Christian Prayer Thread - Joy to the world, the Lord is coming

[DutchOma]

I thought it was time to set up a new thread for Christmas.

Will just leave it short and give you all the opportunity to add your own prayers.

Nickelbabe Prayers of thanks for the delivery of her little girl, continuing prayers for her and the baby. We look forward to you to be able to update us.

MHD prayers that the medical team will get their act together, but also that you will be able to be at home and stay at home over Christmas.

Soozi we know how hard things have been for you for such a long time. Prayers that you will find the strength to cope, especially at this Christmas time.

CaptainDippy Prayers for comfort and joy.

Prayers for all of us that we will proclaim the birth of the Saviour to a world in need.

Thank you, and thank you for the welcome.

DH, quite rightly, hasn't told anyone about his diagnosis - often MS patients are advised not to, as it's such an unpredictable little minx. I completely understand this, but it means I can't talk to any of my 'real life' people about it, even at church (darn that 'obey' vow that I made!), so having some on-line support will really help.

Welcome COTB

That's so hard that you can't talk to church people etc - DH may find it really helps him to confide in a few trusted people. This kind of stuff is so hard to live with, and to be able to talk can be a relief.

We are here whenever you need to talk. I also have a chronic disease and know how the days vary so much and it can all be too much sometimes.

DO, praying for Bob, that these abs will really kick the inf. in the teeth.

Not feeling so well today. May be just the damp outside. I am scared. I have felt so good lately and don't want to feel like I did. I know I will, it's par for the course, but I just want to hang on to the good for a bit longer. I will rest up today.

Thanks again for the link to the beautiful Taize songs tinks - it's just funny how things come together sometimes isn't it ? Actually just got struck by another bit of inspiration this morning that I should ask a particular friend of mine (whose dd is in my daughter's year and daughter has been living with challenging medical issues) to do the prayer group session with me. She was one of my first friends when we first moved up here, and she's fab with loads of confidence so that would be a bonus too !

Thoughts are with you today madhair - praying you can hold on to your recent good health for absolutely as long as possible.
Being uncertain of the future is one of the hardest things when living with illnesses or worrying about others isn't it ?
I always like ...

"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year give me a light that I may tread safely into the darkness. And he said to me "Put your hand into the hand of God for that shall be to you better than a light, and safer than a known way."

Love and prayers to all x

Thanks MHD (excellent name by the way)

He's not much of a confider by nature, and I think at least while he's still symptom free, he doesn't want to feel that people look at him/react to him differently, as if he's ill, if you see what I mean?

Sorry to hear about your situation - hope you feel better soon; this damp cold weather's a real nuisance. Will pray for a return to the 'feeling good' position. Goodness - just as I was thinking my prayer life needed a bit of a kick!

Hi COTB. Prayers for you and your DH.

MHD - praying you'll feel better.

DO - praying the drugs will help Bob.

Has anyone heard from Weegiemum? She's been in my thoughts. Hoping she's feeling better.

She wasn't too good on fb yesterday jaffa :(

And I think she is in hospital today having tests.

Bob got dressed for the first time since Saturday today. We are praying that he will be well enough to go to the Brompton on 6th February.

Prayers for all as I read through....

So many going through some really tough times - makes me appreciate what I have and the importance of being thankful for what I do have. I've had tough times in my life and it's so easy to take the good times for granted.

MHD - prayers for you that you continue to enjoy better health.

COTB - welcome! I'm not sure I'd manage in your situation without friends to confide in so please feel free to chat about it on here. I know a couple of people with MS and understand a little about the condition. I hope your plans for TTC#1 come to fruition.

Weegiemum - thinking of you

Juggling - I'd not heard that quote in ages and the more you read it the more beautiful and reassuring it is :)
The parents' prayer group sounds lovely!

DO - prayers for Bob. I guess at least you know that the immunosupressants are (v likely) the cause of his recent infection and I hope it clears up quickly now.

Prayers of thanks here for DS's toilet training! I'd been worried about it and on days 4 & 5, he has now been accident free and seems to have grasped control! I'm stupidly proud of my boy and very grateful that it has been so smooth so far :)

Popping my head in late at night again... quickly reading and praying. Work still very tough, and I inadvertently upset someone I really value today, so praying I can work on making that one come right asap.

Juggling: thanks for that quote... I think I needed that!

Welcome COTB. Sorry to hear about your DH. Praying for a stable condition for him and luck for both of you TTCing.

Hope you feel better soon, MHD, and Bob too. Also prayers for Weegiemum.

And a big 'yay' to SEStheyounger!

Lots of prayers as I'm reading through.

Thank you, Lord. I apologised to the person I upset and tried to put right the thing that upset her, and all seems well again. She is someone I depend on, and admire, a lot in a work context, so I am relieved and happy that I have not messed things up with her.

Prayers for all.

Popping in briefly. Reading and praying quickly.

Am worried. DH is going overseas early tomorrow morning for seven days. I am very stressed in my work and am not sleeping very well as a result. I wake up in the night, thoughts and heart racing. Today I've had a dull ache in my head and chest. Checked my blood pressure tonight and it is high. I'm going to be my own with DS, there is no family that can help. I'm scared that something will happen to me while DH is away.

so ds has only managed to get one good behaviour sticker this week. we are not going to go to the cafe anytime soon. I have the friday night exhausted and lack of motivation blues and given that I have been in a foul mood most of the afternoon, probably have a dose of pmt. the crime prevention officers would probably do well to come round and lock the front door... from the outside. it is quite bad today.

x post

that is good news.

gc. nothing is going to happen to you that god is not in control of. now lie down and do some relaxation exercises. dh has not gone away yet. rest tonight and get your bp down. if it is high again, see the gp for tablets/different tablets/advice.

cbeebies/dvds aer your friend. use them and don't feel guilty. do what you need to do to stay less stressed, whether that is beans on toast for sunday lunch or leaving some of the housework til dh gets back. look after your health.

bes - :( Hope things are brighter with the start of a new day. I've been getting really negative by the end of each day recently, but with a few hours' sleep I always seem to get the strength to plod on the next day. :)

gc - It is hard when DH's are away isn't it ? Mine has been in India for 2 weeks - back on Tuesday. There certainly feels like there's more responsibility just on you, and it can be worrying what would happen if you needed support. I have some friends I can lean on a bit, and who would help in an emergency I imagine, but we don't have family around either, and it's not the same as having that partnership parenting with DH around.

So maybe try to accept it will be harder, lean on friends, do anything you can to make things easier while he's away. Can you keep in touch when he's abroad?(we've exchanged a few emails which has been a big help to me)

And I tend to think he'll just have to pick up the pieces when he gets back !

Hope it goes better and quicker than you imagine !

Oh GC and BES - things are hard for you atm. Praying for you.

Not been too good - had a panic yesterday when my chest got so tight again and I thought I was getting another infection and only 4 wks since I came out - but things seem better today. Just taking it easy. I'm tired of this thing.

Thank you BES. You are right. I realise I probably sounded like a complete wuss last night but I had a stroke a few years ago which left me with, amongst other things, a much reduced tolerance to stress. Although the docs put it down to a congenital heart problem that they found at the time and that now has been fixed and should not cause a problem again, the thought is always at the back of my mind that it could, iyswim. Anyway have promised DH to see doctor on Monday.

Sorry you had a bad day yesterday. Praying.

Praying for MHD and Bob too.

Gingercurl, those are very sensible thoughts. I make sure my mobile is on me or next to me all the time barring being in the shower, and set up to speed-dial if there's an emergency. Much prayer...and for everyone else too.
Here, I'm alright really after the last medication to stop the cancer coming back, but still battling side effects. Still have to make a big decision about whether to carry on or not with the herceptin...My specialist doesn't know the answer, I don't, and there's no useful research either. So if anyone fancies praying for clarity for me (or for it to stop causing so much loss of sensation in my fingers and feet) that would be great...

Thanks for your prayers everyone - even if just a quick one on reading through

• I feel like they've made a difference.

Friends have been very supportive, children have been good, everything more settled than first few days, and DH will be back on Tuesday.

Still thinking over plans to co-lead that prayer group session at DDs school, and ask friend if she fancies doing that with me. Is there any way I could show a YouTube clip ( for those Taize songs) - would a lap top work, or would you be more inclined to just play a CD ? ( we have small speakers and CD player that I think DH could help me organise ! )

But anyway, now it's time for my prayers for all of you - especially to you amberlight (pretty name) for clarity in your decision of whether to continue with herceptin. I've heard good things about it and my Mum had it as part of her treatment which has been successful. But every person and situation is different too. What guidance is your specialist able to give you ?

And also to you gc as we both continue to cope without our DHs x

GC, that sounds like a very stressful situation. Can the doctors give you anything to help you keep your stress down? (I was thinking along the lines of beta blockers, but if you have a heart condition that might not be possible... I have no clue, really, but am glad you are getting checked out.) I am praying for peace of mind for you and a safe trip for your dh.

Amber, praying that God guides you to make the right decision re. the herceptin.

Juggling, glad that the time has gone quite quickly and that all is well. For the prayer group the school will almost certainly have a projector that you could attach to the laptop and play the YouTube video. But if you are likely to get stressed about the equipment and be distracted from getting the most out of the group, then maybe stick to a CD.

Get well prayers for MHD and Bob, and praying for a better week for BES's DS next week.

Thinking of all of you.

Hi there sorry to have been quiet.

I'm still numb in my feet, hands and face and it has spread to my thighs and nose but, praise God, a whole body scan on Thursday showed I don't have cancer, which was a real worry! I was back in hospital on Friday for more tests and assessments, and am going back on Monday, they let me out for the weekend.

The kids are great, I'm bearing up, dh is exhausted and emotionally worn out. I think him being medical in some ways makes it harder as he knows all the worst case scenarios and doesn't want them happening to me.

The doctors are now looking for an. Autoimmune diagnosis such as lupus or rheumatoid, but my symptoms don't really fit them. I just want them to stop whatever it is before my whole body is numb!

Thanks for your prayers, I'm keeping you all very much in mine.

weegie, more prayers. Might be a bloomin' good thing to find an answer, for sure. Are you taking high dose B vitamins?: protective of nerves.

JWS, My specialist hasn't been able to guide me any further, as the drug company haven't released any useful info at all and have no intention of doing so until next year.

amber Can you seek out people who could give you (perhaps a variety of) informed opinions ? Maybe other doctors or specialists ? - Perhaps we could pray that you will find good people who can offer you some sound guidance. It seems very difficult that you are asked to make a decision with so little information.
My thoughts and prayers for you along these lines x

weegie A few summers ago I had a brief auto-immune response following flu with swollen and aching joints and abnormal blood tests. I was tested for rhumatoid at that time, and some other things. But fortunately for me it went away as suddenly as it had arrived (I think very likely related to the nasty flu I had immediately beforehand) Body over-reacting to fighting off the baddies ?
I hope yours could have a similarly simple explanation and outcome.
Love and prayers to you from me and us all x

JWS, my specialist is the top one in the country. There just isnt the research out there because the drug company won't release other data. Same problem as Weegie's having - we know just about nothing about how nerves regenerate at the moment. Amazing, isn't it. We think 'hey, we're so sophisticated with our medical stuff these days' but we don't know a heck of a lot about basic cell workings as yet.
Weegie, I'm thinking as well as praying...