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.

let's face it.

(one ought to read before one presses send)

I read before I press send! - and I still get typos!!

I thought Bes's post had lapsed into Latin.

Welcome to the thread @gr33glass - so pleased you've found your way here. Sorry to hear of the horrendous experiences you have gone through, you sound so strong, but it still must have left some deep scars on you. It sounds like that lovely experience of Christ's love has carried you. Never forget how much he loves you.

Have you been able to access any counselling at all after all you have been through?

You're so very welcome here and welcome to explore faith stuff, ask questions, be real. I think this is a place we don't pretend that all is well in the name of a Christianity which acts simply as a sticking plaster - we share all the raw stuff, knowing that God is even deeper than our deepest scars and desolation and loneliness and sadness and pain, surrounding us with everlasting arms and holding us close.

So sorry Becca to hear you're still feeling so poorly. Hope those abs work soon.

BES - how has this week gone? Meetings etc?

I'm still not too good, it's my 4th week in a row missing church. Gutted, really wanted to go this morning but just too weak.

I'm so sorry to hear this MHD. Are you feeling any better?

Thanks MsForestier. I am feeling a lot better than I was, just not strong enough to go to church yet. Getting there though :)

bloody phone won't charge at all. took months to persuade ex to buy a new wire, then the bloody thing was not delivered. he still hasn't chased it up. and now I have no phone. and will have a very pissed off boy.

never buying another wiley fox phone as they are crap. service is crap.

grr. parents evening.

Hi everyone, I have been reading your replies and thinking.

Becca, I do need a bible. I'm used to reading a KJV, which I love and am familiar with. I've looked on line and felt overwhelmed at the choice! I'll try again. I'm also going to look for your thread in Chat.

BlackeyedSusan our Parish Church, just a few minutes walk away, has an evening prayer once a month. I'd like to go to that, it's supposed to be a quiet meeting. I'm hoping to slip in almost unnoticed.

Do I need to dress up or are ordinary clothes acceptable. My previous church had very strict rules about clothing. You wouldn't believe how strict.

Thank you for your welcome MHD. I have had therapy which has been very helpful. I've been doing some thinking and praying this week and can see some light and some baby steps forward.

I appreciate your encouragement, more than I can say. BTW my keyboard has malfunctioned half way through this post so I can't question marks, exclamation marks, asterisks and more. It just does that sometimes.

I haven't read any of the thread but our church evensong I have been with all sorts if attire. I haven't been of late as we are 6pm summer months and that clashes with dinner as we have rugby all morning so can't eat at lunch time. In winter we are earlier so I can sometimes attend.
Our church is just happy you are there.

I've different versions of the bible, the one I'm using right now is the new NRSV and it's a mobile version so I can carry it around with me (it's got loads of stuff stuffed in the cover like my favourite readings when struggling with panic) I have that as I need the apocrypha for my daily readings as I'm using the original book of common prayer from 1662.

It can take awhile to find one you find really helps you. I love the KJV but there are times when I simply cannot cope with the language so I've others. I can't manage the new NIV at all so don't use thr one I have in case I end up ruining it (I've had it almost twenty years and it's a beautify purple colour). I also have a recovery bible which I found to be really helpful though I can no longer manage to use it as it's quite big but there are some lovely prayers in it and when I was better I'd take it everywhere with me. I don't know if you can still get them though.

This is the one I'm referring to www.amazon.co.uk/Recovery-Devotional-Bible-Verne-Becker/dp/0310936756/ref=sr_1_49?keywords=Recovery+bible&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1539722508&sr=8-49

I always have a copy of this book on me www.amazon.co.uk/Step-Prayer-Book-Collection-Inspirational/dp/1592850952/ref=pd_sim_14_21?psc=1&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=1592850952&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=1e3b4162-429b-4ea8-80b8-75d978d3d89e&_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_wg=a0jdj&pf_rd_r=EYRYPTDMFPS4T47D5W6T&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_w=v1P1N&tag=mumsnetforum-21&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&refRID=EYRYPTDMFPS4T47D5W6T&pd_rd_r=0829dec8-d184-11e8-b5da-2791156f382b the prayers in it are really helpful and there's a daily reading guide for them as well.

I don't know why the URL is so huge for that one, ironically it's a very small book but definitely one of my best purchases in recent years.

Thank you Becca, I'll take a look at those links.

Hi all

New here. Reaching out, unable to sleep, worrying about DS. Young adult, under a MH section, but missing from his ward. Police following up all leads but, so far, have drawn a blank. I'm trying to hold things together for the sake of my job and my family. Other DCs, scarred by living with DS as his past behaviour has been very, very difficult, don't want to know very much at all about their brother.

Unable to sleep these nights. Try to turn to prayer but my faith has taken a tumble. Madhairday - have just read what you wrote about God 'being deeper than our deepest scars and desolation'. Thank you. I'm going to reflect on that.

The cat has come by, making some friendly noises and jumping onto my lap. Not so alone at this time, after all. Prayers for DS's safe return would be very welcome. And, please, for sleep for me.

Thank you for listening.

Long time lurker here. I’m awake so wanted to let you know I’m praying for you now Masie. That sounds incredibly hard. I pray for the safe return of your ds. That God is with him wherever he is and protects him. And I pray for you. For sleep and peace and that you know God is with you too.

Thank you Donhill. So much appreciated. Hope you get some sleep - or maybe you're up now for the day? Take care.

So much happened overnight. Welcome Masie and Donhill. Praying that your son has now been found and returned to safety, Masie. Praying for you and your family to and pouring blessngs on the cat, which I’m sure is an angel in disguise.
Greengrass yes I have heard about very strict dress codes, but personally I have not come across any myself, so just go in something you would ordinarily wear.
As far as a Bible is concerned: there is a Bible app which you can download. It has many versions in almost every language in the world. I find it very handy that you can have two texts up together and can compare them. As a hard copy I use the NIV.
I hope you are feeling a bit better now Becca

Praying for your family masie and for your dear son's safe return. X

I'm still unwell unfortunately

Praying for everyone else this morning, and, welcome masie and donhill I've found this to be a very supportive and helpful place in my struggles.

Very many thanks for the warm welcome and prayers. What a lovely thread. I'll go through it properly soon and hold you all up in my own prayers. Oma - thank you. Yes, I think my cat may be an angel! He loves unconditionally.

Had a call this evening from police. DS sighted in our home town over past couple of days. So must have made a beeline for here. But he hasn't contacted us. DH helping police to find him because, as he's still under a section, he has to go back to hospital. He'll have been sleeping rough - again - just as he was beginning to turn a corner.

Praying that they find him and that he cooperates in his return. I'm sure the police will be very kind. They've been very supportive so far. Somehow I'm holding down a couple of jobs and caring for the rest of the family but barely sleeping and until DS is safe and we can start planning his discharge properly, I'm not likely to get much rest at all. Will it always be like this?

Thank you again. Donhill - looks like we're both new. Thank you again for your kind words. In the small hours last night, they were very much appreciated.

masie I pray they find him and can help him.

Got to see GP again tomorrow and I'm terrified as I'm still ill with tonsillitis please pray they can help without me needing to go to hospital or have even more disabling antibiotics. These ones are really effecting my functioning on top of the tonsillitis and I'm really scared.

I'm so sick and tired of people saying to me "it's just tonsillitis" really struggling tonight