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.

You are very welcome larry. Prayers for patience during healing. Is there a reason you cannot come to New Wne again? Is it because of the change in location?

I live in the south west so feel it is too far to travel on my own as the others at my church would not be able to come for various health reasons and also after this year I decided that I could not camp in a tent again and cannot afford to hire a caravan.

Yes, camping in a tent is not ideal, especially after a back operation.

Shame though, if you enjoyed it and feel you cannot go again. It’s a year away though and maybe something will turn up.

Hi! Can I ask for prayer for a work interview regarding my work conditions and hours tomorrow, and prayer for a social worker coming out in Thursday to assess us for adoption. I would really appreciate it.

Larry maybe you could try to get in touch with people in nearby churches who are interested in going next year? I love it when churches pull together!

Prayers offered, heffalump. What a busy week for you.

Can I ask for prayers for the young woman who came to her first AA meeting tonight? She seemed so lost and broken, thank you.

Thank you. Will pray that that women discover true freedom.

Praying for that woman, buddhasbelly. Also praying now for your week, heffalump!

Larry - welcome to the thread! I was so pleased to meet up with you at New Wine and so glad you enjoyed the week. I do understand completely about camping - I've only been able to do it in a caravan for years now due to my own rubbish health, tents are hard work and with a poorly back it's really hard. I have several friends who do it by staying in a b and b or premier Inn but again that costs, and as you say the extra distance is a lot, it was always going to be such a shame for those in the south west even while opening the whole thing up to more of the country :( - I'll miss Shepton! Asking other local churches sounds like a good idea. I'm praying for your quick recovery and lots of rest.

Just popping in with prayers for all DC (and their parents) awaiting A-level results tomorrow.

I have to say that DD1 has been vile for days now. I know it's stress. I feel her pain. But I will be glad when tomorrow is over.

Lord, bless our young people as they await their exam results. Surround them with true love and friendship that responds to who they really are, and does not depend on 'performance'. May they find support and good advice when they need it, and the confidence to take pride in their achievements as in a job well done, irrespective of marks and grades. Above all, fill them with hope for the future, with the resilience to shape that future for themselves, and with joy as they contemplate the next stage of their lives. As parents, we thank you for entrusting these amazing lives to us as they have grown, and we commend them to you for the years ahead. Amen.

I’d already thought of, and prayed for dd1 TUO. Sorry to hear that she has struggled - and you with her.
Beautiful prayer, thank you.

Oh Tuo, prayers for dd1 today

Remembering all getting their results today. I know a couple of adults who are doing a-levels to try and get into uni and they're really worried about today.

I'm seeing my GP today, praying that goes well and they can help. Seizures and migraines are becoming a huge problem for me on a daily basis now. I don't know if anyone will see this before then but if you do, I'd appreciate your prayers.

And thankyou for letting me make such requests of you here!

How did it go Becca?

Gosh Tuo - I am stealing your prayer as you have put my feelings into words much better than I can at the moment. I hope your DD is happy today - we have one more week to wait.
Lord, bless our young people as they await their exam results. Surround them with true love and friendship that responds to who they really are, and does not depend on 'performance'. May they find support and good advice when they need it, and the confidence to take pride in their achievements as in a job well done, irrespective of marks and grades. Above all, fill them with hope for the future, with the resilience to shape that future for themselves, and with joy as they contemplate the next stage of their lives. As parents, we thank you for entrusting these amazing lives to us as they have grown, and we commend them to you for the years ahead. Amen.
Praying for you all.

They were rather annoyed and frustrated, I must go back tomorrow. They want me to going to hospital for help but I get turned away. It's a mess I'm terrfied of the blood test, and, results.

Surely the hospital cannot turn you away when you come with the recommendation of your doctor?

The difficulty is there is a letter on my file there from a psychiatrist stating I tell lies and am conning my GP. The fact is that's not true, but I cannot convince them of that and they won't take my GPs word over a consultant.

I'm trying to complain but frankly I'm at the point of just not bothering any more and hiding in bed.

Yes, I would be for the hiding in bed too, but it gets rather boring. Does your GP know of that letter on your file? It all seems very complicated.

It's not boring but upsetting as the grief hits me then so trying to avoid bed - not very successfully with seizures and migraines!

Yes my GP knows but can't actually do anything, they've tried. They actually try really hard.

Amen Tuo

Becca, maybe the migraines and seizures are related to stress? By no means am I a Dr and I hope and pray that you get further along with the hospital and get a proper diagnosis. I just know when I was grieving my Dad's death and going through a stressful time in my teenage years I also had headaches and seizures. The Drs put it down to epilepsy, but I do think that stress exacerbated it. I'd continue to push for a diagnosis and invest in some back massages (so much stress is carried in the shoulder) and some quality "me" time while you wait.

Thank you all for prayers. DD didn't get the grades she needed for her first choice of uni (she did well, but underperformed according to her predicted grades) but got her insurance offer and, after the initial disappointment, is now really looking forward to the next stage and starting her course. (The first-choice uni was more prestigious, but actually the course in the insurance uni is exactly what she wants to focus on, so there is a positive side...) Above all, I've been hugely impressed by her resilience.

Praying now for anyone else who received results yesterday or who is still waiting. We're now on the countdown to GCSE results for DD2.

Praying for you, Becca, for the support you need, for the outcomes of your work and adoption meetings this week Heffalump, and for all the needs of all who visit this thread, whether they post or not.

Thankyou both.

I am extremely stressed out that's very true, I'm struggling greatly with my mental health. I can't have massages (my joints aren't stable enough) but I am going to try putting some heat packs on my back.

Apparently seizures and migraines are very closely related and I have "silent" seizures so it could be that due to the weather as well.

I've found cold compress helps a lot.

Well done Tuo's DD1 and good luck to your DD2.
I find my stomach churns from time to time as though I have eaten something bad but it is just nerves - I cannot imagine having two to worry about....
Becca I am sorry you are feeling so down at the moment and really pray that your MH takes an upward trend soon and that you receive the support you need.
I thought of you on Thursday heffalump - hope it was a good day.
So prayers for everyone and please keep my DD in your prayers that she gets all her predicted grades on Thursday.

Hopping into the thread having met madhairday and larry at New Wine. I have finally just got home having spent the following week on holiday. But I promised myself I was joining this thread when I returned so hello 👋🏻

Thankyou juggling I do try though it, clearly, appears to others I don't. I saw someone from church yesterday who after initially blanking me then came after me to say how much I need to go back as my faith needs church and I've got stop thinking I'm the only one effected by my godmothers death as it's pathetic I keep asking for prayers (which I won't do again as I wasn't aware when asking the vicar it was being relayed to others) when everyone feels the same.

I then sat in a shop crying. I'm sure people thought I was over reacting, which without context it would appear silly - the context being it turns out people were making similar comments to my godmother in the weeks before her death contributing to her suicide as she couldn't attend church anymore due to being forced to work on Sunday's and couldn't cope with being blanked for her lack of attendance.

I've spent today fighting feelings of bitterness/anger towards these people. There's a lot on the church Facebook and website about being mental health friendly in memory of her and if anything it's worse, they've learnt nothing at all.

I'm still struggling to sleep as everytime I try I see her.

I'm aware of the irony, given my earlier statement of expecting privacy, of asking for continued prayers here but I appreciate you remembering me, with my illnesses and as I struggle to function with physical as well as mental issues.

I appreciate being able to speak here more than I can say.