When All Else Fails . . .
"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6: 32-34 (NIV)
We’ve all heard, "When all else fails, read the directions." Biblically, we know, "Seek first the kingdom of God."
Believe me, this day has troubles of its own. I/we are trying to upload the eBook for Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow. It keeps being rejected for things like "embedded fonts." Does anyone out there know how to embed or un-embed a font? My friend, the computer guru, knows how. To clarify, she is learning how to convert to ePub so she can help me upload the manuscript. Another point of clarification, there is no real "we" in this final process. I wrote it and she is converting it.
The part I need to continue to learn is to trust in God to handle the "grief" of technical detail. It takes time and it takes skills I do not possess. God will carry the tension of the job if I will just let go of it. Before all else fails, turn to God to gradually let the process unfold. Seek Him and everything will, eventually, fall into place. Let us pray:
"Holy Father, your name is precious above all names. The mention of your name heals the sick and give patience to the foolish who put too many details into one day. Let me put away patterns of behavior that cause me to run ahead of you. Everything has a time, when that time is your time. Forgive me for when I have forgotten that. I love you Lord and I want to live within your plan, for your plan brought us your son Jesus. What more evidence of your love would anyone need, than the day you brought love and hope and forgiveness and song and grace into the world. 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
I will be signing Smoke from Distant Fires and Hiawssee - Child of the Meadow at the Pow Wow in Tipton, Indiana on Saturday, August 30, 2014.
Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow will be available the first part of August.
Length of Days - Beyond the Valley, the second in the Length of Days series, will be out late in the fall, 2014. It will be available in paperback and eBook.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
The Fellowship of Believers
"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
What a glorious day the Sabbath was! Our daughter and son-in-law joined us for church while on their vacation and then joined me for a nice visit at the home. The congregation was friendly as usual. An anniversary party for friends later in the afternoon gave the opportunity to see and fellowship with many old friends and a chance to meet new and fascinating new ones!
When you count your friends among the fellowship of believers, time spent together is absent of jealously, gossip, and negative interchanges that bring one down, rather than energize and lift you up. Embrace those who embrace the Lord and you will be loved and cherished. Be prepared to bring prayer support to others as well and not just act as a sponge for the love of others. Those who wait upon the Lord, are both blessed and are a blessing to others. Let us pray:
"Father God, Abba, Daddy, you are the light that shines within me and flame that lights my path. Holy is your name and worthy of praise. May this day be the day when I remember the fellowship of your believers, loving them, responding to their need for prayer and not just become a "pleader," a receiver of your blessings. I love you Lord. Let my life be a testament to that love, that I may sooth the pain of others. I thank you Lord for all those you have given me and the new ones you have introduced. In the name of Jesus 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
Smoke from Distant Fires, Escape from the Belfry, and Length of Days - The Age of Silence can be ordered from any bookstore, or on line at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com. It is available in paperback and eBook.
Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow will be available the first part of August.
Length of Days - Beyond the Valley, the second in the Length of Days series, will be out late in the fall, 2014. It will be available in paperback and eBook.
What a glorious day the Sabbath was! Our daughter and son-in-law joined us for church while on their vacation and then joined me for a nice visit at the home. The congregation was friendly as usual. An anniversary party for friends later in the afternoon gave the opportunity to see and fellowship with many old friends and a chance to meet new and fascinating new ones!
When you count your friends among the fellowship of believers, time spent together is absent of jealously, gossip, and negative interchanges that bring one down, rather than energize and lift you up. Embrace those who embrace the Lord and you will be loved and cherished. Be prepared to bring prayer support to others as well and not just act as a sponge for the love of others. Those who wait upon the Lord, are both blessed and are a blessing to others. Let us pray:
"Father God, Abba, Daddy, you are the light that shines within me and flame that lights my path. Holy is your name and worthy of praise. May this day be the day when I remember the fellowship of your believers, loving them, responding to their need for prayer and not just become a "pleader," a receiver of your blessings. I love you Lord. Let my life be a testament to that love, that I may sooth the pain of others. I thank you Lord for all those you have given me and the new ones you have introduced. In the name of Jesus 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
Smoke from Distant Fires, Escape from the Belfry, and Length of Days - The Age of Silence can be ordered from any bookstore, or on line at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com. It is available in paperback and eBook.
Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow will be available the first part of August.
