Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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

907 replies

Tuo · 01/01/2016 02:12

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

OP posts:
drspouse · 11/04/2016 09:00

dont praying the service goes off well today.

passportmess · 11/04/2016 09:07

Will be thinking and praying for you at 2.15 don't.

Praying too for SES's ds. Will do prayers for lungs in general for you both.

Twee glad your little one has settled.

Hello to everyone. Praying for all your intentions.

QofF · 11/04/2016 10:27

will be praying for you dont
praying through for the rest of you Flowers

EdithSimcox · 11/04/2016 10:57

Will be thinking of you and praying dont and for your mum. 💐

shortscotty · 11/04/2016 14:11

Praying for you all Don't x

BlackeyedSusan · 11/04/2016 15:44

prayers don't.

remember to let yourself grieve too. learn from my mistakes

keep an eye on your mum, and you, as it can be worse after the funeral as preparing that keeps you going.

other news: I may not have got a lot of cleaning done, but I have done some post opening. a miracle indeed. (post opening phobia)

oh and bizarre news. lost two crochet hooks that were there last night. found one of them stuck in the end of the duvet... where the other one is? Confused

Dutchoma · 11/04/2016 17:04

BES. It ran off on its little crochet hook legs?
How did the funeral go Dont?

QofF · 11/04/2016 17:28

How are you dont?Went past a church this pm and went in to light a candle for you dad. The candles were in front of a wonderful painting of Jesus. Beautiful, luminous and radiated peace and joy.

passportmess · 11/04/2016 18:17

Thinking of you don't...

Where did you find that flower emoticon Edith? It reminded me of tulips and I can only find this one FlowersConfused

EdithSimcox · 11/04/2016 21:13

Oh it was from my phone emoticon keyboard, not an MN one. I wasn't thinking. But it came out anyway this time.

Tuo · 11/04/2016 23:27

Don't - I'm sorry I didn't see your post earlier, but i am thinking of you now, and praying for you, for your mum, and for your dad. Your love for your dad has shone through in every post you've made here about him, right from your first post. Praying for peace for you tonight, knowing that he is at peace. And for strength and hope for the future. Flowers

Praying too for you, drspouse, that you find a good way forward in your new church.

And praying for SES's DS, for a swift recovery from his cough.

Twee - good to hear that your DS is settling better.

And continuing to hold PA and her whole family in prayer, as well as Oma, Edith, MHD, amber, BES, passportmess, QoF and others. Thinking too of people we haven't seen for a while, like Anjelica, Kaykat, and lots of others.

Don't (and anyone else who's struggling today) this is for you:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34)

OP posts:
ethelb · 12/04/2016 10:36

Thinking of you today too Don't.

I'm a lurker but wondered if I could ask for prayers for my MIL. She has a suspected sarcoma and is in hospital today and tomorrow for biopsies and a full body scan to check for any other growths/abnormalities and confirm the kind of cancer she has.

She has been in a lot of pain over the past couple weeks months with this growth and it has been a hard time for everyone.

I have a difficult relationship with her as she is a difficult woman but obviously I am devastated for her and very worried about DH who is shouldering a lot of the emotional burden.

She is being accompanied by FIL and BIL to hospital, 4 hrs away from their home, today.

passportmess · 12/04/2016 10:41

ethelb, saying a prayer here for your mil.

passportmess · 12/04/2016 10:47

Gosh, Edith I want that flower emoticon - it explodes into a lovely bouquet!

Would you pray for a childhood friend of mine? She has systemic schleroderma, a horrible disease. Her stomach has stopped working and the artificial feeding system is not working out. She is terminally ill.

Dontbesilly · 12/04/2016 11:19

QofF, thank you so much. Made me cry in a good way about the candle. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate everyone of them Flowers

I have said a prayer ethylb and be assured that I will keep your Mil in my prayers and your family too.

