September Already!!? MN Christian Prayer Request Thread Take 6!!

[CaptainDippy]

Hello one and all!

September already!!? (Well nearly ....) Good grief!? Where does the time go????

Here's a brief summary of August's Prayer Requests.........

katzg - Desperately looking for a new job, has been having interviews - so hopefully something will come up soon please God!!? Contract for current job has been extended to Oct 31st. PiccadillyCircus - Has a difficult decision to make - would like prayer for strength to make the right decision.

MaryBS - On-going prayers as she has commenced her Reader training. Prayers for motivation in her studies etc Prayers for her relationship with her mother. Her 1st sermon is on Oct 1st. Prayer requests for a 15 year old boy who died of a suspected asthma-attack on youth pilgrimage this summer and for non-Christian lady she knows who has been to see a Specialist about a lump in her breast (do we have any more on that Mary??) On-going prayers for DH's nephew who is having a very rough time with his parents who adopted him and are not sure whether they would like to keep him or not etc. Finally, praise and prayers for bro and SIL who have been approved for the adoption of two little girls!! Praying the adoption goes smoothly and that God blesses them as parants and as a family.

Catj - DD4 has been very poorly, last we heard she was on the ward and still fighting (11th Aug). God Bless you little one!

Xavielli - Got engaged!! Prayers as she starts to make marraige preparations for next July. Has been feeling very down receently - needs lots of [hugs] and prayers. Lots and lots going on in her life - stresses with young children and untidy house, DP's bro staying and slight computer game addiction which is being dealt with atm. Also prayers for friend's mum who has cancer which has spread.

Nanou1 - Prayers for cousin's children who are coping with their parents' divorce. Prayers for her swollen tummy, which has bee causing her a lot of discomfort. Lots of prayers for DH who is trying to find a new job. He had a job interview yesterday (30th Aug), which he thought went well - pray he gets a 2nd interview. Sorting out the house after burglary while they were away on holiday.

NASWM - Has been really struggling recently - very low. Lots of [hugs] and prayers her way.

longwaytogo - Prayers for her nan who has a wound on her arm which is not healing. Praying lots for the "ghosts of the past" to be completely over-come by God's love and care for her and her special family!!

Podmog - Has 20 week scan today (31st Aug) - worried about it - prayers it goes really well and all is fine with LO. Also prayers for doctors / nurses / midwifves etc reaction to current NHS "over-weight" issues! On-going prayers for difficult situation at church involving one couple. Praise God that DS is sleeping better - praying that Podmog gets lots and lots of nice sleep too!

Twiga - DH's Uncle died - Prayers for family and friends and they deal with grief - Praise for the good life he had! Praise God for fantastic Holiday Club Twiga has been involved with - prayers for those children as they go off back to "normalilty" - praying that they stuff they have learned will stick with them all their days!! Praying for her driving lessons and for her DH who is studying for exams. Prayers for friend who lost a baby at 16 weeks and would be due around now. Pray that Twiga would know best how to support her.

Yorkiegirl - Her DH Nigel died while on holiday with them this Aug. Prayers that they would be so strong as a family and that God would be so very close to them at this time. Praying so much for them all as they cope. [hugs] and love. xxxx

MarsLady - Prayers for mouse problem in her house! Prayers for her as she completes her Doula training and tackles her OU essays - praying she'll remain as unstressed as poss and sail through!! Prayers for finances as a family as studies come to an end etc. Praise that her friend Dave is going from strength to strength (has been back at work a little!) Prayers for friend (Simon) who has been in a medically induced coma - they were due to try and wake him up soon - prayers it went ok and the damage is not too much. (How is he???) Also prayers for "J" whose DH has just told her their marriage is over, they have a 2.6 yr old.

weirdbird - WELCOME!! Lots and lots of prayers needed for weirdbird's little unborn babe. She has been having contractions and is so scared little one is going to come before he/she is ready. She is nearly 24 weeks, which is the point at which they can intervene (Praise God!!) Pray that LO stays in long enough to be ok!!

NotQuiteSoTiredMum - Popped in! DS2's excema is much better - Praise God! Doing ok in her household!

moretenaanyone - Prayers for friend who has died. He was in his 30's and he leaves behind a widow in her 20's.

tjacksonpfc - Her DP died of bowel cancer earlier this year and she is missing him so much. She has two very young daughters and is struggling. Strength and love to them all. xxxx

AngelJay - WELCOME!!!

