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

Praying that bes finds the conference helpful for her and the family.

Praying That drsp is guided to the right church.

Praying thanks for dutchoma who always seems to have positive things to say.
Praying For me as dh still so cross with everything I do even when I try. Praying For calmness with my MH and that I can cope with my day today praying thanks for my dc who deserve better

Dutchoma thanks for the welcome back. I have moved now, somewhere better than when I last posted that's much more suited to me thankfully. I'm so glad the flat hunting is over! I'm kind of equally loving and hating being in London at the same time. I find it very overwhelming a lot of the time but I've resolved to start taking more advantage of the opportunities here as I've been so focused on work recently. Definitely won't be here long term so I need to start making the most of it.

Concentrating on your career is not a bad thing, GoldenWorld but there are so many wonderful things to do in London that it would be a shame not to take advantage of being there. I'm glad you have found somewhere suitable to live.

hmm... forgot to add prayer for not thrwoing myself into the road...

fell off the kerb, twisted ankle. and grazed elbow (kerb and gutter were the same shape and colour and I just did not see the kerb. )

what a wally!

prayers orchid. have you posted on relationships board?

Hey bes hope your injuries are not too bad. Not posted on relationships- posted re dh on mental health board before- he has had enough of my anxiety. It goes through phases of him being really cross since this started being really bad when my anxiety got worse recently. I was supposed to go to dd play this eve but couldn't cope with being in a hot school hall with 200 other people. Dh and ds have gone. Dh is fuming- told me to stick my cr&p dinner ( fish fingers, beans, toms and mash-not fab I know but I've been sick today-~ anxiety related I think). He told me to go to " a nut nut house" before storming out with ds. I've prayed so hard for help with my anxiety. Am I terrible for not going?

Oh darling Orchid, much as I can understand your husband's frustration, there is no need to be so nasty. That is so counter productive and not likely to help anybody.

What help are you having? When is that likely to be available to you again? Keep posting here and talking to us. I am in prayer for you right now, but it looks to me like you need some real life help right now.

Thanks dutchomA I need all the prayers I can get. I'm on the waiting list for nhs cbt but it's v long. Paying to see a councilor privately. Doc has signed me off work. My dm comin to stay for a few days cos I can't cope much to dh displeasure. It wasn't always like this

Very happy to hear you have the support of your mother. Is she likely to be supportive? Also glad to hear you are seeing a counsellor privately. The NHS can be very slow and cbt is not the answer for everything. The main thing is for your husband to stop being so horrible to you. Is he back from the school play yet? How old are the children?

Hey yes he is back- still grumpy and saying unkind things so I've come upstairs to try and stay calm. He's gone out to get himself some dinner. Dm doesn't have great history of support but much better recently.

I am away from home and staying with a friend at the moment. We prayed for you together and we wondered if there was any way you could spend a few minutes praising God, like using Ps103 and confirming that God is in control of the situation and will bring you through. We prayed for a 'shaft of light' to come to you and for you to be able to hold your face towards the light.

Oh, my dear, Orchid, I am so, so sorry your xH is not being supportive. It is hard to understand anxiety if you have not had it, but his comments are needless and cruel.

I will pray for you, that you may find a way through, that your counsellor may help you find confidence in yourself and belief in yourself, so that you might find peace. I am not sure you are in a situation conducive to peace right now, and you are blaming yourself and your MH. But baby steps, to find a way through. Be gentle on yourself.

As for me, a period of temporary peace, as I think (hope??) xH has left the country for the moment. My stomach knots when I think of this period of peace ending, but i am grateful for the calm at the moment.

Thanks for your replies~ ductchoma thanks for taking the time with your friend to pray for me. I've looked at the psalm. It's a real test of faith to praise God even when things are hard but I'm going to keep trying.
cocabutton I hope your knots in your tummy get better.

Also cocabutton thanks for your reply on another thread re the mindfulness app- going to try and do that more. I have one called headspace but I need to routinely do it .

Yes, you are right Orchid, it is a test of faith. But I have found very often that praise opens a channel through which God can release His blessings.

wonder where you get the fucking anxiety from? would that be from your H (he is not a dear h)

if you had a physical illness it would be unacceptable for saying you could not walk on a broken leg. there should be no difference with broken/damaged other things. which are just as likely to be physical. (excess of some hormone or other or decrease of neuro transmitters etc)

he is breaking his marriage vows to love honour, cherish etc. more than that some of the things he is saying are downright abusive.

(hugs) lovely.

well, I am still capable of walking, if you can call it that, more hobbling slowly, I did worry that i would not be able to walk this morning. it is really sore too. waiting for the ibuprofen

Morning all, thanks for your responses . Dh still annoyed this morning I said he needed to be kinder to me. Feeling ropey this morning as I think it's side effects from new medication - I'm praying the side effects ease quickly. My medicine is called duloxetine if anyone has used it or has any information if be happy to know.

bes ~ at least you don't have a black eye like your user name!

Hello everyone. Been reading through and praying along the way.

Lovely to hear that Joseph is skipping to school. Unfortunately I am not allowed to donate my blood as I am anaemic and had a few transfusions when I was giving birth. They said you can have received blood and be a donor, which is a shame as I would love to give back to the cause that helped me but sadly it's a no. Continued prayers for Joseph and the other children with cancer too. Miracles do happen every day.

Dh has a court date. His solicitor is not aggressive enough and suggests settling on a 60/40 basis to dh. The opponent has dismissed so much of our claim it's almost pointless to continue, except it's no win no fee and to pull out now means we have huge legal fees. Our solicitor doesn't seem to want to stand up and fight. He's pushing dh to accept the low offer to avoid court. The hassle. We have had to report the third party to the police for harrassment yet he denied that ever happened on his court statement. Yet the police warned him at his home that he is harassing us. How can he lie and say it never happened when a police officer visited him and we have written proof and his statement is supposed to be true bla bla. I could go on but I would out myself.

Counselling going well. Mum still hasn't sold her house yet. She's been staying with us quite a bit as she can't face going home. I can totally understand that. It's not a home without dad. I am struggling to get by each day and manage it by trying to do what dad would do. Chin up, be logical and lots of gardening. I actually have a really lovely front garden. Perfectly manicured borders and lawn, just like dad. Ok the back garden is a work in progress but it's relaxing to do what dad would have done and to carry on and stay strong. Trouble is people think I am strong and I am not.

Oma, just wanted to add that I am so happy that you came to the UK. I hate all the unpleasant remarks about immigration and this being our country. It's not necessary. I see it as we are all fellow human beings living together on God's earth and living the best way we can. You have helped me beyond measure, along with everyone else on here, and that is appreciated. Please don't allow stupid comments to upset you. You are welcome here, very welcome! I care not where you were born, but that you were and you and I crossed paths, ok Internet paths but that is still something to give thanks for x

Thinking of you all x

Praying for you all - including cocoa and orchid. Praying for calmer husbands.

Praying for Joseph. I can't donate at the moment but when I get my iron levels up I will seek to do so.

don't I know it's frustrating with the legal issue and being unfairly landed with fees due to a reluctant solicitor. On the other hand, settling avoids a court appearance and one way or other puts the issue to rest. The other party are clearly out of line. Extended dealings with them would be very stressful. People who behave like that and threaten others eventually get caught out. I know of a situation like this where an individual has behaved recklessly and, watching from the sidelines, I can see the damage both to them and innocent parties around them. Sometimes running for cover, even if costly, may be 'cheaper' in the short term. Your poor dh. Glad counselling is going well. Being in nature is so helpful.

Orchid I hope the medication is helpful, it often takes a while to 'kick in'. Perhaps a quiet walk might be grounding too - just some time for you in nature. I like Headspace but I've found that I find listening to rain and thunderstorms meditative. I have a rain sounds app which calms me down!

Praying for you all...esp dont and orchid today, also edith - have been thinking about you and hoping things are getting better.

Thank you Dont.

Joseph is having quite a lot of treatment at the moment at odd times of the day (and night) and he and his family are quite tired.

I seem to have dropped off the radar again, sorry all. I'm finding it really difficult to keep up with communication and finding it difficult to not retreat into myself again. I actually can't remember the last time I went to church :( I moved area in January and think I've been to our new church about 3, maybe 4 times tops. I feel quite isolated here and I don't feel able to talk to the vicar when my mental health is spiralling like I did with my old one, I don't find this new one approachable in all honesty. Today has been stressful, I work in a very small team with some very negative people at the moment which doesn't help my mental health at all. I almost cried towards the end of the day as I got so stressed. This evening I feel I'm retreating into myself and my thoughts are spiralling. I know I need to reach out before I end up in a really bad place but finding it really difficult.

I'm on my phone so finding it difficult to flick back through the thread. But... Edith I'm so sorry to hear things haven't been great with DP and you're not looking forward to the summer. I do hope things are a lot calmer for you than you're expecting. Niminy congratulations on ordination. Oma I hope you're feeling better a little while on from the awful way your "friend" treated you. As others have said, you are very valued here by so many of us and we definitely dont think it's good we "get our country back" - which is a ludicrous statement and I really have no words. It's very saddening some people genuinely feel that way.

I'm feeing very sleepy but also very tense and anxious right now so I think I'm going to curl up under a blanket but I wanted to come back on and say hi and though I cannot pray right now and have missed many people off this post, I do appreciate this thread and am thinking of you all.

Praying for you FLaH that you will have a peaceful night and a better day tomorrow.

Please pray that we find a way to stay in our house after a financially disastrous couple of years; me and the children will be homeless if I don't find a way after next month...and for health for the family while we have no health insurance. Thank you.

Praying for you all. For peace for Faithloveand hope, health for Joseph, healing for blackened Susan, and calmer husband's all around.