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"By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples": Christian Prayer Thread for April

809 replies

Tuo · 13/04/2013 23:35

I thought it was about time we started a new thread, seeing as the previous one now has over 600 posts, making it difficult for some people to load it and navigate around it. I used the quote from John 13. 15 that I posted on the previous thread on Maundy Thursday, because I think it sums up what this thread - and this group of people - is all about.

We pray particularly at this time for RoomForALittleOne: that her baby hang on where s/he is for as long as possible and continue to grow in size and strength, and that Room stay well and as pain- and stress-free as possible. Prayers, too, for the medical team looking after them both at this worrying time.

We pray also for:
amberlight ? for her work raising awareness of ASDs, and for her friends who have cancer;
BabyBeatrice and her family ? for continued healing and with thanks for recent good news;
BlackEyedSusan ? for strength to cope with all the many things on her plate, for health for her mum, and for happier times at school for her DD and DS;
BlueTinkerbell ? for work possibilities and for her vocation;
charlottecollinsislost ? for a peaceful holiday, despite the circumstances, and for as pain- and recrimination-free a separation as possible for the sake of all concerned;
Dontsteponthemomeraths ? for her as she dips her toe back in the 'dating pond'; for her ?LM? as he tries to establish contact with his children; for her brother to regain full use of his thumb, following an accident;
DutchOma and Bob ? for health for Bob, and for Oma to feel supported as she cares for him day-to-day; also for Oma's planned trip to Holland;
GingerCurl ? for the successful and (relatively) stress-free completion of her thesis;
HavingALittleFaithBaby ? for as easy a time as is possible during these last days and weeks of her pregnancy;
jann2013 ? for strength for her following the break-up of her marriage, and for her dd who has badly broken her arm;
Kaykat ? for her and her DS to know peace and happiness as they emerge from an abusive relationship, and for the legal issues to be sorted out quickly so that they can get back into their own home;
MadHairDay - for strength as she lives with chronic illness and for the Spring to bring her better health;
MaryBS - for peace and happiness following a difficult situation at Scouts with her DS;
PositiveAttitude ? for her mission overseas and for her family both over there and back here, especially her DD1;
...and for all who post on this thread, for those who lurk, for occasional visitors, and for those known to us who are in need of prayer, whether mentioned here or not.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 09/05/2013 11:58
Jewcy · 09/05/2013 12:45

Praying for all as I'm reading through. I agree, Tuo, that you are an amazing person.

Who is Bob?

I have done nothing to glorify God on the YEC thread and feel terribly inadequate (intellectually & spiritually). Praise God that He loves us even when we let Him down.

Dutchoma · 09/05/2013 13:18

Bob is my dh, Jewcy. He has been suffering with an unidentified lung disease for seven years after a heart bypass operation) and we have been upheld by many prayers.

Dutchoma · 09/05/2013 14:46

I have done nothing to glorify God on the YEC thread either, Jewcy I was not even aware of it until you mentioned it. IMHO Pedro is just out to stir the pot and best ignored.

Tuo · 09/05/2013 23:43

Praying tonight for...
... Badvoc - so much going on in your life: praying for a safe return for your DS1, for health for your DS2, for your dad with his swallowing problems, and for your church situation. Praying also for your priest, for his eyes to be opened to the harm that he is doing. I find it so difficult when people fail to treat those they see as somehow 'beneath' them with respect (I had an absolutely eye-watering example of this in a meeting today). Angry
... Oma and Bob - for Bob to have a better night, with a fully functioning machine and rest for both of you.
... Mathanxiety - for your DS's roommate to find a way to believe in himself and to find a way forward; for your DS, too, to be able to support his friend if he can, but also to know that he is not responsible for him (I have seen some truly stunning examples of how students can support one another, but I know it can be hard for the supporter as well as the one who needs support - your DS shouldn't be afraid to talk to a tutor or to the University Counselling Service for advice if he needs it).
... Blue - I'm so sorry about the job. It may not be much consolation, but when they take a long time to get back to you it often means that you were their second choice, and they are keeping you on hold until the first choice signs on the dotted line. I pray that one of these other opportunities which you have turns out to be the very place where God is calling you to be, even if you don't yet realise it.