Sleepysooz - WELCOME!! Prayers as she puts her twins in the same bedroom to sleep on their own for the first time! Eeeek!

Tawny75 - Prayers as she goes for an appointment with her consultant about her eyes this morning (31st) Please let us know how it went and what he/she said!

SaggarMakersBottomKnocker - Prayers for friend of her DD who has died following an incident with an air rifle.

Sharpe2626 - Prayers for her sister and BIL as they deal with the still birth of their little girl a couple of weeks ago. xxxx

IdristheDragon - Prayers for friend's wife's dad. He has bowel cancer and has recently had an operation (25th Aug) Any more on this Idris??

PandaG - Prayers for a horrid stye she has on her eye! [hugs]

SoLucky - Lots and lots of prayers as she makes the terible decision about what to do about the twins she is carrying. One twin is fine and healthy, but the other has suspected Edward's Syndrome. So much strength and love to that family. xxxx

nailpolish - Prayers for as she is coming out of the otherside of a very difficult decision and situation.

footprint - Still feeling very low, anxious and depressed. Strength and Love to you honey!! xxxx

CaptainDippy - Praise God!! for her pregnancy (due end of April next year) and that things are actually happening with regards to buying her own house!! God is good!! Praying that the ideal house would come along and that the sale would progress quickly and smoothly!! (Is this asking too much!!!!!?) Prayers as she approaches driving test date. Prayers for relationship with PIL, especially MIL who is driving her completely mad atm!!!!! That's all for now!!

Lots of Love, [hugs] and Prayers to all - so good to "know" you guys - you are all stars!! xxxx

of thanks for sharing your experience texas. people from church are fine and never said anything; in fact they love her in there!!!! i just wish she would sit still for 10 mns at sunday school; in fact she is quieter in the church service than sunday school. she likes the "songs" and when the few first times we went there ; she would clap at the end of each "song" saying "bravo!!!!" "more!!!!". needless to say she made people laugh . i agree it's great to have the kids having fun but - call me old fashioned - i find it as important for her to learn to respect ceremonial things and adults; the sacred aspects of things... not sure i am making sense here.... guess that might be some remnants of the old RC in me MaryBS?! . i was brought up very very tradionally by my grand parents and made aware very young of respecting the rules and adults; would always ask to speak etc; never ever interrupt adults etc i was very happy with my grandparents who did this very lovingly. they loved it when people would make compliments! am i going on here?! not sure what i am thinking is coming accross very well. oh well, i'll take my coat

texas - you are so right about france!!!

Hi again Nanou,
I agree with you completely about teaching children to respect adults and also to respect the sacred (and God Himself)...I guess my way of dealing withthings has been as non-confrontational (with dd) as poss as I really didn't want her to associate church with conflict or frustration.

Also, one of my dear Matt Redman's worship songs puts it really well - it's about the "friendship and the fear" of God - it's about teaching children that they can be friends of God as well as teaching them to fear him. So firstly and foremost they are welcome in his house. I see these as both long-term attitudes to instill in children's hearts and the details of how those aims are worked out can vary from child to child and also over time. It boggles me to think of the trust God puts in us as parents to show by our own lives who the Father is and what He is like.

I was brought up Anglo-Catholic and was always told that there was nothing for me as a child in church (just have a quiet daydream, dear) and now I couldn't disagree with that more. It was only when I was a teenager that I "converted" and truly came to believe. It's interesting to chat, isn't it?

PandaG - I've been taking the opportunity to give some serious thought to changing how things are done in church. This morning at some silly time (about 4am), I thought about 'recruitment', and took the opportunity to make some notes on how I perceive things, how I felt when I started coming to the church and what we do to keep new people when they arrive. I then fired off all these ideas in an email to M... not necessarily knowing whether he'd appreciate them or not, although I know he's been thinking about such things himself, when he gets time.
This is on top of some ideas I had last week on how to galvanise the congregation into taking part, and reasons why they might be put off from taking part in things, and which I emailed through to M.
Both were much appreciated by M. - especially what I had to say this morning, and he emailed virtually straight back saying he wants a 'ministers meeting' to talk about them all!
I have to admit, I am VERY lucky in having such an open Vicar. Everything I said was positive, and with ideas for solutions, but even so, not everyone would appreciate being sent such stuff.
I just hope he thinks the same when he comes to write my appraisal!

