You're in Good Hands With Jesus

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me is not a true statement!  Bones can mend but a broken heart is hard to cure.

Nevertheless, your heart is in good hands with Jesus. He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father,

I pray for the person reading this prayer, that You will please heal their broken heart. It has been said that words cannot hurt, but unkind words can leave deep scars. It is written in Your word that You heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds. We give our brokenness to You and pray You will restore joy and peace where the enemy has sown destruction. Shower Your love upon the person reading this prayer and let them know You are still with them, and still God whom no foe can defeat. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Validation Through a Like Button

We post, and we wait for a reaction... thumbs up, heart emoji, hands clapping, a sad face, or a comment. But what if no one reacts to your post? Does that make you feel dejected? Do you come back over and over to see if someone has liked the post?

I had to have a frank discussion with myself that my worth and value is NOT tied up in a social media post. In fact, a while back I shut down the comments on my blog site for that very reason. I post to help someone, whether they acknowledge me or not. If I have something laying heavy on my heart, it must be said so that at least the one person God wants to reach will hear it.

Be confident in you!  Don't let algorithms ruin your day.

 I like to create designs in an app called Design Home. Others vote on your designs and if you get 4 stars or more, you have earned free furnishings to add to your inventory. I noticed a while back that if I got a 3-star rating, I felt disappointed... dejected. One day I went back and looked at my design and thought that I still really liked what I created even though it didn’t get 4 stars. From that day on, I decided that if I liked the design, it doesn’t matter how many stars it gets.

Because the social media platform is built on others seeing what’s on your mind, it can be disappointing when no one acknowledges your post. Don’t let that overwhelm you. Keep being you. Keep on keeping on. Go back and look at the post and if you still like it, then all is well.

 Remember, “You have an audience of One, and if He applauds you then take your bow.”

 Voice of the Dove, Dee Richardson

 

Welcome 2021!!

2021 -- It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing.

Bye 2020

Movin' On to 2021

BE MORE COURAGEOUS‼

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow encountered the Cowardly Lion on their way to see the Wizard.  At first, the lion pretended to be ferocious until one -- more courageous than he -- confronted him.  When the Cowardly Lion began to chase Dorothy’s dog, Toto, she ran out of hiding and smacked him on the nose.  That’s when they discovered the lion was a fake.  Dorothy is a perfect example of bravery in the face of fear, and of how courage overrides that fear.

Confrontation is probably one of the hardest things for some to do, and yet it is so very necessary.

I had a former coworker whose habits used to annoy me to no end.  I wouldn’t address her actions, I just put up with her behavior day in and day out.  It got to the point where I tried to avoid her as much as possible, but that didn’t work because her job directly interacted with and affected mine.  After about a year of putting up with her shenanigans, one day I finally exploded all over her like a volcano eruption. It was not pretty.  If I had dealt with the situation long before I was past fed up, I am sure I would’ve handled the problem much better.  I realize now that the person most harmed by not confronting the situation was me.  Harboring resentment is never healthy.

Another time, I had a new boss whom I needed to confront his behavior toward me.  I was petrified, but I liked my job and knew it must be done.  The discussion went well. He received my feedback and even corrected his actions. The relationship blossomed from there.  The remainder of the time I worked under him, we respected one another. It was one of the best jobs I ever had.  I am glad I summed up the courage to discuss it with him.

Webster’s Dictionary defines courage as the mental and moral strength to venture out, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.

Nelson Mandela was known to say, “I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.  The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Sometimes fear can be deception creating the emotion from an imaginary problem.  When I first moved into the house with my husband, I heard noises that sounded as if they were in our house, but it was actually a next door neighbor going in and out of their house.  These strange noises were freaking me out and always seemed to occur when I was home alone. Someone created an acronym of the word FEAR.

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real… 

…and freaking me the heck out when I was home alone.

Another inspiring person created an acronym for COURAGE.

Continuing

Onward

Under

Rigorous

And

Grinding

Experiences

Recently, I heard a song that spoke to me so deeply.  The song is called The Breakup Song by Francesca Battistelli.  She is breaking up with fear because she has had as much of fear as she can take.  She said she refused to let fear tell her what she is not, because her identity is entirely strong, brave and free. This is Francesca triumphing over fear. She sang that fear has no part in her story and will never be welcomed here. I put this song on repeat until I had memorized all the lyrics and could recite them in my sleep.

Where does courage come from? What makes some more courageous than others? Does the Navy SEAL soldier shake in his boots on the battle field? I’ll bet he is brave in spite of the fear.

I am reminded of the story of David and Goliath.  Long before young David fought and killed this nine-foot giant, he was shepherding his father’s sheep. He confronted a lion attempting to escape with one of the sheep, and another time, a bear tried to attack his flock. On both occasions, David went after the predators and struck and killed these ferocious animals. By the time David encountered Goliath, he had full confidence that Goliath was meat for the buzzards.

Breaking up with fear may be hard to do, but I am going to practice, practice, practice until I build up enough courage to override the fear that is prohibiting me from accomplishing more and being all I can be. David killed a lion, killed a bear, and killed Goliath.  He went on to become a great warrior, and eventually became king.  How much more could I accomplish with this same mindset?

The Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz summed it up…

What makes a king out of a slave?

What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage!

What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?

What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage!

What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder?

What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage!

What makes the Hottentot so hot?

Who puts the "ape" in apricot?

And what have they got that I ain't got? COURAGE!

He Knows My Name

I don’t remember what triggered the thought, but yesterday I said to the Lord, “When I get to the pearly gates, I don’t want You to have to lean over to the angel and ask him to remind You what my name is. I want to live my life down here so when You see me coming, You say, ‘Hey, here come Sugar Sweet!’”

I recall a passage in Matthew 7 where Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

He said, “I NEVER knew you.” I don’t want to be that one He NEVER knew, and neither do I want to be the one the angel has to remind Him of my name.

When the prodigal son returned to his father, he saw his son coming from a long way off and ran out to meet him, fell on his neck, and kissed him. Now that’s what I’m talking about! 

Today I was watching videos while I cleaned the kitchen and a song came on by Tasha Cobbs Leonard called You Know My Name. She said, “Oh, how You walk with me, and oh how You talk with me, and oh how You tell me, I am Your own. You know my name.” 

He knows me! He knows my name! And when the time comes, He’ll gladly welcome me home.

The Worst in Me

Westerns is one of my husband's favorite things to watch on TV. I am more into reading, so that's what we do when we're relaxing at home. He's watching Westerns and I'm reading.

Writer's like to think that every story has to have an antagonist, and especially writers of Westerns. The problem is, it always seems to bring out the worst in me. I get distracted from my reading and I am now hoping someone will shoot the cantankerous and onery antagonist. No grace, just shoot him dead, and I'm always relieved when that happens. Someone finally puts them out of my misery.

One of the things that fires up my anger, are people who are evil for sport. They get their kicks out of their troublesome ways.

Psalm 139:19 (NKJV) Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.

What does that say about me, that I am sitting there wishing someone would shoot this character so we can move the story along with him out of the way?

Why is it that I have no compassion for them? How does God manage to have endless mercy and abounding grace for these type people and I have none? (Heavy sigh.)

How ironic isn't it that the worst in them is also bringing out the worst in me? The difference however, is that I'm concerned about it in a way that they're not. I heard a preacher say, "You may sin the same sin you used to sin when you were a sinner, but you don't sin the same sins in the same way." The Holy Spirit's presence in our inner being incites conflict, so our attitudes toward our actions are different than they used to be. So even if I'm overcome by a wicked desire to see harm come to my fellow man, there's a part of me that's not really okay with that.

The apostle Paul describes it this way:

Romans 7:19-25 (NLT) I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life-that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

The Answer: Sow to the Spirit and reap everlasting life.

Galatians 6:8-9 (NKJV) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Little by little

Day by day

Jesus is changing me

In every way.

It's been slow going

But there's a knowing

I'm not the same person

I used to be.

Oh how excited I am to see

The future dazzling, wonderful me!

Keep calm and carry on.

Learning to Trust Again

The reason Lucy keeps pulling the ball away when Charlie attempts to kick it, is because she keeps remembering that very first time. She held the ball but Charlie Brown kicked her hand. Now she has trust issues remembering the pain she felt.

How do you trust again when pain stands in the way? And just about the time you think you've gotten past it, you snatch the ball away, proving that it still has you instead.

God wants to heal you every where you hurt.

Lift your hands to Him and say,

God I need You

I need You right away.

God will take the pain away and cause your heart to trust again. 🛐

Dear Lord, God of my salvation, take this pain away, put a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and dancing in my feet. Don't let the disappointments of life take me out and keep me stunted in a place of constant mistrust. Let Your presence come and Your healing touch bind up my wounds. Let forgiveness take place. Take away my skepticism and let me trust again, living life to the fullness that You intended, fulfilling the purpose You meant for me. Stop me from hurting myself and others. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen. 🙏

Ask The Why

A story is told of a young bride that was baking a ham.  When her husband asked why she was cutting off the end of the ham, she replied that her mother made the best hams and she always cut off the ends.

He asked if she would mind if he called her up and asked why she cut the ends off the ham.

"Sure. Call her up."

"Hello mother. May I asked you a question?," he inquired.

"Sure."

"I noticed my wife is cutting off the end of the ham, and when I asked her why she said that you always did and you baked the best hams. May I ask why you cut off the ends of the ham?"

"My mother made the best hams in the county and she always cut off the ends."

"Hmmm, do you mind if I call her up and ask her why?"

"Sure. Call her up."

"Hello grandmother. I noticed my wife is cutting off the ends of the ham and when I questioned why she said her mother always did.  When I questioned her mother, she said it is because you always did and you baked the best ham in the county. May I ask why you cut off the ends of the ham?"

"Oh yes son, I cut off the ends because my pan was too small."

THE PROBLEM WITH TRADITION:

Matthew 15:1-3 (NKJV) Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?"

You Mean I Have to Love Everybody?

I need to make a confession, because I need the blood of Jesus to cleanse me of it.

I recently went on a retreat where I was alone for five days. I knew the Lord was present, He had been dealing with me about issues in my heart. I was also getting answers to long-standing questions so there was no doubt that I was not totally alone at the cabin. I just didn't have any face-to-face human interaction.

About halfway through the retreat, I confessed to the Lord that I was missing that human presence. It actually came as a surprise to me because I am very, very introverted and love my times of isolation. One of the things that I enjoy about writing is that I am most alive when left alone. But there at the cabin, the opposite occurred. Being so isolated made me miss human interaction. The Lord said of Adam, "It is not good that man should be alone."

The very next day after I got home, we had guests in our home. For some reason, I kept getting barraged with questions about why I kept things as I did in my home. Who and what and where and when and why and how. I felt like I was on trial for my housekeeping, organizing skills, or lack there of.

Suddenly, I began to resent the presence of human beings in my house. I could have returned to the cabin right then and there and been totally at peace with total seclusion. The frustration I felt that day has not left me, and I'm still feeling some kind of way about it. It didn't seem to offer me the feeling I was longing for at the cabin.

Since I've been back from the cabin, I happened to run across a passage of scripture in Matthew where Jesus was teaching on love. Whoops.

Jesus taught that we are to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, do good to both evil people and good people, imitating the Father perfectly in this regard. Whoops again.

At the cabin, there was no one there to offend me therefore, I had an opportunity to miss them. Back home for one day, and they came into my house and offended me, and weeks later I am still struggling.

The book of James says we should confess our sins, trespasses, unfaithfulness, and iniquities to one another so we may pray for one another. The prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. Pray for me y'all.

Heavenly Father,

   I know I am a work in progress. The epistle of First John asks how can we say we love You whom we have not seen, and not love our brother whom we have seen. I don't know the answer to this question, but You can change my heart to love my neighbor as myself, and to walk in the fruit of the Spirit while I am still on this earth. I need to somehow put aside thinking of myself, so I'm not so easily offended, and learn how to come to love the unlovely. Let Your love abide in my heart toward my fellow man. Where ever there is peace on earth, let me play a part in it by sowing my peace with it. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

When faith is tested

Endurance grows

When endurance is fully developed

We will be perfect and complete.

All Things Working Together

In every single aspect of our lives, God is weaving together the threads to make something beautiful. When you look at the backside of an embroidery piece, the stitching is wild and messy. That's life. Messy. But God has a purpose for everything He allows. He is the great artist of our souls, intertwining every single thread of our lives to weave an extraordinary masterpiece.

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:10 (NKJV)

Nothing we go through in life is wasted on God, He uses all of it. He takes our messy lives and works it together for our good. We are the work of His hands, and His work is not inferior. You're a one-of-a-kind work of art, even when all you can see is the backside of messy life.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things

work together for good

to those who love God,

to those who are the called

according to His purpose.

 

Souls Under Construction

Our tender souls have been embodied by this world’s value system… love those who love you and hate those who hate you, for example (Matt. 5:43). But the believer in Christ must not be governed by the behavior of this world’s system. Once we receive Christ through faith and belief, we are indwelt by His Holy Spirit who begins to change us by guiding and re-shaping our thought patterns, which ultimately governs our behavior. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them (Matt. 7:20).

Our souls begin to gradually change form when our minds and hearts are renewed and reconstructed. New wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved (Luke 5:38). The more we become Christ-like the greater our effectiveness in the body of Christ and in His kingdom. We become beacons of light on a motion sensor, shining in a dark world… when you walk by it, the light come on. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16 NKJV).

Regeneration of the soul is instantaneous at the time of conversion, but transformation takes time and is a steady, continuous effort.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2 NKJV).

Shortly after my conversion, the Lord showed me a vision. I was looking at my reflection in the mirror and my facial features began to change. My eyes, nose, ears, mouth, jawbone, and forehead all began to morph slowly one-by-one until my reflection in the mirror was Christ’s. The apostle Paul says, “All believers behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from faith to faith and glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).

And I am certain that God, who began this good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Phil. 1:6 NLT).

#myperspective

Justice Cometh - Blacks Lives Matter

The fact that we are having COVID-19 and race crusades side-by-side in America is a testament to the fact that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (quote from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.). God eventually does come to the aide of oppressed people. He said of the Israelites in Exodus 3:8, “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.” He led them out of slavery and into the Promised Land.

When we say Black Lives Matter, it is not to disqualify all other lives - nor is it to imply that all lives don’t matter except the Black ones. It is to simply highlight a long history of Black lives not mattering in this country. It is to raise a consciousness that Blacks are not inferior to any other race simply because of the color of our skin.

Black Lives Matter is simply a movement in peaceful protest for how we are being treated in this country since the time Plymouth Rock landed on us and we were brought here in shackles. For the sake of having the conversation on race relations and civil injustice, it is how we protest... that alongside all other races in America, Black lives certainly do matter. We are not superior, and we are not inferior.

When athletes kneel in protest, they are not dishonoring veterans, nor the flag, nor the country – they are simply using their platform as a professional athlete in America to raise the level of consciousness in peaceful protest against a country continually undermining Black folk, who are just as much a part of this country as everyone else.

The Constitution says, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice..."

God says, "I am come down to ensure this said Justice, is truly established among all citizens of the United States of America, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Let's make America great, truly great, by eliminating racism where it begins, in our own hearts.

God said, "If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (from COVID-19)."

Justice will not come until those who are not injured, are just as outraged as those who are. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We Shall Overcome Someday is an old Negro spiritual that rang throughout the initial civil rights movement. Try to pretend, if you will, that systemic racism does not exist in America, but it's everywhere and visibly apparent and obvious, even to the blind. This country has oppressed African Americans well after the Emancipation Proclamation was invoked, from generation to generation, even to this very day (voter suppression for example). Deep in my heart, I do believe that we have overcome today.  #myperspective

 BLACK LIVES MATTER.

1 Kings 8:59 (NLT) May these words that I have prayed in the presence of the LORD be before Him constantly, day and night, so that the LORD our God may give justice to me and to His people.

Psalm 37:28 (NKJV) For the LORD loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalm 72:4 (NKJV) He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalm 89:14 (NKJV) Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.

Psalm 103:6 ( NKJV) The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

Psalm 140:12 (NKJV) I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.

Proverbs 2:8 (NKJV) He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.

Isaiah 12:4-5 (NKJV) And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth."

Amen.

Truth About Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

The Truth About the Apostle Paul's

Thorn in the Flesh

This post was updated.

Please follow this link to the updated version.

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-thorn-in-pauls-flesh.html

The Promise of Answered Prayers

My compassionate High Priest is the source of making it possible to get my prayers answered when all “these things” are stacked against me.  ●  He is at the right hand of Father God making intercession for me.  ●  He is the Mediator between me and God and He always live to make intercession for me in the presence of Father God.  ●  And likewise, the Holy Spirit also helps in my weaknesses, because I don’t know what I should pray for as I ought to, but He Himself makes intercession for me according to the will of God.  ●  Now, this is the confidence that I have in Christ Jesus, that if I ask anything according to God’s will, He hears me. And if I know that He hears me, whatever I’m asking, I know that I have the petitions that I’ve asked of Him.  ●  If I abide in Him, and His word abides in me, I can ask for what I desire, and it shall be done.  ●  Whatever I ask of Father God, in Jesus’s name, He will give it to me.  ●  Let it be as He has said. Amen.

 

Unanswered Calls and Unanswered Prayers

 

For about 3 years now I have been struggling with unanswered prayers. Sending prayers up and getting no responses, completely ignoring me. It drove me to frustration and disappointment. Even my desire to pray grew cold and seemed useless. For the last couple of days the Lord has been ministering to me concerning my disappointments and helping me to feel better and He renewed my faith concerning prayer and its effectiveness.

This morning I got a glimpse of what it feels like to be God calling to us and getting no response. The Lord God said in Isaiah 65, "I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts." Judgment and punishment came to the whole nation of Israel because the Lord God said, "When I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not hear but did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight."

The same way I felt about my unanswered prayers is how God felt about His unanswered calls. It is as if we saw Him on the Caller ID and refused to answer the phone.

So here we are at war with Coronavirus COVID-19, Racial division and civil unrest. Harmful effects of climate change. Disharmony in our nation's capitol and across our United States.

God called but we did not answer and here we are.

The prophet Isaiah compared the faithful to a small cluster of grapes in a large field that was about to be destroyed. God said, "I will not destroy them all, My faithful servants will be protected and restored. But the nation will suffer and grieve for sorrow of heart."

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Mark 12:30 (NKJV) You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.