Countdown to Christmas - MN Christian Prayer Request Thread .....

[CaptainDippy]

Summary:

FourArms - Asked us to pray for her sister's MIL at the beginning of Sept. Sis's MIL had had a nasty fall and two tumours had been discovered in her brain, which led to a DX of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Diane (sis's MIL) had Chemo and managed to make it to a special family Wedding before dying peacefully. Prayers are with the family and friends. xx

SilverFox - Has moved house!!! Prayers for her and her family as they settled into their new home and neighbourhood. Prayers for FIL who has split up with his fiancée and is struggling.
Brokkenhearted - Popped by to ask for prayers for her in her job hunting. The family have no income coming in. Hope you found something!!?

Amber - Prayers for sister who has lost the sight in one eye and is having tests etc to ascertain what exactly is wrong with her.

Soooooz - Prayers for DS1 who has been dealing with some nasty bullying issues at school.

FAQ - Prayers for lovely FAQ who is currently dealing with some very serious mental health issues concerning her DH. She is also waiting to find out whether she is poss PG or not too. Wrap this family up in your love and care right now, Lord.

MaryBS - Praying for her in her new job as a p/t payroll assis at school and BIG prayers for her DH who has DVT in his leg and has been really struggling health-wise recently. She also asked for prayers for a Big Issue seller she met who was just about to give birth.

Varicosveined - Prayers for her marraige, which is in trouble and also for her 7 yr old nephew who had been rushed to hospital (update??)

slapheadsrock - Prayer for her marraige, which has experienced some violent episodes. She is giving it one last chance.

DutchOma - Prayers for her family as they mourn her cousin who passed away in Sept.

Hellium - Prayers for her Grandma who is in hospital after a horrid Hit and Run incident.

WeegieMum - Recently came back from a trip to Venezuela where she and her DH decided this particular missionary opportunity was not for them. Prayers for the family as they have been experiencing some ill health since arriving back, particularly WM who has been DX with Pleurisy. Prayers for God to show them the way forward now ....

Saliswan - Prayers that her house move would be smooth!! Lots of prayers for uplifting and comfort as she has been struggling a lot of late. xx

M44 - Was recently in hospital after experiencing a burst ovarian cyst. She is recovering now

KayHarker - Prayers that she could see the way ahead more clearly ...

YorkshireTeaDrinker - Would like prayers for a woman at her church who has been very seriously ill in hospital, following the birth of twins. The twins are fine, but she experienced multiple organ failure. She is improving now and is allowed to see her babies.

Misdee - Peter had an infection scare, but is home from hospital now and doing well

MJIM - Prayers for lots of horrid ill health in her house recently, especially little N. xx

Bronze Prayers for family and friends of one of hometown friend who was swept out to sea and remains unaccounted for.

ShelleyLou - Prayers for her and for her family as they cope with the killing of her 22 yr old brother

Aitch - Prayers for a miracle for her friend who are facing their last round of IVF treatment....

MrsJamin - She is 20 wks PG and has been coping with insomnia and a toddler who wakes at 5am. Struggling.

mufti - Is suffering from Sciatica and a pulled muscle at present. Ouch!

meltedchocoalte - Needs lots of prayers as she copes with her DH who is addicted to Herion. She has one child at home.

FlibertyGibet - Prayers for a little boy in her DS' class at school who recently lost his daddy very suddenly

Amapoleon - Prayers for a family trauma

Thanks for the prayers everyone.

Mary and OM thanks for your comments.

Meeting went badly! In a nutshell, the church membership has elected for a new minister that DH (and I, and 20% of the rest of the memebers) did not feel was right for the job. In the meeting today the elected man told DH that he would not work with him, so DH will have to go. I am church admnistrator, so my job is definitely on the line, too. In his previous church his wife did my job. DH was only saying what he felt needed saying and it really was not personal against this man. He has actually always says that the guy is a good man, but just does not feel he is right for the job at this time. Now we feel very alone and out in the cold. We have a few months before this man starts, so no panic to do anyhting hasty. Maybe God is moving us on. DHs job seems to be uncertain too, so maybe we will be moved on in more ways throughout next year. I can't help feeling scared. These people are my closest freinds and our spiritual family. It is going to break my heart whatever happens now. People have agreed with DH, but are too scared to stand up to the church secretary (she is a scary person).
I know God's plan will be better than any plan we can come up with, but we have been through so much in the past 6 years that I feel more than a bit wrung out by it all!

Sorry for my long moan.
Happy new year to you all.

Oh, PM, I'm sorry! What a difficult situation. You've said all the things that I would have said - that God has some other plans for you - but I know that doesn't make things any easier right now!

I hope and pray that the path ahead of you will be made clear (and easy!)

What a very difficult situation PF. It's all very well to say that God may have plans for you (and I have no doubt He has) but I would feel scared too and also a little bit angry. What kind of denomination are you in?

How do the children feel about the church as it is? One of the things that moved us on was that the children were not happy in both the circumstances that we felt we had to move.

This day is a new day
Which has never been before
This year is a new year
The Opening Door

....

Enter, Lord Christ, we have joy in your coming

(from the Northumbria Community Prayer Book)

happy New Year everyone!

Praying for Cornelia's little Ramir. Please update when you can, Mary.

Oh PM, how rubbishy for you Sending and prayers for a satisfactory resolution. xx

Happy New Year to you all!

Happy New year everyone praying for all those facing uncertain times and for all of us to entrust whatever this year brings to God.

Happy New Year!

don't post on this thread very often these days - life so busy and difficult to keep up,but I do think about, and pray for you.

Much love xx

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL - with love hope and peace.

soozi
xxx

So sorry to here that Postitive

No words apart from that I am thinking of you.

Yes Happy New Year everyone. I hope it is a good one for all

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.

Happy New year to you all. Praying for a happy and healthy 2010 for you all and that God will draw you closer to Him throughout the coming year.

Prayers continuing for everyone here

Lovely to "see" you Panda. Just come back from a lovely walk along the seafront. Now to start making tea ....

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year.

PA - Sorry its not gone well x

Dad has reacted so abdly to his first chemo session that they ahve told him he can't have his next one on monday. He has actually started to look ill now. Hes not really eating and is sleeping on and off throughout the day. DH is finding it so hard to know how to help and I'm not making it easy. I don't feel like me tbh not sure i am feeling anything right at the moment. I don't understand why people have to go though this.

The problem of pain and bad things is a universal problem for Christians and one we will never fully know the answer to in this life. Take what comfort you can from your Christian faith, God has not deserted you or your dear Dad.

Every blessing

Thank you DutchOma, your post has provoked a strong (and wet) reacted from me.

For me, I gain comfort from reading what Julian of Norwich had to say:
"Sin is necessary but all will be well, and all will be well, and every kind of thing will be well".

To me, the whole point of Christ dying on the cross is that he suffered first. I don't know why we suffer, I don't know why Christ had to suffer, but it is enough for me knowing that he understands what it is to suffer. Anything more we CANNOT comprehend in our lifetime.

Of course, it doesn't mean I can always accept this thought, sometimes I go into church and SCREAM at God at the injustice of it all. But the important thing is that I do not turn away from God, but confront him in my pain.

God bless xx

Captaindippy - thanks for your love and prayers.

Halleluah - I love that quote, it is comforting, as are your words. Thank you. Its so hard to make sense of, i think it is possible to go mad trying to figure it out. But accepting that you can't figure it out, can't fix it, can't justify it almost feels like giving up iyswim.

LBAM - accepting the situation isn't a case of giving it up, but of 'giving it over' to God. Of saying 'Lord, I can't carry this by myself - take it from me and carry it for me'. Even when you're angry with him, God is always there to 'carry' your pain.

I know it's difficult to 'give it over' as we sometimes feel that it's only our anger that keeps us going - and if your anger relates to someone else's situation you feel like you're letting them down if you allow the anger to stop. But anger is exhausting and doesn't help you, or the person you love who is suffering. Christianity teaches forgiveness. Sometimes this includes us forgiving God for the injustices we feel he has done.

Love and prayers from me too - God is with you. xxx

Morning.

I love that Julian of Norwich quote as well - tremendously comforting and reassuring.

Prayers for everyone as we all try to deal with the challenges facing us. I do believe that God will give all of us the strength we need to cope, even if it seems so desperate to us at times. We need to have faith, especially during those dark hours when we feel so alone.

Has anybody read/is reading The Shack? I'm about 3/4 of the way through and there is a lot about pain and understanding in that.

DO, I tried reading that but couldn't get past halfway.

DO - Yes, I have read it and took part in a study group over the summer for it as well. I loved it! (though I should warn you that from a literary point of view the ending is very weak and from a theological point of view slightly disappointing!)

But yes, I found it very good on the issue of suffering - I would recommend it!

I have read the Shack and it was fairly good, if you understand it has some "authors licence!" And yes I found it very thoughtful about suffering.

Prayers for you LBAM and your family.

I am sat in my church icebox office! the temperature in here this morning was too low to register on the thermometer, which means it was below 4 degrees as that is the lowest I have seen it at! But I am trying to get as much done as poss, as it is supposed to be colder tomorrow, so may be rebellious and boycott in the morning!!!!!

Thank you for your recent prayers. Not resolved and will probably rumble on throughout the year, but I feel calm and at peace with decisions we have made. It is all in Gods hands and He knows the best plan for us, so we will let Him show us the way!

Prayers for the person going in to hospital this week.

Don't get too cold! But isn't ice and frost beautiful!! It just gives everything a lovely "glow". No snow here yet, but we are all hopeful for tonight. Ok that may be a bit tactless for those of you who have been struggling for weeks with it. My "kids" would love to build a snowman though!!

Came downstairs to a flooded kitchen this morning, the dishwasher pipe had frozen and I think the motor gone too! Grr!! - Yes frozen things are lovely to look at , but a pain!!

I was in our church this morning. We're awaiting a delivery of oil, as its all but run out! We've a service tomorrow followed by lunch, which will probably have to be cancelled if the oil doesn't arrive! Eek!

Today's 3 minute retreat is lovely, all about finding peace.