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.

Thanks @Dutchoma
Im really in no rush.

Hello! I've been on holiday and before that I kind of checked out of the religion board for a bit. Since getting back I have replied to intriguing new threads from people interested in growing in faith. Always so cheering and, as a former atheist, a call I always feel honour bound to answer. Pay it forward and all that...

I see ragtaggirl didn't come back. I hope she's OK (and I thought to pray for her).

I'm sorry people are finding post Covid church a bit deflating.

I had a few weeks off physically going to church and worshipped online as I've been visiting family and away. I managed really half hearted online church on holiday. Left it right til the end of the day and was nearly falling asleep watching! It was so lovely and energising to get back "home". Our church is quite busy now and there was talk of altar servers being allowed back but I suspect thats taken a back seat given we are in dreaded Manchester.

My week on the Isle of Wight corresponded with my bible in a year podcast reading the gospel of Mark (They call it a "messianic checkpoint", to stop you wallowing in the old testament too much). Felt very fortuitous. I still need to listen all over again. I don't think I focused on it enough because I wasn't in my usual routine.

Dutchoma I think online Christian fellowship has its place even when not locked down. I value that mumsnet has this safe space to talk about faith or for people to bring prayer requests, or just chat. I am still praying for the people I've read about here.

Coffeecup dont feel guilty for making time for online church. Isn't it just a way of putting aside some of sunday to worship? You do whatever works for you.

Its good to involve your dc but if theyre at faith school maybe you 'tick that box' without taking them to church.

My dc prefer children's worship run online by my friends methodist church. I drag them along for liturgy and Eucharist but they dont like it! I let them colour through a lot of mass.

Hi Zen! I've also been on holiday and then not around so much as got a chest infection and then working to a deadline for my book. I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing.

Sorry to hear about chest infection MHD but thrilled about the new book

Are you feeling bit better now MHD? Bad news about the chest infection. I hope getting out and about has started to feel easier.

Seems that if shielding has had one good side its given you chance to focus on your work. You seem to have got lots done!

I've not been very well recently and have let things slide. Suddenly I feel better, 'normal' even and am so grateful. I've thanked God for this but there is an irrational thought lurking at the back of my mind, that it won't last long and people often feel better just before they die.

I am not superstitious and believe superstition is wrong but I can't help how I feel. I have asked the Lord to help me with this.

Thanks for reading, God bless you.

Hello Maggiesfarm welcome.
How wonderful you feel better after a long illness, thank the Lord for feeling ‘normal’.

Yes, I have seen that some people who have been in hospital a long tme, seem to rally, but before they can be discharged home, the end comes, quite suddenly..
So I can understand that you are a bit ‘suspicious’ of this sudden improvement and wondering whether it will last.
Of course nobody can tell you that, our days are in the hand of the Lord, but wouldn’t it be a shame if you spoiled this lovely improvement with dark thoughts of it not lasting?
Can you try and replace these dark thoughts with praise to God each and every time they arise? Think how much better you feel, maybe even better than yesterday, certainly better than last week, last month?
That takes an effort of the will, you say you ‘can’t help’ these feelings arising and no, you can’,t but you can stop them taking over your thoughts.
‘You can’t stop birds landing on your head, but you can siop them making nests in your hair’ I heard that from Selwyn Hughes and I like it a lot.
Let us know how vyou are getting on, best of luck.

You are kind, Dutchoma. I had a wobble on Saturday but certainly am a lot better and - I am still here, thank God. I'm a work in progress, one day at a time.

Thank you so much and please, anyone who reads this, continue to pray for mel

Hi, just joining quietly. I'm awake because I'm too anxious to sleep. A small car accident today, no injuries, which should have been simple to sort. I reversed into his car and cracked his number plate and a piece of his grill trim. The man was just furious and I ended up having to ask police to attend because he was accusing me of intending to give false information, demanding to see my driving licence, and saying he thought I may not have insurance. They were great. But later he then started to harass me by WhatsApp to try and make me settle the damage privately. He felt that I was morally bound to pay the £750 he estimated that a grill trim and number plate would cost, rather than pay my insurance excess and have them deal with it.

I've been doing You Version's 'Bible in a Year' with Nicky Fumble, @Maggiesfarm. It's very encouraging, and a common theme is that doubts, worries and troubles are all part of the Christian walk. I used to think I was somehow failing God for feeling wobbly, but the last 6 months of the plan have taught me that I'm just living life as God knew I would.
Bible in One Year 2021 With Nicky Gumbel

Thank you Lougie, very much.

I'm sorry about your accident and that the man has been harassing you about his cracked number plate and part of the grill. Some people are just like that. He will have it paid for through your insurance, that should be enough. I understand you feeling shaken up about it but - nobody died or was injured and minor prangs do happen from time to time. You will move on and so will he.

Thanks again.

Hi Lougie you are very welcome too. So unnecessary, all this hassle over a cracked numberplate. Some people prefer to settle privately, but in this case I would definitely not engage, but leave it to the police and the insurance company. I hope you got some sleep in the end.
I have the YouVersion of the Bible too, but did Bible in a Year with CWR years ago. It’s good to have a thorough knowledge of the whole of the Bible.
Maggiesfarm I’m glad you are feeling calmer. I hope that he improvement in your health continues.
Some of you may remember TUO. She was ordained as a deacon in Ripon Cathedral yesterday and I watched the service on YouTube. Many congratulations to her.

@Zebra13 God forgives all of our mistakes and knows all our regrets. If you feel comfortable to pray, you can tell him how you feel. That's all you need to do.

God knew before you had the termination and wrapped you in His arms of love. You have never been out of that love, try to take some time to forgive yourself and feel God’s love for you.

Praying for God’s love for you @zebra13

There is nothing you can tell God that He doesn’t already know.. He knows how you regret the abortion, He also knows what led you to come to that decision, where you felt you had no other choice. And He still loves you.
There is nothing you need to know about religion other than that God loves you and there is nothing that you can do to make Him love you more than he already does and nothing that will make Him love you less, whatever you do.

I’m so sorry, I now realise that my previous post may have sounded like I was praying for God to love you. Not at all, for the reasons @Dutchoma states so well above.

What I actually meant was that I was asking God to give you a special sense of His great love for you.

Apologies again.

Dear Zebra would it help if you told us a bit more about the circumstances that brought you to the decision to have the abortion. You seem so awfully hard on yourself, maybe if you explained (as much to yourself as to us) why you made that decision you nos so regret things might be a little easier?
It makes me so sad to see you in such turmoil.

@Zebra13 you need to forgive yourself. It's the hardest thing to do, but we all have to do it when we have regrets.

Hi Zebra I think we spoke before. Its natural to feel regret. Its a good thing to be truly sorry, but I do pray you don't have to walk much longer with the weight of this crushing you. The fact you are truly sorry comes through in your posts and I know that strange as it might seem God knows your heart and loves you.

Hello also to Lougle I hope you are getting over the car accident upset. It seems that man has reacted badly. Do you find that having faith helps in difficult circumstances? Sometimes I think it does and it makes me stronger, calmer or better behaved, and other times I grasp for it and miss and I feel like I've let God down somehow.

I'm doing a different bible in a year and it's been a real blessing. Wow, 6 months in!. I was thinking of trying Nicky Gumbel next year. How does he organise it? Is it a straight chronological read with commentary? How long do you spend every day?

Just popping in to say sorry I've been quiet. I lost a close friend suddenly and have been steeped in grief so just being quiet. But I think of you all a lot. May God bless and keep you.

So sorry @Madhairday. May his countenance shine upon you and give you peace.