... Mary - praying that the meeting with the social worker went well and that (s)he will be able to give you good practical support.
... Room - prayers of thanks for support received, and praying for you to feel as well as you can, to have lots of lovely cuddles from your LOs, and for your baby to continue to grow well. How many weeks are you now? Also praying for your LOs' friend.
... PA - continuing to pray for the success of your work (and - ahem - praying that you communicated better than you feared in the language, and that there won't be a baby boom in 9 months' time!); also for your DDs and your parents.
... Jewcy for you as you prepare for your treatment. We can never really be anything other than inadequate in the face of God, and yet I believe that he loves even our inadequacy, our struggles, our wanderings... I have quoted this before, but I will quote it again, because I really like the idea that, even if we get it wrong or flounder about (as I so often feel I'm doing) not really knowing what God wants or how to go about doing what I think He might want, the fact that we are trying still 'counts':

'My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.' (Thomas Merton)

I pray that God will bless all of us on our different roads, whether we walk on them confidently or tentatively and however lost we may sometimes feel, and I thank God that these threads and the people on them have been part of my journey. I've come a long way, and you lot have made it feel easy... Flowers

OP posts:
Badvoc · 10/05/2013 06:54

Thank you tuo x
I do feel rather strung out ATM. I am sorry you have to deal with this attitude too :(
But ds1 is back today! :)

Tuo · 10/05/2013 08:54

Luckily that attitude is rare where I work, Badvoc, but on the odd occasion that you do hear it, it makes me shudder...

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 10/05/2013 10:21

Thank you TUO for your prayers. We did indeed have a night without interruptions by machine. An engineer is going to call tomorrow.

madhairday · 10/05/2013 12:41

Thank you TUO, how lovely :)

Blue, I'm so sorry you didn't get the job, I know how much you wanted it. I know the right thing is out there, but also know that doesn't help right now. If you want a coffee and chat you know where I am - or we could meet in town in Costa one day :)

Badvoc - praying for all that is going on in your life and especially for peace and purpose.

math - welcome, and praying for Ds' roommate.

Praying for Bob, Do, and for you, and hope the machine doesn't malfunction again! So sorry to hear he found the home so difficult :(

Praying for everyone - PA, Mary, BES, Jan, Kaykat, Tuo, Faith, Room and everyone else.

Jewcy - don't feel bad. I often feel I haven't glorified God on threads. I just believe God is pleased with efforts to speak up for him. I often get it wrong...hope things are feeling better for you.

I'm feeling much better, spiritually and physically - those prayers are working. Also want to share something about dd - ages ago I asked for prayer about one particular girl who was making her life hell - being really nasty - I also felt God was asking me to pray for the girl, rather than against her iyswim, and praying for God's blessing on her life, and that she would look kindly on dd - well this week dd has come home saying they are great friends and have exchanged numbers etc, and the girl actually apologised to dd, saying she was sorry she'd treated her badly, that dd was a nice girl and she felt bad. So how's that for answer to prayer - and that God doesn't always do it how we expect or would want humanly? dd has forgiven her, and so have I (now!) Grin

RoomForALittleOne · 10/05/2013 12:44

Glad to hear that the machine worked overnight, DO. Did you get interrupted by anything else or did you get a whole night's sleep?

I'm finding today very hard. Having had a 24 hour period with lots of contractions and some of them getting more painful rather than just uncomfortable I am fed up. I don't want to be watched any more. I don't want to be asked questions about what happens now. I just want to be left alone. This baby is clearly not coming yet and I would like to try and enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy in as normal a way as possible. Only I can't because I'm not allowed to do anything. Today I was supposed to be the 'national guest speaker' at a women's evening (at our sending church so not as grand as it sounds!) and it was a really big deal for me. Instead, I'm going to be sat on a sofa, uncomfortable and no doubt watching more TV by myself whilst DH is out at placement because I can't manage the 170 mile trip to do the talk. I want to do something. I feel like a bit of a sideshow now having been in hospital four weeks ago and still no baby. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to give birth at 31 weeks but I can't take this limbo land anymore. I can't even manage church or chapel at college Sad

Sorry. Self-obsessed rant over. I really needed to let it out and I can't do that to friends in RL who are doing so much to help us in a practical way.

