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

AN AHA MOMENT

As the prodigal son sat starving in the hog pen, considering whether or not he should eat their food, HE CAME TO HIMSELF and said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough to eat and to spare, and I perish out here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” He returned to his father with a servant’s heart. His father welcomed him home with love and compassion, as his son, and not as a servant. (Luke 15:11-24)

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

HEALING THE POISON OF DISAPPOINTMENTS

Life’s circumstances can cut into the heart so deeply that it forever changes and redefines who we are and how we think. We were expecting God to do something one way, but He did it another, or perhaps He didn’t do anything at all. We were bitten with the poison of bitter disappointment. In some cases, bitten more than once. The answer seems so unclear that it’s like trying to catch the wind and turn it into something visible, but the chase continues until it just wears you out. I’ve been there and done that.

The secret to letting go is to have an honest conversation with God about it. Give Him one more chance to make it right. The Lord is ready to inject the antidote for this poison, to heal the brokenhearted and bind up those wounds. Let God’s presence fall on you, not to answer the “Why God why” question, but to help you see that good can and will come to you, and through you, as a result. Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through His Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

Karen Clark Sheard sings a song called Secret Place. Find your secret place to be in the presence of God and let Him fall softly upon you. Have that honest conversation with Him, then sit quietly in His presence.

There is a place

The secret place

A place where I can go.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OUR PRAYERS MATTER (8)

The 10^th chapter of Daniel tells the story of Daniel praying to God but not getting an answer even though he prayed earnestly and fervently. He ate no pleasant food, no meat and no wine, and mourned 3 full weeks. Then finally on the 21^st day an angel shows up with the answer to Daniel’s prayer. He said that Daniel’s prayer was heard on the 1^st day he prayed but the devil blocked his way, till Michael the warrior angel came and helped him break through.

In a recent blogpost (1/29/23), I said that I don’t like to give the devil my undivided attention… going through everyday engaged in spiritual warfare. I have better things to do concerning the kingdom of God than fight with the devil. He’s a distraction. But when he is in the way, we have to get him out of the way. Even Jesus told the devil, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Luke 4:8 NKJV)

Do you need to get the devil out of your way? Armor up with this prayer.

Get behind me, Satan! It is written in the word of God (which is the sword of the Spirit), that the Lord of hosts will rebuke the devourer for my sake so you will not destroy the fruit of my ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for me in this season. The Lord rebuke you! Take your hands off my things.

Heavenly Father, I pray that You will give Your angels charge over us, to keep us, and protect us from the hand of the enemy. Father, You are my dwelling place. No evil will conquer me because You are my shelter. Under Your wings I am protected and safe.

Father, I pray that You will open for me the windows of heaven and pour out such blessings that there is not enough room to receive it all. You are my provider, my healer, my protector, my counselor, my guide, my teacher, my redeemer, and my friend… my all in all. I pray for breakthrough today. I pray You will defeat the enemy attacking me. Bind the work of Satan right now. Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven. Whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven, and the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet. For we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. He has put all things under His feet and gave Him (the Son of God and the Son of Man) to be head over all things to the church. We labor abundantly by Your grace knowing that our labor is not in vain.

Enable me to remain steadfast, immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me. Forgive me of all I’ve done, and said, and thought that was not pleasing in Your sight and lead me in the way everlasting. Thank You for loving me and keeping me by Your power, through my faith in You to be my keeper. These and all blessings we ask and pray in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

ME AND MY FAT BELLY (2)

Almost seven years ago, I published a blogpost called Me And My FAT Belly. I confessed my issues with my long-time struggle of living with a fat belly. The picture in this post clearly shows my obesity. Since then, I’ve lost 60 pounds and I look and feel a lot better. However, the fat belly is still an issue, and I continue to struggle with embarrassment to this day. I’m constantly looking on the internet for solutions to hide it, or get rid of it.

The other day I felt God addressing my struggle as “vanity”. I remembered a Scripture in Ecclesiastes that says, “Vanity of vanity, all is vanity.” My Bible app gave other synonyms for vanity which is absurdity, frustration, futility, and nonsense. God may be telling me that I’m being vain by agonizing over my fat belly.

All our human achievements will one day fade away, so we must pursue higher values with eternal rewards. Life apart from God is hollow (a vanity of vanities). The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor 4:18). Eternal thoughts should be our focus.

