MN Christian Prayer Request Thread NUMBER SEVEN!! Moving into Oct.......

[CaptainDippy]

Well here we are - seven threads on and still going strong! May I say it is a pleasure to know you all - Here's to another seven threads!!

A summary of prayer requests from September .....

NotQuiteSoTiredMum - Has been feeling v.spiritually dry, but feeling a lot better now. Prayers that her DH would come to know Christ as his Lord and Saviour!

CatJ - DD4 still fighting away in hospital, doing ok.

Bethron - Prayers for her 2 yr old DS. He has epilepsy and developmental delay. He has just started at a special needs nursery and is currently under consultant care to review his progress/treatment.

Tawny75 - Has tyroid problems and is recieving treatment. Praying it is effective.

Prayers for all children who have started school (whether it be reception / yr 1 or Junior / Secondary etc)

SleepyJess - Her mother in law died peacefully v.recently following an illness. Pray for the family as they come to terms with this sad loss.

Weirdbird - Is now over 24 weeks PG - Hurrah! Has had no more contractions, praise God. Also prayers for situation at church as she is thinking of leaving and is feeling in a bit of a dilemma.

SleepySooz - Prayers for DS1 (10) would has had a full brace fitted recently. Lots of prayers for her as she is feeling low and is not managing to get to church a lot. [hugs]]

LongWayToGo - Prayers for DH's health concerns and for DD's change in diet (wheat free) to try and help with various health issues. Prayers for DD who has been accused of bullying, LWTG not sure what to do. Prayers for friend's DD who has recently been for an MRI scan to see if a brain condition she has is terminal or not. (How did it go LWTG??)

TexasRose - Prayers for DD who has severe excema - has been for RAST allergy testing at hospital. There have also been issues about teachers at school administering her cream each day. Atm, her DH is away in Australia for two weeks - so lots and lots of prayers needed there!! Also prayers for church situation as DH doesn't like the church they currently go to. TexasRose also had an awkward situation at work, which is getting her down.

ShowofHands - Prayers for the family of a 20 yr old work collegue of her DH who recently committed suicide.

Poppiesinaline - Prayers for the poppies family who are all v. atm. [hugs]

MaryBS - Praise God her 1st sermon was recieved well today! Prayers for her friends who have been TTC for three years and are currently undergoing 'investigations'. Ongoing prayers for her SIL and her partner who have adopted a young boy and are thinking of 'giving him back' into foster care. Prayers that her DH would come to know Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Prayers for a friend Chris whose marriage has broken up and is trying to gain access to his children. Prayers for DH's work collegue's family who recently committed suicide.

Nanou1 - Praise God that her DH got a job!!

Katzg - Praise God that she has managed to find a new job! She starts on 1st Nov. Prayers for DD's rash, which is v.bad atm and is receiving treatment, she is due to have her MMR soon and Katz is worried about how she will react. Prayers for DD's nursery worker who is recovering from having a brain tumour removed (how is she doing??)

IdristheDragon - Ongoing prayers for friend's wife's dad who recently went through a successful op to remove cancer - prayers for his fast and miraculous recovery!

FoundinTranslation - Prayers for her and her family as she recently suffered a miscarriage.

DumbledoresGirl - Mum recently suffered a heart attack while out in France, is now back in the UK and is doing well (for update, please see DG's most recent post on the Sept thread!) Ongoing prayers a fantastic recovery.

Kelly1978 - Having awful problems with her children potentially being taken away from her. For fuller details see here

Nicki10 - Has recently suffered a retained miscarraige.

Xavielli - Has recently become involved in the children's work at church! Prayers as she becomes more involved in that. Prayers for her wee DS who is teething - molars coming through - ouch!!

harrisey - Prayers as she retakes one of her entrance exams for Bible College tomorrow (Mon 3rd) - Her and her DH passed the rest - Praise God!! Well Done!

MarsLady - Ongoing prayers for her friends Dave and Simon. Dave is going great guns atm , but Simon is v.gravely ill The future looks v.bleak for him and his wife is struggling. They have small children and need to know God's love in a v.close and real way right now.

PandaG - Prayers for her as she is involved with setting up a prayer group in her school! Also prayers about making a decision re: whether to go into counselling next year or not.

Podmog - Prayers for he as she is feeling tired with her PG and looking after her family.

