From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Monday, November 10, 1997 11:28 PM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Re: What is prayer?

>
>From:          Stan Grams 
>To:            "heb_roots_chr@geocities.com"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com> 
> Subject:       What is prayer?
>
>Someone recently asked the question, "What is prayer?"
>
> I was reminded of something I came across while on a sales call many
> years ago.. It was orange with age calligraphy in a dusty old frame
> hanging on the wall in a cluttered, small office in a "used
> merchandise" shop. I bought it for a dollar. To me it is worth much
> more. Here it is:
>
> "For a prayer need not be a rhetorical address or an itemized
> petition, or lips moved soundlessly inside a cathedral, or even words
> spoken into the air. A prayer may be a wordless inner longing, a
> sudden outpouring of love a yearning within the soul to be for a
> moment united within the infinite and the good, a humbleness that
> needs no abasement or speech to express it, a cry in the darkness for
> help when all seems lost, a song, a poem, a kind deed, a reaching for
> beauty, or the strong, quiet inner reaffirmation of faith.
>
> A prayer in fact can be anything that is created by God that turns to
> God.
>
> Paul Gallico quoted from Ludmila, a legend of Liechtenstein."
>
> Stan
>
>*********************************************************************
>

To:            heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From:          Beth Ferguson 
Subject:       Re: What is prayer?

Shalom Eddie and everyone, and thanks Stan, thats a keeper!

Paul urged us to "pray always" and your quote describes this for us
eloquently.  The following comes from a Jewish prayer book called
"Gates of Prayer" purchased in a used book store:

"Prayer invites God our Father to let His presence suffuse our
spirits, to let His will prevail in our lives.  Prayer cannot bring
water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined
city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and
rebuild a weakened will."

The question I've been pondering lately is, why Zola Levitt, at the
end of every program (everyone watches Zola don't they?) asks that we
pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  How does one approach G-d with such
a request when we know the end of the book?  Is it because all our
hope, i.e., that the Jewish people come to know Yeshua, and the
Christian people come to know their Hebraic Roots,  and that all long
for His soon return to Israel, is incompassed in this request?  I
would be glad to know how others would respond Zola's prayer 
request.

Peace in Yeshua
Beth

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From:          Shaun & Camille & 7 others 
To:               heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject:       Re: What is prayer?

***This reminds me of one of my favorite old hymns:
 
PRAYER IS THE SOUL'S SINCERE DESIRE

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, 
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech 
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters heav'n with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

O thou by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
The path of prayer thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray.

   Thanks for letting me share.

Camille (Chopin)

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