The apostle Peter said that we should be more concerned about the beauty that comes from within, than we are of our outward beauty. The beauty that comes from within does not fade away (1 Peter 3:3-4). Now, this certainly does not mean that I shouldn’t add diet and exercise into my regimen, but I should change my perspective for why I’m doing it.

If I gained the flat stomach that I so desperately want, how would this benefit my inner person? Is how I look in my clothes going to bring me life fulfillment?  The apostle Paul said, “Now abide faith, hope, and love… these three; but the greatest of these is love. Now there is the fulfillment. Loving myself as Christ loves me, then spreading that love to others.

King David’s best friend was Jonathan. When Jonathan died, David wanted to bless Jonathan’s son and summoned him to the palace. His name was Mephibosheth. He said to the king, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?” Mephibosheth had a dead dog image of himself. That is not how God sees us. When I look in the mirror, I should not see an overweight woman with a fat belly, I need to see someone that Jesus loves looking back at me.

In the Old Testament, the Levites were given the responsibility to oversee the temple. It was their duty to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the LORD, the courtyards, the chambers, the purifying of all the holy vessels, and many other responsibilities in the temple (1 Chron 23:28). That should be our duty… to perform the service of the Levites over the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is the body. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us… dwelling in our temple. We should see after the temple to honor the Holy Spirit, but certainly not for vanity’s sake.

Here is the link to Me and My FAT Belly (1).
https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2016/05/me-and-my-fat-belly_30.html

God is changing my perspective for how I see and love the person I see looking back at me in the mirror. When I look at myself in the mirror, I need to see someone that Jesus loves looking back at me. When I learn to see her as Christ sees her, the struggle with my FAT belly will be no more. No more vanity, no more dead dog image, and no more struggling.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

COUNT IT ALL JOY 😢 REALLY?

Counting It All Joy

I have struggled with the passage in James that says to count it all joy for a long time, because I don’t know how to be broken and joyful at the same time.

James 1:2-3 (KJV) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:2-3 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

The believer can expect various trials and divers temptations on this Christian journey. They are the trying of our faith that produces patience. They work to complete us so we lack nothing.

"Count it all joy means to develop a new and improved attitude that considers trials from God’s perspective.” I saw that on the gotquestions.org website.

The enemies of God still hate God, so neither do they care for His saints. We can expect that trials are a part of the Christian experience. Sometimes God will open a door for the enemy to attack the believer as He did in Peter’s denial (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62). At the end of the trial Peter wept bitterly. This is not a tear rolling sweetly down his face. This is that ugly cry where he uses a whole box of tissues. But from God’s perspective, as a leader in the church Peter was now ready to encourage the saints in their struggles.

James is not suggesting that we pursue trials like a courtship, but merely acknowledging that we will surely “fall” into various trials or divers temptations. God does not expect us to pretend that trials are enjoyable because they are difficult and painful.

Romans 12:15 (NKJV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

God does not expect us to walk around with a fake smile on our faces when we’re breaking on the inside. But God does permit trials for a reason. A while back I did a blogpost about going through a trial and others were with me on the journey enduring their trials. At the end of the road, they walked on up to higher ground, but I went back through the trial again. God elevated them because they got what they needed from the trial but I did not so I went back through it again.

Here's the link to that blogpost: https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2021/01/another-go-around-on-potters-wheel.html

Life’s experiences can make you or break you. When the prodigal son came to himself wallowing in the hog pen, he became a changed man (Luke 15:17), and took on a servant’s heart. The prodigal’s brother felt that their father owed him something for being such a great son. The experience definitely changed the prodigal, but the brother still had issues.

So… my struggle with James is not as intense as before. And I would say that counting it all joy is just an opportunity to say:

“Heavenly Father, thank You for what You’re doing in me as a result of this trying of my faith. If it is possible Father God, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but let Your will be done. Increase my faith and endurance. Let the Prince of Peace fill my soul so that I don’t fall apart under its weight, for Your grace is sufficient, and Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Rebuke the enemy on every hand, for the weapons of our warfare are mighty in You Father, for the pulling down of strongholds, and setting captives free. I ask You for wisdom and revelation so that I will see from Your perspective what You are accomplishing in these trials. Faithful Father, please let me feel Your presence on a regular basis and be strengthened by it. Keep reminding me of Your love and faithfulness so I will not become discouraged in these trying times. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OFFENDED WITH GOD

"not to harm you"

I have been guilty of being offended with God because He didn’t answer my prayers in the way that I thought He should. He didn’t come when I thought He should have and I was deeply offended at the way things worked out. But God, in Hs love and compassion, drew me back to Him and showered me with His love. He turned my situations around. He renewed my faith and resurrected my confidence in Him.