NearlyThree Prayers for issues that her and DH are having atm and for her baby DS who has bronchiolitsis (sp??) Feeling v.low and crappy atm. [hugs] Prayers for old school friend of DH's who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Majorsmum - Living in a violent relationship with a small DD. Needs to get out and feel safe.

HRHQueenofQuotes - Finding life v.tough atm and has just found out she is PG!!!!!!!!

Twiga - Currently TTC - Prayers for DD who is poorly sick atm.

naswm - Needs to "hand it all over to God" right now - prayers she is strong enough to do this. [hugs]]

bobsmum - Prayers that DH would find a job.

MoreTeaAnyone - Prayers for her relationship with her boss, she is feeling v.undervalued and pants atm.

Keighton Knightley - Prayers for this little boy who has been in the news recently - he urgently needs a bone marrow donor from someone with a mix-raced background.

CaptainDippy - Dippy Family have been v.poorly Still ongoing - pray they all recover asap. Prayers for portential house move that is all going though atm. Prayers for general tiredness and coping-ness atm!! I'm sure there's loads of other stuff, but can't think atm!!

Love, [[hugs]] and Prayers to all - Here's to a great Oct 06!!

Oh yes ..... Prayers for all those in financial difficulty atm.

It just doesn't seem real enough, its like trying to love an imaginary friend and it feels like a one sided relationship, like I say the only time I get anything from being a christian is when I sing, but I get that from singing anything not just christian music!

I won't give up though, and will try being quiet and listen first (not very possible in our household but...) then pray.

Thank you MaryBS

Sooz, unfortunately (or fortunately) my quiet times tend to be in the middle of the night. Keep at it though. As in the hymn this morning "I heard You calling in the night".

I'm going to post a here, as I was told one of my prayers this am was "theologically unsound" by our visiting retired priest. I'm not going to go into any details but it was based a slight difference in doctrine between my Catholic upbringing and post-reformation thinking.
again for good measure. I'll let you know if I get another telling off from M. - if it gets back to him. If its any comfort, its not something the congregation picked up on...

I think congregations can be alot more forgiving or as you say not noticing, other ministers are probably more critical as its their love, their life, they are passionate about their beliefs, perhaps their boundaries are more enclosed and are not quite so open-minded.

Gosh, did I just say all that twaddle, funny when you type your thoughts then read them back to yourself

Found this morning soooo hard not emotionally but physically in the car on teh way my stomach was doing butterflies, and all the way through waves of fear came over me. Someone told me I looked the most tired they have ever seen me.

I have been given something to do this eve and I really don't know if I can do it. Just the thought of being there fills me with dread, but 2 older dd's want to go and dh wants to watch the race.

The funny thing is, this man is a lovely man, his sermons are full of fun, and self-deprecating. His message always seems to be one of love and tolerance. He comes across as such a gentle loving man. Yet he can be harsh...I'm not the first to 'suffer' a rebuke.

And I don't think you're talking twaddle

lwtg - I'm really pleased you've been given something to do (are you going to tell us what?), even though it is filling you with trepidation. Think of it as God's will, bringing you in gently... {hug}.

I'll pray for you, but I know that with God behind you, you'll do just fine. Have you got any words of comfort for me please? I'm still fretting over what that priest said (although it brought to mind my sermon on stumbling blocks )

Hi Mary

A few words of comfort for you. It's horrid being rebuked. If ever I am told off, even gently, I spend ages feeling anguished (or getting very self defensive and cross). I always wince in the passage where Jesus tells Peter to "Get behind me, Satan!" I'd have never recovered from such a rebuke! I'd have been in counselling for years!!!

I think it's a very English thing. We sooo expect to get things right and to be "good girls". It's often much less significant for the person who wants to point something out to us, and all they want to see is that we have taken the message onboard. And aren't priests told by Paul to correct each other when wrong?!

Prayers for all, especially those caring for Liam. God bless all.

Hi Mary

A few words of comfort for you. It's horrid being rebuked. If ever I am told off, even gently, I spend ages feeling anguished (or getting very self defensive and cross). I always wince in the passage where Jesus tells Peter to "Get behind me, Satan!" I'd have never recovered from such a rebuke! I'd have been in counselling for years!!!

