Category: Sue’s Views

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Weather Forecast

Sue’s Views
When you look at this picture ….. is it getting stormy or is it clearing up? Do you tend to see the glass half empty …..or half full? So much depends on our  outlook. Yesterday we nearly stayed home because the forecast was for rain ….. but we decided to go for a walk (raincoat in tow) ….. and not a drop of rain. How is your forecast? Is it mainly fine apart from a few showers ….. or mainly thunderstorms with the possibility of fine periods? We can’t change the weather ….. but we can change our attitude!
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Change of Season

Sue’s Views
Seasonal changes are taking place. Darker mornings ….. shorter days ….. an extra layer of clothing. There is nothing we can do to postpone winter! But we can make the most of the lovely autumn days. Stunning colours of the dying leaves ….. hearing them crunch under your feet ….. the crispness of the air and the welcome warmth of the sun ….. all make this one of my favourite seasons. Happy Monday everyone!

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Come To Me

Sue’s Views
If you look at the bloodline of Jesus ….. you will be surprised who is in there. The genealogies mostly only mention men ….. but there are a few exceptions. Three women are mentioned by name and they were all women of ‘ill repute’. Tamar acted as a prostitute in order to get pregnant ….. Rahab made her living as a prostitute ….. and Ruth was a foreigner. But God chose these women to be part of his plan because they all had great faith. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past or where you come from. God will never give up on you! He sees what you can become. He says ‘Come to me’!

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Fearlessness

Sue’s Views
This is Jabari and today he turns 4! His name means ‘fearless’! One of the enemy’s greatest tactics is fear! Fear cripples us and prevents us from accomplishing God’s purpose. The first generation of Israelites didn’t enter the Promised Land because they were afraid of the giants in the land. They saw themselves as grasshoppers in comparison ….. and so that’s what they became. They settled for a life of wandering in the wilderness. The next generation had a different mindset. They trusted God to fight their battles. As they went forward ….. they saw God do amazing things to destroy their enemies. They came to realise that the God they served was so much greater than the fear. Fearlessness in not the absence of fear ….. but the presence of faith in a God who cannot lose! Happy Birthday oh fearless one! May God always be your Captain as you experience life together! Lots of love from Pa & Nana 🥰🎉🎂

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Promised Land

Sue’s Views

Have you ever thought ‘If only I was in a different environment ….. things would be better’? If I lived in a nicer house ….. had a better job ….. had married someone else? Circumstances do make a difference ….. but the truth is ….. they don’t change who we are on the inside. As someone once said ….. ‘Wherever you go ….. there you are!’ The Israelites finally reached the Promised Land. A land flowing with milk and honey! Surely now they would be content. Surely now there would be no more complaining. Surely now they would live in peace and harmony. But ….. alas ….. they brought along the old nature of self centredness and pride. Many times in the Old Testament it says ‘They did what was right in their own eyes’. A recipe for disaster! 

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Jericho

Sue’s Views
When Joshua led the people across the Jordan River and into Canaan’s Land ….. they had many battles to fight in order to possess the land. The first was at Jericho ….. a well fortified city. God gave Joshua His strategy which was to march around the city for six days in silence ….. and then on the seventh day ….. to march around it seven times blowing rams horns. When they did this ….. the walls of the city crumbled and fell down. Joshua was then able to take the city ….. but not to take any of the loot. It belonged to God! One man couldn’t resist taking some clothes and money ….. and caused them to lose the next battle. We can never assume that because we had a victory one way ….. it will work the same way again. It must be done God’s way. When we disobey Him ….. we are on our own!

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The Rock

Sue’s Views
Some of the best hymns have been written in the darkest or most difficult times. Songs like ‘Amazing Grace’ ….. and ‘It is well with my soul’ ….. were born out of times of tragedy and loss. One I love is ‘Ascribe Greatness to our God, the Rock.’ It was written by Moses at the end of his life. His very difficult life had taught Him that God was faithful, just and always did what was right. To Moses ….. God was the Rock that held him and gave him strength. If you are going through a season where it feels like you are hanging on by your fingernails ….. let go! Because God ….. the Rock ….. has got you!

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Grandies Day!

Sue’s Views
Had a great time with these guys making cookies yesterday! They came out all shapes and sizes ….. and not all the cookie dough made it into the oven 😋! I’ll say no more! Zeke’s aim was to make the biggest cookies ….. Calla James to see how many she could make ….. Jabari picked out the chocolate chips and ate them ….. and Alayah just did her own thing! A few made it home to Mum & Dad! It’s ok! I made them wash their hands first!

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Winning Attitudes

Sue’s Views

Well done Emirates Team New Zealand! Not only did they win the America’s Cup ….. but they also demonstrated some winning attitudes. Humility ….. honour towards their opponents ….. and great teamwork. It was lovely to see how Luna Rossa responded as well. Both winning and losing are tests of our character. Both pride and despair can take us down ….. but humility and hope for the future will lift us up! 

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Nothing is Wasted

Sue’s Views
One thing I’ve learned from my journey so far is that no experience in life is ever wasted. Everything we go through is preparation and training for what lies ahead. Our struggles build strength ….. our mistakes form wisdom and understanding ….. our loneliness leads us to a closer walk with God ….. our losses teach us that everything comes from Him. So ….. there’s no point living with regret ….. guilt ….. or shame! Admit your failures ….. confess your sins ….. seek forgiveness where necessary. Then see the past as your pathway to the future. Then ….. go forward in God’s strength ….. wisdom ….. knowledge and understanding. There are people ahead waiting to be encouraged by your story!