Nanou1 - I agree with you on the RC vestiges - I'm the same
Mind you, we're very high church anyhow, so it all translates quite nicely!

hello again i think the lot of us should meet soon! not enough hours in the day to "MN chat"!!!! I'd say we are on the same wave length texas; i truly dislike confrontations and find it the worst way to teach a child. nothing for you in church... because kids ask too many questions and asking questions is so not RC agenda ... that's why i am now CofE because i want to ask questions and i want to understand so that i can myself answer my dd's questions (and i am dreading btw...will i have the answers?...)

MaryBS - well done you!!! but 4am?! of course your vicar loved it!!! you did your exercise very well indeed; you presented solutions to problems!!!! just think how you are making his life so much better. he knows he can unload on your shoulders. lucky vicar!!!!! my gut feeling is that you will go far MaryBS; your present position is very much temporary... had that feeling as soon as i "met" you for some reason... such a strange feeling...

I agree Nanou1 re: MaryBS. Female Vicar methinks!
I also agree it was a feeling in my spirit as soon as I first read what she typed months ago!

You are blessed MaryBS! Just make sure you don't abandon your 'mini' flock here on MN

Just popping in here to say thank you for the prayers for my friend's wife's dad. He had the operation yesterday and it was successful .

They need to work out what post-op medication he needs, but it looks like he won't need radiotherapy which is good.

LOL! Why stop at Vicar, Mary for Bishop!!!! Seriously though, you're making me blush .

All I can say, its nothing to do with me, I just listen to what He tells me, there's no trick to it. Praise the Lord, not me, I don't deserve it, seriously.

And as for what I told M., it wasn't rocket science, but I wouldn't have told him anything if he hadn't been prepared to listen to me. He's a good vicar who inspires the people around him.

I DID start looking at the practicalities of ordination, but there isn't an option that lets me stay where I am, where I need the support too. Even if they 'allowed' me to be an OLM, I could only minister to 1 parish, and we have 3. As reader, I can minister to all 3. I will do what the Lord wants - if he wants me ordained, he will let me know...

And after all, I was only received INTO the church at Easter! There is so much I don't know!

Anyway enough of me, there are enough people asking for our prayers without worrying about me!

and they you won;t have time for this thread anymore NO WAY !!!!
all well here. went to wesley owen bookshop today. 5 mns walk from me so its great. they have a sale on and bought 3 books + sleepy nightime prayer book for dd. since texas mentioned matt redman i asked in the shop and they give me some cd to listen to - it was really nice and i bought it .... so i spent a little fortune today . bought effective christian living - studies on the fruit of the Spirit; Transformed lives and A minor indiscretion. emailed with dh - you sound so good! - thank you Lord and thank you all. x

Okay, okay, I admit it - I have a vested interest in Matt Redman! I used to go to the same church as him and I worked in the church office with his mum, and the churh which we now belong to is the one which he helped to start up. He is lovely though and I find his music really inspirational esp. as I know that his life has been full of difficulties and sad circumstances that would have made others very bitter. Hope you like the CD Nanou! (which one is it BTW?)

Actually Mary, isn't there a training route for ordination that involves doing 5 or 6 weekends a year? (I think it's designed for the over 30s, or people who want to continue in full time work while they train) or would that mean having to say godbye to your church at home?

hi texas.
it's "blessed be your name" vol 1
did not have time to listen to all and this is the one that "spoke" to me with the title. really like it. you ok?

Hiya Nanou, yes, I'm fine, enjoying the luxury of being at home today with recuperating ds and mucking about on the computer!
BTW - Matt and his wife Beth wrote the song "Blessed Be your Name" after suffering several miscarriages and serious breathing problems with their newborn son. I think Matt started writing it (or thinking of it) when the doctors were fighting for the baby's life. Knowing that puts the words into perspective - what an incredibly Christian response to such awful circumstances!

Thanks Texas, I'd still have to move to another parish though. I'd have to make sure DH was cool with it too, he was completely anti being a Vicar's wife when the subject of reader training first came up, although he seems to be softening... he's a nonbeliever.

mary maybe he would just prefer being a vicar's husband? but who am i know

my dh is too - softening that is

re matt how sad ... hope you enjoyed your day though!

Nanou1, whatever happens, I'll ALWAYS have time for this thread. I've seen such great things happen with the power of prayer, and there are few people I know with such a strong faith as you lot!

