Christian prayer thread for winter

[Madhairday]

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 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. 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.

going to see mum and sil. sil is helping us see mum. (two adults required eo keep ds and mum safe)

longish drive along motorway and back.

Praying that all goes well BES, with the drive and the visit.

Packing for New Wine here and super excited :)

I hope your drive goes well bes and that you have a fulfilling and fun time at New wine MHD.

I received some truly sad news this week - a beloved colleague who I worked very closely with had died suddenly and tragically at a young age.
(I've moved away from that section but am in the same organisation still so by an oversight other colleagues forgot to contact me. It was only when I missed the funeral that someone realised that I didn't know)

I'm completely heartbroken by the loss. Such a wonderful person has gone. And I'm distressed at the struggle that this person endured.

Would you all say a little prayer for her soul when you are settling down to pray? Thanks.

I'm so sorry to hear that, MsForestier. Prayers for her loved ones, what a horrible shock :(

Thanks MHD. Feeling a little better. I know she's at peace.

msforester of course I will and you too.

I'm about to do vespers for the first time in weeks, the weather has made my health much much worse. I couldn't even get my medication today due to it and a massive anxiety attack. I saw people I knew but was either rude or ignored them as I couldn't cope.

I forced myself to go out but now regretting it. Got some issues on another thread here as well.

Anyway, I wanted to ask for you to remember me in your prayers, it's been almost a year since my beloved aunt ended her life and I saw my family for what it is. They put her in a home (telling her it was for a couple of weeks) and then sold her house (it wasn't necessary they could afford the fees) and all her belongings including those she wanted left to family and friends (again not necessary for financial reasons). She found out because one of the nursing staff family bought her house and ended her life. I struggle so much without her and the knowledge my family could do such a thing. She had faith and they refused to allow anyone to know she was dead - I found out when I was rung by a relative asking why I hadn't bothered to go to the ceremony, it was a humanist ceremony (which she didn't want) and there was a family party after - her will was obviously ignored as everything was sold.

I'd booked to go away but given I'm practically housebound these days (literally go out for food/medical appointments/medication except like today when I walked out from terror) due to weather and fear as well my therapy which I was doing where I tried to go places feels like years ago. I'm dreading being stuck in by weather and going through this anniversary (especially as my godmother ended her life for similar reasons - deterioating health and lack of family support in April).

My prayer life is suffering as my mental health is getting worse, hence vespers being a big deal tonight. I'm more talking to God than structured prayer and I'm worried that means I'm losing sight of him being god if that makes sense.

I'm trying to hold on to Philippians 4:4-8 (literally, I've got a copy everywhere!) and giving thanks for everything that's good, like today people helping me over the road (thank them too of course!) but I feel I'm being consumed by bitterness and jealousy.

Prayer for peace, medical care (which is very problematic), support and not to be consumed by grief, bitterness and jealousy.

I'm sorry that was so long,more like an essay!!. The last two parts are the summary!!

I do read the thread I just don't always know what to comment. I remember you all collectively as I can't always remember usernames.

How are you this morning Becca?

It's cooler so feeling a bit better mentally, am exhausted so going to rest this afternoon in bed. Unfortunately my mental health worker cancelled and I really needed that appointment today as struggling so much. I tried someone else but there's no-one. I managed evening prayer readings and bit of structured prayer and managed compline last night (compline is my favourite service).

I'd appreciate people continuing pray, if they don't mind of course!

Compline is my favourite service too.

I know quite a lot of people who enjoy it. I had it on cd once and I've lost it (or stupidly lent it to someone) and it was both in Latin and English. I bought a traditional service booklet on Amazon for £1.25 including postage and it was perfect to my surprise! I hope to find another cd one day, though I did get lazy putting it on when I went to bed and dropping off immediately!

My church a long time ago did the service weekly during advent and lent which was lovely but then changed it to be a bible study as well as some people said they wanted more - it doesn't work at all with (what was a very complex) bible study in the middle, they stopped it years ago.

I didn't manage it last night but I managed to pray before bed.

I have it at the back of the 1926 prayer book, but know enough of it by heart to fill the time between turning off the the light and falling asleep. I think there is nothing wrong in falling asleep while praying.
It’s a lot cooler here today and much nicer.

It just feels rude to fall asleep somehow!

Our sun came back so it's been hot again today unfortunately! I'm debating going to get some shopping now it's a bit cooler.

Psalm 4:8 is part of Compline: I will lay me down in peace and take my ret; for it is Thou ,Lord, only Who makest me dwell in safety. That is probably the King James Version, but I always think that if it is God Who gives you sleep it is not bad to take that gift from His hand and fall asleep.

I hope you got your shopping without getting too hot.

Thankyou for that. My godmothers suicide inquest has been published. Am devastated. It's like she's died all over again

Oh Becca :( I'm so sorry. That sounds incredibly painful.

Praying for you all from New Wine. Having the most amazing week and coping physically - just! Last night we had a talk from an incredible woman who had been in a N Korea prison camp for being Christian, she'd started a church in the toilets because there was nowhere else they could worship together. Her story was just stunning, honestly we were all in bits. We then went on to sing Amazing Grace, her favourite hymn, and we sang it in whispers for the first three verses while she sang put clearly, to imagine having to worship in whispers and standing with the thousands of secret Christians in N Korea, then we just went for it and completely raised the roof in the last verse, it was the most intense, joyous, raw and profoundly beautiful experience. I'm still in bits now.

Sorry to hear that Becca. It doen’t get any easier does it? I pray you have a better day today.

MHD that sounds incredible. From time to tie I have the opportunity to worship at Olney church, the home of ‘Amazing Grace’. I must ask if she has ever been to Olney, or might, hopefully, still come.

been praying for those pesky lungs, that they would let you have an incredible week.

I am in full holiday prep flap. it struck yesterday and will not recover until about monday when we are there, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, and shopped for supplies.

I have written the list. I need to get prescriptions from the Gp but getting ds to leave the house is proving tricky.

Best of luck BES. I hope that you will have nice weather.

Thank you, BES. I'm actually doing really remarkably well :) I'm completely shattered this end of the week but it's been an incredible time of coming closer to God and just laughing my little socks off :)

I hope and pray you have a lovely holiday and practical things all work out and go smoothly.

aggh my phone ddid not post.

we are supposed to be going on holiday but are still here packing .

those who have been on these threads for years will not be surprised at this.

long drive.

Thankyou oma it's very difficult. They've published all the details of what she did and her attempts at help and how she was told to just wait for counselling as she wasn't serious. It makes for horrific reading because of all the details. I close my eyes and see her. I've spoken to the vicar (after he said I need to up my attendence) and he's said that everyone is devasted by it and it's like she's died all over again for everyone including her family. I thought there were rules against putting details but obviously not Monday is the anniversary of my family members suicide.

Yesterday I stayed in all day, I didn't rest just constantly struggled with thoughts.

Today has been dreadful anxiety wise, I just constantly feel in a state of full on panic, I'm struggling even more than usual to walk eventually it'll end in seizure. I've spoken to someone from mental health who said I must get physical conditions ruled out first which I can't because they've said I lie about being physically ill (the irony!) and am incapable of traveling for medical tests. I don't lie by the way.

BES I hope you have a lovely holiday!