ANSWERED PRAYER

We pray about so many things, on behalf of so many people, in so many circumstances. But, do we stop to thank the Lord for answered prayer? Many times, we don’t even give thanks for the yes answers, and usually never thank him for the no or later responses. Let me tell you about God’s miraculous work in the life of my cousin John as an answer to many prayers.

John had surgery the first of December 2008. He had a very difficult time and didn’t wake up. A few days later, he had a heart attack and cardiac arrest which resulted in irregular brain waves. He later had staph infection, kidney problems, and then an entire body involvement with total bodily systems failure. He didn’t regain consciousness in December or January. Our family, our church, his family and church and many friends and others prayed for John to improve, wake up and gain strength. About the second week in February, John woke up. His doctors said it was a miracle. He will finally be moved out of ICU this week after two and a half months.

Do you tell your family and friends how much you love them while you can? John lives in Ohio so I only see him once or twice a year, but he always says, “I love you.” If you had to Go Home today, would you have said the things you wanted to say? And, when God smiles and warms your life with proof of his existence, as he did in John’s life, do you give thanks, or do you think, “Well, after all that’s God’s job?” Let us remember to give thanks daily for the miracles he has done in our lives and the ones he has given us to love. Can you believe it, God loves even you and me. He wants to be in our lives, listening to and answering our prayers! We are his children and he is a loving father. Let us pray a prayer of thanksgiving:

“Oh Father God, you breathe health into our body and life into our soul. Holy, holy, holy is your name. Your kingdom is at hand when we invite Jesus, your son, to dwell within us and the Holy Spirit takes up residence there. Then, we are truly a temple of your earthly presence, not for our sake or glory, but for yours. We thank you, God, for our answered prayers and seek your forgiveness for our shameful lack of gratitude when we forget to pray a prayer of thanksgiving. You send blessings down all around us like the gentle rain from heaven and soak into our being like moisture on a thirsty land. And still, we do not thank you. Forgive us Father, for we have neglected our worship of you and have limited our prayers to “give me . . .”, or “grant me . . .” with no thought to praising and thanking you. And yet, we know that you live in the praises of your people, for your Word has said it is so. We ask nothing for ourselves today. We just stand with uplifted hands to you, praising you and thanking you for blessing us with love and health and peace and grace and mercy. In the name of Jesus our Savior and Redeemer we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2009 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”

GOD'S GIFT OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER

Today is Presidents’ Day. We have admiration for some and aggravation for others. However, they were and are our presidents and the office of The President still deserves our respect. The policies of the president of the United States, touch the lives of everyone around the world.
Many of us non-presidential types feel we have no influence, no talent at all, nothing to contribute to the world. My Dear Ones, you most certainly do. You have presidential power to completely change the life of another. In the book of Esther 4:14, she was told: “Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Sully Sullenberger, the Captain of flight 1549, said he believes that all of his training and experience up to that day last month, were a preparation for landing that airplane on the Hudson River, saving 155 souls - for just such a time as this. You may never know whose life you touch, but you are the one person God has intrusted with the soul of another, to safely land them at the footstool of Our Lord, for just such a time as this. And the good news is, you don’t have to worry about it because it isn’t about you, it’s about God, and His work in your life that will draw others to Him. Praise His name if we don’t know who we have touched. We don’t need to know who, or when, or under what circumstances we are used. We don’t need an earthly reward or recognition for what God has done through us. Just let Him shine and we are all blessed. Let us pray:

“Our loving father, we praise your name and give thanks for your love. We know that we have had a hole in our heart that only you can completely fill. Because of our pain, we know that others experience the same need. With no personal awareness, we pray that this is the day that you use us for your purpose, to call others to you, at such a time as this. Forgive us for thinking that we had to do something, that we had to chose the soul to be saved and the circumstances under which we could be used. We know you provide paths to holiness every day, completely beyond our awareness. Finally, we are willing vessels of your Holy Spirit, bringing you to an ailing world for the building of your kingdom. We just pray, oh Lord, that you receive all the glory and honor. For we know, if we try to claim credit, our arrogance will nullify the entire blessing. May you be lifted up so the soul who looks to us can be brought up out of their despair and shine brightly within the brilliance of your light. In the name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2009 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”

. . . THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

With Valentines Day next Saturday, our thoughts this week turn to love. Many of us think of Eros, or romantic love, desire, when the middle of February comes around. Dear ones, we cannot completely, wholly love another unless we have agape love, selfless love, the love God has for us. On this Valentines Day, seek out the Lover of your Soul, seek and you will find. Once God has filled your heart, it expands to include so many others. Believe the promises of Christ are for you. Believe that God’s love is . . . for you. Believe that you are His very own. You have to wait no more. You are already His! Let us pray:

“Dear loving Father, you are the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Heavenly Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Christ. Breathlessly holy is your name. May your Holy Spirit of love come to live in my heart this very day, at this very time. I seek and accept your will for my life and the lives of those I love. This week, oh Father, I think of love. May love be the focus of my life each and every day, not just one. Fill me so full of your agape love that I spill over with kindness, generosity of spirit, and love onto everyone around me, like a fresh mountain stream in the springtime. Forgive me when I have withheld my love and the manifestation of your love as I have walked my daily walk with you. For, where I go, I take you with me. I either carry that love well or I carry it poorly. I claim Jesus’s promises of the indwelling Holy Spirit and invite Love into my heart this day, this week. For these blessings, this anointing, I pray that you receive all the glory. In the name of my savior and King, Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
Doris

Copyright 2009 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU

All around me, I receive prayer requests from people going through difficult situations at work, at home, in the community, even in their church. We pray earnestly for their release from these unjust circumstances and for their strength in living each day and seeing the problem through. But, we often forget to pray for the one who does the persecuting. If we pray, just as sincerely, for the one who is making our lives miserable, we all benefit. The persecutor’s heart can change, followed by their behavior, followed by their words - in that order - behavior usually changes before the language does. It’s a win/win situation. Let this week’s prayer be your own Love Dare (term borrowed from a book by that title). I dare you to pray for your adversary, at this time, on this first day of February. Let us pray:

“All mighty God, who parts the sea and raises the dead in body, we pray for those who are dead in heart. May your kingdom be alive in us and in those who persecute us, just as it is in the high Heavens. On this day, at this very time, we pray for the innocent, those who weigh heavy on our hearts, those who live under the thumb of someone else. We lift their pain to you. Give them strength to withstand the world’s deception. Touch their lives so clearly that they know you are there with them. Also, we pray that you forgive their persecutor, their lies and oppressive attitude, that the one dead in heart and spirit may have a life that blossoms with your love. We pray that the offender may be lifted up and receive all the blessings you have in store for them, that they may become the very best them that they can possible be and that they finally walk honestly with you. Forgive us when we have wished them ill, for they are your children too. We lift them up in love, that they may stand before your amazing, precious face. We know that you can transform lives. For these blessings,we pray that you receive all the glory and honor from their transformation. We believe and claim the promises of Christ, that you will be there with us in the deepest pit and that you will forgive and bless the one who placed us or our loved one there, that their heart and soul may be healed. In the name of your son, our redeemed, Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
Doris
“Copyright 2009 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to his love. Let me tell you mine.”