Category: Sue’s Views

Sue’s Views

After listening to the news last night ….. I felt angry and sad at the damage that Satan has caused in our world. His aim is death and destruction ….. but his means is deception. By slowly eroding the truth ….. he lures us into his evil plan ….. and before we know it ….. we are caught in his web. He questions ‘Did God really say …..?’ He tells us that what God says is harmful will do us good. The only antidote is God’s Word ….. The Bible. It has always been and always will be The Truth. When we study and get to know the Truth ….. we will easily recognise the lies. The more we study the lies ….. the more we will find ourselves doubting the Truth!

Sue’s Views

The valley of the shadow of death is not a place we would choose to walk through ….. but for most of us it will be a part of our journey. However ….. there is much to be learned there. Firstly ….. a valley is a low lying area between hills or mountains. It takes you through something that would otherwise be insurmountable. Secondly ….. it’s only a shadow of death. Shadows can be eerie ….. but they are not the real thing. They appear bigger than the real thing ….. but they have no substance. Shadows are also proof that there is light even though you can’t see it. Thirdly ….. it is a place where we are assured of God’s presence. He said ‘When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will be with you. My rod and my staff will comfort you.’ If you are in that valley ….. look for the One who is with you every step of the journey!

Sue’s Views

Today we are celebrating the Queen’s Birthday here in NZ. Whether you love or hate the Royals ….. I have a tremendous respect for Queen Elizabeth! She has shown some amazing leadership qualities throughout her reign. Through good times and some very difficult times ….. she has remained faithful to her calling. She has been a hard worker ….. faithful wife ….. and a symbol of hope and courage through wars ….. depressions ….. tragedies ….. and scandals! She has been open about her Christian faith which has carried her through. You may be in a situation you didn’t ask for or feel unprepared for. Put your hand in the hand of the King of Kings ….. and let Him teach you and guide you through.

Sue’s Views

Sue’s Views

There are many reasons why things may seem unclear ….. but before you rush off to Specsavers ….. take a step back. Our brains are constantly overloaded with information. This can cause sleeplessness ….. anxiety ….. inadequate diet ….. and health issues. So before you blame it on brain fog ….. baby brain ….. or senior moments ….. take a break! Go for a walk ….. play some restful music ….. or have a nap. Once the mist clears ….. it’s usually a beautiful day!

Sue’s Views

Our frangipani tree has proven once again that the potential from within is stronger than the elements outside. Being a tropical plant ….. it surprised us to see it flowering in June in the New Zealand winter! We usually take it to a warmer position as it gets colder ….. but this year it is getting too big to move so we left it. We can’t always protect ourselves or those we love from harsh circumstances ….. but we can trust that God has given us and them the strength and courage to go through them. It’s the testing of our faith that produces perseverance!

Sue’s Views

It’s officially the first day of winter. The trees are bare ….. the nights are cold ….. and it gets dark by 6pm. And yet winter is probably the most productive season of all. Where we see barrenness ….. God sees the potential for fruitfulness. In fact He chose women who were unable to conceive to be part of Jesus blood line! When we feel cold ….. He draws us closer to Himself and warms us with His love. When we see darkness ….. He reminds us that He is the Light of the World that dispels all darkness. If you find yourself in a season of barrenness ….. coldness ….. or darkness ….. put your trust in Him. When we come to the end of ourselves ….. God is just beginning!

Sue’s Views

This has been our church’s verse for the month of May. Why is it so hard to trust God? Because we rely so much on what we see. From our view point ….. things can look pretty messy! We process them through our limited knowledge ….. and our past experience. We therefore limit the possible outcome to what we can understand. But ….. at the same time ….. God is looking at the same situation from His perspective. He sees a complete and beautiful picture. When we let Him into our situation by acknowledging that His ways are higher than ours ….. He will lead us step by step to a place where we can see it too! We walk by faith ….. not by sight.

Sue’s Views

The past year has been tough! We’ve all been affected in some way. Things we’ve depended on are no longer dependable. Our freedom has been restricted. Things we thought we could control are now beyond our control. But the human spirit doesn’t rely on outward circumstances to thrive. It is able to connect with God’s Spirit and is capable of things beyond our imagination. We were never designed to do our own thing. We were designed for God’s purpose ….. and nothing can stop that but us! So instead of looking at the harsh situation you are in ….. look inside at the potential God has given you ….. and bloom where you are planted!

Sue’s Views

Like many of you ….. we stood on our balcony late last night to watch the moon (so romantic)! It was too cold to stay there long but we didn’t want to miss a once in a lifetime experience. As amazing as it was ….. I couldn’t help being even more amazed at the God who put it all in motion! We know the moon has tremendous influence in our world ….. but we are just a dot in comparison to the universe. Sometimes it’s good to get some perspective. I can’t understand how people can think it all just happened by accident! As tiny and seemingly insignificant as we are ….. God chose us to be part of His family! And that makes me feel very special ….. and so are you!