MN Christian Prayer Request Thread: February already!!!?

[CaptainDippy]

Do not feel
totally
personally
irrevocably
responsible for everything.
That's my job.
Love, God

I like that a lot

Well, here's the round-up:

MadHairDay - Prayers needed for friend's DD who is anorexic and is still not eating. She is being tube fed, but she keeps pulling the tube out. Prayers for the girl from MHD's children's school who was recently run over outside the school. She is through the worst, but has broken legs and pelvis - a swift healing process please, Lord. Prayers for a friend of MHD's whose DH has recently left her and for her DH Gran who recently had a Stroke. Lots of prayers for MHD's lovely DD who is suffering horribly from Psoriasis and has Dyspraxia and is experiencing bullying at school Prayers for MHD struggles health-wise too!!

MrsC - Prayers for her sis who has just started a new job after being a SAHM for 5 yrs - how is she settling in, MrsC? Prayers also for a friend's mum who had a cancer DX, but died very suddenly and unexpectedly recently; and for the little family from MrsC's Toddler Group who recently lost their DH / daddy.

Caz - Finding the New Year so hard. DH should get some test results back soon - has he had them Caz? Caz's health has not been the best recently either and she has had a DX of Tonsillitis again. Boost her up, Lord. Prayers also for the family and friends of the 8 year old from Caz' class that died recently.

Amber- Prayers for the friends and family of E who died recently. Amber very bravely got through her recent op; but is now facing 6 months of Chemo followed by an Op for a DX of breast cancer. The cancer has been caught quite early and is treatable, but it is a fast-moving sort of Cancer and Amber is awaiting further tests to make sure the cancer hasn't spread. Hold Amber so so close at this time, Lord - and her family too as they come to terms with having to support their "rock". xx

CaptainCaveman - Prayers required for her DH in his hunt for a new job .....

JentlyDoesIt - Is coping with DP in prison, but struggling too - needing lots of prayers for resilience and strength, especially for her two little ones. Place lots of amazing, supportive people around her, Lord. xx

barleywood - Needs prayers in her hunt for a new church to go to; and to contribute to as well ....

TeaandCakePlease - Is struggling with juggling ..... she feels in despair with her OU degree and with the task of life in general. xx

NotQuiteGrownUp - Popped by to ask for prayers as she is struggling with juggling too!! xx

Mary - Has been quite down of late and needs lots of encouragement and prayer Please pray for Mary's DD's friend who is currently not eating and being tube fed; for S who trained with Mary who is having tests following the discovery of a lump on her spine; and for Mary's DF who is facing brain surgery after a DX of Chiari Malformation - she has a DH and a young DS.

livvylouis - Popped by to ask for prayers for her FIL who had been admitted to hospital with a racing heart.

NotSoFarNow - Needs lots of prayers for relationships - particularly with one of her DDs. Two of her DDs have recently dropped out of college and NSFN is struggling to know how best to support them and get alongside them.

Hermya - Has been having problems with anxiety of late. Is fretful and worried.

BoxofDelights - Has been spending a lot of time recently sorting out her financial position. Her anxiety is still bad and life is still tough.

blackeyedsusan - Is in the process of a possible separation from her violent husband. She has 2 children of 2 and 4 yrs; and is struggling.

practicallyimperfect - Prayers for the family and friends of Ben, a 17 yr old from the school she works at who was found dead in a river a few days ago. It was an accidental death and he looks to have slipped and fallen in on his way home from a gig late at night.

shineoncrazydiamond - Asked for prayers for a DF's DS, little Archie who sadly died after complications surrounding a traumatic delivery. Archie was a much wanted baby and it is a terrible, tragic loss for the couple

gingercurl - Asked for prayers for her relationship with her DS who is rather a "mummy's boy" - he won't let her DH do anything for him at all and it is taking it's toll.

BlessedAssurance - Her close friend was stabbed to death in S.Africa while defending another friend Prayers for all those who knew and love him. xx

shieldbug - Popped by to ask for prayers for a distant relation of hers (13 yr old boy) who was having a big operation today. The operation could possibly leave him with difficulties being able to eat or, at worst, brain damage. So hoping the op went as well as possible ....

