New beginnings: a Christian prayer thread for summer

[Tuo]

I have called this thread 'new beginnings', as it felt appropriate to lots of us at the moment, in a whole series of ways.

Since I started our last thread, back in April, we have welcomed Abigail Faith, daughter of HadALittleFaithBaby, and Hannah Faith, daughter of RoomForALittleOne. We thank God for their safe arrival and pray that He will watch over them and surround them with His love as they grow.

We pray for Kaykat and for CharlotteCollinsismovingon as they deal with the breakdown of their marriages. We pray not only for Kay, but also for her friend who has been providing her with excellent support and legal advice, for a clear way forward and a swift resolution. We pray for a clear and positive way forward also for Charlotte, and for her children to cope with this change in their lives with understanding and resilience.

We pray for PositiveAttitude as she settles back into life in the UK, and prepares for a period away from her DH and DD4. We pray, in particular, for her DD1, that she find a job in which she will feel supported and which will help her to feel happier and better able to cope with life. We also pray for happiness for PA's DD3, who has just got married, and for her DS in his new job. Finally we pray for the work of her DH in Cambodia, praying that the separation is bearable and that he continues to be able to make a real difference to people's lives over there.

We pray for BlueTinkerbell as she moves to a new home, looks for work, and continues to explore her vocation. May this move be a really positive new beginning for Blue and her family.

Likewise, we pray for niminypiminy who will begin ordination training in September.

And we pray for my church and diocese in the aftermath of some major structural changes. This is a new beginning that was imposed rather than chosen, but may it bring positive developments nonetheless.

We pray also for:

... amberlight, for her work raising awareness of autism in churches, and for this work to be welcomed and valued, rather than greeted with incomprehension, far less hostility;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; in particular, we pray for her mum's health, for peaceful and restorative holidays, for order in her flat and with her paperwork, and for her DC; we pray especially that they both receive the support that they need from their school;

... BoxOfDelights, for her to receive a clear diagnosis and suitable treatment for her eye problem very soon;

... Don'tsteponthemomeraths, that her DS is able to access the support he needs and is valued and nurtured at school; for better support also for her DD; for better relationships at work; and for her nephew, who has suffered a burst appendix;

... DutchOma and Bob, for health for Bob and for good support (moral and practical) for Oma as she cares for him day by day; and for the ability to rest and breathe easily in this heat;

...JakeBullet as she deals with her uncle's ill-health and decision to move back to his native Switzerland. May he be well cared-for and peaceful there, and may Jake not miss him too much;

... MadHairDay, for health as she lives with chronic illness, and for strength as she mourns the death of a friend; we remember also MHD's friend and all who knew and loved her at this time;

We also pray for friends who haven't been around for a while... for Badvoc, for Gingercurl and her thesis, for Jan and her DD, for MaryBS, and for all 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.

[Kaykat]

Praising God that DS had the happiest school year of his life. He was even disappointed to break up as he will miss his friends and teachers so much.

My beloved pussycat died this week all very sudden and unexpected. I had a strong bond with him and miss him desperately.

My H is accusing me of doing the abusive things that he actually did to me and that I am crazy and hysterical. Those of us with experience of abusive men know that this is very predictable but please pray that the people who matter will see through the lies. It also appears he has hatched some kind of dishonest plot, possibly with the help of his family, to try to prevent the fair division of assets. Lots happening in the next two weeks, I need to stay clear headed and strong. I am very thankful for my freedom and great relationship with DS those two things are priceless.

[Kaykat]

Should have said that DS is missing pussycat desperately too

[Dutchoma]

So sad to hear about your pussycat KAY. Cats are such a comfort. Praying that you will stay strong and focused over the next couple of weeks.
And thank you Lord for the strong bond between Kay and her ds and that he is doing well at school

[BlackeyedSusan]

thought so mome. always worse when you have had to take over someone elses job when they should be here doing it. it took well over a year for me to get used to putting the car away in the garage ithout rresentment. i still occasionally get resentful that he comes and plays weekend daddy.

praayers amber,

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY MARY

(do you think that was loud enoough for her to hear?)

kay sorry about you lovely cat. what was his name?

hope everyone stays dry today. LOOK HERE

[KeepTheFaithBaby]

Praising God for working through our circumstances. Kay it's great that despite your H's approach you aren't questioning yourself and know that it's him not you. I'm sorry for the loss of your cat. Delighted that despite the circumstances your DS had such a good school year.

What an answer to prayer Room! Hope it helps and you have a wonderful break.

Glad the house move went well Blue, praying you settle in quickly.

Praying for your Mum Niminy and the relationships in your family.

Life gets gradually easier here. Faithlet is coping better with being put down :) and I was just able to leave her with DH while I went for a 40 minute run. So nice to have a break and do something for myself. I came home, she'd had some expressed milk from a bottle and is asleep in her swinging chair. It's been so good to get a break I could cry with joy!

[GingerCurl]

Partial answer to prayer to report. Industrial sponsor is playing ball now and the problems I had with them have been resolved in the best possible way. Thank you God for your faithfulness!
Now it's just the case study to sort out. Please pray that I manage to get hold of the necessary people in order to sort it out.
Praying for everyone as I read through.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

I'm not resentful and I am used to having to do it all on my own after almost 4 years. But it's hard. Took half the time to pack/ unpack when married.

I think it's ok to realise that and wish you had help. No?

I'm here now but I've realised that I brought no potty. So it's wild wees all the way for the kiddos this week. DS has about 4 poos a day though, so that'll be a lot of trips to the loo

[BlackeyedSusan]

wasn't sugesting that you were resentful, just me, and it is the jobs that the ex used to do that feel the worst.

good luck with the toileting. sounds like a long week of toilets.

[niminypiminy]

Thank you for your prayers. Mum is now back home, and it looks as if there is nothing major to be scared about (she was having rectal bleeds which is quite worrying symptom). And I managed to talk to my sisters and for the moment peace is in the air. It helped so much to know that you were praying for me.

Great news Faith that you got a break. And Mome hope the week away (especially the toilet trips) feels manageable and like a good change -- though it's hard to feel you are getting a break when you're away on your own with children. Praying for you, and for all.

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

16 min walk to the big top from my tent. So I really won't want to forget anything tomorrow as I leave here!

Keep me fit.

Off to bed, to the sound of rain, thanking God for getting me here safely without getting lost, help with the tent set up and kids and just general lovely people to support me.

It's quite an incredible feel here and I feel honoured that I was able to come along. Such a God thing too, with the bursary and getting a place, as I'm not technically congregation, I just help on a course and am part of the parenting alone pastorate. So hoping the week will be a blessing. The kids have been great so far, even his nibs! Unheard of.

[blessedhope]

Hello everyone! I'm new.

I would like to ask God to reveal Himself to some of the unbelievers and sceptics posting on this site, making the spiritually blind see and bringing them to the great salvation (Heb 2:3) and eternal life (Rom 6:23) found exclusively (John 14:6) in Christ Jesus.

I pray for the churches of this nation; that following the re-definition of marriage as legal contract by Parliament, they will hold firm on the definition of marriage as Holy Matrimony between a man and a woman (Mt 19:4-5) even in the face of social disapproval (Rom 12:1-2)

I pray for the gay and lesbian population of Russia, of all faiths and none, in light of recent developments there; that whether or not they live in a way that I and the Scriptures see as sinful, they not be subjected to inhumane or hateful treatment or scapegoated by their government to further its political goals.

--

Could you pray for my dear father and his second wife; she is seriously ill with a rare form of cancer, and is currently undergoing specialised radiotherapy at a university hospital far from home.

[Dutchoma]

Welcome blessedhope.

Very worthwhile causes to pray for.
Also praying for your dad and his wife, that they might feel the strength and comfort of the Lord.
What kind of church do you belong to?

We had such a lovely day yesterday with the rain holding off till we had eaten the 'barbecue' bit of our tea (cooked indoors but eaten on the lawn)

[BlackeyedSusan]

it is coming up to the anniversary of dads death and dd's birthday. getting a bit upset and worried.

also got to dig out the fridge from the junk in the kitchen.

[Tuo]

Oh BES, anniversaries are very hard, I know, and it's understandable that you're feeling sad. Try to allow yourself time to grieve, but also see if you can find a happy way to remember your dad (go to a place he loved, listen to his favourite music, or whatever ). And I hope that focusing on your DD and her birthday can help to distract you a bit and will be joyful rather than giving you additional stress. Prayers coming your way...

Kay - praying for you over the next few weeks: thanking God for your DS's happiness and for your strength, praying that those who will make the decisions can see through your H's lies. So sorry to hear about your cat...

niminy - thanking God that your mum is home and that it's not anything too scary.

blessedhope - welcome! Praying for your dad and his wife, for all the family, and for the medical team caring for her. I pray that she is as comfortable as she can be, and that she knows God's love.

I really don't want to cause offence or to start a debate (this is not the place...), and I've agonised about whether to post this, but I have to say that, with the greatest respect, I cannot endorse your views on same-sex marriage and homosexuality in general. I don't know whether there are any LGBT posters or lurkers on this thread, and if there are I would not want them to think that your views represent those of all posters on the thread or of all Christians. I absolutely join you in praying for fair and humane treatment of all people, regardless of faith, colour, gender, or sexuality, and, in particular, in praying for an end to state-endorsed discrimination and violence against any minority group.

[niminypiminy]

blessedhope I too don't think I can join you in praying for the church to hold to the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, since one of my own prayers is that my beloved sister and her partner would be able to marry in church. But I do join you in praying for an end to scapegoating and discrimination in Russia (and elsewhere). And I am praying for your father and his wife, that she may find healing and peace.

[amberlight]

Blessed, praying for your dad and his wife and all around them. Radiotherapy is very very good these days so I hope that there will be healing and a good life ahead.

I too cannot pray in all conscience, though, for the lesbian/gay marriage situations you describe. I'm part of the LGBT community and have many wonderful Christian gay friends who are the most marvellous contributors to society, to their children, and to their churches. It is such a sadness to them and to all who know them that they cannot marry. Civil Partnership is a legal contract and nothing more, alas. Their wonderful faithful relationships are no more defined just by a legal contract about finance than anyone else's marriage would wish to be. So I hold it all in prayer and gentleness, and hope for love and sharing of life from all. I certainly do pray for an end to the discrimination that people like me suffer, even if we did what we were asked to do and marry someone of the opposite gender. It's like they say - standing in a garage doesn't make you into a car. Marrying a man hasn't made me straight.

[KeepTheFaithBaby]

I have been dwelling on this issue too. My sister in law is a lesbian and has been with her partner as long as I have been with DH (about 6 years). They are a lovely couple, Wonderful aunties and I can't help feeling that they have the right to be legally married should they choose to be. Hate the sin, love the sinner keeps coming to my mind. I'm actually struggling with a friend who posted something on FB about this (you know, a photo of a couple with a bible verse underneath). It makes me very uncomfortable to the point I've hidden her updates at present!

I do agree with praying for all those persecuted though.

Blessed I pray for your Dad and his wife, for strength, peace, for those caring for and supporting them.

Mome praying you have a wonderful time, come home with renewed passion and strength and don't forget anything when heading to the big top! :)

[amberlight]

(it's also useful for all to remember that churches fought for, and got, the 'quadruple lock' that means they cannot be forced to ever marry a gay couple. Also worth reading some of the theology about the way the words were interpreted from one language to another in the Bible and ended up being written as 'homosexuality' etc when the original meaning was often about the sin of rampant promiscuity. Something that gay couples no more indulge in than straight couples do. All very important to keep in prayer. I mention it in case lurkers or thread inhabitants fancied googling a bit about it so they can make up their own minds).

[BlackeyedSusan]

ds is still asleep... in my bed though, scooped up in the night. waiting for a parcel to be delivered. birthday presents.

[PositiveAttitude]

Can I please ask for pray yet again for DD1. Job interview yesterday went well and she should find out a yes or no this morning. I am fed up of praying that she gets a job. She has been saying "God can't love me because He never answers my prayers" I am struggling to answer this as, no, God never does seem to answer her when she prays. I know, I know the theology is scewed, but how do I answer her when what she says seems to be right. God doesn't answer my prayers when I ask for her, either. Maybe we will be proved wrong today!! I pray we will!!!!

[niminypiminy]

Oh PA that is so difficult. I pray that she will have good news about the job, and I pray for strength for both you and her getting through this difficult time. It is so difficult to keep hoping when you are getting turned down for jobs. All I can say is that I know that God is with her in it, and that however worthless she feels because of all the rejections, to Him she is infinitely worthy and infinitely valuable.

[BlackeyedSusan]

oh Pa. i have said exactly the same thing many a time, when i was going from temporary job to unemployment to temporary job. I don't think I have yet fully reconciled that to be honest.

[BlackeyedSusan]

I am making slow rpgress with packing/clearring kitchen. it is not happening very quickly at all. we will have to go up tomorrow, after a trip to town.

[PositiveAttitude]

I AM ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO SAY WE HAVE BEEN PROVED WRONG!!! Late this afternoon when we had given up all hope DD1 got a message to say that she has got the job and starts tomorrow at 10!!! Wooooooohooooooooo!!!!!!

< now ashamed to say that I had a rather heated one way discussion with God this morning in the car about how unfair I thought he was!! but I did end it by saying "I know you are God and I am not and I will praise you and thank you for loving us and providing for us no matter what happens!" It was good to get lots off my chest though! >

[BlackeyedSusan]

oo congratulations pa's dd.