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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:
Tuo · 06/11/2014 03:37

Hello all. Just checking in briefly. This trip has been a bit stressful for various reasons, but today has been a good day and I feel a lot calmer and more relaxed tonight.

So, thanking God for that, for the fact that my family is well (including DD2, who remains much happier), and for the new posters to this thread. You are very welcome.

One of the reasons why I post on this thread is to help me to pray. Somehow writing things down is useful in itself, as is looking for nice prayers to post, whether from the Northumbria Community or elsewhere. I've been enjoying Oma's postings in my absence.

I'm reading and praying while I'm away, and thinking of you all.

OP posts:
HardyLeodicean · 06/11/2014 05:51

Dear All

Thank you for your welcome. I particularly like Question's words below * and will try to remember them but I also thank all of you for not only your welcome but the sense of peace and safety you have created (if that doesn't sound too rubbish) I wish all the peace in the world to those who are feeling troubled and on a more prosaic note can only endorse Zing's breathing advice.

  • Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it

Trying to pray but certainly wishing you well
Hardy

howtoapproachthis · 06/11/2014 06:41

welcome hardy.

ive really been struggling with praying lately too. sometimes im just too tired and it seems to take too much effort, even though Jesus said come to me you who are weary and in need of rest. then other times im not as motivated as i used to be about praying. i don't know why this is, but i pray that God will change it.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 07:28

welcome feeling.

i have been managing to get to bed slightly earlier some nights. ds slept on the sofa last night as he was too scared to go up on his own. he as thoroughly disgrintled when I got up as he does not get to go on the computer at breakfast time.

mome. have looked at mattresses. there are shorty beds but I am not sure how long they will last given the rapid elongating the children seem to be doing. they are still in incredibly narrow toddler and cot beds. bunk beds would need to be adapted to add an extra high rail as they are likely to fall out still.

contemplating the ramifications of that... lots of sawing, sanding, and arms like pop-eye probably there is lots of measuring and doodling going on.

today I need to sort out lots of other kobs though, so could do with prayer for some sticking power, even if it is going from one room to the next doing abit here and there. as mr tesco says, every little helps!

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 07:38

jobs. (though adding an n and sorting him out though would be rewarding)

it is very noisy upstairs... I can hear the months in french being recited at top volume)

Feelinglostandalone · 06/11/2014 07:45

Morning all, thanks for such a wonderfully warm welcome. As hardy has said, you've created a real sense of peace and safety here. I slept really well last night and feel so much better this morning.

Dontstep thank you for sharing that passage, it's lovely.

questionoffaith - I quite like Philip yancey but I've not read that particular book. I will have to check it out, thanks.

Sometimes when I do feel like I can pray, I use the daily worship app, I think it's based around the book of common worship. I had a quick look this morning and particularly like the prayer of thanksgiving.

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
ruler and judge of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In the darkness of this age that is passing away
may the light of your presence which the saints enjoy
surround our steps as we journey on.
May we reflect your glory this day
and so be made ready to see your face
in the heavenly city where night shall be no more.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Though I'm sorry others are also struggling to pray, I'm glad I'm not alone. I know that God knows and takes our prayers from deep within our hearts.

And so I pray this morning (the best that I can) in thanks for all those upon this thread, for the love support and fellowship so clearly shared here. May all feel God's peace and comforting presence today. May we uplift one another to the Lord that he may bless our day, all whom we may come into contact with, our conversations and all that we have to do.

QofF · 06/11/2014 08:49

morning all, slight name change here but am sure is clear who I am Smile. Thanks for those prayers this morning Feeling and glad you slept well. Praying for peace for you all today.

howtoapproachthis · 06/11/2014 08:54

sorry i missed you feeling... welcome :) head not with it these days.

Dutchoma · 06/11/2014 09:42

Yes and amen to all the above.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 10:09

another getting on with tidying day and other such stuff. I have put beans in to soak, put pots away, washing on, having a coffee and breakfast before doing more. I shall check in several times to make sure I am actually getting stuff done!

madhairday · 06/11/2014 11:36

Good to see newbies here, welcome to feeling and hardy - will include you both in my prayers now.

Thankyou so much for all the prayers posted above. They really do help. Tuo glad it's going ok for you though praying for it to be less stressy.

We were talking in my bible study group yesterday about how we sometimes seem to lose ability to pray, some of your thoughts above reminded me, and how it sometimes feels like a blank wall. So hard isn't it - the Psalmist echoes it saying 'where are you God? Why so downcast o my soul?' etc etc - it's a well documented and human thing to have dips like this. Praying for everyone feeling like this today, that they will have a moment, even fleeting, where they capture something of God's presence again.