CaptainDippy - It would be great if you could all pray for a dear friend of mine who has terminal breast cancer. Due to being a "guinea pig" for some pioneering drugs, she has been with us far longer than we ever could've hoped or expected (10 yrs!!!!); but the drugs are no longer working and she knows it is nearly time to say "goodbye". She has zoomed off to go and see family in Australia and will be embarking on a tour around the UK once she is back. She 's an incredible woman and I just pray she can do everything she wants to do before she gets too poorly and that the end will be so beautiful for her, because she deserves it.

GET PRAYING!!!!

Prayer for madhairday's SIL.

Dear Father, we pray in need for the sister-in-law of one our sisters in Christ here. She is experiencing difficulties with her pregnancy and we would ask you be with her at this most anxious time. Lord take care of her and her husband and take care of the unborn child you have blessed them with.

Lord we put our faith and trust in you and your wisdom and we pray that you will guide and give knowledge and understanding to the doctors and the nurses who are taking care of this daughter of yours. We pray that you will prepare the way safely for the birth of this new life and that you will stay close to all of those involved and give them love, security and comfort in their hearts at this most difficult time.

Lord please take care of this family, hold them close to you, your love and light. We ask you this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

madhairday I shall pray again for your SIL and your brother tonight in my prayers and daily.

God be with you.
Libra xx

Thank you so much Libra :)

Happy to try and help madhairday I'll also be praying for you.

God Bless xx

Hi and welcome Doris and Libra. I hope you find a church soon Libra. Doris - the wait is hugely frustrating at times isn't it.

I've now worked out how to name change and so thought I'd try a slight change of identity.

Great to hear you had such a good weekend Amber.

Mary and MHD - how are your friends daughters with the eating problems? I've been finding myself thinking and praying about them.

CC - how is the studying going?

I'd like to thank God for his faithfulness. For a variety of reasons DS1 was not that keen on going to Sunday School. I prayed that the situation would get better and God has turned it round completely - much more than I had hoped for.

Hi thejaffacakesareonme and thanks for the message of hope .

I'm going to pop along to another Church tomorrow which just around the corner and have a little look. God willing it will be a good visit.

God Bless
Libra x

LibraPoppyGirl, the retreats are available with a different one daily, here

Jaffacake, I heard from DD's friend's mother yesterday. Daughter came home for the day, still with feeding tubes in, and they're hoping she can come home next weekend too. Still no closer to getting to the bottom of it, so please keep praying!

I had a busy Sunday, with assisting in the family service in the morning and taking Evensnog in the evening. And another busy day today, with bible study etc. Still no closer to things getting resolved, but at least they've said they don't want me leaving...

Jaffa that's great about DS! :) Thanks for asking about friend's dd. She is still struggling but I saw her yesterday for the first time in ages, she'd come out home for a visit and looked a lot better to me, she had a smile on her face even, I feel God is working :) She varies between binging and starving, but over the weekend was eating fairly sensibly, praise God. Her mum is really coming into faith and it is so exciting to see, I'm actually so stoked up about it all at the moment, would value continuing prayers for her.

No more news from SIL, please keep praying.

Mary glad your sunday went ok and people aren't being so negative, hope today goes well.

oasis how did it go?

thanks for remembering susan

Well, got to solicitors and one of their legal execs came out and said that unfortunately they can't represent me as they represented him in another unrelated matter years ago, and that it would possibly represent a conflict of interest. He was v v helpful though, answered a few basic questions and pointed me in the direction of another firm a few mins walk away, where I duly went and made myself an appointment for this Friday coming.

Things are unfortunately turning quite unpleasant between H and myself. Last week he told me that he had consulted a solicitor himself and started proceedings, and that if I didnt sign the papers and go away like a good little girl basically, he would remove our daughter from me on grounds of my mental health (I have suffered AWFUL pnd plus some other stuff, but it has always been well controlled, and my daughter has at no time been neglected or anything else). He said that I should get the papers through today (nada so far). All just designed to cause maximum damage and hurt to me. And rubbish too- apparently it takes six weeks for papers to be drawn up, lodged at court and sent to the respondent, and that's without the repsondent objecting to any of the particulars of the grounds.

