Christian Prayer thread for late Autumn - keep praising when the leaves are falling and it isn't Christmas

[DutchOma]

A week or so ago there was a post in the prayer thread from TinkerbellesMum which I quote here in full because I think she has something important to say:

"I don't normally post in this section or this thread, but I wanted to share something that my sister's Pastor said a few months ago at a Dedication because on a regular basis I'm logging into MN and seeing it come to truth again and again.

He said that the devil has started an attack on children.

If you look through this year you will see so many children have died in really horrible circumstances, we've not seen anything like this happening before.

Please when you pray can you include our children in general, ask God for His protection over our own, each others' and the unknown child. Ask for Him to send His angels to fight against this attack."

We've only got to remember Baby P to know that terrible things are happening and that the only weapon we have against the forces of darkness is prayer. That is a strong weapon and a weapon that will bring results for the safety and security of our own children but also as TM says "the unknown child".
So can I encourage you all to praise God for our children and to set side a few moments to ask His protection on them, but also to pray protection over the millions of children which don't have the quality of life that they should have.

We then pray for our unborn children:- Swaliswan's, Boffinmum's and of course Tinkerbellesmum's own baby. Also for the other children in those families.

We remember those with health problems:
Belgianbun's sister recovering from an operation. OJ who goes to hospital on Monday to have a lump investigation - please God, no more trouble.
Zipadisuzy's dh who fell off a ladder and has cracked ribs and for Suzy who is picking up his workload.
NSFN struggling with depression, praying that this will not continue all winter.
And we give thanks for M44's ds2 who is on the mend but pray for dd1 who is still struggling with a broken arm.

We pray for those who are struggling with various issues:- CaptainDippy, Peachy, FAQ (praying that her babysitting problems can be resolved to enable her to continue as church organist) and CaptainCaveman.

And so to all of us who are part of this small community and who will always pray for one another:- MaryBS (continued prayer for BIL and MIL), Amber, Jentlydoesit (good news at the eye hospital) Myjobismum (good news about ds's behaviour at preschool), NowWeAreFour (continued prayer as requested for her nanny, PandaG and NotQuiteGrownUp (will she ever?)
Also we remember RevJustabout in her work with the Reluctant Worshippers.
And so we come before our Heavenly Father Who hears all our prayers and answers them in His own way. Thanks be to God

Oh, MJIM, you are not a failure. You've said about how loving and sweet your DS can be, particularly towards Naomi so you are clearly raising a loving boy. Maybe it is more to do with him not knowing how to express himself at pre-school? I know that he is very young, but have you talked to him about how he feels when he is at pre-school? HV sounds like a good idea to me (I just accidently typed God-idea, so maybe it is?!).

and yet he still does it, mmm, its hard isnt it?, and it is upsetting i know
certainly try HV , they have probably seen it before

my ds does things to me occasionally , but
thankfully not to anyone else,
he knows its wrong , sometimes i can see why , eg im doing something he doesnt like, taking him up to get dressed when he wanted to keep playing, but at times it comes from nowhere. i find it hard not to take it personally

mjim I don't know what to say either but just adding my support. Someone once said to me that as our dc get older the headaches we have over them never go away they just change. I think that is generally true as soon as your through one battle the next one rears its ugly head.

Mind you I feel like i'm battling with myself atm. Saw counsellor this morning who again said that i'm angry, that she is surprised I don't have all kinds of physiological problems because i'm so highly strung, that it sounds that sometimes i react like another teenager instead of being the adult and that I need to forgive myself. Flipping heck I sound like a lost cause. aghhhhhhh.

Praying MJIM. I have just bought a book called "the explosive child", based on someone's recommendation, for DS when he has "meltdowns" (thankfully these are few and far between). Haven't had chance to read it yet, but it may help... who knows?

Am feeling very tired, would appreciate prayer... I have done so much, including all but finishing my taize service, but I still have to finish my presentation for Thurs...

God is good...

Good afternoon all.

MJIM - ds2 went through a phase of gouging his best friends face with his nails He drew blood on a number of occasions. He really couldn't explain why he did it, but it seemed that it was pure excitement. The happier he was to see his friend, the more likely it was to happen. He did grow out of it, but I kept him out of exciting situations a lot, as I got sooo embarrassed. Don't forget that their testosterone is at its heighest between the ages of 2 and 4, after that it settles down a lot.

One of ds2s friends was also very violent. His mum just ignored it, and led a peaceful life! He is now Mr Sensible and Mr Popular at the age of 5.5.

Gosh, that is a lot all in one go, from your counsellor, NSFN! Are you sure that she is good for you?

Prayers for you, and for SS and CD, and for all on this thread.

Thing is I know she is hitting all the right buttonss, and if i'm ever going to sort me then maybe these are the things i'm going to have to look at. Justt don't know how. Am exhausted and think I could be back on that slippery slope again this week. Maybe she right on another count that i am letting my emotions feed how I feel. So I need to acknowledge I feel crap and still function - hmmmm how'd I do that then?

I regularly let my emotions feed how I feel. Or even worse, I let other people's emotions feed how I feel. If someone who matters to me is horrible to me, it ruins my day!

Only you can truly say whether she is doing you any good or not. I had a Relate counsellor make me feel so bad I had to stop going as I was in a worse state than when I started.

Honestly? I think your expectations for yourself are too high at the moment. You need to build yourself up to "climbing mount everest", and not think, "OK I've bought the boots, the equipment, I'm ready to go".

I know you want to be better and want to know how much longer you are going to feel like this, but I found "how much longer" made me feel worse. Concentrate on the present and don't look to the future. When you can cope with the present, then you may be ready for "whats next"

Its much easier to give advice than to receive it. I really hope you're not offended or hurt by the above...

Am praying for you NSFN, we all are.

"I regularly let my emotions feed how I feel. Or even worse, I let other people's emotions feed how I feel. If someone who matters to me is horrible to me, it ruins my day" - yes, me too, me too!

NSFN - it sounds as if your counsellor is being helpful to you - and you are right, facing up to difficult issues is never going to be a bundle of fun - though she seems to be delivering more than one thing at a time for you to work on, which is pretty tough going. Be gentle with yourself. You have done amazingly well over the last 12 months or so. Rememer that you are allowed to find some still waters, beside which to rest for a while, before moving forward again.

God bless.

Prayers for those at the end of their proverbial tether with their children, for those wondering if they have enough strength to get through the week, for those struggling to cope with illnesses, for those who SO want to know the right thing to say and do and have no clue, and for those who feel they're not good enough.

We are good enough. And sometimes it's ok to conquer a molehill rather than a mountain. We can feel heroic standing on a pile of dirt six inches high rather than a mountain a mile high, if it took the same effort to get there.

Am trying something new to break the deadlock in communication I mentioned in my last prayer. Prayers that it'll work still continuing here. Goodness me, it's SO difficult to know what other people need to hear sometimes...le'ts hope I got it right...

You got it right Amber, more than you think probably.
Bless you and your conquest of the molehill.

Am praying amber. You are very brave xx

CD, I've spoken to a midwife this morning who is going to get my midwife to call me back. I think that I may try some spatone anyway incase my iron reserves are a bit low and making me feel so faint. Trying to get across to people that it isn't normal to have to sit down or faint at least five times a day is a bit of a challenge. It helped a lot that I could tell the midwife that this is DC2. She suddenly stopped trying to reassure me that some dizziness in pregnancy is normal and took me seriously. Hopefully I'll stop feeling/being so sick if I can stop feeling so faint. Prayers that the midwife will call back ASAP would be appreciated.

You are right. It isn't normal. Praying the MW gets back to you asap and they can get the ball rolling on ways to help you more effectively cope with the way you are feeling. Have you been prayed over? Spatone would be good too - although I found Flouradix more effective and much cheaper - can be obtained from local health shop type places. I had lots of problems with low BP and dizziness throughout all of my pregnancies. xx

Hi guys, feeling a bit blue today, no idea why. Not too bad just a bit out of sorts.

Making the most of a quiet minute to catch up on the thread. Praying for you all, and especially for all our little ones.

thankyou MJIM, very much appreciated. Must be working as I do feel 'lighter' now! .

I have been thinking a lot about what DO posted in the prayer round-up, and thinking about that poor baby in Haringey - then looking at my own 2 ds's and finding myself praying/pleading that no harm ever comes to them. It makes me so even just to think about it.

CC, glad you are feeling a bit 'lighter' now.
Just to remind you and everyone else I was quoting Tinkerbellesmum in the OP and she is in need of our prayers.
As is OJ.

grrrr-please pray- having one of 'those' days!! Ds2 has been a pest ALL day-he must be growing- nothing I feed him seems to be enough and oh my- is he GRUMPY! Ds1 spent the whole time at school pick up running and pushing over ds2 and really hurting him- one of those ground open up and swallow me moments- as he would not stop and I had to drag him home kicking and screaming.

On the other hand ds2 is so much better from his illness and is totally gorgeous and engaging!

Roll on bedtime.....

CC - prayers for your feeling blue, tis sad in the news, but you are a fab mummy, have 2 beautiful dc, very caring and take care of your family, I think you would move heaven and earth to keep your dc safe, well and loved, so give yourself a shiney!

just a quickie prayer please my friend has had a rta and is in hospital, will know later!

Plus poorly ds2, he says he has a broken neck being treated for tonsilitis, and dd has cystitus?????

Praise God, school have provided ds1 with laptop type of word processor to help with writing difficulties, at last his dyslexia is being dealt with (better late than never, he is nearly 13yo) learning support team are being so helpful.

Please God send my dh home, he can't possibly be gardening in the dark, can he? getting worried! supposed to have been home 1 hour ago!

Wow, prayer answered quickly! thank you, dh home!

God is very good Good that dh is able to do the gardening again. Is he still in pain?