LOVE CAME TO EARTH

Before the Holy Baby came, law ruled the heart. Since his coming, Love rules the heart and law’s province is the courts. Can you imagine what our lives would be like if there were no love, just law? You don’t have to stretch your imagination too far to envision a world without love. Countries, communities, families, even churches without love have nothing to offer but condemnation. Only love heals. Only love redeems. Only love draws people unto him. The greatest gift of the ages was God’s gift of redeeming love. Christmas is the time of year when love is celebrated, on the birthday of the King of Love. Let us pray:

“Father God of Love and Life, holy is your name and the name of your son, Jesus, the Christ. I pray that you will make your home in my heart this Christmas season for I want your will and your love to reign there. Forgive me when I am “too busy,” “too tired,” or “too anything else” to make room for my King, the sovereign over the Kingdom of Love. May this be my first Christmas of living in your will, oh Father. Let me hear angels from the realm of Glory, the rustle of animals as they draw near the manger, and the tiny coo of the Baby above the din of a bustling December. You are always near me but only in the calm am I truly aware of you. Fill me with the peace that was heralded by the angels. Let me feel the brush of their wings as they pass by. In the name of Jesus, your son, my Savior, I pray. Amen.”
Doris
Have a very Blessed Christmas!

“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Order Prayer Therapy Primer, by Doris Gaines Rapp, at www.bn.com.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Don’t you just love a good myth? Some have said the Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, was written as a code for children to learn their catechism in England during a time when Catholics were forbidden to talk about their faith. SNOOPS tells us the math just doesn’t work. The time-line is inconsistent with historic facts. Never-the-less, I love the parallels that were drawn between the little Christmas song and the true, religious meaning of Christmas. With political correctness out of control, some day we may need to cloak our words in secrecy. Whatever your interpretation of the current times, as we enter these Twelve Days of Christmas, dwelling on Christian symbols will bring a deeper meaning to faithful Christians.

Christian meaning was added to The Twelve Days of Christmas as follows: “My true love” = God himself. The partridge in a pear tree = Jesus Christ; two turtle doves = the old and new testaments; three French hens = Faith, Hope, and Charity; four calling birds = the four gospels and/or the four evangelists; five golden rings = the first five books of the old testament (the Pentateuch - the story of creation and man’s fall); six geese a-laying = the six days of creation; seven swans a-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; eight maids a-milking = the eight beatitudes; nine ladies dancing = the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit; ten lords a-leaping = the ten commandments; eleven pipers piping = the eleven faithful apostles; twelve drummers drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed. It matters not when these attributions were given to The Twelve Days of Christmas. What matters is, that we find Christian meaning in the Christmas season. Teaching your children these possible attributes is a wonderful way to dig more deeply into Christian teaching during this season. While “Happy Holiday” refers to celebrations of several religions, “Merry Christmas” is a blessing from God in the name of his son, Jesus Christ. Let us pray:

“Father God, our one true love, holy and precious is your name above all names. May your kingdom come into each heart this very day, so that we may dwell in your truth and walk in your will beginning even now. Today, during these twelve days of Christmas, open our eyes to the true meaning of Christmas, that we may transfer it from our heart to those around us. Let the Holy Night be with us wherever we go, that we may bring your peace and glad tidings, given to us over two-thousand years ago on the hills above Bethlehem, to all those we meet. The Holy Child of Bethlehem is the only gift we need this year, his worth is above all measure. Thank you Father, thank you. May we see his sweet smile wherever we go. In His precious name we pray. Amen.”
Doris
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”
May God richly bless you all with a very Merry Christmas
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

CHRISTMAS THANK YOU

Christmas season is a time to give thanks for all God’s blessings. I can think of no great gifts than family and friends. I wrote a poem in appreciation for the executive team of the NeINUMW. My thanks to God for all of them, spreads like honey on a hot biscuit to all of you.

Christmas Thank You
It’s comin’ on Christmas
Joy beyond compare
Angels brush my cheek
Peace is in the air.

The hillside fills with sheep
An angel song I hear.
The tiny babe is born
God’s own heart is near.

