MN Christian prayer thread - come let us adore the world's most precious firstborn

[DutchOmainapeartree]

We pray for ourselves:- that we may make time to be "Marys" as well as "Marthas" in all the busy-ness leading up to Christmas.

We pray for our precious husbands in the words of the prayer I quoted earlier:-

Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods;? and?
we won't go into the rest of the prayer so close to Christmas. (Full text on the old thread)

Pray for NorthernLurker's dh to find a job soon and for Harrisey's dh to find the strength to do a stressful job. Also for Bobsmum's dh to find a new job before February. We pray for peace and quiet over Christmas in all household, especially where dh is not fully committed to the Christian faith, that they may see the loveliness of Jesus around them.
We pray for those without husbands, for NSFN and Mummy2T&F. Also for Creambunnie.

We pray for our children; from the tiny unborns (Podglet, Bobsmum and CaptainCaveman) to include all our children young and not so young. Pray that we will be able to show them the love of Christ. That we may be able to protect them, help them. We pray for Roseylea's dd, Bobsmums ds, Mary's ds, NQGU's ds, that they may be able to cope with life at school and with the holidays.

We pray for those who have suffered bereavement, for QoQ family on the loss of their much loved grandfather. For Mufti's dh who lost his father recently as did Santas(Shreks)missus' dh.
We pray for Pepperpots in her loss

We pray for those with worries over sick friends and relatives, for Spookymadmummy's Mum and for her stepdad, just out of hospital, for CaptainCaveman's friend and little one in hospital, (Lord if possible, bring her out of hospital before Christmas) also for her teenage friend with eating disorders. We also pray for CC's dsis and her dd. Lord, we pray Your healing over that whole family.
We pray with Muppetgirl for her mil and her mother, who is ill and a long way away.
Lulumama and Rubyslippers' grandma.
We also remember OJ and Steve and their 3dcs in our prayers.

We give thanks with Geekymummy for healing in her marriage for PandaG doing well in her new job and enjoying it.
We pray for TheWiltedRose that she may have a very happy Christmas and that she may come to see the One Who is behind it all.
And we pray for CaptainDippy that she may feel surrounded by the love of Christ who is the Provider in all her needs.
We pray for 'absent friends', for Soozy, Creambunnie and MumtoGusandAlbie
Lord, we bring You our prayers and our worship in this Christmas period.

CC at 'Idiot' comment, - I was brought up an 'idiot' hence no confidence now, I know 11/12 yo are a handful, mine is!

Yes I took twins swimming, they lasted 20 minutes, I don't think they have recovered enough from their cold/coughs, I then went to a friends house and chattered for far toooooo long came back home and tidied my bedroom, just been looking on ebay for some sliding wardrobe doors to hide all the clutter behind

Sorry got carried away there, dh watching 'sister act' so I may go to bed and plan movearound!

AND EAT CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!! AND DRINK CHAMPAGNE!!!!!!! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY

NIGHT NIGHT
GOD BLESS!

OOOOOOOOOH MARY - they look lovely retreats, (chance would be a nice thing)

Green Santa looks like 'grotty grot bags'

OOOOOPS - champagne working well hic!

The beunos one looks good, anyone know of one a bit cheaper for me and NFSN. (I know it was donations but suggested was nearly $200).......thanks though, it looked fab.

CC I have just read your story on the last thread. So sorry for just crashing in, but [sob] I had to tell you what a fantastic true story that is to read!! I'm so glad you're well now! Thank God.. literally!!

What I was actually looking for was full version of the pray about understanding one's man (!) that is mentioned in the OP. I couldn't find it though.. could you point on in the right direction someone please?

I often lurk on these threads. Not sure why. I'm not really a lurker elsewhere.. I just get right in there and post! I think it's because, although I am a regular church attender (anglican c of e) and the church community are very important in my life, I think my beliefs go a bit beyond christianity and I don't know how to feel about that. Or if I should post here.

I sometimes find myself praying for "random" mumsnetters in difficult situations as I lay in bed falling asleep. Perhaps that qualifies me (And I know you lot will probably say I don't need to "qualify".. but I'm hard on myself like that)

Welcome Mulledwino - cool name btw!

Is this the prayer you mean?

I pray for Wisdom to understand my man;
Love to forgive him;
And Patience for his moods.
Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death

We welcome anyone here, although the majority of us are Christian. Sometimes people come and ask for prayers and they're not quite sure if they believe or not. Sometimes non-Christians pray here too. Feel free to join in, you'd be very welcome.

If you want to ask questions/discuss things, that's fine too, or if you want you can set up a new post (so that you're not just restricting it to the prayer thread) and place a link here so we can all join in.

Must get ready for work now!

**Please pray for Sam and Mary. They're a REALLY lovely (mature) couple. They've not been married that long, but Sam hasn't got long to live. Their faith is so strong, and so is their love for each other.

I just had an e.mail from Not Quite Grown Up (or Not Quite Christmas Yet) She has been proper poorly for ten days now and said that this morning she looked like somebody from Dr Who with her eyes all swollen.
Very welcome MulledWino, of course you don't need to qualify. How do you mean your 'beliefs go a bit beyond Christianity'?
Just curious.

Poor NQGU - Thank you for letting us know, DO - Praying for her, poor love.

Hi MulledWino! You are v.welcome!!

Praying for Sam and Mary, Mary - so A friend of a friend recently lost her husband after 7 yrs marraige, devestating.

Bored here .....

Thank you. Well Dutch, for the past few years now I have been reading as many spiritual books as I can lay my hands on and although I am born, bred, baptised and confirmed anglican c of e, so much of what I have read is not what you would hear in church exactly, although I have noticed that none of it is "polar oppostite" either. Sometimes the stuff you hear in church (mainly what is on the printed service cards) makes me want to scream that we don't NEED to grovel to God in this way; he doesn't require it of us. (Am I wrong do you think?) But actually, at a service just before Christmas, it suddenly came to me, that no, God may not require it of us (all the asking for forgiveness, praise etc) but that it's for us, to help us in our faith, to help us forgive ourselves, to understand each other, and to enjoy praising God together.. it was a sort of moment of clarity.. but as usual I doubt myself.. what do you folks think?

Have any of you read any/much of Neale Donald Walsh's stuff?

Thank you for the rest of that prayer DingDongMary; I was thinking maybe it was longer than that I might provide the key to better insights into the baffling male mind (and they say we are hard to understand!) but I like it anyway.. lol.

I'm ShinyHappyPeopleHoldoingHands by the way; this is one of my Christmas names.

Hi CaptainDippy.. you will no doubt remember my previous dipping in and out of this section.

Thinking/praying too, of/for Mary & Sam.

Hellooooo. I'm alive! Still can't breathe very easily. Still keep coughing and spluttering, but my eyes are less scary today, and I don't feel too bad really! AS long as I am snuggling up on the settee . . with chocolate . . .

Still, got to keep going. DH/CBeebies have been keeping the boys entertained for far too long.

Welcome again ShinyHappyPeople. Your thoughts in church sounds very sensible to me. It is frustrating not to be able to be in a joyful church getting on with loving and supporting each other, and celebrating God at work amongst us, but there are times when I suddenly need to go back to the basics and be reminded why I am there at all. And there will be new people walking in through the door who need to start somewhere too.

I went through a time of real darkness and doubt some years back and found then that I could get to church, but not pray, so I just went and let the others do the praying for me. They prayed "We believe . . " "We repent etc . . ." I just hung on in there. I like to think now that when I am praying, I may be praying for someone else in church who just can't do it for themselves yet, but who is hanging on in for a while . . .

HTH! Off to sneeze for a bit more now.

Think Dumbledore's girl would appreciate prayer today. It's her birthday and not going well. (Thread in Feeling Depressed. Can't do links at the moment!)

God bless all.

Haven't read any Neale Donald Walsh

The link to Dumbledoresgirl is here

Glad you are feeling a teeny bit better today NQGU. xx

Yes, I do remember you from previously threads SHP - don't be - It is great to have you back! I think liturgy has it's place and sometimes I find all the "written out, you have to say this together" stuff helpful, other times I find it a bit false & lose the meaning of what my faith is all about - Like NQGU said - sometimes you need to "go back to basics". "The heart of worship", so to speak!

MulledWino, no I think you are entirely right in thinking that God does not need us in any way, God is complete in Himself, you are also right in thinking that we need to worship Him because He loves us, because He has made us for a relationship with Himself and because He delights in our praise. When I think about what God has done for me (me, of all people) I want to worship Him. 'Oh dearly, dearly has He loved and we must love Him too' must is perhaps the wrong word, but 'when I survey the wondrous cross, so much...for me...
That does my head in, actually and if that is happening to you too, well, praise God...

Morning! .... and a Happy New Year!!! I was out at a friend's last night, get back about 1am and was veeeery tired, was going to log on then, but DH had turned puter off and I couldn't be bothered to getting it all going again!! Here's to a fantastic nd Blessed 2008 for us all - looking forward to spending another year with all you lovely ladies, praying for each other and supporting one another!!

all round - Love you lots!

No, I didn't drink anything! xx

aaah, and a VERY HAPpY NEW YEAR to all my fellow readers.
let's hope it's a good one , without any tears,
(john lennon)

Happy New Year to everyone reading and posting on this thread!

May 2008 be blessed in every way!

Happy New Year to all my sisters in Christ.
I boringly woke up for all of two minutes (if that) when the fireworks went off and snuggled down again.

BLESSED BE YOUR NAME
In the land that is plentiful,
Where Your streams of abundance flow,
Blessed be Your name.
And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say:

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name.

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me,
When the world's 'all as it should be',
Blessed be Your name.
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.

You give and take away,
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say:
Lord, blessed be Your name.

xxxx

Lovely, CD

MulledWino, I think you are right in what you say, that God doesn't need it of us. We each worship Him in different ways. Some people need the "God you are so good and I am so vile" way of worship, which might seem totally inappropriate to us of a different generation. I've found this when leading study/worship groups. Liturgy, when its done well, can be tremendously inspirational. There is some wonderful stuff out there for those who seek it. Our vicar puts together some beautiful services. I love (good) liturgy myself, apparently that's an Asperger's trait! The need to SEE what is being said.

For a fabulous book on God's grace, I recommend "Free of Charge" by Miroslav Volf. It gives a wonderful insight into how humanity sees God.

Happy New Year everyone!

Thank you Mary - tis the only thing keeping me going right now tbh ..... Always find NY so tough .....

{hugs}

The other thing you might like to look at MW, as you like spirituality, is some of the 13th/14th century mystics, such as Julian of Norwich, Richard Rolle and also there's an anonymous book called "The Cloud of Unknowing". I can also recommend a book by Jean-Paul de Caussade called "The Sacrament of the Present Moment". Modern translations of all of these of course, not the original old English/French! You'd be surprised how much of this is relevant to today's world, and how beautiful some of the imagery is.

xx Thanks for answer phone msg btw - sorry I wasn't in!! xx