Length of Days - Beyond the Valley, the second in the Length of Days series, will be out late in the fall, 2014. It will be available in paperback and eBook.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Words of Life
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 (KJV)
A friend brought his eReader to me just be before church began yesterday and said, "This is my favorite part of your book," and pointed to one of the paragraphs I have here. Which paragraph he showed me, I’m still not sure. I may have remembered wrong, that which I had forgotten, so I include them both. It was one of these. The first is my favorite but the second may have been his.
Regarding a drawing a gifted child had created depicting her experience of God:
"Tears flowed like healing waters as I was bathed again in the same spirit of
holiness that had touched me so many years ago. Against the canvas of Heaven,
like a mighty, holy colossus striding across the firmament, was a completely
formed drawing of a being. With the breath of life flowing from his mouth and
nostrils, the being looked as if his spoken word had just caused the whole world
to leap into creation. His powerful muscles declared his strength and his eyes
revealed his love. His hair blew across the night sky like a field of tall wheat in
late July. There it mingled with the tails of winter clouds as they stretched across
the canopy of our world. The light from his eyes was as glorious as the dawn of a
new day. His gaze was as strong as the towering oaks and as sweet as a field of
wild flowers after a spring rain. It looked like all of creation laughed and loved
within his gaze. There was so much glory emanating from his countenance, it was
nearly impossible to look upon him. Across the bottom, under the drawing, were
the words and letters, ‘Ego sum Dominus sum ego.’" (Length of Days - The Age
of Silence, pg 291
Or, it may have been the following paragraph, from page 51, where the character, Christiana, describes the Holy Spirit.
"I was overwhelmed with all the new information, but maybe I already knew.
Something or someone had been tugging at my heart for months as I read the
old books. It was a force that was strong enough to call to me from the pages of
man’s writing and move within my being, like a fog that overtakes a meadow of
wild flowers and blankets it, while doing no harm, then leaves a light, nourishing
mist on the surface of all that lives there."
Whichever one he showed me, I started reading it and said, "I don’t think . . ."
"Yes, you did," he laughed. "You wrote it."
Then I looked at a paragraph above and found these words, "There," Grand-père’s voice rang out with might and power . . ." Then I knew, "Oh, yes, it is," I remembered. "There’s Grand-père."
In all fairness to my memory, I have written four other books since Length of Days was published nearly two years ago, including the second book in that trilogy. But written words can be like spoken words. Once written or spoken, we move on without much thought about their impact others.
I often wonder, "What words of mine do people remember?" I know, some days, when nothing is going right, my words are . . . less than positive . . . less then pleasing to me, so I know they less than pleasing to God. Then, every once in a while, someone will say, "Dr. Rapp, I remember when you said . . . ," and I cringed when I wonder what on earth I had said that time. Occasionally, someone will lift up words I have said or written that have had a special meaning to them and I know, it wasn’t me, it was Him.
Every song we sang in the church service yesterday had lyrics about living for God, in His favor, for His purposes. My heart swelled with His presence, and I knew, when He gives me words that flow from my fingers onto the keyboard, they are still HIS words. Life is not truly lived unless it is lived for Him. We don’t have to go halfway around the world to serve Him. Service is an attitude of the heart, not a measure of miles we have traveled. That attitude begins with, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." If you haven’t done anything today but lifted a friend out of the depths of despair with your words of encouragement, isn’t that enough? Let us pray:
"Holy Father, your words are so powerful, you spoke the world into spinning. Holy are you. I choose to give all to you. Words have the power to create, to uplift, to put down, to give life and to condemn and kill. From this day on, Father, I want the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, to be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Forgive me when I have used words in hurtful ways. I give my words to you Father, not with my own power to surrender, but with the grace and help of your son, my savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Length of Days - The Age of Silence can be ordered from any bookstore, or on line at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com. It is available in paperback and eBook.
Length of Days - Beyond the Valley, the second in the Length of Days trilogy, will be out late in the fall, 2014. It will be available in paperback and eBook.
A friend brought his eReader to me just be before church began yesterday and said, "This is my favorite part of your book," and pointed to one of the paragraphs I have here. Which paragraph he showed me, I’m still not sure. I may have remembered wrong, that which I had forgotten, so I include them both. It was one of these. The first is my favorite but the second may have been his.
