On the way…

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!

Sue’s Views

The Cross consists of two beams ….. one is vertical ….. one is horizontal. The vertical beam represents our relationship with God. The main purpose of Jesus death, burial and resurrection was to give us access to God the Father. Before the cross ….. we were separated from God by our sin. But Jesus paid our debt ….. giving us access to the Father ….. and allowing us to receive His forgiveness. The horizontal beam represents our relationship with others. We are part of a global family! That means there is sibling rivalry ….. and the bickering that goes on in any family. There are plenty of opportunities to offend and be offended! But because God has forgiven me of my ginormous debt that I could never have paid ….. I can ….. with His help ….. forgive my brother and sister for the much smaller debts they owe me. In fact ….. if I don’t ….. God can’t forgive me of mine. His hands are tied! So as we approach Easter weekend ….. let’s forgive our debtors so we can receive Gods forgiveness.

“And forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.” Matthew 6:12

Sue’s Views

As we approach Easter weekend ….. I want to focus on the Cross of Christ. The Cross has become a well recognised symbol of Christianity ….. with many different versions. They are hung around necks ….. hung on walls ….. and erected in graveyards and where loved ones have met their demise on the roads. Some are very elaborate ….. made in gold ….. jade ….. and other precious materials. Some have the figure of Jesus still on them ….. others are empty. Many have become a fashion accessory! The Cross of Christ was most likely rough ….. just two pieces of wood nailed together. They were a common sight! Jesus wasn’t the first to be crucified. It was the means of execution for murderers ….. thieves ….. and extortioners. But Jesus was the only man to be crucified and then raised back to life! That’s why the Christian symbol of the Cross is empty! What Jesus went through was horrific ….. but He was willing to do it for our sake. Someone had to pay the penalty for our wrongdoing. Someone who was sinless. Someone who met the requirements for a perfect sacrifice. No one but Jesus could do that! 

 “Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!” Isaiah 53: 4-6

Sue’s Views

Much of the Bible can be summed up in the words ‘Hear and Obey!’ There are many voices giving us information ….. and it’s up to us to decide whether or not it’s true. But when God speaks ….. we would be wise to listen. His instructions are based on the fact that He knows everything ….. He wants the best for us ….. He sees dangers we are unaware of. Disobedience has consequences. One of the biggest little words in the Bible is the word ‘if’. ‘If you obey my words ….. you will be blessed!’ ‘If you disobey ….. you will not be blessed!’ Disobedience is removing yourself from God’s protective covering. Don’t be easy game for the enemy!

Sue’s Views

Are you struggling with discontentment? Do things always look better on the other side of the fence? It’s because you are comparing yourself with the wrong set of people. We tend to compare ourselves with those whom we perceive to be better off than us. There’s another group who would look at us with envy! Contentment is being thankful for what you have ….. and being willing to share it with those who have less.

Sue’s Views

Sometimes ….. a flower just makes me stop in my tracks and capture it. Why? Because it’s a work of art ….. a masterpiece! Yes there are many others ….. but none like this one. It has little imperfections that make it unique and special. Being like everyone else doesn’t make you valuable. It’s those little things you may see as flaws that give you your individuality ….. and set you apart from the crowd!

Sue’s Views

We all have things that can weigh us down ….. cares ….. concerns ….. troubles. When we focus on them they can seem so huge ….. and take all our energy. However ….. if we take a step back and see them as part of a bigger picture ….. they become less intimidating. As has been said, ‘Stop telling God how big your problems are ….. and start telling your problems how big your God is!’

Sue’s Views

The Wilson tribe love reasons to get together ….. so a visit by our niece, Manaini, from Fiji was a good excuse! She got to meet all her cousins at once ….. and survived! But we are a very small part of a much bigger picture. We started a family tree ….. but soon ran out of paper! If it were possible ….. we would find we are all connected! The Bible is very focussed on family trees. It clearly states the family lines of each individual ….. which also proves they existed! 

God knows each one by name and where they fit into the family tree! 

Luke 3:38 “ ….. the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God”.

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!