On the way…

Sue’s Views 

One thing we need more than anything right now is hope!  Not wishful thinking ….. or a far off dream. True hope in the Bible means assurance that is based on faith in something or someone who is unshakeable and absolutely trustworthy. A huge ship relies on a small anchor because the anchor connects it to the sea bed which is solid and unmoveable. We only need a small amount of faith (like a mustard seed) to connect us to our God who is always steadfast and sure. 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19

Sue’s Views

If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place ….. don’t be surprised. It’s God’s testing ground! Jesus was tested in the wilderness for 40 days ….. Israel was tested in the desert for 40 years ….. and we too will go through our season of testing. It’s the place where we trust God or we die. It’s where we discover who we are ….. but more importantly ….. who God is! Before He died ….. Jesus prepared his disciples for troublesome times ahead. He spoke of natural disasters ….. but also about deception ….. betrayal and hatred towards one another. In His own words:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

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.’

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!

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.’

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!

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.

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!

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

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!