LIVING MY BEST LIFE

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I’m living my best life but not because I’m wealthy, because I am not. And it’s certainly not because I have all my needs met, because I don’t. But I’m living my best life because I have Jesus in my heart, and nothing on this earth can compare to that. Yes, we can have great mammon (more money than we can spend), but a relationship with our Heavenly Father outweighs all of that.

I’m reminded of so many biblical heroes that testified to that. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Our God is able to deliver us from your burning fiery furnace O king. But even if He doesn’t, we will still not bow to your idol gods.” These were souls committed to God not because He would make life easy, but because of their love for Him. They were thrown into the fiery furnace but the fire did not harm them. God was committed to them too.

Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods and thrown into prison with their feet locked in the stocks. But in the midnight hour they were singing hymns to God and praying. The prophet Isaiah says, God comforts all who mourn, and consoles those who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for their mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. That is spiritual wealth, my dear friends, that money cannot buy. There are millionaires out there who are not happy, proving that our best lives are not always filled with material things (cars, cash, clothes, and a castle).

I'm not trying to talk you out of your life's dreams. Not at all. Keep believing... but incorporate those beliefs with a hunger and a thirst for God. He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ask or think.

Go in peace.

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

GOD IS NOT MY BUTLER

God is not my butler, serving up answers to my prayers on a silver platter. Neither is He my errand boy, to go over here and there to see about something or someone.

We don’t make demands on God, but we pour out our hearts and souls to Him. May we never forget it is a throne of grace to which we come and submit our petitions to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our times of need (Heb. 4:16).

We’re not in the driver’s seat, Jesus is at the wheel. What man shall teach God how to govern the world? God alone is the possessor of absolute power and absolute wisdom.

When we talk to God, we shouldn’t demand what we want, but we humbly and confidently ask Him for our requests. We ask that His will be done, and that He may align our desires with His will. Because He hears our prayers, He will give us a definite answer.

God is Majesty, Dominion, and Power

Hebrews 8:1-2 (NKJV) Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

These, and all blessings, we humbly ask and pray in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

MY INDEPENDENT SPIRIT

Grow In God-Dependence

For some time now, God has been dealing with me about my independent spirit. I never-ever want to feel like I'm being a burden on anyone, so I generally won't ask for favors, I just try to figure out a way to do things myself... but the Lord wants us totally dependent on Him. My independence has been sabotaging our relationship because it hinders God from leading me His way, because I'm busily doing things my own way, so I don't have to be a burden on Him.

I was watching one of my favorite Bible teachers this morning, and she read the passage in Deuteronomy 8 about the Lord leading the children of Israel through the wilderness to humble them, and teach them to totally depend on Him. That's why they got a daily provision of manna, and yesterday's manna went bad. When they tried to keep leftovers, the manna bred worms and gave off a bad stench.

In this season of my life, my wilderness experiences has taught me to lay down my independent spirit and let God be in charge as my caregiver, my provider, and the GPS giving me directions. He wants us living totally dependent on Him. We're not getting on His nerves, and we're not a burden on Him. It's His preference.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man (or self), who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BODY LANGUAGE

It was September 28, 2022, and I was on a job interview. I thought it was going well, but right in the middle of our meeting, the interviewer abruptly terminated the interview and escorted me out of his office, making a comment that let me know I had irritated him in some way. I had no idea what it could’ve been. Frankly, I thought the interview was going well.

Two months later, I saw that he was still running the post for the position, so I mailed him my resume again. He called me immediately upon receiving it and we set up a meeting for that same afternoon. He did not remember my name from the first interview as we spoke on the phone, but as soon as he walked into the lobby where I was waiting and saw my face, I could tell that he remembered me. He said, “I’ll be back in 15 minutes.” But he didn’t come back. I sent him an email apologizing for whatever it was I had done to offend him, but he never responded.

Today, the Lord revealed to me that the reason the interviewer dismissed our meeting was because of my body language. He was reading negativity through my body language, and that makes perfect sense because he was doing most of the talking, and I was just noticing how junky his desk was.

Proverbs 16:30 in The Voice Translation says, “Body language can expose a person’s intentions.” It screwed up my job interview, and there’s no telling how many other things I’ve sabotaged while someone was reading my thoughts through my body language.

The apostle Paul’s advice is to meditate on good thoughts.

Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy… meditate on these things.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SEEING THE WORD AS A TOOL

A scalpel in the hands of a skilled surgeon can save a life, but in the hands of a fool can kill. So it is also with the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says it is sharper than any two-edged sword. This incredible "cutting" power of Scripture is therefore a tool to separate our very thoughts into good and evil.

