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

[Tuo]

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.

plese pray tht there will be some responses to ds's birthday invitations. I fear that he is seen as the naughty child.

Praying through...especially for:

Room, how's that baby cooking? I'm delighted you've come so far. I know it hasn't been easy for you. How's the hayfever?

bes praying your DS gets plenty of 'Yes' replies.

Ongoing prayers for DO and Bob, for strength.

Blue has your DD recovered now?

Remembering especially expat as the anniversary of Aillidh's passing draws near.

I overwhelming miss my mum tonight. Not sure if I shared the back story there - she died of ovarian cancer nearly 6 years ago. It was very sudden - it was particularly aggressive - and tough on us all as we're a close family. I wish she was around, especially now since she's loved to have been a Grandma. I know she's with The Lord because she had great faith and trusted in His will in her latter days but I just miss her :(

Oh Faith, thank you for your prayers. We are ok at the moment. Sorry to hear about your mum.
By the way, did you see the invitation to the MN meetup on 17th August? Would love to see you and Faithlet

I told DH how I was feeling and we had a cuddle. He's brilliant about Mum (bless him, we'd only been together a couple of months when we found out but he was always great throughout) and he didn't diminish my feelings but just said its natural to miss her, especially with a new baby.

17th August is actually my birthday so unfortunately I already have plans! :( I'd love to meet everyone though.

Morning All. Can I ask for some prayer please? I'm starting to get really stressed about a number if things. My mum is only here for a few more days then after that it is very difficult for us to find anyone to look after our children when I go into labour. I don't want to do this alone. I'm very fed up of being pregnant, in pain, swollen up and struggling to move. I know that I'm only 37+5 but I need this baby out. My MIL who only lives 20 mins away has decided to go in holiday from Friday until 9th July (my due date is 11th). We are feeling very let down by her but maybe that's totally unreasonable? My dad is also talking about coming up on Thursday and I find it hard to relax around him especially when we've had a baby. He is really quite obtrusive when we have a new born so I could do without him in the house. I can't exactly tell him that mum is welcome but he isn't!

I probably just need some more sleep but I've had a rough night with lots of niggly pains and awful nausea. I wish I thought that this was it, but I know it's not Oh, and I'm pretty worried about giving birth again as I know what is coming and I have fast births. And my blood pressure was up a bit at the midwife yesterday.

I'm desperate for God to sort everything out. I feel totally abandoned by God at the moment. I don't feel the peace of The Lord at all and I don't understand why I'm still having to suffer such an awful pregnancy now that I'm term. I know that sounds so negative. I just don't understand why I'm going through this.

Praying for you,Room for more sleep and for the unblocking of the channel between you and God. It's very hard to cope with when you feel like God is no longer there for you. The only thing you can do is to remember. Ps42:4. Remember what God has done for you. He is your light and your salvation and He does not change.

Faith any excuse. We'll miss you.

Room. I have been praying, aand will continue to do so.

feelings are notoriously fickle and with everything that is going on it is unsurprising that they are all over the place at the moment. however, it is fact that jesus promised that he would be with us, even until the end of the world. unfortunately you are stuck with him! so often I feel/have felt like he has buggered off somewhere else, even when i know the theology (waffle)

sending virtual hugs.

dd waas passed around like a parcel when ds as born. he arrived on the one day that we did not have cover from one paaticular person. oh and dh buggered off with the carefully packed bag. dd as sick in someones car and had to be dressed in their child's clothes. ermmm this is not going to be giving you confidence is it..

Well, it might BES as you are here to tell the tale.

I suppose. once you have handed over the child to someone, they are not going to leave them in the street and will mke sure they hand them on to the next person in the relay if they do not want to be stuck with them! once you aand your h are in hospital, there is not a lot that can be done about it..

Oh Room, be assured of my prayers. I know what it feels to feel God has abandoned you. It's easy to say he hasn't, he's here, but not so easy to live in the reality. Sometimes it's a case of standing on the word, whatever we are going through and whatever our feelings are. Can someone from college help when you go into labour? I do think that's a bit off of MIL actually, I'd be upset by that too. Praying that things come together well and most of all that you are flooded with God's peace.

Faith, I'm so sorry about your mum, you must miss her so very much. And as your dh says, a new baby can bring such feelings into even sharper focus. Praying for comfort and peace for you.

Keeping you all in my prayers. My praying has been a bit sporadic of late, but getting back into a better rhythm now.I'm off to hospital in a bit for a check up, so prayers appreciated for that.

Thank-you so much, ladies. I think a lot of how I'm feeling is a hormonal thing. But prayers have been answered anyway with one of DH's friends being around and being happy to be 'on call'. The problem with college friends is that loads have just moved away and most first years are doing their contextual theology placement and/or are wrapped up in their own children's needs and can't manage another three children on top of that

how about contextual theology of one-aanothering.. glad your dh's friend is available.

Oh my! I've just had a nap and dreamt about having a huge go at MIL about how she treats DH and that I wouldn't be tolerating it any longer. So far, so cathartic. Then she sent hundreds of thousands of singing and dancing carrots to come and get us. The carrots normally lived underwater It was like a horrific episode of life and Octonauts all rolled in to one! The joy of pregnancy dreams!

ds is poorly. I am not so good.

Prayers...

how are you doing room? still paying.

kay hope you can hang on in there and get things moving.

waves to mary and amber.

wedding? is the dresss ok?

aggghhh ds's friend may be leaving school.

ooo look!

I'm OK. Just been out with friends for the evening as a last minute thing. The baby is moving it's head on my pelvic floor a lot this evening. It's quite off putting while having a conversation

some post has gone missing. struggling to organise ds and dd's parties. mum is stressing about the missing post 9not sleeping and puttng bloodpressure up to over 200 . dentist appointments, solicitor to find to witness a signature, if some post turns up. post to go and collect if the card turrns up. stuff to sort out at school. children not sleeping, hence me not sleeping, oh and hormonal.

Eurgh Room I had that! Horrible feeling!

Praying bes.

I'm in a right state - had d&v Saturday. Thought it settled but I've been ill again all day. Nightmare with an EBF baby! Having to get her down ASAP to run to the loo! Prayers for a settled night for her and peace in my gut please!

oh faith. they can be so cross about it too. it is surpising how indignant a small body can be! (or was that just mine.?)

Yes we've reached a new cry - it's not distress but indignant How dare you?!. Well she's finally down and sine googling has revealed that fybogel is safe when bf (unlike my normal IBS meds) so bless him DH has gone off to Tesco to get a supply.

Hello, I'm back! I have missed you all, but have been scanning the thread when I've been able to, and have been praying for you all. I have had the most amazing trip: it has been thought-provoking, inspiring, hopeful, depressing, happy, sad, and generally wonderful. I am struggling to get my head around my reflections on faith, politics, history, war and peace, love and hate, distrust, openness, spirituality, hope and fear... [Tuo's head explodes!]

Praying for all of you, but especially, at this time, for:

Faith - that you feel better soon and that Faithlet is accommodating; also for your mum, may she rest in peace, and may you remember her with joy and not too much sorrow;

BES - for all that you have on your plate - may you know peace in your life;

Room - may you know peace too, and may you find support during these last days/weeks/hours (let's be optimistic!) of your pregnancy and during labour;

MHD - great to see you, praying for your continued health;

PA - praying for a wonderful happy day for DD3, for you to look fabulous (how could you not?), and for the whole family as you move into a new phase;

Oma and Bob - for health for both of you; for Oma's eyes; and for the meet-up you have planned;

Thinking also of amber, Mary, Momey, Badvoc, bakingtins, Charlotte, Kay, Jan and all who need our prayers, whether they post here or not. And thanking God for the fact that niminypiminy has been accepted for training. (Yay!)

Praying also for peace and unity between and within faiths. May we all work towards a better understanding of one another, in love and trust and openness...

Hello all.

It's all been a bit mad since our return to the UK. Jetlag was not too bad - one morning I was cooking bacon sausage and eggs at 4am for the whole family! We have had a bit of culture shock and I sometimes feel as if my head is spinning. Church was quite difficult on Sunday as I just found it difficult to cope with everyone wanting to hug me and talk to me. In Cambodia not many people hug, so I am not used to it anymore!!
Add into the mix all the last minute frantic arrangements for the wedding on Saturday and I feel as if I am in a whirlwind.

Dress looks good - or it did until my sister showed me the dress she ahs got for her daughters wedding a few weeks later - her's cost 3x the amount of mine and looks so glam.....confidence in mine was knocked a little, but I have been assured by DDs that it is fine!

Please pray for the wedding on Saturday, and for a good strong marriage for them.
We have been faced with how mentally unstable DD1 is at the moment. She is doing ok and has said herself that she has done more positive things for herself since we have been home than she did for the entire time we were away. Please pray for her - that she will come to know Jesus, that she will get a job and that she will accept help for her self esteem issues. Thank you

I will probably add some photos next week of the wedding party for you to see, then life should settle down for us.

Oh, please also pray for our finances. We trust God to provide for our needs, but there is definitely no room for anything other than that at the moment.

I am praying as I read through regularly, even when I dont post.

Lurking and praying. Praying and lurking.

PA - praying for everything you've listed. I'm sure you'll look great on Saturday. Besides, it is probably pointless to spend loads of money on an outfit you'll only wear for a few hours.

Room - praying that everything goes smoothly for you

Praying also for TUO, MHD, bakingtins, Faith, BES,Amber, DO and Bob and everyone who reads this thread, whether they post or not.