A new Christian prayer thread for summer...

[Tuo]

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:

abbsismyhero - for help with her anxiety and relationship with an abusive ex.

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

Aphie - for her fiancé's family following the sudden death of his uncle, and for her anxiety.

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

Bluetinkerbell - five years on from the loss of her baby DD, Sterre.

Cocoa button - for issues around the safety of her DS2.

Dontbesilly - for strength as she grieves the loss of her dad, for her mum and the rest of her family, for her DD's school issues, and for Dont's own health.

drspouse - for full recovery from a recent chest infection and for happiness and a warm welcome in her new church.

DutchOma - with gratitude for all she does to support people on this thread and elsewhere, and for her to find peace and joy in her life following the loss of her beloved Bob.

EdithSimcox - for her to find joy and fulfilment in her faith and understanding and support from her DP.

ethelb - for her MIL who has blood clots in her leg and suspected sarcoma, and for all who love and care for her.

FaithLoveandHope - for her anxiety and depression to lift and for her to be able to avoid falling into despair and self-harm, and for her relationship with her DSD.

greyscalealmond - for her depression to be alleviated and for family relationships.

HardyLeodicean - especially for her FIL and for a recently-bereaved friend.

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece - for her friend's pregnancy.

LarrytheCucumber - for family members involved in fostering and adoption, for the DC involved, and for their birth parents and all involved in their ongoing care.

LifeofBriony - for her relationship with her DH and for her DD's friend, J, who is in a coma after a seizure.

LittleBootsTheBabe - for healing and happiness for an acquaintance of hers.

MadHairDay - for her health, and for her whole family at a time of change and uncertainty.

Malefriendproblem - for her relationship with an old friend which has turned sour, and for her DD who suffers from anxiety.

Newmamatobe - for her new life with her baby DD and free of alcohol.

niminypiminy - who will be ordained very soon.

passportmess - for her friend who has schleroderma.

Paulat2112 - for friends who are experiencing relationship difficulties.

PositiveAttitude - for her whole family, but especially her DD1 who has been depressed, her pregnant DD2, her mum and dad, her DH and his work. Above all, we pray for PA herself, who is always there for others when they need her, for her studies, and for a potential house-move.

QoF - for her relationship with her DH.

SESthebrave - for all who are grieving over the loss of a friend from church, for work-related decision-making, and for the friend who was Best Man at her wedding whose relationship has broken down following his wife's infidelity.

SouthernLassie - for her relationship with a colleague.

sweetandsour - for her auntie who has been diagnosed with cancer, and for her mum and all who love and care for her auntie.

Teallove - for her to feel free to move on following the breakdown of a relationship.

Trazzletoes - for her 6-year-old DS who has previously had cancer and who is now unwell again - praying for a swift (and hopefully reassuring) diagnosis and for Trazzletoes and all who love him at this worrying time.

Tweebee - for her DS to settle at nursery.

And also thinking of friends who haven't visited for a while, who who pop in only occasionally, including ALittleFaith, Anjelica27, Kaykat, JugglingFromHereToThere, ktef, legohurtswhenyoustandonit, Pandora97, shortscotty, weegiemum and others.

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

This prayer was posted by Edith on the old thread, and I really like it and would like it to stand for what this new thread is all about:

All that we are, Lord,
we place into your hands.
All that we do, Lord,
we place into your hands.

Everything we work for,
we place into your hands.
Everything we hope for,
we place into your hands.

The troubles that weary us,
we place into your hands.
Thoughts that disturb us,
we place into your hands.

Each that we pray for,
we place into your hands.
Each that we care for,
we place into your hands. Amen

Orchid, it is never 'automatically' someone's fault in a relationship. So your in-laws view is unreasonable; and even more so, that you are made aware of this. I am so sorry that your DH does not match his words that he loves you with actions and words of care. I also think Dutchoma is right - if he goes away, pay good attention to how you feel and if your anxiety triggers are the same. Though I think a longer break would be easier to see that.

I did actually notice with my H when he was away that my anxiety ramped up when he was coming back. Just as it ramps up now at the thought of having to deal with issues which have been held in abeyance. Love does not necessarily mean healthy relationship.

More practically, are you doing your meditation? I have been doing mine a lot these last days to make the panic subside. You have the MIND counselling starting too; nothing will be sorted overnight, but things will get better

Dutchoma, thank you. I think (hope) there is still a longer road to renewed contact, which will both establish appropriate boundaries for H to respect, and take DS's needs into account. I pray, anyway, for this.

I am so grateful for this thread and for you kind people. I pray for your wellbeing and for kindness to be in your day to day lives. I pray for courage for myself and for others, safety and security. Please God, hear my prayers, keep us safe. Amen.

Clinging on to the love of God is a good thing to do Orchid, but you need human love too. Love in deed is better than love in words and from where I am standing you are not getting a lot of either. Cocoa's advice of doing the meditation is good; also visualising how God is in total control and knows just how you feel might help. Just trying to skivvy you along like your husband is doing is more than likely to be counter productive. And more than a bit cruel. I hope that you will sleep tonight and that you will cope with the day tomorrow.

Orchid it sounds like your dh has difficulty with dealing with emotion or anyone having emotions or being under stress. It does sound like his family indulge him a bit - perhaps they try to deflect his grumpiness away from them, finding someone else as the problem. It may well be that he does love you but is not good around emotion. It's not helpful. Have you spoken to your gp about your stress in relation to your husband's reactions? I know my anxiety gets better when I am relaxed and it's hard to see how you can relax if walking on eggshells. My family live far away but provide all kinds of stress themselves so I'm currently building my own support network locally, church being a new support. Give MIND a chance. I am thinking of you, as many on this thread are. I'm making you a cup of hot tea and I think you need some cake with it and a .

Dutchoma ds is making his first confession next year with first communion after that. He is really enjoying himself and I find community worship very centering.

I am an innocent and don't know what 'natural evangelism' is . I think I would be too shy. I like the sound, in every sense, of the choir and evensong. I found today that the communal singing was very uplifting.

Well, I think the 'natural evangelism' is a way of trying to convince people that they have to become Christians. There is a big evangelistic drive coming to our town next year and they want to make the most of it. Converting many people etc. I'm not so sure and think tha if you have to 'learn' natural evangelism it's not that natural.

I think my success this year was getting me into church Dutchoma !

Well done Passport. Even more well done that you are enjoying it and so is your ds.

morning.

I was going to say the same oma,,, if natural evangelism needs teaching it ain;t natural!

here we go again. another week.

Orchid my Ds is off school today but if you would like company on the school run tomorrow virtually then I leave the house at 8.50 and 14.50.

Yes, we are off today too, but I can do a virtual school run too, if it helps?

Prayers for you bes, wishing you calm. I thought of you the other day when I discovered a large eight-legged one. It even made me scream, and I am usually okay with such things.

Thank you passport and cocoa ~ so sad, lonely and anxious today. Supposed to be going to work for couple of hours as part of return to work ( sick pay run out) so will have to take ds to breakfast club Tom. Phoned dh to check he is taking dd to schl ( and would he be here) he said yes he was taking but hadn't decided?!! Thanks for supporting me xx

Okay, Orchid, this is hard, but your priorities right now are you and DC.

Thus, you are going to work for a couple of hours, so you need to focus on that. Your part is to take DS to breakfast club and get yourself to work. Your husband needs to take DD to school (and bring her home?). These are the things you need in place for tomorrow to function. Anything else you need to tune out on, otherwise your anxiety will get out of control. You need to be able to function, regardless of where your husband is. This is not a question of whether he loves you or you love him; focus on practical things - what needs done. Write it down and be clear on your and his roles to make that happen.

(Going to work tomorrow is important for your recovery and your financial autonomy; please prioritise your ability to do that. If he is playing mind games around such a big step for you, please please concentrate only on what you need right now for your safety. You have a roof and food; you and DC are physically safe; you want to get to work tomorrow - do not let his issues stop you, please) I pray for you to have strength and focus.

good luck orchard.

struggling. someone seems to have sapped all my energy.

bes, looking after a child with ASD requires you to be switched on the whole time. I was crying this morning because I could not cope anymore. You have needs to. Vitamins, iron, fresh air and whenever you can get it, rest.

Thank you bes and cocoa- got clothes ready for Tom. One child bathed and another to do. We have all had tea together. Just keeping calm.
bes hoping you get a restful eve xx

apart from the library computers playing silly buggers.

Thinking of you Orchid, praying for you to get through today

I am trying to think of anxiety as energy, and channel it to helping me do what I need to do. Praying that I can do this!

Judi Dench always said that nerves are the batteries of a performance.

Hi all- prayed for you all this morning and my family- thank you for your prayers. Work was ok. Was physically sick with nerves but got there and back ok. Treated self to cab. Am very tired now but things are a bit calmer. Dh put dishwasher on this morning and took BOTH chn to schl and walked the dog and fetched me Ribena carton to take to work so things calmer there. Thank god for his love and the power of prayer. I have to do school run for ds in a bit but will be taking you lot with me " virtually "!!

WELL DONE!! Glad to hear dh helpful. Tumble dryer engineer due 1-5 but need to do school run. He knows I might be absent, I hope. Hat on. Leaving 2.52. 8 min walk.

I am here, not doing school run (one of two after school days) but heading home (via coffee shop) as DS not good with being there too late ...

Got child

Got coffee, which is not quite the same thing! But it has made me smile that you have your child at the end of the school day. Lovely small moments.

Back in- ds had good day too which is gd. Waiting for dh to get in with dd.

He's the child equivalent of a spiced pumpkin latte, cocoa. Glad everything went well Orchid.

Well done Orchid, well done Cocoa and well done Passport. Hopefully all equipement will work (including library computers for BES) and that all children will have peaceful evenings and sensible bedtimes.