Christian Prayer Thread. Back to school and into Autumn

[Dutchoma]

As we were nearly at 1000 posts and TUO is both very busy and away today, I thought I might have a go at setting up a new thread.
I have looked back over nearly four months of prayers, of sharing, of support, of gladness and sadness and so much more. I think there are about 50 different people on the thread, some are there from beginning to end, some come in, are here for a few days and then don’t post any more.
Both are valuable, all are welcome, we share with you in anxiety and depression, in worry for others, but also in prayers answered, wonderful healing, good exam results and so much more.
But we also realise that life moves on, that the prayer thread was helpful for a while and is not so relevant now. Never be afraid to come back, we all need prayer and support.

So, like TUO I shall pick out a few names for the new thread, but leave behind some that have not posted for a while, hoping that they will come back and update us.
Specially thinking of: Anjelica27; I know how much this thread has helped you. Bsshbosh and wondering how she is now.

Whoagirrrrl, after her operation. Dizzydaffodil, Pandora37 and PeterSpots .

There are so many more names to remember: Alittleroom, Bluetinkerbell, DontstepontheMomeraths, Howtoapproachthis and several more.

And then the ones that are quite recent like:
ALittleFaith, Amberlight; BlackEyedSusan, Dontbesilly; EdithSimcox; FaithLoveandHope, Kaykat, Lightnessofbeing; MadHairDay; PositiveAttitude; QuestionofFaith; QuietIsland2; SESthebrave; TUO; Weegiemum; ZipadiSoozi

And if I have omitted any one, be assured that God never forgets and holds you fast in His love and mercy.

oh , on the plus side I have three chickens...

Lurking and praying. May we all feel a little of the joy and peace amongst the busyness.

how are you doing don't? praying.

Merry Christmas everyone, hoping that you all have a peaceful and wonderful Christmas time and that you all have peace and know the true meaning of Xmas x

Thanks for all your prayer, thoughts and kindness. Dad had the operation they opened him up took away various bits and pieces and decided against his wishes to leave the cancer put. The reason is it's a nasty operation to recover from bla bla.

We found out by accident something different had happened as dad was in a normal ward not icu mum went mental saying that dad didn't go through a five hour surgery for the cancer to be left. It's not spread to other organs and he's fit and wants it removed. Poor dad woke up in the ward and guessed something was wrong. It's so cruel. Putting a man who is fighting for life through a life saving operation at Xmas to do everything but the important thing. We are trying to get answers from the surgeon today but it is Christmas day and might not be able to see him. It seriously doesn't make sense. No spread to other sites, it's in a good place for easy removal and he's fit and rearing to go.

Then he's on a normal ward with jolly people and nurses wearing tinsel and daft glasses etc yet it's his Christmas too and he's had a huge bombshell dropped on Xmas eve.

I am numb with intervals of sadness and trying to put on a brave face but goodness knows it's hard.

Prayed in the hospital chapel for clarity and something better than this for dad. It's absolutely devastating and the pain and shock is overwhelming. Poor dad he wasnt even prepared. Noone was. Mums fuming the surgeon made the decision without consulting her or us on dad wishes which I agree with. He never signed up for that!!!

I am going as I am on a downer and it's not fair on you all and this little support community here but I will update you later on xxx

Happy Christmas

How are you doing Don't?

Oma are you with family?

mhd are you still breathing? bloody lungs

Oh dear don't that is not good news. sorry cross posted as I wrote the above post early this morning.

Well I offered contact from 10 am today. he is not here. no surprise there then) I offered it from 10 am yesterday too. he turned up at 12.30. I offered contact on the 23rd and he did not turn up.

Oh Bes your poor children. That's absolutely appalling. I presume that he didn't even phone to say he's running late or something happened unexpectedly to delay him.

I hope your children are too busy having fun to even notice he's awol. On the plus side they have the most dedicated and hardworking mother who more than makes up for his shortcomings.

Hoping he arrives soon but not when it's inconvenient to you all x

Bes - clearly he doesn't know what's important in life. how could he let them down (and you) on Christmas Day? Enjoy your day and your kids without giving him a second thought.

Dearest Dont - I am so sorry to hear your news. The only thing I can think of (and I'm not medically qualified) is that they felt that the cancer could be reached more effectively by chemo and that by removing it manually they were doing more harm than good - possibly removing good tissue too and perhaps his cancer areas weren't too large. Blood cancers can't be surgically removed but are treated chemically. It may be more effective to treat his cancer using chemo drugs/radiotherapy. That's the only logical thing that I can think of for the surgeons's actions. Would you be able to talk to the Oncologist?

Don't feel you are being unfair talking about it. I have a relative in Ireland who has a blood cancer (terminal in his case as he hasn't responded to treatment) - I was just talking to my Mum this morning about Christmas in that household.

I am fervently praying for clarity from the surgeon (and possibly better people skills too). Big unMumsnetty hugs to you dont - and to you Bes. x

he turned up at 12.30. I think he went to church first. he did ring at 10.20 to say he was still doing stuff at his sisters. then decided to go to church as we were going to the local CoE. if he had come he could have gone to church with us but hey ho.

ds rang him and told him that he was two hours three minute late. Dd does not expect him on time. Ds has not yet learned. they are old enough to tell their dad what they feel though.

unfortunately he is here now annoying me. I shall try and breathe....

oh well. church was good.

Merry Christmas one and all. I got my prayers answered and having being rotered on to work today, my boss was able to change my shifts!

Praying for everyone struggling, especially missing loved ones, those with health problems or ill loved ones.

grr. someone was supposed to wash up. I have bowls, pan and three roasting tins, plus some other bits and bobs not washed up. sigh.

I asked what time he would be here. he is aiming for 10am. apparently he did not come at ten this morning as we were going to church. yet rang from where he was staying at 10.15

He has told the children he would come at ten. ds has asked whether I would be surprised if he came at ten. I try so hard to not comment to the children and am letting off steam here. he can do it. he has done it before and been on time. I suppose ds ringing him and asking him where he was will galvanise him to move. we shall see.

good morning. It is 10.33 and ds has just had a phone call. someone is going to the shop and then coming round.

still not here. going to get on with our day anyway.

I can not go on. having dizzy spells with the continued barage of stress that is being inflicted on me by my mother and totally lacking any common sense whatsoever ex.

ex has no idea how to feed his children when I am ill. he has no idea how to keep them safe and can not cook the basics.

no-one has asked how I am feeling after I spent the night on the sofa feeling poorly. they have asked about fifty million questions about things I have aalready told them and about stuff they could wor k out for themselves if they actually engaged their brain.

I am feeling quite sorry for myself but have given everything I have again.

Oh Bes!!!! Your ex sounds clueless. He needs to seriously raise his game.

Really sorry that your feeling so poorly and noone is noticing or helping you. Can you sort out a TV on the sofa day with kids films etc and have make do meals? At least you can rest a bit without the hassle of cooking? Really wish I could help you out more than with words. Have you got any over the counter medicine for your symptoms that could kick in and ease things a bit?

Really, really feel for you. You always have such a lot going on and you seriously deserve a break. Pity your ex isn't capable of helping out.

Quiet - we got the answers we needed eventually from the surgeon. Basically if he had removed much more from dad his immune system would be compromised and chemo no longer an option. Instead they are planning more chemo sessions and clinical trials. It's the end of the line sadly. Just so shocking that nothing was picked up on the zillions of scans, gastroscopies and laparascopies he had. I think that the oncologist will be surprised at what has happened. Feeling very low but hopefully it will pass. Feel it's cruel on dad too as he thought, as did everyone else, it was operable. He had so so many tests and scans and procedures and they were all favourable too. He said to everyone on Xmas day to be happy as he was happy. That seriously broke my heart.

Sorry about your relative quiet, I hope that they get good treatment and care. It's just so unfair. Did your friend get Xmas with their husband at home? Hoping so!!!

Off to make lunch and hoover while dh is hoovering out the cars. Bless him.

Oh before I forget. On Xmas eve my absolute atheist Bil was saying the mother Theresa express novena for my dad and had his children reciting it too which I was hugely touched by. He knows that it's important to me and how I get comfort from it. I read psalm 145 on Xmas eve and it was hugely comforting. I asked God to take me to a page in the bible, opened it up and there I was. The hospital chapel is also a great place to be too, very homely and reassuring too.

Oma how was your Christmas and how are you feeling today? Is this the quiet part of your Christmas and new year break? Have you got relatives with you and are you keeping busy. Thinking of you too x

Thanks for asking Dont. Yes this is the quiet part of Christmas. I spoke to my two youngest brothers by telephone yesterday, otherwise nobody. I woke up very early this morning, had tea and something to eat, then went back to sleep and slept till quarter to twelve. So it feels like a funny sort of day today.
Dd did not come until midday on Christmas Eve, we had brunch at Waitrose, went home, tidied the shopping, then dd took the children to the park while I had a rest. Dgrandson was so tired that he did not help with decorating the Christmas tree, but dgranddaughter did not go to sleep tlll 11 (does anybody have any hints as to get a six year old to sleep, she is seriously insomniac?). Both were awake at 5.30, I had been awake from 4.15, so it was a long day and dd decded she wanted to go home Christmas Day, rather than after lunch on Boxing Day. She is now volunteering at Crisis in London.
We had a lovely meal, went to church all of us, but I must admit it feels a bit flat.
I'm looking forward to my neighbour coming in for a cup of tea tomorrow and to BES coming one day next week.

bes may be sitting rocking in the corner of Omas kitchen...

I am going home. I am really looking forward to it. messy though it is.

I cooked today as I fancied a christmas dinner again. it will be using up stuff in the freezer when we get back.

... and have left mother a dinner for tomorrow, though she has got to pick the last bit of meat off the magic chicken. (9adults+6chns meals)

and we had the mysterious vanishing peas which were not in the freezer yesterday according to mum despite me telling her they were. tis magic that freezer. things appear and disappear like scotts mist.

oh and why is it that as soon as I go to the loo all hell breaks out downstairs...

we are still at mothers. I was supposed to leave ages ago. stuill fucking about packing and sorting out and repeating what she is allowed to eat. and whose food is whose... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I am home. the journey was good. the weather good no stupid drivers. and lovely christmas lights. I have cleaned out the vegeatble mush from the bottom of the fridge that I did not have time to do before I left and taken it down to the outside bin.

just waiting for the heating to kick in and put the children in the bath.

Hello. I'm back! Have been thinking of you all over Christmas...

BES - I'm sorry that things have been so tough. Your [expletives deleted] ex is a waste of space, isn't he? I'm so cross with him for letting the kids down and dumping everything onto you. Hoping you are feeling better now, at least, and that you have some peaceful days with the DC.

Don't - I'm sorry to read your news and that Christmas was so stressful for you, with you now knowing what was going on. Your dad sounds so brave. Sending prayers for healing for him and for strength for you all.

MHD - How are you feeling? Praying for better health and less pain, and that you were able to enjoy Christmas with your family.

Oma - Thinking of you and sending prayers.

Please can I ask for prayers for DH for tomorrow. He has to go to the hospital for a scan. It's a long story, but basically he went for a cystoscopy back in October following what seemed to be a case of kidney stones. This showed that something was preventing his bladder from emptying fully, and he was told he'd have to go for a scan to check it out more thoroughly. No-one said anything other than that it was still probably stones, so that seems the mostly likely option. However, he was given (without comment or reassurance) a copy of the letter that was sent to his GP by the hospital which said that it was 'either stones or cancer'. I have written to the local PALS team to complain about that, as I don't think anyone should just be handed a letter that says that with no comment at all... Anyway, to add insult to injury, they then set up two appointments but forgot to send him the details - in both cases the first he knew was when he got a letter telling him off for not attending. Just before Christmas he phoned them up to find out what was going on and simultaneously (without telling him, as he's very much of the 'don't make a fuss' ilk) I wrote to PALS, and miraculously they phoned on Christmas Eve to say that they'd organised an appointment for tomorrow. So I'd been telling myself not to worry because they obviously weren't worried since he hadn't been sent an appointment... and now I'm worried that they have speeded it up because they are, in fact, worried. (Yes, I know I know... they speeded it up because we both complained... but my brain is in overdrive.) Anyway, prayers would be very welcome. (And those few people on here who have me on FB, not a word on there, as he'd kill me if he knew I'd shared this info... I know I'm safe on here, as he'd never click on anything with 'Christian' in the title!)

Sorry for writing an essay.

I know we are not at the end of this thread yet, but I thought I'd start a new thread for the new year (while I have a bit of time), so if you have anything specific that you'd like me to include please post it here in the next few days and I'll start the new thread before the end of the week.

I like this prayer, which I found on the Methodist 'Prayer of the Day' site for today:

Today, O God, let us know your power to make us strong, your counsel to make us wise, your grace to make us holy and your glory to bring us into your presence. Amen.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

That's a very good prayer, TUO. No, not a word on FB, but do let us know on here, won't you? Prayers for you all.

No specific prayers to mention in the new thread.