Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, is this week and the question asked most often is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Sacrifice for most of us, consists of giving up something for the several weeks before Easter. Sacrifice that is felt each day is a way of drawing closer to God. Usually, we let go of something we hadn’t really wanted in the first place. Perhaps it’s pie or cake, when we actually wanted to lose weight. Some brave souls will give up chocolate. However, the ambrosia from the cocoa bean has many medicinal benefits. Along with dark chocolate, it lowers LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and raises or elevates the mood, giving one a sense of well being. Maybe that’s not the best one to choose to give up or perhaps that’s just the chocoholic in me talking. Still, we bravely call these restrictions - sacrifice.
In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Deny themselves? Maybe “self” is what we need to give up for Lent. Perhaps a real sacrifice would be to give up selfishness, self-aggrandizement, and our penchant for self-wallowing in perceived slights and injustices. Nothing feels better than to throw a really festive pity party with all the whales, moans, and anger. For Lent, let’s get over ourselves for forty days. Our prayer will be for the release of self-focus in which we tend to believe that the whole world is all about us. In the kingdom of God, the whole kingdom is about God. Let us pray:
“Loving Father, you sent your only son into a sinful world to save us and we didn’t even know you were here. Forgive us for focusing on our own wants, our own pleasures, and our own joys. You were the child lost in the shadows of an abusive family. You were the friend who lost their job while we hid our eyes hoping that denying the financial pain would make it unreal and out of our realm of reality. You were the stranger who felt the earth shake and their home crumble into shambles while we were trying to decide if we should add on another room to our already comfortable home. For these forty days, oh Father, we choose to lay our very self at your feet, for our “self” is the only true gift we own. We ask that you rid our lives of self-centeredness. Drive it from our hearts as far as the east is from the west. Place your Holy Spirit in the empty spot where self-interest lived and fill us with your glorious light until it overflows and shoots out our fingertip, our hair, our entire being. We breathe in your essence with our every breath. Holy, holy, holy is your name and the name of your son, Jesus Christ. May we remember to hold your name in reverence and the name of your son, Jesus Christ. To you, our Heavenly Father, we give all praise and glory. Amen.”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Monday, February 15, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
SUPER BOWL DAY TWO
What a game! It matters not if you were for the Colts or the Saints, reasons for cheering would still reverberate the next day. It was exciting and fun while it lasted. I’ll have to admit, I “watched” as I separated thread to a beautiful cross-stitch. However, what is truly valued above trophies and chest-bumping can be seen in the needlework pattern I will be working. The canvas will burst forth, one stitch at a time, with a depiction of the open hands of Jesus offering small pieces of grain to a flock of small birds of various, vibrant colors. The title is “In His Hands.”
We, too, have been offered the invitation to come feed on what Christ has to offer. Our color, age, influence, ethnicity, or any other exclusion or inclusion category make no difference to the Son of God. He welcomes the gold and the blue teams and all those who that didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. We too can win at the greatest contest of our lives, arriving at the goal line with the ball firmly in hand, passed to us by our quarterback, Jesus. All we have to do is reach up and receive it. Praise be to God! Let us pray:
“Dear Father, God, we lift our hands on high to receive the most important pass of the game. Our football is covered with your grace, filled with your spirit, and not too large for the smallest player to grasp. Perhaps you weep when the ball is fumbled or the pass is incomplete when we suit-up for this life you have given us to live. But you, oh Father, allow us to huddle with your family here, for guidance and the next play’s instruction, so we can start again each day. Thank you for the joy and diversion from the week’s work to watch two evenly matched teams meet and carry us down the field to renewed enthusiasm. Forgive us when we forget what is truly important. Direct our heart back to those with no home-bench, no fresh drink to spill on another’s head, no 3 million dollar exclusive access to have our voice heard for thirty seconds, or one bite from a mountain of hot dogs too high for most of us to count. We admire favorite players but only you are Holy, Father God. And, only the gift of your son Jesus allows us to call you Father. May all glory be his this day after the game. It is never the day after for Christ. He has open hands with nourishing food for the least of us each and every day. Praise be to your Holy name! Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Go to http://weightloss.suite101.com/article.cfm/weight-loss-and-successful-maintenance and scroll down to eleven articles by Doris Gaines Rapp on weight loss issues.
