Reflection & Prayer

Hello Everyone,

Here we are again, another week into 2021 and I have heard someone say, “It is no better than 2020”. Yes, it is continuing to be truly difficult. And then the news broke of the death of DC Alex Protts from Staines’ CID yesterday. A much-loved Officer, highly admired by so many and a friend. As writer and readers of this PL, we send to everyone involved our deepest sympathy. Family, Colleagues and those that knew her are in our Prayers.

Thank you for the response to last week’s Prayer Letter.

I am quite old, so was brought up on “Sit Coms” on the TV. One of them is called “Dad’s Army”. It is still being shown on a Saturday evening infrequently and I have to admit when getting near to Saturday I check up on the TV guide to see if it is being shown that week. A few days ago, I was reading some Christian writings and there in the middle of the paragraph was:

                                             Don’t Panic! Don’t Panic!

My mind went to “Dad’s Army”, but the writer wanted me to take my mind to dwell on Isaiah 41.10:

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.

I am continuing to think and spend time on that verse, concerned as we all are about everything that is happening around us.

I have thanked you for all that you are and do. Please can you multiply that up as many times as you like. I am so in awe of the work that you are undertaking in such times as these. Yes –

“Thank You Lord for our Police right now. Protect them and return them home to their Families at the end of their duties. Amen”.

Many Blessings

Alice.

Hello everyone,

I am pleased that the writings at the beginning of last week’s PL were a Blessing as we entered this New Year.

Recently listening to one of our Officers, I realised that what he was saying was a very good Prayer Point for the PL.

Here it is below.

“Recently I have played a small part in the training of new recruits into the Contact Centre. It occurred to me how daunting it must be to learn a new job in these most extraordinary of times. Add into the mix disruptions to their training courses where some have had to self-isolate, they have had to work from home, and some of the coaches have had to self-isolate. It really has been a roller coaster. And then when they finally get into the room and start taking reports, they and their coaches have to keep up with a constantly changing set of rules and regulations.

So, my prayer is that they can draw strength and confidence in knowing that they have been chosen for this job, that they are here for a reason, that they are valued, and that they are already part of the police family. I pray that they can find some quiet time in the day to refresh themselves, to shield themselves from being overwhelmed with an avalanche of learning. For their coaches, I pray for patience and wisdom, and an ability to imbue their new recruit with a spirit of teamwork, of being equal partners in the journey”.

I Pray that as you are there for each other, in these very difficult times as a Trainer or a long time Team member, that you will be able to support each other; remembering Psalm 23:

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want”

My Prayers are for all of you as you face every minute of your day.

In His Name

Alice

Hello Everyone,

I am starting this Prayer Letter today with words written by a Sunday School Teacher, Minnie Louise Haskins. Our present Queen at the age of 13 handed them to her Father, King George VIth and he used them in his Christmas Speech in 1939:

‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East’.

Just before Christmas we were able to enjoy the Emergency Services’ Carol Service organised by Sussex CPA. Truly grateful for the amount of work that went into the wonderful production.

Here below are some thoughts sent to me by Mike Jones on what was said.

One phrase from Archie Coats’ sermon at the Emergency Services Carol Service will not leave me: “You are Prisoners of Hope”.

I thought it strange at the time.  I have known Archie a long time (he was a Curate at our church). So, I was not surprised when, during a low time, shortly after, it was as though God was saying to me, ‘This is not about how you feel Mike, you are a Prisoner of Hope. You can’t get away from My Hope, it’s done, you have My Hope, you’re stuck with it, I will never leave you.’

Many Blessings as you walk into this New Year holding God’s Hand. Living in His Hope.

In Him

Alice.

Hello Everyone,

Below is a message from Nick Sharpe:

“Thank you for joining us for our (Sussex & Surrey) Emergency Services Christmas Carol Service on Monday 14th December. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.  There have been over 500 views so far!”

The Carol Service will be live for one week from the 14th December via https://youtu.be/hHAuCVM4OQw

I truly enjoyed the Service. Both our Chief and Sgt Simon Berger took part. Earlier this year we were Praying much for Simon for his health. During the Service he was interviewed as to what he faced and how The Lord had the victory. Thank you Simon. Well Done. Praying now as to how the Lord uses your Testimony.

Christmas is being “Decided” as I write this Prayer Letter in a Cobra Meeting today. I wonder what our Government would have decided if they had had to arrange the first ever Christmas Day. Here is what actually happened:

I look forward to being back with you in the New Year. May God Bless you during this Christmas Time.

Happy Christmas

Alice

Hello Everyone,

I am trusting you are well.

I have an English friend who is married to an American woman and together they live in The States with their four children. This time last week everything was normal. Then his very fit Mother-in-law was found motionless on the floor in their home. She had had an Aneurism. She died in under forty-eight hours.

Last evening, I watched on line, her Thanksgiving Service – live from her Church in The States. How quickly things can change.

Our thoughts are very much heading towards Christmas and I am reminded how things dramatically changed for Mary, Jesus’s Mother.

Mary was as we read in Luke 1. 27-38, engaged to be married to Joseph. But an angel arrived and totally changed her plans. He told her “The Lord is with you” (28) and later “Do not be afraid” (30).

Finally, in that reading in Luke we come across the words –

“Nothing is impossible with God”

My Prayers are with you during these unchartered times.

“The Lord is with us”

“We do not need to be afraid”

“Nothing is impossible with God”.

Many Blessings and His Peace.

Alice.

Hello Everyone,

I appreciate your comebacks from recent Prayer Letters. Thank you.

In this, my “Bible Slot” as it has become known, I want to share something of which I have only been aware of in the last two weeks.

We are in a “Mast Year”. Well, I know we have been in 2020 and all that that has brought to us, but this recent knowledge has kind of blown my mind. Apologies to you if you know all about this

Apparently one year in about 10 to 15 years; is called a “Mast Year”. All the trees, especially Oak Trees, produce the largest amount of acorns imaginable. Well above any other year. This just does not happen in Surrey/Sussex/London, it is everywhere in the UK. Amazing to me that they all do it at the same time.

This results in a large amount of food for wildlife and the potential for growth of new trees next year. I do not have the space to explain as I wish, please look this up for yourself.

In this year of untold happenings, this information has spoken to me of a Creator God. No matter what is going on around us in this Pandemic, to me God is showing us in this “Natural” happening; He is still here and is our God at this time.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit”.  Jeremiah 17. 7.8.

May you know His Blessings as you continue to Trust and Hope in Your Lord.

In Him

Alice.