Month: July 2025

Sue’s Views

It’s midwinter here in New Zealand ….. and for some ….. the winter blues may have settled in. The winter season is not always welcome but it is a necessary and productive season. It strips us of the old and prepares us for the new. It also exposes who we really are. It’s a time of adjustment maybe ….. or just a time of acceptance. When asked which of the Commandments is the greatest ….. Jesus replied ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ We can only love others as much as we love ourselves. Soon this weeping cherry will be covered in the most beautiful blossoms you can imagine. And your season will come too. But I encourage you to use this time to really get to know your ‘inner’ self.

Sue’s Views

Communication is one of the most important ingredients in any relationship! It requires two skills ….. assertive speaking ….. and active listening. Don’t assume your partner knows what you are thinking. They have no idea! Be clear ….. and make sure they have understood your message. When someone is speaking to you ….. listen! Be attentive! Don’t focus on what you are going to say next. In a world of high tech communication ….. we have to work hard to maintain the art of conversation. These two seem to have it sorted!

Sue’s Views

The heart is the most important organ in our bodies because it is the life line to every other part. An unhealthy heart can cause sickness and disease in every other organ. Similarly ….. our spiritual heart is also the lifeline to our spiritual well-being. Things like envy ….. bitterness ….. unforgiveness ….. greed ….. and lust ….. will produce ‘dis – ease’. We lose our peace. We lose our joy. King David gave us a great example of heart surgery when he prayed ‘Create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me’. When we acknowledge our sin ….. and are sorry enough to change direction ….. our hearts become mouldable in God’s hands. How is your heart?

Sue’s Views

When things get overwhelming and all we can see is hopelessness and defeat ….. we need to remember the story of Elijah and his servant who were surrounded by an enemy army. The servant could only see certain defeat and destruction because that’s what was happening in the natural realm. Elisha however was a man of tremendous faith ….. and he saw beyond the natural realm to the supernatural. He prayed that God would open his servants eyes and he did! They both were able to see a much larger army of angel warriors surrounding the enemy. The result was that the enemy soldiers were struck with blindness and lost their sense of direction. Ask God to open your eyes to see what He is doing behind the scene. He is fighting the battle on your behalf. You just need to trust Him!

Sue’s Views

Today is the last day of the school holidays here in NZ for term 2. I just want to give a shout out to all the teachers ….. who work so hard and diligently to not only educate ….. but also take care of our kids in so many ways. They are often called on to be counselors ….. mediators ….. problem solvers ….. protectors ….. and confidantes. They have such an impact on a child’s life. I hope and pray you will be recognised and recompensed ….. and valued for who you are. Hope you have enjoyed your break! You deserve it!

Sue’s Views

I love the way seasons flow into one another. We are in the middle of winter ….. and yet there are still autumn leaves on the ground ….. and signs of spring everywhere. The season you are in right now may be harsh and barren. Maybe you are plagued with unpleasant memories and regrets from another season. Or maybe you have longings for a past season that is no longer. Well I’m here to remind you that a new season is coming ….. one that will be full of new challenges ….. but also opportunities to move forward. Take the steps you need to take to settle the past ….. so you can move on.

Sue’s Views

It’s school holidays and we had a lovely outing yesterday to Kelly Tarltons. We found Nemo ….. Dory ….. Bruce ….. and the Happy Feet gang! Mavy and Asaph got swallowed by a very big fish …..  but they survived! My favourites were the penguins. The boys were worried that they would be cold ….. but we explained that God made them for a cold environment. So many different creatures ….. all uniquely designed. What an amazing display of God’s creation! 

Sue’s Views

Yes! It has been one year since we moved into our new home! Much has taken place since then. It looks much more ‘lived in’ now ….. with pictures on the walls ….. fences up and gardens in ….. and everything in its place. But the best memories of the past year have been the people who have visited ….. meals around the table ….. family get togethers ….. and new friends made. Thanks to all who have helped make it go from being a house to a home! And we’re loving it!

Sue’s Views

Opportunity often comes in disguise. It may take the form of a closed door ….. a disappointment ….. a negative report. These situations can either cause us to give up ….. or to dig deeper in order to find another way. The big picture usually becomes clearer only on reflection. We discover that the ‘plan B’ ….. though inconvenient at the time ….. was actually much better.

Sue’s Views

Is there someone you would rather not face? Someone who has hurt you ….. or is it someone you have mistreated and feel ashamed? Two of the main pillars of the Gospel are forgiveness and repentance. We all need to forgive those who have wronged us. It sets us free and allows God to deal with the perpetrator. And we all need to acknowledge our own wrongdoing to others. Don’t let pride stand in your way! Humility will open the door for the relationship to be reconciled. ‘I’m sorry!’ ….. and ‘I forgive you’ ….. are two phrases to keep at the front of our minds.