I think it's a very English thing. We sooo expect to get things right and to be "good girls". It's often much less significant for the person who wants to point something out to us, and all they want to see is that we have taken the message onboard. And aren't priests told by Paul to correct each other when wrong?!

Prayers for all, especially those caring for Liam. God bless all.

Mary he may have come across harsh but I bet it was done in love. Just take on board what he said, go do some reading to see if you can back up what he said and then just remember it for next time. The way I look at it is that we are on a continual learning curve so we're allowed to make mistakes.

Right this is what I have to do this eve. Simple really, its not a sermon or a whole meeting just one simple little task within it so why it's filling me with such dread is beyond me.

Leader: Let us pray for the needs of God#s world. And let us pray for each other, as we live and work to God's glory whever he has placed us

Individuals: my name is -- I am God's salt and light in - (where you work, study, pastimes etc - (followed by short personal prayer ---- May god shine his light of love through me.

(then can I ask you to light a candle at the front of the hall)

follwed by a prayer from leader.

Its the short personal prayer bit, not sure what I can say, just being there is nerve racking enough let alone having to pray,

Sorry girls this prob seems so simple but I just not feeling up to this.

Hi everyone!

Longway - i'll be praying for you this eve. I'm sure you will be fine. It's understandable to be nervous!

Mary - sometimes people don't realise that their words could be taken deeply. I'd talk it over with your vicar. You haven't done anything wrong, very very far from it! Be at peace!

well we went to the church-round-the-corner this a.m. Please pray for God to speak to our hearts and minds about this important issue...which church should we belong to? There are theological issues which have stopped us getting fully involvd with the church-round-the-corner but it is very good, very strong biblical teaching, lovely people, good friends...before dh went off to Oz he was fed up with it and felt that he could never really 'belong'. But the friend he went to stay with is training to be a minister (in a different type of church ) and gave dh a bit of perspective and now dh feels that this local church could give hom the very things he needs in order to grow as a christian )like male christian friends, 'accountability', a clear understanding of the gospel etc) and that before he has been searching for a more 'exciting' experience of worship rather than an authentic day-by-day learning how to follow Jesus.

AS his wife I really hope and pray that he does mature and deepen in faith so I guess the thing I'd ask you to pray is that if his local church (where we've been worshipping for 3 yrs) is the place where dh in particular and also I can 'hang our hats' and really be part of the family, that God would help us (esp. dh) to be able to resolve the theological stuff (eg adult baptism, which dh disagrees with - and it's a Baptist church!). Sorry for long rambling sentence

Our pastor lent me a book this a.m. about exegesis from the NT Greek - eekkk! That means using my brain! I was touched that he thought of me though and is seeking to give me stuff that will challenge me spiritually/academically. He said I'm the only person, inc. him, in the church who'd understand the book! It's kind of hard to talk to people in RL about church issue without hackles being raised (IFSWIM!) so here is a good, 'anonymous' place to vent it all. Thank you for letting me!

See yas later... we've got a lovely big beef casserole in the oven...yummmmmmmmmmmm! Autumn - I love it!!!

The thing is, I could justify my stance biblically, in the same way he could. And it was a prayer, not a sermon or theological essay. My mistake - I shall steer clear of praying for salvation in future!

Praying that all goes well for you tonight. Whatever you pray, I'm sure it won't be theologically unsound like mine

Mary what exactly did you say that was deemed 'unsound'? (just out of interest...)

OK, but no flaming, I'm still learning...

My prayer was as follows:

"Father, we pray for our church leaders. Guide them in their thoughts, words and actions. Teach them love, mercy and humility and give them wisdom, that they might do your will. Inspire them to serve your people well, that all may learn that salvation may be achieved by obeying your word."

I know where I went wrong, "that salvation may be achieved by obeying your word". I know the argument - that salvation is only achieved by grace which comes from God. And I know (roughly) what St Paul says on the subject. However I have been reading John's first letter a lot, and he talks about "whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection". He then goes on to talk about walking in Jesus' footsteps, abiding in God and (hence?) the promise of eternal life.
If you add to this Catholic teaching (which I have been brought up on) that salvation is achieved through faith and good works, then I've got myself in right old pickle. And I still believe that we cannot receive God's grace if we ignore the suffering of our fellow human beings.

It was a prayer, not a theological statement of my beliefs. Perhaps I should have worded it more carefully...

