I AM HERE. Helen.

Well, dear, I am glad that John wrote you as he did, for it will give you an insight into some principles regarding the powers of spirits to help mortals that you may not have understood before. What he said is true, and I am glad that he wrote.

It may prove a little disappointing to learn that spirits have not the powers to do everything, as mortals may suppose, but I do not want you to underestimate their powers; for they have great powers, even as respects the material things. Of course, they cannot move a house, or cause the wealth of one mortal to be removed from him and placed in the possession of another, but they can and do use great influence on mortals to cause them to do physical things that the spirits cannot directly do.

Your prayers are not futile, even as to these material things that are subject to the control of mortals. For, under certain circumstances, these very mortals are subject to our influence and, thereby, our control. When we promise you that a certain thing or things will happen, we mean that we will exercise our influence on mortals in such a way that they will bring about these happenings in response thereto. And you must not believe that, when we promise you something, that something will come to you as a matter of course. We mean that it will come to you primarily by reason of the work that we are doing among mortals. We can see some things before they have an existence in your physical world and can tell you of the same, and some things we believe will happen, and also tell you. And when they do not, we are disappointed as well as are you.

Your own true and loving,

HELEN.