Sorry for the essay ladies. Am keeping up with thread nd praying for you allxx

oasis, the sooner you are represented by a solicitor, the better . A solicitor's role is to protect you in such circumstances. Have you written down everything he said? You should show this to your solicitor, so there is an official record, together with anything else that is said in the meantime. I am SO sorry to hear that he is taking this stance, when it is designed to hurt and demoralise you. Be strong and trust in God, and we are also here for moral support as well as prayers (I've also been divorced). Praying for Friday for you.

Oasis, don't worry. I know that's easy to say, but I've spent many many years working for and with domestic violence/abuse agencies and the old "I'll take the kids away because you're mental" one is the oldest lie in the book. 1 in 3 people in the UK has mental health issues. If social services took the kids away, or if courts awarded them away from that parent, there would be millions of children changing residence every year. It's an empty threat unless the children are in actual danger.

Prayers aplenty for you. And for everyone else.

Here, lovely day so far but I know I've got my meeting with the chemotherapy specialist tomorrow to decide what 'orribleness lies ahead of me and when. I'd appreciate prayers that she makes the right decisions on this, since chemo is the best chance I've got...

Hi Everyone

MaryBS thank you very much for the link. I have added it to my favourites and will use it daily.

madhairday continuing prayers for your SIL, do let us know how she is, when you get a chance.

oasis praying for you during this difficult time for you and for your DD. I have mental health difficulties myself, considerable ones but it is controlled, as is yours. If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm happy to chat about my experiences (which are many and varied) if that will in any way help you.

amber praying for you and for your meeting with the chemotherapy specialist tomorrow. Praying that God will give your specialist the right answers for you and that He will guide her and give her knowledge when she discusses your situation with you. I've been through cancer twice and I know that God was my constant companion and my strength. I could not have got through any of it without him.

I am so very grateful to God for bringing me to this group. He is a most amazing God.

As for me ladies, well prayers and your advice have guided me to the local Baptist Church. I went there today and I was warmly welcomed. They have a Ladies Bible Study Group that meets on Tuesdays at 10am and also a Ladies Fellowship Group on Thursdays at 2:15pm.

Unfortunately, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow with my DP. As I spoke about earlier in the thread, we are going through a really tough time at the moment, DP is suffering with depression and working extremely long hours and with my own health issues and being 24 weeks pregnant and a teenager to boot, it's getting on top of him a bit.

Anyhow, the doctors appointment is at 10:40am and the group starts at 10am. Do you think it would be okay for me to go to the group at 10am and have the informal coffee and chat with them before the group starts and then go to the doctors appointment? I may even be able to make it back for the end of the study and prayers. I really do want to go and I don't want to wait another week. I'm desperate to go and I've been waiting for this opportunity for a while now. It's only since coming on this thread that the lovely words of advice and encouragement have given me the courage to go and just find, so to speak.

I know this is turning out to be a long post and I promise this is the last bit . The groups I have found are at the local Baptist Church. I'm keen to attend the same Church as where the groups are that I attend. I was brought up C of E (not in any regular attendance way though) and in my 8 years of living in Australia, my Church was the same one the whole time and that was Australian Anglican. I've found the local C of E Church here to be a bit 'rigid' for me. Does anyone have any experience of Baptist Churches and would it be okay for me to attend?

Thanks for taking the time to read my waffling ladies

God Bless
Libra xx

Libra, I have a checkered church background, but have now ended up in a Baptist church, by way of the Church of England, where I have been for the past 15 years. I have found that so long as you believe the basic Christian tenets (as expressed in the Creed) they will welcome you with open arms, draw you into their groups and give you a job to do. They will also be keen to involve your children, but, if my church is anything to go by, they won't push you into anything you, or your children do not feel ready for.
Ladies' fellowship may attract mainly older ladies, but he Bible study group sounds a very good place to start. By all means go along and explain that on this occasion you will have to leave early, but that you are keen to come back full-time next week.
The services are different from services in the Church of England in that there is no set liturgy and churches differ in their approach to worship.
The only really big difference is that people do not get baptised until they can fully understand what it is about and are able to understand that they will enter into a new kind of life.
Since you most likely have already been baptised, even as a child, that won't make any difference. Mostly, at our church an invitation goes out for communion for 'all who love the Lord' to take part in communion, but again there is no pressure.
Just go along and see what you think; you will be made very welcome.