RoomForALittleOne · 10/05/2013 12:48

MHD glad that you're feeling better and for answers to prayer. Did you manage to make the decisions that you needed to or is that still ongoing?

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 13:03

Room oh gosh that sounds very tough. So sorry you had to miss your event. How disappointing. (I went into prem labour with ds2 at 33 weeks. They managed to stop it and - if you can believe it - we was a week overdue!!) :)
MHD Wow. Prayer at work indeed!
I was speaking to a friend yesterday about sept (my ds2 starts school) and I have felt under some pressure to have a plan/re-train/get a job. But actually, I think I really need a break.
It's been a very very rough 2 years and its only now that I can see that.
Ds1 is back today! Can't wait to see his beautiful face :)

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 13:03

Oma...glad your night was more peaceful x

Dutchoma · 10/05/2013 13:42

It turns out that our message to the engineer was not passed on. It has now and someone will call tomorrow. Bob is deemed to be able to go without the machine for three nights, fortunately it has been working as he would be in a total panic if he couldn't use it.

madhairday · 10/05/2013 16:08

Room :( That is so hard - I so know where you're at. So sorry you missed your event. I'm sure they'll ask you for another. Praying for peace in this turbulent time and for a happy last few weeks of pg.

HadALittleFaithBaby · 10/05/2013 16:38

Gosh it's all go.

DO I'm glad the machines worked ok, praying for an uneventful night and peace for Bob.

Room I'm sure it's frustrating that you can't go anywhere but you and the baby are the priority right now. You've done so well just to keep that baby where it should be the last four weeks :) Hang in there, you're nearly there.

Badvoc praying you enjoy the reunion with your DS.

mhd delighted to hear you're feeling better! Fantastic approach to loving your enemy re your DD! Well done - I know it's easier said than done!

We are getting on ok. Finding it gradually seems to be getting easier most days. Not definite routine but some elements of patterns emerging. Last night she slept for 5 hours! Mmm sleep! :)

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 16:44

Thank you all so much for your prayers re ds1.
He is home and LOVED it :) I think he wore the same pants for 3 days but never mind!
He liked the food, slept well and didn't miss me! He is growing up :)
He spent all his (£5) pocket money on gifts for his brother. His friend lost his GM the day they left. Ds told me he felt very bad for xxxx "but don't worry mum we kept his spirits up".
He is such a kind, sweet boy. I am very proud!

Faith...5 hours? That's great. Be kind to yourself x

Dutchoma · 10/05/2013 17:19

Badvoc that's wonderful. How is ds2?

HadALittleFaithBaby · 10/05/2013 17:41

Oh yes Badvoc I couldn't quite believe it! Not expecting it to happen a lot! Your DS sounds like a treasure :)

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 19:42

Ds1 is 9 and ds2 is 4 and sadly feeling a bit poorly tonight.
Has been sick at pils so on the way home :(

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 19:46

Oh! I thought you asked how old they were Oma, sorry! Blush
Dh is now stressing about his leather car upholstery. Sigh.
I hate sick :(

Dutchoma · 10/05/2013 20:15

Well, no, it is nice to have an idea of their ages, but I remember you were going to take ds2 to the doctors. I wondered how you got on and am sorry to hear that he was poorly at grandparents. Take a bucket when you fetch him.

Badvoc · 10/05/2013 20:18

Poor thing has been very sick since he got home, bless him.
He has fresh pjs on, a sick bowl in hand on the sofa and is watching tv.

Dutchoma · 10/05/2013 20:22

Flat lemonade is good in small quantities to prevent dehydration, poor thing, both you and him.

Bluetinkerbell · 10/05/2013 21:48

Thank you all for prayers and kind words!
We've made some life-changing decisions after being turned down for the job.
Decided I didn't want to go to the other 2 interviews I've been offered add I really don't feel called to those jobs anymore.
We are going to move in with MIL so I can change diocese and have a chance of having a BAP next academic year and start training the year after.
I've already contacted the DDO there and within half an hour had an email back. Already noticing the difference!
Really looking forward to it!
Not being offered the job really put things in perspective! God works in mysterious ways indeed! :)