Christian prayer thread-spring time!

[blackeyedsusan]

All welcome to join

Here is a list of all those who popped in or were regulars on the last thread. I hope I have not missed anyone!!

Amberlight- prayer that the heart problems she has are temporary and that the beast cancer will not return. Pray for dh after his op.
Aspirantpirate -studying and a new job in September
Beatrice Primrose and cupoftea poorly baby and support for the family
Bluetinkerbell- lost her beloved Sterre during her second trimester. Now pregnant again!
Caz and her baby Xander. Also for dh who does not share her faith.
CaptainDippy- busy busy busy
Chairofthebored-dh has ms and ttc number1
Creatovator ds ?asd and dd?s eczema
Dutch Oma- dh has a lung disease requiring regular trips to hospital/drs and lots of rest. Church services are not always easy due to excessive noise causing problems for Bob.
Expat's dd suffering from leukaemia. Give thanks that she has a donor for transplant and pay for a good outcome!
FriendofDorothy- for a calm, successful pregnancy
Gingercurl- things are stressful at home, studying for PhD, high blood pressure
Issypeach- work situation insecure for h and Issy. Prayer requested for the dcs one of whom has gone awol and the other at uni
Jaffacakes... new baby
Jan marriage, new baby and ongoing health problems
Jugglingwith?-job applications to work 1 to 1 with children and a husband who needs to appreciate all she does!
Lostmywellies- recently returned to the uk, friendships for dd and ds to settle into nursery. Possible knee op?
LoveAndPrayers. Marriage and h?s debts
Madhairday- reoccuring lung infections, dd with psoriasis/partial hearing and unhelpful school and getting bullied. Madhair is writing a book! ?or at least she should be if she weren?t on mn?
MaryB- work and relationships at church. difficult situations socially for dc's. dd getting bullied.
Notevenamousie- curently undergoing treatment as an inpatient. recently lost her mum.
Patsyplusone welcome!
PositiveAttitude- soon to be working abroad for 2 years from 17th July!. Pray for dds1,2 and 3 staying behind. prayer also for current work situation and 3 jobs! (eek). Prayers for DB and PA?s family?s relationship with sil.
SESthebrave-prayer for husbands stressful job situation, which may involve going to Dubai (not what ses wants). The last few weeks of pregnancy and work. Pray for the baby to turn the right way round.
SophieNeveau - welcome! A single parent with a disability.
Springydaffs-prayer for the truth to be known and a reconciliation with family
SweetestThing- just got the all clear from cancer and officially in remission. however, still has to deal with the after effects of surgery.
Teaandcakesplease- single parent to 2 young children. unsupportive parents re ds "being a toddler." prayer for new reliable friends, and one friend in particular!
Tuo-dd1 and dh to be more positive about her faith
Weegie Thank God that treatment is bring some relief to her condition, chronic inflammatory.Demyelinating polyneuropathy. Ongoing prayers for more improvement and adjusting to a new way of life for both weegie and he dh dd has Perthe's syndrome , where the hip joint dies then regrows. Thank God for an improvement in her condition and further improvements so no op is needed.
welshcerys- family and a mega toothache
Wisteriawoman (phew, remembered this time!)
ZipidiSoozi- welcome back!
and finally (I hope)
Blackeyedsusan- mad as a hatter! single parent to 2 youngish children, separated after dv. pray for friends and a new church. ds's behaviour and toddler diarrhoea. dd, niggling health problems.

Jan saw your post on the previous thread. I empathise so with you! When DS was born I was a wreck for the better part of the first year. I was completely overwhelmed and confused, felt unable to cope, my confidence was so low. DH coped much better, partly due to having done it all before, but not only because of that, I don't think. I remember one horrible day when ds just screamed and nothing I did seemed to make it better. I just wanted to pack my bag and leave DH and the baby and everything because I couldn't do anything right and he pretty much agreed that I should because I was obviously incompentent. It still hurts to think about and I lost some of the trust I had in him and our relationship that day.

I read somewhere that new parents should agree between themselves that things said during the first year after a baby's birth don't "count" because you are exhausted and overwhelmed and not yourself. It's a huge readjustment. This is true, but if it only were that easy as to say that it doesn't count. Praying.

thanks so much for all your prayers. he threatened just to go out last night (he used to go out all the time, like about 4 times a week, and knows it used to upset me. he has cut down but we agreed with the counsellor it should be planned) and then didn't. in the times i need him most he just gets frustrated with me.

lostmywellies its true, the things he finds easy, i find a struggle. its not al to do with the baby - i have other problems as well which are causing major uspet for us. but he knew about them before i married. the baby is a huge adjustment like you say, and the exhaustion just makes everything so much harder. 11 years is impressive. we are in early days still. and have already been through a LOT.
gingercurl so sorry what you went through too - that is so hurtful, and dh has said stuff which has been as hurtful as that too and its very hard to keep moving on after things have been said in anger. but we just have to dont we... i have been looking at the christian marriage as a trap (i can't get out cos im a christian and made promise to God) but i have to stop that way of thinking, and just try to make it better and know it will be hard.

Oh forgot to say, thanks for the new thredad BES

Prayers

Marking my place. hanks Bes

Jan your comment about Christian marriage being a trap concerns me. I have a good theologically based book for you to read. When I'm home I'll pm you the link to it on Amazon It goes into great detail on why Jesus was asked various questions on marriage at the time and why he gave the answers he did, as well as other important things. It may help you. Your H is meant to love you like Christ loves the church x

Just about to leave Montrose now and start the 2 hour trek to the airport by car Prayers for a smooth stress free trip with 2 toddlers back to Luton please?

BES, thank you for the new thread

TACP, prayers for that journey.

Jan, he has some growing up to do, by the sounds of it Much prayer.

Hi all, can I please join?? I am not the most prolific poster, but I have been reading these threads for a while. And I truly believe in the power of prayer.
I am Bafana, 38, 2 wonderful (most of the time children) 14 and 10. Single parent again,long boriong story, but what happened stirred my faith, and I am know a very very firm believer. God has worked some amazing miracle in my life in the least 16 months, and I have realised the power of him in unimaginable ways.

I am in Scotland and attend the most fabulous welcoming Church of Scotland, where God is truly with us.
Please could you pray for a couple of my friends, my friend W, whose husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour this week, and my friend N, whose family are dealing with the bereavement of their middle child.

Thanks so much.
Look forward to chatting
Bafana x

That's a wonderful new thread BES, thank you so much. I was getting fed up with the length of the thread too, but just didn't have the energy to start a new one.
I could do with some prayers for today:- my dd is on her way to us after a lengthy absence (8 weeks). Some of you know of the quite difficult relationship we have, mainly centering on money and the fall out this time was over money again. Please pray that I can be wise enough to keep my mouth shut about it and not try and 'resolve' anything. Pray that Bob will cope with the visit, the children too. Last time dgrandson would not go anywhere near him, which was very hurtful. Bob is not feeling too well at the moment, so any idea of being a lively grandfather have to be put on hold.

Thank you

Prayers for everyone else

Bafana, welcome from me - prayers assured (and get your friends to investigate Cyberknife radiotherapy).
DO, prayer assured for today.
Here, being bold and going to a big Diocesan church event by myself. Prayers for a good outcome would be much appreciated, as I'm a bit nervous.

Welcome Bafana and prayers.

BES - thank you for the new thread!

Amber - prayers for you and the church event. I hope you enjoy it and find it worthwhile.

DO - prayers for the visit from your DD, wisdom for you in being able to deal with it and find the right words. Also prayers for Bob.

Jan - I completely agree with TACP. Christian marriage is not a trap. Don't get me wrong, I have a sacramental view of marriage, think it is something that needs perseverance and hard work and take the vows very seriously. However if a marriage becomes physically or emotionally harmful long term, I don't believe God would want anyone to feel trapped.
I don't know enough about your situation and the marriage but it does sound like things are exacerbated by that post baby year. My only advice would be to try and keep the communication going.
Prayers for you and your DH.

TACP - prayers that your journey back goes ok.

MHD - glad you had a good time visiting family. I think I noticed from your FB post that they only live about 15mins from me (I live just off top of M23) so if you're ever down this way again, let me know!

Please can I ask for prayers for a good friend of mine, S. She started a course of citalopram yesterday for anxiety & depression. She's very good at trying to cover up and ignore issues affecting her but has started some counselling. She has unfortunately had side effects from the citalopram on day 1, which she knows can be normal, but are dragging her down further. If she's feeling up to it she's going to come over to ours later for a roast.

hi...
Bofana welcome :) DutchOma praying for your situation which must be difficult for you all, and the other requests too. teandcake yes send me the link when you get back thank you very much i will have a read. i have just sent dh an email explaining how i feel, as when we talk it gets out of hand. i am hoping when he reads we will be able to discuss and resolve things today.

our relationship has been detrimental emotionally, pretty much for the 3 years that we have been married. for various reasons - we have come through a lot together but instead of supporting each other through things we have taken things out on each other and lead separate lives. the counselling has helped a bit - but if i was to walk away in the end i would feel i have failed. it seems to not be an option. it is very frowned upon in my church eg people who have got separated are not allowed to worship lead etc. and my family and his family would all be so devastated. but its been going on for 3 years now....counselling brought so much stuff up. i think we just have to persevere and trust that now things are in the open that they can change.

sorry for the long post. reading the word today but feel detached from it - hope i feel Gods comfort from the word again soon.

Jan, more prayers. Very tricky when churches act like abusers, punishing people for being in enough distress that they have to separate. I imagine they think people separate for fun, or something

Many people I know have had to find churches that understand what 'do not judge, lest ye be judged' actually means, and what 'love one another' means outside of their personal context of 'treat everyone as a thing to be punished if they misbehave'. Actually, God is the judge, not them.

marriage, divorce and singleness Jan a helpful sermon from a well know Chistian teacher/writer. there are 4 on there and I have not read/listened to the other 3 so can not say what they contain, but the 3rd one I found helpful in my situation. (and must remind a friend of this as I got a rather "awkward" letter from her as she had only heard one side of the story from h

Thank you for the new thread BES. Hope you are OK. I am just back from a couple of weeks away (first for work and then holiday) so the round-up was useful.

Prayers (belatedly, I know... just catching up) for Tinkerbell and FoD. It'll be stressful for both of you in different ways, I know, but praying that God will watch over you in the next few months.

Prayers for your marriage, Jan. No good advice, I'm afraid, but praying that you and your h will be able to communicate and work things out. Praying also that you find understanding - whatever happens - from your church.

Prayers for a good visit today DO and Bob and that Bob copes with it all OK and isn't too exhausted by the end of the day.

Prayers for your journey, TaCP.

Welcome Bafana and prayers for N and W.

Prayers that today's event goes well, amber.

Please can I ask for prayers for dh and his extended family? Just found out that his auntie (his mum's identical twin) died while we on holiday. She's being buried with his mum, who died a few years ago, so the funeral is going to be very hard for him and his sisters.

Dutch, I cheated and used the document I had saved from last time. Can't be sure that I got everyone as my eyes were going a bit squiffy after 8 pages (100 posts/page) i also seemed to have managed not to bold your name.

Hi bafana!

tea are you home yet? (though I suppose if you are reading this you must be) depending what time you are reading... I also suggest that you start practising saying "no, that will not be possible, ask ex to bring them up" ready for next year.

oh, and have a medal for exceptional-beyond-the-call-of-duty sevices to small children.

Oh BES, don't worry about bold or not, I'm so pleased you did the new thread.
Visit is going well so far, they attended 'messy church' yesterday and the outcome is quite interesting to say the least. Will write about it later.

Thanks BES, that was quite a job.

Hi Bofana - I'm in Scotland too

Prayers for all.

ah BES thank you for the new thread too, and also for adding me into the list :) and thank you for the link, i will have a listen....im sorry for what you have had to go through as well and the response from your friend. in my church people tend to take sides. i don't think it should all be talked about. id like to think if anything happened we wouldn't discuss it with others except maybe a pastor and noone would find out the details. but guess this is real life.

Amberlight i suppose the church are acting like that - but they make you believe everything they do is right but you have to be strong enough to challenge it against the bible. it gets confusing...for me

Tuo thinking of dh and his family that the lord will comfort them.

i think the enemy just has it for christian marriages. my friend said the other day that her mum and dad didn't get on for years, then they finally got on the last few years and it was worth it. but was it really worth it- years of unhappiness? do we all have to go through some unhappiness...if its not the marriage will it just be something else anyway? better to bear the burden and get it over with? i am just musing here. the lord uses various things to break us, mold us, shape us. i wish i knew exactly what to do in all circumstances....and i pray that we will all know by the holy spirit what to do and be led by God in whatever situation we face in life

Thanks for the new thread, BES. Much easier.

Jan - I want to second what others have said. Please don't see Christian marriage (or non Christian ...) as a 'trap'. It's not meant to be like that at all. My divorce broke my heart and I was given a bit of a hard time by Church (not everyone by any means). It's a Catholic one and sometimes there can be a distinct lack of understanding and forgiveness among the clergy in particular - but I think things have moved on quite a bit since then. Anyway, I feel that God looks kindly on my present marriage: my kids are happy and I am safe and loved. But it's early days for you - I hope you can work it out together but never feel that you deserve to be 'judged' - only (thank goodness) a loving God can do that.