Happy Valentines day to all of us who haven't anyone to say it.

Hi Libra

I'm sure someone with more experience of Baptist churches will be along soon. I went along to two different ones when I was younger (I've now settled in a Church of Scotland). I found them both very welcoming and less rigid in worship style than the Church of Scotland that I had grown up with. I imagine it'd be fine to go along for a short while before your doctor's appointment. If you feel the group isn't for you it also gives you a good escape clause!

Would you be able to go to the Ladies Fellowship meeting on a Thursday? That sounds interesting too.

Prayers that you'll find the best place for you soon.

MHD - great to hear the girl is eating a little bit more.

Hi everyone,

Libra, I attend the Baptist church (work there as administrator too and Dh on leadership team, so fairly heavily involved) I grew up in a C of E, but as a teenager I realised I was going through the motions and saying the same things week in week out and it meant so little to me. After a time away altogether I started going to the local Baptist church. I found it very friendly and i liked the fact that the service was not all set out before you (liturgy). the church has changed loads over the 25 years I have been going. We are very Bible based and did have very good teaching from a fantastic minister who retired a couple of years ago. - since then, replacemant has not been so good, but thats another book chapter!!!
Whenever we have been on holiday we have looked for a local Baptist to attend, but have had very varied experiences!! Some we would never like to repeat, some brilliant!!

Did you meet anyone who will be going to the meetings this week, that you could hook up with? As DO said, one may be for the "older folk", but I know they would welcome you with open arms, but we also have a meeting for younger ladies. It used to be called the "young mums group", but I feel too old to be called a young mum any longer, so we have become "ladies" (promotion indeed - I live in hope!!!!)

Amber have been praying for you today. I hope it all goes well and that you can feel God in this with you.

Prayers for everyone else. I am a bit sporadic at the moment in posting. Life seems to be so hectic again, but it is so good to be healthy enough to be doing things again.

Life is good here. DD1 is coming home for most of next week, to celebrate a very belated Christmas after the disastrous weather that stopped all travelling for her in December.

Oh no!! Didnt mean to offend anyone, liturgy can be good and I have actually gone back and read some of the common prayers and have found them exceptionally moving. I just meant that is how I felt as a teenager, having said them for 15 years and not been challenged about what they meant to me!!

Don't think anyone is offended, PA :o

Libra, I really don't think denominations matter an awful lot, and the important thing is finding somewhere you feel at home in and feel like you can grow spiritually, give and recieve etc. I attend an anglican church (have to as dh a curate ) but I generally don't label myself 'anglican', prefer 'Jesus follower'. In general we're all going for the same thing, with different emphases along the way. The welcome you have received sounds lovely and it would be good to explore it further, go along on a sunday and see how it goes. I don't think there would be a problem with going to the group for the first half hour, just explain that you have an appointment but really wanted to pop in and that you'll be back next week, they will be happy about it I'm sure.

All the best, and hope you do find somewhere you can call home soon :)

Still no news on SIL - she is seeing the consultant tomorrow. still v worried :(

Back from the consultant - may be starting chemo next Tues or the Tues afterwards. Very nice lady...think I can have confidence in her doing all she can for me...

That s good to hear that you got on with her well Amber. It makes a lot of difference to have confidence in them. Will be praying for you next Tuesday. Did she explain about the side affects? And did you remember to ask all your questions?

MHD Prayers for SIL.

Mary so pleased you werent offended, it was you I was worried about!!

PA, yes, they've given me an essay about the side effects and explained the main ones and what they intend to do about them. And told me I can't have chemo at home as it's too tricky for my type. And then realised that I may need to have it at home anyway if I can't cope with the sensory environment there...
I decided not to ask many questions. I'll ask the nurse if I have new ones. I especially didn't want to know answers to the Big Questions.

How come he can start proceedings oasis ? I thought that one had to be separated for 1 (or is it 2) years before you can file for divorce unless there is unreasonaable behaviour?

(feel free not to answer that)

poppy did you go to the meeting?

amber prayed for calm while you wait for "battle to commence." Let us know when you have the appointment.

Been speaking to h on the phone. it stresses me out. Got to make a decision. soon. Half term next week will make things awkward to organise anything.

BES and amber praying for you now.

Nothing yet for SIL. Keeping praying.