We, too, have been offered the invitation to come feed on what Christ has to offer. Our color, age, influence, ethnicity, or any other exclusion or inclusion category make no difference to the Son of God. He welcomes the gold and the blue teams and all those who that didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. We too can win at the greatest contest of our lives, arriving at the goal line with the ball firmly in hand, passed to us by our quarterback, Jesus. All we have to do is reach up and receive it. Praise be to God! Let us pray:
“Dear Father, God, we lift our hands on high to receive the most important pass of the game. Our football is covered with your grace, filled with your spirit, and not too large for the smallest player to grasp. Perhaps you weep when the ball is fumbled or the pass is incomplete when we suit-up for this life you have given us to live. But you, oh Father, allow us to huddle with your family here, for guidance and the next play’s instruction, so we can start again each day. Thank you for the joy and diversion from the week’s work to watch two evenly matched teams meet and carry us down the field to renewed enthusiasm. Forgive us when we forget what is truly important. Direct our heart back to those with no home-bench, no fresh drink to spill on another’s head, no 3 million dollar exclusive access to have our voice heard for thirty seconds, or one bite from a mountain of hot dogs too high for most of us to count. We admire favorite players but only you are Holy, Father God. And, only the gift of your son Jesus allows us to call you Father. May all glory be his this day after the game. It is never the day after for Christ. He has open hands with nourishing food for the least of us each and every day. Praise be to your Holy name! Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Go to http://weightloss.suite101.com/article.cfm/weight-loss-and-successful-maintenance and scroll down to eleven articles by Doris Gaines Rapp on weight loss issues.
Monday, February 1, 2010
GOD HAD A DREAM
God had a dream and it was you. You sprang from his heart and were born on his breath. You breathe God each time you inhale. And, yet, you are still not satisfied.
“I’m too short, too tall, too fat, too anything.” It never ends. Once you have either changed or made peace with the part you believe is flawed, you obsess over another tiny speck of God who lives within you.
Next, you complain that God made a mistake when he placing you in the family into which you were born. Or, God didn’t give you the right talent to make you unique enough or rich enough or wise enough to make you better than others.
God had a dream and it was you. He loves you just the way you are . . . and too much to let you stay that way, as an old poster read.
And, I am part of that confusion. What he wants to prune, however, is not how we look or who we are or what we have. He wants to rid us of our selfishness, our anger, our ungratefulness, our inhospitality, our lack of generosity, our inability to love totally. That takes a lifetime. Even then, we still won’t be “done.” Only in those glimmering, fleeting sparks of light when Christ shines through us do we have a glimpse of the dream God had of each of us.
I am no physicist, but there is something in quantum physics that says if you drop your keys along the shore line, the essence of your keys will always remain in the water.
Christ walked through the portal of Heaven and, like the keys in the surf, his essence remains on the eye-reader at the entry. That portal stays open for each of us when the light of Christ is read in our eyes and we walk through the opening created by the Son of God. We, our humanness, have nothing to do with it. We don’t have to be perfect, just willing to be pruned and molded and living in the dream God had for us - to be a reflection of Him. Let us pray:
"Heavenly Father, you created each one of us from the perfection of your heart. Holy is your name and sanctified is your dream. May we embrace the vision you had of us when you laid the foundation of the world. Wrapped in your love, we will get a glimpse of Heaven. We do not have the words to thank you for your son, Jesus, who by his life and death and resurrection created the doorway to Heaven. When he lives in us, the eye-reader at the portal to Eternity recognizes the shepherd’s sheep by his light within us. Not to our glory be given, but to the glory of your own son, our savior and redeemer. Praise be your Holy name. Praise be your precious son. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
“I’m too short, too tall, too fat, too anything.” It never ends. Once you have either changed or made peace with the part you believe is flawed, you obsess over another tiny speck of God who lives within you.
Next, you complain that God made a mistake when he placing you in the family into which you were born. Or, God didn’t give you the right talent to make you unique enough or rich enough or wise enough to make you better than others.