Regarding a drawing a gifted child had created depicting her experience of God:
"Tears flowed like healing waters as I was bathed again in the same spirit of
holiness that had touched me so many years ago. Against the canvas of Heaven,
like a mighty, holy colossus striding across the firmament, was a completely
formed drawing of a being. With the breath of life flowing from his mouth and
nostrils, the being looked as if his spoken word had just caused the whole world
to leap into creation. His powerful muscles declared his strength and his eyes
revealed his love. His hair blew across the night sky like a field of tall wheat in
late July. There it mingled with the tails of winter clouds as they stretched across
the canopy of our world. The light from his eyes was as glorious as the dawn of a
new day. His gaze was as strong as the towering oaks and as sweet as a field of
wild flowers after a spring rain. It looked like all of creation laughed and loved
within his gaze. There was so much glory emanating from his countenance, it was
nearly impossible to look upon him. Across the bottom, under the drawing, were
the words and letters, ‘Ego sum Dominus sum ego.’" (Length of Days - The Age
of Silence, pg 291
Or, it may have been the following paragraph, from page 51, where the character, Christiana, describes the Holy Spirit.
"I was overwhelmed with all the new information, but maybe I already knew.
Something or someone had been tugging at my heart for months as I read the
old books. It was a force that was strong enough to call to me from the pages of
man’s writing and move within my being, like a fog that overtakes a meadow of
wild flowers and blankets it, while doing no harm, then leaves a light, nourishing
mist on the surface of all that lives there."
Whichever one he showed me, I started reading it and said, "I don’t think . . ."
"Yes, you did," he laughed. "You wrote it."
Then I looked at a paragraph above and found these words, "There," Grand-père’s voice rang out with might and power . . ." Then I knew, "Oh, yes, it is," I remembered. "There’s Grand-père."
In all fairness to my memory, I have written four other books since Length of Days was published nearly two years ago, including the second book in that trilogy. But written words can be like spoken words. Once written or spoken, we move on without much thought about their impact others.
I often wonder, "What words of mine do people remember?" I know, some days, when nothing is going right, my words are . . . less than positive . . . less then pleasing to me, so I know they less than pleasing to God. Then, every once in a while, someone will say, "Dr. Rapp, I remember when you said . . . ," and I cringed when I wonder what on earth I had said that time. Occasionally, someone will lift up words I have said or written that have had a special meaning to them and I know, it wasn’t me, it was Him.
Every song we sang in the church service yesterday had lyrics about living for God, in His favor, for His purposes. My heart swelled with His presence, and I knew, when He gives me words that flow from my fingers onto the keyboard, they are still HIS words. Life is not truly lived unless it is lived for Him. We don’t have to go halfway around the world to serve Him. Service is an attitude of the heart, not a measure of miles we have traveled. That attitude begins with, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." If you haven’t done anything today but lifted a friend out of the depths of despair with your words of encouragement, isn’t that enough? Let us pray:
"Holy Father, your words are so powerful, you spoke the world into spinning. Holy are you. I choose to give all to you. Words have the power to create, to uplift, to put down, to give life and to condemn and kill. From this day on, Father, I want the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, to be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Forgive me when I have used words in hurtful ways. I give my words to you Father, not with my own power to surrender, but with the grace and help of your son, my savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Length of Days - The Age of Silence can be ordered from any bookstore, or on line at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com. It is available in paperback and eBook.
Length of Days - Beyond the Valley, the second in the Length of Days trilogy, will be out late in the fall, 2014. It will be available in paperback and eBook.
Monday, July 7, 2014
BUT, FOR TODAY . . .
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light." Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)
"Oh . . . you know . . . I’m getting older . . . I don’t do much anymore." How many times have you heard this whining statement, or one just like it?"
God intended for you to live every day of your life. I could say, "I’m not twenty-five. Maybe I shouldn’t write all the books I publish. After all, I may only live another twenty-five or thirty years."
None of us know how many days we will live. But, for today — I pray that you will live every second of this day, in deepest prayer, so that you may be filled with the knowledge of God. Even when we are very old, and cannot go where we would like to go without the help of others, we can use our days in prayer that the blessings of God may fall upon us and others.
My friend, you are not done, no matter how old you are. You may be a new graduate who can’t find work — you will. God will bless you. It may not be according to your own dictates, but just think of the adventure you will have, when it is God’s will in which you are living!
For this day . . . live every minute of it! Let us pray:
"Father God, lover of my soul, creator of all there is, I bow before your holy name. I pray that this may be the first day of my life lived for you. Use me in any way that will complete your plan, for me and for others. Forgive me when I have been headstrong and have tried to create a better mission for me to follow than you could design for me. How foolish I was. I give my life over to you that I may live each day fully, filled with your knowledge and joy, that I may ‘share in the inheritance of [your] holy people in the kingdom of light.’ In the name of, and by the power of, your precious son and my redeemer, Jesus, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
"Oh . . . you know . . . I’m getting older . . . I don’t do much anymore." How many times have you heard this whining statement, or one just like it?"