The funeral went absolutely brilliantly. It's the first time I have ever been to a funeral that was happy. The church service was both religious and modern with hymns sung and a few of dad's favourite songs played. It was so lovely that the vicar is modern enough to allow that personal mix.

I read out loud and although I wobbled twice and the vicar stood next to me, I gathered myself and carried on to the end. Quite a few people said that I was brave and they couldn't do it themselves. Dh and the dc all said that the wobble was not as bad as I thought and it added to the emotions of the poem and the occasion in an appropriate way. Dh actually said that had I read it out without any hints of emotions or a wobble, it wouldn't have sounded as heartfelt or sincere. The dc and dh all said that they were proud of me and that dad would be too.

I actually felt guilty yesterday that I wasn't sobbing uncontrollably. However it was a very happy day. The atmosphere was more like a wedding and I am struggling with this. So many people turned up and some were not expected and it was a wonderful surprise that they came for dad. I think it's because I have a strong faith in the resurrection that helped me yesterday and that I absolutely will meet him again.

BES is right about keeping an eye on each other. Rang mum up today and dh is popping round tonight after work. I feel very low today and sad. The dc went back to school today feeling the same way. It's early days. Oh and dd2 said yesterday that she would like to come with me to evening Sunday service at the church when I go. I think yesterdays modern and relaxed atmosphere appeal to her which is great. I understand why some of you are so troubled by the way some churches respond to young families and how important it is to find a family friendly church. Ours has toys and books in the far right hand row of pews and I can't imagine anyone bothering about the noises made by children. Plus most parents are quick to remove a child from any situation when they think it's needed. The atmosphere really does matter and you need to feel at ease.

I am off to keep busy and see how it goes. Thanks once again for your support Flowers

passportmess · 12/04/2016 13:12

don't I'm so delighted the funeral went well. You have much to be proud of at this sad time. May your loving father rest in peace.

BlackeyedSusan · 12/04/2016 14:58

prayer for ethels mil and passports friend.

Dutchoma · 12/04/2016 16:31

I'm so glad the funeral went well Dont. Bob's service was also one which was full of joy, children playing and really nice hymns sung. Don't feel bad over not crying, that may come later when you can let it out in manageable portion.

Praying also for Ethel's mil and Passport's friend.

Tuo · 13/04/2016 00:33

Lovely Don't, I'm so glad that it all went well: what a sign for you to treasure of how loved and respected your dad was. Be kind to yourself over the next few days: I'm glad your family is being so supportive. Praying for you and for your mum, especially, at this time.

I'm also praying for ethelb's MIL and for passport's friend. May God be with them and those who love them in their difficult times.

A prayer of St Augustine, for the three of you and for all to whom it applies tonight.

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and let your angels protect those who sleep. Tend the sick. Refresh the weary. Sustain the dying. Calm the suffering. Pity the distressed. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen

OP posts:
passportmess · 13/04/2016 01:09

Thank you Tuo

BlackeyedSusan · 13/04/2016 15:54

how you doing don't?

Paulat2112 · 13/04/2016 16:03

DD is competing in a huge swimming competition this weekend and we would appreciate any prayers for her.

As DH best friend is having a difficult time at the moment as his wife asked him to leave, he has been living with his parents for a month now but they are trying to work things out and are in counselling. They are going to be spending some time together this weekend, prayers for them to work through things would be excellent :)

QofF · 13/04/2016 16:20

prayers Paula, Ethel and Passport
Don't so glad it went well. Sounds like it was a real testament to your Dad. And am very pleased to read how supportive and loving your family are being with you. How is your Mum?

BlackeyedSusan · 13/04/2016 20:59

the computer keeps crashing so rushing in and rushing out.

drspouse · 13/04/2016 22:08

Would appreciate just a teeny prayerette. I'm getting over my chest infection but still coughing a lot, keeping me awake at night and hacking cough in the day. Really need to heal now. I have the day off tomorrow, child free, and wanted to go for a walk or a swim tomorrow but not sure I feel up to it.