Category: Sue’s Views

Sue’s Views

If you want to know what’s really happening in NZ ….. check out the truck convoy headed to parliament this morning. You won’t find much on MSM apart from a few pics with camera facing away from the crowds ….. and a brief comment about how their plans failed. But I’ve just been watching videos on:    https://rumble.com/vu74s0-you-better-get-ready-wellington-the-new-zealand-convoy-is-coming.html    It shows a very different picture of a nation from Cape Reinga to the Bluff letting their voices be heard. And in the rain at that! The truth is out there ….. you just have to search for it. ‘Seek and you shall find!’ (This is not the link. Just a screen shot)

Sue’s Views

I don’t pretend to understand the complexities of the Treaty of Waitangi. All I know is that my family emigrated here from the UK when I was 12 ….. and we became NZ citizens. It never occurred to me that I might be offending anyone or treading on someone’s rights. I was more focussed on myself! I had enough complexities of my own! Coping with the change in culture ….. adjusting to a new school ….. making new friends ….. as well as the normal teenage issues! We don’t always know what other people are dealing with. But I have always been grateful to be a part of this nation. Despite our current situation ….. I still believe Aotearoa is one of the best and safest countries in the world. But she needs a lot of prayer right now.  God Defend New Zealand 🙏

Sue’s Views 

Did you know there are 1595 ‘if’s in the Bible? We often hear the word ‘unconditional’ used. It is most often used to describe God’s love ….. but you won’t find that even once in the Bible! God’s love is unconditional in the sense that He is love ….. and therefore He always acts out of love. He is a Father ….. and like most fathers ….. He wants the best for His kids. As Dads will know ….. that requires discipline ….. and even denial at times. If you read through the pages of the Old Testament ….. you’ll discover a God who restricts ….. curses ….. and even kills people who disobey His commands. But before that ….. He is a God who calls them and warns them over and over. We must have a balanced understanding of Gods love. He is not a ‘pushover’ who winks at our disobedience and rebellion. His love is not sentimental. He is a God of Agape love ….. which is always to restore ….. to protect ….. and to make righteous.

Sue’s Views

The uncertainty of our future can take our minds to places of anxiety and depression. The ‘what ifs’ ….. can take us on a journey that brings stress before it happens. Joyce Meyer has a saying ‘Where the mind goes ….. the man follows’. How do we avoid going the wrong way? By changing our mind! 

Psalm 23 says: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ 

I love that is starts with ‘even though’! Even in the worst case scenario ….. God is with us! The safest place we can be is in His presence. 

It goes on to say, ‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’

Now that is the epitome of being an overcomer!

Sue’s Views

Probably one of the hardest things to swallow is injustice. Everyday we hear stories of people being granted exemption or being favoured because of who they are ….. or what they have to offer. Meanwhile the average person like you and me have to wait our turn. You may hear yourself saying ‘It’s not fair!’ That’s because our earthly justice system is human based. It’s flawed! There are too many loopholes that clever attorneys can find and use to their advantage. But I want to tell you about an attorney who is absolutely just. His name is Jesus! If you choose to believe in Him and trust Him with your life ….. He stands in the courtroom of Heaven to defend you against every accusation that is thrown your way. Your accuser has no power over him. He wins every case! That’s because He Himself paid the penalty for our wrongdoing. So next time you feel you have been treated unjustly ….. look to Heaven and hand your case over to the only just Judge and the Judge of all judges.

Sue’s Views

With or without Covid ….. life goes on! Birthdays ….. weddings ….. anniversaries ….. and funerals ….. still need to be remembered and lives celebrated. Limitations have produced some very creative ways to do so ….. many of which take place in one of our beautiful parks. Last week ….. we sat in the Domain … drinking our coffee from a thermos ….. and took in the beauty of our city from a distance! Perspective is everything ….. and I for one feel very blessed! Happy Anniversary Auckland!

Sue’s Views

Noone likes to hear bad news ….. but bad news can be good news! An early diagnosis can prevent an illness from worsening. Even if it doesn’t ….. it helps to know the worst case scenario to prepare for the future. 

Before ascending to Heaven ….. Jesus warned his disciples about what would happen in the days to come. It’s a grim picture of persecution ….. martyrdom ….. and trouble. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He didn’t say “The trouble won’t affect you!” In fact all but one of those disciples died as martyrs. But what He did say was that He would be with them through the trouble and bring them out the other side victorious. Whatever ‘troubles’ you are facing ….. you will overcome if you put your trust in Jesus.

Sue’s Views

If you listen to the news ….. your ‘fearometer’ is no doubt on ‘high’. With news of impending war in Eastern Europe ….. natural disasters occurring daily ….. and the worldwide threat of Omicron ….. anxiety levels are raised. 

There is a scripture in the Bible ….. 1 Timothy 1:7 ….. that says:

 ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’

This well known verse tells us a lot about fear. First ….. it is a spirit! It does not come from God. It is a demonic spirit. Second it is a thief! It robs us of power. It makes us feel weak and inadequate. It robs us of love. We become self focussed and suspicious of those around us. It robs us of a sound mind. It makes us do things we wouldn’t normally do ….. say things we wouldn’t normally say ….. go places we wouldn’t normally go. When fear grips hold of you ….. remember who you are dealing with. Jesus overcame fear when He rose from the dead. The Bible also tells us that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us who are believers. If you are not a believer ….. this would be a very good time to reconsider.

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.