A Fellowship of Believers

"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18: 19-20 (NIV)

What a wonderful weekend, filled with old friends and new faces, all praying together! Washington Center U.M.C., our little country church, sponsors a Christian Women’s Retreat in the month of love each year. These good women learn from our speaker and each other, and lift up prayers for those around them, near and far.


"Okay, okay, I’ve heard all that before," some might say. Probably so. But, have you experienced Christian fellowship before? You’re afraid to enter into a prayer group? You already have.


Step One: These prayers are posted on www.prayertherapyrapp.blogspot.com every Monday, and while you are reading it from your inbox, people from all over the world are joining you in prayer. So, step one has begun.


When you are ready, Step Two is entering into prayer with others: at church, in the community, over the phone and even at work. If you are not a church goer, slip into a sanctuary and find a spot in the back pew near the exit. Over time, when comfort sets in and new friends are made, you can move forward and even join small groups. If you do not feel welcome, smile, say a prayer for them, and find a new church. You are not praying to the people; you are praying with the people, in the name of our dear Lord.


Some Christians will use words or terms with which you are not familiar. That does not make them heathens. That only means they have a different vocabulary than yours. Do not defame the body of Christ by ridiculing their conversations. Either learn from them, teach them your ways as well, and join in their Christian Fellowship, or move to another group. Do not leave anger or discord behind. It has no place in the body of Christ. You will find a group of Christian friends.


You are welcome to post a prayer request on the prayer therapy blog, or send me an email at dorisgainesrapp@gmail.com or by return email to this address. For the personal Christian contact you long for, call or visit your local church or synagogue and enter into a prayer time with the sweet souls who worship there. Trust the Lord and he will find two or three others with whom you can pray. Let us pray now:


"Father Almighty, Lord of heaven and of earth, you live within our praises. We know your promises and we trust that you will hear our prayers and answer them within your will for our lives. Sometimes we feel lonely and fail to remember the love of those who believe in you. May this be the day when we seek your friends, your face and your grace. Forgive us when we believe we know all there is to know about you, and therefore, others are wrong or even evil. Or, we believe we are not "good enough" to bask in you presence. Bring your love into our hearts and insight to our understanding. May we never bring grief to you by bruising others who call you God, while arrogantly believing that we know it all. Fill us so much with you, that our silly egos are burned by your glory and replaced by your own self. In the name of Jesus, your son, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine." Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp


Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com

Sing a Song of Love

Our friend Paul, got himself into many difficulties, all for the cause of Jesus Christ. On his second missionary trip, he and Silas were preaching the Gospel and were arrested and beaten for their sharing of His love. But, they didn’t complain about the conditions in their jail cell. They spent their time “praying and singing hymns to God.” (Acts 16:25)

Would I have done the same? Honestly, probably not. I would have thrown the grandest pity-party the jailers would have ever seen.

“It’s too hot, or too cold.”
“My lazy boy chair is missing or occupied by a bigger and meaner inmate.”
“Can you believe it? There’s no Internet connection in this cell.”
“People in the corner, cry all night long and keep me awake. You know how I need my sleep.”
“Sing songs? Yeah-right.”
“Why should I pray? If God heard me, I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

Paul and Silas may have lifted prayers of thanks for the amount of time they were able to preach before they were caught. Or, better yet, perhaps words of prayer and praise were always on their lips. It may be that songs of praise were buried so deeply in their hearts, they could not help but bubble out, no matter the adversity. Like Jesus said, “I tell you . . . if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19: 40) Are the words of Christ and songs of praise tucked deeply enough in your heart that they must sing forth even without thought, filter or planning? Let us pray:

“Holy Father, composer of the song of songs, we lift our voices to you. May our whole world be so full of angel songs that we are surrounded by their music every moment of our days. May the songs sink all the way to our inner being, so that our marrow boasts the “bone knowledge” of you. I ask this day, that you fill me with your love so fully, that all of me is pushed aside by all of you. Forgive me for the many times you have sung to me, but I preferred the world’s music. May the melodies of darkness, be heard no more. Let only the songs of light and life and love fill me so full, the lyrics and melodies overflow on all those around me. In the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son, I pray. Amen”
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Escape from the Belfry is available at Cokesbury: www.cokesbury.com, www.archwaypublishing.com bookstore, www.amazon.com and www.b&n.com and others.

Website:  www.dorisgainesrapp.com

Life's Olympics

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

The Olympics are being played now but this is not a discussion about hotel rooms in China or bathroom facilities. It is about you and me. Are we fighting the good fight and finishing the race? Notice, scripture does not ask if we won the race — if we’ve earned the gold? It asks merely if we finished the race, if we’ve fought the good fight.

There are some fights not worth fighting. That doesn’t mean you’ve lost that battle. It means it is not worth entering the contest in the first place. Some people will egg us on, trying to pick an argument. If there is no debatable point to be made, there is no debate. Let it rest!

We win more than a gold medal when we complete the work the Lord has given, when we have kept the faith. But our reward is far more precious than gold or silver. It is a crown of righteousness - a symbol that our race, our work that we have faithfully engaged in, is right in the eyes of God. Our job is to be obedient to the task, not first, not famous or revered. It is the doing, consistently through life — not being done, that is the work the Lord gives us. We finish the race when we cross the finish line and run into the arms of the Lord. Let us pray:

“Holy Father, designer of the course, the uniform and the spirit, we bow before your Holy name. May the race we run, be in complete synchronicity with your will. For today, may I not seek the gold, but love the light of your presence. Forgive me for each time I have placed fame over service, and trophies over treasure. Set my feet of the path that will lead me home. In the name of Jesus, my Lord I pray. Amen”
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Escape from the Belfry is available at Cokesbury: www.cokesbury.com, www.archwaypublishing.com bookstore, www.amazon.com and www.b&n.com and others.

The Christ - Not a Groundhog

"The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, ‘Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.’" Mark 14: 60 - 62 (NIV)
　
Yesterday was Groundhog Day. Does it seem odd to anyone else, that the media will cover a groundhog that predicts the weather, will sometimes report the messages of the prophets of old, but will discredit the teaching of the Son of God?


I know, the Lord may have alienated himself from current reporters by responding to — "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" — when Jesus answered, "I am . . ."


Today, there is no greater god than "self." There is no greater sin than placing "self" above others. To know who you are and whose you are, is to place "self" above the lost and wandering masses. That is not acceptable. To the, "everyone is reduced to the lowest common denominator" police — that is boasting. Jesus is not acceptable because he was saying, "I know who I am and I know my father’s plans for me."


When the world would rather lift up a furry rodent than the Son of God, our prayer challenge is placed before us. Let us pray"


"Holy father, creator of all there is, we bow before your precious name. We wait the coming of your Heavenly Kingdom and chose to live today as if your coming were now. Dwelling with you in the Now, makes today holy and makes us aware of you. We accept the challenge to believe for more than ourselves alone, to speak for those who have no voice, and to quietly be who you have called us to be — and know it. We need no one’s validation but yours. While others seek a groundhog to tell them about tomorrow, we seek you to tell us about today. May we dwell each day in the beauty of your presence. Groundhogs are in our world, but they do not prophesy. You alone hold the mysteries of the universe and for that, we lift you up in praise. Give each of us the courage to live our lives as you call us to be, with no permission from others. In the name of Jesus, the Son of you, the Blessed One, we pray. Amen"

Doris

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp




Escape from the Belfry is available at Cokesbury: www.cokesbury.com, mailto:dorisgainesrapp@gmail.comwww.archwaypublishing.com bookstore, www.amazon.com and www.b&n.com and others.

Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com