Category: Sue’s Views

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Rings Of Experience

Sue’s Views
The rings on a palm tree don’t tell you how old the tree is. They are formed by the branches that once grew there ….. but have fallen off. The tree continues to grow and form new branches. Life is full of new experiences ….. some we are only too happy to let go of ….. some we find difficult to part with. The good news is that we continue to grow ….. and new things await us. Things that are beyond our imagination!
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Focus On The Blessings!

Sue’s Views
Summer is almost over …..  but what a summer it has been! How will you remember the summer of 2025/26? There has certainly been plenty to complain about if we so choose. But the good news is that we do have a choice! Challenging times are always opportunities to reprioritise our lives. To focus on the blessings ….. to magnify the things we are thankful for. Some of the things on my list would be family ….. health ….. deepened friendships. But above all ….. I am so thankful to know my Heavenly Father ….. without whom none of these things would be possible. Because He is at the helm ….. I am excited about the future no matter how bleak it may look. 
‘Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
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Even though ….. yet I will rejoice!

Sue’s Views
Like many of us today ….. people in the Bible went through times of destruction and hopelessness ….. and they asked the same questions we do! ‘Where is God?’ ….. and ‘Why is this happening?’ Many have given up on believing God exists. Others believe that ….. if he does exist ….. He is like a Santa Claus character who always makes everything nice and happy! If that’s the case ….. He’s not doing a very good job! Many of the Bible characters cried out to God in anger and told Him what they really thought. Habbakuk was one such person. But God showed Him that what he and his people were going through was ultimately for their own good. He ended up understanding and writing the following words:
‘Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.’
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God The Gardener!

Sue’s Views
God is an amazing gardener! He knows exactly what each plant needs ….. the best soil ….. the right amount of sun or shade ….. the right nutrients ….. in order to produce its finest. Once planted ….. it has the greatest chance of thriving! But imagine if the plant decided to uproot and transplant itself elsewhere! Maybe it didn’t like the other plants around it ….. or thought another spot looked better! Sometimes we are like that! But for your roots to be deep and strong ….. you’re better off staying where God has put you.
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Puzzling Your Way Through Life!

Sue’s Views
I finally finished this jigsaw after many weeks! It was one of the most challenging ones I’ve ever done! I started with the brighter coloured parts but there were so many dark areas in the picture. I could have easily given up and put all the pieces back in the box ….. but something in me refused to do that. The challenge was on! I would finish it no matter what! Some days I would only put a couple of pieces in place but I learned to celebrate the wins no matter how small. Then there were days when I’d find a piece that linked two other parts together. As the picture began to come together ….. I was encouraged to keep going. Life can be like that jigsaw. The darker days seem to overpower the brighter days ….. you feel like giving up ….. but something in you tells you to keep going! Life can sometimes feel like lots of pieces that don’t make sense ….. but as you do what you can ….. celebrate the small wins ….. and focus on the brighter bits ….. the picture will start to make sense.
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Keep Watering Those Dreams

Sue’s Views

The beginning of a new year is often a time when new dreams are born. Maybe because we slow down and have time to think! As the year goes on ….. those dreams can become jaded and lost. A dream is like a seed. It has to be planted and watered ….. otherwise it will die. Write it down ….. talk about it ….. think of steps you can take to prepare. If it’s a God inspired dream ….. it will happen!
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Start A Journal!

Sue’s Views
Well ….. we’ve entered into a new year ….. and it is well underway! There are many ‘new things’ awaiting us. Some will be welcome ….. others not so much ….. but they are all to be learned from. Here’s a tip ….. if you haven’t already ….. start a journal! It has so many uses. 1. Keep an account of what you do each day. Very practical (and entertaining) to look back on! It will remind you of details you may have forgotten such as dates ….. events ….. what you cooked (handy to know so you don’t make the same meal twice for guests!) 2. Write down things you are thankful for each day. It will help you focus on the positives. 3. People and situations you pray for. You’ll be amazed how many prayers are answered! 4. Keep an account of what God is saying to you each day ….. either from the Word or just during your day. It’s amazing how quickly we forget in our busyness. You can add to the list and make it as simple or detailed as you like. I try to do it daily because it’s so hard to remember yesterday ….. let alone last week! There are so many seasons in my life when I wish I had kept a journal. Whatever you decide ….. I pray you will make the most of each day ….. and may 2026 be a year filled with blessings!
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Open Doors

Sue’s Views
I just finished reading a book by one of my favourite authors ….. John Ortberg ….. called ‘ All The Places To Go. How Will You Know?’ It’s about open doors and opportunities God opens for us. The question ‘How will you know?’ ….. suggests that we won’t know until we go through the door that is opened to us. Fear of the unknown ….. reluctance to leave our comfort zone ….. feeling inadequate ….. are some of the reasons we may hesitate. We may also ask ‘What if it’s the wrong door?’ Of course we should always be prayerful ….. but sometimes God doesn’t give us a neon sign saying ‘Enter this way!’ He is more pleased with our faith! Is God opening a door for you? Go in faith! How will you know if you don’t? He is also a closer of doors that He doesn’t want us to go through!
Rev 3:8 ‘ See I have placed before you an open door that no man can shut.’
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Man Of Sorrows

Sue’s Views
Sorrow is a part of life we all have to endure at some stage. If you are feeling down today you are in good company. Jesus was known as a ‘Man of Sorrows’. Not only was He sorrowful for His own suffering ….. but He also carried all our griefs and pain. That includes our regrets ….. shame ….. rejection ….. disappointment ….. loss ….. as well as our physical pain. He identifies with whatever you are going through. Talk to Him about it and receive His compassion.
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God Looks At The Heart

Sue’s Views
When you look at this flower do you see its beauty ….. or are you drawn to the torn petal? Have you noticed that nothing in creation is perfectly symmetrical? It’s the little flaws that make us unique! We often judge people on their appearance rather than their character. But God looks at the heart. That’s who we really are! How is your heart today? Is there envy ….. resentment ….. selfishness ….. or pride? Acknowledge it before God. Allow Him to exchange it for His forgiveness and love. 
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