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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:
FaithLoveandGrace · 15/12/2014 10:47

Don't think the link worked, I'll try again.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/2258831-Best-friend-tried-to-kill-herself?msgid=51308768#51308768

Worriedbff · 15/12/2014 10:54

Thank you for thinking of me Faith. My friend is a practising catholic. She attends mass every week and has such strong faith. I'm not religious but I'm very spiritual and I know the power of prayer and healing thoughts can help. We are all just in shock I think.

Dutchoma · 15/12/2014 11:53

Just seen your thread bff. I can imagine how in bits you must be: I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.

Certainly my prayers are with you all.

As for what to say, there is probably no need to say anything, if she is still unconscious just tell her that you are there for her and that you will do all you can to help her through this dark time.

MadHairChristmasEveryone · 15/12/2014 13:16

Worriedbff you sound like a lovely friend. Just being there for her will be what matters. Praying for recovery and for peace for you all, what a difficult time.

innerstrength your posts have really touched me in that I can sense your pain. Love those verses about God binding up the broken hearted. Praying that for you today, and for kaykat and other struggling this time of year with broken relationships. Flowers

Tuo can I just thankyou again for the amazing prayers. Sometimes I can't post and just read and they are so sustaining and beautiful. I have found such depth in them - thankyou so, so much for keeping posting. How are things with you?

hello Bes - praying for some peace amidst the busyness for you.

Thankyou again lovely people for your prayers. I am struggling a lot with pain at the moment (pleural, all down right side so can't sleep) - it's not shifting but it doesn't seem terribly infected so staying away from the IVs for now :)

love and prayers for you all.

innerstrength100 · 15/12/2014 14:49

Thank you madhair. The emotions in me are utterly and completely overwhelming. Continuing to pray for healing and new happiness, and please please please God make it quick.

Praying that your pain eases madhair, and for worriedbff. Hang on in there.

FaithLoveandGrace · 15/12/2014 16:59

madhair praying your pain eases and for you too inner. I pray that God will help you feel more at peace with this sooner rather than later and that you may feel his comforting presence.

worriedbff good to see you on the thread, you sound like a lovely, caring friend. In terms of what to say to your friend, I'd just tell her you love her dearly. I'm not sure what else you can say tbh. Just make her know you're there for her and don't judge her.

I'm feeling horrendously sick and light headed this evening. I don't want to take these AD's but I know that I have to otherwise I won't get better :( I think I need a virtual kick up the bum to keep listening and talking to my doctor!

QofF · 15/12/2014 20:18

praying for the pain to ease mad and that you can get some sleep.
Innerstrength you are doing so well, keep going, you are going to come out of this so strong!
Faith I am glad you have got some time off coming up, praying your side effects will go before long.
Bff you sound like a lovely friend, keep doing what you are doing and will pray for you and your friend.

Tuo · 16/12/2014 00:29

Prayer for Advent: Day 16 - Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!

(Yes, I know that strictly speaking Gaudete Sunday was yesterday, but I do think it's a good thing to be reminded to rejoice, so I thought I might have an unofficial Gaudete week instead!)

Very tired tonight (probably the after effects of a long day yesterday) and my parents arrive for a pre-Christmas visit on Wednesday, so prayers for energy to get quite a lot done in the next 48 hours would be welcome. I'm going to bed now and am hoping to get up feeling livelier in the morning!

Worriedbff - you are very welcome on this thread, and you can rest assured that we will pray for your friend. I pray that even while she remains unable to respond, she feels God close to her and knows that she is infinitely important to, and loved by, Him. I pray for her recovery, for those looking after her - including you, Worried... you are clearly a lovely friend -, and for the mental anguish that drove her to such extreme actions to be lifted from her, so that she can see clearly how important she is to her family and to her friends.

FaithLoveandGrace - I pray for your side-effects to abate soon and for you to start feeling better. And please consider the gentlest, most loving, kick up the bum possible administered! Please take the ADs... the side-effects will pass and they will help you to get well.

innerstrength - continuing to pray that you find the resources to live up to your nickname and the strength to keep moving forward, one day at a time - one hour at a time if need be - and one small step at a time... but always moving forward. I pray that this pain passes and that you find happiness.

MHD - oh lovely... I'm sorry that you're in so much pain, but I am continuing to pray for a hospital-free Christmas and for the pain to be gone in time for you to enjoy Christmas with your family. Thank you for asking about me... I'm doing OK, and both DDs seem happy, but in particular DD2 is simultaneously more confident and calmer ... kind of 'gentler' if that makes sense (I think that before anxiety was making her prickly...). How is your DD, MHD? Praying for happiness for her, and for the rest of the family too, of course.

I read this today - it was one of the Northumbria Community's readings for the day - and wanted to share it with the thread.

With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6: 6–8)

Lord, help us all to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with You. Amen.