I am reminded of the death of Lazarus of Bethany in John 11:1-44. His sisters, Mary and Martha, had sent a message to Jesus but He delayed in coming and Lazarus died. Four days later, Jesus finally showed up. Both Mary and Martha said, “Lord, if You had been here our brother wouldn’t have died.” (John 11:21, 32) Their prayers were not answered, and they thought it was too late. Jesus had the stone removed from Lazarus’ tomb and called for him to come out and he got up and walked out.

Jesus resurrected their brother, and their prayers were answered, just not in the way they had expected. Don’t give up on God, He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). There is no situation that God cannot fix, no damage He cannot restore, and no brokenness (absolutely nothing) that cannot be healed.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIrV) I know the plans I have for you," announces the LORD. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.

Matthew 11:6 NKJV Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."

Psalm 147:3 (NKJV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Link to my blogpost called The Break Up:

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-break-up.html

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE OFFERING OF OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS (2)

I wanted to re-share this blogpost that I published last April. I had totally forgotten about it but stumbled across it this morning. It actually came up in Sunday School this past Sunday. We were discussing the spiritual gifts that operated in the Corinthian Church (1Cor. 12:14-31), and I was reminded of the time when I decided to stop agonizing over my blog’s statistics, and just focus on the gift God has given me to write. Even the mustard seed came up in the lesson and I had also mentioned it in the blogpost. Wow! Here we are ten months later, and I can see the difference it has made on me spiritually. To culminate all of this in that Sunday School lesson is mind blowing to me. God works in mysterious ways.

Romans 11:33 (NKJV) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Lord, I offer up to You my works as a living sacrifice. I pray it is holy and acceptable to You. And the gifts You have bestowed upon me, I will pay it forward to others.

Here's the link: https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-offering-of-our-spiritual-gifts.html

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE ARMOR OF GOD

Yesterday morning while I was studying, the Scripture from Ephesians 6 (where it talks about putting on the whole armor of God) came up on my computer screen. Then I heard my email notification sound off and I looked on my other screen and it was the YouVersion verse of the day with Eph. 6:11 showing on that screen. I looked back and forth on both screens and knew that it could not be a coincidence.

One thing I don’t like to do is give the devil my undivided attention. Some people sing songs about him… “Don’t let the devil ride, if you let him ride he’ll want to drive, don’t let him ride.” Some people preach sermons about him. Some people spend the day talking at him and rebuking him all day. I rarely do any of these things. I just don’t feel I should devote hours in my day paying attention to the devil. I know he’s out there, but I try not to turn my attention from the Lord, to engage with him on a regular basis.

But I know that it was not a coincidence that this Scripture came up on both computer screens at the same time. It said, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.”

So, what am I to do? I know Satan’s attacks are real but I still don’t want to give him minutes of my day. I do not want to spend my whole life in spiritual warfare with the devil because I have better things to do with my time. If the devil can get us to turn from fulfilling the call of God on our lives, to engaging in full-time warfare with him, then the kingdom of God suffers the consequences.

Luke 11:21-22 says, “For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe — until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.”

So, there’s the answer. Give the devil over to the One that is stronger than he is, for the battle is not ours, but God’s.

Jesus said, “From the days of John the Baptist UNTIL NOW the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12). There’s a new Sheriff in town. His name is Jesus Christ. He said, “I have overcome the world.” Therefore, we that believe in Him share in that victory. We too, are overcomers. With the minutes of my day, I will sing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, but I will not sing songs about the devil. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, THEN all these things shall be added to you.

Heavenly Father, You are my armor. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32:7). Thank You Lord!

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

GOD ANSWERS BIG PRAYERS TOO

My husband is a long-time smoker and had been struggling with a bad cough for some time. It didn’t seem to be getting any better, but persisted. When he would go on a coughing binge, it was prolonged and seemed agonizing. I prayed to God for him.

