A Christian prayer thread for Autumn/Winter

[Tuo]

Welcome to our new prayer thread for autumn/winter. This is a safe and supportive place of prayer, where regulars, occasional visitors and lurkers, committed Christians and those just dipping a toe into the water are all equally welcome. Come and leave a prayer, tell us what's going on in your life, bring your worries, hopes, fears and joys to God, and know that you will be prayed for.

We pray, in particular, for...

... amberlight, for her work raising awareness of the ways in which we can work to make life easier for our autistic friends, and for her to know love and acceptance wherever she goes; also thanking God for her recent 'all-clear' at her annual cancer check-up;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; in particular, for her DS to get adequate support so that he is less stressed at school; also for her DD and for her mum, and for BES to find the RL support that she needs;

... BlessedAssurance, for life with her two LOs, and for her family who are far away;

... DontstepontheMomeRaths, for her life as a single mum, for God to provide if her XH is successful in training for a new role, and for the wonderful work she does through her church supporting people going through separation and divorce;

... DutchOma, as she continues to miss Bob; thanking God for the wonderful support that she provides for so many on here; and praying for her relationship with her DD, in particular;

... Gingercurl, for her work situation; and for the relationship between her brother and sister to improve;

... howtoapproachthis for physical and emotional healing; and for a good bond between her and her DD;

... Kaykat, continuing to pray for her as she goes through the stressful and painful process of divorce; praying, in particular, that she is able to find good ways of supporting her DS, and for him to find renewed happiness in the coming weeks;

... MadHairDay, for her health; for peace of mind about the choice of secondary school for her DS; and for her DD to find friendship and acceptance;

... MrsPixieMoo, thanking God for her baby DD; and praying for a new home where the family can be really happy;

... Pipbin, for her IVF treatment - for her to find support and a positive way forward, whatever the outcome;

... PositiveAttitude, for her new studies and her work as a Deacon in her church; for her mum, who has dementia; and for her DD1 to find one or more special friends;

... PurplePidjin, for a more peaceful life;

... QuestionofFaith, for her and for her DH - for his depression to lift and for them to find ways to rebuild their lives;

... and for a poster we won't name but whose situation is known to God, praying that she is safe and supported.

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors including: ALittleFaith, Badvoc, BlueTinkerbell, CharlotteCollins, cloutiedumpling, JugglingFromHereToThere, ktef, MaryBS, niminypiminy, PandaG, RoomForALittleOne, SEStheBrave, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, tunnocksteacake, weegiemum, and for anyone I've forgotten to name-check (don't take it personally, please!). And we pray for those who read and pray but don't post, for those who need our prayers but are afraid or too uncertain to post them, and for all those known to us in our own lives who need God's love.

Keep Your people, Lord,
in the arms of Your embrace.
Shelter them under Your wings.
Be their light in darkness.
Be their hope in distress.
Be their calm in anxiety.
Be strength in their weakness.
Be their comfort in pain.
Be their song in the night. Amen

[post edited by MNHQ]

Where did you see/have them last?

Prayer for Advent: Day 6 - Maranatha: come Lord Jesus!

Praying for all on this thread tonight, but especially for...
... BES, that she find the tickets (or that you can ask them to send replacements);
... innerstrength, for the strength to go on taking those baby steps - they may not move you on as quickly as you'd like, but every step represents progress and it's early days; you're doing brilliantly;#
... Kaykat, for the health of her loved-one and for all who are caring for her/him;
... FaithLoveandGrace, for strength at this difficult time and for willingness to accept the help that is available in order to tackle the dark thoughts that depression brings;
... Oma, sending prayerful hugs in recognition of the love and support that she so freely dispenses to others;
... QoF, continuing to pray for progress in her relationship;
... and PA, just so she knows we haven't forgotten her - praying for her whole family, but especially for her DD1 and for her parents.

A very short, Advent-appropriate, prayer taken from tonight's Northumbria Compline:

Lighten our darkness, Lord.
Let the light of Your presence
dispel the shadows of night. Amen

Thanks for posting a link FaithLoveandHope I have commented asI have have a small amount of experience how are you today?