OP posts:
Worriedbff · 16/12/2014 09:59

Tuo thank you for the beautiful words. And for everyone thinking of us. My friend is more responsive this morning and her scans have come back clear, so things are looking positive for now.
It gives me comfort that others with such a strong faith as my friend are praying for her. Thank you

QofF · 16/12/2014 10:15

watching the news from Pakistan - it is so heartbreaking. Having one of those mornings when prayer seems so small and powerless in the face of such evil so this seemed to be the place to pop into. I don't believe that in reality but sometimes it's hard to feel it.
BFF so glad to read the signs from your friend are positive.
Tuo hope you have had a good rest and are feeling more energetic today.

Dutchoma · 16/12/2014 10:36

I've been listening to BBC3's carol competitioin this morning: 6 settings of Susan Hill's poem: Can it be true.
The last lime of that poem is: It is true, it is true. And they knelt down.

Never mind the strife and trouble in the world: the story of Christmas, God with us, is still true.

Chocolateteacake · 16/12/2014 10:37

So they are back murdering children?

How can anyone believe that they are not going to go to hell/wherever when they pull the trigger on another human being - especially a child? Why want anything to do with such a vengeful god/creator? How can anyone's faith be sustained in such misery, violence and anguish?

The creature in Australia was obviously a violent man with mental health issues.

Dutchoma · 16/12/2014 10:45

Yes chocolatecake "a violent man with mental health issues" and one who did not get the help he needed not to be such.

In all these circumstances I am glad that I do not have to do the judging, God is very capable and we are told (Romans 12:17ff) to leave the avenging to God Who knows everything and Who will judge fairly.

That does not mean that we can not recognise evil when we see it, we are just told not to repay evil with evil.

Chocolateteacake · 16/12/2014 10:53

But sadly the evil that some do is in their eyes 'good' and 'righteous'.

He may not have had help he needed, but we cannot force people to submit to intervention/medication/therapy and some people with such issues can be the sneakiest of sneaky people who can tie you up in knots (I speak as an ex therapist).

Odd (as an Iranian) that he converted fro Shia to Sunni (not your usual allies as IS would happily slaughter every Shia man, woman and child with no hesitation).

He was a man of violence and rage who looked to an ideology that fitted his turmoil. Also odd that he was brandishing a Saudi flag (I was told this by a ME friend, so I don't know why the media didn't realise this) and not an IS flag.

Maybe there really is 'evil' in the biblical sense of the word.

Dutchoma · 16/12/2014 11:37

Oh absolutely there is evil in the world and God will judge it. Have no doubt about it, God is the righteous judge of all the world, you and me included.
And because God is the judge we don't have to do His job for Him.

Are you following Canon Andrew White? he is probably the most knowledgeable of everyone I know on ME issues. Well worth a Google, if you don't already.

Chocolateteacake · 16/12/2014 11:41

Is he the chap who was recently called back to the UK? I read a piece about him recently - it was so sad.

Dutchoma · 16/12/2014 11:54

He is not allowed in Baghdad at the moment where his church is, not so much for his safety as for the safety of others there.

It was the Archbishop of Canterbury who recalled him. Since then he has been in Jerusalem, in Canada, in the USA and in the UK. He is most remarkable and, no, I don't think it is sad at all. He goes where God calls him and does all the good he can. If there is any example of God triumphing over evil it is here.

Chocolateteacake · 16/12/2014 12:01

Not him sad (he looks rather jolly) - the brutal events that he has witnessed in the name of 'religion'.

Pipbin · 16/12/2014 13:13

Just to update you all todays scan was fine! 10 days growth in one week!
The sack is small but everything else is ok. Good size and heartbeat.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Dutchoma · 16/12/2014 14:04

Praise the Lord, Pipbin, that is wonderful news.

MadHairChristmasEveryone · 16/12/2014 16:59

Thats great Pipbin :)

Very saddened by the news from Pakistan too. There is absolutely evil in the world. Those poor innocent children. DS saw the news page and said 'but why would anyone do that mummy?' - there's the question. How could people get to a state of mind whereby that is the right thing to do? :( Praying for all affected by the horror.

innerstrength100 · 16/12/2014 18:05

Pipbin that is such good news - Congratulations again.

Worriedbff - glad to hear your friend was responding more this morning. How is she doing this evening and how has today gone?

QofF · 16/12/2014 22:14

Great news pipbinSmile
Totally agree about the existence of evil in the world and I think sometimes when confronted with it on such a scale and level as in this mornings news it can seem overwhelming which was how I was feeling this morning. I read your post Oma and went to listen again on radio 3 and listened to the carol comp. the beauty of the poem being read aloud at the beginning by the author helped to remind me of the truth, that evil will not win. But oh those poor poor people.

FaithLoveandGrace · 16/12/2014 22:19

Congratulations pipbin. That's very good news Smile

Struggling this evening and feeling very conflicted about things. Praying for strength to get through and also praying for all those on this thread as well as everything that's going on in the news - is all very sad!

BlackeyedSantaStuckUpAChimney · 16/12/2014 22:21

oh dear. got a bad cold that has gone to sinuses and ears. hoping it will be better in the morning. ds is still awake but I am goingto have to go to bed.