Put Away the Cares of the Day

“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”  Romans 13:12

“But, you don’t understand!” a young man shouted at me. “When I was child . . . “

You fill in the blank, because we have all sheltered darkness, like a familiar black house-cat, within our soul. The hate, the disappointment, the pain that we experienced as a child, became so familiar, so part of who we are, that we don’t want to let it go. We would feel empty, and grief is better than emptiness.

Okay, I understand that. We know that people develop defense mechanisms to deal with difficult situations or even get us through long periods of our lives. We cannot lay down the only defenses we have, for if we do, we would be defenseless in a world we believe is not safe. We chase ourselves around in the cage we alone have built. In order to be free of all the negative systems we have created to protect us, we have only to put a different mechanism in its place.

We are nearing the end of the season in which we celebrate the birth of Love, Forgiveness and Light. My dear friend, 2014 is nearly over and a new day will dawn on Friday. Let 2015 be the year you put away darkness and put on the armor of Light. Choose Love today.

“Okay, my friends, behind the door on the left are darkness and pain! Behind the door on the right are Love and Light! It is not a surprise. You know what lies beyond the portal. You have to wager everything: your health, peace and joy, your success and every good thing in your life if you choose darkness again. I know the left door is more familiar than the door to Love, but if you ask Jesus to walk with you, the joy of discovery will be yours!

For the New Year ahead of us, and for those days that remain, my Sweet Joy, please choose Love. Your poor choice of darkness will not change my life, but your healthy choice of Light will change yours beyond anything you can ever imagine. Join those who walk the well-lit path of Light and Love from this very day forward. The choice is yours. Let us pray:

“Holy Father of Light, I bow before your Heavenly rays. For those who choose Light and Love, we will walk the golden streets of your glorious home even now. I ask, Dear God, that my choices each day keep me on the path I choose to walk with your son. May I say something, or do something that I am not even aware of, that will lead another to the portal of Love. I don’t want to know who it is or under what circumstances it happens; I want only to be your humble servant. Forgive me when I fail to speak your truth to darkness, for I know I have deepened the shadows when that happens. Let me sow Love, so that you can harvest Light, oh Lord. In the name of your son, Jesus, whose birth we have celebrated and continue to sing, I pray. Amen”

Doris

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Books by Doris Gaines Rapp

Novelette:

News at Eleven (Glo Magazine Jan, Feb, March, and April 2015 – now on newsstands and online)

Collection:

Christmas Feather, one of eight short stories in a wonderful collection titled, Christmases Past

Novels:

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Escape from the Belfry

Smoke from Distant Fires

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Length of Days – Beyond the Valley of the Keepers (January 2015)

News at Eleven – A Novel (April 2015)

Children’s:

Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse

Non-Fiction:

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World – Advent 2014

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Promote Yourself

Let's Celebrate Love at Christmas

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2: 6-7 (NIV)

I made Aunt Catherine’s cranberry salad for our early Christmas dinner yesterday. The fascinating thing is—others, who aren’t even family, follow my salad recipe. No, no, that’s not the best part—they call it, “Aunt Catherine’s” cranberry salad!

What traditions have you established during this season of Love? I know one family whose father always rants and raves and gets drunk on Christmas day. The beautiful day of our Savior’s birth is not a celebration of Love for that family and it may never be. There are no blessed memories in their quiver of arrows that can fight off fear and depression when the hour of doubt comes.

But, healthy, loving families pass on scenes of Christmas that come to mind each time the birth of Jesus draws near:

• Christmas Eve services with flickering candle lite and the lighting of the Christ candle. The whole family seated together singing carols of praise and amazement over the arrival of Love.

• Stockings stuffed with cookies, wrapped in festive wrap, baked by loving parents just for the holidays

• Pajama’s stuffed in fancy bags and opened the night before the arrival of the Christ Child so Christmas morning would be new and fresh.

