Anger Issues

Eleven days ago, I received a text message that made me very angry, and I threw my cell phone across the room. I did not immediately go to pick it up. I left the room and it laid on the floor for a while before I returned. When I picked up my phone, immediately a feeling washed over me, and I felt like I wanted to fling it across the room again. Instead, I quickly walked over and put it on the charger to get it out of my hands. Thankfully it was not damaged from being hurled in anger to begin with.

I have been contemplating this act of aggression for days now, and what must be going on in my heart that caused me to react in such a manner that surprised even me.

I ordered a CD by a Christian teacher called Understanding Anger. It was somewhat useful but still did not bring me the breakthrough deliverance I was hoping for.

One thing I did get out of his teaching was the passage of Scripture where the apostle Paul says not to let the sun go down on your wrath.

Ephesians 4:26 (NKJV) Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.

He said not letting the sun go down just means that you are not ignoring the fact that there is an issue causing you anger but is not being dealt with. It does not mean literally when the sun go down, just that it is being dealt with in the Spirit realm to bring some kind of resolution. Trying to pretend the dilemma does not exist is only doing harm to yourself. This is why I reacted by throwing my phone across the room. The text message that made me angry is the result of unresolved issues I have refused to deal with, because I don’t really know how to deal with it without offending everyone involved.

Unresolved anger issues give the devil a foothold into the door of our hearts. When we let the devil ride, he’ll want to drive. I must put him out by inviting God into my situation. CeCe Winans sings a song that God never lost a battle, and He never will.

The apostle Paul said of his dilemma, “I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

James 5:16 (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

I’m reminded of a song by Donald Lawrence called Deliver Me. Here are some of the lyrics.

Starting here, starting now

The things that hurt you in the past

Won't control your future

Starting now, this is a new day

This is your Exodus; you are officially released.

This is my Exodus, thank You Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes to the thing that has been controlling me in a destructive way. I commit the dilemma and my anger that has resulted from it to Your hands. I invite You into my situation and pray for the wisdom I so desperately need to bring resolution. I know You are faithful and You know my heart better than anyone. I acknowledge my transgressions, but I also believe my Savior Christ Jesus has cleansed me thoroughly with His blood, and all my sins in the past, present and future were laid at His feet when He hung on that cross. I submit to Your correction as You sanctify me fully little by little and day by day. This is my Exodus from bondage. Never let me wonder from Your grace that is greater than my sin. You never lost a battle, and You never will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

The Call to Ministry

 

The prophet Jeremiah (son of Hilkiah) was called by God, ordained by God, and sanctified by God as a prophet to the nations. The Lord put His words in the mouth of Jeremiah to rebuke a nation of people that had forsaken Him.

The Lord promised Jeremiah that the people who fought against him would not prevail because the Lord would deliver him (see Jeremiah 1). Jeremiah’s ministry was extremely unpopular. Even those close to him persecuted him and he became offended with God and accused Him of deception.

Jeremiah 20:7-9 (NET) Lord, you coerced me into being a prophet, and I allowed You to do it. You overcame my resistance and prevailed over me. Now I have become a constant laughingstock. Everyone ridicules me. For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, “Violence and destruction are coming!” This message from the Lord has made me an object of continual insults and derision. Sometimes I think, “I will make no mention of His message. I will not speak as His messenger anymore.” But then His message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.

I can relate. His word is in my heart like a raging California wildfire burning uncontrollably that cannot be contained. When Jeremiah tried to hold back his ministry, it burned on the inside until he had to let go and preach. Whatever God has called, ordained, and sanctified us to do will always have a compelling reason to keep us interested.

God called the prophet Jonah to go preach to the people of Nineveh but Jonah decided to flee in the opposite direction to Tarshish instead. The Lord sent a storm that rocked the boat so badly that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard. He was swallowed by a whale and was in his belly for three days and nights until Jonah’s earnest prayer was to be released from the deep pit of darkness that ravaged his soul. The Lord spoke to the whale and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah completed a three-day journey to Nineveh in one day, and preached the word God spoke to them.

