I RESOLVE . . .

New Years Day is three days away. For some, that means a New Year’s Resolution. I’ve never been one to make resolutions since I have grown to know myself well enough to know that my resolve will fade by 8 pm, January 1. This year, for this very time, I would suggest that all of us make a resolution to choose God’s way in 2009. What kind of year would we and those around us have? No more anger; no more doubt; no more pessimism; no more dissatisfaction with what we have; no more clinging to things that bind us; no more cleaving to emotions that harm us; only walking along the Path with Him. How do we make such a resolution? We state our desire to God and let Him take the lead, nothing more. We cannot do it on our own. It is a resolve to trust in Him, to be His servant and not expect Him to serve us. It is a daily walk in Paradise. In 2009, step out into the unknown and find the Holy Spirit there, guiding your path. Wow! Yes, it’s true; it’s real; it’s life lived as God intended; it’s finally turning toward home. Let us pray this personal prayer of Life:

“Dear Father, God. You are more loving than my soul can stand without the shade of Christ’s outstretched arms. May your Holy Spirit come to live within me this very day, even this very year, not because I deserve it but because your son, my savior Jesus Christ, is worthy. I stand here at your feet, willing to be filled with your love and essence. All I can do is bow before you. I know you will do the rest because this is why I live, to be completed within your loving light. I finally believe it is true. I finally accept your gift of grace today, this moment, and I will walk hence forth as your cherished child, grafted into your People of Love by the sacrifice of your son, Jesus. ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty. Early in the morning, my song shall rise to thee.’ And, risen in adoration, your very presence will live in my words of praise, as it was promised in your sacred Word. You live in the praises of your people. Praise the Lord. Whisper love and healing into the hearts of our loved ones, those sick in body, mind, and soul and let them know you are there, making them whole. Hallelujah . . . it is so! In the name of, and by the power of his name, Jesus our redeemer, 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.”

CHRISTMAS EVE

Many around the world are waiting for Santa Claus this evening. Others are waiting to celebrate a birthday, the birth of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ! He who was anticipated for hundreds of years before his birth, is celebrated thousands of years after his coming. Nothing more needs to be said. Your Savior has come and is waiting to be born anew in your heart this very night, this new Christmas Day. There is no gift more glorious than that. There is no jewel more precious, no Christmas lights more bright, no candles more warm than one ones on the top of the birthday cake of our king. “Oh Holy night, the stars are brightly shinning. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.” Let us pray:
“Oh dear God in Heaven, the sound of your name calms the storm and drives out the demons of our lives. May your son, Jesus, be born in our hearts this evening, that Christmas may be Christ’s day every day. We thank you for every gift you have given us, for the GOLD of dear friends and family, for the FRANKENSENCE of warm turkey roasting in the oven and pies cooling on the rack, and the MYRRH of Mamma’s starched apron and the sweet aroma of sawdust coming from Daddy’s workshop. We are rich beyond anything known to man with all the blessings of life and love you have given and are giving us. You told us from of old to “fear not.” This new Christmas we choose to trust you, oh Father, for you are worthy of our trust. Forgive us for the many times we have tried to live life on our own without your guidance and help. Forgive us when we have been negative about the life you have given us. We thank you for every gift, those that prune and those stretch us beyond any limitations we have placed on ourselves. We pray that the New Year will permit us to be a blessing to someone else, that we may see beyond ourselves and bring comfort to others. For those who have been ill, we pray for health. For those who have been sad or angry, we pray for mended hearts and souls. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen”
A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas to you all,
Doris
“Copyright 2008, Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.”

WHAT IF?

What if the world still waited?
What if love had never come?
What if God had never given
His grace to everyone?
What if darkness still lay buried
in each heart and soul on earth?
What if revenge was still the answer
for each and every hurt?
What if forgiveness never happened?
What if hope was still forlorn?
What if angels never sang?
What if “the song” was never born?
What if no salvation offered?
What if no new life had come?
What if our songs were silenced,
not a note from anyone?
What if Jesus never walked?
What if He never healed?
What if Jesus never taught
or in his heart we’re sealed?
If we kill the Christmas spirit
by grabbing each gift adorned
and forget the Christ Child’s coming
our “what ifs” would be reborn.
What if our eyes were opened?
What if our gifts lay at his feet?
What if Christmas lived within us,
then his coming would be complete.
(Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp)

Let us pray:
“Oh Holy God, father of our Lord and savior Jesus, the Christ Child, your name is sacred to our ears. May your plan for us make its home in our lives this very day so that your son did not come to a dead and dying people. Dear Lord, our hearts burn bright with the light of your new promise that came to earth embodied in the form of a precious baby. The lights of Christmas remind us of that light that came into the world on the day of Christ’s birth, lighting our lives with hope and joy and peace. Presents tell us of the ultimate gift of your son, as well as the gold, frankincense and myrrh from the wise men. The carols and music of Christmas are melodious reminders to us of the host of angels that filled the darkened, night sky with music, good tiding of great joy, and promise. These are the symbols of Christmas that all lead back to you, for without your son, there would be no celebration. We thank you with every fiber within us. Every beat of our heart drums out a song of thanksgiving for all you have done for us, every prayer answered, every tear dried, every ill made well again. Jesus brought healing into the world, healing of mind, body, and soul, and for this we cannot find words to thank you. Just know our hearts overflow with gratitude, awe, and love. We are all still hurting in some way. Heal each one of us, and those we love, in our own need, with your very own hand, oh God. How amazing is your grace and love to us! Forgive us when we see a new sweater when we open our gifts and not the gift of warmth and love; when we see an MP3 Player and not the gift of song; or a leather bound book and not the gift of your Word beyond the wrappings. May our eyes be opened and our hearts prepared for the gift of your Christ Child this Christmas. In the name of, and by the healing power of your son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen”
Doris
“Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp”
“God gives us many stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

The world is in the Advent season, awaiting the Birthday of the King! Things are rough for many of us, but we still live in more plenty than most of the world can ever imagine. Take the time today to be grateful for all God has done for you. In our family, a situation has been resolved because God whispered “love” into the ear of many family members and friends: to one of our children because they found what they were looking for, another child and their spouse for making the initial steps possible, and a new friend who saw the earnest need and love displayed in this situation and did his part. My husband and I are acting as orchestra conductors’, helping to make sure all is in place and each player is coming in on time. I KNOW this situation is a direct answer to our prayers. We just had to step out of the way and let the Lord direct all who are involved. Is it coming together as I had imagined it to be? Are you kidding?! It is coming together as God called it into being. I find myself praising God a hundred times a day for fulfilling his promises of answered prayer. And, I know God is answering your prayers as well, for health, for opportunity, for salvation. Let us remember to look for answered prayers beyond our notions of receiving for he is there whispering “love” into your ear and the thoughts of those around you. Let us pray:
“Our loving Father, Holy and faithful is your name. May the kingdom of your love come to dwell in our hearts both now at Christmas time and beyond to the months and years ahead, so that your will may be completed within us. Today, we ask for nothing, except that others know your love, your touch, your comfort, your peace, and your grace. We just want to thank you with earnest hearts for all you have done in our lives and in the lives of those around us. You have taken our pain and sorrow and have turned them into our witness of the love and comfort you have given us and the things you have done in our lives. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Heaven and Earth are full of thee and our hearts are open to your indwelling Spirit to come and make its home within us. We would then be your temples to the living God. In the precious and powerful name of your son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we pray. Amen”
Doris
“Copyright 2008 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.”
“God gives us many stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

PRAISE THE LORD!

Why praise the Lord, the one true God? Because God himself inhabits, lives in, our praises!

Psalm 22:3
(NKJV) “But You are holy, who inhabit the praises of Israel.”
(RSV) “Yet thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”
(NIV) “Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel.”
ENTHRONED: (dwell, inhabits): Yashab-to sit down (as a judge, in quiet) to remain; to settle, to marry.
HOLY: Qadowsh - sacred (ceremonially or morally), (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary.
ISRAEL: Yisra’el - he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: - Israel

Imagine! - the Lord God of the Universe, the All-in-all, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, He lives in the praises of His people! - in your praises and mine! Do we praise our Lord as frequently as we argue, blame, or even curse others in His name? He LIVES in our words of praise. Holy, holy, holy is your name, Lord God Jehovah! Teach us to praise you today, Lord. Let us pray:

“Oh God of all there is, or ever was, or ever will be, you are holy and all that is holy. We pray that your sacred kingdom may come to earth and make its home in our heart, so that your plan may be fulfilled in your time and in your way. Today, oh God of Israel and father of our Lord Jesus, our Savior, we ask that you receive our praises. We humbly admit that we know not how to purely sing your praises. We invite you into our heart so that our song of love may be honest and not in our own self interest, but in total adoration of you. We shamefully admit that we have blamed you for every small injustice in our lives and ask that your son, Jesus, cleanse us of those sins and we pray that we sin no more. We know we are weak and unable to insure these blessings on our own, but know for certain that Jesus is worthy and will intercede on our behalf when we claim him as our own Lord. Praises to your son, our Savior Jesus and to the Holy Spirit, your indwelling presence in our lives. To you we give all praise and honor and glory, for they rightfully belong to you. In the name of your son, Jesus and by the power of his name, 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.”