Month: April 2022

Sue’s Views

Is there anything in your life you are ashamed of ….. feel guilty about ….. regret? Welcome to the human race! We’ve all fallen short of God’s standard. We’ve all lied ….. stolen ….. coveted ….. lusted ….. hated ….. blasphemed! That’s why He gave His Son as a sacrifice to die on a cross in our place. When we repent of our sin ….. He exchanges it for His righteousness. What a gift! No matter what we’ve done in the past ….. God forgives and forgets!

Are you struggling with sickness ….. depression ….. rejection ….. grief ….. hurt ….. anxiety or fear? Jesus carried all that on the cross too! He wants to exchange it for His wellness ….. joy ….. peace and love. We only have to believe and ask. So today is very significant! Jesus invites you to come to the cross and lay your burdens down. He’s about to do something amazing! His death was horrific ….. but He defied death and the devil by rising to life on the third day. You too can experience resurrection life! In the words of an old hymn:

‘And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood

Died He for me, who caused His pain

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, should die for me?’

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter2:24

Sue’s Views

On the night before He died ….. Jesus invited His disciples to a dinner! Before eating He surprised them by washing their feet. This was a custom normally carried out by the lowest servant in the house. You can imagine their embarrassment. During the meal ….. He broke a loaf of bread and shared it with the 12 men. He explained that the bread was a symbol of His body that was about to be broken for them. He then poured wine and passed it around ….. explaining that the wine represented His blood that was about to be poured out as a sacrifice so they could be made right with God. After dinner He took them for a walk to a garden and asked them to pray with Him. Not understanding the deep sorrow He was feeling ….. they fell asleep ….. leaving Him to face it alone. They were awakened by soldiers who came to arrest Jesus and take Him to be tried and crucified. What a night! We can only imagine how the disciples felt that night and the next day. But ….. just 3 days later ….. they would get it! They would put the pieces together and understand the significance of the foot washing ….. the bread and the wine ….. and the incredible sacrifice Jesus made on their behalf. And on behalf of all of us who would believe in Him.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Sue’s Views

The storm seems to have bypassed us here in Auckland ….. but may be impacting other parts of the country. So often warnings don’t turn out to be as bad as predicted ….. but we would be unwise to ignore them. The Bible is full of warnings. God never does anything without warning the people through His prophets ….. often years before the actual event. That’s because He is merciful. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. But He is also just and that’s a tricky balance. He has to follow up on His word. He gives us time to meet His conditions which are always for our good. There are plenty of signs to let us know that time is running out. 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” Amos 3:7

Sue’s Views

Are you facing a storm? In the natural ….. there are a few things we can do when a storm warning is given. We can stay away from places of danger ….. we can tie down loose items that could be taken by strong winds ….. we can stay inside. But having done what we can ….. we are pretty much at the whim of the storm. When facing a storm of life ….. there are also things we can do. We can do our part to stay calm and to provide a safe environment for those around us. This might mean speaking positive words into the situation ….. not bringing up past failures and hurts ….. and focussing on God who is in charge of the storm. This pic reminds me of the last verse of this song:

‘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 ten thousand 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,” Lord, unto me!

Dear Lord, thank you that you are in charge of this storm I am going through. Please give me strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. You have always been ….. and will always be faithful. Great is Your faithfulness! Amen.

Sue’s Views

After 33 weeks of watching church on a screen ….. we finally got back together yesterday! And what a celebration! Of course ….. Church isn’t a building ….. or a particular group of people. In fact Covid has helped the Church to grow and spread out into homes ….. parks ….. beaches! And not only on Sundays! The Church infiltrates work places ….. shopping malls ….. neighbourhoods. It’s a global body of believers in Jesus Christ. It’s a family of brothers and sisters. You can go anywhere in the world and find them! That’s because Jesus lives inside each believer so we carry Him with us wherever we go. 

“Because the God who said, Out of darkness light shall shine, is the One who shined in our hearts to illuminate the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Sue’s Views

After 8 months of lockdowns and isolation ….. we have probably all developed some new habits. We’ve learned to do life alone or in our bubble. Hopefully by now we’ve met with others face to face …… but our contact has mostly been through technology. This Sunday ….. our church gets to actually meet again. Some can’t wait! Others may be hesitant. We’ve grown accustomed to watching the service online ….. or meeting in a small group. But God’s Church is better together! It’s time to come out from behind those walls!

‘And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.’ Hebrews 10:25

Sue’s Views

Are you feeling insignificant? Do you feel like you just blend in ….. while others stand out? There will always be someone in your life that steals the show! They are more beautiful ….. more outgoing ….. attract people when they walk in the room. Comparison is a dangerous game. It results in attempts to find fault with the other person to make us look better. It produces striving to be like someone else instead of being the person God made us. And ….. worst of all ….. it tells God He doesn’t know what He is doing and accuses Him of being unfair. God doesn’t compare us on our outward appearance ….. He sees our hearts! A beautiful heart ….. cantered on God ….. produces a beautiful person. 

 ‘’The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Sue’s Views 

I love autumn! I think it gets a bad rap because it reminds us that winter is coming ….. but autumn is a season all on its own. I was never very great at science ….. but apparently there’s a lot of chemistry happening in those trees! The reduced sunlight and temperature cause the high concentration of chlorophyll (that’s what makes the leaves green) ….. to break down and to reveal the colours of the secondary pigments that were hidden. 

I guess it’s like that in life. We don’t always see what’s really inside us until we go through some situations that force a change. When we get out of our comfort zone ….. when things get a bit darker and colder ….. we discover there are other ‘colours’ within us. Beautiful colours! Maybe you’ve discovered a new hobby ….. a new way of doing a business ….. a new way of communicating ….. a new way to adapt and build upon old ideas. 

Dear Lord, thank you for the different seasons in life. Please help us to be willing to allow the changes to bring out the best in us so we can use the gifts You’ve given us to bring You glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sue’s Views

After months of takeaway coffees outside ….. today we get the choice to sit inside! Choice is a complicated thing. It comes with tremendous responsibility. When I make a choice ….. it’s not just about me. It’s about those around me who might make different choices. Does my choice cause offence to them? If so ….. do I adapt my choice ….. or do I expect them to? Freedom of choice is not about getting my way ….. it’s being free to choose what is right. As all parents know ….. sometimes choices have to be made that are not very popular. As we move on from here ….. let’s consider one another. The funny thing is ….. I still prefer to take my coffee outside in the sun! But that might change in the coming months!

‘And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died.’

Romans 14:15

Dear Lord, Thank you for the freedom to choose ….. but help me choose what is right and loving. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sue’s Views

I’ve always wanted to live by the sea! When I looked out my bedroom window this morning ….. I thought God had answered my prayer. But as reality set in ….. I realised my sea was an illusion! Before long ….. my misty sea disappeared ….. the ships’ masts became power pylons ….. and the rocks became trees. Things aren’t always what they appear to be. Sometimes we ‘see’ what we want to see. Sometimes people will fool us into seeing what suits them. That’s why we need to see with more than our physical eyes. That’s why God sent His Spirit to live with us. He enables us to see and make sense of the world around us.

‘But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’ John 16:13

Thank you, Father, for sending your Holy Spirit to guide ….. help ….. and protect us on this journey through life. Teach us how to hear His voice and see through His eyes. In Jesus Name, Amen.