BE-ATTITUDES

“What are you going to be for Halloween?” Every third grader was asked that question last week for this very day. I would like to ask, “What are you going To Be?”

We know that the forms of the verb “to be” are: I am; You are; He/She/It is; We are; You are; They are. From Matthew 5, we read that Jesus gave nine attitudes of the faithful. I will list three here so you can get the flavor of his words. Please read them all in Matthew 5. 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Did you notice? It isn’t Blessed are those who wish to be poor in spirit; Blessed are those who might mourn; or Blessed are those who become meek . . . They already ARE (a form of the verb “to be”).

From Jesus.org we learn that Blessed means: “It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ.”

To have a Be-Attitude, we must seek first the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in our lives, and the saving power of Jesus Christ, THEN we will have the attitudes of a Christian believer. We never seek first to own the kingdom of heaven, or receive comfort as in free from care, or to inherit the earth. First, we pray for the Christian Be-Attitudes and all else follows. When we have an attitude of being Christian, not speaking Christianity, or faking Christianity, then all these things will be our blessing. No matter what happens to us, we will be happy in the Lord inside. Let us pray:

“Father God, Abba-Daddy to our Savior Jesus, we are amazed by your blessings! We ask this very moment that your Holy Spirit come and make its home in our lives. Fill us to overflowing with your presence that we may Be Christ-filled. Forgive us when we have had the Be-Not attitude of seeking our own best interest first. Today—we choose You. Today—we choose to follow Jesus. Today—we welcome the indwelling Holy Spirit in our lives. Today, we choose a Be-Attitude. For all these blessings, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

TUESDAY - THE OTHER MONDAY

My Monday morning is usually spent in writing my Only-Line Devotional and Prayer. Yesterday, however, I spent the first day of a two-day retreat in Indianapolis with other members of a Christian board of which I am a member. But, the beauty of Mondays, like all beginnings, is that we can begin anywhere. It doesn’t matter what our circumstances are, God gives each of us another beginning. There are as many excuses for not living a life of service to God as there are those of us who give them, but none of it matters. All we have to do is accept the gift of a new day. Let light shine into your new birthday in Christ. Let us pray:

“Father God, we praise your holy name. We pray that this is the day when we begin, begin again, or again and again, so that you may take over our lives as King of Kings. Give us courage for the tasks ahead for we live in difficult times. While we walk through this troubled world, let each of us bring your love, your peace, and your healing to others along the way. Help us love the unloving, care for those who reject our care, and sing songs of praise to you to those who are not ready to listen. May we be able to teach those who believe they know all the stories, love those who think they perfectly love, and forgive those who have not asked for our forgiveness. The path we walk will not be easy, but with you at our side, it will be the way of Love and Life. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son and our redeemer we pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

My novel: LENGTH OF DAYS - THE AGE OF SILENCE also an eBook - available at Barnes&Noble.com, Amazon.com, and other outlets.

For information and to view the book trailer, go2
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/DorisRapp-1207656-length-ofdays-the-age-silence/

SILENTLY SERVE

How many times have you had to say, “I’m sorry, I cannot possibly take on another job?” How many times do you believe you were misunderstood?

Most of us want to make sure everyone knows how busy we are. First, we believe they will surely understand why we have to say, “No.” They won’t. Second, we may secretly want them to realize how important we are. It won’t happen. We are but foot-soldiers in God’s army. The more responsibility we are given, the less people will understand, because we will get farther away from their experience. People tend to measure other people’s work, on the scale of their own value system. When we are doing God’s work, we and God are in it together. God is Other and He is in an “Other” place, a place the world cannot understand. To take on God’s work, is to be misunderstood by the world. Perhaps that is why God speaks to us in secret, because we are to respond in secret and silently serve Him.

