Month: January 2022

Sue’s Views

With or without Covid ….. life goes on! Birthdays ….. weddings ….. anniversaries ….. and funerals ….. still need to be remembered and lives celebrated. Limitations have produced some very creative ways to do so ….. many of which take place in one of our beautiful parks. Last week ….. we sat in the Domain … drinking our coffee from a thermos ….. and took in the beauty of our city from a distance! Perspective is everything ….. and I for one feel very blessed! Happy Anniversary Auckland!

Sue’s Views

Noone likes to hear bad news ….. but bad news can be good news! An early diagnosis can prevent an illness from worsening. Even if it doesn’t ….. it helps to know the worst case scenario to prepare for the future. 

Before ascending to Heaven ….. Jesus warned his disciples about what would happen in the days to come. It’s a grim picture of persecution ….. martyrdom ….. and trouble. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He didn’t say “The trouble won’t affect you!” In fact all but one of those disciples died as martyrs. But what He did say was that He would be with them through the trouble and bring them out the other side victorious. Whatever ‘troubles’ you are facing ….. you will overcome if you put your trust in Jesus.

Sue’s Views

If you listen to the news ….. your ‘fearometer’ is no doubt on ‘high’. With news of impending war in Eastern Europe ….. natural disasters occurring daily ….. and the worldwide threat of Omicron ….. anxiety levels are raised. 

There is a scripture in the Bible ….. 1 Timothy 1:7 ….. that says:

 ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’

This well known verse tells us a lot about fear. First ….. it is a spirit! It does not come from God. It is a demonic spirit. Second it is a thief! It robs us of power. It makes us feel weak and inadequate. It robs us of love. We become self focussed and suspicious of those around us. It robs us of a sound mind. It makes us do things we wouldn’t normally do ….. say things we wouldn’t normally say ….. go places we wouldn’t normally go. When fear grips hold of you ….. remember who you are dealing with. Jesus overcame fear when He rose from the dead. The Bible also tells us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us who are believers. If you are not a believer ….. this would be a very good time to reconsider.

Sue’s Views

I’m sure we all have moments of irritability and annoyance! It often starts with little things that add up and snowball into a much bigger problem. We can’t avoid them ….. but we can choose how to react. When a grain of sand gets inside an oyster shell ….. the oyster secretes a substance called nacre that coats the irritant ….. and produces a beautiful pearl. He turns something abrasive and uncomfortable into a jewel! We too need to look for ways to turn the little things that annoy us into something valuable. I love Romans 8:28 that says:

‘And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.’

Look for the lesson to be learned ….. or the opportunity to come closer to Gods purpose.

Sue’s Views

The devil has always targeted children since time began. He knows the potential inside each child ….. and he will do everything he can to stop it. From the killing of babies ….. to child sacrifice ….. to sex trafficking and abortion ….. his methods are varied but his aim is the same. As the new school year is about to begin ….. our children face different dangers like indoctrination and propaganda. As parents and grandparents ….. we have a huge responsibility to pray over and to teach truth to our children. But there is Someone who is even more passionate about our precious littlies than we are. In His Words:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Sue’s Views

We have woken up to rain here in Auckland ….. and the traffic lights have turned red! The rain is welcome. Not so much the traffic lights! For many of us ….. it produces more questions than answers. The truth is ….. there is no one on this Earth who knows how to deal with this situation. That’s why we need to look to God. I came across this scripture this morning:

“It’s far better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust any human.” — Psalm 118:8

The Good News: People are fallible. We can get burned by putting too much faith in a single person. But God is always trustworthy and there for us to turn to when we need Him.

Sue’s Views

With the threat of Omicron on our doorstep ….. and the likelihood of further restrictions ….. we all need a dose of hope and joy. This song has been playing on my mind this morning. I hope it encourages you too!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine with 10, 000 beside

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Sue’s Views

Are you feeling stretched? It’s because you are growing! The designers of baby clothes cleverly developed the ‘stretch n gro’ ….. because babies grow so fast. Without the stretchy fabric ….. parents would be buying new clothes every week! And so it is with us. Being stretched outside our comfort zone is uncomfortable! But when we look back and compare where we are today with where we were last year ….. we realise we have grown. Hopefully not around the waist ….. but spiritually and mentally. We find we can cope with things that used to be a challenge. We discover we have developed some wisdom ….. and some maturity. Every new challenge is difficult no matter how many we have overcome ….. but our past victories give us the strength and confidence to face the next one. Hey, Asaph, keep stretching those muscles!

Sue’s Views

It’s hard to make plans for the future because of the uncertainty. It seems like Covid calls the shots (no pun intended)! In a way ….. it makes us live for today and in the moment. When you think about it ….. that’s all we really have. Jesus said “Don’t worry about tomorrow! Today’s needs are enough. Tomorrow will take care of itself ….. because it will then be ‘today’.” But when God ….. who knows the future ….. makes a promise ….. we can absolutely bank on it. He is not limited by governments ….. disasters ….. diseases ….. or man’s agendas. His Word is His bond! Hold onto those promises. If God said it ….. it will happen!

Sue’s Views

There are many things going on in the world at the moment to make us anxious. Some have loved ones in Tonga that they can’t communicate with ….. others have concerns about sicknesses and diseases ….. many have lost jobs or businesses. That’s to name but a few. Whatever worries you have ….. God is saying to you personally:

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

He knows your anxieties and He says ‘Do not …..’  He sees your family ….. He is your Healer and Provider. May His peace surround you. It transcends your understanding!