God intended for you to live every day of your life. I could say, "I’m not twenty-five. Maybe I shouldn’t write all the books I publish. After all, I may only live another twenty-five or thirty years."
None of us know how many days we will live. But, for today — I pray that you will live every second of this day, in deepest prayer, so that you may be filled with the knowledge of God. Even when we are very old, and cannot go where we would like to go without the help of others, we can use our days in prayer that the blessings of God may fall upon us and others.
My friend, you are not done, no matter how old you are. You may be a new graduate who can’t find work — you will. God will bless you. It may not be according to your own dictates, but just think of the adventure you will have, when it is God’s will in which you are living!
For this day . . . live every minute of it! Let us pray:
"Father God, lover of my soul, creator of all there is, I bow before your holy name. I pray that this may be the first day of my life lived for you. Use me in any way that will complete your plan, for me and for others. Forgive me when I have been headstrong and have tried to create a better mission for me to follow than you could design for me. How foolish I was. I give my life over to you that I may live each day fully, filled with your knowledge and joy, that I may ‘share in the inheritance of [your] holy people in the kingdom of light.’ In the name of, and by the power of, your precious son and my redeemer, Jesus, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
Monday, June 30, 2014
WHAT IF . . . "
{"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."} Jeremiah 29:11
"But, I can’t do anything special." A young woman complained. "Some people can sing in the choir and some can talk or pray in front of others. I can’t do anything."
Have you ever felt inadequate? Perhaps your cousin can dance or write poetry and you believe you have no talents at all. Many abilities are not overtly visible. The power to encourage a wounded spirit or the ability to teach the resistant learner are just two talents that come to mind that are not flamboyant or create a huge following or fan base.
Viewed from another perspective, what if you had never been born? Who would not be here? Who would have failed in school? Who would have gone untouched or unloved? What if you had not been there to share a word of hope or a witness to the work of God in your life? Would it have mattered to anyone around you, if you had not said, "Blessings my friend. The Lord be with you today."
The Lord God has plans for you, and those plans will make you prosper and bring hope to your days and a purpose to your future. Do you have to know what that is before God reveals it to you along your way? Must you direct God in his choosing and plans? Must it be so grand that others can see his hand on your life and praise YOU rather than HIM? Take courage today and pray the secret prayer that God will use you to complete HIS plan in your life - a plan of good and hope, so that you might give hope to others. "Not knowing" has more power and adventure and surrender than "knowing" ever can. Start the greatest adventure of your life today. Let us pray:
"Holy Father, Love divine, rest upon this heart of mine. If it is your will, may this be the dawning of a new day in my life, a day when your plans outshine my own. May this be the day when all I have and all I am is far more valuable than it could have been if I were to live life on my own. I pray that I no longer say, ‘What if?’ I know that you will take care of all the ‘If only’s’ and turn them into blessings for others. I do not want to know when I have brought healing to another, for it isn’t anything I have done. It is you working blessings through me not for me to boast about. Forgive me when I have needed to have my talents shine in order to bring praise to myself. You are worthy of praise, Father. I give all recognition to you and I choose not to call it back. I give it back to you freely. In the name of Jesus, your son and my savior I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
"But, I can’t do anything special." A young woman complained. "Some people can sing in the choir and some can talk or pray in front of others. I can’t do anything."
Have you ever felt inadequate? Perhaps your cousin can dance or write poetry and you believe you have no talents at all. Many abilities are not overtly visible. The power to encourage a wounded spirit or the ability to teach the resistant learner are just two talents that come to mind that are not flamboyant or create a huge following or fan base.
Viewed from another perspective, what if you had never been born? Who would not be here? Who would have failed in school? Who would have gone untouched or unloved? What if you had not been there to share a word of hope or a witness to the work of God in your life? Would it have mattered to anyone around you, if you had not said, "Blessings my friend. The Lord be with you today."
