Psalm 31

Sue’s Views 
Psalm 31 was written by King David at a time of distress in his life. He felt trapped (v4) ….. filled with grief (v9) ….. weak and afflicted (v10) ….. hated and abandoned by his loved ones (v11-13) ….. and worst of all ….. forgotten by God! (V22) 
‘In my alarm I said,
    “I am cut off from your sight!”
There are times in life when we feel like the heavens are made of brass and no one is listening. 
But He goes on to say:
‘Yet you heard my cry for mercy
    when I called to you for help.’
God is there even when you can’t feel His presence or hear His voice. 
In David’s final words:
‘Be strong and take heart,
    all you who hope in the Lord.’

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Mirror Mirror

Sue’s Views
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Even though a good mirror reflects a true image ….. we often see ourselves through a filter. It may be a filter of shame ….. a filter of comparison ….. or a filter of a label from the past. These filters distort the image we see. The purpose of a mirror is to help us see the hair out of place ….. or the things we can change. It’s not to define us. So next time you look in the mirror ….. thank God for the amazing miracle looking back at you!

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God Sees You!

Sue’s Views
Do you know that Almighty God ….. the Creator of the Universe ….. sees you? There is nowhere you can go to escape His gaze! Now that can be comforting ….. or alarming ….. depending on where you stand with Him. If you are one of His children ….. that is wonderful news. It means you never have to be afraid of danger ….. or worry about provision ….. or be anxious about your future. It means knowing who you are and whose you are. Above all ….. it means knowing you are forgiven from all your wrongdoing ….. and have God’s Spirit within you to guide you through life. However ….. if you don’t know God as your Father ….. you are missing out on the life He intended for you. There is only one way to change that and it’s through His Son, Jesus. In His words ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
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Shalom

Sue’s Views
It’s not easy to find peace and quiet these days ….. but it’s something we all crave deep down. It’s not just about the absence of noise and activity ….. but the presence of the Prince of Peace. He is present in the middle of a storm ….. in a busy shopping mall ….. in heavy traffic ….. and in the turmoil of everyday life. We can’t always escape these ….. but we can always find Hiim and receive His peace. When life gets a bit frantic ….. and emotions become a roller coaster ….. remember He is right there! May you know His shalom today!
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Wind

Sue’s Views
Just as we can’t see the wind but we see and feel the effects of it ….. so it is with God’s Spirit. He is very much at work ….. bringing things into alignment with God’s will and purpose. It has been said that ‘when things seem to be falling apart ….. they just might be falling into place!’ Wind can be a gentle breeze …..or a gale force hurricane. Either can remind us that God is in control.
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Deo Volente

Sue’s Views
One of the best words of advice I can give is to live one day at a time. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring ….. and we don’t need to! All we need to focus on is today. We can make plans for the future ….. but there are no guarantees. There used to be a saying ‘Deo Volente’ which means ‘God willing’. All our plans are subject to DV. But with that comes the assurance of a new day dawning tomorrow that is filled with new mercies ….. His faithfulness from sunrise to sunset ….. and His presence with us no matter what the future brings. So enjoy today and don’t worry about tomorrow. It’s in His hands!
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Pray For Israel

Sue’s Views
We are just spending a couple of days at the beach. Sitting here in an idyllic environment ….. it’s hard to believe what’s happening in Israel right now. But we can’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to it all. What affects Israel affects us all. We may not be in the firing line ….. or having to run for our lives ….. but we are involved! Our part in this war is to pray! God spoke these words to Abraham ….. through whom the nation of Israel began: 
“I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3

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How’s Your Marriage?

Sue’s Views
How’s your marriage? A strong and healthy marriage is not about romance and seeing eye to eye. It’s about two flawed people who choose to meet the needs and interests of the other. The vows we make are not just sentimental words. They speak of perseverance through the hard times ….. times of sickness ….. times of lack ….. times of regret. There’s a reason why it ends with ‘Till death do us part’. It will take a whole lifetime for two to become one! It has to be worked at. So many give up when things get a little tough. So hang in there! You are building a strong foundation for future generations!
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Everything is Going to Plan

Sue’s Views
Are you struggling with confusion or conflict? ‘Con’ means against! There are always forces against us that try to rob us of our peace and joy. Jesus said we would always have trouble in this world but He also said “I have overcome the world.” If He lives in you ….. that means you too are an overcomer! Keep looking up! From where He sits ….. everything is going to plan.
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Ever Changing World

Sue’s Views
We live in an ever changing world. One thing we can be sure of is change! Seasons change ….. governments change ….. laws change ….. people change ….. our circumstances change. It can make us stronger and more adaptable ….. or it can make us fearful and suspicious. It seems we can no longer take people at their word ….. but there is One who we can always depend on to follow through on His promises. He is the same yesterday ….. today ….. and forever more. We can trust Him 100%! If you put your trust in Him ….. He will help you navigate through the changes!
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
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