I was thinking, maybe we should have a 'chat' thread' as well as a prayer thread, although the 2 will probably run into each other!

Meeting up would be good though. We'll have to pray for a suitable date for all of us. I'm at Legoland on 7 October... 14 October I'll be in London, visiting St Paul's cathedral on a parish visit "behind the scenes".

whoa! lots of posts! Lots to catch up on! Love and prayers to all. Small request from me if you get a mo - I am feeling so much better nowadays and enjoying life again, but today have felt really washed out, tired and, dare I say it? a bit low. AF is rampant, so I am telling myself I will feel good again in a day or so, but a quick prayer to lift my spirits up would be much appreciated. Thanks, naswm x

naswm - consider it done!!! Glad you're feeling so much better generally though - its a wonderful feeling isn't it?

Texas - yes you are right that we are blessed that we are allowed to meet in school, and indeed, how we get the message out about the prayer group is irrelevant. You are not preaching at all thanks. Being allowed to meet in school is historical, pretty sure the current head would turn us down if we asked to start one now. I'm just sad at her negative attitude toward Christianity, when she seems to bend over backwards with the other faiths. Right now the school gates are my mission field, and I am passionate about praying for the school, both practical issues - safety, health etc., and that many in the school and surrounding community would be saved. I want my friends and neihghbours to know Jesus. No I'm not a bible basher at all, that makes me sound a right loon

I am blessed that I do have a good relationship with the head generally, I am the chair of the PTA, so do see her quite a bit. Lovely woman, heart so hard to God it makes me sad.

Idris - glad to hear the op went well, thanks for letting us know

Mary - your vicar must be delighted at having you in his flock, if you are coming up with comments, possible issues but solutions to the problems too. If you were just criticising then maybe your wings would be clipped, but the fact that you are spending the time, energy and prayer to think through solutions makes you a real asset. I certainly appreciate your wise words here.

naswm - praying for a lightening in your spirit honey

Nanou - 'Blessed be Your Name' is one of my favourite worship songs, more often than not the tears drip off my chin when I sing it - I am either grateful when 'living in the land that is plentiful', or trying my hardest to praise 'when I'm lost in that desert place' (or words to that effect)
Thanks too for that explanation Texasrose, makes the song even more meaningful.

Nanou - when I said I had no advice earlier it is because I struggle with similar issues and my 2 are 4 and 6! Dancing, flag waving etc. are positively encouraged during worship at our church, both adults and children, and my children love their groups. I just want them to sit still during the quiet bits and be respectful, and know some of the wonder and right fear of our awe-some God, while at the same time knowing Him as Daddy. DS gets really cheesed off when it is family service, but at nearly 7 will sit still the majority of the time, but generally doesn't join in the singing - whereas in his group he really worships with enthusiasm. DD wants to run around when it is inappropriate, this week she joined our vicar on the staging, gthe vicar came forward at the tail end of the worship to pray, and stood for a few seconds while the song was finishing. DD went and joined her - she had been dancing at the front, so I had to go and remove gher pronto . To give DD her due, the vicar had been camping with us at new wine, and is one of DD's Godparent's close friends, so DD sees her as Auntie Chris' friend, and if she sat on her lap on holiday why can't she stand with her now?

Sorry for the waffle - just didn't want you to thionk that my earlier post had been other than genuine sympathy, I'll be watching with interest for further pearls of wisdom from the others - I agree so much with the discussion you and Texas had.

Evening all!! Head is feeling gloopy - too full of stuff - gloop gloop gloop!

Work was ok, definitely not Rocket Science, which suits me just fine - hopefully I'll continue to learn quickly and enjoy the job / work / people - Thank you for my job, Lord!! Getting Internet on my work computer soon - don't you worry!!

Soooo pleased your DS is much better texasrose - bless him being so lovely in hospital - what a gorgeous wee thing - had a little chuckle re: "that was just a little bit strange" - re: enema - bless! How old is he?? Continuing to pray for fast recovery!!

How did the dentist go lwtg??

PandaG - Praying for the situation re: prayer at your school - Fab that they are letting you do it!! Praying you find an effective and "correct" way to advertise it and gather prayer requests.

Wonderful news about your friend's wife's father Idris - Thank you for the update - praying he continues to recover well. Hoping he won't too much more treatment - Keep us up-to-date.

MaryBS - Female Vicar?? Definitely! You are "called" lady. You are "called"!

Best go and gloop elsewhere!!