Jesus said, “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

When I asked the Lord to let me be a singer He said, “I’m sorry Daddy can’t make you a singer. Since you were a little girl I have orchestrated your life (people you met, teachers you had, things that interested you) were molding and shaping you for what I called you to do. If I let you sing, you will destroy all of that.”

This is why Jeremiah sensed a wildfire burning in his soul. The Lord said, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.”

Psalm 139:16 (NLT) You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

The manifestation of the Holy Spirit is given to every believer so we can edify and help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (NLT) To one person the Holy Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Recently, I received a reality check in my spirit about why I do what I do (blogging, teaching, etc). Is it for selfish ambition, or for the glory of God? Why do I judge others by the little bit God is doing through me, compared to the greatness He is doing through them? I am reminded of the words of John the Baptist, “He must increase but I must decrease.” And after I have done all those things which I have been called to do I must say, “Count me an unprofitable servant just doing what God called me to do.”

2 Thessalonians 1:11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His calling on your life. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Kids Playing Church

Gospel artist, Shirley Caesar shared a story about a time when she was 12 years old. She, her sister, and brother were playing church on the back porch of their house. They would impersonate folks they saw worshiping at their church on Sundays. Shirley and her sister were the congregation, and their brother was the pastor.

Her brother (pretending to lead a praise) said, “I want you to jump up and down three times and shout Jesus.” She jumped up and down two times, but on that third time, she could not sit back down. The Holy Spirit overwhelmed her, and she began giving God a serious praise. She said it was like fire shut up in her bones.

Shirley’s sister ran into the house and told their mother that Shirley Ann was outside playing with the Lord. When their mother came to the back door, she saw Shirley Caesar praising God and rejoicing in the Spirit all over the back yard with tears streaming down her face.

She knew… Shirley was not playing church, she was caught up in a true spirit of praise that had just burst forth in their back yard.

There is something powerful about the name of Jesus. When her brother told them to jump up and down three times and shout His name, the consequence of just saying the name Jesus released power and an unexpected praise.

Philippians 2:9-11 God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, those in heaven and those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Shirley said during this age in her life she was rebellious at home, disobedient, refusing to do chores, and talking back to her mother. I have a feeling that Shirley Caesar’s praying mother had already been petitioning God about Shirley’s rebelliousness, and this sudden out burst of praise and worship was a response to those prayers.

It’s hard to come in contact with Jesus and remain the same. (Quote from Shirley Caesar)

Psalm 97:5 (NKJV) The mountains (and hearts) melt like wax at the presence of the LORD.

Yours truly,

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

My Perception of People -- Part 2

TRASH BAGS FOR SMALL CANS

SOUL-SEARCHING...

Yesterday morning I noticed someone had put something very sticky in the container where I keep the grocery bags from trips to the supermarket. The sticky substance got all over a bunch of the other bags. I re-use these grocery bags in the small trash cans through out the house and now that they’re all sticky, they're completely unacceptable.

I became cynical about the person who may have caused this mess. I think I tend to hold people to a higher standard than they hold themselves. I’m quite sure I’m the only one in the house who cares diddly-squat about sticky grocery bags.

Anyway, I threw them all in the garbage and ordered small trash can liners through Amazon to replace them.

Holding people to a higher standard than they truly are can be disappointing because people will never meet my over zealous expectations of them. What's a girl to do?

I need to accept the fact that I am different from others and give others permission to be different from me. I will love them for who they are, while I continue to be the absolutely wonderful and awesome person that I've become.😇

So... I ordered these lovely purple trash bags which I'll enjoy much more than grocery store bags. Garbage day just got a little better. All's well that ends well.

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves that we see in them. (Quote by Thomas Merton)

Link to My Perception of People -- Part 1

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2021/08/my-perception-of-people.html

Go in peace and be yourself.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Hopes and Dreams Unfulfilled

 

Why does God seem to dangle carrots in my face (my hopes and dreams) and keep them just beyond my reach? It hurts to have hope when you’ve been deeply disappointed… trying to get up again and again after you’ve fallen really hard.

Pastor Steven Furtick said to sit with Jesus for a little while and let the Holy Spirit show you how things should be. Don’t depend on what you see with your eyes, he said, but let the Spirit enlighten you.