Time passed and I didn’t really think about it that much. If he coughed, I prayed. Early this morning, I’m sitting at the computer in my office, and I heard a soft little cough coming from our bedroom. Suddenly it dawned on me that I had not heard the agonizing cough in recent days. God healed him!

I had also been praying that God would give him the lungs of a non-smoker. I can’t see his lungs, but I’m believing that God answered that prayer too… all of my prayer, not just a portion of it.

Ephesians 3:20 keeps coming up from various sources, and it’s ironic because I’ve been praying to God for other miracles too.

The Amplified Bible translation says it best for me… “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.” (Eph. 3:20 Amp.)

His power that’s at work within us is Holy Spirit’s power. If we dare to believe God, He is able to carry out our petitions, no matter how big they are. In fact, He is able (and willing) to even go beyond our greatest thoughts, desires, prayers, hopes and dreams.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) It is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

Ask and believe, it will be given to you.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SOMETIMES WE NEED A SIMON OF CYRENE

Jesus, being weak from the beating and torture He had received was physically struggling under the weight of His cross. Simon of Cyrene was passing by and the soldiers compelled him to help Jesus carry the cross to Golgotha. Cyrene was the capital city of Cyrenaica in northern Africa on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea.

He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3

Simon of Cyrene had his own cross in the form of daily challenges of life, but he also had the opportunity to carry somebody else’s cross and this turned out to be the most important cross he ever carried.

Sometimes, we too may need a 'Simon of Cyrene' to help us bear our cross.

We pray to God that He may grant us the grace to bear other people’s burdens as we serve Him who declared that, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”

Lord, bless every 'Simon of Cyrene' whom You place on our journey. Grant us the willingness and the zeal to carry the crosses of those whom we meet, that have no strength. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

JOY ABUNDANTLY FOR THE ASKING

We pray in the name of Jesus because He is anointed to break yokes and loose the bonds of wickedness and undo heavy burdens, and release the chains of the oppressed, and break every yoke, and pull down every stronghold, and cast down every argument and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and do exceedingly and abundantly more than all we dare to ask or think, infinitely beyond our greatest thoughts, desires, prayers, hopes, or dreams according to Holy Spirit's power that is at work within us.

God, be glorified.

John 16:23-24 (NLT) At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

Heavenly Father, I pray in the matchless and mighty name of Jesus that...

THE HUMANITY IN US

Sometimes when I see the inhumanity and unkindness of my fellow human beings, it makes me sad. Watching the news day-after-day is disheartening at times because they report all the mass killings, and injustice, and wars, and viruses going on in the world. I said in prayer a few days ago that I feel frustrated with Adam and Eve because their failure got us into this mess of a world that seems to be getting worse.

Since then, the Lord has been showing me good-hearted, and warm-hearted people through my Facebook feed (like people being kind to animals, and a man that stopped his car to clear the road of debris so others could pass), and other things in my day-to-day activities.

Then… while watching Monday night football, Damar Hamlin had a heart attack in the middle of the game. I have watched and followed this story closely ever since. I cannot tell you how uplifting it has been to see my fellow human beings reacting with such love and compassion. It has given me a refreshing in my soul, like drinking a cold glass of iced water on a very hot day. The tragedy of this young man has brought us together in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. It’s overwhelming to see how we come together in times like these… even his teammates, and the news anchors were shedding tears. Everyone praying everywhere. People that don’t even know him personally, drove from out of town to the hospital just to support his family members, feeding them and providing for them. They held prayer vigils outside the hospital. Astounding!

The one thing I’ve learned from all of this is that I need to seek out the good in people on a regular basis. I’ll still watch the news so I know what to pray about, but I will also look for stories of good-hearted people – the true heroes in this world that make living here worthwhile.

Some time ago I started watching old episodes of The Price is Right because it makes me feel good to see the contestants win prizes, and it give me something to cheer about. I sit alone in the Living Room applauding for them and it makes me feel good inside.

I believe Damar Hamlin will recover because many, many prayers have gone up on his behalf. I cannot wait to see what the Lord does through him. The lives he has affected all over the world is already quite remarkable.

Be encouraged my friend. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

I am no longer frustrated with Adam and Eve. Today, I’m at peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove