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

she has been waiting ages for an appointment and turned it down as it clashed with the cleaner, whom she can postpone. I have told her to ring back and take it if it is still available.

oh fuckity fuckity fuck.

any way. got 42 items done. a lot of those was receipts that were read and put out for the bonfire at mothers.

more prayers for the lovely Oma.

about to collect a boy who will be really cross about going to after school club. wish me luck!

Thank you everybody. I've been out to Milton Keynes to see what I could do about a pair of Hotter shoes I got from the internet. The right one was fine, the left one was too big. The shop could not do anything about them, but they gave me a bag and directions to the post office, so I could send them back to the internet company. They then found me a pair of shoes. that fitted and took the £10 discount voucher. So I feel quite pleased with myself for getting all that done.

agghhh cooker coming tomorrow and the floor is still covered. admittedly it is a lot less deep and well spread out but it is those last awkward bits that are driving me crazy crazy crazy.

got to keep going but keep getting overwhelmed by it all and collapsing in a heap.

thank God I found my Christmas money.

Hello all. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts of DH. He is making a good recovery. I can tell because he's starting to get a bit stir-crazy at home and is talking about going back to work! Meanwhile, he's also researching our summer holiday. Hurrah!

I am keeping prayers going for Don't and her dad, praying for healing and for answers to some of Don't's questions. How's he doing? (Oh, and if your mum would like to tackle my ironing mountain pile, that would be lovely...!)

Also praying for passport - having had a minor scare (with DH's stone masquerading as a dodgy-looking blockage) just recently, I can imagine how worried you must be feeling. Praying for calm, and for a quick investigation...

Also for MHD, for PA's DD1, for BES (keep plugging away at it, lovely... you will get there), for amber, and for Oma. Glad you got a good solution to the shoe situation, Oma, and hoping for dry feet soon for BES (I second the freezer bag suggestion - I do that with my wellies when they start to leak!).

I randomly thought about DontStepOnTheMomeRaths today. I hope she's doing OK. If you're lurking, Momey, come and say hello.

I heard these verses yesterday and they seemed very apposite for this thread. Loving prayers for all who read this.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4. 11-12)

I would just like to say this prayer for Tuo and Dutchoma - because I think they embody its spirit.

May all of us
Whatever our circumstances
Never be so taken up with our own concerns that we do not see or respond to
the needs of others.
May we live with courage
the different challenges
that each of us faces.
Amen

It is a quick post and I pray for all on the thread. Thank you for your prayers re FIL - not getting better but I have had the wherewithal to speak to DH's family, thank you for your support here, and I am hopeful they will try to help out. I am thinking of Don't and so many others and my thoughts and prayers are with you. I also have a great friend of 30 odd years standing and she has just learned that her husband will probably not be around to celebrate their 40th anniversary (4 months hence ) . If anyone could spare a thought for her to deal with this - I would be grateful.

Otherwise my prayers are with all those on this thread.

Hardy x

Lovely to see you around Hardy

just back from school. eating breakfast and then once more unto the breach kitchen. shovel into carrier bags deal with later

I need a kick up the backside to keep going.

KICK. followed by HUG

ok shovelled the last it into carrier bags. hoovered the floor and started wiping it down. (no mopping it leaks onto downstairs ceiling.) I can safely say it is now at a level that would not concern social services!

the sticky bit is soaking with antibac. I need to go back and tackle it soon.

sorted enough for delivery. neighbour coming at three. I will spend the time sorting the most embarrasing parts of the rest of the flat. shutting my bedroom door

after all this tomorrow is going to be a day off to fiddle about and do what I please in the way of housework, crochet shopping etc.

ah ha. they rang while I was out, and arrived really quickly after I got home. I now have a cooker in the hall. yay... ish. it will be more yay when I have got a new cooker in the kitchen and an old cooker at ex's house.

When is that going to happen BES?

Very late, very tired, so excuse brevity. Thinking of you all and keeping you in prayer.

Hardy - lovely to see you and thank you for that prayer... I wish it did apply to me in RL as much as I'd like it to. Thinking of your friend and her DH.

A prayer of St Augustine

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

Sorry for not being around much lately.

I am just going to read through and pray as I read, so be assured of prayers for all on here tonight.

DD1 is doing well and I think she has nearly decided to stay at home now as long as the uni will allow her to do the rest of the course as a distance learner.
DD3 and her DH are doing ok, a few hiccups, but feeling a little more positive.
The home mum is in is lovely. Dad is not that good, health or emotionally. We have a problem with their finances but my brother is on the case.
DH hates his job and we are praying for a new one for him.

Very busy here. Chasing my tail constantly!

good news on dd1, dd3 and dm

how are you in all this?

Thanks BES Basically I am knackered, stressed, fed up of everyone elses stress coming in my direction and beginning to dread the phone ringing because I could well be another problem that I am expected to sort out!

you need to take a break from it somehow, you are going to go under yourself if you are not careful.

here: best I can do from here.

ds sends

I am discovering that I am not that great on change and uncertainty either. could do with prayer for deciding what to do about church.

Just caught up, thanks so much for including me in the OP Tuo! My start date has been delayed because I was off sick last year for a few months with anxiety/depression so I've had to be cleared by occupational health. But I'm hopeful I'll be hearing something soon. I am still on anti-depressants and I'm likely going to be on them long-term but I'm so grateful I live in a time where this kind of medication exists. Not that it's a perfect cure but it helps.

Anyway, Happy New Year everyone! Hope it's got off to a good start for you all. :)

Hello TUO
Oma told me you'd mentioned me. I have an exam on Tues and trying to fit my work hours into 4 days a week and college 1 is taking it's toll on mn lurking. Super busy these days. Kids in year 2 and 4. The boy has his ups and downs with the ASD but he's ok. DD maybe having a hormone surge, she's ghastly right now but over all it's good.

New divorce recovery course starts in 2 weeks that I'll be helping at again. It's all go isn't it?

Much love to you all who know me anyway x

Thanks BES I actually have a few weekends away planned over the next 3 months, so I am hoping they will save my sanity.
As for changing churches- its hard, isn't it. It took us 6 years to make the move from ours. It most certainly was the right thing to do and we are very happy now, just 6 months later, but it was not an easy decision and those 6 years were very difficult.

Dont hope the exam goes well. I think you are doing the course I did last year, so if there is anything I can help with just send me a message. Are you doing it over 1 year, or 2? I am just waiting for my results from my first module exam on level 4.

Hope everyone else is well today and have a good day. I feel in need of a very strong coffee - only I never drink it, so water will have to do.

Have physio appointemetn with dd today. hoping for something sensible.