Author: Sue Wilson

Sue’s Views

I just want to remind us this morning that:

‘I, the Lord am your Shepherd, you shall lack nothing.

I will make you lie down in green pastures. I will lead you beside still waters.

I will restore your soul. 

Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will not fear because I am with you. My rod and my staff will comfort you. 

I am preparing a banquet for you in the presence of your enemies.

I will anoint your head with oil. Your cup will overflow.

Surely my goodness and my mercy will follow and be with you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in my house forever.’

Sue’s Views

I read the other day that one in four New Zealanders suffer from mental unwellness. My initial reaction was ….. ‘Wow! That’s high!’ But ….. on thinking about it ….. I decided it’s probably low. Maybe these figures represent those who reach out for help ….. or their behaviour causes others to reach out to them. But if we are honest ….. we all struggle at times. There is a battle going on and our minds are the battlefield. Pressure ….. stress ….. loneliness ….. unrealistic expectations ….. abuse ….. fear ….. anxiety ….. betrayal ….. to name but a few of the weapons aimed at us. It’s a spiritual battle! We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers. The good news is that we have weapons of our own to fight with and they are more powerful than our enemy’s. The thoughts that come to us from the enemy are lies! They only have power if we believe them! We overcome lies by declaring truth which is found in God’s Word. We overcome fear and anxiety by expressing our faith in God through Jesus Christ. We overcome the temptations of the enemy through the power of the Holy Spirit. We overcome the pressure and stress by resting in God and letting Him fight our battles. We overcome hurt and abuse by allowing God’s Spirit to heal us. And  we overcome loneliness and betrayal by knowing God will never leave us nor forsake us. And those of us who are in a good place need to be aware of those around us who need someone to come alongside and support them.

Sue’s Views

How are your stress levels? As any athlete will tell you ….. stress is their friend! It’s what makes them strong and able to compete against the best. But too much stress can cause bones and ligaments to fracture. The pressures of life have the same effect. The right amount of pressure keeps the wheel turning. Without it ….. we would become idle and lazy. It might feel good to live in comfort and ease ….. but we would soon stagnate and become useless. See your pressure points as opportunities to grow. But there must be balance. If stress is compromising your health ….. it’s time to seek help. Do you need to say ‘no’ more often? Is there a conversation that needs to be had? Are you being driven by expectations of others? Some thoughts to mull over and pray about!

Sue’s Views

The human body is made up of 60% water and the rest is mainly minerals that are found in the mud! According to a couple of websites ….. the value of one human is around $160!!! Doesn’t that make you feel so special? And yet ….. we couldn’t create a human if we tried. The story is told that some scientist said he could create a man out of mud ….. and God said ‘Go ahead but first you have to make your own mud!’ We came from nothing ….. and yet Jesus considered us so valuable that He was willing to die on a cross so we would be able to live with Him forever. The things with the least monetary value are often the most important. We spend millions of dollars on trying to look good while God looks at us as we are and sees a pearl of great price for which He was willing to give everything He had. I hope that makes you feel a bit better about yourself!

Sue’s Views

No matter how bleak things look right now ….. it’s only for a season. You might be on a part of life’s journey that is difficult. There may be some regrets. You may wish you could go back and do things differently. The outlook may be bleak. The prognosis may be dismal. But ….. just as your past doesn’t define who you are today ….. neither does someone else’s opinion determine where you’ll be tomorrow. This leg of the journey ….. unpleasant as it seems ….. is necessary to get you to where you need to be. Yield to God ….. He sees the end from the beginning ….. and every step in between!

Sue’s Views

I wonder how many times you’ve bought a new appliance and used it without reading the instruction manual. I know I have! My thinking has been ….. ‘I know how to use a microwave ….. vacuum cleaner ….. or whatever it may be! What could possibly go wrong?’ But after a while ….. when something does go wrong ….. I’m scrambling to find the manual! The Bible is our ‘manual’ for how to use our lives. Yet how often do we ignore the manual and do it our way? Then ….. after we make a mess of things ….. we blame God! The manual to this appliance clearly says ‘Before first use of the unit read these operating instructions and act in accordance with them.’ Only the manufacturer knows the best way to use his appliance!

Sue’s Views

Yay! It’s magnolia season! These beautiful trees remind me that ….. in every season ….. there is something beautiful! Just as most trees have lost their leaves and blossoms ….. these beauties do their thing. The same God who waited for the wine to run out at a wedding and then made the best wine out of water ….. the same God who waited four days after Lazarus died to bring him back to life ….. is the God who waits till things seem hopeless and then shows up in amazing ways! If you are in a winter season ….. look out for the magnolias!

Sue’s Views

If you are alive and breathing on planet earth ….. you must be wondering what’s going on! The world news is full of natural disasters ….. floods ….. fires ….. wars ….. pestilence ….. earthquakes ….. to name a few. Then there is the increasing rise and tolerance of immorality. Laws are being passed to allow things God hates ….. and now if we speak truth we are guilty of ‘hate’! It’s time to open our eyes and look to the Heavens. We talk so much about God’s love ….. but He is also a God of judgement. It’s His love that has patiently waited for mankind to repent and turn back to Him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. But it’s His righteousness that will one day say ‘Enough’! What side will you be on on that day? This is ‘love’ speaking ….. not judgement! I am no better than anyone and that is exactly why I rely on Jesus. He is the only answer. He will give you ‘strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow’.

Sue’s Views

Some things in life have to be experienced to be fully appreciated ….. like the smell of freshly mown grass ….. the sound of tuis in the tree tops ….. and the feel of the warm sun on a winter’s morning. A photo can only do so much. It’s the same with God. We can know about Him ….. but to really know Him we have to experience Him with all our senses. One of the best ways to get to know God is by talking to Him ….. and listening to Him. He speaks to us all the time ….. but other voices drown Him out. He says, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’