THE LAST OF THE YEAR - THE FIRST OF THE NEXT

I sit here watching the snow that came down yesterday, a wonderful gift for my son and grandchildren. They came for a post-Christmas lunch with a dusting of white on the ground and were able to sled down Memorial Park Hill by four p.m. They had a ball! And that’s the way the year had gone as well. Some days we’ve had a dusting of joy and a sprinkle of angst while other days there has been an avalanche of sorrow followed by the peace and quiet of a mountain at rest. And, all the while, God has been there comforting and preserving our soul. My prayer for all of you, is that you will see the footprints of the Savor walking with you as you wind down 2009 and embark on the new 2010. Life continues to amaze me as I see His miracles, large and small, fall down like snowflakes and bless my every day. Let us pray:

“Oh loving father God, Holy is your name. We thank you for the miracle of Christmas when you stepped into the physical world and lived as one of us, your children. We pray that we may be aware of your presence in our lives each day so that we might experience a little of Heaven right here on earth. Each day we get to start again and in a few days, we will turn the calendar over to start again. You have blessed us with thousands of do overs and yet we pass on so many opportunities to make things right again. Forgive us for our laziness and our unwillingness to make you the center of our lives. May the new year bring a fresh yearning for you and the simplicity of saying Yes, here I am Lord. Use me. In the name of your precious son, our Lord and savior Jesus, the Christ Child, 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.”

NO ROOM INN YOUR DAY?

There are four shopping days left ‘til Christmas! I dash around town trying to complete family tasks in preparation for Christmas but can fly right past the manger that awaits the baby Jesus. I could be trite and remind us all that Jesus is the reason for the season. But, there was no room in the Inn for Jesus and his parents over two-thousand years ago and my own yawn at the overused phrase is testimony to the fact I may have left no room for the Christ Child inn my own heart today. Parties and friends, cookie baking and green bean casseroles are all wonderful at Christmas time but if my hurry has taken my focus from the miracle of his birth, I have missed the whole point. Send out the song this very day that Almighty God slept in the hay of a lowly manger in Bethlehem. In all his might and majesty, he came to earth in the form of a helpless human baby for the express purpose of saving me from myself. And, all the angels sang “Alleluia,” the Christ has come! Let us pray:

“Almighty God and father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we sing praises to your glorious name. Alleluia, the long awaited Christ has come! Forgive us for wrapping our minds around the earth expression of Christmas rather than the awesome miracle of the Incarnate Christ. We pray that on this day and the days to come, that we can smell hay in the air, hear angels in song, and feel your love and grace in our hearts. In the name of Jesus Christ our Savior 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.”

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Now let’s see, where id I put that paper? I’m going to bake cookies for a cookie exchange with members of a women’s group at church. It’s an easy recipe that starts with a chocolate cake mix. Could it be easier? Then I thought of our preparations for the coming of the Christ child and the two preparations came together, like sweet cookie dough.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (Prepare your heart with the warmth of prayer,
Bible reading, and the glow of the Christ candle
to make sure Christ is at your base.)

1 large egg (Mix in thankfulness for the life he has giving you.)

1/4 c. water (Remember your baptism, the promise of your edication
to a walk with the Lord.)

1/4 c. oil (Be anointed with oil for service - bringing love to
others.)

1 cup chocolate chips (Share the sweetness of little blessings as you go
about your day.)

Mix all ingredients together. (Share your love, your Christmas spirit, and your
presence with others in your family, your church,
and a broken world.)

Use small ice cream scoop or (Divide your time and energy equally with worship,
large serving spoon on cookie love of God and his son Jesus, and rest for the sheet, makes around 17 cookies the renewal of your soul, your mind, and your
or use small spoon and make body.)
smaller cookies. (Remember, not every cookie worth making,needs
to be baked this year.)

Bake with love for 15 minutes, or until your soul is done in the middle.
Let us pray:

“Dear Father God, you gave us the only gift worth having at Christmas. You gave us your son, Jesus Christ. We take time this season to honor his birth by placing birthday candle on our trees and around our homes. We have one Christmas wish Father. May we be fresh Christmas cookies for those around us. In the precious name of our Lord, your sweet son, Jesus Christ we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

FOLLOW THAT STAR

I crept along behind a lightweight truck that was zigzagging wildly across the road in front of me. The highway was covered with ice with a white dusting of snow on top that hid the danger beneath. I had to drive to a meeting just north of Indianapolis, eighty-nine miles from home. I saw several cars in the ditch but the one behind me caused me more concern. A large semi truck swerved off to the side at an intersection I had just eased through. I had put myself in God’s hands and arrived safely, more than two hours from my safe and dry home.

Our walk with God is similar. When we are called to follow, we know the end destination, but have no idea what we will encounter along the way, neither the dangers nor the blessings. We hesitate and think we will only follow the Lord after we have figured out all the problems and solved the obstacles along the way. Just like the wise men who followed a brilliant star, we are called to follow through our dessert, trusting in God to keep us safe while on our way. Let us all remember during this Christmas season, as Christians, we too are star followers. Let us pray:

“Oh Father God, you hung the stars in place and created the world with the power of your spoken word; Holy is your name. I pray that your presence may come to dwell within us, as your physical presence came to a lowly stable two-thousand years ago, drawing your people to Heaven. Sadness overwhelms us as we see your people turning their backs on you while families, our country, and the world are going through very difficult times. I pray that today, in such a time as this, we may have the courage to follow you. We accept that we will never be perfect people, only obedient travelers. As Star Followers, we gladly accept the baton from the walker ahead of us, not knowing what we will encounter along the way. We eagerly anticipate your blessings and the exquisiteness of your solutions to the problems we will encounter. We put on the comfortable sandals worn by your son, our Savior Jesus, and begin the miracle of walking in Christ’s footsteps, lighted only by your star dust. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”