Off on a conference today for women in church leadership, looking forward to 3 days of rest and also catching up with lots of friends. Really hoping to get some clear direction about our church....tough times.

bes how are you today? Hope today has been calmer for you and that ds has been OK.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 11:52

hope you have a great time MHD and that you stay well.

I am pottering. trying to get on top of stuff. the recycling went out last night to be collected today and I am quickly collecting another sack full, so although the place does not look much different something must be getting done.

another load of washing is in. I ought to do something so that I can put more of the dry stuff away. (clean and wash ex#s nearly empty wardrobe or mend my wardrobe. ds has scattered washing again. they also scattered toys around their room this morning. (he did do some unprompted picking up though)

PurplePidjin · 06/11/2014 12:31

I don't seem to do much actual praying, but I do think of others and ask God to help them. I'm more of an action person though so if someone needs something - from a kind word to a loan of something I've got and can do without - then I try and do it. Does that count?

Hello new people, lovely to see you here Brew

cloutiedumpling · 06/11/2014 13:27

BES - we struggled to get full size bunk beds for our DSs' room but DH found some on line. They are full size but have a metal frame that adds as little bulk as possible. We found that although some of the pine ones look lovely they added inches onto the length and width. If you want I'll ask him where he got them from.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 14:51

i need a wooden one to customise by adding higher rails.

I have been sorting washing. i need to put it all away though.

Dutchoma · 06/11/2014 15:07

Quick before ds comes ome and scatters it all again.

Feelinglostandalone · 06/11/2014 15:32

MHD the conference sounds great. I hope you have a wonderful and restful time.

I went to a morning prayer group this morning, it was great. I never feel able to pray out loud but I did have a silent prayer in my head and then prayed silently at the end once everyone had left. There's something about praying together (even if silently) that really helps me focus and feel God's presence more than when I'm on my own.

blackeyesusie it does sound like you've managed to get a fair bit done. It sucks when you seem to do lots and it doesn't look much better, but it really does sound like you're doing a fair bit :)

Whilst we're on the topic of beds, does anyone know where the best (/ cheapest) place to buy a single mattress is? DSS who's 4 is still in a toddler bed but is very soon going to need a single bed. We're looking at getting him one of those cabin beds / mid sleepers - not sure what they're called - so he has storage space underneath and they seem a bit nicer than just a standard single bed. No idea where the best place to buy a mattress is though.

Hope everyone has a good afternoon. I best get back to work - currently procrastinating doing something that's unfortunately constantly failing on me at the moment.

howtoapproachthis · 06/11/2014 16:45

Im having 3 kids round tomorrow and really stressed about it. usually i struggle to even deal with my own, and although im really looking forward to seeing my friend, im so worried about having any energy left to complete the day. ( i have chronic fatigue incase anyone thinks im being overly dramatic!)

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 17:21

yes he is eating toast and jelly baby. I am baggin up various piles any second... now...

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 17:37

urrgg. looks like his toddler diarrhoea is back. I now have to take a bet on whether to keep him off school or not, it looks like toddler diarrhoea, he has been stressed lately which can cause it and he had chilli last night which I think has caused it before.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 17:43

as it happens I have been googling mattresses.

If you want a three foot mattress, there are loads everywhere for a range of prices. tesco do some waterproof ones if you so desire.
if you want 2 foot six mattresses then the market is rather limited.

I was erring on the side of a cheaper mattress that I may well replace when they are less likely to sick/poo/wee/spill stuff on it.

Feelinglostandalone · 06/11/2014 18:18

Ugh blackeyedsusie that doesn't sound pleasant. I do hope he gets better soon! your posts earlier about washing etc reminded me of a prayer I saw a few days ago. Taken me a while to find it again but here it is:

Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.

Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.

And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.

My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient.

Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; It has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.

Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; It has baked so many things over the years.

The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing, the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.

Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door.

My kids are healthy and able to run and play.

Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family.

I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

The prayer has helped me a lot when I've been stressing about how much there is to do at home.

Ahh a waterproof mattress would be brilliant. I didn't even know tesco did mattresses. I'm pretty sure it's a 3ft one we'll need, but I'll be sure to double check!

Dutchoma · 06/11/2014 19:59

There is a Mumsnet review of children;s beds going on atthe moment. Saw it on Facebook.

blackeyedsusie · 06/11/2014 20:25

thank you, that is alovely prayer.

QofF · 06/11/2014 21:13

love that prayer. So the opposite of how I approach things most day around the house Blush