I believe that God created the universe perfectly. I trust that God got it right the first time and that prayer is an insult to the perfection of God. The laws of nature (physics) have never been suspended on the requests of humans in prayer...no matter what you or anybody says. Duke University did a study on prayer vs. visiting the patient and holding their hand and playing music...guess what? Subjects in the prayer study fared worse than those who had real interaction. Prayer may make YOU feel good about yourself; but it has nothing to do with anyone else. I say, not only should you get off your knees and pray, but you should open your hands and take some action with them instead of praying, DO SOMETHING! Ok, let me go a little deeper. If you accept God as being perfect and abandon prayer, you are saying you trust God implicitly and are in total acceptance of Creation as God has perfectly designed the universe. You live your life according to the laws of nature (physics) which God created and when disasters strike, you don't ask, "Why God?"...God is removed from the immediate cause of the event...it is pressures within the earth which cause earthquakes, air masses moving which cause tornadoes, warming seas which cause hurricanes...not the wrath of God...and God doesn't favor one person over the next and cause one to be "miracuously" saved and another to die a horrible death. These events occur due to natural phenomona and not the "hand of God." When you abandon prayer, you experience a two-fold change. You become INVOLVED in a physical level in the lives of others, and you begin to look at God, and the universe, as perfection...and end your delusions that you have power over nature and God...and accept the universe as God created it...perfectly. I don't expect you to agree with me...only to possibly see God in a different way. Yours, Keith

PS...I'm sorry...I saw your statement about prayer and God...then I saw you were talking about Jesus...So, to whom do you pray? Jesus or God?

Dear Sheila, How can I be humble and also pray for myself? How can I make praying a habit, instead of just praying when someone asks for prayer? Many Blessings to you.

Hi Sheila, I'm having some problems with trying to bring some of the people I work with to come to know the Lord. The issue is that several of them have homosexual daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, and other family members. It is difficult for me to answer some of their questions without alienating them. One of my friends in particular is a very kind and compassionate person who has a brother and sister in the lifestyle as well as her daughter. As a nurse I really want to start doing hormone checks to see if there are some chromosomes out of whack in their lineage. Do you know of any resources that would help me to help them know the Lord. This woman was raised as a Catholic and has announced that she would like to become a Christian. She would like to have her daughter join a church as well but feels she will not be accepted. Any suggestions would be helpful to me. Thank you so much.

Hi Sheila, how lovely to talk to you! I have long admired you and think you are beautiful in every way. My problem is lack of money which has made me ill, frankly. God answers all my other prayers, but not the money ones! Times have been very difficult for 20 years, not just with money, but with a violent marraige, a wayward son (he is JUST coming into his own and he is 20!) and a house that I just did not want to move into (again, 20 years ago). Because of these 3 major problems, I find myself at age 52 with no friends, no money, never been far from the door, so no life really. I do have a lovely family and God's Grace has been amazing. I am going to buy your book Sheila, as I know it will help me a lot. Much love to you and to all who have come here for help, Sandra

How is the best way to teach children to pray. I've been praying with my gdaughters for several years now. They are 8 and 7, but I feel at times their prayers needs to be more than what they are doing. I hate to correct thier prayers but should I when I feel I should?
Do I just allow them to pray what on thier heart and allow JESUS to take it for them to deliever to GOD with what they are praying about.
I do not remember taught about prayers so I don't know how to handle this.
thanks and God Bless