WEDDING DOVES 9/09/05 

Today I attended an outdoor wedding among the gardens. At the end of the wedding, in honor of his grandparents whose wedding anniversary was also today, they turned loose about 2 dozen live doves. It was one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen and know that I will never again see anything like it in real life. The first one came out and took off like a plane, going straight out at a gradual climb. Then the rest, in one large group came pouring out. These beautiful snow white birds, so large and perfectly scalloped were like torpedoes shooting like an arrow all in the same direction. They gathered above our heads, filling the sky as they circled in one large circle. Once they picked up their direction, they left to return home. I was totally awestruck at the significance and beauty of the real life drama.

I did a research later on the internet and found out that these were white homing pigeons. The names dove and pigeons are often used interchangeably. However doves are smaller, long tailed members of the pigeon family.

UPDATE PARABLE: The next week at church, pastor prayed in pre-service prayer asking that the Holy Spirit would come and hover, descend and abide at our church. I thought of the parable of the release of the wedding doves and how they are homing pigeons that once released will find their way home. I had been wondering after the wedding, if they always find their way home, how does one keep a homing pigeon? The secret is in purchasing 2 breeders. Out of their intimacy, they birth babies which then bond and imprint on the location of the home they were born in. I realized the parable of the Holy Spirit abiding in our home is the fruit from of intimacy and bonding.

Matt 3:16-17 NLT

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him."

John 1:32-34 NKJV

And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

Luke 7:35 AMP

Yet wisdom is vindicated ( shown to be true and divine) by all her children [by their life, character, and deeds].

[The fruit or offspring of our life certifies the choices we make.]

WORD TO PONDER: YOUR FRUIT SHALL REMAIN

Just like homing pigeons always returning home to their place of birth, I have planted inside of you the ability to return to your resting place. Dear one, I understand that the pressures in life draw you many places outside of the comfort zone of your intimacy with Me. There will come a day when you will be so settled in Me and I will be so settled in you, that you will dwell in your resting place no matter where you are or what you are doing. My will is that our times of intimacy will birth the fruit of our remaining as One, forever.

John 1:32-34 NKJV

And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."