Through the Desert

Sue’s Views
 Are you going through a ‘desert’ experience? If you are ….. let ‘through’ be the operative word. A desert is never a place to camp permanently ….. but it’s often a necessity to get to where you need to go. Just as vast portions of our world are desert environments ….. so we will encounter them on our journey through life. In times like these we rely on the nutrients we have absorbed in the good times ….. and we focus on where we are going rather than where we are now.

Change

Sues Views
Change is taking place as we go from one season to another. It’s often said that the one thing we can be sure of is ‘change’! It affects us in different ways. You either love it or you hate it. Sometimes ….. we initiate the change. But many times others do ….. and we feel powerless and have no say. All we can do at times like that ….. is to trust God with the situation. If you are at the mercy of someone else’s decision ….. know that God understands how you feel. He has already factored it into His plan for your life. It’s gonna be ok!

Human Rights?

Sue’s Views
We hear a lot about ‘human rights’ ….. but how can a ‘right’ give you permission to do ‘wrong’? Isn’t that an oxymoron? I believe in the protection of people from slavery ….. injustice ….. racial discrimination etc. These are atrocities that deprive us of our God given humanity. But when we say we have a ‘right’ to change who God made us ….. it becomes a ‘wrong’! The lines have become so blurred that we’ve made wrong doing a ‘right’! No wonder there is so much confusion in the world! 
‘No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” ‘ Romans 9: 20

Get Me Outta Here!

Sue’s Views
Walking with God means going through the tough times! When we are in a situation we’d rather not be in ….. our prayer is often …..”God, get me outta here!” We look for all the ways God could rescue us ….. but He usually doesn’t send a helicopter to take us out. No! He comes down to where we are and walks us through! I’m glad I’ve walked through some things I wanted to go away. I know God so much better!

Life’s Curve Balls

Sue’s Views
Does it seem like your life has taken a detour? Things were going along nicely ….. and then you were thrown a curve ball? You feel like you are going in the wrong direction ….. heading away from your goal? That’s when we need to trust our Heavenly Father ….. who sees obstacles in our path way before we do. Our ‘inconvenience’ may be to accommodate someone else’s need. Don’t worry! He will bring you back on course!

Be Still

Sue’s Views
The reflections in this photo are blurry because the water is agitated. Only perfectly calm water can give a true reflection. When we are anxious ….. fearful ….. or overly busy ….. we can’t hear or see things clearly. We are more likely to make hasty and unwise decisions. God says ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’

The Stone’s Been Rolled Away!

Sue’s Views 
The stone’s been rolled away! Nothing could keep Jesus in the grave! The same power that raised Him back to life is available to you and me! No stone ….. no matter how big ….. no matter how long it has been there ….. can stand in the way! Doubt ….. unbelief ….. fear ….. rejection …..addictions ….. sickness ….. and not only on Easter Sunday ….. but everyday!

Resurrection

Sue’s Views
It’s funny how ….. when something happens outside of our realm of understanding ….. we try to explain it away. Many read the Bible with a ‘pair of scissors’! They keep the bits they like ….. but cut out the passages that don’t fit with their theology. These include miracles ….. and things that challenge their comfort. If they were to believe these things ….. they would have to change the way they live. The Resurrection of Christ is one of the events that has had lawyers and judges setting out to disprove its authenticity ….. only to come to the verdict that the evidence proves it happened! Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after his death and burial! Why did it cause so much controversy? Because ….. in rising from the grave ….. Jesus overcame sin and death for us all. He proved He is God ….. and made it possible for us to be saved!

Divine Exchange

Sue’s Views
When we hear news of terrible things happening around the world ….. murders ….. trafficking ….. identity theft ….. consumerism ….. moral decline to name a few ….. we can ask ‘How can people be so evil?’ We compare our petty crimes of ‘white lies’ ….. borrowing and not giving back ….. spreading rumours ‘so others can pray for them’ ….. and conclude that we would never do anything that bad! The Cross was the stopping place for sin. What is sin? It is anything that falls short of God’s standard. God’s standard is 100%. It doesn’t matter whether you get 99% or 5% ….. you have missed the mark! There are no big sins and small sins! That’s why we are all sinners ….. and we all needed a Saviour. That’s what Easter is all about! On the Cross ….. a wonderful exchange took place. Jesus took my all my wrongness and exchanged it for His rightness. He took my shame and gave me His approval. He took my fear and gave me his boldness. He took my sickness and gave me His wellness. He took my death and gave me His life. Will you accept that exchange? Today would be a great day for a new beginning!

Last Day on Earth

Sue’s Views
If we knew today was going to be our last day on earth ….. I wonder how we would spend it and what conversations we would have. Jesus chose to spend his with his disciples ….. preparing them for what lay ahead. They could not understand why He had to leave them. What was the point of it all? One thing He told them was that it was better for them that He go because He was going to sent a Helper ….. a Comforter ….. Someone who would be like having Jesus by their side every moment of every day! And not only that ….. but also Someone who would empower them to do the things Jesus did! He was talking about the Holy Spirit ….. who is available to each one of us because of Jesus death and resurrection! They received this wonderful gift fifty days later and ….. with the help of the Holy Spirit ….. they turned the world upside down! He turned their mourning into joy ….. and He will do the same for you!