No news on the loved one I found out it will be a few more days waiting for test results.

Ex acted really manipulatively towards DS yesterday trying to dissuade him from something he wants to do but his dad thinks he should be using his time differently. His manipulation skills are second to none I tried to stick up for DS but it made it look like an argument which was unpleasant for DS so I backed off fairly quickly. Haven't had a chance to speak to DS yet to see if he was influenced by it. It took me 20 years and a lot of reading and thinking to recognise his manipulation so how would DS recognise it at his young age? That would be something of a miracle but he is stubborn and maturing fast and starting to stand up to his dad a bit so we shall see.

Morning all. I tried writing a reply earlier but my phone battery ran out and so lost it. I've been thinking actually about getting a much cheaper phone. DP's phone is broke and he needs a new one so we're thinking instead of spending £100+, he can just have my iphone and I'll get a cheapy one. However, whilst i feel it'll bring me closer to the things that matter instead of being utterly dependant on technology, I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to let go of that dependence...

bes I hope and pray you manage to sort the tickets.

Thank you for the prayers tuo.

kay thank you for taking the time to reply on my other thread. Sorry to hear you're having a rough time with ex, it sounds like an awful situation to be in. Praying for strength for both you and DS, that neither of you may be (too) negatively affected by his manipulative behaviour. Also praying for good news of your loved one.

May all have a blessed day. I pray we may open our eyes to God's presence, our ears to his call and our hearts to his love.

Prayer for Advent: Day 7 - Maranatha: come Lord Jesus!

Continuing to pray for all today, but especially for Kay, for innerstrength, for FaithLoveandGrace and for BES. Also still praying for good health this winter for MHD with no hospitalisations.

Here's a prayer that I have found for us all for today:

God of the journey, your invitation is to all
to walk with you without fear of stumbling
Your arm enough to steady the feeblest soul
Your grace to rescue us should we fall
Grant us faith enough to take you at your word
To know that when our hearts are heavy
and the destination seems so distant
that you are there with us along the road
Forgive us those times when we doubt your Word
when we awake and feel alone
Draw us ever closer into your family
that we might know your presence
and sing your praises
all the days of our lives. Amen

Just a very quick one from me .

I would just like to give thanks again for this thread . I am still feeling beleaguered by various things , ( am I alone in thinking that it coming up to Christmas almost makes it worse ? ) .

That is just a little bit of how I feel. I also want to send out my thoughts and prayers to Tuo , Oma , BES , Kay , FaithLove , Innerstrength and Basset (and all others on this thread ) .

My problems at the moment seem huge , but when I look back , I am sure if I keep putting one foot in front of the other I will get through it all somehow, as I have got through different things before.

I hope those here who are troubled will take comfort , as I do, that there are others worrying or struggling in some way and that there is a community of people thinking about us all and each other .

And also thank you Tuo and Oma for your humour as well as your compassion. It all makes a difference.

HL

All
Let nothing disturb you,
nothing affright you,
all things are passing,
God never changes..

I will pray for you Hardy.

I am also going with the "just keep putting one foot in front of the other" method of coping. And yes I totally agree that it is comforting to know that I am not alone in my struggles and heartbreak. Let's all just hang on in there together.This too, shall pass. Stay strong.xx

Especially for Hardy and Innerstrength I have lifted three lines out of TUO's prayer

To know that when our hearts are heavy
and the destination seems so distant
that you are there with us along the road.

Me? I'm still basking in Mumsnet love.

I'll be honest, I'm not sure how this thread works so I hope I am not intruding and that I can maybe receive some positive prayers.

I am struggling emotionally and the world seems so callous and mean and I feel almost afraid to go out as people are so rude and aggressive. Nothing major has occurred to make me feel so low - I was made redundant this year and financially things have been a struggle as I am a single parent - but nothing serious beyond this, yet I cry daily and I get intimidated by people wherever I go. I am in need of a virtual hug!!

