IN THE LIMELIGHT

"But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14: 10-11

Are you uncomfortable in the limelight? I know a lot of people are. They feel called by God to a task of His creation - whether it is to sing to His glory, market a book He has given them to write, lead a group (whether large of small), or let their friends know they have opened a new business - then they’re afraid if they speak out, people will think they’re trying to outshine others. If you are given a blessing, it is your responsibility to let others know about it! That is called "witnessing for Christ!"

What is "the limelight, beside being in the center of attention?" Webster defines "limelight" as: "a stage lighting instrument producing illumination by means of an oxyhydrogen flame directed on a cylinder of lime and usually equipped with a lens to concentrate the light in a beam." It was a method for producing a very bright, concentrated beam of light. Not because the person in the center of the beam wanted all of the attention. The light was trained on the individual in order for those watching and listening to be able to focus on what they were saying without the distraction of things around them.

When we read Luke, we discover it is all about attitude and focus. When you are talking about a gift God has given you to share, the light isn’t on you; it’s on Him. The only way it would shine on you is, if you stole the light from God. If you have an attitude of blessedness and appreciation while you present or lead, your listeners will hear, through you, the message God had given you for them. Anytime you are in the limelight, humbly exalting God, He will be lifted up. Share what God has given you in love, and the light of God will shine on all those around you. Let us pray:

"Father of Light and Life, I bow before your throne. You are to be praised, as the angels sing of your greatness. May I also speak truth to your presence in my life. Father, I pray for freedom from fear of being branded a braggart, a center-seeker, when all I want to do is tell of your marvelous peace and love. Forgive me when I fail to listen to another’s story because I am so excited about telling them of your work in my life. May I let others know that I bring your message, because they are truly loved. May the limelight seek only your face, with your white-bright center of love. 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

Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow - available to order from your local bookstore or online in eBook or print form. I will be signing it and Smoke from Distant Fires at the Pow Wow in Tipton, Indiana on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Resurrection Healing

Paul said . . ."Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

Have you heard the painful accusation, "They are sick because they didn’t have enough faith in God to be healed." How cruel. Where does the Bible say, if we have enough faith we will be perfect? As Paul tells us, God’s power is perfected in our weaknesses. Some are healed in the body and some are given power to do God’s will in spite of their affliction to prove His strength.

All will be made perfect on the Day of Resurrection. For most Christians that is understood as, we will be made perfect when we come into the presence of God, whether that be when we die or when the Lord Returns. This, however, is not a few sentences on a centuries’ old argument over when Jesus will return, or when the faithful will be raised from the dead. I believe He will return, the timing is totally up to God and my opinion will not cause Him to tarry one moment or speed His return by a nanosecond.

We will be given the power to do God’s will here on earth, regardless of our physical limitations. Then, the world will see the might of God in spite of our disabilities. We will be made perfect - have resurrection healing - when we cast off our earth-bound body and soar to the throne of God.

Do not be discouraged if you cannot run fast, preach eloquently, sing beautifully, or even get up off the floor once you have sat down. God has a plan for you that will be fulfilled when we give ourselves over to His power in our lives. Let us pray:

"Holy Father, Abba, Daddy, I bow before you and your plan for my life. You are Holy; I am not worthy of having you direct my life, but I give it over to you willingly. Whatever I do in your name, it will be by your grace and power. Please, accept this flawed life I give you and use it to fulfill whatever you have in mind. Forgive me when I have given away your blessings because it didn’t fit into my busy schedule. May this be the day when excuses stop and I accept your power to perfect my weaknesses. I am healed when I believe in your power to heal, and I let you decide what needs to be healed in me, my body, soul, emotions, relationships, career or flaws I’m not even aware of. In the name of your son Jesus, I pray. Amen"

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

Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow - available to order from your local bookstore or online in eBook or print. I will be signing it and Smoke from Distant Fires at the Pow Wow in Tipton, Indiana on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

Beginnings

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

"School already?" Perhaps it’s hard to think of school and football games in crisp night air and family dinners in the autumn, because . . . it all leads to winter, and quite frankly, I had enough of that season to last for several years. Life does go on and we enter another academic year this week or next, depending on your school.

What does that have to do with people who have no children or who have reared their family? We all have a wonderful opportunity to begin again, just like the students. Sometimes we have become discouraged or delayed, or maybe we have finally answered God’s call to live life for Him. Every day is a new chance to begin, and the second part is not only the answer to, "Begin at what?" After the call, it is about how we live.

I heard Elizabeth Elliot (Through Gates of Splendor) speak at a Women’s Spiritual Retreat many years ago. She said, "God doesn’t care what we do. He cares how we do it." You may or may not agree with her on our life’s work and following God’s call into it, but, there is a lot to be said about, "How we do it." We are to work at our job and/or school with all our heart as we would if we were working for the Lord, not for our boss or teacher. In so doing, we will receive an inheritance from the Lord. If our inheritance were absolutely no more than living each hour in the company of God, wouldn’t that finally be enough? Let us pray:

"Oh God, my God, how blessed it is to walk with you, to talk with you, to be with you in all our work and activities. It is not labor when we serve you. It is the dance of life, the music of our soul, the love of our heart. Today I choose to begin again, with a freshness like the morning dew. Forgive me when I have doubted, or been ungrateful, or complained about life until I die to the work you have for me. Life is for the living, not the dying. I choose life and the beauty of being near you, walking and talking with you along my way home. Give me the clarity of vision to see you in every turn, in every fork in the road. Let this be the day of new beginnings for us all. In the name of Jesus, your son, who lives in the spirit within and in the gentle hand that leads me on, I pray. Amen"

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

Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow - available to order from your local bookstore or online. Amazon still does not have the eBook up but has the print book. Cokesbury.com will have it soon. Barnes and Noble online is missing the cover but can be ordered. I will be signing it and Smoke from Distant Fires at the Pow Wow in Tipton, Indiana on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

A Quiet Thunder

"He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.’" Psalm 46: 10

"Be still . . . ." Is it actually possible, in our time, to be still? When I think of all we do, regardless of age: work, school, sports, home, friends, church, family and . . . well you get the idea. To know God, we must first be still.

You can practice stillness by selecting a favorite Bible verse and meditate or focusing upon it for five or ten minutes. When the mind drifts off to the worries or tasks of the day don’t be concerned. Brush the thoughts away like a pesky fly and return to the holiness of God’s presence in His word. Be still . . .

. . . and know. The verse doesn’t say, "I think maybe there must be a god up there - somewhere." Or, "I wish it were true." It says, ". . . and know . . . that I am God." When we know that God is real, when we know that He is present, when we know that His promises are true, we become filled with His Holy presence. Others may not see the mountains in our life move or the lightening crack open the sky and let down a golden ladder into Heaven. But, there is a rolling thunder of the soul when the voice of God vibrates within our heart and brings all our melodies into perfect harmony with Him. Be still and know . . . . Let us pray:

"Father God, when you speak, your words are like the timpani of a song, the climatic roll of the kettledrum and its quiet beat that provides hope and constant measure, a rhythm to which we move. Holy is your name and precious is your beat of life. I choose this day to be still. I choose this day to know. I choose this day to allow the quiet thunder of your beating heart to measure my stride and give me life. Forgive me when I have walked cautiously along your paths. The only true walk is to the drumbeat of your melody, written and composed just for me. I pray that each of us may know you through the stillness of our lives. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen"

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

Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow - released today at your local bookstore or online at Cokesbury, Amazon (a little slow this morning), Barnes and Noble (on line missing cover) and others.