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Philosophy/religion

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A Christian prayer thread for Autumn/Winter

990 replies

Tuo · 30/10/2014 01:17

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]

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 13/12/2014 19:47

Can you specify (to yourself if not to us) what brings about this overwhelming sadness? If you can clarify that to yourself it may be easier to realise what there is missing in your life.

You see, I am concerned that you concentrate your thoughts on this man who has not answered to your deepest desire but then as you realised somewhere earlier: 'It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man'. This of course is true: no earthly person can fulfill the deepest desire of your heart and you must not try. God needs to be at the centre of your life, or things will go utterly pearshaped.

So: well done for concentrating on your children, for decorating the tree and for realising that you have still got some way to go.

As far as the wrong thoughts are concerned: I remembered what Selwyn Hughes said: you cannot stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them making nests in your hair.

QofF · 13/12/2014 20:56

Well done for doing the tree Inner. Don't feel bad about having to go off to cry, just know it will happen gradually less and less and use those times it happens as a reminder re who to focus on instead, as per Oma's advice. I remember taking about 3 loo breaks in half an hr just to compose myself during dh's birthday present opening this year as I was putting on the jollity for ds who was excited re opening his dad's presents and the contrast between the scene and what I was feeling was horrendous.
Now I would get through it without crying and so will you in time. But it takes a lot of work and focusing and refocusing to get there! And a lot of prayer.

innerstrength100 · 13/12/2014 21:52

Thank you. Need to keep focussing on this:

  1. It was not God's plan for me to stay with this person; God will show me a better way. God has a purpose in this.
  1. It was very special but he has chosen to leave the relationship and I need to let him go with thanks and love.
  1. These feelings will not last forever.

Psalm 34 " The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit"

Psalm 147 "He heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds."

1 Peter 5 "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

Tuo · 13/12/2014 23:46

Prayer for Advent: Day 14 - Maranatha, come Lord Jesus!

You cannot stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them making nests in your hair. That is brilliant, Oma!

Praying tonight for innerstrength - you are already more than living up to your nickname, showing tons of inner strength. This is going to be hard - you are feeling hurt and broken, just as if you'd broken your leg or something. But, like a broken leg, this too will heal, and the hurting will get less awful over time. Hang on in there, keep praying, and we will keep praying with and for you.

Praying too for Badvoc - it's lovely to see you and to have a catch-up with your news. Thinking of you and your family, especially your mum, this Christmastime.

Praying for a swift and happy solution to Juggling's work stresses.

Great post, Naughty (I'm trying to work out if you're new to the thread, or if you're a regular under a festive name...?). I pray that this Christmas we can all find ways to reach out to people beneath that veneer.

Keeping prayers going for MHD's health, and praying that BES stays well enough to finish the pre-Christmas shopping. Also praying for anyone else on here affected by ill-health, whether their own or of a loved-one ( weegiemum, Bassetfeet and others).

And thanking God that it was good news about Kay's loved-one.

From tonight's Northumbria Compline:

May God shield us;
may God fill us;
may God keep us;
may God watch us;
may God bring us this night
to the nearness of His love. Amen

OP posts:
BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney · 14/12/2014 00:09

not too bad so far and managed some prechristmas clearingup too.

better go to bed to get some sleep.

inner. keep going. it is already getting better, not that you may notice yet as the painful bits are still painful. it will take time to grieve and get past it... but it will get a little easier as time goes on.

QofF · 14/12/2014 00:26

tuo thanks for that lovely prayer just before I go to sleep. Sweet dreams all and God bless. Oh and naughty I love your post. And your observation re seeing beyond the veneer to the common humanity below

BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney · 14/12/2014 11:05

ds is screaming and stropping about. we are going out later to an event and I am not looking forward to it. it is really stressful.

Naughtyornicename · 14/12/2014 11:53

I was freezing my backside off this morning waiting for DS to finish football practice.

There was a poor wee frozen solid dead worm lying on the path, all stiff and twig like. I don't especially like worms bit I thought 'poor thing, must've frozen to death trying to get over the path'. I even warned DH nor to step on little worm corpse.

By the end of the session, the sun had crept up and warmed little wormy, who mustve thawed out, and off he wriggled.

We all get paralyzed by life, events, bloody chemicals swilling about our bodies... but all we need us a little ray of sun to thaw us out. We don't know how, when or even sure if it will come, but all we can so is hope.

I've been on the older threads under my old/ non festive name. I waffle on a bit (a lot actually) and have many many odd stories (all true, I swear!).

Blacjeyedsanta - hope D's calms down (maybe a bubble bath would help). I loathe going out and meeting real people. I have a wash, do my hair, wear something nice and plaster a smile on my face. I plan what I will be doing later and promise myself a bar of chocolate for being a good girl. I focus on asking other people questions, saying they look nice, and not talking about myself too much.