When Jesus was twelve years old, His family went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. When the days were finished, and as they returned to Nazareth, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. But Joseph and His mother did not know it; and assuming He was in the crowd, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when His parents saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And Jesus said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they didn’t understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went back home with them to Nazareth, and was subject to them. (Luke 2)

Twelve-year-old Jesus said to His mother, “I thought you knew I must be about My Father’s business.” He had a hunger for it, and lost track of time for three days. Joseph and Mary took Jesus out of the temple and back to Nazareth and we hear nothing else about Him for 18 more years. I wonder if twelve-year-old Jesus was seeing a dangling carrot.

Sometimes I feel in bondage to my calling because I hunger for it, but it never seems to get off the ground. I am constantly being taken back to Nazareth (so to speak). I must work and pay my bills and I cannot do both ministry and a full time job. When I’m working my mind is bombarded with many other things and I cannot focus on writing and studying.

My dangling carrot could be my own selfish ambition. Maybe it’s all about me instead of Jesus. The purpose of a dangling carrot is to keep you under the mastery of whatever your idol is… if hopes and dreams are your idol.

During the 18 years of silence, the Bible says Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and the favor of God. He wasn’t ready at age 12, and apparently I’m not ready either.

Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. He or she who comes to Me shall never hunger, and they will never thirst.”

Let me sit with Jesus a little while longer as Pastor Furtick suggested, so the bread of life can feed me till I want no more.

Pray for me. 🙏

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Five Powerful Words

“Satan, the Lord rebuke you” are five powerful words that will put the brakes on the enemy.

The Lord God spoke through the prophet Isaiah saying, “Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea, and I make the rivers a wilderness.” (Isa. 50:2) With a rebuke that powerful, Satan doesn’t have a chance. When young David came up against the giant Goliath he said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” In the strength of the Lord, David killed Goliath with a sling and a stone.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Jesus said in Luke 10:19, “Behold I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” We hold the keys of the kingdom, and whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven.

We are seated together with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. All things are under Christ’s feet and we are seated with Him.

Now, there are times when the Lord will allow Satan to test us. Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil. But in the middle of Satan’s shenanigans, Jesus rebuked him saying, “Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Therefore submit to God.
Resist the devil
and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 NKJV

 Go in peace.

 Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

...all the time God is good

Job's three friends were convinced that he had offended God in some way and that's why all this stuff was happening to him. They kept telling him over and over to get right with God. But Job knew he had done nothing to warrant the hostility he was going through.

I was on my knees praying fervently about a situation, and I told the Lord that I had not sown this seed. The thing that was happening to me was not me reaping what I'd sown, because I absolutely had not sown that seed.

But if Job was not responsible for his tragedies, then who was?

Job 1:8 (NKJV) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Job 2:3 (NKJV) Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

God surrendered Job into the hands of Satan... twice, but each time, God called Job His servant and gave Job the highest accolades.

So if you're reaping what you have not sown, perhaps God has asked Satan, "Have you considered My servant (put your name here)?" God knows that you can stand the test, or He wouldn't have permitted it. Pray for strength and endurance, trusting God to accomplish His purpose, because He definitely has a reason for it.

God is good all the time,

And all the time God is still good.

Job prayed regularly for his kids all the time because he felt they were doing ungodly things behind closed doors. When the Lord ended Job's suffering, He gave Job twice as much as he had before, plus 10 more kids with better moral character than the ones that had been killed. God blessed Job’s latter days even more than his earlier life.

After this Job lived 140 more years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. Job died, old and full of days with the blessing of God upon his life.

Listen to this beautiful song by Jonathan McReynolds.

May your struggles keep you near the cross

May your troubles show that you need God

May your battles end the way they should

May your bad days prove that God is good

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Cross Over To The Other Side

About 18 years ago, I woke up early one morning and I saw a vision of myself standing at a rickety old bridge that looked like it was on its very last leg. I heard the voice of the Lord say to me, "Cross over to the other side."

I thought that would not be a safe journey. Could this thing hold my weight? What if I fell through, would I have to fight an alligator or snakes? Could I scale the muddy walls and get back up to safety? I stood there with a desire to obey the voice of God, but also a fear that something could go wrong and it could end very badly if I did. The me that was laying in bed, told the other me standing at the foot of the bridge to go on across, but I would not. Fear stifled me, and whatever God had planned on the other side, I was too afraid to go after it.

God placed the best things in life on the other side of terror... on the other side of your maximum fear are all the best things in life. (Quote from Will Smith)

1 John 4:18 (NKJV)
He who fears
has not been made
perfect in love.

Eighteen years later, God has helped me grow up some. My love for Him has grown and therefore, my trust in Him is stronger. One day my trust in God will be so completely resolute that as soon as I hear His voice speak, I will take off running across that bridge knowing that God has my back whatever the consequences.

Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

My Lemonheads Runneth Over

 

Lemonhead Candies are my absolute favorite sweet in the whole world. Since I was a little-bitty girl I have loved Lemonheads. I bought a case of them through Amazon so I could put them on the Snack Bar and always have some in the house. It’s been working out great!

Yesterday I found out that my husband’s grandkids will be coming by after school every day for a while. I instantly went into panic mode about my Lemonheads. Anyone that comes over on a regular basis knows we have the Snack Bar and keep it filled with goodies. But I worried about my Lemonheads for half a day and seriously considered removing them and putting them under lock and key till the afterschool visits are over.

Then… while brushing my teeth this morning, I prayed about my Lemonheads. Lord, it’s getting serious now. I felt like these kids are going to come in here and eat up all my Lemonheads. What shall I do? It didn’t feel right to remove them from the Snack Bar.

Suddenly, I was reminded that Jesus said, “Give and it will be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will it be put into your bosom. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38).”

I said, “Oh I know! I’m going to share my Lemonheads and then the Lord will cause my Lemonheads bucket to run over. I can see it now.”

Eleven days ago I published a blogpost called My Perception of People. In the closing prayer I asked God to please instruct me in the proper way to deal with people. This incident with the Lemonheads was my Heavenly Father, showing me that one way to deal with people is to have a generous heart.

I’m looking forward to the afterschool visits so we can all sit around eating Lemonheads.

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

Awakening

I rarely ever thank God for waking me up in the morning. I see memes and other drawings on social media all the time, calling out for us to thank God for waking us up this morning. I usually scroll pass them without liking or commenting, because what if He didn’t wake me up this morning, what would the consequences be? I would be in heaven with my Lord Jesus, walking the street of gold and wearing my long white robe. "To die is gain," as the apostle Paul said.

But I heard a preacher say, “My faith is not looking to one day when I can get out of here, but to what God is going to do with me before I leave.” (Quote from Pastor Steven Furtick)

WOW! There's a revelation that got me to thinking about my attitude toward thanking God for waking me up in the morning. If He wakes me up, I have another opportunity to be used by Him... another opportunity to see others being used by Him that continues to bless me everyday.

Jesus said to the apostles on the day He ascended into heaven, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Every morning I wake up on this earth, is an opportunity to be a witness for Christ... the Voice of the Dove, speaking into the hearts of believers everywhere. To LIVE is Christ and to die is gain.

Isaiah 50:4 (NKJV) The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned.

Thank You Lord, for waking me up this morning, and yesterday morning, and tomorrow morning. This is the day You have made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Lord, what do You require of me?

I asked... "Lord, what is it that You require of me?" And like the prophet Habukkuk I stood upon my watch to see what He would say (Hab. 2:2). But weeks passed without a response and I had totally forgotten about it. Then one day I opened an email and there was God's response...

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NKJV)

To do justly: to act equitably, to hurt no one by word or deed; to hurt no man's person, property, and character; pay what you owe, and do as you would desire to be done by

To love mercy: to be guided in conduct to others by loving kindness; to relieve the poor and indigent; to clothe the naked and feed the hungry and to delight in doing these acts of kindness

To walk humbly with your God: to live in humility and obedience in reverence to God as opposed to walking in pride; to be teachable and open to correction

Jesus taught that the weightier matters of the Mosiac Law are justice, mercy and faith. (Matt 23:23). In a nutshell, this describes the Lord's requirement that He shared with me. The first and second are man's duty to one another, and the third is man's duty to God.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

The Last House Standing

Last House Standing After Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike… a cyclone that ripped the southern border of the United States in September 2008, effecting the Florida panhandle, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Southeast Texas. At it’s strongest, it sustained 145 mph winds and killed 195 people. The damages from Hurricane Ike totaled $38 billion. Remnants of Ike blew across the US and into Canada before it finally ended. It was an incredibly devasting Category 4 hurricane.

On September 13, 2008, Ike made landfall on the northeast end of Galveston Island, TX with sustained winds of 110 mph. Gilchrist TX is 27 miles from Galveston along the Bolivar Peninsula and suffered the worst part of Ike. It wiped out 200 homes including the fire station and the post office… except for the one yellow house left standing all by itself in the wake of the hurricane.

The couple that owned this house had lost a previous home three years earlier to Hurricane Rita. When they rebuilt, they built the structure so significantly sound that it was able to withstand Hurricane Ike’s destruction. Ike ravaged every structure in Gilchrist except this house. It was the last one standing.

Build On The Rock

As Jesus was winding up His sermon on the mount, He declared that whoever hears and heeds to His words is like a wise man that built his yellow house on the rock. The hurricane beat on that yellow house with 110 mph winds, but it did not collapse, because it was built on the rock.

Our Rock is Christ Jesus. No foe can defeat our God. If He is for us, no hurricane can destroy us. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is the Rock, except our God?

Finally, brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Eph. 6:10

 Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Our Prayers Matter (1)

Our prayers matter. You know how I know that? Because the apostle James said in the word, “The effective fervent prayers of the righteous avails much” (James 5:16). And the apostle John said, “If we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

 Our prayers do matter.

 So often I have felt that my prayers were just bouncing off the ceiling and returning to my own heart, because they would go so long unanswered. God’s prolonged silence can cause me to feel discouraged and defeated. Years have passed before I saw the answer to some of my prayers.

 Our Part in the Answer

 There have been times when the Lord answered my prayers, just to later see that thing reverse and come back. It can be confusing trying to align the word of God with our actual experiences, especially when our experiences are the exact opposite of the word of God. For example, the word of God says, “Ask and it shall be given” but you never receive it. How then does our faith increase with a memory filled with disappointments?

 Andrew Wommack told the story of a woman that came to him to pray for healing. She used a walker to get around. She was healed immediately and walked away holding the walker up in the air. This same lady came back a few days later using the walker again. The Lord revealed to Andrew Wommack that she had unforgiveness in her heart that was preventing her healing. She openly confessed the unforgiveness and named the person she was hating on. She asked for forgiveness and was immediately healed again, holding the walker up in the air as she walked away. Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:14-15).

 We had a sin debt that we could not pay but God forgave us. It would not be fair of Him to let us continue to hold others accountable for their trespasses toward us. We must forgive them in order to be forgiven, and see our prayers answered.

 In All Your Getting,

Get A Good Understanding

 The apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians that their eyes would be opened and understanding enlightened as to the confident hope God has given to those He called to Himself. So when disappointments seem to mount up, that’s the time to draw closer to God and pray for wisdom and enlightenment (James 1:5).

 Paul also said, “I pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believes Him.” This is power to perform any request that we submit to Him. He can just say, “Let there be” and poof it will manifest. So, if prayers are going unanswered, it is not because God is unable or unwilling to grant it. There’s some other reason like in the case of the woman with the walker.

 Why Pray?

 I asked myself, “Why does God need me to pray for things that He can already do without my prayers?” Then I was reminded that when God created mankind, He gave us dominion (rule and authority) over all the earth and everything in it (Gen. 1:26, 28). And… Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom to bind and loose on earth. This is His authority granted us to overcome earthly issues. As we bind and loose on earth, it is bound and loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19). We are laborers together with God… us on earth, and Him in heaven (1 Cor. 3:9). Together we accomplish great things.

 It matters when we pray… and when we don’t.

 These Are the Days of Elijah

 James 5:17-18 (NKJV) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 Elijah’s prayer affected a lot of people for a long time, and only his prayer could restore rain to the land for the production of fruit and vegetation. He was not superhuman. He was a man with human nature like you and me, but he was a man who prayed.

 It’s Open-Door Season

 Knock, and it will be opened to you, for to him who knocks it will be opened.