Bafana - warm welcome!

Prayers to you all - DO - hoping the day is good -
Tuo - sorry to hear about your dh's aunt - hope he and his sisters can lovingly support each other through this difficult time.

Thanks all for the tooth prayers - a slightly better night last night. Still loads of pain but perhaps the new antibiotics are beginning to take hold ... DH bought me various potions today from a health shop as I've been on antibiotics and strong painkillers so long now that I feel drained and exhausted. Long live clove oil! (Thanks again DO)

Hello, and wow BES thankyou so much for the new thread. Great to see so many posts.

Welcome Bafana.

Jan - just to agree with the others. I really don't believe Christian marriage is a trap or a tool used by God to make us suffer/hone us etc. I believe marriage should be an equal and respectful relationship between two people who love each other. Paul's illustration of marriage is that of Christ and the church, and he challenges the husband to love his wife like Christ loved the church- a pretty high calling - Christ loved the church so much he sacrificed his life for her. There should never be a state of being where one person in a marriage feels downtrodden and abused, in whatever way, by the other. If a church is teaching people to stay together 'through thick and thin' and actually meaning even through abuse then they are utterly wrong and certainly out of kilter with biblical teaching. Churches teaching this - whether explicitly or implicitly by not letting seperated people lead etc - are imo going against the whole idea of God's pattern for relationship. Marriage relationship is at its best reflective of the relationship through the trinity - beautiful and nurturing. It makes me sad to think of you suffering because of your church saying this oppressive stuff.

I do hope and pray though that you can work through this and get the right support. Praying for you - sorry about the essay

SES - yes we were down near M23, we go down about twice a year, will be down in August if you are around, planning to do chessington one day and the Olympics another (have tickets for modern pentathlon)

DO ooh tell us more about what happened at messy church?

BTW that essay is not referring to you specifically Jan but to people in general who keep suffering through wrong stuff because their church says to, sorry for not being clear :)

Jesus came that we might have life in all its fullness, not so that we can do the suffering. He did that for us. Yes, life has some rubbish to throw at us, but a good marriage is about two people who find mutual respect and deep friendship and huge trust...whose love means that they are there for each other in those hard times. It doesn't mean it's all wonderful, but it means that arguments should be sort of 'I feel so sad at the moment because of X - can you please help me by doing Y', rather than 'you are so useless - how can you ever expect me to love you when what you do is so rubbish' etc. Sometimes even the best relationships fall into that attacking sort of style for a while - but love and respect is about pulling back from that - by both people - and learning to trust with gentleness, not hate or neglect. If one is doing the good stuff and the other is tearing them apart, then sometimes separation is the safest thing for both people. And sometimes relationships just don't work, and it's as simple as that.

Messy church: well, apparently there was an Easter egg hunt where people had to find the John 3:16 text. Z could read all the words, except 'perish' and dd knew what the text was:"oh yes, I know my Bible". He said "Jesus is really God, isn't He" and "Jesus is real and I am His friend, aren't I Mummy?" Mummy said nothing. We had forgotten to say grace before the meal, so he said he would do it: he piously folded his hands bowed his head and said "Thank you Jesus for all the food we eat and drink. Amen" Dd asked whether he was taught that at school and he said, no, he had made it up all by himself.
He also said that Jesus had been dead but was now alive again.

I am really curious what is going to happen at his cousin's christening next month. Ds and ddil went for a christening because they felt it was wrong to go for dedication in the Baptist church they were married in if they were not going to attend and 'just wanted to say thank you to God for her'. They have no plans to attend the church on any kind of regular basis. So I'm quite curious as to what the vicar is going to do when Z asks whether he can be christened too.
The day went quite smoothly, Bob coped albeit with difficulty and really only opened his mouth to berate dd when she said that if her dd said that once more (can't remember what it was) she would cut her tongue out. "No you won't," said Bob, "don't make idle threats".
On the whole I think we did pretty well.

we talked tonight, ended in tears, he upset my by something he said so much that i drove off and cried for an hour in the park. just back and hopefully get some sleep...head not focusing. just worried about the future now...i do not want my daughter growing up seeing the likes of this it would be devastating. ive been reading all the helpful inputs..thankyou