MEMORIAL DAY

Dictionary.reference.com defines memorial as “something designed to preserve the memory of a person or event.” People who stay in a perpetual state of anger, pain, and sadness, choose to remember the negative aspects of a person or situation. They memorialize the dark side of their past Pop psychology call them the walking wounded. The veterans of the heart wars cannot move on, or even reflect on the happy times of the past, because they have only repeated, reviewed, and rehearsed the pain of yesterday rather than the joy that was also present at the time. Those in perpetual pain memorialize their darkest moments, reliving each painful image, and bring the old pain into each and every new day. In order to move on, those who dwell in sadness must make a clear and decisive decision to focus on the happiness that coexisted with the sorrow of the past.

How? Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the Helmet of Salvation. When we put on the full armor of God (10) we can stand firm against the devil’s evil plans (to inflict our mind with pain and rob us of joy). The Helmet (the Crown) of Salvation is the crown worn by the high priest of the temple. Aaron, Moses’ brother, was the first high priest and God made him holy to do the work in the temple. Jesus is our high priest.

The Turban and the Holy Crown (Exodus 28:36-39) http://www.domini.org/tabern/highprst.htm .
“The Turban was made of white fine linen which signified righteous deeds (Revelation 19:8).” With the turban or helmet of the full armor of God, “the emphasis is on our mind, the covering of our thought processes, "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5) by taking "the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17). Our mind is the big problem.” When we dwell on past pain and injustice we focus on all things rotten in our lives.

“Attached to the Turban and upon the forehead of the high priest was the Crown, a gold plate on which ‘HOLY TO THE LORD’ was engraved.” God made the high priest Holy and pure. “This seal of God is legitimately there on the forehead of our Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. But for us, whom He has also made priests (Revelation 1:5-6), there is a clear indication that we are not just to be outwardly dressed up in Christ; He must transform us, by the renewing of our mind that we may prove the will of God: our sanctification (Romans 12:2 & I Thessalonians 4:3). We need to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, to put on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:23-24)!”

When we take on the Helmet of Salvation of Jesus Christ, we take on HIS nature of being HOLY TO THE LORD. We cannot stop our negative thoughts on our own but Christ can when we are willing to give up the pain of the past and give it to God through the blood of the lamb, our high priest, Jesus.

We may not want to lay down our bad thoughts. We may want to continue to punish ourselves and our loved ones around us whom we lash out at in our pain. We may cling to feelings of unfairness, disrespect, and no-one-is-as-perfect-as-me. How do we know we are wallowing in, and memorializing, our own ‘stinkin’ thinkin’? People may actually tell us that we are sounding negative. My uncle Ira said, “When I nearly run into someone with my car, I say, ‘Boy, they sure are a lousy driver.’ When I nearly have a second accident, I say, ‘I’d better watch out for all these bad drivers.’ When I have a third near mishap, I say, ‘I’d better watch out how I’m driving,’ acknowledging it is probably my own fault. When we are bombarded by negative thoughts, and are ready to admit it, we may not be able to overcome those thoughts on our own. Then, we can put on our Helmet of Salvation and turn our negative thinking over to Christ who has been sanctified, and repeat over and over, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” Let us pray:

“Father of life and truth, holy is your name, love is your very nature. May your spirit come to live in my heart this very day so that I may lay down painful thinking at your feet. For this very day, I pray that I may remember to put on your high priest, Jesus’, Helmet of Salvation on which the crown of gold is inscribed, “HOLY UNTO THE LORD.” May my thinking be transformed through Jesus, to Holy thinking, Holy unto you, Father. Forgive me when I have strengthen the hate and anger in my heart from past disappointments by rehearsing them over and over. I am ready to lay all that aside and live my life, and think my thoughts, Holy unto you. I cannot do this on my own but recognize that Jesus, my high priest is worthy of taking on all my negativity and lay it at your alter where it can be burned into a pure ash and smoke, to honor you and to seal the love of my children, family and those I meet. In the name of Jesus your son, my savior and high priest, 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.”

LIVE LOVED

I just finished reading Wm. Paul Young’s book, The Shack. Whether you have issues with this novel, the basic premise is that we should live each day knowing that God loves us - live loved.

Today, I had one of those interesting mornings, hanging on the telephone for hours (literally) while I got to the bottom of a charge on my phone bill. The financial lesson learned from all of that was, your phone carrier, ATT in our case, can put a block on third party biller - those lovely darlings who charge your phone for services of which you aren’t even aware. But, what is more important, the soul lesson I learned was an application of living loved. I was frustrated beyond reason as I waited on line for forty minutes only to be accidently cut off when a real person actually spoke to me. As my blood pressure rose, (it’s never good when you can actually feel the pressure in your nose), I made a decision to defuse. I repeated slowly and calmly, over and over, “I am loved. I am loved. I am loved.” I could have saved myself some b. p. points by remembering earlier, that in the grand scheme of life, a little time spent praising God while I waited on the phone line, was far better than welling up with anger. I also did a few isometric exercises of my abdominal muscles and should have an improved figure by the end of the day. Decide to praise rather than rage. Let us pray:

“Oh Father of all the world and everything therein, holy and precious is your name. The name of Lord God, the sweet name of Jesus Christ, Emanuel - God with us - always brings peace to my soul. I ask that you come and make your home in the temple of my soul, for you are the only one who can bring peace and joy to my heart. Forgive me when I have forgotten you and have tried to live each mundane experience on my one. Even the smallest task is better done when you are there loving me, showering me with your peace. I ask that you let me be aware of your love each day, a small glimpse of Glory, that I may rest in you. Give me so much love that it spills out on those around me, bubbling up, tipping over, splashing joy everywhere you send me. I pray that I might live my life loved, and that others might quietly see your love in and through me. I do not need to know whom I’ve touched, only that you touch through me. To you, oh God of Heaven and Earth, I give you all praise and glory. In the name of Jesus, who was the first to live loved, 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.”

THE BRUSH OF ANGEL WINGS

It matters not if this picture to the right is computer generated or actually captured on film. What is important is that angels are around us. And, the Holy Spirit does live within our lives when we invite him to make his home with us. From within our soul, he teaches us the truth of God. We were not created to worry or to be in pain. We were created to worship him. When we listen to the voice of God, the cares of the world no longer seem important. Let us enter into the Kingdom of God which has been made open to us by the sacrifice of Jesus. The kingdom of God is at hand. Let us pray:

“Father God, lover of my soul, holy is your name. We invite you to blow your breath into our lives and take up residence within us. Your very own physical breath already fills our lungs and feeds our body. Now we ask that your spiritual essence will come live within us, teaching, loving, protecting our soul. Forgive us when we have run from your shadow, fearing that we will lose ourselves if we were to actually embrace you. For that very purpose we were created, to become a reflection of you. May we forgive others for their weaknesses as you forgive the shortcoming of each of us. May we not be tempted to find self-serving avenues for your blessings but may we seek to serve you and your children with the bounties you bestow on us. For all these miracles of your love we give thanks. May you, not each of us, receive the glory that is yours, oh Father. In the name of your son, and by the power of his name, 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.”

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

Today is the National Day of Prayer. I know there are many people, lifting up one voice to God, in prayer for our country. God has blessed the United States of America with his love and protection, not so we can be better than other nations, but so we can be an inspiration to other countries. If we are brought down, in a mistaken idea that it will make the people of the world equal, then the whole earth will be populated with mediocre people with minds of dust and feet of clay. If we continue to be the very best people God has created us to be, and make room at the top for all those willing to work to achieve God-pleasing goals, we can be a world of people striving for the excellence God intended, for the betterment of all. Let us pray that we, as God’s people, may humble ourselves before him and seek his will. If it is God’s desire to do so, perhaps he will continue to spread his arms and gather his people to him and bless our country once again with the prosperity of heart and mind and creativity he loves to lavish on his children. Let us pray:

“Oh Father God, author of truth, liberty, law, and love, we humbly come before you with heads bowed low for we recognize our imperfections and pray for your forgiveness. We have been arrogant, believing that you have blessed our country while withholding your blessing to others. We beg your pardon and ask that you bless all people across the world who call upon your name and seek your peace on behalf of all. May your kingdom come to each heart that we may live with you, within the light of your love. May our country prosper again, with a renewed awareness of the responsibility that entails. We know we are to be humble servants of yours, leading all to the fountain that overflows with milk and honey. We pray for answers to our tough questions that we may be, not only guardians for the weak, but uplifters of those who need strength until they can stand with you on their own. We pray that no one be held down in order for us to be lifted up. We pray that there is room at your bountiful table for us all. Bless our country, in spite of ourselves, so that your lighthouse in a world of tumbling waves of pain, may once again send out its beacon of light and love, peace and prosperity. In the name of your blessed son, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ of the World, 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.”

FAMILY

Mothers Day is next Sunday and television programing is emphasizing families this week. I believe God created us to live in permanent families. The postmodern concept of rejecting marriage and family has not strengthened society by making each member independent. It has weakened it. Interdependence, the choice of relying on each other out of our strengths, is what family is about. One of the last lines of the movie, The Family Man, is “I choose us.” Let us all choose family during this week.
Plan a family game night, a togetherness walk, plant a family flower garden, bake cookies together, and shop for a bag of marbles (try the toy department or aquarium supplies) are a few suggestions. The most important addition is family devotional time. If lack of practice makes this uncomfortable for you, then begin slowly. Put a small clear bowl on the kitchen table and your little bag of colored marbles. At each meal, family members take one marble each and place it in the bowl while saying a specific blessing for their family. “God, please bless my family with harmony today.” Keep a little autograph book with each blessing, with the author and date, so you can enjoy re-reading it for years to come. And, every day, pray for each family member.

“Our Father God, you are the creator of families. Holy is your name and holy is the family of God. Some of your children have not grown up in a loving family and for this we grieve with you. May we offer your love and nurturance to them, that they may feel your family around them. For our own family we offer thanks and praise to you, oh God. We know that the only earthly possession we have, that goes with us into eternity, is our family. Remind me of my commitment to family time this week, oh Father, so that our family may be drawn together in love. I need nothing for myself except that each of my family members, which I now call by their name, be lifted up to receive your blessings and love, rich and pilled up, abundant and overflowing. Keep them from harm. Heal them from their pain and deliver them from the world’s hurts. Bring peace and calm, love and laughter, and fists full of joy to their lives. Bless their work and their play, their going out and their coming in and draw them into your presence, oh God. In the name of your son, our savior, 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.”