Hang on in there Blackberry. You're not on your own. Also struggling emotionally here... And, I feel awful awful saying this as I am so so so lucky to have lovely children to look after, but since my struggles in recent months and my alienation from DP, I feel very very very alone a lot of the time. I think it is a tough time of year for that too, as everywhere I look I seem to see couples in christmas loveliness together. But it does help to know I am not the only person feeling this alone, and on here is a good place for us to safely and privately help each other xx

Blackberrystone you are very welcome. This is how it works: we support each other in prayer and thought and hugs are freely available as required. There are a lot of needs, nothing too big or too small for our heavenly Father. There are quite number of single mothers on this thread.
Are you supported by a church at all?
Being made redundant and struggling financially are huge things to cope with, no wonder you feel alone and afraid. Is there anybody you can talk to about your fears? How many children do you have and how old are they?

tickets were sorted. they were able to print off the tickets at the bookingoffice... thankfully. apparently ex forgot to tell me he had changed the password on the joint email.

tethers end has been reached. dd is hiding reading. today we have had mud on the carpet, (i was distracted by someone asking a millionth question as I was trying to get ds to put on his shoes outside the front door. the someone who did the distracting then had a bit of a strop at the mud on the carpet, small boy then went and kicked the plant into several bits. (rather a severe pruning) several pushes and some nasty words, wee on the floor, hour and a half drive, an hour trying to mend a bike and then a strop as I have not quite done it right enough, a boy unravelling the hose after it has been packed away, a girl who had left her recorder in the middle of the floor for the twentitieth billion time. and general kicking stuff about pushing slamming about, a broken rocket, ex's who don't turn up until about an hour before I need to put them in the car, the stuff I carefully packed up and took to mums for christmas has been sent back here. , a christmas party with potential for a major meltdown and screaming about not getting a present that he did get in the end.

Just dropping in to say thank you for your thoughts ladies.
A friend who is hindu gave me a statue of Ganesha to help me too.

Well someone was looking down as it worked and I am now 7+2!

I have my first scan on Tuesday. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

BES that is excellent that the tickets turnd up, the rest not so marvellous. Are you still alive or were you posting from 'the other side'? Hopefully they are now all in bed and you have a bit of time to come to terms with the chaos.

Good news pipbin, will continue with the prayers. Blackberry welcome and please come and offload knowing you will be listened to and prayed for. I agree innerstrength, Christmas can be the most wonderful time but also the most isolating and alienating time if things aren't going well. My Christmas is certainly going to be different this year to how it usually is with the situation being what it is at home but I am just trying to focus on the fact I am going to be celebrating the one who came for all of us who are struggling, be it through bereavement, loss, separation, broken hearts, mental and physical ill health. And whatever is happening at home, and however sad I feel about the changes that have happened and however apprehensive I feel about the future that is still the truth and nothing can change that or take that away from us all.

I had a difficult weekend is some ways but there were some positives. I am pleased to say that DS did recognise that his dad was trying to manipulate him. He described it as selfishness.

Prayer for Advent: Day 8 - Maranatha: come Lord Jesus!

Hello and welcome Blackberry. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to use this thread. Some of us are here regularly, others pop in 'as and when'. I know we have some lurkers [waves enthusiastically and hopefully non-scarily at lurkers] and that's fine too (I used to be one!). A whole range of Christian denominations are represented here, along with some people who don't attend church but feel the need - regularly or occasionally - to pray. The only 'rule' is that we keep this place supportive and caring: it's not a 'debate' thread, but a place for hugs and prayers and hand-holding - and also often rejoicing.

And let's rejoice, first and foremost, about Pipbin's news. We have been thinking of you Pipbin, and I'm delighted that your IVF has worked. I will be praying for you on Tuesday. Will you come back and update us afterwards?

Thanking God too for the Mumsnetty love surrounding Oma this weekend. We all know, Oma, that it's no more than you deserve, in the light of the love and wisdom that you dispense so freely on here and elsewhere.

And thanking God for the insight that Kays DS is starting to show into his dad's behaviour. 'Selfish' is about right, isn't it? Praying that this insight will also lead to better coping mechanisms for him at school and at home, and that he will be much happier in 2015.

