Category: Sue’s Views

Sue’s Views

No matter how sophisticated we think we are ….. or how famous ….. or how talented ….. we are all made from the same clay! It’s what fills that clay vessel that makes all the difference. God’s Spirit on the inside transforms us from a clay pot ….. to a treasure trove. From a container ….. to a dispenser of His love. So instead of comparing yourself with other pots ….. let Him fill you and do things through you that you have not yet imagined!

Sue’s Views

Giving and receiving are two of the major ingredients of life. We can only give what we have ….. and we have nothing apart from what we’ve received. Everything we have comes from God so nothing is really ‘ours’. When we grasp that concept ….. it’s much easier to pass what we have been given on to others. Whether it’s material possessions ….. wisdom from experience ….. or just plain love ….. it’s better shared.

Sue’s Views

A few views from our weekend in Orewa! Much improvement has been done since our last visit. The seawall offers protection as well as a pleasant path to walk along. It’s good to see the trees that were suffering from erosion have been replanted and are now stable. The beach is still clean and spacious ….. and the views still stunning! So thankful for this little getaway. Now we are homeward bound!

Sue’s Views

This tree reminds me that ‘though our outward man is dying ….. our inward man is being renewed.’ We are so much more than our bodies. They are the means through which we relate to the world around us. But inside ….. they carry our soul (our mind, will and emotions) ….. and our spirit ( the place where God dwells). This is the part that ….. when yielded to God ….. is renewed daily. It then dictates to our minds and bodies to get in line! We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Sue’s Views

I had fun last night playing Ludo with my grandies! Board games really bring out the true character of a person! There’s the competitive ….. ‘must win at all costs’ type! Then there’s the strategic ….. ‘take their time before making a move’ type. The aim of the game is to get home! Life’s journey is something like a board game. We start out well ….. but then we find ourselves back where we started! We win some battles ….. and we lose some as well. We have to learn to trust God and not rely on our own strategies. There will be disappointments along the way and we will be tempted to cheat or say ‘It’s not fair!’ But if we persevere and play to the rules ….. we will reach our Home! 

Sue’s Views

One thing I’ve learned from my journey so far is that no experience in life is ever wasted. Everything we go through is preparation and training for what lies ahead. Our struggles build strength ….. our mistakes form wisdom and understanding ….. our loneliness leads us to a closer walk with God ….. our losses teach us that everything comes from Him. So ….. there’s no point living with regret ….. guilt ….. or shame! Admit your failures ….. confess your sins ….. seek forgiveness where necessary. Then see the past as your pathway to the future. Then ….. go forward in God’s strength ….. wisdom ….. knowledge and understanding. There are people ahead waiting to be encouraged by your story!

Sue’s Views

My Word from God this morning was Psalm 37: 4-5.

“Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (NASB)

On first impression we may interpret that to mean that if we spend some time praying, reading the Bible and being good ….. He will reward us with the things we want most. But ….. there are always conditions to God’s promises! In this case they are to ‘Delight ourselves in the Lord’ ….. and to ‘Commit our way to the Lord and trust in Him’. 

The more we delight in God, the more we will want what He wants. Our own selfish desires will take second place to doing God’s will. We will discover that His will brings us far more delight than our own will does. It may take us on a path that seems unfamiliar and difficult. That’s where the ‘committing our way to the Lord and trusting Him’ comes in. 

The verse ends with ‘He will do it’. He will help you ….. guide you ….. and give you the strength and ability to complete the task. 

If there is a battle going on in your mind about trust that God has way better plans for your life than you do! Trust Him!

Sue’s Views

How’s your marriage? Yes! It can feel like you are two very different species at times. And ….. yes ….. there are times when it seems like you’re not on the same track. But God, in His wisdom, brings along someone to complete us ….. not someone who matches us! Each has something the other lacks. Marriage is the perfect training ground for maturity! There’s no room for selfishness ….. or pride!  I’m still learning that after 50 years! The most important phrases we must learn if we want a happy marriage are ‘I’m sorry’ ….. ‘I forgive you’ ….. ‘I love you’!

Sue’s Views

There are plenty of opportunities each day for us to take offence. I’ve personally been aware of some bad attitudes creeping in lately. When we’ve been hurt ….. we can start to build our case ….. and we see everything through a filter of cynicism or sarcasm. These are mechanisms to protect ourselves from further pain by pointing the finger ….. and passing judgement on our perpetrators. The problem is that our ‘filter’ prevents us from seeing clearly and keeps us stuck in a place where we can only be happy if things change. Acknowledge the pain ….. forgive those who hurt you ….. and let them go. God says ‘Vengeance is Mine. I will repay!’ When we know God’s supremacy and absolute authority ….. we can move on with our lives ….. knowing He’s got us in the palms of His hands.