His spirit swells within
as to the manger go
and from his thrown above
Gentle blessings flow.

I think of all my dear ones,
friends and family too
For all that you have given
I thank my God for you.

Doris Gaines Rapp
Christmas 2010 - copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp

“Father God, at the very name of Jesus, great music has been created and masterpieces have been put on canvas or sculpted into astonishing and inspiring shapes. Holy is your name and the name of your son. At the name of Jesus, the ill are made well, the broken made whole, and the sinner is restored to your heart. I thank you for so much: for your son, who came from Glory to sleep on straw, and for the dear ones you have given me–my family and friends. Forgive me when I have been too busy, or two self-consumed, to remember the ones you gave me to love. At this time of Christmas, I ask nothing for myself. I ask only that my family and friends receive all the blessings you have for them, flowing from the fountains of heaven and splashing over them like a cleansing, warm shower. I know that you have heard the desire of my heart, for our prayers are like melodies from David’s harp. For all of these blessing, I ask in the name of Jesus, my Christmas child and my Savior. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2010 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
“God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine.”

Prayer Therapy Primer, just released as an eBook. To order, go to www.bn.com and type in Doris Gaines Rapp or Prayer Therapy Primer.

Prayer Therapy Primer

Prayer Therapy Primer, by Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D., is now available as an eBook at www.barnesandnoble.com and your computer is your eReader.

Learn to create prayers that target specific needs, so God our Father, can answer specifically. Receive healing for your mind and/or body through prayer. Doris Gaines Rapp’s On-Line Prayer Group uses Prayer Therapy prayers in the manner and style of Jesus Christ.

Don’t have a NOOK or eReader? Your PC, Laptop, Netbook, iPad, or Android can become your eReader with a free app from Barnes&Noble.com (see below).

To order Prayer Therapy Primer go to BarnesandNoble.com and type in Doris Gaines Rapp at the top (Keyword, Title, Author) or Prayer
Therapy Primer. To access free workbook pages, go to: www.dorisgainesrapp.com

For free app from bn.com, (1) go to NOOKbooks tab, (2) under NOOK Store click on Free NOOK Apps and follow the prompts on the left.

Word-of-mouth and the Internet will be the marketing tools for Prayer Therapy Primer. Please pass this on and help get the word out to as many people as possible.

Thank you and have a very Blessed Christmas.
Doris Gaines Rapp

HE STARTED THE MUSIC

“He started the whole world singing a song,” is the first line of the hymn by the same name.* It goes on to remind us, “The words and the music were there all along.” We know that Jesus is the Word and the Word spoke everything into being.

“Jesus?” some question. “I thought it was a big bang.” Can you imagine the volume of the words that brought forth all life?!

We are in the season of the year when the entire world sings the same songs, in unison, with one Christmas-filled, hope-filled voice. He truly did cause the whole world to join in song. Without his birth, there would be no: Silent Night, Ave Maria; Oh Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard on High; or Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. There would be no joyous expectation or the hope of a better tomorrow. Without the birth, there would have been no death and resurrection for our redemption.

Over two-thousand years ago, a small baby in a manger ushered in centuries of song, of melodies that bury themselves in our heart and burst forth through the Holy Spirit that dwells within, with everything that is good and honest. just and generous, loving and forgiving, grace-filled and holy. Listen closely. A tiny baby is singing a lullaby to you and to me. The song will never stop because it was always in the air. It is only the listener who can stop the music that rings within. Let us pray:

“Holy Father of the infant child, we crawl near to the manger with a humble heart. From over the edge of the rough wooden planks, we can hear the sweet hum of the baby. His dear melody has been arranged into many songs, but the theme has been the same, “I love you. I have loved you always.” Forgive us for silencing the music by letting other noise drown out the heavenly songs. Even your Angels have spoken to us in song but we have preferred the cacophony of the world. We pray that you will permit us to be part of the choir, not the rabble outside. May the spotlight not be on us, oh Father, but at the end of a star-beam, the place where animals stabled, where shepherds gathered in praise and awe, and where melodious, soul-saving-song was born. In the name of the great composer of the life-song 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.”

