Month: May 2024

Sue’s Views  

Are you struggling with temptation? We all do! Temptation itself is not the problem ….. it’s when we give in to it that it takes a downward spiral. We feel guilty ….. and then do stuff we know is not good in order to mask the guilt. We end up in a stronghold! God promises us a way out of temptation.  It’s not always easy to find but it’s there if you look for it.

Sue’s Views

It amazes me how worrying things can seem in the middle of the night ….. and yet ….. come morning ….. they don’t seem nearly as bad. The light of day brings a fresh perspective. It also brings hope and clarity. Next time you are in a dark place ….. remember that darkness is only a temporary absence of light. Fear and anxiety love to hide in the shadows ….. but light will expose them for what they are!

Sue’s Views

Having just celebrated Mother’s Day yesterday ….. I’ve been thinking about the different stages of motherhood. I remember the roller coaster of emotions on becoming a first time Mum! The elation of holding my baby and seeing him stare into my eyes ….. to the frustration of not knowing how to pacify him ….. to the joy of the first smile ….. to the anxiety of him crawling into danger. Then comes the gradual letting go as your once totally dependent child wants to explore the world. You hope you’ve done a good enough job to help them make good choices. Then ….. one day they bring their own children home ….. and you watch them go through the same roller coaster you went through. And you realise half the things that you worried about weren’t that important. But the different stages you went through have shaped who you are now ….. older ….. wiser …..calmer ….. and very very thankful!

Sue’s Views

What does it mean to have abundant life? It means having more than you need so you can bless others ….. it means having peace and joy even when troubles come ….. it means knowing you are loved so you are able to love others ….. it means being secure in who you are so you don’t worry about what people think of you ….. it means being assured of your future because this life is not the end! Abundant life can only come from having a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Now who wouldn’t want that? 

Sue’s Views 

Life gives us plenty of opportunities to be anxious. How do we stay in peace through such times? The Bible gives us a wonderful step by step recipe. Philippians 4: 6-8 says ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.  Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.’

Sue’s Views

On their journey to the Promised Land ….. Israel had a few obstacles to overcome. There were enemies who were so big they made the Israelites feel like grasshoppers! Then there was the small matter of a river to cross before they could enter and inhabit the land. The people were divided into two groups ….. the ‘we cans’ ….. and the ‘we can’ts’. Guess which group got in! Whichever group you belong to ….. you are right! The ‘we cans’ knew they only could because God was with them. Giants and rivers are no obstacle for Him. So get across that river ….. and start receiving God’s promise!

Sue’s Views

The Bible is not a book of fairy tales. It’s a book of true stories about real people who experienced everyday life. It’s about sibling rivalry ….. rebellious kids ….. unfair employers ….. poverty ….. incest ….. adultery.  You name it ….. it’s in there! Somehow ….. many have the idea that God is some kind of magician with a magic wand who is there to make all the bad stuff go away …..and give us what we want. The Bible is full of miracles ….. some of which are instant such as the healing of the blind, deaf and lame. But many miracles are only realised in hindsight. Once we are on the other side of the Red Sea ….. after we step out of the fiery furnace ….. once we reach the other side of the lake during a storm. The actual journey is not that much fun! God doesn’t promise to take us out of the situation ….. but He does promise to walk through it with us. Note in the following scripture He says ‘when’ not ‘if’. Your fiery trial which seems so unbearable right now ….. will one day be your personal testimony to a miracle working God!

“When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” Isaiah 43:2

Sue’s Views

Warfare involves both offensive and defensive weapons. A good soldier carries both a sword and a shield. Soldiers in God’s army are no different. We don’t hide behind our shield and hope the enemy will not see us! It’s there as a protection against his attack. But we use our sword to counter attack. ‘Take up the shield of faith ….. and the sword of the Spirit ….. which is the Word of God.’ Those two items will see you through any battle ….. and you will come through victoriously.