You bet it was!. Thank you for sharing that.
I don't doubt for a moment your mom was aware of your presence in the room. My friend's mother is in the advanced stages of Alzheimers and I have watched her progression over the past 8 years. From her reactions, even though her eyes have been closed for a few years now, and she no longer speaks in full sentences, I know she is aware of her son - she knows his voice and the tone of it.

Thanks Britty, I appreciate you

martymark, that was a fantastic story about Hebrews. Thank you for taking the time to write it out and share it with us here.

We should talk and become friends, brother... because it appears we have chewed some of the same "dirt" when we were in the world, and it is a good possibility God delivered us both from many of the same things.

One of my favorite verses now-days is:

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1 John 4:4

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

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Wow, I am glad I posted the last doo-dad, because it allowed me to re-look at 1 John chapter 4... and I found a verse that has been on my mind for a few weeks... yayyyy...

In some churches they put the Pastor on like this higher than appropriate pedestal. Sometimes these men of God fall out of the Grace of God, and they are still in the limelight of the pulpit. That is why the Bible instructs us to test every word that preachers and teachers say... mainly to the point, this verse:

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1 John 4:1

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

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It is up to us to use discernment that God will give us in order to make sure the messages we get from the pulpit are actually message intended from God. Some preachers will be false prophets, teaching mis-truths.

We all make mistakes, I am no exception, that is for sure. I still struggle with the every day grind of getting by. But when I think of where I have been compared to where I am now spiritually, I get blessed every time. I t make s cry with tears of joy that our lord could love anyone that much. It is beyond my comprehension. I think one of the verses and surrounding passage I rely on a lot is Isaiah 43:18-19, remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I shall do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Luke Chapter 7...

37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

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The principle of one who has sinned much, and was forgiven all of those things... how much that same person can most powerfully love Christ for what he has done.

Brother, I should be dead from some of the stuff I tried out in the world. But that wasn't the final chapter. Jesus Christ reached down into this sorry lump of addicted flesh and brought me in a new Creation.

I live by faith every day, rejoicing in the power of Him that saved me from the most terrible of fates.

I love Christ with a Passion... a HUGE passion, and I know exactly what you mean in what you wrote. That woman who washed Jesus' feet with her hair knew about being forgiven many thing.

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I had this thought earlier today... that if I spend my life serving Christ, and reaping of the benefits of this lifestyle... even if I get to the end and God doesn't exist, it is worth serving Christ for the benefits of today.

But...

He does exist, and He is very real, and very much blesses my life everyday. And when this body finally falls asleep, it won't be because of a drug overdose, it is going to be because God love4d me so much on that day that he said to me... "Hey, Jimbo... dude, I love you so much, I need you up here in heaven with me for eternity."

Yeah man.... I don't fear death one bit... "Death where is your sting?, Grave, where is your victory?"...

Nothing but joy waiting for me.... can't wait to see Him face to face. That will make this walk worth every bit...

To be an overcomer.... that's the schnizzle

Within the first chapter or two or three (or so) of the book of Daniel is an explanation of what goes on when we have to wait for prayers to be answered... In that passage of scripture it is explained that God sends the answer immediately, but then there is war in heaven with the angels fighting on our behalf which temporarily prevents (because the enemy puts up resistance) that answer on arriving. (See Daniel...)

It also reminds me of a verse in the New Testament that talks about that we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities if the spiritual realm.

Prayer is Private

The Church View:
Public prayer is encouraged in all public venues and practiced at all church oriented functions.

The Bible View:
Prayer is private, public prayer is condemned, repeated prayer is vain and unnecessary.

From the Expert:
Without reservation, the final authority on prayer is Jesus. This is his treatise on the merits of public, private, and scripted prayer:

Public Prayer
· Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Private Prayer
· Matthew 6: 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
· Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Scripted Prayer
· Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
In four verses Jesus condemns the accepted prayer practices of almost all modern day Bible-based churches. Public prayer is hypocritical, narcissistic, and ineffective, and practiced or scripted prayer is vain and unnecessary. The single most often repeated and public prayer consists of the next five verses, and is known as the Lord’s Prayer.