• An angel on the top of the tree who flutters over the room the same this year as last and the year before that, proclaiming, ”Be not afraid. For unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”

What are the Christmas traditions you are placing in the heart of your family? Fear and trembling— because Mom and Dad are so stressed out over lack of money, lack of time, and lack of energy! Or, warm memories of time together: games around the kitchen table; songs at the piano; and the story of a baby-king who was born in a stable and for whom room is made in the hearts of each one of us? Make memories of love and joy over the birth of the Christ Child this week, so when your children think of the Christmas of 2014, they will remember scenes full and overflowing with Love. Let us pray:

“Holy Father, you have always been and will remain for evermore. For your persistent Love, I give you all praise and glory. May this be the Christmas when my eyes are opened to your true treasure, your son, Jesus. When the Christ Child came into the world, He brought Love, Song, Forgiveness, Salvation, Eternal Life, and new Creation. Forgive me when I have believed that was not enough, when I asked, ‘But, what will you do for me today, God?’ . . . when I sought more, glitzier, bigger and best. Those desires have nothing to do with the baby in the manger. Let me sow Christmas seeds of Love this year, with the Christ Child at the center of my celebration. Hosanna in the highest! He was born and He continues to live in the hearts of those who claim His love. In the name of that same Jesus, the center of the spotlight from heaven, I pray. Amen”

Doris

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

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Books by Doris Gaines Rapp

Collection:

Christmas Feather, one of eight short stories in a wonderful collection titled, Christmases Past

Novelette:

News at Eleven (Glo Magazine Jan, Feb, March, and April 2015)

Novels:

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Escape from the Belfry

Smoke from Distant Fires

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Length of Days – Beyond the Valley of the Keepers (January 2015)

News at Eleven – A Novel (April 2015)

Children’s:

Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse

Non-Fiction:

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World – Advent 2014

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Promote Yourself

Get Me Under the Tree on Time

“While they were there, the days were complete for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2: 6-7 (NIV)

He is coming soon! So is the day we celebrate His coming, His birthday – Christmas! They tell us, “Today is the last day to mail Christmas presents,” and have them arrive under the tree on time! Wow – is that all we think about during the Christmas Season? What we get? Or, is it what we give?

What do we get at Christmas? Do we get: anxiety, depression, stress, headaches, or maybe, fear of offending someone with the wrong present?

Or, do we get Christmas love, peace, forgiveness, joy, song, and eternal life?

Under the tree is where we bury our treasures! Put Christ’s Love under the tree this Christmas. It can’t be late. It can’t be the wrong size, color or style. One size – Large – does fit all. Wrap joy and love in the most valuable package you own – your heart – and give the golden treasure away this Christmas – in full measure, running over and with a song on your lips. Let us pray:

“Father of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, I bow before the manger of your son with joy and thanksgiving in my heart. You allowed Love to be born in all of our lives when he came - for those who are willing to receive your gift. Heaven truly did come down that night so long ago. May this be the Christmas when I accept your gift with no reservations or conditions. I lift up my eyes and see the star, announcing his birth. He lived in history; he was, and is, and will be evermore. I reach out my hand and rock the cradle of our Lord, knowing that he will grow to become the cradle of love and salvation. I praise you, Lord God, for all your gifts. Forgive me when I reject one of your blessings because it did not come when I ordered it, in the size or color I wanted. None of your gifts are ever wrong, or are ever delivered late under your tree of life. For this I thank you and praise you, in the name of your son Jesus, the Christmas child. Amen”

Doris

Merry Christmas! Say it as often as you can; as joyfully as you can, for ever as long as you can!