Let me remind you of the Secret Prayer I have encouraged many to pray each day. It will be our prayer for today. Let us pray:

“Father God, wholly holy and precious is your name. At the mention of your name, people are drawn into your presence. May your kingdom come to dwell within us, that we may be your servants. We accept that the world will not understand us. We know we must walk our walk on our own and serve in your service as individual warriors for the cause of Christ and your kingdom. We ask to be drawn near to your strength and fellowship when we feel alone in our walk, for no one can take up your cross for us. The task was already fulfilled by Christ. We ask to serve you this very day, by offering to you our silent prayer . . . ‘Father God, I pray that I may say or do the very words or acts that someone needs today, so that I may be your shadow of blessing to someone here on earth. And—I do not want to know when it happens, with whom it happens, or under what circumstances it happens. I do not wear glory well, so I pray that all glory and honor may go to you Father God. May only Christ be seen upon the earth wherever I am sent, for you are pure love, pure healing, and the only giver of true Salvation. Forgive me when I have tried to claim you, when I should have been proclaiming you. In the precious name of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ I pray.’ Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

WHEN GOD KISSES EARTH

They are absolutely beautiful! The trees in the woods have begun to turn orange and crimson, and send golden beams across the fields they border. God has truly kissed the earth with the colors of His Autumn.

Do we leave kisses and blessings when we pass by? Or, do we leave angst and chaos in our wake? I know we live in very difficult times. Some of our friends and loved ones have no job and those who do often put in very long hours. Often, there is no time or energy left for common kindness. When we have that many demands, we are robbing ourselves and others of the joy of living they, and we, deserve.

Why not change this beautiful season into a glorious time of caring? No matter how busy or worried you are, take mini-moments out of each day to close your eyes and see God kiss the earth with love. Everywhere He touches, colors burst forth with vigor, hope and inspiration. Breathe in the freshness of His promise, as he blesses our country with His presence and the dawn of new prosperity. Accept that His definition of prosperousness may not be ours. We are only truly rich when we leave kisses of hope as we pass through. Our kindness can turn the world to gold again. Let us pray:

“Father God, you turn our gray into color and let us enjoy your holy presence. May your kingdom of hope and love come to us this very day. We ask, Father, that you fill us with the brightness and wealth of your Autumn, so that we might pass that rich joy and hope on to other. Forgive us when we get so busy, even doing YOUR work, that we have no time to draw strength from you. Then, we have to admit, that our hard work is for our own purposes, to draw praise and attention to ourselves, not to assist in the building of your kingdom. We ask for the power of your love to forgive those who have attacked our security and have tried to rob us of our hope. Fill us with the gold of your Autumn that we may help to build peace and security in others. May all glory be yours Father. In the precious name of your son, our savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

GOD'S PEACE OR MAN'S PEACE?

“It isn’t polite to argue about religion! I just want to keep the peace.” Have you ever heard that pronouncement before?

Giving testimony to the glorious work of God in your life is not argumentative. It is bearing witness. When you are sure of the facts and beliefs of His love and grace, your case is presented in love and within the peace God has promised. God’s peace, however, is not the peace that man would demand.

If you deny God, in order to keep man’s peace - “politically correctness” - you are turning your back on God’s peace, in favor of false peace, the rules of which are defined by others. Do you really want to turn over your peace of mind, heart, and soul, to a volatile pack of dogs, seeking only their own share of the meat thrown before them? And, believe me, that “share” is not divided equally. It is grabbed at, fought for, and dishonestly stolen from those who will not speak up for themselves or their God.

Give me God’s peace and I will willingly share it with others. For, it is not mine to possess but to give generously, and it will be replaced abundantly by our God who fills the world with His peace, for those who will claim it. Never argue religion. Gently go about sharing His love and peace with all those around you and He will honor Himself and you. Let us pray:

“Father God, giver and author of peace and love, we bow before your Holy name. May your kingdom of peace come to live within us, so that we may have nothing to share with others but You. Today is a new day. Our old habits have passed and have been selectively forgotten by You, because of your profound grace. We pray that we may discern when the world tries to manipulate us in favor of chaos, rather than seizing your peace. Give us the courage to testify, with quiet confidence, to the healing love you have given us. We acknowledge that people cannot hear us when we shout. Fill us with so much peace and love that it overflows our being and fills all those around us. Forgive us when we have been silent. That silence erodes the tether that links our hearts to yours. Jesus, Savior of our souls, has shown us the way. We ask to walk on the Way with Him. We pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2011 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.