A Prayer or a Lesson?
Did Jesus immediately contradict himself and utter a public prayer after condemning the practice? Not when one considers the first six words. “After this manner therefore pray ye…” This makes it clear that what follows is not a prayer, but a guide. Following the denouncement of complicated and repetitive prayer, this is an outline of a simple prayer and certainly not a spontaneous prayer.

The Outline
· Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The Lesson Confirmed
In Luke this outline is clearly shown to be a lesson in how to pray and not a prayer and he actually stops praying before he gives the lesson:
· Luke 1:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

A disciple asks him to teach him how to pray and he gives this outline. The word “say”does not mean to repeat the words but to relay these thoughts. The word is lego, pronounced leg'-o, a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas GSN2036 and GSN5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while GSN4483 is properly, to break silence merely, and GSN2980 means an extended or random harangue]); by implication, to mean:

Private Prayer In Practice
The practice of praying privately is demonstrated in biblical text:
· Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
· Matthew 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
· Mark 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
· Mark 14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
· Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
· Luke 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
· Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
· 1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Charity and Fasting

A quick study of both charitable giving and fasting will show that these practices are to be done in private as well:

· Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

· Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Most religious communities also practice these two publicly as well.

mm interesting, I shall take another look at Daniel...

Sharp - I tend to prefer private prayer myself, although I do not mind fellow christians doing that in small groups together, as it does say, when 2 or more are gathered in my name.

Sharp,alms, I believe is refering to giving tithes in these passeges mentioned. I could be wrong, but if I read the whole thought around them that is the impreesion I get. Maybe I missed your point?

In Abrahamic religions, alms are given as charity to benefit the poor.



- That as always been my understanding, and my background.


We used to have almshouses in England many years ago.

Matthew 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

I thought of this verse when I read the outside sign for a church, today. It read, "A clear conscience is a comfortable pillow to lay your head upon."

exactly, which is what the early Jewish church said their tithes and offerings were for. When Christ discovered that it was becoming a mockery, he drove the profiteers out of the synagogue with a vengeance, (beat the crap out of em while he did it), this is the only account of Christ ever becoming physical with anyone in a aggressive manner.

yep there are a lot of mis led people in the world today, most of them don't even have a clue of the actual teachings of what Christ was trying to teach. They are merely puppets of some sort of relgion that calls itself a church. it's possible they will open there eyes.

I have no problem with prayer with christians either Britty.

I think this has more to do with those who like to be seen of men as having a special walk with God, You know the type. Some make a big spectacle of letting everyone know they are praying, or I go to church, "x" times a week, Oh i'm so hungry, I'm fasting you know, for the Lord. It really matters not, for God knows each and everyone of our Hearts and Minds.

I think it can include tithes, but is any kind of gift or charity or works for those less fortunate or for the church.

I never thought much of passing a plate in church myself, lets everyonoe see what so and so gave or not. Tithes can be mailed or dropped in a place elsewhere to me without passing a plate. A church that is blessed will not have to beg for money.
Some even read a verse or two and then spend the rest of the time planning for and begging for money in some form or another, lets sell cakes, maybe a raffle, give brothers and sisters, you will be blessed more at the 100 dollar "gold" level. okay, 'nuff on tithes

I wonder sometimes where the name it and claim it folks get their info on the way they look at seed faith. The only thing that is promised to us as believers is the rewards of heaven. Christ touched on this very subject when he Said "give unto caesar what is caesar's, and give unto the lord what is the lord's". I believe what he was saying was that money is a man made thing. So give your money to men, and give our souls to God. I didn't want to say it just like that on the general topics/religion threads for fear of starting up another argument about whether God exists or not. I believe he does and already owns everything in the universe. Satan included. God will do with as he pleases any and all things and spirits/thoughts/reactions at any given moment. It is so hard for me to wrap my tiny little brain around this concept I am surprised my head didn't pop the first time I was able to put it into writing. Feed back please, so I may see what the message is conveyed!