Doris Gaines Rapp

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Books by Doris Gaines Rapp

Collection:

Christmas Feather, one of eight short stories in a wonderful collection titled, Christmases Past

Novelette:

News at Eleven (Glo Magazine Jan, Feb, March, and April 2015)

Novels:

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Escape from the Belfry

Smoke from Distant Fires

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Length of Days – Beyond the Valley of the Keepers (January 2015)

News at Eleven – A Novel (April 2015)

Children’s:

Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse

Non-Fiction:

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World – Advent 2014

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Promote Yourself

Christmas – Detoured Through Walmart

“When his (Zechariah’s) time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1: 23-25 NIV) 

“’I know the source of my great joy,’ Elizabeth might have said. She certainly knew she was blessed, and, if blessed, she knew whom she would acknowledge and thank.” [Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World by Doris Gaines Rapp] 

How is Christmas shopping going for you? For me? – Not so much. But, where in the Bible does it say, the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem went through Walmart? At this most joyous season, when the angels sang and the star shone so brightly we still include lights in our celebration, have you found the source of your joy? Have you discovered who has blessed you? Have you found the peace of Christmas?

No? Perhaps you and I need to stop stewing about Christmas presents and start praising the Lord God for the miracle of his Christ Child – the only reason to celebrate! Make straight your path, from your heart for the love of the Christ, to your knees beside the manger, with no detours or meander bends through the department store. He is waiting for you in the hay stack display near the back of the store. Let us pray: 

“Precious Father, God of kings and Lord of my life, I bow before you on this eighth day of Advent as I prepare my heart for the coming of your son. Miraculously, he came, and comes again each new Christmas Day. Fill my heart with the awe of his presence, that I may be blessed anew by the amazing gift of the new Baby Jesus. Let this be the Christmas when I stop running around, and start being around – at the foot of the manger, knowing that it leads to the foot of the cross. May I finally “get” your gift of Christmas, the time when you brought Love into the world. I want to be a messenger of that Love to all those around me, and to places I had never dreamed of going. For I know, you will go before me, like the star of Christmas, lighting my way. In the name of your son, the Christmas Child and my savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

Doris

Doris Gaines Rapp

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp 

Collection:
Christmas Feather, one of eight short stories in a wonderful collection titled, Christmases Past Novelette: News at Eleven (Glo Magazine Jan, Feb, March, and April 2015) 

Non-Fiction:

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World – Advent 2014

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Promote Yourself 

Novels:

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Escape from the Belfry

Smoke from Distant Fires

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Length of Days – Beyond the Valley of the Keepers (January 2015)

News at Eleven – A Novel (April 2015)
Children’s:
Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse 

Waiting for Jesus in a Can't Wait World

The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; . . .” Luke 2: 30-32 (NIV) 

“The Messiah will come.” The people of Israel had waited for his appearance for generations. Today, we can’t wait for twenty-five days, the length of time from the first day of Advent (yesterday) to Christmas Day. And . . . we don’t even have to call the season Christmas any more. In my book, Length of Days – The Age of Silence, set in 2112, the people call it Gifting Day. The economy needs the holiday; they just don’t need Jesus any more. 

Let this be the Advent when the Christ is expected, not a furry feel-good toy, a huge TV, or a small cell phone. Lift up the joy of Christmas in prayer and jubilation, every day. Find a devotional book that can aid you in daily worship. Let the world around you know that you are waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus, not the coming of Santa Claus.  

Have the patience to wait, in love, this Advent season. Before we all say, “Happy Gifting Day,” seize the privilege of saying, “Merry Christmas.” Let us pray: 

“Holy Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world, I lift up my voice and hands in praise to you. All of Heaven sings your praises. May I be privileged to join them in song that your kingdom may be set up in my life this day. I ask only one thing this Christmas. May this be the year when Christmas comes to everyone, in the form of love, forgiveness and grace. I pray that love wins in the holy battle over evil and hate and revenge. May my belief in Jesus, become one jewel in the crown that finally makes him Lord of all. In the name of the precious Lord, your son of Christmas and my savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen”

Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp

"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Collection:
Christmas Feather, one of eight short stories in a wonderful collection titled, Christmases Past

Non-Fiction:
Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World – Advent 2014

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Promote Yourself 

Novelette:
News at Eleven (Glo Magazine Jan, Feb, March, and April 2015)

Novels:

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Escape from the Belfry

Smoke from Distant Fires

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Length of Days – Beyond the Valley of the Keepers (January 2015)

News at Eleven – A Novel (April 2015)
Children’s:

Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse