DOES PRAYER REALLY HELP? The question springs unbidden to the mind of most people at some point in life – does it really help to pray? In a time of crisis, a person who does not believe in God may think it’s worth a shot, maybe as a last resort, but doesn’t believe that it is likely to do much good. Prayer is an act of faith, of belief and trust in God, and is a beautiful avenue for all requests

Peace and joy. Ideal states of being that are brought out and celebrated at Christmas and then like the lights and decorations of the season, it seems we put them away for the rest of the year. Much more than seasonal or even circumstantial states of being, peace and joy are to be the very hallmark of our belief in the Lord Christ that God sent as evidence of His love for us. (see John 3:16-17) And yet it seems

Forgiveness. The hallmark of devout worship and what we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer. The question is, how can we come to that condition of heart and mind that is truly forgiveness? In the Lord’s Prayer we pray both that God would forgive us and that we would forgive those who are indebted to us. This forgiveness does not depend on our attitude toward God, but rather hinges on our attitude toward ‘those who are in debt to us’. At