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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello everyone,

And so, the weeks go by.

The only thing right now that I can trust in; is My Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

This coming week, it is again the 20th of the month. 20.20 hours for 20 minutes. Please join many others in Prayer.

Below is a copy/paste from an email I received a week ago. I don’t know the Author, other than it is based on EPH 4. 14.

May these writings be a Blessing to you at this time.

I made you for such a time as this. 

When you thought you couldn’t, or even when you wouldn’t, I was there. I was there in every haggard breath, in every racing thought, even in the irrational fear. My voice called out in clarity and truth, and at those times when you couldn’t hear me, I was there. Waiting. Waiting for you to acknowledge me. 

I made you for such a time as this. 

When you feel overwhelmed, I am in the midst of struggle. When you chase for the finish line I am in the moment of triumph. Even when you fall flat, I am there in the trenches. All you have to do is see me. 

You were made for such a time as this. 

For even when you fail, I can use it. And even when you fall short, I can pick up the slack. Each moment, each challenge, every triumph, every failure. These are simply moments for me to make myself more known by you. 

You were made for such a time as this. 

You are never alone. You are not forsaken. I have been with you from conception and will be with you throughout eternity. So, when you feel overwhelmed just know that I am there and together we can. 

Because I made you for such a time as this. 

God, thank You for making me for such a time as this and never ever leaving me alone. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Finally, a massive “Thank You” for all that you are and doing at this time. I so appreciate you.

In Him and In His Grip.

Alice.

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello Everyone

Thank you, Bert, so much for sharing with us last week in the PL.

PRAISE and PRAYER

  • Simon who heads up the CPA in Surrey is making good progress. He is enjoying gardening, which, following his Surgery amazes me. He is slowly gaining much needed weight. Prayer please for his continued healing, much still to be done.
  • Luke had his procedure last week. thank you for your Prayers in that it went well. Prayers please as he awaits decisions. He has returned to work

We are holding many Zoom Prayer Meetings in our Church throughout the week.

How have I managed to get this far in life without Zoom………?

One of our Pastors in one such Prayer Meeting last week; reminded us of statements made in –

                                                  Eph: 1. 1-14

  • He chose us and adopted us. We were not His second choice. He loved us into His Family
  • He lavished His Grace upon us, lavished means generous and in extravagant quantities.
  • He has done this for the Praise of His Glory

I encourage you to study this Reading and be Blest.

My Prayers are with you all at this very difficult period of time we are in. I am hearing from many across Surrey, others in Sussex and The Met, of the difficulties and pressures on you and your families. I am Praying daily for you all. 

Rest in Him

In His Name

Alice.

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Prayer Letter from Bert

My father’s thoughts…

When my dad died (nearly 6 years ago) I inherited a number of his books. My dad was a strong Christian but I hadn’t realised how much until I started reading these books and looked at the annotations and marks in the margins. I saw a new side of my father, something that I had never really seen before, it was, as if, I was seeing more of my father’s character in his words…

My dad was a big JC Ryle fan (if you haven’t read anything by him, I’d encourage it). Clearly he was a big fan as I soon worked out that my middle names (John Charles) come directly from the first names of Ryle himself! Something I was never able to ask my father about…

In his book Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Ryle shares these thoughts on Luke 1: 68-79 (Zachariah/Zacharias’ hymn of praise)

“We should notice…, in this hymn of praise, how much stress Zacharias lays on God’s fulfilment of His promises…. Let us learn to rest on promises, and embrace them as Zacharias did. Let us not doubt that every word of God about His people concerning things future, shall as surely be fulfilled as every word about them has been fulfilled concerning things past.” [in bold where my father had underlined it!]

In these uncertain times of health, finance and family let us never forget the many future promises that are there for those in Christ Jesus. May I encourage you all to hold firm to this? God, our Father, reveals himself to us in his word, the bible. The more time we spend in it, the more time we see more of him and can be assured of his love, peace and promises.

  • Please continue to pray for those who are sick and suffering at this time.
  • Please pray for our leaders in Surrey, Sussex and The Met as they lead the response to this ongoing pandemic.
  • Please pray for gospel opportunities with colleagues as we seek to bring light into a dark situation.

In the words of JC Ryle “We have the seal of Christ’s blood to assure us that what God has promised God will perform”

Every blessing,

Bert

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello Everyone,

The weeks move on.

And life is not normal.

I am unable to visit as a Chaplain to either of my Chaplaincy bases: Woking Police Station and Headquarters. I write weekly to the Departments; hopefully to encourage.

I have asked the Lord that when I am in the car on my main shopping visit, or taking a close friend to/from a Dialysis Appointment, I would be stopped by a Police Crew checking up on why I am out in the car. But no …

However last Saturday I walked into Woking for my exercise and essential shopping and met two Officers. How wonderful to be able to chat with them and to thank them.

That is my continued desire today, to say, “Thank You”. I am truly weary of the criticism you receive. Please be assured the majority of the Public really do appreciate you.

Prayer Request.  L.S. describes himself as a “Chap in need of Prayer”. Here is his Prayer request –  “I’m going for a liver biopsy, on Friday 24th. So on that point, any prayers will be great. Prayers of thanks for the NHS, whoever sticks the needle in has a steady hand, and wisdom for whoever has to interpret the results”.

A fortnight ago – and I guess by then we began to realise we were in for a very difficult, long haul; I received an email from one of our Officers. In it was written the following –

“Lovely phrase I read on somebody’s email. Part of their Signature was ‘In His Grip’.”

Those three words, “In His Grip” have not left me.

I recall on occasions when I have been involved with Police Recruit Training that you receive input on how you handle people, not only by your voice/body language but also physically by using your hands.  You are aware of the “Grip” you need to have on someone determined to get away.

God Has “His Grip” on you at this time.

Below is a very old Hymn which has come to mind whilst thinking about “In His Grip”.

When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold; He must hold me fast.

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.

For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!    

(Keith & Kristen Getty)

With love in The Lord and “In His Grip”.

Alice.

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello Everyone,

I continue to Pray for you all in these very difficult days.

Thank you for being there for us. Great admiration for you all.

We have good news: Simon the Leader of our CPA here in Surrey is now home and recovering after having major surgery and nearly three weeks in Hospital. “Thank you for answering our Prayers Lord”. Continued Prayers for Simon and family as his continued recovery takes place.

Monday of this coming week is the 20th April. It seems an age since this project started by Hope UK, whereby we stop and Pray on the 20th of each month at 20.20 hours for 20 minutes. This time I am making no suggestions for Prayer Topics, I know you will have plenty on your Prayer List.

I have just received the news that a Dad of one of the Christian Staff Members I regularly visit in HQ’s; lost his battle with covid-19, a week last Thursday. Our Prayers and love are with you E.

On Good Friday, our Church had a Zoom Prayer Meeting which included Communion. A Pastor from a Church in India was asked to join us. He is involved in the care the Churches are showing the very poor out there at this moment.

At one point he read from John 20 verse 19. It tells of the time when all the Disciples were in a locked room. They were scared, their Leader had just been crucified and they were fearful for their own lives.

                       Jesus came and stood among them and said

                                          “Peace be with you”.

How powerful is that. When the Indian Pastor read those words on Friday last; it was as though I had never heard them before, I cried.

The world around me at the moment is peaceful, no planes directly overhead from Heathrow, or a local airport, no cars on the road outside my home. Yet the world is not at peace at all.

Only the Lord can bring that Peace which passes all understanding.

As you move around this coming week, He is there bringing His Peace into every activity in which you are involved, home life and work life.

The Lord Bless you and keep you, the Lord make His Face to shine upon you and give you His Peace. Amen

Alice.

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Prayer Letter from Alice

Hello everyone,

Perhaps like me you are “On Line” for your Church Services and Prayer Times.

The person who led one of our Prayer Meetings last week shared the following Psalm with us.

Although there are many theories as to why David wrote Psalm 13, it is generally thought to have been written, because David, like us often asks God questions; I know that I do. Perhaps the most used phrase in my questions is “Have you noticed Lord what is happening in this situation?” I immediately ask for forgiveness…

We can see in the Psalm below; that David was in despair, but… eventually he writes verses 5 and 6.

Psalm 13   A Psalm of David.

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

We were encouraged to start our Prayers during that Prayer Meeting with “How long Lord…”

I leave that suggestion with you as you battle at this time.

I sincerely “Thank You” so much for what you are handling.

My love and concern for you all in His Name.

Alice.