April Already!!!? MN Christian Prayer Request Thread - The Bible Bashers Continue .......

[CaptainDippy]

Good grief - It is April!!? When did that happen!!? God has taken us through some interesting times this month - Times of Thanksgiving and Praise; Times of Sorrow and Pain - but He IS alive and He is with us ....

Here's a summary of March's Prayer Requests for you all......

Worzella - Has been feeling - worried she might be depressed. Having to make decisions about what to do once her maternity leave ends soon. Big [hugs] and prayers to her ....

LongWayToGo - Has been v.v.v.v.tough for her this month. DH has moved out of the family home and she is struggling to cope with the emotional upheaval etc. MIL died too. Her DH has started drinking again. Prayers for protection over her and her DC's. She also has some health worries with an enlarged Gall Bladder....Finances are v.tight.

PandaG - Prayers for confidence to return following car accident. Prayers for her as she trains for new job.

MaryBS - Prayers for lady at her church who has advanced cancer. Not looking good. Mary is v.busy atm - lots of prayers for rest opportunities and for everything to go smoothly ..... Praise God for friends and BIL's adoptions that have gone through this last month, prayers for them as they embark on a new way of family life..... Prayers for Missinoary Priest shot in J'burg. Prayers for BIL in Iraq and for lost friendship, which has hurt Mary deeply. Prayers too for DS who is seeing Ed.Psych atm.

SleepySooz - Prayers for her new Vicar and his family as they settle in. Praise that hypnotherapy seems to be helping her emetophobia.

Podmog - Praise that DS2 is putting on weight! Church has not been good recently, but prayers for poss opportunities for Podmog's personal involvement with the church, which have been arising ..... Prayers for poor DS1 who has been poorly with ear / chest infections ....

harrisey - Going away for a wee while over Easter - prayers for R&R to be had. Praise that their car has ben recovered after robbery. Prayers for poss future involvement with Latin Link. Prayers that the harriseys can reamin healthy and fit .... Praise God for their Baptism / Dedications in March!

Twiga - Praise that God-daughter who was admitted to hospital is home - prayers for complete recovery. Praying for her PG too!

Pepperrabbit - Cont prayers for friend whose husband died in Feb. Funeral went ok.

Dumbledoresgirl - Prayers as she cont to struggle with Emetophobia.

MumToGusandAlbie - Cont prayers for her as she copes with relationship with her and ex-DH, esp for her precious boys. Prayers for friend's mum who is ungoing cancer treatment. Cont prayers for Vicar's son who is also currently recieving treatment for cancer.

CaptainCaveman - DSis is back at work and managing not to drink during the day! Cont prayers for her and her DD. Praise that CC's med reduction has gone so well!

Roseylea - Prayers for her as she seeks her "vocation", poss that she may join hospital chaplaincy - prayers for child care arrangements etc. DD's excema has been much better since healing service - Praise God! Prayers for mum who has recently has an exploratory op to check out health fears. Rosey's body is "complaining" against her dose of Prednisolone (Steriod), prayers for that. Prayers for general household health.....

NotQuiteSoGrownUp - Has been v.stressed and a bit recently. Finding life a bit tough. DS2 has been boundary pushing and DS1 is involved in a tricky situation. Prayers for resolution and rest....

FannieAnnie - 31 weeks PG, going ok - hoping bubba has turned as was footling breech. Work is not going well - lots of prayer needed there. Prayers for the family of Father Paul Bennett who was stabbed to death in front of his wife in S.Wales recently.

JBW - Cont prayers for mum and nan as they cope with the loss of her S.Father and for her too. Praise God she got the new job she wanted!!

Mars - On-going prayers for Dave and Sue - Dave still "not himself" .... any update recently Marsy?? Prayers for 2 babies recently delivered who are struggling....

Pirategirl - Divorce going through - feeling v. and struggling.

KittyLette - Mum poss has cancer, v.frightened. Lots of prayers needed.

Squeakybub - Prayers for DP's S.mum who is critically ill in hospital following road accident.

Chloe55 - Prayers for friend who "sold his soul to the devil". V.difficult situation.

CaptainDippy - Prayers for the Dippy Family as they prepare for the imminent arrival of Dippy3, esp for her and DH who have been rowing a lot recently. DD's are "getting ill" atm, so prayers against that would be cool! Can't think of anything else atm - brain is mush .... Prayers for finances would be cool too! Gosh - I sound v.selfish .... but I do love you all and - Praying for every one of you!!

