Commitments

August 25, 2008

Friends, I feel compelled to write a prayer for those who struggle with commitment. Whether it’s at work or on the internet, some are threatening their relationship with those they claim to love by completely destroying the trust their loved one has in them, by forming affairs of the heart and/or mind. These are not normal friendships. Bonding with someone, other than your spouse, fiancee, or committed other, is to permanently damage your relationship. How can you avoid hurting your spouse or fiancee? - By avoiding caustic relationship - relationships that burn a hole in the heart of the one you claim to love. How do you avoid those outside relationships? 1. When you begin to feel attracted to another - and believe me throughout life, you will feel attracted to others - immediately stop the other contact. 2. Do not keep secrets from your loved one. The power of secrets, strengthen the acidic bond. 3. If you can’t be interrupted by your loved one, break off the relationship with the other. 4. If you are talking to the “other person” on the phone, in person, or on the internet and your loved one comes in or interrupts and you feel irritated or guilty, break off the other relationship immediately. Your loved one ALWAYS has first place in your heart and with your attention. You are ALWAYS a couple, even when they are not present. This is just a short list to begin but you get the idea. This is written in the first person so you can pass it on, to those who would benefit from praying it. Let’s pray:

“Father, God, lover of the family which is our heavenly unit, we bow before your holy name. May your love fill our homes and relationship to overflowing so there is no room for bonding with others that throw knives into the hearts of those we love: our spouse, our children, our fiancee, and our extended families who have taken our loved ones into their hearts as well. Build a shield around us so that attractions, to and from others, bounce off us, even before we are aware. If, or when, we become aware of an attraction to or from others, give us the character and strength to turn our backs on intruders into the safety of our family and loved ones. Forgive us for the pain that we have caused. We know how weak we can be but we trust in your strength and the power of the precious name of your son, our savior, Jesus Christ to deliver us from the evil of betraying our loved ones, of killing their trust and crippling their belief in love. In the name or Jesus 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.”

Prayer For Our Youth - August 18, 2008

August 18, 2008

Good morning dear friends. I want to lift up our young people today. Our 13-year-old grandson, Tanner, broke his left femur last Monday during school football, the day before school started. One tackle, months and months of healing - no football, no basketball, and perhaps no baseball next summer. Also, our great-niece started college last week, and our granddaughter begins college in a week or two, others begin school, and our last daughters begin college in a week. Friends have children and grandchildren in the military around the world. We ask a lot of our children. Let’s support them daily with our prayers. Perhaps you’ll want to go on my blog and pray this prayer daily for the youth of our country. Let’s pray:

“Our loving Father, God, we humbly bow before you, for you are our All-in-all. We try to understand you with our own logic, when you are outside of our logic, our reason, our understanding. Without fully knowing your plans for ourselves, our families, and our friends, we trust you and pray that your perfect plan may manifest itself in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We pray today for our young people everywhere: school, college, work, and around the world. Heal their bodies, their souls, and keep them safe. We pray for their needs and ask that you tame their wants. Give them grateful hearts and keep them safely within your outstretched arms, cradled there like the children you have claimed as your own. May they find you in college, school, and everywhere, for you are there with them. Forgive us if we have not prepared them well. We also know that your work through us and in us is not done. Our children will need our love and guidance all the days of our lives and beyond. Give us insight into the wisdom we are to leave with them. When they seek your face and find you smiling, we will shout, “Glory to God,” for your presence, your healing, and love. We pray this all in the power of the name of Jesus Christ, your precious son, our redeemer. Amen.”
Doris
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

The Long Leaving

I was thinking about someone with Alzheimer’s disease this morning. As I watch him, I think of it as the “Long Leaving.” His personality comes through from time to time and I thank God for the snippets of the one I knew but who has already started for Home. Let us pray:

“Oh Loving Father, the God of all that is good and right and beautiful, we sing your praises for the opportunity to know, and to have known, those who struggle with this world as they journey Home. We call its name Alzheimer’s and ask that you cast out our fear when we hear it mentioned. We know not why some reach the doorsteps of Heaven in a flash as the result of an accident or sudden death, and others linger along the way, neither here nor totally there. But, as we watch their eyes and see them leaving us, we know they are nearing your arms and we shout for joy for their arriving Home. We miss them and sometimes grow impatient with their Long Leaving, but we also rest assured that, if they are not here with us, they are there with you. It is our own impatience that is the hard part of their journey. Let us not grow weary in taking care of the body, as we watch the Spirit leave. We, your children, are not long on patience and for that we seek your forgiveness. We pray for a full measure of love, so we can see our loved ones safely leave this earth. We thank you for being at the door, calling them home, to insure they don’t lose their way. Thank you, Father, for all your blessings. We praise you and give you glory and honor and praise. In the name of your son, our redeemer, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.