MN Christian Prayer Request Thread - May God Bless us all as we hurtle into 2011 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

[CaptainDippy]

Hello! Thought today would be a good & apt day to start a new thread

Let's hope it is an Exciting and Blessed year of New Beginnings for us all

Here's the summary from the last thread:

katsh - Prayers for her brother who's marriage has just ended rather traumatically He and his ex are sharing their children 50:50 at the moment and will be starting court proceedings for access etc very soon. They really need your prayers.

MadHairDay - Prayers needed for her friend's DD who is currently in a very bad way with Anorexia. Her organs are shutting down & she is being tube-fed Prayers also needed for other friend's and their DS who has just had a DX of Leukemia ; and for MHD's DF who's husband has just left her This is going to be such a tough year for them, hold them all closely, Lord. Praise though for recent favourable results for MHD's recent lung capacity etc tests

TeaandCakePlease - Her DF who has had a recent DX of breast cancer (which has spread to her lymph nodes) has just had her 1st course of Chemo. She needs prayers for the hard times ahead, as do her family. Prayers also needed for her friend's DS, William who has special needs, he has just come out of hospital where he was having brain seizures every 20 mins. He is home now with special meds.

JaffaCakeAddict - Did your pregnant friend who was snowed-in have her baby safely???? ....and did your sis and family make it home for Christmas!!?

LoveBeingaDaddysGirl - Lost her father at the end of November and suffered a m/c at the beginning of Dec. Such a hard time for LBADG and her family. Hold them close, Lord.

M44 - Prayers for her poor DS whose Eczema is being terribly exacerbated by the weather at the moment

MaryBS - Her BIL has been DX with a secondary brain tumour and will now require special care at home. Prayers for him and for his wife whose health hasn't been too good recently either. These are such hard time for them both. Prayers also needed for Mary's knee which recently collapsed and is causing Mary a lot of pain and discomfort; and for Mary's DD's friend who is currently in an Eating Disorder's Clinic, she is only 11

TotallyUnheardOf - Prayers for her as she seeks to find a church to attend where she lives; and for a more positive attitude to her faith from those around her. Praise for friends who has recently had a BFP after commencing fertility treatment

CaptainCaveman - Her DH has been acquitted of misconduct at work He is now looking for another job, so prayers for success in this would be great

WisteriaWoman - Prayers for family, especially her mum as they settle her father who has Dementia into a care home.

amber - Will need an op in Jan 2011 after the results of scary tests, which she bravely undertook a couple of weeks ago. Prayers for her friend's DS who is in hospital with bad Flu - how is he doing??

Caz&Belle - Has got through her 1st Christmas since losing Belle; but still awaits results of DH's lumbar puncture and finding out what is causing his poor health.

TooBlessed - Hoping that TooBlessed got to Zimbabwe with her family and has had a wonderful time with them

gingercurl - Prayers for her friend and her DF who have been the targets of some appalling behaviour, which has meant the DS has had to move schools. Prayers for 2011 to be a much better year for them.

DutchOma - Has Bob home after a hospital and rest home stay He is doing well and making progress.

JentlyDoesIt - Really needs our prayers at this time as her DH has been taken to start a 6 year prison sentence following a guilty verdict in court just before Christmas. Jently is understandably devastated and is struggling. Uphold her during these dark times, Lord.

BoxofDelights - Posted the following: ". To cut a long and complex story short, a couple of years ago I had a miscarriage and the aftermath of this revealed various problems with (longterm) relationship and it ended. The emotional fallout also led me to confront issues of abuse in my childhood by family members (which I had been trying to cope with, put to one side and hide)which happened for many years." She has cut ties with her family and a lot of her friends as a result of difficult circumstances and is so wanting 2011 to be a year of reconciliation and renewal; and we join her in these prayers

PositiveAttitude - Is finally feeling better for the 1st time since July - Yippee!! Prayers for a continued fantastic recovery

mufti -'s old Pastor died on 28.12.2010. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. Prayers especially for his family at this time.

Last, but by no means least - Praise for the safe arrival of Saliswan's DS Thomas on 17.12.2010, weighing 7lb 8oz at 37 weeks - Hurrah!!

Think that is all - but please fill in where I have missed out - and GET PRAYING!!!!

May 2011 be a year of Renewal, Healing & Blessing for us all; and all our friends, families - and enemies too!!

Crossposted with you earlier, Dippy... Yes, I definitely blame jaffacakeaddict for my lack of willpower... . Will try to get a grip, as I am planning on doing the Moonwalk (power-walking a marathon, overnight, in aid of breast cancer) again this year, and could do with having a bit less flab to carry around with me!