The Lord God has plans for you, and those plans will make you prosper and bring hope to your days and a purpose to your future. Do you have to know what that is before God reveals it to you along your way? Must you direct God in his choosing and plans? Must it be so grand that others can see his hand on your life and praise YOU rather than HIM? Take courage today and pray the secret prayer that God will use you to complete HIS plan in your life - a plan of good and hope, so that you might give hope to others. "Not knowing" has more power and adventure and surrender than "knowing" ever can. Start the greatest adventure of your life today. Let us pray:
"Holy Father, Love divine, rest upon this heart of mine. If it is your will, may this be the dawning of a new day in my life, a day when your plans outshine my own. May this be the day when all I have and all I am is far more valuable than it could have been if I were to live life on my own. I pray that I no longer say, ‘What if?’ I know that you will take care of all the ‘If only’s’ and turn them into blessings for others. I do not want to know when I have brought healing to another, for it isn’t anything I have done. It is you working blessings through me not for me to boast about. Forgive me when I have needed to have my talents shine in order to bring praise to myself. You are worthy of praise, Father. I give all recognition to you and I choose not to call it back. I give it back to you freely. In the name of Jesus, your son and my savior I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
Monday, June 23, 2014
A TIME AWAY
"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 3:31 NIV)
It’s funny how different each one of us is, a small piece of God’s heart that, when joined together, creates the presence of the Lord on earth. For Jesus and his friends, they needed to get away from the crowds that mobbed him. For me, I needed to connect with people, since I spend so much of my time away from others while writing. Jesus needed a "quiet place." I needed a "people place." Jesus went off with his friends. Bill and I set sail with six-hundred like-minded, spirit-loving readers of Richard Paul Evans’ series - The Walk. We sailed to the Bahamas, then to Key West where we had a celebration of "Alan Christofferson’s" arrival at Key West. Pictures with Richard, Kailamai, and Richard’s wife and family filled our day. You can see the photos on my Facebook page when I return to my home and printer/scanner.
Search your own heart and see what type of respite you need. Then come away, my friends and dear readers, to a place where the Lord God can renew your spirit and nourish your soul. Sometimes, we think we can’t find time for God because we are too busy doing "God’s work." If that is the case, we are doing our own ego’s bidding, not God’s. We cannot do a day’s work without a guideline for the tasks and joy ahead - and that comes from God, not from our own plans and aspirations. Let us pray:
"Dear Lord and Father of us all, we bow before your Holy name. With the sound of the name - God - comes healing, pardon, salvation, grace, love, and peace. Please forgive us when we use your name in a way that is not healing, or a blessing to another. May I dwell within your holiness as the angels in heaven do, so that your will may be done within me. For this very day I have been born, though I may not know what it is. You know and that is enough for me. Use me this day to be a blessing to others, that they may see the fellowship of believers within my outstretched hand. Forgive me when I try to do your work, without stopping to find out what that is.. May "my kingdom," my neighborhood, my life, be ruled by you, Father God. In the name of, and by the power of your Son and my savior, Jesus, the Christ I pray. Amen"
Doris
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
www.dorisgainesrapp.com
It’s funny how different each one of us is, a small piece of God’s heart that, when joined together, creates the presence of the Lord on earth. For Jesus and his friends, they needed to get away from the crowds that mobbed him. For me, I needed to connect with people, since I spend so much of my time away from others while writing. Jesus needed a "quiet place." I needed a "people place." Jesus went off with his friends. Bill and I set sail with six-hundred like-minded, spirit-loving readers of Richard Paul Evans’ series - The Walk. We sailed to the Bahamas, then to Key West where we had a celebration of "Alan Christofferson’s" arrival at Key West. Pictures with Richard, Kailamai, and Richard’s wife and family filled our day. You can see the photos on my Facebook page when I return to my home and printer/scanner.
Search your own heart and see what type of respite you need. Then come away, my friends and dear readers, to a place where the Lord God can renew your spirit and nourish your soul. Sometimes, we think we can’t find time for God because we are too busy doing "God’s work." If that is the case, we are doing our own ego’s bidding, not God’s. We cannot do a day’s work without a guideline for the tasks and joy ahead - and that comes from God, not from our own plans and aspirations. Let us pray:
"Dear Lord and Father of us all, we bow before your Holy name. With the sound of the name - God - comes healing, pardon, salvation, grace, love, and peace. Please forgive us when we use your name in a way that is not healing, or a blessing to another. May I dwell within your holiness as the angels in heaven do, so that your will may be done within me. For this very day I have been born, though I may not know what it is. You know and that is enough for me. Use me this day to be a blessing to others, that they may see the fellowship of believers within my outstretched hand. Forgive me when I try to do your work, without stopping to find out what that is.. May "my kingdom," my neighborhood, my life, be ruled by you, Father God. In the name of, and by the power of your Son and my savior, Jesus, the Christ I pray. Amen"
Doris
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Monday, June 9, 2014
Scattered but Gathered Up
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3
I am so excited, so overwhelmed and so scattered, all at the same time. Excited because I have been able to contract with an artist for the cover of my next book, Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow. Excited because we leave on a wonderful vacation on Saturday - sailing with six-hundred other readers of The Walk series by Richard Paul Evans, along with the author and his wife. Excited because I will be signing my newest book, Smoke from Distant Fires, at Barnes and Noble in Sarasota, June 21, the day after we return to the port of Miami. Excited because our daughter Donna and her husband Mark will arrive from Texas as soon as we return home.
