Christian prayer and chat thread Open to all

[Dutchoma]

The old thread was nearly full, so here is a new one. Oldies and newbies, chat or prayer, all welcome.

Praying especially for MHD and JanFeb’s daughter.
Also praying for all who are preparing Holy Week/Easter services.

Hello Lydia. Graham Kendrick? Google is your friend

I have no problem with evolution. Makes sense that God has adapted things as the world and its inhabitants grow older and change in their needs and culture. I think it is wonderful and shows how Godis constantly creating.

Yes I find it all a bit depressing too. I'd almost rather not go and wait until it's like it used to be. Can't even sing

Yes do google graham. Although might be more fun to google GK 90s for the full flavour complete with rainbow guitar strap.

Hello everyone, I am new, having just discovered this thread. It is a welcome relief to all the scrappy threads that stress me out! I see you have recently been discussing feelings at returning to church "in person." Whilst I agree that the masks/ hand washing/ one way system/ no lingering/ chatting/ coffee do make a dent in the experience, it is the lack of singing that really gets to me. I don't think I had fully appreciated how joyful raising one's voice in praise and thanksgiving really is until it was taken away. I am trying to get used to "singing in my head" (!!) as we listen to the organ or CD music! The day we can remove our masks and lift our voices in church again will be a day for celebration!!

Welcome Ididnotsignupforthis. I totally agree about the singing and I am lucky that we can sing a bit as from Sunday.

RafaIsTheKingOfClay - it does take away some of that sense of community doesn't it? We are also banned from lingering to chat after the service for obvious reasons so it is just straight home. That seems a little sad. I feel for the older members of our church community who live alone and usually enjoy the opportunity for some company and conversation (and a cup of tea and a biscuit!) after the service. Such a lonely time for so many...

It does feel really lonely. We've been gathering a bit outside after but discouraged to do it in more than groups of 6, it'll be different now though so I imagine more people will gather outside for a while after church. Like you say it's so hard for the elderly people who are lonely and just want to see someone.

I just can't wait for it to be back to normal, but don't know when that will be :(

On the plus side, being at home and watching over zoom means I can enjoy a good mug of coffee and wear my slippers during the service.

I am not looking forward to going back to office working. After being at home for a year and wearing slippers all day I'm not sure if I can cope with wearing heels for twelve hours at a time.

Can you wear your slippers to work?!

Hope you have all had a good week. I'm having my hair done now for the first time in a year woo hoo!

Hi all, I'm new here. I'm bible believing christian. Please can you pray for me? Or give me insight? I feel like i've failed in life. I'm on my own, pretty basic job, not married and no children. I would have liked to be a wife and mother. Tried lots of things to look for a christian man. Find it hard I'm not a mother. I'm struggling to believe in God's providence. I feel like I'm doubting my faith in God. I just feel like I've not made the right decisions in life or missed opportunities. I know life isn't supposed to be about me, but I just find life painful, hard and lonely and I've got friends just living it day to day.

Sorry for long post.

Hi @Ragtaggirl and welcome. I couldn't read your post and run. You are not a failure. God loves each and every one of us. I can't explain why it is that some people seem to get a better deal out of life than others, but often what you see on the surface isn't the full picture of someone's life. The woman who seems to have it all may have an abusive husband, or be hiding an eating disorder, or be worried about job security and debt. I also think many people are finding life painful and hard at the moment due to covid. This is a gentle thread though and I'm sure someone with much wiser words than me will be along soon.

Peachypipps78 - I'm wondering if I could get away with wearing my slippers under the desk. Now that we are paperless there isn't much need to get up from my seat.

Ragtaggirl- I’m so sorry to hear you feel like this. God loves and values us all, we are all precious in his sight. He has held us in the palm of his hand and called us by name. You are worthy. You are loved. It is good to share these feelings and thoughts in a safe space like this. I hope others might be able to offer more practical advice but I wanted to respond. Sometimes life can feel hard and it is only natural to sometimes find it hard to cling to faith, and hold tight to god’s hand. He is there beside you always. Love and prayers xx

Welcome Ragtaggirl. After the year we’ve had it is no wonder that our faith is somewhat shaken. I would challenge any Christian, on this board and off, who has not had to hold on tight to their faith, I certainly have. I call it ‘strap hanging faith’. Hold on for a rocky ride. Apart from the things that ApplesandPears and Ididntsignupforthis have said (and they are so true) there are for me a few things I can do

1. Read Psalm 103 - Praise the Lord. There have been times when that was the only scripture I read for weeks on end.
2. Count your blessings.
3. Realise that you may be in a dark place, because God is holding you close - under the shadow of His wings is a dark place.

Keep talking on here. As it is difficult to get to talk to other Christians at the moment, share your concerns here and we will try and support you. You are much loved.

@Ragtaggirl it sounds like life is grinding you down at the moment. I don't believe God brings trials- I think his heart hurts when he sees us hurting and he picks us up and cuddles us closely.

You are definitely not a failure. Our lives take different paths and normally not down the path we expected. I had ten years of very serious mental illness which I never would have expected, but it stopped five years ago when I got the meds right. It was horrific and such an evil illness but it did pass. What I mean is that rubbish stuff happens to everyone in different ways- it's the world we live in, but our lives are short in comparison with the eternity we will live in perfect happiness and health with Jesus. Don't despair and stay strong in your faith- cling to Him.

How old are you? My best friend got married last year at 43 and has had a baby this year at 44. She is a Christian and had never had a boyfriend, and if you'd said five years ago this was going to happen she never would have believed it! Also if you want to be a mum have you thought about sperm donation? Or adoption? More than one way to skin a cat and it sounds like you have lots of love to give.

Just feeling a need to check in here, how is everyone?

Hi :) I'm okay thanks. I'm also enjoying the sunshine!

The thread went very quiet again,. I suppose with life opening up a bit more and the nice weather, on line contact is not so important any more. I am thanking God for ‘new church’, not so new any more. The pandemic has changed the dynamics and I think I have become a lot more ‘real’ with people that otherwise might just have stayed as ‘Sunday only’ aquaintances, if that makes any sense.

We’re finding socially distanced church is working a lot better than it did in the autumn. Partly because we go outside and at the end and sing, but for less tangible reasons too.

That's interesting @Dutchoma and @JanFebAnyMonth .

Our local church has now reopened, I had decided not to go back there and try somewhere else but now I'm wondering if I should try if the children are now allowed back because they are familiar with it etc..
In two minds. I quite like online tbh 🙊

If you like online, Coffeecup why not stay online a bit longer? Nobody should be compelled to go to church. If it adds to your ability to worship God, fine, but if you not only feel it adds nothing to your life, but also that you have nothing to give in that setting, then you are probably not in the place where God wants you to be.

I do like online, and being anonymous and as introverted as I like! But "You don't go for you, you go for God" and "you can't be a Christian on your own" rings in my head, this is the kind of thing I've been used to hearing and I have mum guilt about the children.

Think I need to ask for guidance don't I?!

Coffeecup, ask for guidance. Don’t be led by anything else apart from a desire to please God. I think you may have heard a lot of nonsense (if you will forgive me) and guilt should never motivate you to do anything.