Praying into 2016: a Christian prayer thread for the New Year

[Tuo]

Happy New Year friends.

This thread is a safe space where anyone - regular, occasional visitor, lurker, committed Christian or waverer - is welcome to come and leave their prayers in the knowledge that they will be prayed for. No problem is too big or small to share here, and if you just want to come and say 'hi', that's fine too.

Looking back through our previous thread, we pray in particular for:

ALittleFaith - for good treatment for her anxiety; for better understanding from her boss; for the lovely Faithlet.

amberlight - for her work supporting people with autism, and for her and her family.

Anjelica27 - for her DS, who has mental health problems, and for Anjelica and her family.

BlackEyedSusan - for all that she has to juggle as a single mum, for her DC, and for her mum. Praying for a peaceful and happy 2016.

Dontbesilly - for her dad, who has been diagnosed with cancer, and for all who love and care for him; also for the medical team looking after him; for her DH's work situation; and for Don't's DDog who has a heart condition.

DutchOma - with gratitude for all she does to support people on this thread and elsewhere. Thinking of her especially as the anniversary of the loss of her beloved Bob approaches, in particular after the recent death of her brother as well. May she know God's closeness to her in her grief.

EdithSimcox - for her to be able to find ways to support and nurture her faith; and for understanding from her DP.

FaithLoveandHope - for clarity about what she wants (and what God wants) for her future.

HardyLeodicean - especially for her FIL.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece - for her to find comfort and joy in exploring her faith; also for a good recovery from heart surgery for her best friend's dad.

JugglingFromHereToThere - for her search for rewarding work, for health, and for comfort and strength for her and the rest of her family following the tragic death of her nephew.

Kaykat - following her divorce from an abusive ex; for happiness for her and for her DS.

legohurtswhenyoustandonit - for her to feel more at home and accepted by her church.

LifeofBriony - for her relationship with her DH; also for her DS going back to university after Christmas.

LightnessofBeing - for her new church, and for energy to cope with her punishing work schedule.

MadHairDay - for her health, especially in the cold, wet winter months which are always so hard on her lungs.

Pandora97 - as she starts a new job in a new town for the new year following difficult and stressful times relating to a court case in recent months.

passportmess (formerly known as QuietIsland) - for a colleague whose husband is very ill, and for a university friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.

PatchworkTurtle - for healing in her relationship.

PositiveAttitude - for her DD1, who is depressed, to get the support she needs; for her DD3 and her DH to work through their relationship issues; for PA's DH to find work that makes him happier, for PA's DMum to continue to be happy in her (relatively) new care home and for PA's DDad to cope with her being there. Above all, we pray for PA herself, who is always there for others when they need her, to be happy and fulfilled in 2016.

QoF - for courage when she is feeling anxious.

ScouseQueen - for a full recovery from recent illness.

SESthebrave - for her DH, who has been working abroad, and for SES, juggling everything at home; for her DS to find ways of communicating, rather than lashing out, when he is frustrated; and for her to feel appreciated for the work she does at her church.

TheRealGracePoole - for her ministry to women in her area.

weegiemum - giving thanks for an improvement in her DD1's (borderline) anorexia; praying for weegiemum's own health and for the Master's course which she has undertaken.

And, as always, prayers for anyone I've forgotten (with apologies), for all who lurk but don't post, for 'old-timers' who haven't posted recently, and for newbies who may not have posted yet.

A prayer of St Teresa of Avila

Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Those who have God
Find they lack nothing;
God alone suffices. Amen

Praying bes for strength and calm and a peaceful night. And for things to feel a little better tomorrow.

Praying for you BES and sending lots of love.

Also for you, amber, for a swift recovery and good outcome.

And for you Briony, and also for J.

thanks.

great news on j

doing the day on five hours sleep..

That's good news on J, Briony. Praying for good continued progress.

Prayers for you today BES - praying you will get through the day and be filled with the strength of the holy spirit....

How are things, dont?

I also love St Patrick's breastplate

Would love to do another prayer thread meet up actually - maybe in the summer?

Prayers for you amber as you wait on results.

And prayers for everyone here.

Thankyou for all yours....things are rather overwhelming atm

Yes, prayer thread meet-up in the summer would be good. I would love to host it again. Couldn't manage it last year and this year I will be away for the whole half of August so if someone would like to pick a date out of the hat....

as oppoosed to gin?

certainly seems like someone else is gettin gme through so far. going to have a long nap now.

children in school and all safe.

Meet up sounds good. I've never made one yet so I'll do my best!

Prayers for all on this thread - those posting and those lurking, but thinking especially of:

MHD - in an overwhelming world that Gid will provide calmness, refuge and strength

Amber - for your recovery, the results and as you await the results

BES - prayers for a peaceful nap and good sleep tonight.

Can I ask prayers for decision making please. I've been struggling for many months now with the work v home issue and feel that God wants me to step down from my management role to work pt in a clinical capacity at the customer face. I think this will be right for the DC and allow me to contribute to our community a bit more. However I'm not really sure it's what I want to do or if DH would be supportive or if we can afford it! DH and I are out for dinner on Thurs and it's likely to be the main topic of conversation. I'd really value your prayers.

Ephesians 5:18?

peaceful nap achieved.

prayers for the intense situation for mhd and for decisions for ses.

Thinking of you all.

This is so hard right now. I really don't know if I have the strength.