Anybody want to comment on whether salvation and eternal life are one and the same?

Of course we won't flame you!! How christian would that be??!!

I see the point from both sides. It's impossible to separate out obeying Christ from knowing him (IMO) so I'd see the priest's objections as a bit nit-picky, personally.

Anyway one of the glories of the CofE is the fact that it is a broad church with all sorts of theological positions within it yet still united in the main things...so it's fine to disagree, (again IMO). Loving each other as family is the most important thing. Don't worry about it, you're doing an amazing job and GOd is really blessing your ministry. I'm sure your vicar would say the same.

LOL. Thanks for your kind words. I can see his point too, that's why I'm so mad with myself about it. I was only studying Paul a few weeks ago, now I'm immersed in John. I'm having fun with this at the moment, but I'm posing stuff as questions, I don't want a theologically unsound essay as well!

"John finishes chapter 2 by saying ?If you know he is righteous you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him?. This again makes an interesting argument. No Christian can deny that God is righteous, surely? So the letter is saying that everyone who does right is of God. This poses an interesting question ?what happens to all the good people that do not believe in God??! "

Its a question I'm not going to even TRY to answer! LOL

BTW, apologies for hijacking the prayer thread YET again! I totally agree on the differences - so long as we are in agreement on the important parts, that's the main thing

Evening all, it's dark and miserable this evening - proper autumn!
Feeling good again (after post on friday) and see my counsellor tomorrow so can vent properly then. Thankyou for listening and the support, I really appreciate it even though you don't know me - thats what I love about Christians!

Managed to injure my thumb playing hockey yesterday and wondering if i momentarily dislocated it. Quite painful and not able to put pressure on it, although I can move it with some pain. Sure its not broken but will possibly go to walk in centre if its still painful tomorrow.

Feel slightly bad that I didn't stay for fellowship after this mornings service but someone I work with attends our church, and she's very nice, but her dd always mauls my ds and he gets really upset, so she tries to cuddle him and he gets REALLY upset. Her mum seems oblivious to it. It seems really silly but I didn't know what to say so left early instead.

Hi eveyrone, well, having never posted on here before, I didn't intend to start with a theological tricky one, but I have just got inticed into the debate, so i hope you will forgive me!

First Mary, I just wanted to say, there is a difference between conviction and condemnation. If someone rebukes us, it is our responsibility to take that rebuke before God and ask him to show us what to do with it. If this rebuke is right, the Holy Spirit will convict you that something needs to change, then will give you peace as you try to work on that issue or resolve the problem. If it isn't from God then we will just feel condemed and feel bad and it will drag us down. There is no condemnation in Christ, so feeling accused and condemned is not what God wants. Take it to him. Is he using this to teach you? or is this just condeming you?

One the saved and eternal life bit. I find it helpful to think like this. A dying man accepts Jesus. Does he need to work out his salvation with deeds? No. Does he need to prove by his actions what he has done? No. So strictly speaking, salvation and eternal life are a gift, free gratis and for nothing that come only through accepting Jesus and not because of anything we do. In fact no matter what we do we can NEVER earn enough to be saved or have eternal life.

BUT (there is always a but isn't there???) Once I have accepted Jesus, should I go around being a cow, behaving badly, and ignoring the humanity around me, er no. The Bible tells us how to live as people who have been saved. We are expected to demonstrate in our lives the Kingdom of God and all its riches, so love, compassion, selflessness, kindness, goodness and self control etc. Now before everyone condems (how do you spell that) themselves, we are all working on these to the best of our ability. God shows us bit by bit what he wants us to change. We should be growing a little bit day by day towards being more like Christ. But he doesn't condem us, he encourages us to take steps in the right direction at the pace right for us.

If someone is not demonstrating these, you could ask, have they really understood what they have received? Remember the passage that talks about building on our foundations with hay and straw or with silver and gold? Some will get into heaven through the fire by the skin of their teeth. In other words, if you believe and accept Jesus, but you don't follow it through with any change of life, then you are building with straw, you will still get in by the skin of your teeth. But how much better to build with silver and gold, ie by living the life God wants you to.