*Gloria Gaither, William Gaither, and Chris Waters. (1982). He Started the Whole World Singing. The Gaither Music Company, Alexandria, IN.

BE THANKFUL

Rev. David Jeremiah was preaching as we drove to church yesterday. His message was on thankfulness for our plenty. His exact words are fuzzy. You may want to look up his statistics but it went something like this. “If you have any money in a checking account, any bills at all in your wallet, some change in a small dish in your house or car, you are among the 8% of the world’s wealthy.” And, we think we don’t have enough . . . of most anything.

Let us begin a new life of enough, plenty, and extravagant generosity! We have just come though a time in our history of high wages and good jobs. We spent most all of it, saved little, and helped few. Now we are back to God with our hands out. The sad part is, There is never enough!

There is never enough unless God is at the center of our life. There is enough with God. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, moves in, fills every empty spot and chinks every hole in our heart.

A needy, selfish heart will hold fast the door, opening it only with a tribute or ransom. “Give me what I want and I will believe you and open the door.” A thankful heart will sing, “Thank you Lord for each of my blessings, the large and the smallest brush of your presence on my cheek. Fill me completely with your love and peace. Let me pass that peace on to others.” Let us pray:

“Dear Lord and Father of my life, I lift up your name in praise and worship. Holy are you and worth of praise. May your kingdom come swiftly and fill me completely, that I may be a living temple in which your Spirit may dwell. I know I am unworthy and can do nothing to earn your grace. Jesus, my Savior, has paid my price. This Thanksgiving season, Father, may I be aware of the richness of your presence, priceless beyond number and pilled high enough to reach all the way to Heaven. Forgive me when I have been careless with the gifts you have given me. May this Thanksgiving restart my journey home, aware of the awesome responsibility of being a disciple of Jesus. Ever step I take, leaves a footprint for another, every misstep leads another astray. Make my way clear, your voice heard, and the guideposts along my way bright. I am truly thankful for all your blessings. In the name of Jesus Christ, your son, 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.”

HALFWAY THROUGH

We’re halfway through November today. What will the second-half hold? Right now, you’re either halfway through a good book, midway through life, or at the turning point of a crisis. How do I know? Because that’s the way life is. We finish one task, or one phase, or solve one problem, when we are hit with another. Let us reframe our perception that our life has been assaulted. Repeat after me, “Challenged by life, not broken by it.”

Life isn’t a series of events. It’s a flow, a melody of the sea, with high waves and low tides. Why are we so surprised when life happens? Thank the dear Lord for every moment of every day, every trial that shapes you, everyone who loves you, and every opportunity that comes your way.

Too often, we don’t feel blessed unless the gift is LARGE. Blessings come in all sizes. Would you want only one touch from God or blessings every day of your life? The small blessings are the real treasures. Anyone can see a flash of lightning across the night sky. Only a believer will notice the sunset and see a miracle. Let us pray:

“Holy Father, your name is precious to me. May my words always praise you, for you are worthy of praise. May your kingdom come, that I may dwell in your tabernacle every day of my life. This day, Father, I ask for eyes that can see your miracles all around me and ears that can hear your sweet voice whisper my name. May I discern your presence like a precious jewel, so I might string your small blessings like pearls on a thread. Forgive me when I have refused tiny gifts from you because I had asked for more—and didn’t receive it. How could something from you be too small? Only a small soul, a pinched heart, or a tiny mind could ever think that any blessing from God would not be adequate to meet my needs. How greedy I can be, never having enough, always wanting more, never satisfied. Forgive me, Father. Rather then attending to my needs today, Dear Lord, I ask that you bless those around me—those who need healing—those who need hope—those who grieve—those who are truly in want—those who long for a teacher to tell them of you. May I never quit giving in your name, saying, “I’ve done my part. I’m done. I’ve retired from life.” What a blessing it would be, to be nearing the Light, and still be working in the fields. May I have strength to work for you, speak for you, and love for you, until you call me home—and then realize, I am still not done, just halfway through. Let me realize, halfway through is the sweet spot, not the end. In the name of Jesus, our 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.”