Month: March 2022

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Jehovah Jireh

Sue’s Views
It seems crazy that a country like New Zealand has a timber shortage! But with recent timber mill closures ….. high demand for new builds ….. and exports to China ….. we find ourselves in this predicament! You do sometimes wonder where priorities lie! 
Maybe you have had to face a job loss that has been your source of income ….. and you are now willing to work but can’t.
Maybe the demands on you are more than you can handle ….. and you are unable to meet them.
Or maybe it seems like the things you need are going to others ….. leaving you lacking.
Our human managers may make unfair and unwise decisions ….. but God never will. 
‘And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.’
Prayer: Father God, we thank you that you are our manager, boss, and provider. You are always just ….. wise ….. and know all our needs. Help us to put our trust in you. Amen.

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Look For The Gold

Sue’s Views
We went on a bit of a road trip yesterday with some great friends. We had lunch at Tairua ….. a walk on the beach at Whangamata ….. and an ice cream at Whiritoa. Our last stop was the gold mining pit at Waihi! You could say ….. it was a ‘golden day’! From a lovely welcome and great coffee and food ….. to golden sands and fond memories of holidays past ….. to a piece of our nations history ….. we came home feeling full and blessed. And all day the sun shone on us. Not every day is a ‘golden day’ ….. but everyday has ‘golden moments’. We so often ask people ‘How was your day?’ In most cases the answer would be ‘It was ok’ ….. or ‘It was fine’. Here are some better questions ….. especially to start a conversation with your family.
What was the best thing that happened to you today?
What was the hardest thing you went through today?
What did you learn from it? 
‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.’ Philippians 4:8
Prayer: Dear Lord, as I begin my day, please help me to see the gold! Help me focus on what is true ….. pure ….. lovely ….. and good. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Deo Volente (God Willing)

Sue’s Views
One of the challenges of the past couple of years has been not being able to plan ahead. People have had to delay travel plans in case they get stuck somewhere. Weddings have been postponed due to restrictions. Education has been interrupted ….. businesses affected ….. family life inhibited ….. and so much more. For those of us who like to know what lies ahead ….. this has been stressful. But I’m reminded of a verse in the Bible:
‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”’
All our plans are subject to God’s will and God’s timing! If it’s His will ….. no Covid ….. mandate ….. or restriction ….. can stop it!
Thoughts to ponder: 
How have you been inconvenienced by Covid rules? 
How have you seen God work things out for good? 
How will it change the way you move forward?
Prayer:
Thank you, Father God, that your plans for my life cannot be stopped. It may not happen the way I planned ….. but your plans are better than mine. I yield to your will ….. and trust you with the process. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Discernment

Sue’s Views
Falling leaves ….. crisper mornings ….. shorter days ….. it must be Autumn! We don’t need a calendar or a thermometer to tell us things are changing. We see it and feel it! The signs we see in nature tell us to get ready for winter. We would be wise to heed them or else we could be unprepared and very cold! As it is in the natural realm ….. so it is in the spiritual realm. There are signs everywhere reminding us that Jesus is returning soon. Jesus told His disciples there would be false Messiahs, wars, famines, earthquakes, deception, persecution and betrayal in the Last Days. One of the most valuable gifts we have been given is the gift of discernment. It goes beyond what we see in the natural. When heeded ….. it will prepare us for eternity!

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Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Sue’s Views
One of the best things about being a grandparent is watching your grandies grow up and develop into their own characters and personalities. It becomes obvious that these are ‘inborn’. Every child has God given qualities. The role of parents is to help them discover them and guide them in the right direction. I’m focussing on Jabari today because it’s his birthday! He is loving and kind ….. lots of fun to be around ….. and as his name suggests ….. he is fearless! I’d say he has the makings of a successful and productive life. Happy 5th birthday Jabari! We look forward to celebrating with you tomorrow!
‘For you created my inmost being; 
 you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;’ Psalm 139:13-14

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How Do You See the Future?

Sue’s Views

The last couple of years has changed us all in various ways. Some of us are angry ….. some afraid ….. many have lost loved ones ….. and many have lost their trust in authority. Things are looking a lot brighter ….. but we are constantly reminded that we can only be ‘cautiously optimistic’! That’s because none of us know what the future holds. But we do know who holds the future!
‘Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10

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Winds of Change

Sue’s Views 
Winds of change are in the air! Today ….. our government are going to announce the possible changes to rules around Covid. Some are hoping for the lifting of mandates ….. others are terrified at the thought. Then there is the constantly unfolding situation in Ukraine where people are facing the loss of everything they have ever known. We are living in an ever changing world. How do we cope with that? The only way I know is to hold fast to what we know to be unchanging. And that is God! He is in control of the wind!
Here are 3 verses you can hold fast to:
{For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.’ (Malachi 3:6)
‘God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?’ (Numbers 23:19)
‘The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.’ (Isaiah 40:8)

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Birth Pains

Sue’s Views
After months of drought ….. yesterday Auckland had one months worth of rain in 10 hours. Just another sign of how our world has become out of balance. The Bible tells us that the whole of creation is groaning like a woman in childbirth. The pain she experiences is not permanent. It has a purpose ….. to bring forth a brand new life! The pain the world is going through right now is also temporary. The wars ….. pandemics ….. criminal activity ….. injustice etc ….. are producing something wonderful. Our salvation! So don’t lose hope! Hold on ….. because what is coming is worth waiting for!
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:22-25

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Fellowship

Sue’s Views
Some of the best fellowship happens around a table! Due to restrictions with church numbers ….. we are currently having small gatherings in homes. Although we miss so many people ….. there’s a lot to be said about this form of ‘church’. Jesus spent a lot of His time eating and drinking with everyday people ….. and you can be sure some of His deepest and memorable messages were conveyed across a table! Yesterday also happened to be my birthday so I was doubly blessed. Thank you to all who took time and effort to send me greetings. I appreciate and love you  and pray Gods very best blessings for you all ❤️

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How is Your Confession?

Sue’s Views
I was challenged this morning to think about how I speak. What kind of confessions do I make? Are they positive ….. or negative? It would probably be a good exercise to record our speech for a day or two to find out! What do those around us hear? Moses sent twelve spies to check out the Promised Land before they entered. Ten of them came back with a negative report. They all agreed it was beautiful ….. but the beauty was marred by the possible danger of the ‘giants’. They were willing to forfeit God’s plan for the safety of the familiar. The other two came back filled with hope and confidence. They were realistic. They saw the same giants ….. but were sure God would help them overcome the obstacles. They were already living the dream! Imagine how hard it must have been for those two to have to wait 40 years before they were able to enter the Land. But enter they did! None of the others did. They all died in the Wilderness. There are plenty of ‘giants’ out there. Is your confession ‘I’m like a grasshopper in comparison’ ….. or is it ‘we are able’?