God had a dream and it was you. He loves you just the way you are . . . and too much to let you stay that way, as an old poster read.
And, I am part of that confusion. What he wants to prune, however, is not how we look or who we are or what we have. He wants to rid us of our selfishness, our anger, our ungratefulness, our inhospitality, our lack of generosity, our inability to love totally. That takes a lifetime. Even then, we still won’t be “done.” Only in those glimmering, fleeting sparks of light when Christ shines through us do we have a glimpse of the dream God had of each of us.
I am no physicist, but there is something in quantum physics that says if you drop your keys along the shore line, the essence of your keys will always remain in the water.
Christ walked through the portal of Heaven and, like the keys in the surf, his essence remains on the eye-reader at the entry. That portal stays open for each of us when the light of Christ is read in our eyes and we walk through the opening created by the Son of God. We, our humanness, have nothing to do with it. We don’t have to be perfect, just willing to be pruned and molded and living in the dream God had for us - to be a reflection of Him. Let us pray:
"Heavenly Father, you created each one of us from the perfection of your heart. Holy is your name and sanctified is your dream. May we embrace the vision you had of us when you laid the foundation of the world. Wrapped in your love, we will get a glimpse of Heaven. We do not have the words to thank you for your son, Jesus, who by his life and death and resurrection created the doorway to Heaven. When he lives in us, the eye-reader at the portal to Eternity recognizes the shepherd’s sheep by his light within us. Not to our glory be given, but to the glory of your own son, our savior and redeemer. Praise be your Holy name. Praise be your precious son. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Monday, January 25, 2010
GIVE OUT OF OUR ABUNDANCE
On my way to speak at Forest Park United Methodist Church yesterday morning, I “zigged when I should have zagged,” as my father would have said. I had to turn around twice. Yet, God had a way of making my directionally challenged trip a blessing.
I saw a man on a riding lawn mower “walking his dog,” holding the dog leash, as the dog trotted along beside him. We are a lazy bunch of folks, aren’t we? That was my first impression. Then I realized, it is also possible the man was disabled in some way and his effort to take the dog out in the rain may have been more than I would have done with two good legs.
The people of Haiti are left with nothing, no safe place to live, no food or water, no living family members. If we can find unique ways to exercise the family dog, perhaps our offerings can make a positive impact on others as well. I know how difficult the economic situation is in our country at this time, but we still live like royalty as compared to some others around the world.
I am so proud of those who have taken from their tight budgets and have made Health Kits, donated items for the kits, and gave money to the Haiti Earthquake relief. Give with extravagant generosity at this time, in whatever way you can. Let us pray:
“Father God, you have blessed us with an abundance of love and prosperity, unlike anything the world has known before. Your name is Holy to us. Let us see the suffering of your children with your eyes and heart. Forgive us when we have maintained a lifestyle that prohibits generosity. We have heard your people cry. Give us insight into ways we can help you help them. We lift up the people of Haiti, all the relief workers and their families, and pray that you will bring Holy goodness out of their plight. Mend their broken bodies: heal their minds full of sorrow and despair, and shield their souls from turning from you, that they may rise from the rubble and live lives to your glory. In the name of Jesus, our savior and healer, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Doris Gaines Rapp, Haiti Earthquake Relief: Humanitarian Relief http://earthquakes.suite101.com/article.cfm/haiti_earthquake_relief
Doris Gaines Rapp, The Haiti Earthquake - Traumatized Children http://earthquakes.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_haiti_earthquake_traumatized_children
I saw a man on a riding lawn mower “walking his dog,” holding the dog leash, as the dog trotted along beside him. We are a lazy bunch of folks, aren’t we? That was my first impression. Then I realized, it is also possible the man was disabled in some way and his effort to take the dog out in the rain may have been more than I would have done with two good legs.
The people of Haiti are left with nothing, no safe place to live, no food or water, no living family members. If we can find unique ways to exercise the family dog, perhaps our offerings can make a positive impact on others as well. I know how difficult the economic situation is in our country at this time, but we still live like royalty as compared to some others around the world.