Holding in prayer tonight all those for whom thoughts of Christmas are difficult for whatever reason. Thinking especially of Blackberry, innerstrength, QoF, and Hardy, but also of those who are facing Christmas alone, or whose ill-health limits their participation in the activities of the season. May the God who came as a helpless baby be with all who feel helpless in the face of their life-situations this Christmas.

A prayer for the second Sunday in Advent:

God of Elijah, Isaiah, and Micah. You gave them courage to speak your words of hope. Help us to make room in our lives for your love and peace to grow. Amen.

Hi all,

I tried replying yesterday evening but lost my signal and couldn't post.

Welcome blackberry. I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I'm new here too and find everyone so incredibly lovely. I hope you find this thread as welcoming as I have.

Glad you've sorted tickets out bes. Sounds like you had a really stressful day! Hope you've had a much calmer, happier evening.

Huge congratulations on the pregnancy Pipbin!! That's such exciting news . I hope and pray you have a healthy and happy 8 or so months ahead.

QofF that's a really good way of looking at Christmas. Things always seem worse at Christmas when things are going badly but you've got a really good outlook! Despite the current struggles I feel like this year will be so much better than the last two years but I am super conscious of how difficult this time of year can be. Praying that in the next few weeks, if nothing else, all those who will find this Christmas difficult will feel closer to God and know they can always take refuge here.

Kay that's good your DS is recognising how his dad really is.

I think this week may be quite busy but please know no matter how sporadically I may post this coming week, I'm holding you all in my thoughts and prayers. I thank God for all of you here, you're so loving and supportive. We thank you Lord for this safe sanctuary here, you've given us such a wonderful place to come together to share in your fellowship, through the good times and the bad. May we draw closer to you during this time of Advent, may we be filled with your Holy Spirit and see your light all around us.

Praying & lurking. Lurking & praying.

off to get the children. here's hoping for as few melt downs as possible.

Please please help.

This morning I finally received a communication from DP. He sent a very very cold text, saying that I should draw a close to all thoughts of a reconciliation as he has "moved on" and thinks its best that we "break all contact."

I am in tiny tiny tiny shredded pieces.

This is the point of absolute rock bottom. I know this means the only way is up, but please don't tell me that as right now am in tiny tiny shreds, like my entire being has splintered into sawdust and is in a heap on the floor. No idea how to move forward from this, no idea no idea

Right my darling, tough Oma talk. It is hard, but you are worth more than to be shredded to pieces by anybody. Are you listening? Nobody should have the power to do that to you. You know why? Because you do not depend on any earthly human being but on the God Who made you and the Universe. You belong to God, not to anybody else. And God will put you together again, if you will let Him. That will need supernatural strength. And you know what? That strength will come from God as well.

SO: blow your nose and do something ordinary. Make a cup of tea, peel a few potatoes for supper, play a game with the children and do as this sad excuse for a human being suggests: break all contact. Every time you think of him, think of something else. Anything. Every time. You'll get better with practice, you'll see.
I think you will be able to do it, it may not be easy, but it is better than to hanker after someone who has 'moved on'. Fine: you move as well. You will be the better person for it. You do not have to be dependent on anybody, because you 'can do all things through Him who gives you strength' (Phil 4:13).

Thank you Oma. It just feels like God has not been answering my prayers with this. I have been praying and praying for weeks and weeks. I need help so so badly and it feels like God has not been listening to me, or sending me the courage and strength that I need. Would try absolutely anything to feel better, or stronger.

Eyeballs actually aching from crying.

I can't actually believe that someone I trusted so so so deeply; more than I have ever trusted ANY HUMAN BEING EVER, to whom I have only ever shown love and support, can be so so so cruel?

Oh Innerstrength my heart goes out to you. Listen to Oma's wise words. God has answered your prayers by getting this sorry excuse of a man out of your life. He kept you hanging on for ages wondering what was going on. No doubt by 'moving on' he means he has found someone else and was too cowardly to tell you sooner. God has better plans for you than someone that treats you like that. But of course you won't get over it instantly it will take time so don't beat yourself up about that.