Reflection & Prayer

Hello Everyone,

I trust you are well and are able to battle on In Him; in this difficult world in which we find ourselves.

Over the last few weeks, we have looked at “Come follow me”. Then last week, “Jesus rose early to Pray”. I mentioned Bear Grylls’ recommendation – to place our “To do List” before the Lord before we start; to gain wisdom from Him on how we go about that list.

As I wrote that; I was reminded of a number of years ago when the Surrey CPA held a retreat afternoon. We knew that one of our Senior Officers would be attending as we had invited them. We did not want this person to feel under any pressure to take part, just to be there and to take time out with us.

Various people went to the front to undertake their part in the afternoon’s Agenda. Suddenly our invited guest stood up and as they walked to the front, they admitted they could not sit any longer but needed to speak.

I don’t remember how this Officer began their talk with us, but the following outstanding comment that they made has never left me:

“When something really difficult arrives on my desk, I ask myself; how would Jesus have dealt with this”.

Knowing this Officer as I did then and since over a number of years, I can see that this is something they abide by in their deliberations.

As I have written the above, Psalm 139 is on my mind. It is too long to quote here, but I will leave the following with you. Who better than the Lord Himself to support you at such times when He knows so much about you?

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, Oh Lord.”

Many Blessings as you walk with Him this week. He will walk with you.

Under His Wings.

Alice.

Hello everyone,

It is good to be back.

I want to thank many of you for your Congratulations following the Award from the Queen. The replies on the Intranet have been sent through to me. I am slowly sending each one of you a personal “Thank You”. Others have written directly to me. Again, many thanks.

I have said in my answers, please take Ownership of this Award with me. We are all part of a large Team of people that God has brought together to be available for Him, wherever we find ourselves.

Thank you, Mike, so much for writing the Prayer Letter last week. I know that many were impacted by what you said. The phrase “Come follow me” has been with me from Sunday School days, but those words really jumped out at me when I read your writings.

I find it amazing, but I know I should never be amazed by God, especially when He wants to emphasize something He has just told me – “Come follow me”.

Then today I read – 

“Jesus rose early to Pray” Mark 1.35.

Bear Grylls says in his Soul Fuel Book on this verse, (My paraphrase) –   you discuss with Your Heavenly Father your “To do list” before you start the day – placing the Lord in the driving seat, then and only then are you ready to go.

“Rising early” is not me. I am working on it. I am though learning to put things before Him before I carry them out…

Many Blessings

In Him and Under His Wings

Alice.

Hi

I’m Mike Jones, a retired police officer working still as a Designing Out Crime Officer, for Surrey Police’s Western Division. I am your guest editor of the Prayer Letter this week.

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about the Duke of Edinburgh last week, that he chose to ‘walk behind’ his wife; as her subject, husband and consort, in love. He chose to support the Queen in their combined service to the Commonwealth and their family. Her Majesty delighted and depended on the love, advice and support of her husband who always ‘walked behind’.

As Christians we are called to ‘walk behind’ Jesus, to obey his command in Matthew 4, 19, to; ‘Come follow me’. We are also called  in Philippians 2 v 3, to; ‘in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’

Queen Elizabeth demonstrated the tradition of service by the monarch to her subjects, by the distribution of Maundy Money in Holy Week. As most of you will know, this ceremony is now used to recognise the service of others in the community and this year such recognition was given to Surrey Police CPA Volunteer and Volunteer Chaplain, Alice Potter.

Alice has been overwhelmed and humbled by this recognition and the lovely comments she has received since.  In her service to us, she has simply been ‘walking behind’ Jesus, keeping close to Him and doing her best to follow where she believes He is leading. It is great that she has received this recognition and it encourages and inspires us all, to look to Jesus every day and  ‘walk behind’ Him, in obedience to his call to, ‘Come follow me’. 

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your selfless sacrifice for us on the cross, that gave us new life and hope in you. We offer our lives back to you, in gratitude, as we know your service is perfect freedom.

We thank you for Sussex and Surrey Police and for how we are blessed with the Chaplain Service and we pray for Frances Novillo as she leads the team. We also thank you for the Sussex and Surrey CPA and pray for our leaders, Samantha Gentry, Luella Bubloz, Simon Berger and Bert Dean.

We pray for ourselves and our colleagues, as we continue to meet the challenges of COVID, help us to be salt and light in our work places; following You, to look to the needs of others, wherever You will lead us.

Amen

Yours

Mike Jones

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for the Congratulations I have received this last week and also for Nick in covering both Prayer Letters.

I am embarrassed and feel a fraud in receiving this Award. I know that I could never be a Police Officer, but I will walk every step of the way with you in my CPA work and Chaplaincy. Again, I truly appreciate you and admire you in the work you do.

We have recently come through Holy Week; running up to Easter. I want to leave with you a few phrases that have stayed with me:

“This Man has done nothing wrong”

This phrase above appears in Luke 32 verse 41 as below:

“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong”.

Anyone of us could say that. It was said by one of the thieves on the Cross alongside Jesus, but Jesus chose to take the punishment for us.

I then read the following written by a former Commander in The Met, John Sutherland:

“Today is Friday, but Sunday is coming”.

We know the end of the story – the Disciples didn’t. Their distress unimaginable.

Finally, our Pastor and his wife on Good Friday Morning read through the story of Jesus’s death, as we ended our time together on Zoom; up to the point where His Body is laid in the tomb. As they ended the reading, our Pastor said:

“And that is where we will leave Him”.

I know I was not the only one who experienced horror at the moment Steve made that statement.

Hallelujah – Sunday indeed was coming and will always be with us.

In His Precious Name.

Alice.

Hello Everybody.

As I wrote this I did not know that His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh would pass away.  Our thoughts are with his loved ones.

We especially remember our Queen who is the longest reigning monarch in British history and works tirelessly in Service to our Country. 

The Queen has faced many challenges yet has looked in two directions for almost her entire life-upwards to God, and outwards towards her people. 

In 1986 the Queen said “His (Jesus) life thus began in humble surroundings, in fact in a stable, but he was to have a profound influence on the course of history, and on the lives of generations of his followers.  You don’t have to be rich or powerful in order to change things for the better and each of us in our own way can make a contribution.”

Our dear Alice recently received a thank you from the Queen on Maundy Thursday for her service as a Christian in the local community; notably with Surrey CPA for 26 years and her Church (includes Street Angels and community outreach).

The Queen sent Alice two purses containing the Maundy Money and a personal signed letter of thanks.  This tradition goes back to 600 AD.

Normally Alice would have visited Westminster Abbey to meet the Queen in a service that commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper as an act of Service before his Crucifixion.

This is an incredible award that recognises the ongoing Service by Alice to Surrey Police and the local community.

On behalf of all who read your Prayer Letters Alice, well done and thank you for your love, care and service to us all.

Nick

Hello Everybody.

With Alice (Surrey) and Sam (Sussex) having a well-earned rest and Simon celebrating his Big Birthday (think he said 40^th) it is my privilege to do the Prayer Letter for both Forces as we start Holy Week.

What’s the best thing about following Jesus….for me it’s about being forgiven and having peace despite any circumstances.

John 11:25 Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

This Easter we remember that Christ suffered, died and was resurrected bringing forgiveness for all our shortcomings and a promise that there is more to come after this short time on Earth.

This week, amongst all our busyness, let’s not forget that Christ suffered for us, died for us and is alive and with us in whatever situation we are facing today and in the journey ahead.

With all our love and prayers to you and your loved ones for an Easter of Christ’s Hope.

Nick on behalf of Surrey and Sussex CPA.