Christian Coffee House - Prayer/Chat thread. No rubbish church coffee allowed.

[Madhairday]

With the latest prayer thread coming to an end, we thought we would create a new thread for prayer and general chat too - we had chat threads running for years alongside prayer threads, and we thought it would be great to combine them. I try and collate some of the prayer requests from the last thread in the next few days. In the meantime, dive in! Lurkers/newbies - you are welcome to post. Feel free to start any chat subject about Christianity, church, worship etc, and do share any prayer needs.
Would love to hear from those who were on previous threads and haven't been around for a while, too. Come and let us know how you are.

That must have been the most incredible service, Oma! Just beautiful.

@RoseForRembrance I also went on an oak hall holiday many years ago and remember very fondly open air services in the Austrian mountains, just stunning scenery, it was really special. Would love to do that again! What would you like to know about my book proposal.. can't give many spoilers at this stage but can say a bit.

@MollyWindley I hope you find a church which is right for you. St Thomas sounds good.

@ZenNudist I'm so sorry you're still finding it hard to connect with God. I pray you find some services / masses which really help you. One thing I'm finding helpful at the moment is reading through the book of Psalms and comparing different translations to really understand the text and the original meaning. Robert Alters Hebrew translation is really brilliant - retains the poetry and rhythm of the original. I'm just finding more depth than ever in the text, reading through them slowly and asking God to highlight parts of it. In the NT I've just started Hebrews which is a fascinating book. Still love the Lectio 365 app too, and find all the Thy Kingdom Come stuff really helpful at the moment.

Molly - yes it's a TV channel. The interview went ok I think but very cringey to watch back.

Yes lockdown can have a bit of a stultifying effect on creativity but to some extent it's easier for me because I'm used to being housebound for weeks at a time or sometimes months so in some ways it's not that different. I've been able to get a load of writing done and it really is keeping me going to have that to work towards. Just waiting to hear back from my publishers but that'll be weeks so just need to get on with it in the meantime!

Thanks so much for people's prayers. It's always amazing when you discover others are interceding for you but doubly so when they're basically strangers!

The problems seem a bit better today, yes. 🙂

That's good Strawberry. Praying things continue to look better 🙏

Thanks @Madhairday. I might have made some progress in the last 24 hrs, we'll see how it goes!

How are you doing?

🕊 🔥 Happy Pentecost everybody. 🔥 🕊

May the Spirit fill you all with peace and love.

Hello everyone

Happy Pentecost Sunday to all.

I feel uplifted after today's mass. The timing of the lockdown lifting as we come out of the weirdest lent and Eastertide ever feels auspicious. I'm not kidding myself we are out of the woods but at least we can pray for the action of the holy spirit in the world. So many people in need right now. I'd rather meet the future with hope.

I meant to reply to @RoseForRembrance to point out the inner room prayer app. It's by the same 25/7 prayer movement that brought us lectio365. I just use it like a notebook really but one that's well set up to very quickly jot down prayer intentions as you think of them or take more time and write more detail to compose a proper prayer which you can use every time you pray. The idea I think is you can cycle through the prayers for a set time and move the prayers to the 'thanks' or archive sections of the app. I find it useful at the moment just to refer to the list I've put together. I like to try and talk to God sometimes without too much digital distraction!

Blessed Pentecost, all.

Holy Spirit, fire us
Inspire us
Draw us out of comfort and into wild adventure
Rush through our rooms
Powerful wind of God
Breathe into our despair,
Oh Ruach,
Breath of God
And set free the captives
Liberate the oppressed
Shake the ground under us
Holy Spirit, fire us
Inspire us.

Thanks all for Pentecost wishes.

That's interesting to hear about the inner room prayer app, I've been looking for recommendations.

@Madhairday I don't know how you feel about the government announcement today re the shielded, bit it's good that at least those in your position are getting a bit more attention.

I'm really confused about it tbh. The many threads on here show widespread confusion and disagreement. Just don't know what to think. Would love to go for a walk but I live in a busy area. Wondering if I can walk with ds and dh over to church (dh allowed in and family) for a change of scenery! I just don't know :( hoping they make things clearer at the briefing today.

I'm really tired of shielding so carefully ie within the home. Beginning to wonder if it's really worth it anymore and just go back to normal or at least spend time in the same room and have dh back in my bedroom. So fed up. :(

Oh gosh yes @Madhairday, I hadn't thought about the fact they've said nothing yet about shielding within the house!! Guess they might in the briefing, although have just read the official announcement doc and nothing there, but think it said there's another doc to come.

I imagine one of the (many) hard parts about shielding is that most of the general public don't realise that part of it. Will pray that they at least talk about it this afternoon.

Sorry don't want to derail this prayer thread....

I’ve come to the conclusion they have no idea what they are doing, Mad.

As an’at risk but not shielding’ person. I’ve found early morning/late evening best for getting out for a quieter walk. And avoiding places that are likely to attract people for exercise. 7.30ish around residential streets is what I do these days.

Thanks for the Pentecost prayer MHD, we are really overdue some serious renewal.

As for the shielding I think the government are really just letting people make up their own minds. At the end of the day you can't trust them to give good advice, you just get lots of confusion that seems more about 'optics' than public health. I think up to now you have been stoic and sensible and its up to you to make your own judgement on the risk. My own view is a walk without getting too close to anyone or touching anything does no harm. It's a real worry about shielding from your own family. You've stuck it out this long, maybe give it a bit longer and see what happens to the infection rate as lockdown eases. Urgh sorry, its easy to get dragged into the covid chat. What everyone else says is less relevant than decisions you make in your own and with dh. It's not easy though and you are still in my prayers.

@StrawberryJam200 inner room is free so it doesn't hurt to download and give it a whirl. I'm Catholic but I find the 24/7 team pretty spot on. My holiday reading includes Pete Greig's 'How to pray'. Might take me some time to read.

Yes, thank the Lord that we have His wisdom to guide us and His spirit comforting us.

@ZenNudist we did the How to Pray course in our home group, it was good.

Did everyone see The Irish Blessing? I took part in it.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCsEpreI0a79mmgM2XS5RnEQ

That was quite amazing. Well done!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on shielding and prayers too. Having a good think about it all.

Kayaking will watch that tomorrow. Love the blessing. Did you see the Makaton version, that one is amazing!
How are you feeling now, hope you're much recovered.

Madhairday thanks for asking. I'm fine now but still needing lots of sleep. So maybe a bit less energy still.

With regard to your situation, shielders I know are taking walks and exercise outside. But there isn't a lot of Covid in this area.

Hi, I've not posted here before. I am feeling very lost and struggling with my faith and wanted to know how others cope with this or what I can try?

My father died back in April from Covid and we have just found out that my husband I going to be made redundant leaving us in a precarious. The financial situation. I am a health professional and have just returned to my job to find that almost every aspect of it has changed due to covid. I also have a yr6 DD that we are homeschooling which is damaging our relationships with each other. I am not feeling God's presence at all... I wondered if you might have some words of comfort or advice to help me see/feel gods presence. I just feel like he doesn't care. I feel like we are being punished.

@JoyceByersWasRight I'm so very sorry to hear about all your present troubles, especially your bereavement. Life is very hard at the moment. You sound like you have faith? Did you go to church before lockdown?

I want to say that the Father loves you, His Son suffers with you and the Holy Spirit is praying for you. One day He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

God doesn't want to punish us for anything, but to love us and guide us.

We can pray for you, and we will do.

Apologies, I reread and of course you say you have a faith.

I keep losing this thread from TIA and forgetting to come and look for it. Apologies if has already been posted but it moved me to tears.
Love and God's blessings.

Welcome to the thread Joyce. I’m so sorry you are feeling like that and all you have gone through. Other people will make suggestions I am sure, but for the moment I am praying for you, that you feel God’s peace and love for you.

Dear Joyce, this is the worst of it: that apart from all the misery you are going through, you also lose your relationship with the Lord. I think that point came for Jesus when He cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This total desert experience is one of the hardest thins to cope with and a lot of people have gone through it. For me, personally is to take time realising that God’s promise is that He will never abandon us and that He may be closer than you think. Remember Mary Magdalene in the garden: “Where have you taken Him?”, and He was right there with her. Think of that text where it says: “He will hide you under the shadow of His wing” Think what a dark place that is - but a place of safety at the same time. If you can, take a few minutes out and spend a bit of time reassuring yourself that God has not forsaken you, that He is still there and maybe closer than you think. My prayer is for your blessing.

Thank you both for your prayers, I do really appreciate it. And thank you for the thought provoking words. We really need a break as a family and there is just no let up or light at the end of the tunnel right now. I'm really scared and I'm emotionally exhausted.i just don't want to face any more battles right now.