Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

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:
Tuo · 26/03/2018 13:51

Thanks MHD. For Holy Week, I'll try to write prayers based on the readings of the day...

Day 35: A prayer based on John 12, 1-11

Lord, help us to follow the example of Martha and Mary as we serve you according to our gifts, inclinations and abilities. Like Martha, make us active in our service, that all that we do - at work, at home, in our churches, and in our hobbies - may be to the greater glory of God. And like Mary, teach us to love you with our whole hearts, to contemplate all that you are and all that you mean to us, and to worship you unstintingly. As we prepare to recall your death and resurrection, make service, love, and worship our guiding principles, in our relationships with you and with one another. Amen.

Tuo · 27/03/2018 23:32

Day 36: A prayer based on John 12, 20-36

Lord of contradictions and paradoxes, teach us to live well in this life by despising and discounting it. Show us the abundant life that you can offer us, in contrast to the petty, shallowness of our earthly lives. Make us prepared to lose our lives for your sake, as you were prepared to lose yours for us. Turn our preconceived notions of worth and preciousness, of value, honour and prestige upside-down, and support us to be prepared to give you all that we are, and do, and hope, and love, in the knowledge that all that we give will be generously and eternally restored. Make us brave, Lord; make us bold; make us images of your great love for us. We ask for this in your name. Amen.

Lisette40 · 28/03/2018 00:47

Really touching prayer Tuo. I'm thinking of poor Arnaud Beltrame and his family. His funeral is tomorrow.

Tuo · 28/03/2018 23:46

Yes, indeed, Lisette. What a brave and selfless man.

Day 37: A prayer based on John 13, 21-32

Lord, we know that we are weak. We would like to think that we would never betray you as Judas does; yet we know that Peter will also deny you, and that the crowds will shout 'crucify him', and that we too may have times when declaring our allegiance to you is difficult, when we do not live up to the standards that your example sets for us, and when we let down those around us, and in doing so also let you down. Forgive our weaknesses, our failures, our denials and our betrayals. Give us the courage, tenacity, and commitment to follow you with pride, to love you wholeheartedly, and to respond when you call us. Support us as we journey with you through the next few days; give us the courage to witness your suffering without flinching or turning away, and the hope that after pain and death will come new life. We know that we are weak: we thank you that you love us despite our weakness. Amen.

Original poster
Madhairday · 29/03/2018 07:46

Amen. Thank you.

My manuscript is finished. Can't believe it. Celebrate! Wine

How is everyone? Bes, you've been quiet lately, are you okay? Oma?

Thinking of you all this Maundy Thursday.

OP posts:
Dutchoma · 29/03/2018 12:07

Oma is fine: celebrating Easter in Vienna with a knitting friend.

BES are you ok?

BlackeyedSusan · 29/03/2018 17:52

last week of term. it has been a very long week. ex is collecting ds soo so dd and I can go to church. ex will not be coming soon enough. ds has stropped off after school and refused to return to the car for quite a while. he refused to get out of the car.

Lisette40 · 29/03/2018 20:05

Have a lovely Easter everyone. Well done MHD.

Tuo · 29/03/2018 23:48

Congratulations, MHD. Enjoy Vienna, Oma. Hope DS calmed down, BES, and that you made it to church

Day 38: A prayer based on .John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your gift of yourself, through your death on the Cross, and through the everyday gifts of broken bread and wine outpoured in which we remember you. Teach us to embrace your humility and, above all, your love, that we may keep your commandment to love one another in everything that we say and do. Through our love, let us show the world that we are true disciples of you, not preaching your gospel but living it, sharing it through concrete actions and attitudes. Make us servants of one another, that in our service to those around us we may also serve, worship, praise and thank you for your example and for your saving love so freely given. Amen

Tuo · 30/03/2018 23:05

Day 39: Good Friday

Lord, help us to look closely at your death on the Cross, without flinching or turning away, and to see there, behind the pain and darkness, the love the guided your every step on earth - up to and including your last ones. Help us to acknowledge the pain that we cause as well as the pain that we feel, and to bring both to you, leaving them at the foot of the Cross, in the hope of your forgiveness and the knowledge of your understanding and compassion. And help us to see that although these dark and empty days may feel like an ending, their finality is an illusion, the sense of closure only temporary. Give us hope; give us faith; and, above all, give us a love that is modelled on the love that brought you to this point, a love so radical and so all-embracing that it could even overcome death. Amen.

BlackeyedSusan · 31/03/2018 10:56

contrary mary signing in...

my babies are off to their aunts with their dad for the weekend and I am missing them... two days ago this morning could not come fast enough...

this is the first child free time that has not been school since they were born.

BlackeyedSusan · 31/03/2018 10:58

hope you are enjoying a relaxing Easter Oma, was wondering where you were as I had not seen you post for a while. not had time to get at the computer much for a couple of days...

this weekend is going to be cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

at least no-one is following me round untidying as fast as I am tidying.

Lisette40 · 31/03/2018 11:27

Perhaps a cup of tea and a biscuit with your feet up Bes.

Tuo · 31/03/2018 11:43

Yes. Definitely have a bit of a rest, BES. You deserve it.

Tuo · 01/04/2018 00:46

Day 40: Easter Vigil/Easter Day

It's after midnight, so I think I can legitimately wish you all a happy and blessed Easter. Thank you so much for walking through this Lent with me, all of you. I've been absolutely rubbish at keeping any of my Lent promises, but this one I have managed to stick to, and have posted a prayer every day for 40 days. I am grateful that this thread is here, so thank you for being here with me.

Lord, at the end of this quiet day, this day pregnant with expectation, this day that is like a held breath... waiting, waiting for what we know is to come, we give you our thanks and praise.

We thank you first for the journey that we have undertaken since Ash Wednesday - a journey in the course of which we have got to know ourselves a little better and, day by day, dedicated ourselves to you a little more. We thank you for those who have walked this journey with us, both in real life and on this thread.

We thank you, too, for this last week - for the final, intense, days of your journey to the Cross and beyond, and for ours as we have celebrated Holy Week, each of us in our own ways, stopping to think about your last days, your betrayal, your pain, your death. We thank you that you are with us in our pain, when we feel alone, and when we are beset by doubts.

We thank you for this day of waiting and for what it teaches us about patience and hope and trust.

And now, at the end of the day, we offer you all our praise and love and joy and thanksgiving, in the knowledge that you are our risen Lord who conquered death and are with us always. Make us worthy of you, teach us to love one another as you have loved us, and shine your light into our lives this Easter and always.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Alleluia!

Amen

Dutchoma · 01/04/2018 07:20

The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!

A happy and blessed Easter to all.

Original poster
Madhairday · 01/04/2018 08:09

Amen. He is risen indeed!

Bless you all. I pray you all know the extravagant joy of Easter today, flooding in to your deepest places 💛💛💛

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 01/04/2018 09:50

amen he is risen indeed!

BlackeyedSusan · 03/04/2018 13:37

important meeting in less than half an hour. Please pray.

also pray their dad is going to turn up at the correct time to rescue me just after.

EddSimcox · 03/04/2018 20:55

Hope it went well bes

tuo your prayers have been a true blessing, and a lovely way to walk through Lent taking notice of each day. Thank you.

The last few days have been mixed for me. Home alone tonight. :(

Love and prayers to you all for the entire Easter season.

BlackeyedSusan · 03/04/2018 22:55

they did not turn up, nor did they contact me to tell me they were not turning up so I am slightly annoyed.

Intheblackhole · 04/04/2018 10:32

Hello, would it be ok for me to join this thread of prayers and fellowship please ?

Dutchoma · 04/04/2018 17:41

Of course it would be lovely to have you intheblackhole. Can we help to get you out of it?

Intheblackhole · 04/04/2018 18:55

Thankyou for the welcome. Mm I could consider changing my username later .. I have been working through some emotional issues recently and have had a lot of family events the last few months( illness) . As a consequence I'm off work to look after the family but need to go back soon. And that pressure in itself is adding to my original problems - So there's a lot going on!
But I also have a lot to be grateful for. One of those is being Christian and I've recently changed church where there are a lot of younger people so have made new church friends which is great.

Dutchoma · 05/04/2018 14:19

That is a lot to cope with itbh (I’m not going to write that ot every time and hope you will see some way of climbing out of it).
Very glad you find fellowship in your new church.

Swipe left for the next trending thread