I am so proud of those who have taken from their tight budgets and have made Health Kits, donated items for the kits, and gave money to the Haiti Earthquake relief. Give with extravagant generosity at this time, in whatever way you can. Let us pray:
“Father God, you have blessed us with an abundance of love and prosperity, unlike anything the world has known before. Your name is Holy to us. Let us see the suffering of your children with your eyes and heart. Forgive us when we have maintained a lifestyle that prohibits generosity. We have heard your people cry. Give us insight into ways we can help you help them. We lift up the people of Haiti, all the relief workers and their families, and pray that you will bring Holy goodness out of their plight. Mend their broken bodies: heal their minds full of sorrow and despair, and shield their souls from turning from you, that they may rise from the rubble and live lives to your glory. In the name of Jesus, our savior and healer, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Doris Gaines Rapp, Haiti Earthquake Relief: Humanitarian Relief http://earthquakes.suite101.com/article.cfm/haiti_earthquake_relief
Doris Gaines Rapp, The Haiti Earthquake - Traumatized Children http://earthquakes.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_haiti_earthquake_traumatized_children
Monday, January 18, 2010
WHEN DISASTER HITS
“Why did God let this happen?” How many times have you heard that question after a national or personal tragedy? God is not the author of chaos. God is the Creator. Does disaster happen in this world he created? Yes. God is Other, not a human being, and he protects the Other within us - our souls. We, as his hands and feet, are to meet the needs of those around us, whether near or far. Do I have all the answers? No and neither do you. Our example of the nature of God is and was Jesus Christ. Bad things happened to good people when he was alive too. He met the needs of those around him. We have many opportunities to help, even though we cannot go to Haiti. Gifts to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are greatly needed. UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) delivers 100% of contributions to the identified need, Haiti Emergency Relief. They are also collecting Health Kits and the supplies to fill them. Go to www.umc.org and click on Health Kits. Contact me if you need more specific information. I will take kits and supplies to a person who will deliver them to a center in Illinois. Or, make contributions to UMCOR at the www.umc.org website. UMCOR is one of the first disaster teams into areas around the world and the last to leave. Let us pray:
“Father God, lover of our souls, we come before you humbled by the devastation in Haiti. We acknowledge we have no control over these circumstances. Sometimes we are guilty of wanting recognition for our great humanitarian efforts. In this case especially, we are the boat under the sailor’s feet, the purse holder for the worker, and the words of love under the prayer. We are needed in these capacities and our work is as vital to the rescue effort as the one holding the hammer or mending a broken body. Let us serve you in quiet strength for we know you hold their hearts’ in your hands. In the name of Jesus, your son and our Savior, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
“Father God, lover of our souls, we come before you humbled by the devastation in Haiti. We acknowledge we have no control over these circumstances. Sometimes we are guilty of wanting recognition for our great humanitarian efforts. In this case especially, we are the boat under the sailor’s feet, the purse holder for the worker, and the words of love under the prayer. We are needed in these capacities and our work is as vital to the rescue effort as the one holding the hammer or mending a broken body. Let us serve you in quiet strength for we know you hold their hearts’ in your hands. In the name of Jesus, your son and our Savior, we pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Monday, January 11, 2010
SNOW
I can stop complaining about the snow. According to Suite101.com, snow is “vital to the Winter survival of plants and trees as snow acts as an insulator and protects the plant from harsh, Winter conditions. Snow flakes have a unique structure; snow flakes have small intervening spaces within their structure which are filled with air. This means there is low heat conductivity; as a result, the daily temperature penetration into the snow is minimal and plants are protected from frost and freezing conditions. Once the snow melts, the moisture is also good for the plants.”
