GO INTO THE FIELDS

Okay friends, let’s talk. The election is in eight days. I won’t even ask if you plan to vote. How could you not? It is time to get back out in the field and stop waiting for others to till and plant, cultivate and harvest and heal our land.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV©1984)

For too long, we have chosen sides rather than solutions. We have excluded rather than included. We have evaded the truth and made up whatever story advanced our own cause. Let this be the day that pulling our country apart like a popular video game comes to an end! We must repair not despair. We must love our country into wholeness.

It is not about us any more. It’s about those who come after us. How will they know the history of this great nation if we purge the books of those who founded this glorious, God-inspired nation? How will they have examples to look up to if those who went before us are all brought down to one level? Our heroes were not better than us nor were they perfect. They took extraordinary circumstances and applied God-inspired solutions to bring about truly blessed results. They are examples of humble servants who sought to build a country whose architect was God. The Almighty used them in spite of themselves because they were willing to be used. They were given a dream and a focus and would not wait for others to do the hard work and sacrifice for them. They were busy in the fields of our country.

For this vitally important election, vote early and spend the rest of the day driving others to the poles. Pray and seek the face of God; then, get out in the field and make a difference. Let us pray:

"Father God of Glory and Love, we bow before you with humble hearts. We are not wise enough to find the hard solutions for this generation on our own, but you are. We know that loving one another, regardless of what we are called or the lies told about us, is what is needed to heal our country. Give us the courage to speak truth to lies. We also know that you have called us to stand in the gap between those who would try to destroy these great freedoms of ours and others who seek to create a new order that is based on either no god or other gods. We must stand in the breach with spines of steal, open hearts, and willing hands. May we not fall for deception disguised as new truth. May we be open to correct the sins of the past by never letting them happen again, not by uprooting the blessings that were also placed there. We know we can follow a voice confidently spoken but empty of solutions offered for all. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may discern truth and the wisdom and courage to pass it along in the fields of our neighborhood. In the name of Jesus, your son and our redeemer, we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.
"Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp

www.holdingontosandjournalofjamesrapp.blogspot.com
www.directbuybooks.com
www.lengthofdays2112.blogspot.com

STOP THE LIES!

Stop the lies and inflammatory speech! In less than two weeks, the United States will elect a president who will serve the people of our country for the next four years. Some of the rhetoric is hostile and prejudicial. It sounds ignorant and dismissive.

" . . . speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4: 15 (NIV©1984)

Some dialog is honest and loving but labeled hateful by others to discredit and defame the one who has merely spoken truth, as they see it, in love.

The people of our nation have been silenced so as not to offend someone who may have a different opinion. Do not silence truth, but speak it in love. We know "they" will lie and call us names in order to silence us but we must speak out, if for nothing more than to hear all opinions spoken without being yelled or laughed at.

In Length of Days - The Age of Silence, the people of our country have closed their mouths and minds to truth for one-hundred years (2112). Then, someone breaks the silence and the hope of a free society is kindled in the hands of Christiana Applewait and her friends.

Learn what happens when people are silenced. Read the eBook: Length of Days - The Age of Silence, available at www.amazon.com or www.bn.com. No eReader? No problem. Barnes and Noble have free apps to read on your computer, Nook, or android.

Also posted at www.lengthofdays2112.blogspot.com

GOD THE FATHER OR GOD THE PUNISHER

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." John 14: 6-7 (NIV ©1984)

What is a father? A father is tall enough and strong enough to stand in the gap between his home and family, and the outside world. He shields his family from harm. A father loves and forgives, and holds his children accountable for their actions while bestowing grace and love out of the goodness of his heart. In John 14, Jesus describes God, not just as creator and authority over the world, but as the giver of fatherly love, our Abba—our Daddy.

God in the Old Testament is more of a punitive God, our God of laws and rules, more rigid and distant. God, who wore the face of Jesus Christ, is a loving and forgiving God, our Daddy. No one can come to the "Father - God," the benevolent God, except through Jesus. Father-God gave voice and status to women and children as Jesus spoke to the women around him and drew the small ones onto his lap.

In Jeremiah 59:21, God told His children, "Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them," declares the LORD.

As our nation abandons our belief in God, and our willingness to walk in the way of the Father, we may be gradually turning our lives over to those who either believe in no god or those who believe in a punitive, rigid, unforgiving one whose followers give no power to anyone but a select few.

I am certainly not Doris-tradamus. I do not pretend to know the future. But, I do believe that the West is different from the East because of Jesus’ influence on this side of the world which gave us the ability to love those who are not like ourselves and welcome them into the family of God where God is our Father.

There is a debate this evening to help citizens of the United States decide which presidential candidate will help draw us closer to the family of God. We need a president who can trust in God to stand in the gap between our nation and threats from outside. Some would choose to take down our great nation and place us on a level equivalent with poorer nations. Then who would rescue the stranded, feed the poor and heal the broken? We are a nation that has been a shining light, drawing others to opportunity and freedom and including them into our nation-family. We soon have an opportunity to choose our president, a man we believe will further the cause of our nation.