It has just come to me that the answer to my problem might have been under my nose this whole time, but I wasn't seeing it. There's a local village where we sometimes go for walks (just been there this afternoon) and where me and the dcs play in the band. The band has quite close links with the church there and we've played in the church a couple of times and, from the little I've seen, it could be my kind of place (it describes its worshipping tradition on 'A Church Near You' as 'central', but has a Parish Eucharist every week, which matters to me). The village is not particularly local to me (further than the cathedral), but we have links with it already on some level... so going there doesn't feel too odd, iykwim. Dunno, but it might be worth a try... Thanks to all of you for your prayers; they really do mean a lot.

Sorry guys, jaffacakes are my diet downfall. When I first registered I was munching my way through a packet and when I had to choose a username jaffacakeaddict was the first thing that came into my head. In retrospect, I probably wouldn't choose it as a username but I'm too lazy to change it.

TUO - I think your idea sounds great and that the church is worth a try. If you don't like it you don't have to go back and can try elsewhere.

I've been thinking today about the year ahead and wondering what plans God has for us as a family. I have a feeling there could be quite a few changes this year, haven't a clue what but I think this year could be quite busy. I pray that all of us on this thread will have the courage to follow whatever God wants us to do in the year ahead.

Caz, your post really struck a chord. I guess its because you were expecting Christmas to be difficult, and New Year is about new beginnings. Don't be disheartened. I'm sure God has great things planned for you, in fact I can feel it. KNOW his love and his blessings are there for you, whenever you are ready to reach out and grab them. He loves you very much, I can tell.

Let me share this version of the Lord's Prayer:

My God, my Creator, my Redeemer, my Love
Spirit pervading all creation, of which I am a part
Spirit which moves within me and unites me to that whole
May we grow towards unity
May we help each other in our daily needs, earthly, spiritual and emotional
May I learn to have compassion for myself and others
May I be open to the promptings of the Spirit
So that we all may live in peace and love and rejoice in the glory of creation.
Let it be so.

Mary - that is wonderful, I've never come across that one (though maybe I have - is it from the Message? Maybe I skipped that bit )

PA wonderful about your daughter :)

TUO good luck with the church hunting!

Keeping the prayers going for everyone still.

Fabulous news about your daughter PA. One step at a time :)

Hope it's OK if I join you.

Missing my local church and the role I used to have.

Feeling a bit ughhh about New Year in general. Always a lot of looking back and looking forward.

Hi Barleywood - keeping that in prayers for you too. What sort of thing did you do in the church, can I ask?

I had a finger in lots of pies.

I chaired the PCC through an interregnum.

My main skills however were pastoral and supporting people on the edges of the church.

I might describe myself as watchful, attentive and intuitive to the needs of others.

During training with Acorn listening I was very taken with the idea of listening to God on behalf of others.

Very easy to get burned out though, especially if you neglect your own relationship with God.

Thats interesting barleywood, I've been reading about Acorn listening, and it sound incredible, I was thinking about finding out more. I've just read Michael Mitten's book, a heart to listen. Can you not get more involved again at your local church? Our church is crying out for volunteers! Not sure which diocese you are in, but do you have Authorised Lay Ministry programs? Someone from our church is doing the pastoral ALM program.

MrsC, a friend wrote that prayer as part of a retreat-type thing he went on, when they were challenged to re-write the Lord's prayer. Isn't it beautiful?

Praying for you all...

Just wanted to try out my Epiphany name ... :o

mary yes, it is really lovely. Will put it in my new desk diary, if that's ok?

Love the new name too

Lovely prayer Mary and great name!

Hi barleywood. Welcome to the thread. I have done quite a lot of listening skills stuff in a counselling course I did and came across Acorn a bit in that, sounds good. Do you mind me asking, have you left your old church or are you still there and having time out from your roles?

Friends dd not eating again - please pray. Can I also ask for prayers for my dd - her psoriasis is so bad atm, started a thread asking about it in the health section as don't know what to do :(

Still in same church, taking time out whilst I try to figure out what God wants me to do.

Like most others our church is crying out for volunteers. Discerning what I should do is the difficult bit although I am well aware of my tendency to procrastinate reflect indefinitely.

Not flouncing honestly. Not being precious, just trying to find the right way.

I know that a rolling stone is easier for God to move but this field of grass is awfully comfortable

Welcome barleywood

If you guys could pray my delightful children could stop whining and screaming and generally being obnoxious today, so we can enjoy this last day of the hols together as a family, that would be great! DD3 is particularly trying my patience today. Sigh .....

Catching up and trying to pray.

