah who had decided to shut down his ministry because of the persecution and sorrow he was experiencing as a result. As the days passed, he could not endure the agony building inside as he tried to remain silent. It was like burning fire shut up in his bones and he became more weary of holding back, than he was from being persecuted. So, he preached in spite of it.

Berean Standard Bible

The apostle Paul said, “I can’t stop preaching even if I wanted to, because I am so compelled. Woe to me if I don’t preach the gospel.” (1 Cor. 9:16)

God does not change His mind about our gifts and callings. He said to Jeremiah, “Before you were formed in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I sanctified you, and ordained you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jer. 1:5)

So then… how could it not burn like fire in his bones?

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

BECOMING NEIGHBORLY

When I was about 7 years old, my dad told me to sit on the front porch and keep an eye on my baby brother while he played in the yard. He was a toddler and had only been walking for a very short time.

It was a beautiful day and I was enjoying being out there in it. Our next-door neighbor, Ms. Rose, came outside and called me over to the fence. As we talked, I turned my back to my baby brother and he wandered out into the street. Ms. Rose didn’t say a word! She just kept me distracted. Thank God we lived on a quiet street.

My dad came to the door and saw my baby brother walking in the street, and called us both into the house and gave me a spanking for not watching him.

A couple of days ago, I had an aha moment. I rarely ever talk to my neighbors, I’ll wave at them and keep walking but I won’t go over and talk to them. The aha moment was that Ms. Rose caused that. Talking to her got me a spanking, so I stay away from it. I felt that talking to neighbors was not worth it, so all they get is a wave.

Today I shrug that off! I will become more neighborly. I forgive Ms. Rose for her part in it, and I forgive my dad for spanking me. I pray that God will continue to mend my brokenness so I become a better person in all areas, and a more friendly neighbor to boot.

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

BECAUSE YE ASK NOT

As I was getting out of bed this morning I said to myself, “I am convinced that there is nothing I desire that my Daddy won’t do for me.”

Jesus said, “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good things to His children who ask Him.” You do not have, because you do not ask.

I think it’s that I have not felt worthy to ask my Heavenly Father for what I truly desire. But suddenly, this morning, I woke up with a different perspective. Jesus said if His word abides in us, we can ask for what we desire and it shall be done (John 15:7)… because the word of God changes us. We’re not going to be desiring stuff to fulfill lustful pleasures, we will ask according to the will of God and He’ll do it.

His storehouses are full to the brim. Just ask and believe that there is nothing you desire that Heavenly Father won’t do for you. Don’t ask for things that fulfill lustful pleasures. Seek those things which are above. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth and see won’t our Heavenly Father blow your mind.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMP) Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

IS GOD WELL PLEASED WITH ME

There was a period when Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist, and when He came up out of the water, the voice of our Heavenly Father was heard saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” There has been situations occurring over the last three months that has led me to doubt that the Lord is well pleased with me. I found myself back tracking my thoughts trying to figure out where I’ve gotten off track, and why God was discontented. Again and again, I kept producing nothing. My confusion continued.

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a preacher sermonizing on the loveless church of Revelation 2:1-7 where Jesus is admonishing them that they had left their first love. They were to remember from where they had fallen and repent. Once again I racked my brain trying to figure out where I’ve gotten off track and left my first love. Why is my God not well pleased with me?

Later, while sitting in the living room, I looked up, and saw light reflected on the ceiling. The sun had gone behind the house and was shining through the kitchen window. It hit a picture of me sitting amongst a bunch of family photos on the entertainment center. No one’s picture was lit up except mine. There’s about thirty photos sitting on those shelves. The light on the glass reflected on the ceiling and caught my attention.

I suddenly remembered the priestly blessing in the sixth chapter of Numbers that says, “May God make His face shine upon you.”

“Oh my God,” I said to myself. “He is smiling on me.”

I began to pray, “Heavenly Father, I have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am by no means perfect, but He is my righteousness. Let me obtain Your mercy and find Your grace for all my weaknesses. Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me throughout my life. I love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength… and I want to live a life that is well pleasing to You.”

I realize now that the enemy was attacking me. He is called the accuser of the brethren in Rev. 12:10. He tried to come between me and my Heavenly Father by convincing me that God is not well pleased with me. The word of truth says that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against us, in judgment the Lord will condemn (Isa.54:17). No weapon will prosper!

I took a snapshot of the sun shining on my photo, so that I’ll always have it to remember God smiling on me… letting me know that He is well pleased.

Matthew 9:22 (NKJV) Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well."

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove