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.

That sounds like a good time at New Wine, Room.

Impressed by your energy, cloutie... I think if I were helping at a holiday club and was told that there would be twice as many kids I'd be terrified! :o

blessedhope - I am sorry if my views offended you. I expressed them here only because I felt that not to do so would give an incorrect impression of 'the Christian point of view' (in general) to any visitors to this thread, whether LGBT or not. And that is important to me, because this thread is a thread that exist for mutual support and understanding through prayer, regardless of one's denomination or theological position on the 'hot topics' of the day, and open to those who may not feel comfortable in a traditional church environment, to those who are unsure whether they believe or not...

The thread is, in short, a community - a community joined through love and prayer and in the belief that our God, who is a God of love, hears our prayers. It is not a debate thread (there are plenty of those already here and elsewhere, where controversies can be explored and discussed), and it does not have a 'party line'. We are Anglicans and Baptists and Catholics and many more... We probably cover a huge range of beliefs on human sexuality, women in positions of authority in the church, transubstantiation, and ... well, you know, the list goes on. But none of that matters here, because that is not why we come here. We come here to pray and to support one another, and that is all.

I am genuinely sorry if I offended you, and if, in attempting to look for what we have in common, you feel that I misrepresented your views in some way. I hope and pray that this thread can continue as a place where all are welcome. I also welcome debate - debate is good and healthy and helps us move forward together, understanding one another better even in our difference - but I don't believe that its place is on this thread. I do not want to have to leave the thread over this issue, and nor do I want anyone to feel that they cannot post here because of it. I pray that God may help us to find ways to transcend our differences in love and fellowship and mutual respect.

except we're not welcome as we are, Tuo. 43% of autistic people are gay/lesbian/bi etc. We're already not welcome because we dared to be born autistic and only 1 church in every 100 will welcome us. The odds of any welcoming us when we're also born gay are just about zero. I've learned this from one Christian group after another. It's why my faith is pretty much wrecked. But will hold all of you in prayers from afar.

All the more reason, amber, why you should be welcome here, in the great big open world of the world wide web.

My prayer? For an autistic friend, born lesbian, who was repeatedly raped by someone who wanted to 'teach her a lesson' about what her sexuality should be. When she got away from them, she found love with a kind, gentle and caring lady who has restored her life and soul, paid for her therapy, honoured her with Civil Partnership, and guides and protects her. They bring so much to society, to community, to all who know them and love them as friends. My prayer is that the loving God who I think brought her partner into her life isn't seen as a monster who wanted her to face that future alone from a loving and healing relationship that others take for granted. And my prayer is also for all the others I know of who face such a future, bound by rules that say 'you must either live alone in hell or face hell for all eternity'. I know no such God. But I know what fear it causes to be told that those few verses in the Bible are seemingly more important than all the others. A life alone in a world where autistic people already so often have not a single friend.... So....that prayer....Dear God bring your light to the darkest corners of hell on this earth. In the name of your loving son, our dear Lord Jesus, Amen.

Amber Just because there is one person who holds a view that makes you feel unwelcome it does not mean that the rest of us hold that view.
You know that you are loved and cherished by all of us here. Apart from this lady (?) there have been no others who have said anything that should make you feel unwelcome. Even though BlessedHope expresses a view that clashes with yours she says that there should be no hatred of anybody with any kind of views.
But, as TUO said, this is a thread where we support each other in prayer, not a thread where views on theology are aired.

I thank God for Amber's invitation to her party yesterday. There were many people, with many views, I didn't get to talk to everybody because it was just too much to take in.
Personally I work from the view point that people are perfectly welcome to disagree with me, so long as they love me.

x posted with you Amber

I agree - lets try to make this thread one where we support each other. I'm sure there are lots of areas where we would find that some posters differ on doctrine, not just the issue of same sex marriages. We don't need to have these debates here though and I think it would be good to leave them for other threads.

charlotte and cloutie thanks. it arrrived. (aged about 10 years listening to and watching it come up the stairs and narrowly fit past the stupid soil pipes on the stairs.) slid it in the gap, then realised that I had left the plug attached to the back, (doh) anyway it is working, just trying to adjust the temperature. have also retrieved food from one friends house. I have to collect more food from my neighbour and dispose of the packging.

i managed to get to church. ds played in church a little but started objecting to being in church during the sermon so we left.

oh we also sa the inlaws but haad to leave rapidly when h fed dd egg. we are all surprised that egg was in the product given. she is currently on the sofa having had a second dose of antihistamines. another will follow in the middle of the night.

I am so sorry that my distress is a 'difference in doctrine' for the rest of you. I'm happy to go somewhere else.

Popping back quickly with prayers for all... I'm off for a few days now, visiting my sister and also seeing my parents.

Praying that MHD's seminar went well (think it was today, but if not that it will go well when the time comes).

Praying for Room - lovely to have you back - and for Charlotte -ditto.

Praying especially for Kay, for clear-headed decision-making, and for strength in seeing your H again.

Praying for Oma and Bob, for the energetic cloutie, for BES's freezer (did it arrive?), for Faith, for niminy's mum, for blessedhope's stepmum, and for PA and her whole family, but especially DD1 (so good to hear some good news on that score ).

And praying for amber and for her friend, for acceptance and love to come your way. As ever, Oma puts it so well...

Here's a prayer I particularly like, which I am praying for myself and for us all...

"May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for freedom, justice, and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done."

Amen

OI AMBER don't go. PLEASE! i like to have you around.

I like having you around too Amber. You're certainly loved and accepted for who you are here.

Sorry Amber. I did not mean to cause offence. I see no reason for either you or Blessed hope to leave the thread. And, FWIW, I never said I agree with her. Please don't go.

Dear Amber your gentle prayers and advice on this thread are a huge blessing, please don't leave. I'm so sorry to hear of the prejudice you face on a daily basis and admire you for tackling it so boldly.

I'm not offended. I'm autistic. If I am talking about running away from something, it's panic caused by brain 'epilepsy' due to fear/shock/exhaustion, not flouncing. I think flouncing is the term people use when they threaten to go away unless they get their own way. Is that right? This isn't a thread about autism, but having an autistic prayer person on it means people have to know what they are looking at. It's not flouncing. It's not offence-taking. Look at www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/dfef4f922c583856fa371d04b3334d12bd5d856d/r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/USATODAY/GenericImages/2013/05/01/xxx-tg-image-for-usa-today--4_3.jpg and see what happens. The left hand brain is what mine does when faced with negative unexpected stuff. The right hand brain is what other people's brains do. It hurts. It's real physical pain. It's like an epileptic seizure event. It is a physical problem not an attitude. I avoid places where this is going to happen to me wherever I can. Unfortunately, the only safe space to pray in becomes my own home. So stuff that tells me unexpectedly that the way I was born is an insult to God can cause me intense pain followed by exhaustion. It's not my bad attitude to debate or the range of beliefs, and no I'm not trying to get my own way. I'm trying to stay safe.

I've been away, so missed the controversy. I am another one who has studied the scriptures extensively, and have continually explored this issue in faith with no reference to secular pressures. Put it simply, God made us in his image. God is love. God made people different, yet still in His image, and part of that difference is gender, sexual preference, and many other things. Having initially held the view that homosexuality is a sin, I now believe in what I posted earlier, and so much more. I also believe that Christians will not know the absolute truth on this until we meet Him face to face. And given that there is no absolute answer on this, I believe I would rather be judged for being too liberal than too harsh, although being judged is a scary business. But I trust God to judge me, and I have less faith in other Christians applying God's judgement on me. When it comes to it, perhaps its best to let Jesus decide who is wheat and who is tares? That isn't done till harvest time.

Finally, this is a prayer thread, a place that should be safe. A place where at times we need to bite our tongues on doctrinal differences and trust in God's great goodness, for we ALL believe in that. If this isn't going to BE a safe place, then I will continue to pray, but don't feel I have a place here.

Lord

My prayer is for each and every person posting or lurking on this thread. For the reassurance of your love for us as the wonderfully unique individuals we are. I pray for this thread as a place of community, support, acceptance and prayer where all are welcome and, through your Holy Spirit, may we grow ever closer to you and your Kingdom.

I ask this in Jesus' name
Amen

Amen :)

Yes MHD Focus is very much like New Wine in some ways. It's a big Church plant and HTB Church get together and was at Haven Golden sands. It was lovely. Lots of great worship and teaching and I did have to go up the front and talk a little but it was good, God was with me, so although my heart raced I was articulate! So exciting that more and more Churches want to run a Divorce Recovery Course and that we are releasing a DVD to help them. Some people did come and thank me afterwards. I also made a wally of myself when Nicky Lee tried to thank me as I was so busy trying to find someone to pray with a lady (as I was praying with someone else, I asked my lady to hold on a moment) that when he tried to thank me, all I said was: 'I need someone to pray with this person'. I didn't say thank you at all in reply and by the time I finished ministry he'd gone. I'm really rather socially awkward at times!

I can also see from FB that your talk went well MHD, well I gather so Can't wait to hear all about it.

Hello to blessedhope btw. I didn't find your first post on 28th July too controversial as I accept this area is a hot potato. I had felt that people had responded with grace and thoughtfulness on their points of view and prayers. But your recent responses make me feel uncomfortable. It's difficult to get a 'tone of voice' on here and you sound possibly defensive? Your stance isn't unusual, however as people have put far more eloquently than me, we are a very diverse group of believers here and this is a prayer thread. Please do post prayer requests here and feel welcome but as others have said, I think deep theological debates are for other threads.

I'm so undecided on this issue myself. I have very many friends of all sexual orientations. I haven't read any books, I haven't studied this area extensively either. I'm not a Theologian at all. I just love God and others and try not to judge anyone at all. As I have suffered enough stigma as a divorcee in the Church at times and because my son is on the spectrum and has real sensory issues. So there's my thoughts as I see them. I think they make no sense at all. But I nodded along to Mary's post very much. As I agree with so much of it. My faith is almost childlike in so many ways, I'm hopeless when Atheists try and pick my faith apart and why I believe, as I cannot answer well. I just do! God's always been my bedrock and loves me whole heartedly despite all my frailty's.

I'm exhausted and my flat is still a mess and unpacked since my return. So prayers for strength and to get my home into order would be good. I feel like it is an assault course, just to get to the loo right now. No time it seems to do anything!

Are we having a meet up oma? What was decided?

Yes, the meeting is going ahead, pm me for details if you would like to come.

Please can I ask for prayers for Linda, her friends and family. It was her funeral today. So sad and tragic and very hard to find any sense of it all. The service was beautiful though and didn't avoid the difficult issue of depression and suicide but remained positive. There were some beautiful quotes and poems too.
Please pray for me and DH too as it's brought back memories for him of one of his colleagues who committed suicide a few years back. Earlier we had a huge (but thankfully short-lived) row. We were both in the wrong and have both taken responsibility and said sorry but we don't often row like that and it was in front of the children I'm embarrassed to say.

yay mome.

my frridge looks like something out of an advert. doubt it will stay that way for long.

sorry x post.