To share God's word is a great responsibility because the way we present it, and live it, will encourage people either to accept it or reject it. Whether we speak from a pulpit, teach a class, or share with friends, we are entrusted with accurately communicating and living out God’s Word. As we share God’s Word with friends and neighbors, they will look for its effectiveness in our lives. Unless it has changed us, why should they think it can change them?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Greek phrase translated “able to teach” occurs in the New Testament in 1 Timothy 3:2 and 2 Timothy 2:24. It simply means to be able to explain God’s Word with skill. That is the ability to utilize His tool effectively like that surgeon with his scalpel does, saving precious lives. The emphasis is not only on having the knowledge of Scripture, but also on the ability to communicate it effectively.

Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED

In the Fall of last year, I began believing God for a decrease in medications that I take everyday for Type II Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Side effects from the meds were adding more issues to the sicknesses. Then when I went to my doctor’s appointment in November, she actually gave me prescriptions. My cholesterol was really high and my blood sugar was high too. So instead of 1 tablet daily for diabetes, now I take 2. Instead of meds decreasing, they actually increased, and my blood sugar is still running high even with the increase.

This left me scratching my head about my faith to believe for the direct opposite of what’s actually happening.

I never got the cholesterol prescription filled. I discovered that eating lemons can decrease cholesterol, so I started a daily regimen and my doctor agreed to see if that works.

Early this week, I remembered a song from way back in the day by John P. Kee that says, “I’m healed in Jesus’ name. No more sickness. No more pain. By His stripes we shall all proclaim that I am healed in Jesus’ name.

To God be ALL the glory. He is my healer. I am believing God that I am completely healed of ALL sickness and disease. Diabetes… high blood pressure… high cholesterol… constant ringing in my ears… pain in my back, and swelling in my feet. The yoke is destroyed, and I am free. David killed his giant, and I’m going to kill mine.

The prophet Isaiah said, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

UNINTENTIONAL SIN

Last Wednesday I received Leviticus 5:17 as the Verse of the Day in my email. It says, "If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though they don't know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible."

NIV Translation - DailyVerses.net

I became somewhat offended by the fact that someone would be punished for something they didn't even know was wrong. That bothered me for a couple of days. Then yesterday, another verse came through my Facebook feed that says, "God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

King James Bible's Facebook Page

That took a load off. I said, "Oh, God is not looking for a reason to be angry with us. The whole reason Jesus came in the first place was to save us from God's wrath."

Because of Adam's sin, we are born with God's wrath abiding on us, but thanks to Jesus that wrath has been taken away, and the love of God has been poured out in our hearts, with the presence of the Holy Spirit who was given to those who believe.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

A WORD FROM THE LORD

I can count on one hand, the times that the Lord has spoken to me one-on-one. It has been very few. He usually speaks through Scripture, or a sermon, or Bible study, or a conversation with another Christian.

But I had one occasion on January 8, 2022, early one morning as I sat in the living room, the Lord spoke to me as I wrote it down. I had said to the Lord, "I don’t want to be afraid of what You will ask me to do. I have struggled with this fear for a long time. Afraid to say, 'Here am I send me.' Please help me with this. Help me have faith. Help me to finish well. In Jesus’ name, Amen." Here was the Lord's response...

Daughter, I know you are concerned about whether you will be able to complete what I might ask you to do. I want you to remember the Tug of War vision I gave you.

It does not have to be hard. When I am on your side, you have all My power available to you. They will be the ones struggling on the other side of the rope. You will be the one pulling the rope. It is a test of strength, and I am your strength. If I am for you, I am more than the world against you.

Thank you for watching the Michael Todd sermon yesterday. I know your heart, and can see your heart’s concerns long before you pray, and I know why you’re asking for those petitions.

Like Job, you also eschew, shun, and hate evil. Many of your prayers are the result of those concerns. Elijah was one man, and he prayed boldly and I answered him. Always feel free to commit your prayers and concerns to Me. I know you don’t regard Me as your Butler. Together we can effect significant change.

I know the plans I have for you. Continue to seek Me, I am gently guiding you into your destiny. Continue doing what you are doing. Everything will work out. I will make sure of that.

I need to show you how I’m able to provide for you. Let your hand go limp in My hand so I can take the lead and do for you what I want without your assistance.

You have a habit of telling Me how to work out your prayer concerns, but that’s not necessary. Submit your prayers boldly at My throne of grace then stand assured that I received them. If what you committed to Me is not in My will. I will work it out some other way. But I’m not ignoring your prayers. Sometimes by the time you pray about something I am already working on it behind the scenes. It may seem like nothing is happening, but that is where your patience is needed, to trust that I care enough about you to see to your every need and concern.

You are My beloved child and nothing gets by Me that concerns you. Let that get rooted and grounded in your soul so when you’re tempted to believe the lie, that I have abandoned you, you will still stand assured that I, the Good Shepherd, am watching over you.

Ephesians 6:13 (NLT) Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

You have heard it said to whom much is given, much is required. I do not want you to be overwhelmed about the journey. I am with you. There is no need to get panicked. Continue doing what you’re doing for now. Seek me. Stay in My presence. Stay focused so you may hear my instructions.

Don’t forget I am good, and you are dearly loved. I will get you to the other side.

Daddy

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove