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

Muchlesstiredmum - thank you sooo much for that link, and welcome! (We must be kindred spirits - I used to be called Notsotiredmum!) I can't claim to be brilliant in prayer, but that is the joy of being part of a group (like this). Together we can, and will, hold SM in our prayers.

Ooh , exciting opportunities NSFN. Praying that if this job is as right for you as it sounds, then nothing will stand in your way. Praying too that you may know complete peace that your Heavenly Father has good things in store for you, and is looking after you and your dcs.

I'm off to see Adrian Plass tonight . Mary, they are in Milton Keynes next Thursday, if that isn't too far for you. Booking website here

God bless all.

Prayers aplenty as I read through...especially for squidemum's DH and the whole family there, goodness me

Need to send my Christmas list to Santa (alias Grandma!) who distributes ideas around the family. Could I have recommendations of your favourite Taize CDs please?

Thanks

Gosh, I was so stressed and shaky this morning becuase DD3 took a lot longer than normal to settle for her nap; but I have tears in my eyes reading about squidgemum and her little family Praying that God would hold them so close at this time. xx

Wonderful news about your sister's breast lump BB - praying the course of treatment owuld be effective and she would be back to "normal" very soon. xx

Praying for your cousin and family DO. A real shock and so hard to come to terms with God. God hold them and carry them.

Praying that your DH would find the ideal job asap Milliways - similar prayers for friends of mine whose DD goes to school with my DD1. He's been out of work for quite some time now and they are struggling. Thank you

Love & Prayers to all - glad the "Toilet Prayer" was helpful yesterday

How's Naomi today MJIM?

Glad you're bouncy M44 xx

Prayers for squidgemums dh

I meant: Prayers for squidgemum and her family

DO - Prayers for you cousin

Prayers for your cousin, DO and all of your family who must be going through a horrible time.

Prayers also for Squidgemum, her two DCs and the rest of her family.

Please may I ask for some prayers for yet another rough day. I'm also feeling a little down after reflecting a bit on the reluctant worshippers thread and can't stop crying after reading the poem on there.

Oh SS, so understandable that you are in floods of tears.

Thank you all for your prayers for my cousin, I have told her about it and she feels truly blessed and supported by all the prayers going up for her and her family.

That's lovely DO

How are you feeling this evening? Prayers. xx

DH is away til late tomorrow evening so I am on my lonesome

Please will you all join me in huge prayers of thanks?

I've been whinging on here for a while about how ill I've been feeling. I 'broke the rules' by going and having my blood pressure checked by the HCA at the surgery this afternoon and explained that it was because I kept on fainting and couldn't get in to see the doctor. I sympathised with her and said I was sure that they must be short of doctors this week. Anyway, she went out and made me an appointment with the doctor for 45 minutes later and apologised that it wasn't sooner! GP took me very seriously and said that I look as if I've been visited by a vampire. I'm off to have my bloods taken on monday to prove that I'm anaemic. Apparently my iron stores probably never recovered after having DD despite the iron infusions that I had. He's asked me to call him on monday to let him know how I'm feeling. He looked after me when I was pg with DD even though he isn't my registered doc and seems very keen to look after me this time too.

Sorry that was a very long winded way of saying 'thank-you Lord that the doctor has seen me'! I feel pretty ill TBH, CD, but I feel much more positive now that there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

Just wonderful

So much going on, on here! Prayers said for all.

Last night's presentation seemed to go well. Taize service format is approved. Am taking this evening off to relax, as am at immigration centre 9-12 tomorrow for my first pastoral visit there.

Things also seem to be improving at church - but please keep praying there too. We are all part of Christ's family and should show love and respect, and forgiveness when necessary too.

Glad Naomi's on the mend, more prayers. xx

I heard an incredible story today, that has left me feeling truly humbled. I just want to offer up a "thank God" for Daniel, and for all those he has helped to find God.

Soooo glad Naomi is much improved today MJIM

evening all so glad gp has taken you seriously ss. Please pray for my friend she is soooooo angry i really worried about her she is making her life a misery. I dont know how to help her.

Prayers that Christ the king of healers sends his healing touch to all in need of his tender care (on this feast of Christ the King)

I had a chat/prayer session with my Dad yesterday that has left me feeling extremely uncomfortable. Just to give a little background, my Dad has been quite mentally abusive in the past and although I know that he has changed a great deal, I still feel a bit vulnerable when I'm with him by myself. When I was a child, he went through the first part of the process to become a vicar (a very long process as some of you may well know) but was turned down at the last 'hurdle'. He stopped going to church for years after that and only started going again after I fleed from home during one of his bursts of rage. He will not admit that he did anything wrong and sees the world as very black and white. To me, faith is very personal and there are many grey areas that you explore with God. He told me that I'd bought shame on the family by getting pregnant from being raped. He doesn't seem to believe in rape as a crime and I think he truly believes that it is always brought on by the woman. I know that I was so drunk at the time that I physically couldn't stop it from happening and had probably been flirty with the bloke a bit earlier in the evening but I do remember very clearly saying 'no' and trying to escape.

Anyway, sorry to offload all of that background but I promise that it is relevant. My Dad wanted to pray for me to be healed from my pregnancy problems. I find it very touching that he doesn't like seeing me poorly. He recently went to a week long residential course about healing and it has clearly spoken deeply to him. However, I think that some of the theology is incomplete at best, dangerous at worst. My dad was extremely pushy in getting me to accept what he believes as the truth about healing. A lot of what he said was very truthful but much of it ignored the fact that we do live in a broken world. All he kept on telling me was that if I had even a tiny bit more faith than my doubts, that God would heal me NOW. There are several reasons that I don't agree with him going round telling people that they can basically say 'I want to be healed' and it immediately being so. He was very obtrusive into what was going on between me and God at that moment in time. It took ages to get dad to accept that God has told me that He is dealing with my illness and that He is cradling me in His arms. I can't really explain what it was like at the time, but it has left me feeling really on-edge about my dad. There is something not quite right about him and I really think that he needs to learn to give people space when praying for them. It was really difficult when dad started talking about how our experiences on earth colour our view of God because my counsellor used to tell me how a lot of our view of God is based on our earthly father.

I'm in a bit of a mess mentally now because this is dragging up a lot of scary stuff from the past and I feel very confused by some of the deep theological discussion I had with my dad about healing.

Haven't much time to post now SS, but my thoughts & prayers are with you. Email me if you need - captain_dippy "at" yahoo "dot" co "dot" uk Here for you my love. xxxxx

Oh SS, I think I will e.mail you off board maybe.
Every blessing.

I think my gut reaction is that there was a reason why he was rejected for vicar factory . Your father speaks for himself, he DOESN'T speak for God. I am horrified that he is doing this to you. He has obviously been impressed by what he brought back from the residential course, but it seems he may have taken to heart what he wanted to hear about healing. You know he is wrong, you know how God has spoken to you, and I suggest you speak to God about what your father has said. I find it hideous when people claim their truth as God's. It left me feeling wrecked for many years when I was told I was going to hell, by someone who knew God's will for me. Praying for you SS. Email me if you want...