I’m overwhelmed because I still need to clean this house, wash the clothes, pack and gather the details of our cruise - all within the next few days. Scattered because I’m focused on two other new books right now as well. Scattered like a juggler with thirty-five balls in the air!
Amidst all the silliness of life, we will also attend the funeral of a dear brother-in-law on Thursday. Loss of a loved one, no matter how expected, is always hard.
I know I’m too busy when I seek the Lord AFTER I become buried in detail. I have lived long enough to know how I react when deluged with a tsunami of knit-picky details. It is never too late to call upon the Lord but also remember the words from Isaiah. Perfect peace comes to those whose mind is steadfast. I know steadfastness is an old fashioned concept. But, it is a truth that never dies in the junk of pop-culture. Rise each morning with an awareness of the presence of the Lord and retire each night knowing he will continue to bless you all the night long. Stay steadfast in your trust and focus on the Lord. Let us pray:
"Holy Father, you are pure peace and love, your presence of life is all around me. Forgive me when I focus on the trivial things of life. Your children are experiencing loss and I am focused on dirty socks. Gather me up in your loving arms and fill my whole being with your peace, oh God, so that where I go, your peace can be shared with those around me. I choose this day to be steadfastly stayed on you. Stayed with my heart and stayed or supported by your love. I will walk within your peace each day. In the name of Jesus, your son, my savior, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
I will be signing Smoke from Distant Fires at Barnes and Noble, Sarasota, FL, Saturday, June 21 from 1-3 pm
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
I am so excited, so overwhelmed and so scattered, all at the same time. Excited because I have been able to contract with an artist for the cover of my next book, Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow. Excited because we leave on a wonderful vacation on Saturday - sailing with six-hundred other readers of The Walk series by Richard Paul Evans, along with the author and his wife. Excited because I will be signing my newest book, Smoke from Distant Fires, at Barnes and Noble in Sarasota, June 21, the day after we return to the port of Miami. Excited because our daughter Donna and her husband Mark will arrive from Texas as soon as we return home.
I’m overwhelmed because I still need to clean this house, wash the clothes, pack and gather the details of our cruise - all within the next few days. Scattered because I’m focused on two other new books right now as well. Scattered like a juggler with thirty-five balls in the air!
Amidst all the silliness of life, we will also attend the funeral of a dear brother-in-law on Thursday. Loss of a loved one, no matter how expected, is always hard.
I know I’m too busy when I seek the Lord AFTER I become buried in detail. I have lived long enough to know how I react when deluged with a tsunami of knit-picky details. It is never too late to call upon the Lord but also remember the words from Isaiah. Perfect peace comes to those whose mind is steadfast. I know steadfastness is an old fashioned concept. But, it is a truth that never dies in the junk of pop-culture. Rise each morning with an awareness of the presence of the Lord and retire each night knowing he will continue to bless you all the night long. Stay steadfast in your trust and focus on the Lord. Let us pray:
"Holy Father, you are pure peace and love, your presence of life is all around me. Forgive me when I focus on the trivial things of life. Your children are experiencing loss and I am focused on dirty socks. Gather me up in your loving arms and fill my whole being with your peace, oh God, so that where I go, your peace can be shared with those around me. I choose this day to be steadfastly stayed on you. Stayed with my heart and stayed or supported by your love. I will walk within your peace each day. In the name of Jesus, your son, my savior, I pray. Amen"
Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp
I will be signing Smoke from Distant Fires at Barnes and Noble, Sarasota, FL, Saturday, June 21 from 1-3 pm
Smoke from Distant Fires and Length of Days - The Age of Silence are available at www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or order from a bookstore
Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com
Facebook: Doris Gaines Rapp - Author Page
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