Would welcome prayers for DS2 who is under the weather and sleeping badly. We're all tired and in need of a good night. Also facing the post holiday blues tomorrow as DH goes back to work and the boys and I are likely to be rather frazzled.

BlueEyes me too with the post holiday thing today :( I know I'm always ok when I get back into the swing of things but re-entry can be painful

Could people please pray for my sister, who starts a new job today after more than 5 years as a SAHM? She is understandably nervous - not just about doing the job, but about managing life as a working mum. I know she'll be fine, but she doesn't!

Hi all.

Welcome barley

mrscad praying for you sister. Any time out of work is overwhelming, I pray she feels strength and confidence today.

Mary thanks for posting. I think you are spot on. I was expecting Christmas to be difficult so I was prepared for the hurt. How I feel about New Year caught me unawares and I've not been coping brilliantly with it. Our strategy has been to keep busy and went to London for a few days but now I'm home and quiet again I just feel so lost. I think you also make a good point about the new beginnings.

I was just not ready to let go of 2010. It has been the best and worst year of my life. Despite it all I became a Mummy and there is no greater role than that. We have a daughter and she has touched our lives forever, she is a blessing even in her absense and I am aware of that. I would rather have had Belle for the short time I did than to never have had her at all.

I'm finding it so difficult that everything that has happened to now is "last year" - I don't know what is expected of me now. I don't know what to expect of 2011 and that frightens me.

Dippy thanks for asking about DH. His results should be any day now. Infact they are late but I'm giving account for them being due of Christmas and thats made them late. If we don't recieve a phonecall or letter with an appointment this week I'm going to start pushing. The stress of the unknown there is also starting to take its toll. Good news is his headaches/migranes finally seem to be under control after the lumber puncture after a couple of weeks of GP trying lots of different tablets etc to make them stop. No headaches since a couple of days before christmas now.

Prayers please for E and all who knew her before an untimely death. She will be much missed.

Keeping everyone in prayers.

amber - prayers for E and yourselfs, take care

CD - Thank you for the round-up. You really are 'Superwoman'

Today we had a Tesco shop, with thanks to you all who have supported us, yummy yum yum yum, just in time for DS1 15 b'day tomorrow, how did he get soooo big!

Indeed we still need prayers for no snow!! like we got this morning so dh couldn't work again today!!!!!! thank you god it has melted this afternoon xx

Hello ladies sorry I haven't been on in a couple of weeks. Just wanted to let you know of God's great work in dh's life - not only has the case against him been thrown out, but they have offered him 6 months salary to walk away nicely.... Prayers now much appreciated as dh starts to look for a new job.

Boxofdelights I have similar issues in my past to those you describe, and am always happy to talk/listen if that would help you at all (you can CAT me if you like)

Praying for you all

ooh, could you also please pray for J at work whose ds arrived 6 weeks early last week. He's in NICU. no idea what happened etc but of course God does!!

Bad night but got through the day. Need sleep.

Good morning everyone. I have been praying as I have read your posts over the past few days.
Great to hear about your DH, CC.

Thank God that I have returned to work after all my time off. more than a bit of an admin mess to sort out! Also got back to discover that the church treasurer has got himself into a bit of a mess with the auditor, which I need to get sorted. (Diplomatic skills will be needed I fear!)

Keeping prayers going for everyone

Here, pre-op tests for me

Morning all,

Feeling a bit more positive here today, have grasped the financial nettle firmly and sorting it all out is very daunting but I am getting on top of it :) DP is an accountant so has always done all the house stuff so it's rather a learning curve for me... Just waiting for the Tax credit people to get their bums in gear. I told them the change in circumstances so they have put DP down as "not working" and taken away my childcare credits!!! They have now seen the error of their ways...

I haven't spoken to DP in over a week now and that makes me very :( he was able to ring every other day so I am beginning to worry. I am sure it is something simple such as his phone credit hasn't been applied yet or that because of the Bank Hols, he hasn't been allowed the time out to call but it's hearing his voice that was helping me "cope". Please pray for the phone to ring soon!

My Mumsnet flowers :) are still blooming lovely (see what I did there?!) and make me smile every time I look at them.

Right, enough about me, I'm boring myself now...

caz - still praying for you, had a peek at your pics, Belle was a perfect little dot. I too don't know what expect from 2011 so let's face it bravely and get through it together. xx

CC - what great news re DH's job, will be praying for a new one to come along asap.

Amber - prayers for your tests today.

barleywood - hello and welcome

boxofdelights - I too am in deepest darkest Essex :) are you north or south of the county? I'm in Colchester...

Right, off to talk nicely to British Gas re my bill... wish me luck! xx