Let us pray to have open ears and receptive hearts while we listen to tonight’s debate, discernment truth when truth is spoken. May we have the energy and courage to help get out the vote for the candidate we believe will continue to promote the cause of freedom, love and real hope for which our country has always stood. Let us pray:

"Our father, Abba, you are the very life we live and the air we breathe. We live in you while you live in those of us who invite you in. Holy is your name. We are in very serious and dangerous times, Father. Our country is at a sharp pinnacle, where tremendous decisions must be made. Open our hearts to receive the words you have for us; open our minds that we may not be closed; and, give us discernment to know the truth when we hear it spoken. We know that this election requires more than the casting of our vote. We must be willing to spread the word of freedom and help others get to the poles. We know, if we do not stand together for freedom, we will surely fall for a rubble heap of lost hopes, dead dreams, and tarnished monuments that represented the greatness that once was. May we build new and stronger dreams by remembering the lessons taught long ago. Let us listen for the voice that lifts us to individual freedom. Strong citizens can lend a hand and lift up the less fortunate. A weakened and dependent populous has nothing to offer but want. May we have your wisdom and discernment. In the name of Jesus, your son, we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp

www.holdingontosandjournalofjamesrapp.blogspot.com
www.directbuybooks.com
www.lengthofdays2112.blogspot.com

WHILE ON THE WAY

"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed." Luke 17:11-14 (NIV © 1984)

Is it the destination or the trip that defines our life? I believe it is both. In Luke 17, the Bible tells us that Jesus had a destination, Jerusalem. However, the miracles happened along the way. He had the opportunity to heal ten men of leprosy. But, if he had said, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, "I’m late! I’m late, for a very important date. No time to say ‘Hello - Goodbye,’ I’m late," Jesus would never have seen the men and the ten would never have been healed. Do we act more like Jesus, or the White Rabbit?

If our eye is on the end-goal: money or position, recognition or power, we will miss every blessing that God has placed for us, like dewdrops of gems, along our way. If we are blind to what we pass, we will have missed out on life and we may have created havoc along our way. The Way is as important as the city we walk toward. If we walk in distance and indifference, we will never reach the portal to the Lord. Which is more important, to stay in the Ritz at eventide, or to gather our loved ones around us and camp-out in the back yard around the warmth of the fire? Keep your eye on the destination, and your heart on the path. Let us pray:

"Holy Father, Love Divine, illuminate this path of mine. Your kingdom is our home and we ever press onward toward your outstretched arms. May we never forget to speak words of healing as we walk along and gather in our loved ones to make the journey with us. It is our prayer that we never contribute to the darkness. May this be the day that you fill us with your light so that the way will be lit wherever we walk. Forgive us for hurrying past and not stopping to meet the needs of the ones around us, for we know how badly we too need your touch. Lead us along the path so clearly that we do not have to watch our feet but gaze with love at all we see, stop to heal, and find our way back to you. In the name of Jesus, whose footsteps we follow, we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp

http://www.holdingontosandjournalofjamesrapp.blogspot.com
For Holding on to Sand - From the Interactive Journal of James Rapp, go to www.directbuybooks.com . It is also available on Kindle at Amazon.com and NOOK and other eReaders at www.bn.com

 

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:21 (NIV©1984)

"I’m almost finished with this project. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel." I’ve said the same words. I’m sure you also know those who have described going through a difficult time, nearing completion, and feeling the relief of seeing "the light at the end of the tunnel."

Through our study of the Bible, we are able to read the events of the day—thousands of years ago. When God led the people through the never-ending sands of the desert, he led them by his physical presence in the form of a cloud that could be seen by day and a pillar of fire which lit their way by night—through the "dark tunnel."

Some may say, if God led them all the way, why did they wander in circles for forty years? Perhaps they still had desert lessons to learn: trust, a change in attitude, and growing faith. They actually did not wander if they were following God’s cloud and light. They were being obedient.

When we are in the grip of hard lessons, long difficult tasks, or joyous work in which we have grown wearing of the doing, we may not see the presence of God around us, leading and loving us through to completion. Yet, he is there. It is only when the pressure subsides, as we near the end of our responsibilities, that we begin to see and feel the peace of God—the light at the end of the tunnel. It had always been there, even though we had not seen it, because our eyes had been clouded with the burdens around us. Still, the light was there all along.

There is a beautiful song, He Was There All the Time, by Gary S. Paxton, that describes God’s presence.

He was there all the time
He was there all the time
Waiting patiently in line
He was there all the time.

God is our light at the end of the tunnel! The great news I have for you today is, he was there all the time. Let us pray:

"Father of Love, we praise you for being the Light that guides us always. May this be the day we see your light, even in the darkest places of our lives. May we one day see Heaven, flooded in the light of your glory. Forgive us when we have chosen to focus on the darkness, when we believe that we must keep our head down and our eyes on the task until we, alone, have pronounced it "done." When, all along, you were there to light our work and giving us peace. Holy is your presence, full of peace and grace. Today—we choose to see you beside us, walking before us, and leading our way. Blessed be the name of God and your son Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp

www.holdingontosandjournalofjamesrapp.blogspot.com
www.directbuybooks.com

 

STEP INTO THE LIGHT

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 14:6 (NIV©1984)

Crawl upon the lap of Abba—Daddy—Father God and live within the light of his grace and love. The only way to "Father God," full of forgiveness, truth and life, is through his son, Jesus Christ.

I will not pretend to know the heart of other religions or other gods, for I have been called to follow Jesus as my path to Heaven and the Lord God. Jesus is my example of a life lived in Light. Which do you choose, God of Glory and Grace, or a punitive, rigid and unbending god of wealth, fame, self-service or all other things of the world? It has always been our choice. Let us pray:

"Father of Grace and Love, we bow before you oh Holy One. We pray to be surrounded and filled by your truth and light just as the angels in Heaven enjoy. We pray that this is the day we see Truth and set aside all false treasures of the Earth. Today, we choose you Abba, and begin to walk the path that leads to you behind the imprint of the sandals of your son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen"

Doris "God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp