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!!

Blackeyedsusan, I'm going to slightly hi-jack the prayer thread. I hope nobody minds This is a safe place to put prayer requests and I apologise now if my post offends you in anyway. I do not usually do this and won't again but I just wanted to share a tiny bit of my story with you and feelings.

My children are age 3 and age 2 and when I first separated from my H when the affair came out I wanted to do all I could to save our marriage, for the children, for me as well and the vows I took and truthfully as I think I had a big hang up too about not wanting to be a divorced lone parent either and whether God would be happy with my choice. One book I wished I'd read at this time but discovered later on, when I did the Divorce and Separation Recovery Course at Holy Trinity Brompton in London is this: www.amazon.co.uk/Divorce-Remarriage-Church-Solutions-Realities/dp/1842271806/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3RY7BM7FMCNRR&colid=18CBM1YHOXCJR

I also read the Divorce book by Frank Retief, and Missing being Mrs by Jennifer Croly as well. And a few others. It's a very hard place to be at this time. Once I felt I had God's blessing as well as realising the vows were already broken and he'd left me already for the OW and I could've waited until he filed for divorce instead, but I wanted to protect myself legally and financially by severing all ties by divorce. As he was in a pickle and up to his eye balls in debt. I went ahead and begun the divorce.

I felt more peace once I had read some biblical books about it all and their take on it too. What I will say is that my children and I are very well taken care of by God, anonymous money in blank envelopes through the door, food parcels turning up by surprise so many stories of provision this year. My little flat is a haven of peace now too and my children are flourishing in this stable environment. I'm now working on forgiveness for the OW reading R T Kendall's book But my ex H and I have a very good amicable co parenting relationship, far far better than when we were ever together after children. God has given me huge grace for him.

Your situation is different with the abuse and possible violence? However please do not get too hung up on the traditional views of divorce for only adultery and desertion by an unbeliever. I do not believe God would ever want a minority of sufferers to remain in a loveless marriage suffering abuse nor to feel guilty when they get divorced because of this. He has broken his wedding vows and he is supposed to love you like Christ loves the church. It's also not good for your children to witness the atmosphere, the strained silences or even worse actually arguments, shouting or seeing him hurt you.

I separated for a while and 5 months later finally filed for divorce. You do not have to divorce straight away, you can move into somewhere safe, create a calmer more stable environment for your children, get yourself on your feet and see what happens with your H over time. Pray for him from a safe place and see as well?

All I would say is never make a decision based on fear, as they are our worst choices. I was terrified at the thought of divorce, about my childrens wellbeing, being brought up in a broken home, whether God would still love me etc. God has been so faithful and loving. He has you now, he's got you. Trust in him. I used to ask him to hold me as I slept and bring me peace. He did.

Thought I'd paste the foot steps poem:

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree as I do not know much about your story but I am praying for you and you can message me privately anytime x

TACP, thats a wonderful and thoughtful answer.

Blackeyedsusan there are a few of us who've been through it on here. I'm another one who is divorced and remarried. I thought that the world had come to an end and ended up leaving the RCC after my marriage broke up (once I remarried), and found a happy and secure home in the Anglican church (well, ignoring recent circumstances...). It helped that my vicar (now former vicar) was also divorced/remarried and helped me too.

I will pray for you...

Thanks. I have been advised to take a week or so to think about what I want, but h is wanting to come back to the flat, so am feeling pressure. Need to get finances sorted out soon, finding all the bank statements, etc. not an easy job as we are very bad at filing.

how does one pm on mn?

Not worried about the divorce thing re not bbiblical etc, thanks to a sermon I heard by the preacher at my old church, via the internet, I am working through the emotions of a shattered dream when I thought we were getting back on track and he was making progress. Still clinging to an unrealistic hope, especially in the evenings. Although, thank God, I am sleeping fairly well.

Prayers for peace for everyone having a tough time at the moment.

The easy way is to look in the blue bar where their name is and to the right there is a "message poster". Click there and follow instructions

thanks tea and cake ( can you make that coffee and sympathy?) awash with the stuff and diet has gone to pot.

Well I drink a lot of coffee with 2 young children and I love baking cakes so I could do that

Does it suit me?

mm lovely!

"I am working through the emotions of a shattered dream when I thought we were getting back on track and he was making progress. Still clinging to an unrealistic hope, especially in the evenings."

I felt like that for a long time, taking the first step to begin the divorce was very hard. I so wanted to work things out. As a child all I wanted to do was to get married and have children and I loved being married, things weren't perfect but I was content. I felt like all my dreams were shattered when we separated. I was in shock for a long time and lived in denial too, hoping we'd work things out. The Melodie Beattie book "Co Dependant No More" is really good but it's not written by a Christian. But people on the ditched thread who've been a marriages like yours found it hugely helpful.

Off to the women's bible study group at church this morning. I do sometimes feel like the odd one out there, as they're all young and happily married. However a friend had a prophetic word for me about it all and the effect I'd have on the group, so I need to squash down that insecurity of mine and my perceptions and keep going

Amber how are you today?

How are the little girls?

Much prayer for decision-making for people. And prayers for everyone as they face the day ahead.

Me, it's hard to say how I feel because it seems to vary every couple of hours. Sometimes it's a bit like waking up to your last day on earth with the firing squad waiting outside for you, and then having to rationalise that you're not going to die any time soon even if it is the C word. I think I may actually be depressed/very 'run down' after the two years of nearly losing hubby to his brain haemorrhage then ds's eye operation to save the sight in that one and my operation recently etc and now this.

We all need a holiday but now have no idea if we can book one or not or when.

Lurking and praying through this thread. Teaandcake, blackeyedsusan, my brother is where you are at the moment so I have a tiny glimpse of what you have been / are experiencing. You are both in my prayers so much. Amber - praying for peace to overwhelm you. For myself - my dd who has been sick for 2 years is showing signs of proper recovery. We are thanking God for answered prayers. Feeling tired and anxious today ( mostly about my brother's children). Praying for peace.

Giving THANKS TO GOD, for Peter has FINALLY been given leave to stay in this country! :o

Praying for you all...

Prayer works, God is good.

Hello, back from my conference, was amazing, feel refreshed and envisioned and just exhausted! Will catch up properly soon.

Mary Brilliant news!!!

Mad Hello there!

DO Hows things these days?

Praying and lurking, still feeling anxious at the moment. I feel this is something I need to battle through.

Prayers for everyone...

Today has the potential to be difficult. Could do with prayers. Both for our service this morning, and for my former vicar's induction service this afternoon...

Prayers aplenty...

Adding mine to Amber's. I know how hard that is going to be, but God is with you.

He has also gone before you, as you know.

Service this morning was lovely. It was a visiting priest that I'd not met before, so I had no idea what he'd be like, but he was great! :)

Please pray for a friend, in her mid-twenties, just been diagnosed with chiari malformation, which means she will have to have brain surgery... and for her DH and son too...

Praying Mary. Glad the service went well.

Great stuff about this morning Mary - and about Peter too, wonderful Prayers for that poor friend of yours Do keep us updated. Miracles, please Lord .....

Lots of coffee, sympathy, baked produce, love and prayers for you in your situation BlackEyedSusan. such hard times ahead, but God is with you - and so are all of us. [smile xx

Prayers for you in your anxiety Hermya - how are you doing honey? x

How are you feeling Caz? Horrid to not be well, especially if you are struggling emotionally too. Hope you are feels lots better now So so about the young girl in your class. Prayers for her family as they struggle through this dark times. How are they doing, do you know?

Sorry to hear about DH's gran, MHD. how is he doing - and all of you? How is the girl doing who got knocked down outside school? Just terrible ....

Praying you get some definite answers soon, Amber ....

Thinking of you and Praying for you BoxofDelights. xx

Lots of Love & Prayers to all from DippyLand - have been some rough patches here over the past couple of weeks due to a rather complicated and delicate situation - Prayers for wisdom and right paths to be taken here .....

Prayers for all.

Am thinking of you, especially, atm amber. The uncertainty must be awful.

Glad today went well, Mary.

I forgot to update you all on my friend and his wife. The pregnancy is going well so far and they had a scan last week and saw a heartbeat. It's early days (8 weeks) but looking good. Their story means a lot to me, because in a way they helped to lead me back to God. I so wanted to do something for them, but there was nothing practical at all that I could do (and anyway I was abroad at the time), so I started to pray. I prayed even though I wasn't sure whether or not I really believed that it would do any good. And then I started praying for other things too (though I kept on praying for them every day), and eventually I also started praying for faith... and, well, you know the rest. So these people (who don't know what they did) are very important to me.