Expectations!

Sue’s Views
Life has many challenges ….. not the least of which is other people’s expectations. Especially at this time of year ….. trying to please everyone will add to our stress. Not everyone is going to be pleased with us ….. we have to learn to live with that fact! We too must be careful not to put excessive expectations on others. Like the Apostle Paul said ….. ‘I have learned to be content ….. whether with much or with little’.
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Sue’s Views
Life has many challenges ….. not the least of which is other people’s expectations. Especially at this time of year ….. trying to please everyone will add to our stress. Not everyone is going to be pleased with us ….. we have to learn to live with that fact! We too must be careful not to put excessive expectations on others. Like the Apostle Paul said ….. ‘I have learned to be content ….. whether with much or with little’.
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Victim Or Victor?

Sue’s Views
Do you see yourself as a victim or a victor? Are you focussing on all the terrible things that have happened to you ….. or on all the things you have overcome? The strongest people are not the ones who have not failed ….. but the ones who have got back up again and continued the race. They are not the ones who have no fear ….. but the ones who ‘do it afraid’! Life can be like an obstacle course ….. but obstacles are to be overcome. If you are alive and breathing you are an overcomer! Here’s a prayer I pray often when facing a challenge. ‘Lord, I thank you that there is nothing I will face today that you and I together can’t handle!’
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Walk By Faith

Sue’s Views
There are times in life when there is no visible path. Does it mean you are going the wrong way ….. or just that few have taken the journey before you? The clear, well beaten track is always the most popular. But ‘it’s the narrow path that leads to life and few find it.’ We are called to walk by faith and not by sight. The question is ….. did God initiate the journey? If so ….. you can move ahead with absolute assurance that He will lead you to your destination.
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One Day At A Time

Sue’s Views
My theme song at this time of year is ‘One day at a time’! And sometimes even ‘One step at a time’!  Jesus warned his disciples not to worry about tomorrow because today has enough to focus on. Much of our stress and anxiety is based on stuff that hasn’t happened yet ….. and may never happen! Have you noticed how the media sensationalises things to make you feel like you are living through something that hasn’t happened yet? Our minds and bodies can’t cope with that. We must learn to live in the present ….. and do life in bite sized pieces! Reading back through my journal ….. I can see that much of what I feared never happened ….. or help came just when I needed it! Commit each day to the Lord and He will determine the outcome!
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Summer Is Here

Sue’s Views 
Today is officially the first day of summer. I’m sure we’re all ready for it! Picnics at the beach ….. barbecues with friends and family ….. longer evenings. But with all that often comes a lot of stress. Overspending ….. overdrinking ….. overeating ….. combined with traffic jams and queues can cause people to have short fuses! Plan well ….. allow plenty of time and keep it simple. Most of all ….. stay safe and enjoy the season!
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Look For The Silver Lining!

Sue’s Views

It’s said that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’! It just depends on how you look at it. If you’ve flown above the clouds ….. you know that the sun is always shining up there. The same clouds that appear dark and gloomy from beneath gleam brightly from above. Every situation we face can be viewed from 2 aspects ….. positive or negative. It’s up to us to look for the positive. It’s there!


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Thanksgiving

Sue’s Views
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US ….. and even though we don’t celebrate it here in NZ ….. I think it’s a good time to pause ….. and think about how much we have to be thankful for. Too much to mention here ….. but seeing I’m on FB ….. I would like to say thanks to all of you out there who are part of my life. Whether an old friend ….. new friend ….. friend of a friend ….. family member ….. I want you to know you make a difference! Thank you for being you!
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Parenting

Sue’s Views
Parenting is the highest calling ….. and Mums and Dads have never had it so challenging as they do right now. But God’s command to teach His Word to our kids has never changed! Whatever we invest in them when they are young will reap good fruit later ….. Yes! They may go off course ….. but in those times, we have the wonderful assurance that ….. though we may not be able to reach them ….. their Heavenly Father is right there with them. So be encouraged, Mum, Dad ….. You are doing something great in God’s eyes!
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Benefits Of Pruning

Sue’s Views
The Rose Garden is starting to look beautiful thanks to the much preparation that has been done over the winter months. Pruning is vital to roses. You have to know just where to cut in order to produce the best flowers. We need pruning too! Left ‘unpruned’ ….. we would take on far too much ….. or indulge ourselves in things that would harm us. A good gardener will sacrifice ‘good’ branches to produce the best! So if you are experiencing a bit of pruning in your life ….. don’t despair! The best is yet to come!
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