Brazil Visit, Post 14

Yesterday spent much of the day with a family. The dad is a chemical engineer, the mother a former dentist but now stay at home mom with three daughters. He showed me the guest quarters he is building; we talked about many things including the US elections, and i enjoyed the usual wonderful Brazilian hospitality. We also went to a supermarket, allegedly the best in all Brazil, where i bought a few items difficult to find in the US. In the evening, in stifling heat and humidity, had been asked and taught on the theme of prayer with sixteen younger adults ( 20's and 30's) in attendance. Began with Genesis 1:26 and the idea that God created humans uniquely in His image for the purpose of relationship. We traveled to Mark 12:30 where the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our being. This SHOUTS relationship. We examined the beginning of Luke 11 where the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Some points we covered were "Father," ( a term of relationship) santification ( holiness) of God and His Name, "your kingdom come," ( the Lordship of Jesus in our lives), "daily bread," trusting God to meet all of our genuine needs including but not limited to the material, forgiving others as God has forgiven us ( unforgiveness is the spiritual equivalent of cancer in the physical, and protection from harm and evil, which ultimately only God can do. Other points mentioned were perseverance in prayer ( 1 Thess 3:10), the intercession of both the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8:26) and the Lord Jesus (v. 34)for us, being expressive in prayer ( Hebrews 5:7), praying Biblical prayers e.g. 2 Thess 3:5, Romans 15:13, praying memorized verses, and the idea that discipline leads to desire. ( Daniel 6:10, 9:3)