Actually, personally I think it is pretty impossible to go from non believer to believer and not have it chnage stuff in your life. If you allow God in he works in you. He has changed loads of stuff in me that is for sure! I think that is what James is getting at when he says faith without works is dead and works without faith is dead. Also many of the verbs in the Bible are present continuous, so they say not just believe and receive, but keep believing and receiving, so it is not a static faith

PHew, sorry, got carried away. I always do this and then don't get online for weeks to see what the replies were!

That was supposed to be encouraging, hope it helps

I always seem to come on when there is no-one else around. Then I looked at the time and realised in the UK you are all at evening services or cooking/eating dinner and bedtimes

Oh well,
by the way I just saw this
"what happens to all the good people that do not believe in God??! "

Good grief you choose the hard ones!!!
Actually I would happily chat about some of that, do you want to start a Christian theology thread?

PS, any chance of starting a new thread whenever there are about 200 posts, we don't have broad band and it takes ages to download

Meanwhile I'm off to bed as it is 1am, and my little ones will be up at 7
night night

Steppemum - thank you for your answers. The question about what happens to all the good people that don't believe in God was triggered by something that I read in 1 John. It wasn't a question to start a theological debate. Merely something that John suggested in his letter. (I don't have time for theological debates! LOL)

As for the rebuke. I have prayed about this. Firstly I don't believe God was offended by my prayer - that is my foremost consideration.

Secondly the rebuke itself was probably designed to educate me (I am in training after all) and came out harsher than it should have. .

Thirdly, theologians have debated for centuries what will and will not lead to salvation. My answer is "God only knows".

The only other point I would make is that John, in his first letter, refers to eternal life as something we have already, not in the world to come - which I find fascinating and worthy of further study.

I WANT to succeed and this leads me to be oversensitive about 'getting it wrong', particularly when I'm tired. I just needed to gain a sense of proportion, and I think I have, thank you.

An update on Liam - he apparently has settled into the home, which he is in with 3 other boys. There are 5 staff on duty at all times to take care of them. Please continue to pray for him. 12 weeks is such a long time.

CCM - hows your thumb? Did you dislocate it? My DD has an overamorous admirer too - he keeps telling her that he's going to marry her, which she's not at all happy about, or the fact he grabs hold of her and forces a kiss on her!

Welcome to this thread BTW and also welcome to mufti - sorry, I'm a bit late, had a lot on my mind! .

Mufti - try not to be too hard on the vicar's wife. I'm good friends with our vicar's wife, and she has a lot on her shoulders - people expect so much of her, which is slightly unfair when it's her husband's vocation, not necessarily hers! People are always asking her to do things, whether its making cakes, or attending meetings, and the like. Plus there's all she does to support her husband and their family. Its not an easy lifestyle.

I've only been training for lay ministry since July, and already people are "expecting" things of me, and its a lot to live up to!

Good morning everyone!

How was your w/e away CD? Hope you had a fab time.

Well it's half term! We are off shopping today (always a bit aggghhhh with the dcs).

My prayer request - please could you pray for my health? I have crohn's disease which has been non-existence, thank God, for monts now. This w/e it's starting to flare up again. I've not used steroids for 2 yrs (v. deliberately, they're no good long-term) but it means that I have to change my diet and allow my body to heal itself naturally rather than taking meds...which takes much longer and doesn't always work! So please pray that God will touch me and heal me. Crohn's is really painful and saps you of your energy - not nice.

Thank you!

morning marybs - thank you for that

my church is so different in that the pastor and his wife are both equally involved, she preaches when he is away for example,and thats what im used to .

Pleased to report thumb is now ok after i fiddled with it last night (blimmin nurses can't leave things alone ), and the lump on the base of my thumb has now disappeared. Nice bruise though!

I took MaryBS' advice and whilst praying last night I listened before praying. Forgiveness, or my inability to forgive my brother, is on my mind a lot. WOW, Mary BS, thanks for great advice. God showed me inside my church but it was in near darkness, his presence was next to me as I walked to the front of the church and saw my brother kneeling in prayer. I recoiled, but felt God was asking me if I could forgive him seeing him as a Christian. I wasn't sure. So God showed me him as an angel and as a devil, and I felt he was asking me if I could forgive him seeing him in a different way.

I feel that God is here to support me in forgiving my brother but needs me to acknowledge that I need to do some work on this too, it won't just 'happen'.

What a wonderful living God we have, I truly am blessed.