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Hands together and eyes closed: a new Christian prayer thread (May 2015)

958 replies

Tuo · 19/05/2015 10:32

Welcome to a new prayer thread to take us into the summer. 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...

... ALittleFaith, especially for her dad, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease;

... 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;

... Anjelica27, as she tries to find ways to support her DS through his mental health problems and self-harm;

... AnxiousKeziah, following the loss of her baby DS;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; for good support for her DD and DS; and for her mum;

... BlueTinkerbell, thanking God for the safe arrival of her beautiful DD4;

... Bsshbosh, who has terminal cancer, for the best possible quality of life for her for as long as possible; also for her DH and DD as they travel this road with her;

... DizzyDaffodil, who is struggling, asking God to be with her and for her to find RL support at this time;

... DontstepontheMomeRaths, for her busy life as a single mum, and for the wonderful work she does through her church supporting people going through separation and divorce;

... DutchOma, thanking God for the wonderful support that she provides for so many on here;

... FaithLoveandHope, for her mental health; for decisions about her academic work; for her STB-FIL who has been diagnosed with cancer; and for her relationship with her DP;

... fakenamefornow, thanking God that things have taken a turn for the better for her;

... howtoapproachthis, for her health, following her diagnosis with CFS and for her to find support for herself and her DD;

... HydrochloricTulip, for stresses at home and at work;

... innerstrength100, for strength to decide what to do in the aftermath of the break-up of her relationship last year and the unexpected coming back into her life of her ex;

... 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 continue to support her DS through this process;

... LegallyBlonde77, as she goes through the adoption process - praying for a match very soon and for her family to be complete;

... LifeofBriony, for problems in her relationship with her DH;

... littlehouseinthebigwoods, for problems in her relationship with her controlling DH;

... MadHairDay, for her ongoing health issues;

... PositiveAttitude, especially for her mum who has dementia and for her dad, who finds it hard to accept help; for her DD2 recovering from a scary reaction to a dog-bite overseas, and for her whole family; for her studies and her role within her church; and for her and her DH as they plan new and exciting ways of working with the people of Cambodia;

... QuestionofFaith, as she tries to rebuild her life with her DH following his mental health problems and withdrawal from her;

... SESthebrave, for problems at work; also for her MIL who has had a cancer diagnosis;

... TooBusyByHalf, as she explores and hopefully rediscovers her faith;

... weegiemum, for her continued recovery from her very scary infection and septicaemia, and also for her DD's continued progress in overcoming her anorexia;

... ZipadiSoozi, for her dad who has dementia and for her mum and the whole family as they find ways to support him in this; also for her BIL who has cancer;

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors including: Badvoc, BlessedAssurance, BlueSkies80, CaulkheadUpNorth, CharlotteCollins, chocolateteapot, cloutiedumpling, CocoaBean, DeladionInch, EilisCitron, FlabbyMummy, Gingercurl, JugglingFromHereToThere, ktef, legohurtswhenyoustandonit, LollipopViolet, LostinChilli, MaryBS, MrsPixieMoo, niminypiminy, ninetynineonehundred, PandaG, Pipbin, RoomForALittleOne, ScarletDancer, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, weegiemum, WobblyRainbow, Zing and for anyone I've forgotten to name-check (don't take it personally, please!). We pray for our muslim sisters over in the tea-room, at a time when many feel afraid in a world which seems suspicious of their faith, praying for peace and understanding between all faiths. 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

OP posts:
QuietIsland2 · 23/08/2015 15:37

I don't think you are being unchristian don't. You willingly went the extra mile for others and now other more pressing demands are being made on your time and your emotional reserves. Your family and your df are your priority now and you must also take care not to wear yourself out. Are you listening too Bes? Take a break. People will understand and if they can't you must be firm.

BlackeyedSusan · 23/08/2015 15:40

it has all gone pear shaped. I have a head ache from hell induced by the constant bloody wittering about everything, even stuff I have told her tha answers to several times this weekend.

i have lost the plot and shouted at her again as I can not cope. she is relentless. she says she loves me, but she has driven me screwy.

Dutchoma · 23/08/2015 15:44

And there I was thinking that you were being sensible and going home. Time to go sweeetheart, more than time to go home.

QuietIsland2 · 23/08/2015 15:45

Oh dear Bes. It might be best to retreat somewhere quiet to knock that headache on the head so to speak.

Quiet Island is somewhere I go in my head to escape the usual chaos. It has a lovely beach with no insects, crystal clear blue water...bliss.

Dutchoma · 23/08/2015 15:49

Don't first off, God will never condemn you for a decision taken in honesty and out of love. You must speak to your clients and explain that you will not be able to do all the extra work that is not in your contract. You may well find that they are totally understanding of your position although one or two may not be so accommodating. But you must take care of yourself and your parents too. That is not unChristian, that is just common sense.
Edith sorry to hear that things are still so hard for you.

QuietIsland2 · 23/08/2015 15:52

Edith I think of you often too. Thank you for including us in your prayers.Flowers

Dutchoma · 23/08/2015 16:06

A little while ago I posted on behalf of a fellow MNter who asked for our prayers for her daughter who was attempting to keep up with her GCSE work in spite of debilitating illness.
I have just heard she passed all her GCSEs and will be off to a new school in September.
So pleased to be able to pass this news on.

QuietIsland2 · 23/08/2015 16:15

Wonderful news Dutchoma

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 23/08/2015 16:16

I finally managed to get to church today , the local beautiful Parish church with very pretty pews with their own wooden doors at the side.
I went alone, but there were other people alone so I didn't feel awkward at all.
The service was in English with a very articulate vicar and modern but traditional feel..the prayers and responses were from a small booklet rather than a book and also were in modern language and the whole service flowed well and the sermon was thought provoking as well.
The hymns were well known to me and there was time for quiet prayer too. I didnt go up for communion as I am not confirmed and preferred to pray instead of receiving blessing today.
There was a long interval of peace offering to the other members ofthe congregation and to the vicars and handshakes etc at the end of the service.
All in all a very positive experience and during the prayers on hopefulness I was feeling quite flooded with emotion and I had a feeling of having ' come home' and felt and feel much closer to Jesus and God.
I made a decision about my eldest son last night ( financial) and I felt sure during the service this was the right thing to do.
Thank you all and I wish you a peaceful and restful Sunday

Dutchoma · 23/08/2015 16:45

I was wondering how you got on LoB and very glad to hear that you found a service where you could feel welcomed and at home. It might be a good idea to try one or two of the other churches as well, still, and then decide where you feel God has a place for you.

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 23/08/2015 16:53

I think I will just so I can compare. But during this service I felt literally ' in heaven ' and was at one point close to tears. My local church has never moved me in this way and somehow the prayers and sermon have never been so pertinent either.

Dontbesilly · 23/08/2015 17:27

Edith. I really do hope that things improve for you. It must be so difficult. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you both Oma and Quiet for your helpful advice. Sometimes I can't see the wood for the trees and I needed the permission to do what I must do, knowing that it's ok and God understands me. None of the choices are made from malice, but from necessity and what I have to do really. Although some peoples reaction to my situation come across as a bit selfish and I think that they can be sometimes ungrateful I have to make these choices and know that I made them out of necessity and did the acts of kindness for as long as was possible.

I am so pleased for the girl who did well in her exams. We have just gone through exams with dd and it's stressful enough without dealing with an illness too. She must be so proud and relieved too. Praying for her health to improve and for her continue doing well at her new school too. It's lovely to hear such good news, thanks for sharing this Oma.

Bes. You do absolutely amazingly. You never stop and you are getting exhausted. I pray for you for strength and for you to find time to look after yourself. Thinking of you and praying too. Please rest soon, your body is telling you this in the form of the headache. Can you get an early night tonight.

Lob, that sounds like a great church, lots of boxes ticked by the sounds of it. Pleased you got the 'come home' feeling and that you feel like you made the right decision with regards to your son. It all sounds very positive.

Quiet I am very envious of your quiet island. I am going to try carefully to see if I can imagine one for myself to retreat to. I think Bes could benefit from a quiet island too, I think we all could.