Now - Get Praying!! ......

Ahh - you see - bubba recognises my typing

Obviously!

Must be the "one-fingeredness"!!

Would love to hear DS recite Psalm 139 btw - that is so special and lovely - what a sweetie! I can recite stuff off by heart after reading it only once as well and I definitely don't have AS - just a good short-term memory (South england Kim's game champion once upon a time, don't ya know!!? )

Hi all

welcome to neener, glad to have you with us .
We won our cup final at hockey yesterday!! Yippee!

CD, well done again for marvellous synopsis. I'm so rubbish at keeping up and rely on your list at the start of every month.....

Mary, are you managing to get to bed any earlier? You must be shattered?

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.....I'm probably a cynic because of my nursing background, but whenever I come across someone with a cancer diagnosis which is not particularly positive, I'm embarrassed to admit that I think no matter how much we pray for them, their illness will kill them .

Sorry, that seems really blunt but I don't know how else to word it. I think I'm really confused? I know from personal experience that God works miracles and can turn the most hopeless situation into joy and positivity. However, when it comes to terminal illnesses I am baffled and I don't know if I believe prayer works.

I'm not looking for God to prove me wrong!! I would really appreciate another perspective on this, I think mine is a little warped.

Hi CC - I think that whether the prognosis is good or not, if you believe in God and believe that prayer will work for you, then that surely takes some of the scariness out of the whole situation. Even if you don't recover, if you believe that you will then your body will fight up to the last whereas if you don't believe then your last months/years would be pretty miserable IYSWIM

Well Done on the hockey cup final! - I am going to think a bit more about what you said re: terminal illness etc and get back to you .....

I do believe in miracles though .....

LWTG - tried that email address, didn't work. Got a delivery failure. Mine is suttonmb at talktalk dot net

CCM - I get off to bed fairly early, unless I'm busy on something, but am usually in bed before midnight. More frequently about 10pm. Trouble, is I wake about 3am. So some nights when you see me posting near midnight, then again at 3-4am, I've been to bed, got up again, then will go back to bed again

RL - I understand entirely about feeling pangs about leaving. I still miss the RCC sometimes - it doesn't mean that you aren't better off where you are - having read your emails, your calling sounds FANTASTIC! Its like a relationship thats ended, you sometimes miss them because of the good times you had.

Wow lots of people posting tonight! I'm off to bed though!

God bless all!

Night Mary -

a big cheery good morning to all .

Still feeling on top of the world - could have something to do with the fact that today is my last day at work for 12 days (I think that deserves another !!)

Upbeat, cheery prayers coming everyones way from me.

God bless
xxxxx

12 days off!!? Fabulous! Enjoy!

Wow. Loads of posts to catch up on. Hello everyone. Praying for you all.

Sleepysooz. Good to hear from you, Hon! How's your dh doing?

BTW, I've just started reading the Tom Wright books, which Mary recommended ages ago (I'm reading 'Mark for Everyone') They are great and very very easy to read. He has a chunk from the Bible - his own, down to earth translation - and then a very readable comment on it. I can really recommend it. (And I have to admit that I am very bad at reading the Bible regularly, particularly since the dss arrived.)

God bless all.

hmm mary its .co.uk thats why. will try and email you once i've got the lo's into bed, I am knackered, miserable and grouchy with the girls.

Lord give me strength.

Hello NQGU and LWTG!

Off to antenatal appt - DD1 has v.v.v.high temp - has bene in bed sleeping since 5.30 - worried about leaving her with IMIL but in my experience, she doesn't wake once she is sleeping, even when poorly. Please please pray she gets better soon.....

I just want to add a BIG PRAISE GOD!!! I started work on my essay last night, and I can really see where its going. I have a massive 750 words already (although a lot of that is bible passages). It needs to be 2-2500 words. Part of me feels at picking an easy subject, but there's still lots for me to get my teeth into! Interestingly enough, the most useful websites were Jewish!

I then just need to decide what my outline study is going to be (and I've got the whole of the OT to pick from, but probably best exclude the Pentateuch, as that's already been tackled...). Anyone any ideas?

NQGU - glad I was of some use, his books are SO good!

CCM - well done on winning the hockey! Sometimes, when someone is dying, then prayer may not be for their recovery, but for support and strength for what is to come. Its about trust in God, that it is His will, however hard that may seem. Sometimes it is only in adversity that we find faith. How many people pray because things have gone wrong, then forget to thank God when things have gone right?

I'll just share this amazing (miraculous to me) story about a lady at our church. She had been screened for breast cancer and given the all-clear. Then by mistake, the hospital called her for ANOTHER scan 3 months later - when it should have been her sister that was called - it was a mix-up. This time they found cancer, and she's had treatment - saving her life! Praise God!

Bobsmum - I can sympathise on the Ed Psych front, as my DS is also seeing one. Will remember you all in my prayers.

Oh, and DD got a CONFIRMATION card today, from my SIL (who's a once a year Anglican, although her uncle is a retired bishop). Seems she's got a bit confused about the whole "communion before confirmation" thing! (this is another SIL, one I don't talk about much..., I have 3 SILs!)

Good Evening everyone,

LWTGo - really praying hard for yu that God may make you smile again soon. Really sorry you are going through such a tough time and I pray that you soon find some light at the end of the tunnel.

CD - praying that your DD1 feels better soon. Hope your antenatal appointment goes well too.

MaryBS - i agree with your comments to CCM and what an amazing story about the lady at your church. Thank God.

Well my day has been very busy with work this morning then ASDA this afternoon. We didn't get back until 5.30 then I had to cook tea and get the boys ready for bed. DS1 fell asleep on the sofa whilst I was clearing up the kitchen - managed to manhandle him into his pjs (he doesn't like sleeping in his clothes otherwise I would have left him!!) Both of them now safely tucked up in bed but there is always plenty of other jobs that need doing around the house - no sitting on the sofa for me just yet, might treat myself to a cup of tea though!

H has now been paid for the last month which he worked. He repaid me the money that I lent him last week but there was no extra - he had said that he would give me some money this month. I didn't say anything but then he gave the boys £20 to spend on toys in ASDA - I was pretty mad as you can imagine but what could I do? He gave the money to DS1 and told them both that they could spend £10 each. I felt like saying - well if you have spare money then perhaps you would like to buy DS1 some summer clothes - but didn't feel it was appropriate in front of the boys and MIL. I could really scream AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Still smiling though!

God bless
xxxx

Hi,

thanks for your words - I kind of thought thats where I was, and I have discussed praying with very poorly terminal patients with our old vicar before he retired, and felt ok with this.

However, having thought about this a bit more, what I think I feel is guilty that when someone is diagnosed (so not necessarily too ill at this point)I don't think they will get well - so in essence, prayers won't work?? I think my faith here is weak so I could really do with some prayer and I think I should be honest with God about how I feel, and let Him help me work it out? Don't get me wrong, I definately believe in miracles (which sounds like a paradox compared to what I've just typed!!). Oh, I'm confused

Great news though Mary about your lady with breast cancer.

CD how was your antenatal? Praying for your dd1, hoping she feels much better soon.

MTGAA for you at H's actions. Praying for peace and calm for you!

Lwtg - God loves you, and even though things seem rubbish at the moment - God has still given you us!! (small consolation prize??!) Praying that things calm down for you and for much calmer waters ahead.

love and prayers to all xxx

I was doing some research on Moses and the promised land and came across this article:

why Moses struck out

I particularly find this last bit relevant (and such a God-incidence, considering I wasn't even looking for it! )

"A pastor in New York that I know had an unusual kind of cancer. Treatment was very long, tiring, and scary. Many shots, radiations, everything you normally associate with cancer, only more so. He wondered what purpose there was in it all. He wondered if God had just abandoned him. Years later in the ministry, a girl in his church was diagnosed with the very same cancer that he had had. She went through the long gruesome treatment with all the shots and radiations. The pastor went to visit her in the hospital. She said that no one understands what it?s like, that no one cared, and especially that God did not care. The pastor said, ?I know, and I understand. There is healing in the Gospel, and purpose for your suffering. God will not let anything happen that is meaningless.? "

Because of the experience that pastor had, he totally understood what the poor girl was going through, and was able to help her entirely BECAUSE he had been through it.

CD - how is your DD???

Please pray for baby number 1. Not looking good at all.

Back to thanksgiving for baby number 2. Just pray that the doctors like what they see and that they can all go home very soon.

Thanks.

Oh and pray for me cos baby 1 is making me very sad and it's the first time I've felt this since starting as a doula. Ta!

Will update on Dave and Sue soon.

Hi CCM

Just a thought from me and then I must go to bed. Have you read David Watson's "I will fear no evil"? It must be on a prescribed list for you somewhere.

From what I remember he talks about prayer a lot in it, and the idea that prayer for healing is soo much more than prayer for physical healing. Terminally ill people must have their attention focused on all sorts of things - putting relationships right, healing past hurts, forgiving, as well as physical healing. Surely at this time, people can be open to God's healing power in every area of their lives. He can use their diagnosis to bless them in that way.

I am not saying that He cannot heal miraculously, but that He wants to heal totally, and that when someone invites Him and His healing power into their lives, they may get a lot more than physical healing. If we believe that God wants the best for us, in our lives, then can you not pray for His healing in their lives, without worrying how He will work that out?

By the way Sleepysooz, if you are still around, I am not all full of life and smiley. I am with you on the knackered side of life these days. Hang on in there, Hon! It has got to get easier once they start school!

OK. Good night. God bless all.

mary thanks on two counts. I have just read that link - brill stuff, all stuff that Ihave preached over and over again. Its so easy to become dependant upon ourselves, thinking that we have all the answers, thinking we can fix the thing that is wrong but in fact we can't. Some things are totally, totally beyond our control and all we can do is rely on God totally and utterly.

Lord I know you have all the answers but I am an impatient soul - please show me where your will is in all this, because I just feel i'm making sucha hash at it at the moment.

Right i'm going to sleep now bec it's taking me twice as long to type bec my eyes are stinging so much and brain isn't connecting with hands. Well i'm going to try and sleep = jjust pray that the four teenagers who have made my lounge into a bedroom go to sleep soon and that they don't wake up the two toddlers who are in their bedroom next to the lounge - not thtat they probably will bec their well used to noise.

Right enough waffling nite all

Hi guys!

Great stuff on the good beginning to your essay Mary - praying it continues to go so well and you continue to be inspired .....

Marsy - about Baby1 - praying for miracles here. Praise God for Baby2! Keep us updated....

Hi to everyone else who posted too - sorry, that is a bit of a cop out, but my head just can't get round "deep conversations" atm, iykwim!!? It has been interesting to read people's comments on various issues though - I am sooo pleased we can all be so open and frank with one another on here ..... Praise God!

37 weeks tomorrow!! Come on baby!!! Yippee! Full term - that feels good - let's just hope nothing happens between now and 12am tonight ...... Have been feeling "a bit funny", bump has definitely dropped and MW said bubba's head is right on my pubic bone now - so don't think it will be too much longer - As long as it is after 12am tonight, I don't mind! .... Oh, and a little bit of time to pack my hospital bag and do a few other bits and bobs wouldn't go amiss either!! So all is fine with baby - BP good, size good and everything on target ....

Thank you for praying for DD1 - she seems absolutely fine today after her illness last night - she was boiling hot and was sick a couple of times while we were out (poor MIL). She slept in our bed all night and seems back to normal this am - I'll take it slowly today, but hoping that is the last of it .....

Hello everyone!

Mary I liked your link too - thank you!

LWTG I'm praying for you, and Mars for the babies you are loking after.

Healing, eh? IMO it's a v. complex subject but (again IMO) it is always right to ask in faith. I've never seen anyone healed from a terminal illness but the curate at our church has, extraordinarily, seen a girl raised from the dead in Africa - he sat and had a very normal chat with her a few days afterwards.

Anyway must go because dd needs slathering in cream...

Actually I've just remembered, I do know someone who has been miraculously healed of a terminal illness...

A lady we know very well, who was in our home group at church had very advanced throat cancer. She was in one of the LOndon hospitals and when we went to visit her it was very scary as she had lost so much weight and looked so awfully ill - we went with some friends, one of whom is a v. experienced nurse and after the visit we all sat around deciding how we were going to try and support B's only relative, her son, after she died. It seemed that there was no doubt, her time was up.

B says that one night in hospital an angel came and filled her room and asked her if she wanted to live or die. She said that she wanted to live, and from that moment she started making progress until she was allowed to go home a month or two later. She ate loads and loads of Mars ice cream bars and put all her weight back on and has regained the use of her voice nearly completely. That was about 8 or 9 yrs ago. She's not the type of person to make this up, and I do believe her because IMO her recovery is miraculous.

So it can happen, even from the brink of death. Thanks be to our resurrecting God!