Psalm 139

Sue’s Views
Are the worries of this world keeping you awake at night? Stress and anxiety lie at the root of many physical and mental diseases. We can’t avoid stressful situations ….. but we can learn to view them from a different perspective. One of my ‘go to’ scriptures is Psalm 139. It addresses everything that causes anxiety. Much of it comes from our internal processing ….. low self esteem ….. identity issues ….. fear of abandonment.
It also deals with the external challenges by assuring us of God’s presence and protection wherever we go. 
Have a read ….. and put your name in the psalm. 
Psalm 139
You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
 You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
 Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.
 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;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.
If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting

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Two Kinds of Wisdom

Sue’s Views
According to James 3:16-17 ….. there are two kinds of wisdom. One that comes from bitter envy and selfish ambition. It’s the kind that has to prove itself right even if that requires some dodgy dealings. 
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Then there is Godly wisdom. Look at the qualities listed here. 
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
It’s a wisdom that only seeks the truth. It’s willing to submit ….. considers other opinions ….. and above all seeks to make peace. We have the choice of reaping a harvest of disorder and division ….. or a harvest of righteousness and unity.

Freedom Day?

Waking up this morning ….. everything looks the same. The traffic is flowing ….. the birds are singing ….. the sun is shining. But we all know we are waking up to a very different world! For me ….. life won’t be much different. Freedom is as much internal as external. When you are free on the inside ….. no prison door ….. shackles ….. or chains can stop you from singing praises to God! And praise is the key to an open Heaven! ‘He or she whom the Son sets free is free indeed’ 

it Begins at Home

Sue’s Views
Maverick is smitten with his baby brother! But how do you explain to a three year old the concept of being gentle? He wants to kiss and hold him ‘cos he’s soooo cute’!  So many of life’s lessons begin in the home. It’s where we learn how to share ….. respect ….. and forgive. There will be plenty of opportunities to practice!

World Changers

Sue’s Views
It has been a good distraction having a new baby in the house! I feel a bit like I’m living in a parallel universe at the moment. There’s what’s going on in the world out there ….. but at the same time new lives are being created and born. I wonder what God has for these hands to do! His name means ‘one who gathers’. May he gather many and influence them to become world changers ….. worshippers ….. and part of the answer.

Going on to maturity!

Sue’s Views
This is Maverick getting himself dressed this morning! He is no longer the baby of the family ….. and wants to be independent. Of course ….. it can be frustrating for those watching ….. especially when you are in a hurry. It requires patience ….. understanding ….. and focussing on the progress rather than on the way the job is done. A good lesson for us all in life! We are not all at the same level of maturity ….. or excellence ….. but we are all learning. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes ….. sometimes it’s one step forward and two steps back ….. but we are all growing in the process. Thanks, Mav, for the lesson!

The Joys to Come!

Sue’s Views
Yes! We’ve had a new addition to the family! This past week has been a roller coaster. Baby Asaph gave us a few anxious moments ….. but without the challenges we would never appreciate the joy that awaits us!
I hope this scripture gives you hope wherever you are and in whatever circumstances you may be going through.
“These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever! So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Thanksgiving

Sue’s Views
It has been a very busy week and I’ve missed a couple of posts! But today in the US is Thanksgiving Day ….. and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to give thanks to God for His goodness and faithfulness! The Bible says to give thanks in every situation! That means in the good and the bad ….. the easy and the challenging ….. even when things don’t go the way we had hoped. Because behind it all is a God who cares ….. provides ….. protects ….. and gives every day no matter how much we let Him down! Thanksgiving opens the way for us to an even more blessings! Take  some time today to thank Him for all He has done for you this year!

Empty Nest Syndrome

Sue’s Views
Are you struggling with ‘empty nest’ syndrome? It can be quite traumatic for some parents. We put so much time and effort into raising our children ….. and it can seem like ….. in the blink of an eye ….. they are off! Just like the mother bird built this nest in our garden ….. hatched her eggs ….. flitted around to find food for the hungry little critters ….. kept bigger birds away from them ….. and then they were gone. But we must raise them to become independent and capable citizens. Our children are God’s gifts to us but they will always be His. If we let them go ….. they will always want to come back!

Prodigals

Sue’s Views
There’s one in every family! That one child that always pushes the boundary! You provide a safe and healthy environment for them ….. but they have to find out what’s on the other side of the fence! They often have to find out for themselves. Like the Prodigal Son ….. his father had to let him go knowing full well he would be in for a difficult journey. But he never stopped praying that one day his son would return. In fact he expected it to happen and watched out for his sons return. So if you have a prodigal son or daughter ….. don’t despair! Praying God’s covering over them is the best way to keep them safe ….. and He knows exactly how and when to bring them home! After lessons are learned ….. you will have a new child!