The day was long, the burden I had borne seemed heavier than I could further bear....and then it lifted.

I did not know that someone had knelt in prayer; had taken me to God that very hour; had asked for the easing of the load, and He in infinite compassion had stooped down and taken it from me.

We cannot tell how often, as we pray for some bewildered one hurt and distressed, the answer comes - but many times those hearts find sudden peace and rest.

Someone had prayed and in faith a reaching hand took hold of God and brought Him down that day!

So many, many hearts have need of prayer. May we be moved to pray.

Hi Brenda,

I am 57, 58 in July and first professed my Faith publicly at the age of 21 although I was a believer I feel from birth. I am a Christian, I cannot ever remember not believing that Jesus Christ was who He said He was, the Son of God and my salvation. So your words on prayer moved me deeply.

People have asked me what God has done for me and why do I still believe in Him when he has dealt me such a bad hand in life? I had a triple heart bypass in '91 and became a laryngectomee in '95 as the result of cancer. My marriage is not particularly happy but survives into its 34th year.

Such negativity however is normal, people look at what is in front of them not in either what they view or in themselves. My spirtuality has meant that I am grateful for what I have and do not worry about what I don't have. God has given me back the power of communication when I lost my larnyx, he gave me back my health after heart disease and cancer. When I read for example of the stories within these forums I acknowledge just how fortunate I am and give thanks to my Lord for his blessings on me and my family.

So I commend your message Brenda and urge those who can to not only pray but earnestly believe in the power of prayer. Whatever our Creed it is the same God we acknowldege however we describe Him or worhsip Him, those who have no Faith deny their very own spirituality, that which stands us apart from the rest of Creation in our intelligence and ability to reason.

I pray God's blessing on all members of these forums, and all whom they love in whatever circumstance they may find themselves. May we all know and appreciate the infinite and unconditional love of God whose grace sustains us through all that life and the vagaries of secular human nature can throw at us.

God bless you in particular Brenda for starting this thread.

Hello Alan Believe it or not I have only just discovered your reply from way back in April - Apologies!

You have been a great source of strength and support to many on here and it takes a certain courage to openly express your faith and beliefs. You have been a beacon of light during those dark days that we all experience at some time during this battle with cancer. Bless you.

This heading; i.e. Spiritual Bouquet, is a beautiful opportunity for us to share our prayers /poems/ words from the heart etc., (perhaps when we want to reach out to someone who has recently been bereaved).

I'm just thankful for the wonderful mix of people who generously share their experiences, concerns, help and advice, which all goes to make this such a great 'community' to belong to! Brenda x

Amen!

I have to say I don't understand why kind thoughtful people seem to suffer, and creuel mean people don't seem to get major problems, they just sail though life ?????
Does relegion exist ? Each faith seems to say
"Mine is best"

Hi This is for Garance sorry better late than never.

You problem is common and one that I shared many many years ago being unable to distinguish between instituionalised religion which exists in numerous formats and Faith.

My Faith is simple I believe that Jesus Christ was the the Son of God, died and rose again to reconcile me through Him with God the Creator.

Ever since I can remember I have never doubted the New Testament evidence, but I have always held the Insitutionalised Churches in contempt. Until a minister taught me that my Faith was a personal relationship with God who was divine and infallible and not the membership of a denomination which was run by mere mortals with as many foibles as I possessed and far from infallible including the Pope. Which denomination suited me would ultimately be my choice and the best of a bad job but that my underlying membership was that of the Church of Christ, a church without walls but built on a sure unfailing spiritual foundation.

I am not a teacher, nor a theologian, I can only refer to the content of the New Testament and the effect my Faith has had in my daily life. Those whose lives I touch must do with that information what ever, just as I did with the inforation my pastor gave me when the scales were removed from my eyes over three decades ago.

Faith is acceptance of God through Christ and is very much personal but to be effective as the Church of Christ must be practised collectively if it is to be nurtured and grown in maturity, for the majority reject Christ and try actively to destroy His church, which is not only impossible but causes infinite pain and sorrow, witness the world we live in.

We are spitual beings because of our Creator: yet from Creation we have been in rebellion against God, denying at least His authority if not His existence. Because God would not(not "could" not) destroy us he sent and sacrificed His Son so that those who believe in Him may be reconciled eternally to God.

This life is not Shangrilah, it is not heaven, it is what we mankind make it, that is why is is full of fault and far from perfect, we have no one but ourselves to blame for that state of affairs. The promise we have been given will be realised but only after our death and as no one but Christ can testify to what is beyond death. That we must take on trust on the evidence of eye witnesses which was written down within living memory of the events or otherwise simply ignore them as cranks.

I challenge my Faith, I question my Faith it is not blind Faith but so far when I have questioned when I have queried; then the results have always been positive and so I remain a believer, I wish that I could be as positive as some aetheists who say they can prove the contrary, but there evidence are simply a collection of theories no eye witnesses to corroborate no written record a collection of equations which make sense to some but not to me.

I am not saying my Faith is best, just the only way to be reconciled with God, if that is not on your agenda then you will not care whether my Faith has substance or not and you will focus on religious ritual (man made to the greater part) rather than belief a personal relationship with the deity.

Your call Garance, do you want to find out more??? God bless you and keep you safe, Alan

I think my belief is still the one I had as a small child, when given a book, which showed world religions; I was worried that some poeple might make an error, and pray to the wrong God,
so my prayer was, please make it the same God,but different nations have many different ways, and names, for the one God. I firmly beleive that each millioniom, a messanger has been sent from some supreme being, so I would feel at ease with any route, or name for the supreme being.

Garance,

There are many Gods created by Man, but only one God that created Man.

Be sure if you believe in a Creator God through whatever Faith you feel comfortable with you are worshipping the same God as I.

To have a relationship with God however beyond mere subservience is through Christ His son and our saviour regardless of denomination I encourage you to read and study the Testaments of the early Christians and choose whether to believe or not.

May God lead you to the Truth, Alan

I like this: There are many Gods created by Man, but only one God that created Man.

I found scientific information related to spirituality, religion and cancer:

http://homepage.mac.com/penagoscorzo/cancer_treatment/spiritual/

I am academic, then this information was util for me. Anyway this is an good site.

(excuse my bad English)