Author: Sue Wilson

Sue’s Views

Well ….. we’ve entered into a new year ….. and it is well underway! There are many ‘new things’ awaiting us. Some will be welcome ….. others not so much ….. but they are all to be learned from. Here’s a tip ….. if you haven’t already ….. start a journal! It has so many uses. 1. Keep an account of what you do each day. Very practical (and entertaining) to look back on! It will remind you of details you may have forgotten such as dates ….. events ….. what you cooked (handy to know so you don’t make the same meal twice for guests!) 2. Write down things you are thankful for each day. It will help you focus on the positives. 3. People and situations you pray for. You’ll be amazed how many prayers are answered! 4. Keep an account of what God is saying to you each day ….. either from the Word or just during your day. It’s amazing how quickly we forget in our busyness. You can add to the list and make it as simple or detailed as you like. I try to do it daily because it’s so hard to remember yesterday ….. let alone last week! There are so many seasons in my life when I wish I had kept a journal. Whatever you decide ….. I pray you will make the most of each day ….. and may 2025 be a year filled with blessings!

Sue’s Views

Your story is the most powerful story you can share. It may not seem very exciting to you …..but to someone else it may be just the encouragement they need. The valleys ….. challenges you’ve faced ….. even your failures ….. all point towards God’s grace and faithfulness. People identify with a simple testimony and you will realise that everything you’ve been through was not only for you ….. but for someone else!

Sue’s Views

Before God introduced Eve to Adam ….. he prepared Adam for marriage! Firstly ….. Adam learned to walk and talk with God daily and to live in His presence. Next ….. he had to learn to be responsible for others and exercise authority by naming the animals. Then he was given a job that would provide for his family ….. as well as teach him to use his gifts in a productive way. Only then was he ready to meet the love of his life and start a family. Young men ….. these are the qualifications to being a husband. Young women ….. these are the attributes you need to look for in a future husband!

Sue’s Views

Cities are constantly changing! Every time we visit Auckland city there are new buildings ….. new road layouts ….. and new sights. The influx of so many immigrants and cultures brings variety and flavour! Of course ….. with that comes disagreements over ‘rights’ ….. inflation and traffic! But growth and progress is always costly. We are thankful to live here. Happy Anniversary to our beautiful City of Sails!

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

I hope you have been able to enjoy some quality time with your family this summer. It won’t be long before the school year starts ….. and other commitments begin to fill the calendar. But it’s important to prioritise family times throughout the year. When our children were younger we had ‘Family Time’ after dinner every night. We would ask them to choose songs ….. share about their day ….. and join in the prayer time. It can be as long and creative as you like. Occasionally we would go out for ice cream! Make it fun ….. not something to be endured! The important thing is to connect and make memories. Of course ….. as they get older it’s not always practical. But if the foundation has been laid ….. they will hopefully want to continue the habit with their own families.

Sue’s Views

Our children are a gift from God. They belong to Him first ….. and He cares for them even more than we do. We all started out as an innocent child ….. simple ….. trusting ….. adventurous. Children have no sense of danger. A parent’s role is to protect while at the same time helping them to learn how to live in a world that is full of opportunities. The enemy is out to harm our children in all sorts of ways. Apart from being vigilant ….. the best way to protect our kids is to pray for them. Obviously we can’t be watching them every second ….. but God is! They are the ‘apple of His eye’. It’s the most sensitive part ….. and if something touches it ….. you know about it!

Sue’s Views

The Bible is the most relevant and up to date book you will ever read! ‘How can that be?’ ….. you may ask …..when it was written so long ago. Even though every person who wrote the various books is long gone ….. the actual author is very much alive. Every word is inspired by God who has no beginning and no end. It starts before our universe was created ….. and it ends after this world will be no more. Even the Old Testament reads like today’s newspaper! But it doesn’t just report the current events ….. it gives us answers. Our reporters can only write facts they see or hear ….. and even then they are distorted and sensationalised. God has all knowledge ….. and all power! Make sure you get your information from a reliable source! 

Sue’s Views

Facing a mountain? A situation that is so big it seems overwhelming? Abraham faced such a challenge when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac. In obedience ….. he trudged up that mountain with only his faith in God’s ability and strength. What he didn’t know was that while God was calling him up the mountain ….. he was also calling a ram up the other side of the mountain. Of course Abraham couldn’t see it ….. but God arranged for them to meet at the top at exactly the right moment. It was a test of Abrahams faith! Maybe at the moment you can’t see anything but the mountain looming ahead of you. But God ….. who incidentally made the mountain ….. can see both sides! 

Trust Him to not only provide your ‘ram’ …… but also to provide you with an opportunity to know His faithfulness and love for you even more!