Naughtyornicename · 14/12/2014 11:55

Now the q if the day... Do I go to the Carol service today? All my colleagues and clients will be there and I WILL cry...

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 11:58

Overtired 2yo is upset because nasty mean mummy put him in his pyjamas in his cot as usual so he can have a nap Sad

On the plus side, he's learned to say Merry Christmas. Except it comes out as Merry Jesus. Which made all the church ladies very pleased this morning Xmas Grin

Naughtyornicename · 14/12/2014 12:03

DS was not a child to nap. Maybe make it 'quiet time' rather than nap? Kids get over tired but think they are missing sonething if they sleep. Low light, relaxing music, picture book? They can't stay awake for ever... Unless you are DS.

Dutchoma · 14/12/2014 12:07

You'll only have one chance to go to the carol service Nonn. I would go and have a lovely wallow.

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 12:11

He normally sleeps 11:30ish to 1:30ish, and definitely needs it. He's overtired, red in the face, rubbing his eyes and hair, and it's the moany wail he does when he's Had Enough. But for some reason today he's battling harder than normal Sad I've deployed calpol and he's sounding calmer already. A bit Xmas Hmm

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 12:37

He started messing around. So I bellowed a bit. And now he's gone quiet Xmas BlushXmas Grin He'll feel a gazillion times worse if he doesn't sleep at all though, so I'm trying not to feel too guilty about the shouting and it does work on the odd occasion I get to that stage

FaithLoveandGrace · 14/12/2014 13:13

Hi all, this week has been pretty crazy busy. Just popping in but will hopefully get chance to catch up with thread soon.

inner praying for you right now. You will get through this and you're doing amazingly. As others have said, you really are showing fantastic inner strength through all of this. Things will get easier in time. I don't know if this has been shared already but Psalm 91:4 always helps me in times of trouble. My vicar sent it to me at a particular low time and it really helped:
"He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Got to dash now but praying all those on this thread get the love and support they so dearly need and deserve. Thankfully God knows what is in our hearts and on our minds, praying we may find strength in him.

FaithLoveandGrace · 14/12/2014 13:16

Also purplepidjing hope your DS has managed to get some rest. I remember when DSS went through a stage at about 20 months of needing a sleep in the day but refusing to then being grumpy all day from being over tired. We spent hours walking around with his pram trying to get him to sleep to no avail. Fingers crossed your DS gives in!

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 13:35

Had an hour of quiet now, so if he wakes now he'll get through till bedtime. Last couple of days he's had well over 2 hours. I think I just let him get a bit overtired after a late night last night (one of his friend's birthday) then Sunday School - he was dozing off in the sling on the way home but he only does 40 minutes in there vs 1.5h+ in his cot even if I was prepared to walk around with him on my back for that long these days!

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 19:56

he slept for 3 hours Shock mummy knows bestWink

Dutchoma · 14/12/2014 20:42

Mummies always know best. Wait till you are an Oma

PurplePidjingThroughTheSnow · 14/12/2014 20:58

it's hard to remember when they're pitching a major tantrums because you let them get on and do what they needed/wanted to do Sad

FaithLoveandGrace · 14/12/2014 21:13

Pidjing I'm glad your son got some rest. It is really hard but hang in there and know you're doing the best for him and mummy does indeed know best :)

I've spent most of the day with a friend who's going through a tough time at the moment. Have only just got back and still need to make some food so no chance of catching up on the thread. I'm quite stressed with how busy things are going to be this week but hoping to take some time out at some point to spend with God and to just calm down a bit. Still praying for all here :)

Tuo · 14/12/2014 23:57

*Prayer for Advent: Day 15 - Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!

A very quick one tonight, as I have been out all day and have only just got back in, so I'm feeling pretty exhausted.

Praying for all on the thread, for those who lurk, for those we love, and for all who need our prayers, wherever they may be.

From tonight's Northumbria compline:

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

OP posts:
BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney · 14/12/2014 23:59

lovely. good night!

FaithLoveandGrace · 15/12/2014 09:40

Morning all. Tuo that's a lovely prayer.

I went to see my GP this morning and she's upped my AD's. Thankfully I've got a bit of time off over Christmas so any negative side effects (I hope!) will be gone by the time I get back to things. I do need to get through this week though so praying the sickness / insomnia / inability to concentrate won't be too bad!!

Nonn did you go to the carol service yesterday? I went to a lovely reflective evening service yesterday which I'm glad I went to. I hope you enjoyed your service if you went.

bes how was the event with your DS? Hope it wasn't too stressful!

FaithLoveandGrace · 15/12/2014 10:47

Can we pray for worriedbff and her friend please. She posted on the mental health boards and asked if anyone with faith can pray.
(www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/2258831-Best-friend-tried-to-kill-herself?msgid=51308768#51308768)

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