Praying for all and hoping the coming week will bring us all new blessings. X

BlackeyedSusan · 23/08/2015 18:11

I have been packing up, I am getting followed about and wittered at. everything under the bloody sun is being worried about. there is nowhere quiet to retreat without taking the children away form here. which I am about to do she finds me in whichever corner I am. going to take a leaf out of ds's book and barricade the bloody door in future.

she wittered and worried about the hedge... when I was cutting back the hedge she was bothering me about every other thing in the bloody universe so I am not able to cut the fucking hedge for answering questions.

she will not listen and she will not shut up.

anyway, I came in to shut down the computer... and been interupted three times in the space of typing this message.

will post later when I am finally home. when I am home and recovered, I will take my turn praying for you.

the reason I stayed was for dd to go in the paddling pool. desperately trying to let them do the stuff other children get to do, but I think I fucked it up a bit this weekend. more careful planning required. (looking at the bloody forecast)

Lightnessofbeing2015 · 23/08/2015 20:36

BES don't try to do too much because some things you just can't change ..I'm not being flippant because I've been there and had several T shirts. Don't feel like you have to do everything because you have to put your own well being and your children's well being first or at least equal.. Wishing you all the best and praying fr some peace and quiet for you tonight

BlackeyedSusan · 23/08/2015 21:12

I am home.

I have picked up a takeaway for me. (allergic dcs) dd is having some crackers and salad. the crackers were in the ottomon with the linen. and going out of date next month. I think they were a present for fil... who is also allergic to crackers. why mother put the crackers in the ottomon no-one will ever know.

Dontbesilly · 23/08/2015 21:42

So pleased to hear that you are back safely. How is the headache now? Can you get the dc to bed and grab yourself an early night. You really need to look after yourself you have done all you can both physically and mentally. You must be exhausted. Enjoy your take away and please try to rest.

QuietIsland2 · 23/08/2015 22:39

Glad you're back home after a busy and testing day Bes.

An evening prayer by John Henry Cardinal Newman (probably been posted before but it is soothing after a frantic day):

May he support us all the day long,
'till the shades lengthen
and the evening comes
and the busy world is hushed
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging
and a holy rest and peace at the last. Amen.

BlackeyedSusan · 23/08/2015 22:47

I have had to put the frozen food away and the fridge food away to be able to get in the cupboard to be able to feed the children. (no fresh food in the flat as the fridge is buggered.)

children are about to go to bed.

I rang mum to let her know we were home. she claims there is no food in. (no fruit apparently) (well there is a surprise...) dd is adament that there were one and a half bags of apples in the fridge, plus a loose one. unpacking has shown that I do not have these in my possesion, there are bananas, (6) and a bush full of blackberries and alpine strawberries and raspberries. along with tins of fruit and a cupboard groaning with food, and a freezer packed with food.

so yeah all her food has gone. Grin

FaithLoveandHope · 24/08/2015 00:53

Sorry all, things are manic here (lots of deadlines) so I'm sorry I'm not engaging in conversation at the moment. I was just saying night prayer and thought the collect of the day was lovely and wanted to share it in case others haven't seen it.

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

madhairday · 24/08/2015 13:49

That's a lovely prayer, FLah. Hope you're doing ok and not too overwhelmed by all the deadlines etc.

Back from holiday and catching up. You are all in my prayers, lovely MN ladies. Flowers

Edith how are things?

BlackeyedSusan · 24/08/2015 14:19

things are very slow today. as predicted. a recovery day. want to do something towards operation tidy, but done nothing all day. will try to find something to do, even if it not the most urgent thing... when I have cooled down...

fecking hormones

QuietIsland2 · 25/08/2015 13:36

Gosh - that was a long hiatus from the site. MumsnetHQ must be up to their eyes. Hoping you are all well.

Dutchoma · 25/08/2015 14:14

I do miss MN when they are off line. Glad they are back.

BlackeyedSusan · 25/08/2015 17:26

phew. glad to see some new posts. that post comes from yesterday. this is todays. been trying to mend my wardrobe. the wood I used is a bit rubbish. hoping one of the bits will hold. need to use different wood for the second wardrobe. if the first bit does not hold, at least I have all the tools I need to hand. in one of my 5 tool boxes which sod's law dictates is under most of the others

BlackeyedSusan · 25/08/2015 18:58

I was bothering the grannies over on gransnet. sod housework makes a change from bothering omas on mumsnet... Grin