Quote from Forum Archives on September 26, 2002, 10:35 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

Greetings Bible Enthusiast!

 

A friend recently sent me the following thoughts about the
the effectiveness of prayer.  If you were to ask the very
simple question, "Does prayer really work?" here's what
some responses might be....

 

--DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK?
Ask those who have been healed of cancer.
Ask soldiers who have fought a war and returned to
  tell about it.
Ask those who now love a spouse when once there was
  hatred and distrust.
Ask those whose businesses have made a dramatic turn-
  around from bankruptcy to success.
Ask those who have been penniless and now live in
  luxury.
Ask those who have been bitter and now feel love.
As those who have been guilty and now are forgiven.

 

Does prayer really work?  You bet it does!  What would
you say if someone were to ask you?  Share today with
a friend the love of God and how he has answered your
prayers - and made a difference in your life.  It's your
testimony to the power of God.

 

<><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><

 

THE SHOES
by Leanne Freiberg

 

My alarm went off -- it was Sunday again;
I was tired -- it was my one day to sleep in.
But the guilt I'd have felt the rest of the day
Would have been too much, so I'd go; I'd pray.
I showered and shaved, adjusted suit and tie,
Got there and swung into a pew just in time.

 

Bowing my head in humble prayer
Before I closed my eyes,
I saw that the shoe of the man next to me
Was touching my own and I sighed.

 

With plenty of room on either side,
I thought, "why do our soles have to touch?"
It bothered me so; he was glued to my shoe,
But it didn't seem to bother him much.

 

Then the prayer began: "Heavenly Father," someone said--
But I thought, "Does this man with the shoes have no pride?"
They were dusty, worn, scratched end to end.
What's worse, there were holes on the side!

 

"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.
The shoe man said a quiet "amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer,
But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

 

Aren't we supposed to look our best
When walking through that door?
"Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought,
Glancing toward the floor.

 

Then the prayer ended and songs of praise began.
The shoe man was loud, sounding proud as he sang.
He lifted the rafters; his hands raised high;
The Lord surely heard his voice from the sky.

 

Then the offering was passed; what I threw in was steep.
The shoe man reached into his pockets, so deep,
And I tried to see what he pulled out to put in,
Then I heard a soft "clink," as when silver hits tin.

 

The sermon bored me to tears--
And no lie--
It was the same for the shoe man,
For tears fell from his eyes.

 

At the end of the service, as is custom here,
We must greet the visitors and show them good cheer.
But I was moved inside to want to meet this man,
So after the closing, I shook his hand.

 

He was old, his skin dark, his hair a mess.
I thanked him for coming, for being our guest,
He said, "My name's Charlie, glad to meet you, my friend,"
And there were tears in his eyes--but he had a wide grin.

 

"Let me explain," he said, wiping his eyes.
"I've been coming for months, and you're the first to say, "Hi."
I know I don't look like all the rest,
But I always try to look my best."

 

"I polish my shoes before my long walk,
But by the time I get here they're as dirty as chalk."
My heart fell to my knees, but I held back my tears,
He continued, "And I must apologize for sitting so near."

 

"But I know when I get here, I must look a sight.
And I thought ... if I touched you, our souls might unite."
I was silent for a moment knowing anything I said
Would pale in comparison, so I spoke from my heart not my head.

 

"Oh, you've touched me," I said. "And taught me, in part,
That the best of a man is what's in his heart."
The rest, I thought, this man will never know. . .
How thankful I am that he touched my soul!

 

Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
NECESSARY LEGAL INFORMATION
We do not mail "idea-central" unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.

 

Normal Subscribe: idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org
Normal Unsubscribe: idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
 
Web Subscribe: idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org
Web Unsubscribe: idea-central-allow-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
 
Email Group Owner: idea-central-owner@associate.com