Alas and forlorn, an insight has hit me. I find myself complaining about a lot of blessings . . . like snow. I need a little extra money right now and out of the blue, I’m offered a part-time job I had never even thought about. Then, I complain about all the extra time and energy the job will take if I accept it. The reality of our walk with God is, with all the blessings God gives us, the responsibility of seeing them through comes with them. Let’s try to find a way to reframe our self-messages, making blessings out of the consequences, as well as enjoying the shinny stuff. With the snow comes the shovel. With the shovel can come complaints or more blessings: burned calories, a little time alone with God, a breath of fresh air, time to create that next great novel or invention, or an opportunity to form the words necessary to talk to someone you’ve needed to communicate with. Let us pray:
“Oh loving Father God, creator of the sparkling snow flake and the billowing wave, how precious is your name and all that you have created. I find that I want to accept your blessings but not the work that supports them. Forgive me when I have wanted to be a taker and not a giver. You are alive on the whisper of love and there when I am called to love others. May I accept the responsibilities that go along with the many, many blessings you have given me. May I never forget that I do not toil alone. You are always there with me as I shovel, type, make phone calls, and work the blessings you have given me. The blessings are just the labels. The greater blessing is in the work that goes with them, for that is where I will find you. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son and my savior I pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Alas and forlorn, an insight has hit me. I find myself complaining about a lot of blessings . . . like snow. I need a little extra money right now and out of the blue, I’m offered a part-time job I had never even thought about. Then, I complain about all the extra time and energy the job will take if I accept it. The reality of our walk with God is, with all the blessings God gives us, the responsibility of seeing them through comes with them. Let’s try to find a way to reframe our self-messages, making blessings out of the consequences, as well as enjoying the shinny stuff. With the snow comes the shovel. With the shovel can come complaints or more blessings: burned calories, a little time alone with God, a breath of fresh air, time to create that next great novel or invention, or an opportunity to form the words necessary to talk to someone you’ve needed to communicate with. Let us pray:
“Oh loving Father God, creator of the sparkling snow flake and the billowing wave, how precious is your name and all that you have created. I find that I want to accept your blessings but not the work that supports them. Forgive me when I have wanted to be a taker and not a giver. You are alive on the whisper of love and there when I am called to love others. May I accept the responsibilities that go along with the many, many blessings you have given me. May I never forget that I do not toil alone. You are always there with me as I shovel, type, make phone calls, and work the blessings you have given me. The blessings are just the labels. The greater blessing is in the work that goes with them, for that is where I will find you. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son and my savior I pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Monday, January 4, 2010
I SO RESOLVE
I don’t make new years resolutions. But, this year, I have felt the need to commit to a new resolve.
MY 2010 RESOLVE
I so resolve to
love more,
share more,
save more,
and be more, more like Christ.
I further resolve to not allow others’ anger to penetrate my soul,
to love others in spite of themselves,
to love and accept myself as God does,
and to take up no cause that is not from God.
I resolve to value my time as a gift from God,
to value my gifts as jewels to be polished,
to value my health as a means to doing God’s work,
to value all my family as the only gifts I will take with me into Heaven,
and to value my walk with Jesus as the only trip worth taking.
Let us pray:
“Father God, you love me completely and too much to let me believe I am complete. Holy is your precious name. May your Holy Spirit come and make a home in my heart so that I may experience Heaven here on earth. May I be reminded each day of my Resolve and give me each evening another pearl to add to the string. Forgive me when I have weakened in my resolve to be your child, reflecting you to others I meet along your way. Let your Spirit fill me to overflowing that I may flood others’ hearts with your love. I give you all the praise and glory for anything I have been and what you may choose for me to be. In the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son and my savior I pray. Amen.”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
MY 2010 RESOLVE
I so resolve to
love more,
share more,
save more,
and be more, more like Christ.
I further resolve to not allow others’ anger to penetrate my soul,
to love others in spite of themselves,
to love and accept myself as God does,
and to take up no cause that is not from God.
I resolve to value my time as a gift from God,
to value my gifts as jewels to be polished,
to value my health as a means to doing God’s work,
to value all my family as the only gifts I will take with me into Heaven,
and to value my walk with Jesus as the only trip worth taking.
Let us pray:
“Father God, you love me completely and too much to let me believe I am complete. Holy is your precious name. May your Holy Spirit come and make a home in my heart so that I may experience Heaven here on earth. May I be reminded each day of my Resolve and give me each evening another pearl to add to the string. Forgive me when I have weakened in my resolve to be your child, reflecting you to others I meet along your way. Let your Spirit fill me to overflowing that I may flood others’ hearts with your love. I give you all the praise and glory for anything I have been and what you may choose for me to be. In the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son and my savior I pray. Amen.”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
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