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Original poster

Christian prayer thread for winter

984 replies

Madhairday · 12/11/2017 17:18

Hello all! I just posted a long post on the old thread and realised it's full up, so just going to copy this here to sunshine - will try and do a roundup of other prayers too later. Everyone welcome here!

Just want to reiterate what Oma and Cocoa have said so well, sunshine. It's no wonder church feels like a hostile place and you freeze up. I feel so sad for you that that man did this to you. But Christ isn't the church , the church is supposed to be his body, reaching out hands of love and help and compassion, and sometimes they mess that up. Hugely. Sometimes evil crawls in. But that doesn't mean God's abandoned you. I love that Oma referred to the prodigal son, I was looking at Rembrandt's study of that parable the other day and so struck afresh by the father's absolute joy in his son being home, his grace in embracing him whatever he'd done. Sadly you've had a poor excuse for a father so it must be so difficult to frame God in the language of father for you Flowers but God is the father who loves you beyond your imaginings, who reaches out arms of compassion and forgiveness, who gathers you in and just loves you. Loves you so much, so, so much, without end. You can never do anything that will make God abandon you. Jesus said that he is with us always, even to the end of the age.

I know church is threatening, lovely, but there are a lot of people who would love to help, here on the internet and in real life. It's just a case of reaching out, but I know that must seem impossible right now. I've learned that God is a God of restoration, a God who longs to mend the broken places and devastations in people's lives. I've seen people set free from so much and believe with everything I am that God longs to set you free, too.

I'd love you to find some medical support. I'm so sorry your GP is so rubbish. More and more the case, sadly. I pray you can get in to see someone. Would you also consider some counselling? Like cocoa says, that doesn't mean they would take your DC away, just that they would want to support and help you. Flowers you sound a lovely mum and have done so well to get to this point. I'm glad you are reaching out here. Please take care and know God's love pouring over you by the Holy Spirit. Flowers

OP posts:
EddSimcox · 25/02/2018 22:06

oh BES there's always another thing isn't there, bad luck ...

Thanks for the prayers Tuo.

I'm feeling overwhelmed again. I went to church tonight to a small LGBT service I'm helping out with. We do intercessions ad libbed around the group, and a man said a prayer for his partner who died many many years ago today. And it just made me burst into tears. It makes me so sad that some of us lose the ones we love and grieve forever, and others of us (me) can't hang on to the one we've got, and waste the chance to have a lifelong relationship with someone we love even though the possibility ought to still be there.... :(
I don't know why I'm feeling so bad about it all, it's not like it's new. Maybe because we had birthday parties for DD2 and DS this weekend so the happy families 'gap' feels very acute..

Tuo · 27/02/2018 00:02

Oh no, BES. How frustrating! I won't mention the time I poured a G&T into my keyboard I hope everything is working again now.

Edd... I'm sorry you were feeling so low. It's inevitable that you will feel sad and that family occasions, in particular, will be difficult. Praying for you at this tough time.

Day 11: A prayer that we might be merciful

This prayer is based on one of today's lectionary readings:

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. (Luke 6. 36-38)

Lord, teach us to be merciful, just as you are merciful towards us, despite our unworthiness and the way in which, despite our best intentions, we so frequently let you down. Help us to give freely, not in the hope of receiving in return, but for the joy of giving, mirroring your generosity towards us. And make us generous of spirit as much as with material things. Even when we feel that we may not have much to give to those in need, inspire us to give freely of our time, of our capacity to listen, and of our love, that through loving, listening and making ourselves available to others we may learn not to judge or to condemn, but to understand and to forgive. Lead us to look to the example of your son, Jesus Christ, in forgiveness, love, generosity, open-mindedness, inclusiveness, and mercy and inspire us always to follow his example. Amen.

BlackeyedSusan · 27/02/2018 07:13

I have another email to write today, information to find, phone calls to make and a lot of stress on only a few hours sleep.

Original poster
Madhairday · 27/02/2018 19:57

Oh BES, that is annoying. I hope you can sort it all out.

Lovely prayer, Tuo. I too hope and pray anyone reading feels welcome to post and ask about faith and explore. Feel free to delurk and say hello!

I'm sorry for my lack of posts. I'm so busy trying to get my book finished but not feeling tip top so trying to work in those times I have some energy. Not easy. Seeing my consultant tomorrow so prayers welcome.

OP posts:
CishAndFips · 27/02/2018 20:50

Will keep you I'm my prayers MHD I'm praying for inspiration. I want to make worship at our church accessible for SEN children. I'm stuck on ideas though.

Tuo · 27/02/2018 22:17

Prayers for your health and for your book MHD. Praying especially for you as you see your consultant tomorrow (and hoping you can get there safely if there's snow where you are). Praying for inspiration for you, CishAndFips.

I hope everyone is safe and warm in this cold snap. Hardly any snow here till tonight, when it suddenly started to stick. Let's see how it looks tomorrow! I thought we should have...

Day 12: A prayer on a snowy day

Lord, we thank you for the beauty of a sparkling white world, crisp and clean; for the pleasure of the crunch of making footprints in newly-fallen snow; for the excitement of children; for the perfect symmetry and intricate beauty of each snowflake.

At the same time, Lord, we ask you to be with those who work in these conditions to keep others safe: for the drivers of snow-ploughs and gritting lorries, for our emergency services and A&E departments, for those who go out in the snow so that others don't have to, and for those who work with the homeless.

We ask you to bless any who have fallen and been hurt on ice or snow, those who find it hard to keep warm or who are struggling to afford to heat their homes, those who have no homes, those who are afraid to go out, those who are frightened but have no choice but to go out anyway.

In all the contradictoriness of a world which is both wondrous and dangerous, thrilling and frightening, we acknowledge your presence and we ask you to be with us in the positives and the negatives.

Amen

Dutchoma · 28/02/2018 06:44

Hardly any snow here but I am trying to keep my water feature from freezing up for the benefit of the birds.

BlackeyedSusan · 28/02/2018 07:11

I stayed up late and got up early to sennd the email. and am now shattered. but did have more sleep than the previous night.

today i need to go to town to change a standing order as it passed me by that there were only 28 days in February. (der... )

Lisette40 · 28/02/2018 19:15

Bes sorry for your computer woes.

MHD good luck with your consultant. Well done on book progress. I haven't been posting much but due to mouching around not industrious writing.

Edd my heart goes out to you

Tuo thank you for your lovely prayers.

Hope you are warm Dutchoma and cish.

Lisette40 · 28/02/2018 19:16

Waves to wiggypig

CishAndFips · 28/02/2018 19:48

Lisette it's -4 here very thankful for central heating tonight.

Dutchoma · 28/02/2018 19:53

Yes, I am warm and cosy. Been out this morning, just to get out of the house for a bit. There were snow storms and then beautiful sunshine. We have about an inch of snow.
I am trying to keep my water feature going for the birds, but I’m afraid I fight a losing battle.

Lisette40 · 28/02/2018 20:48

Something here about keeping bird bath unfrozen - tying something that bobs to keep water from freezing....

www.care2.com/greenliving/keeping-birdbaths-thawed-how-to.html

Lisette40 · 28/02/2018 20:57

Here's some advice I found online Dutchoma:

'At the moment I just fill 2/3 of a plastic bottle with hot tap water & place it in the water after I have removed the ice before I go to bed. It seems to help keep the bird bath from freezing completely, as the bottle moves with the wind in the water & the warmth all help to keep the ice at bay.'

Dutchoma · 28/02/2018 21:26

Thanks Lisette. This already has a pump, so the water keeps moving. The trouble is that it freezes on the outside of the ball, so the reservoir underneath gets empty. I poured five jugs of hot water in it this morning, that stopped it from freezing up. It did not seem so cold today, I will just have to hope for the best tonight.

Lisette40 · 28/02/2018 21:36

Ah, I see Dutchoma. Your efforts are to be commended. It's so hard to adapt to this weather.

Dutchoma · 28/02/2018 22:35

I’ve just had to turn it off. It was iced up all round and I could hear the pump struggling. I will try and thaw it out tomorrow in daylight.

Tuo · 28/02/2018 23:58

Oh Oma, you are so lovely and kind to all - even the birds who visit your garden. You have inspired today's prayer.

Day 13: A prayer for kindness

Lord, make us kind. Help us to be kind not only to our nearest and dearest, to those we like, and to those who are like us, but to those whom we find difficult to like, those with whom we disagree, or who rub us up the wrong way. Help us to think before we speak and to be prepared to give the benefit of the doubt, even when we think that we are in the right. Teach us to look out for all elements of your creation and to treat them with respect and with gentleness. Open our hearts to others, to your creation, and to you, that all may find love and welcome there, as we know that we are always loved and welcomed by you. We thank you for your kindnesses to us, so frequently renewed. Amen.

Dutchoma · 01/03/2018 06:52

Thanks TUO. I have woken up to no hot water. Cold is working thankfully. I have sent a message to my plumber, but I think they have three under three, including a newborn, so they will be under pressure.

BlackeyedSusan · 01/03/2018 07:35

Went ot GP last night. The medicine Dd is on is over £100 a bottle so we have come away without a prescription. Also she has been sent up to eye casualty today.

Lisette40 · 01/03/2018 11:57

Do you personally have to pay the cost of the medicine Bes?

Lisette40 · 01/03/2018 11:58

I think if it's expensive the GP can't prescribe?

Original poster
Madhairday · 01/03/2018 20:09

CisandFips, I'm going to an accessible church training day next week so I'll report back any good tips, I think there's some specific stuff about SEN kids.

Best, hope you manage to get the medicine.

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 01/03/2018 20:56

accessible for sen kids: short. not loud. clear learning objective presented in different ways. (visual, simple talking, (keep sentences short and to the point) give them something to do and something to take away. break it up into small chunks. give movement breaks or a place where they can flop, leave to or move about. think about your sentences, be literal, think about imagery, it is confusing. look up oxford dioceses website for autism in church, it is very good. check your spelling and punctuation on the screen. he will notice and he will comment on it

do not: complain about the noise they make, don't worry if they are fiddling and not making eye contact, they may still be listening. do not make the whole service about them, make sure that there is stuff for the parents too, though do make sure this is also as accessible as possible otherwise you will get a little voic piping up about the illogical

BlackeyedSusan · 01/03/2018 20:57

oh and do not just htink about the service, think how the whole of church life is accessible to parents/families with sen.