The Odd Bunch!

Sue’s Views
We can’t all be perfect! These carrots are branded ‘The Odd Bunch’ ….. and I guess that pretty much sums us up! We come in all shapes and sizes ….. and we are all a little quirky in one way or another. How do you measure perfection anyway? When is it good enough? There has only been one person who is perfect ….. and He changed places with me so that I can be perfectly acceptable to God. Isn’t that amazing?  I can assure you that these carrots taste just as good as ones that are ‘perfectly shaped’!

Truth

Sue’s Views
Just as this sun dial will only work if it is in the right position ….. so it is with our conscience. Right and wrong are not just a matter of opinion. When we line our thinking up with God’s Word ….. we can trust our conscience to let us know when we get off course. It’s up to us how we respond. True north will not change course just because we want to go in another direction!

Dad is There to Catch You!

Sue’s Views

Do you sometimes fear stepping out in case you get it wrong? God is like a Dad watching his child walk for the first time. He lets go of his hand ….. but He’s right there to catch him if he falls. When he inevitably enters a ‘no go zone’ ….. Dad turns him around to point him in the right direction. God will do the same for you! You can trust Him to guide you and to catch you if you fall!

Grey Days

Sue’s Views
We all have those grey days when everything looks hopeless. We can so easily become negative. We don’t like what we see in the mirror ….. on the scales ….. in the bank balance. We misread people’s expressions or words as being judgemental ….. and get defensive. These are not the times for making decisions! Know this ….. things are not always as they seem. Behind those grey clouds ….. the sun is shining and waiting to reveal a true reflection.

Forgiveness

Sue’s Views
Doctors are discovering that many diseases are connected to our thoughts and emotions. When we are angry and resentful ….. our bodies produce adrenaline and other stress hormones. As these build up ….. they are toxic to the human body. Medications that are prescribed to lower these levels may help temporarily but the root cause remains. Each time we remember the event that made us angry ….. we relive the trauma. The best medication is forgiveness! Forgiveness doesn’t make the other person right ….. it releases you from the burden of holding them hostage. Before you grab those pills or pour that drink ….. ask yourself ‘Is there someone I need to forgive?’

Legacy

Sue’s Views
If you want to build a strong family ….. you must look beyond your own lifetime. Life is not a 100 metre sprint ….. but rather a relay race. We each run our lap and pass on the baton to the next generation. The race is won or lost in that passing on phase. Our children will do what we do ….. not what we tell them to do. If we do well ….. we will leave a legacy that is far greater than we could imagine.

Wisdom

Sue’s Views 
As we grow older ….. hopefully we grow wiser! Wisdom usually comes from lessons we learn along the way ….. and often from the mistakes we’ve made. But that doesn’t mean that the next generation has to learn wisdom the same way. The Bible says that ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. The best thing we can do for our children and grandchildren is to teach them to fear God. The kind of fear this is talking about is not terror or dread ….. but honour and respect. When you respect someone ….. you want to please them. You fear the consequences of going against their will. You think things through to avoid hurting them. If you are a younger person ….. you would do well to listen to your elders. They know a thing ot two! If you are an ‘elder’ ….. don’t be afraid to share your journey with the younger generation ….. mistakes and all!

Known Unto God

Sue’s Views
Today ….. we remember and honour the many who have died fighting for their country. Their sacrifice should never be forgotten. Many of them were young with their whole lives ahead of them. Not all were able to be identified ….. but God knows every one of them. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing. He knows your name!

Attack on the Family

Sue’s Views
After watching last nights ‘Sunday’ program ….. I was both sad and stunned by the devil’s attack on the family. Our elderly are struggling to eat three meals a day! Our children are being brought up genderless so they can choose which they prefer! I realise these issues are poles apart ….. but I see both as a means of destroying God’s plan for the family. It’s probably not in every case but many of the elderly interviewed had family. Why are they living alone? In the times we are living ….. we can no longer let pride or selfishness prevent us from doing what is right. And as for the other issue ….. I’m speechless! I can only imagine the confusion and chaos ahead for these poor kids! The family has always been God’s blueprint for the way to live in this world. It’s His way ….. or it’s ‘no way’!

Celebrate the Differences!

Sue’s Views 
The school holidays are almost over! Well done parents and care givers! If you have kids ….. you will have discovered that they are all different! Even though they come from the same parents ….. their personalities are varied! One may always be pushing the boundaries ….. while another is more compliant. One is more academic ….. another is gifted in a more practical way. Our job as parents is to help them discover how God has wired them and how to be the best ‘them’ they can be. Don’t try to mould them into something they are not ….. celebrate the differences!!