 Jesus told a parable about a friend that came to his friend at midnight and knocked on the door asking to borrow three loaves of bread. His friend told him it was not a good time because they were all in bed. But he kept on knocking and because of his persistence, the friend got up and gave him as many as he needed (Luke 11:5-8).

 Karen Wheaton said she prayed to God in this same persistent manner regarding her prodigal daughter. Her three loaves were deliverance, healing, and salvation for her daughter.

 One night at church, while Karen was in worship, the Lord showed her a vision. She was standing in front of a door when it opened a little and two arms reached from behind the door and handed her three loaves of bread. She said in a surprised voice, “Oh Lord, You’re giving me the bread?” When she said that, the door swung wide open and she walked in and looked up to see a storehouse full of bread as far as the eye could see… shelves and shelves so high that she couldn’t even see the top of it. Then Karen heard a soft voice ask her, “You only want three?”

 * * * * * * *

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 4:16 (NKJV)

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14 (NKJV)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

 

May the Lord bless you

And keep you;

May the Lord make His face

Shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

May the Lord lift up

His countenance upon you,

And give you perfect peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

My Perception of People -- Part 1

Frozen Jimmy Dean Sausage Skillets

One of my very favorite breakfast meals is Jimmy Dean Skillets. You can add a bunch of stuff to it and really do it up right. I would put the oil in the skillet and let it warm up, then put the frozen sausage mix into the hot oil. Every time the frozen food would hit that hot oil I would get scalded. But I endured it because I knew I was going to enjoy my favorite meal.

Some days I would let it thaw out, then cook it so I would not get scalded.

One day I was in a hurry and decided to put the frozen sausage and the oil in the pan at the same time. Low and behold, that is how it was supposed to be done all along. Guess what? No scalding!!

"PEOPLE. For a long time I could not stand them... a very long time. I did not like their color. I did not like their smell. I kept them at arms length, feeding them from a long-handled spoon. But after all this time it turns out I was just cooking them wrong!" A Quote from Someone's Facebook Post on the Introverts Over Fifty Page

Frozen Jimmy Dean was not my problem. I was just cooking it wrong.

A man who has friends must himself be friendly (Prov. 18:24).

Perception is defined as the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

Father, please instruct me in the proper way to deal with people. Help me see them through the lens of Your eyes, and love them. Change my perception. You are the way, the truth, and the life. I look to You for victory in all my failures.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

My Prayer to Overcome Evil

I am struggling with loving my enemies. I know this is what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” But the ungodly and evil people vex my soul so badly that I just want them to die and get out of the way. The apostle Paul said, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

The psalmist David said in Psalm 139:19-22, “Oh that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.”

I must admit that I relate more to the psalmist David than to the apostle Paul. When I see people doing evil for sport, it makes me so angry. They do not sleep unless they have done evil, and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. It seems insurmountable how the heart of any man can entertain such evil.

In that moment, I am not wanting to pray for these people or love them. It makes me teary-eyed that what Jesus taught us to do is the polar opposite of what I really want to do... rise up and beat the snot out of them.

My husband was watching a western this morning in which a cowboy came to a house where a young lady and her grandmother lived. He just up and decided to take over the house... take over the granddaughter and do as he pleased with her. Now, am I really supposed to pray for this person, and give him food and drink, and treat him kindly? Not!!! He will probably get kicked in the you-know-whats and dragged out of my house by his hair, and if he is still conscious, kicked some more till he is unconscious. Then I will call the police.

The apostle Paul said to overcome evil with good. Perhaps I should study what evil he is speaking of. I should also seek the Lord concerning my own hard heart, and for the darkness that is in me to become light.

I do know these evil people do not know what is causing them to stumble in this way. The prophet Ezekiel said, “As for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, the Lord will repay their deeds on their own heads.”

The psalmist David also said, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be mowed down like grass, and wither as the green herb.”

Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Please do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. In your presence is fullness of joy and I delight in You with all my heart. Help me to be patient while I wait on You to fight the battles that need fighting. Renew and increase my strength when I am weary. Cause me to lift my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help for my help comes from You. Preserve us from evil and deliver us from the evil one. Let Your truth be my shield and buckler. Make me walk in the path of Your commandment to love my enemies, and not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove