Hello Friends,

This has been a different season for me, and after a friend shared this prayer on facebook, I found it touching and helpful. For those of you out there for who find it's been hard to find the "joy" in Christmas this year, may you be reminded you're not alone. Let's join together to pray for many others who are also grieving or find themselves in difficult circumstances right now. This is certainly a hurting world, but we have a redemptive Savior, who is Christ the Lord!

I am thankful for so many of you who have helped bring joy back in to my life over these past few months. The Lord is near, that I know.

Praying you have a Blessed Christmas,
Sheri

=======
Christmas Prayer For Those Who Struggle During Christmas
by Katherine Walden
=======

Father God, I ask you to come to those whose hearts ache on your Son's birthday. Although they sincerely thank you for your greatest gift of all -- they are hurting and lonely. Father, let them know it's ok to express to you the pain and loneliness and frustration in their hearts. Let them know you are listening -- and care.

I pray for those who are single and who have no family -- who spend much of the holidays alone. Be with them in the lonely hours, help them not to feel marginalized during this season that places so much emphasis on 'family'.

I pray for those who are housebound and infirm and are unable to leave their homes or hospital rooms due to illness. I pray for those with loved ones that are separated due to work, weather, duty or other circumstances.

I pray for families who are struggling this year, financially and emotionally. I pray for desperate spouses who worry over their marriage. I pray for those children who are frightened and alone, who are in abusive situations or who sense the worry and frustration that their parents try to hide. . I pray for parents who have children who are ill in body; ill in mind or who are addicted to drugs.

Jesus, please come as Immanuel -- God with us, Jesus, please enter into each place, each home, each hospital room, each homeless shelter, each hotel, each jail cell, each place of business - let them know they are not alone. Holy Spirit, come as the Comforter, let your gentle, healing warmth sooth and bring solace to aching hearts. God the Father, come to those without family and remind them that you are their family. Show them your heavenly, attentive, fatherly love for them in a way that they can understand. I pray this in the name of Jesus -- who knows our sorrows and understands our hearts.