ANNIVERSARY - July 28, 2008

Last Friday was our anniversary and I thought of all the milestones along our way. We never made a million dollars, but we made millions of friends and acquaintances along the way; we have cherished children; and both of us are blessed with wonderful families of origin. We never saw the Red Sea part, but we had miracles, designed just for us, that gathered around us, knee-deep, when we took the time to see them. We didn’t have our every prayer answered, praise the Lord, but He did answer every prayer that fulfilled His plan for us. Come to think of it, I guess we did see the red Sea part, as situation made way for even us to serve Him. Let’s pray:

“Our Father God, Heaven and earth are full of thee. May we each have a heart and eyes to see your presence here on earth. We come before the footstool of your thrown to ask that we may be blessed with the awareness of your revealed heart around us. Let us have a glimpse of your glory each day, not for our benefit but for your glorification, so that we might praise you even more. You are the ‘all-in-all” oh Father, the beginning and the end, and the rapture of our heart. Forgive us when we have said, “Your blessings have not been enough; I want more,” when we haven’t even acknowledged the blessings we have already received. Forgive us when we cry to you out of our loneliness, and fail to recognize the beautiful friends you have put in our path. Our loneliness isn’t physical, it is spiritual, for we keep ourselves from fully embracing you, our Father. Keep us close to you, even when we have drifted from your path. In the Holy, precious name of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Property Tax Day Celebration - July 21, 2008

Today is Property Tax Day here in Indiana. I have capitalized it so we might see it as a celebration day, a holiday, rather than an expensive obligation. Holiday? Doris, you’ve got to be kidding! I believe it is a privilege to live in a city in the United States of America. I consider it a blessing that water comes into my home through pipes rather than from a pitcher pump in the back yard from which I must fetch it. I feel blessed that my children receive a free education from the time they are five-years-old until they are 18+, and other blessings I can not number. I am sure you can make your own list. Please take the time to do so as you pay your property tax today. Let us pray:

“Oh loving Father, we praise your name above all names. May we see your kingdom come and dwell within us this very day, so your plan for our lives may be fulfilled in your time. We pray today to receive a blessing as we pay our property tax, a blessing of joy and thanksgiving. We thank you for clean water, smooth roads, safe neighborhoods, free education, help in time of fire and disaster, and so much more. We have an abundance of everything and are so blessed. Forgive us when what we have is not enough, not big enough or fancy enough for our own sense of entitlement. Open our eyes to your blessings that fall around us freely, like the gentle rain from Heaven, refreshing and nourishing our very souls. Keep us from self-centeredness, self-praise, and self-interest. Deliver us to a right relationship with you, oh Father, where we are God-centered, full of God-praise, and seeking God’s-interest. Let there rise up a new generation, not the me-generation, the You-generation, where You, Father God, are at the center of our lives. In your precious sons’s name, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.”
Doris Rapp
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Happiness in Our Blessings - July 15, 2008

Today we saw the movie, Kit Kittredge, An American Girl. The movie is based on the American Girl books about a ten-year-old, Kitt, who lives in Cincinnati in 1933, during the Depression. It not only brought to mind what those who lived through those years must have gone through, but what their children endured as well. I know times are financially hard now, due to the cost of gasolene, which has raised the price of many other things as well. But, my dear ones, we do not need what we think we need. Our happiness is not based on how much we have . . . and if it is, we have our priorities all mixed up. No matter how bad Kit Kittredge found life to be, all she wanted was her father to be home. We mistakenly believe our children are as materialistic as we are. They don’t want more. They want us. Let us pray for a return to value placed on the lives of our children, our families, and our friends, not on the toys we have.

“Our loving father, you have no house or car or clothes, yet you are God Almighty. We pray that your name alone will bring joy to our hearts and wealth to our souls. May we begin to live the life of a Prince or Princess in your Kingdom, this very day. Our wealth is uncountable, for all that’s yours, is ours. Our diamonds are our children, our golden nuggets are our families, our silver jewels are our friends. Yet, we think we haven’t enough. We are shamed by those you actually had nothing, yet found joy in the abundance you gave them. Forgive us for our thirst for money, for it is unquenchable. We are gluttons for more. Our soul is bankrupt, no matter how much we have, if you are not the center of our world. Open our eyes to the joy around us, oh Father. We pray in the name of your precious son, Jesus, our redeemer. Amen”
Doris Rapp
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Prayer for Our Children

As we pray for our miliary and their safety, let’s remember the children of our land who find themselves on the “front line” with no experience to handle the frontal attack of the world. Let us pray:
“Our loving father, Daddy to our children as well as Father to all of us, Holy is your name. May your will be done in our lives as it is in Heaven. We come before your throne, oh God, asking for the safety of our children. Our little ones find themselves with a parent away at war; they find themselves in the middle of a war in their own homes; and they find themselves in the midst of war on their own streets and in their own communities. Safety, security, and predictability are what they need and deserve. We ask that you wrap your loving arms around them and give them comfort. We pray that you will send your angels, to stand guard around each of our children, to stand in the doorway to their safe place and face the world on their behalf. We pray for the safety and sanity of their parents, that these little ones may be lifted up so that their needs and security are primary in the hearts of their parents and the minds of all those around them. Forgive us when we put “self” first: self-needs, self-indulgence, and self-interests. And, deliver us and our children safely on the other side of the river called “me”. We pray that your will is welcome in our lives and we give you all the praise and glory, both now and in our future days. In the name of your precious son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Doris
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

4th of July 2008

I have chosen to write this week’s prayer for our On-line Prayer Group today, to celebrate the 4th of July. Our ancestors sacrificed so much so that we could live in a land that is free. Young men and women, who could be home with family and career, continue to make the same sacrifice so that we and others can live in a democratic society. Let us pray for them and their families:

“Oh Loving Father, God, we worship you and praise your name. We come before you on this day that we celebrate liberty, and ask you to watch over those who continue to sacrifice for our freedoms. Send your angels to build a shield of protection around each one, to protect them from harm, and doubt, and fear. Give them courage, insight, and strength to do the task put before them, that all men and women may be free. We pray also for their families and loved-ones. Let them realize the mighty job their family member is called to do. Whisper calm and peace in their ears, like a gentle breeze blowing off the sea and carry them all to a time of peace. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray. Amen”
Doris

Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.