Celebrating Marriage

Sue’s Views
Thank you everyone for your lovely wishes for our Anniversary yesterday! As you can see ….. we’ve had a mixed bag weather wise ….. but somehow it doesn’t matter when you are at the beach! It’s awesome even in a storm. I guess these pics sum up our 46 years of marriage. Sunny days ….. stormy days ….. days when you have fun together ….. and days when you seem to be going in different directions! But you keep loving each other ….. and keep making memories. We are so thankful to have God in our marriage to keep us strong ….. and to have the love and encouragement of friends and family.

Rest

Sue’s Views
Yes! We are back at our happy place for a few days break. I’m not sure if the beach got longer or if we are just getting older ….. but we didn’t quite make it to the end! But we’re ok with that. We are here to rest. Resting doesn’t mean doing nothing ….. it means not having to meet deadlines or expectations. It means taking time to enjoy the things you’ve accomplished. It means taking time to hear from God about the future. Even in the busyness of life ….. we can learn to ‘enter God’s rest’ each day. In order to do that ….. we must have faith that God is in control ….. not us!
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Uniquely Loved

Sue’s Views
Which flower do you identify with? Do you feel like the ‘odd one out’? Do you feel like you don’t fit in? Do you wish you were more like other people? Or maybe ….. you are sick of being ‘one of the crowd’ ….. and wish you stood out more? When God looks at you ….. He sees you as one of His children. Every parent knows ….. no matter how many children you have ….. each one is unique. There are resemblances ….. but each has their own specialness. God sees your specialness! He will never overlook you ….. He doesn’t favour others over you ….. we are all His favourites! So be the best ‘you’ you can be. And that comes from receiving His love for you and knowing you belong to Him.

Leader of the Pack!

Sue’s Views

I can’t believe it’s been 14 years since our lives changed forever and we became grandparents for the first time! They now number 11 ….. and each one has added richness and flavour to the family. Today is Israel’s birthday. Isa ….. you will always be the ‘leader of the pack’! A born leader ….. responsible ….. loving ….. gifted ….. and giving. Such a great example to your siblings and cuzzies. Keep going for all God has for you. There will no doubt be turbulent times ahead ….. but always remember to check in with God before making decisions. God bless and happy birthday! Love you, Pa & Nana 

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Wilson <fandswilson@windowslive.com&gt;
Date: 12 October 2022 at 08:28:53 NZDT
To: Mary Ashby-Peckham <maryhap1@hotmail.com&gt;

Sue’s Views
I can’t believe it’s been 14 years since our lives changed forever and we became grandparents for the first time! They now number 11 ….. and each one has added richness and flavour to the family. Today is Israel’s birthday. Isa ….. you will always be the ‘leader of the pack’! A born leader ….. responsible ….. loving ….. gifted ….. and giving. Such a great example to your siblings and cuzzies. Keep going for all God has for you. There will no doubt be turbulent times ahead ….. but always remember to check in with God before making decisions. God bless and happy birthday! Love you, Pa & Nana

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Proverbs 31

Sue’s Views
I just want to honour this lady today! She is my mother in law ….. and today is her 91st birthday! She grew up in a small village in Vanua Levu, Fiji ….. married a Samoan man and became the mother of nine children ….. grandmother to more than twenty ….. and great grandmother to countless more! She is probably the hardest working woman I know ….. and still telling her daughters how to cook! She is the epitome of Proverbs 31.
“ If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! Her husband can trust her, and she will richly satisfy his needs. She will not hinder him but help him all her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She buys imported foods brought by ship from distant ports. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plans the day’s work for her servant girls. She goes out to inspect a field and buys it; with her own hands she plants a vineyard. She is energetic, a hard worker, and watches for bargains. She works far into the night!
She sews for the poor and generously helps those in need. She has no fear of winter for her household, for she has made warm clothes for all of them. She also upholsters with finest tapestry; her own clothing is beautifully made—a purple gown of pure linen. Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council chamber with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments to sell to the merchants.
She is a woman of strength and dignity and has no fear of old age. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says.  She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household and is never lazy. Her children stand and bless her; so does her husband. He praises her with these words: “There are many fine women in the world, but you are the best of them all!”
Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn’t last, but a woman who fears and reverences God shall be greatly praised. Praise her for the many fine things she does. These good deeds of hers shall bring her honor and recognition from people of importance.” 
Happy Birthday Nana! We love you! ❤️🥰🙏

Change

Sue’s Views
We live in an ever changing world. One thing we can be sure of is change! Seasons change ….. governments change ….. laws change ….. people change ….. our circumstances change. It can make us stronger and more adaptable ….. or it can make us fearful and suspicious. It seems we can no longer take people at their word ….. but there is One who we can always depend on to follow through on His promises. He is the same yesterday ….. today ….. and forever more. We can trust Him 100%! If you put your trust in Him ….. He will help you navigate through the changes!
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

Inspiration From Home

Sue’s Views
I haven’t been able to walk much this week mainly due to the weather. I miss the inspiration I get from the beauty of nature. But one day ….. during a break in the bad weather ….. I decided to go for a wander round our own garden. I discovered you don’t have to go far for inspiration after all! We often take for granted the things that are right in front of us because we see them everyday. But they are all evidence of the love and care of our Creator ….. and the fact that He uses us to tend and care for His creation!

Ecstasy

Sue’s Views
I heard these tuis before I saw them! Their unique and distinct song drew my attention. I learned that a group of tuis is called an ‘ecstasy’! It seems appropriate as ecstasy means ‘an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.’ Some may associate it with a drug by the same name. It’s sad that so many have turned to artificial means to find this kind of happiness ….. which is temporary and leads to addiction and all the complications that go with it. This world can overwhelm us at times but Jesus has overcome the world. He came to give us abundant life. In Him we have everything we need ….. including joy!
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” Jn 15:10-11

Giving

Sue’s Views
A few months ago ….. we planted some mixed bulbs that looked like dried up onions! We put them deep in the soil ….. covered them up ….. and forgot about them through winter. But sure enough ….. we’ve enjoyed a variety of daffodils ….. crocuses ….. and now tulips! The Bible talks about giving being like planting a seed. There will always be a return! But the giving must come first. That’s because God is more interested in our faith than our money. When we give we are investing in His Kingdom ….. so we should expect a harvest. 
‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38)

Abundant Life

Sue’s Views
Are you living an abundant life! Are you living life to the full? That doesn’t mean you have no problems ….. it means you are in a continual relationship with the One who has all the solutions. It doesn’t mean you are wealthy ….. it means you are acquainted with the One who provides all your needs. It doesn’t mean you’ve reached the top of the ladder ….. it means you are walking each day with the One who gives wisdom ….. guidance ….. and strength. Jesus came to give us abundant life! It’s not about our circumstances …..it’s about who is living in us!