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.

For those who haven't looked on the religion chat thread, this is still lost (lostafrica) under a new nn for the new year!

And it's apt that I'm still "lost" since I realised this evening that that's why I've been feeling melancholy recently. A little unrooted - left one home, not really settled here and don't know if I will or even can. I've no idea where 2012 will take us, except that we're very likely to have to move (again) in the summer. I'm happy with this house and happy that the children are happy here; really, I have plenty to be thankful for. But - as has been true for 18 months now - I look at the future and it's so blank and unknown it's hard to look forward. And I'm a planner! I like to know what's going on! I suppose it keeps me trusting, hey? Except that I also feel almost entirely useless to God. Which is probably also a good thing in his eyes!

hello! we are back! safe and sound thank God! had a trip to a and e though mainly as a precaution. life is never dull.

read through. doodle, that is a tough one. I hope it is a happy new year and not a scary one.

(ok so I read through till about 2 hours ago and bedtime got in the way of posting straight after writing) hi lost. I have heard it said that we are all passing through, but a s a fellow planner, you have my sympathies. tis a bit eek

LMW - hope 2012 is really good to you and you get the continuity and stability you want.

DO - timely words. Thank you. Sitting here, awfully glum. Riotous party next door (happy for them, I really am, lovely people), DCs occupied and barely able to say a word to me. DH on a late shift. Yep, feeling low and planning to go to bed before next door erupts!!

Been a difficult year, very difficult, DC problems, work for both DH and me far from secure - found myself working on the morning when a prayer group I used to go meets. Thank God (literally), I found this thread at about that time - I've lurked, prayed, thought of you all. Now, please say a little prayer for me and family!! Kids claim to have no interest in God, DH indifferent and I struggle, believing (perhaps more than ever) but wishing I could feel His warmth and closeness.

A peaceful New Year to you all.

Praying for you all as I read through and thank God that he is near us wherever we are, wherever our circumstances. May his love and peace that surpasses all understanding enfold us as the old year draws to an end and a new year dawns.

happy new year!

gc, I hope it is a happier new year for you, and to you issy!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone. I am truly grateful to have found you all - and though today's just another day, pray that there will be renewed optimism and a real Spirit-filled sense that Christ is enthroned and in charge.

I've had my first Christmas and New Year in sobriety and spent most of this week working with the homeless - I have so much to be grateful for (and there are no buses so I will walk the 2.5 miles to church this morning without whinging. Much.) So for me, continued recovery would be my prayer - it's still impossible in my own strength but possible in His.

Prayers for all in need, particularly doodle.

Sorry for not stopping long, am a bit eek - am taking the main Sunday service today, a communion by extension, not done that before. Sermon is written though :)

New Year prayers for all as I'm reading through.

it is a bit early

gc, I hope it is a happier new year for you, and to you issy!

Mary, hope it has gone well, bet it was great :)

Hello Issy, prayers for you this morning, praying that your family will this year begin to draw close to God.

Lost - it's so hard all this moving around lark. Praying you'll find some peace and rootedness in where you are right now for however long you are there

BES - glad you're back ok.

Jently...I can't even imagine how hard it must feel for you. All I can say is sending much love, and prayers, and that this year will be a better one, somehow...God bless.

TACP - hi....how are things going?

noteven - wow, that's just brilliant, you are very inspiring. So pleased things have gone well. Praying for that continued recovery.

Ginger, still praying for you muchly.

DO, how is Bob? Praying for his recovery and a good new year for you.

Amber, praying that this will be a great year for you and much more healthy than last one...lots of love.

PA - praying for your adventure! Hope you have had a good christmas and new year.

Sending love and prayers to everyone, lurkers and posters alike. I didn't quite see in the new year - bed by 10 - these IVs are completely knackering! But then did wake up at the fireworks so mumbled 'happy new year' to dh and went off to sleep again. I'm still just tahnkful to be here, and had a lovely birthday :)

So glad you are home MHD and resting albeit somewhat reluctantly.
Bob is better than he was, on his second week of antibiotics, still coughing up blood, but not so much and feeling a little better, but still not able to do much. We watched the very first episode of Morse this afternoon. Did anybody else think he didn't look much younger than in the later episodes?
Issy, welcome, I had a quick look at your other posts, life with teenagers can be very hard.

Hope the service went well Mary

PA - are you ok lovely? Xx

Are you OK PA?

I'm ok now thank you. I posted a very long rant about the situation at work, then regretted it, just in case it was searchable and if our minister had heard about it I would have been in serious trouble, so I asked for it to be deleted.

Thanks ladies, I will survive. Only another 5 months anyway!!

Congratulations on the sober festive season, mousie! Did you really walk all that way to church? And did anyone give you a lift back...?!

Very tired from a series of too late nights, but general prayers for all of you as I yawn my way to bed. Just came on here to say that I'm feeling much more positive now that we're into 2012 - feel I can look forward now. I have dedicated this year to God and we will see what it brings. Bring it on!!

PA did you keep it? You could always PM it to a couple of trusted ladies.
DO sorry for being nosy about your backstory - is Bob your DH? I am guessing at diagnosis - sounds a tough time for you.
lost fabulous to hear you a bit more positive.
mhd don't know if I said happy birthday! - when does this course of IVs finish? Is the end in sight?
Praying for a better year for those who have struggled, Jently, bes and sorry for anyone I've not namechecked.

I had a nice walk to church and I didn't get home til evening - I love my church family - I was lonely and unsure and someone noticed and just wrapped me up in their family for the day and I feel so lucky to have had yesterday's experience. I've got into housegroup and music group and the bits of effort I've made have been so worth it with getting properly into church at more than a superficial level. I so hope that when I'm in a position to reciprocate that I will do - have a real heart for it now, may it stay with me.
Love and prayers to all. x

Morning all. Keeping prayers going

Hello lovely ladies! Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Been very busy the last week with visiting PIL for Christmas, I loved it, I love spending time with them! Then my parents and brother and boyfriend came over and DH and them have now just left to go back to the airport It was nice having them over, but they can get a bit much after a while... The visit was just one day too long.

Yesterday at church my friend was there with her newborn baby and asked me if I wanted a cuddle, I said yes and I was amazed that I was coping so well! It was the first newborn I held since I had to say goodbye to my precious Sterre, They would have been only 7 weeks apart. There I was doing so well, having nice cuddles and my mum crying. I was a little at her but didn't show it, of course she got lots of attention...

Praying for everyone!

Well done, bluetinkerbell :). PA I have every sympathy with your situation. I DID see the post, so if you want to PM me, feel free to do so.

Yesterday went REALLY well, but it left me feeling completely washed out. My sermon was especially well received, for which I thank God - I prayed about it, that it would be a good message for people.

Sounds so much like my mum Blue, her visits were always a day too long and much relief when she went home. Also the turning of feelings on herself in the situation you describe, no point in getting about it of course. You did so very well not to show it, your darling Sterre would surely smile at you.
Mousie well done. Once you are on the 'straight and narrow' I hope it will get easier for you as you walk in 'the Way'.
Yes, Bob is my dh. He had a triple bypass operation six years ago and although his heart is fine, his lungs never recovered and nobody can understand why not. It annoys me greatly because, although there is nothing much that can be done for Bob, they could at least acknowledge that this may be a problem if people are not careful enough after an operation of this kind. The communication between Oxford and the local hospital was terrible, nobody had any clue, ever, what was going on, we had diagnoses of at least half a dozen diseases it WASN'T, but never one that was correct. We now have another apointment at the Royal Brompton in February, I just hope he is well enough to stand the journey.