The nurse in the hospice keeps telling me off for visiting during quiet time. Dads either asleep or uncomfortable and in a room alone. Surely if I am silent and quieter than the racket the heating system pipes make and the nurse sat chatting on reception are, is it so bad. I just want to spend time with my dying father.

Please can you pray for my dad and for us to find the strength and courage to face this. I really don't know if I can do it. This is beyond tough.

Then I tell myself to pull up my socks and be strong for him and start all over again.

Please can you pray x

yes

Please pray for me to find the strength to be a better person. I'm continually at battle with a colleague and I need to be a bigger person and try and breathe through the frustrations.

I am trying to be compassionate and open but I find myself getting more annoyed.

Please pray for me to find the light of calm and peace, and understanding those around me

Don't I found that if I arrived before the 'quiet time' started and I just sat there quietly they didn't mind. So long as no-one walked through the corridors etc, they never told me off. Obviously you try to avoid those times, but I found that they were quite understanding of visitors needing to be with their relatives at such a stressful time. How is your mother bearing up?

Don't - praying for you, your Dad and your family. I can only try to imagine how hard this is for you. I pray for the strength you need.

southernlassie - prayers for you too in the situation you describe. Don't be too hard on yourself v

Thank you Oma I will try that and see how it goes x. I think that it also depends on what nurse is on shift. Some don't mind one bit as long as you are quiet, phone off etc. They even bring you cups of tea and lovely homemade cakes and biscuits. Some are quite strict and I got a strict one, when I was at a very low ebb. Everyone is really lovely and dads getting the most wonderful care. Hospice care is an amazing thing. It's absolutely the most comforting place to be in. Sort of like a church if that makes sense. Just had a big sob and two care assistants sat and just listened. I have just left the hospice for the night as dad's getting a tad worried about me sitting by the bedside. Think he thinks I have better things to do. That's my dad for you, it's never ever about him always about others. That's why it's so so hard.

My mum is OK with tearful intervals, obviously not in front of dad. We are all muddling and struggling along trying to support each other.

It's just such an incredibly hard time. Harder than I expected and ever thought was possible. Yet everyone has to face this. Then why do I feel that I can't continue? I looked at lots of elderly people today who obviously through their age, had suffered through this and emerged ok. Why don't I think I can do it?

I am so tired, and long for that comforting time of day - the time when I can go to bed and know that I can sleep and block out the reality of life. Then I wake up again and it's either bang and reality hits you or it creeps over you like a dark foreboding shadow of doom. I look terrible and tired and I can't eat much and I have lost nearly three stones in weight since August last year.

I keep on praying. I do find peace and comfort in small things - orchids lol, I have four. Dd said anymore orchids and I will end up sitting in a circle introducing myself as I am don't and I am addicted to orchids. I know that I am not on my own and God is with us all. I just need to concentrate on this more and to trust God more and hand it over to God.

Thinking of you all and praying too. It's lovely to catch up with everyone and with what is happening with you all. Your thoughts, prayers and kind words really do help me and I really appreciate it. Thanks x

I think everyone's thinking of you Dont and your family. There's something very peaceful and serene about orchids. My flower is the tulip; I love the colour of the stems and leaves and the uprightness. I'm thinking and praying for you. xx

I'm also saying prayers for the intentions of the all others on the thread. I pop on and read everyone's posts but can't post on my phone. I'm here though.x

Praying for you tonight, dear Dont and for all your family. There is no particular way that you 'ought' to feel, in fact the 'oughts' ought to go out of the window in situations like this, you simply give your best and your best 'ought' to be good enough.
I think your dad is right to send you home, he is being looked after but your family needs you. Try and eat little bits of things you like: an orange, some chocolate, little bit of cheese?
Sleep well, dear heart, tomorrow is another day

Oh Don't - it sounds so hard, and I have no advice at all, except to listen to lovely Oma, who has been there, and to look after yourself. Praying for you, for your dad, for your mum, and for all your family; and also for the nurses who care for him (even the strict one, who probably means well...). May God give you peace in this difficult time, and hope for the future. Enjoy your beautiful orchids.

Welcome Southernlassie - it's good to have you here. Your situation sounds very difficult: it's hard when one person makes work difficult. Joining your prayers for an easing of the situation: may your peace and compassion rub off on your colleague, and may better working relations be restored.

Prayers for everyone thinking about difficult decisions right now, and especially SES and MHD. May God open up the right path before you so that you feel confident in taking it.

Passport, thinking of you too; and also Briony, and Edith, and PA, and Oma, and BES, and amber, and all who have posted on this thread. This prayer (from the Northumbria Community) is for you all.

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

I'm away from tomorrow, but may have wifi after all, so you don't get rid of me that easily! Remains to be seen whether we'll get it to work, though. Watch this space, and if I disappear I'll see you on the other side and meanwhile will be praying.

hopefully the other side of the wifi, not the other side of well...

from calm and the loving arms of God around so many of our posters.

for

der

Gosh it was a busy day on here yesterday. Prayers for you all. (Especially you, don't).

Lent is quite a good time to be a banned-from-Sundays Christian. I was sad to miss the service on Palm Sunday, but I loved the Stations of the Cross last night, and I did one of the readings. If the vicar had asked I'd have probably said no but she just handed it to me, saying can you do this one, so I did, which was nice to do in fact. DP was pretty unhappy about it (even though she was out anyway!) so I won't risk going again this week; will save up any remaining goodwill to make sure I get to go on Sunday.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Common Worship: Daily Prayer in Passiontide

thinking of MHD and Dont today.

5 past 6 before i could get small boy strapped into car after school.

things are still not calm.