Category: Sue’s Views

Sue’s Views

As the family grows there are more and more birthdays to celebrate. This month has been Israel’s ….. and today is Frank’s! Birthdays are a wonderful opportunity to thank God for family ….. friends ….. and the life He gave us. It’s an opportunity to tell out loved ones how much they mean to us. It’s also a great opportunity to eat cake! 🎂🎉

Sue’s Views

Are you feeling weighed down by your circumstances? Life has a way of throwing things at you and it’s easy to let them pile up. I experienced a bit of that this weekend. I decide to go for a walk and a talk with God about it! As I poured my heart out ….. this beautiful kereru flew onto a branch in front of me and just sat there. This has happened to me a few times now and I believe it’s God telling me He is with me. The bird always reminds me of the Holy Spirit. He is gentle and yet powerful. His presence changes the atmosphere. He diffuses anxiety ….. and brings peace and assurance. He is the best companion anyone could ask for. And He is always there ….. never too busy to hang out. He not only listens ….. but He is also a great Counsellor! He’ll show you what’s going on ….. and how to move forward. He’s there for you too!

Sue’s Views

It’s Labour Weekend in NZ and many will be enjoying a break. It was founded in 1840 when a carpenter won an eight hour working day for NZers. It was decided that we need to rest for eight hours ….. have eight hours of family time and recreation ….. and work for 8 hours. I wonder how many of us live that way now! Balance is very important for a healthy life. Do you need to make some changes? Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend!

Sue’s Views

Do you sometimes feel dissatisfied with where you are? Do you feel like you were born for more? Does it seem like you are going down when everything in you wants to fly? Welcome to the life of the caterpillar! He dreams of spreading his wings ….. but finds himself more and more confined. Dreams usually take time and patience to be fulfilled. Just when it seems like it will never happen ….. your dream will be fulfilled. You’ll realise that the process was as important as the end result!

Sue’s Views

Work is a necessary part of life ….. and we can teach our children good work ethics from a very young age! By giving them age suitable tasks we can prepare them for something they will spend a lifetime doing. Things like making their bed before school ….. tidying up before using technology ….. helping with daily tasks ….. can help them become self disciplined. It’s often easier to do it yourself ….. but the long term results are worth the time and effort!

Sue’s Views

It’s not easy to find peace and quiet these days ….. but it’s something we all crave deep down. It’s not just about the absence of noise and activity ….. but the presence of the Prince of Peace. He is present in the middle of a storm ….. in a busy shopping mall ….. in heavy traffic ….. and in the turmoil of everyday life. We can’t always escape these ….. but we can always find Hiim and receive His peace. When life gets a bit frantic ….. and emotions become a roller coaster ….. remember He is right there! May you know His shalom today!

Sue’s Views

Did you know that the human brain is the one organ that keeps developing throughout your life? You have the potential to keep learning ….. and to change the way you think no matter how old you are. We say things like ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ ….. but that’s more about us becoming set in our ways and not wanting to change. The truth is ….. there are new ideas waiting to be discovered inside of you. You just have to be willing to explore them. I wonder how many God given plans go undiscovered because we think we are too old ….. or we can’t be bothered. Food for thought! Happy Monday everyone ❤️

Sue’s Views

Tomorrow our new government will be decided. In case you haven’t already voted ….. I want to remind us all of the laws God gave His people as a foundation to a blessed nation. Whether or not you are a practicing Christian ….. most would agree these are reasonable laws based on respect. Before you make your decision compare them to the laws being considered and passed today. God’s laws are known as the Ten Commandments ….. not the ten suggestions! That’s because He knows the consequences of not keeping them. He said if we obey them we will be blessed. If we disobey them we will be under a curse. Do you see any connection between what’s happening in the world today ….. and the laws being passed? The only way forward is to return to the original plan. Let’s pray for a New Zealand that God can bless!

Sue’s Views

This tree is known as a ‘weeping willow’. They usually grow alongside a river bank and ….. according to Wikipedia ….. they are all females! That accounts for much! But male or female ….. we all feel sad at times. Tears are the overflow of pent up emotion and they are precious to God. In fact He collects our tears in a bottle. That tells me that we shouldn’t waste our sorrows. They help us to grow stronger and make us more understanding of others. The shortest verse in the Bible says ‘Jesus wept’. His tears were for his friends who were grieving ….. but mostly for the unbelief of mankind. He can identify with our sadness. He can also turn our mourning into dancing ….. and our sorrows into joy!

Sue’s Views

I love how these trees grow so tall and straight ….. and respect each other’s space. Friendship is like that! It’s allowing someone to be who they are while standing alongside in support. It’s about letting them know you are there without invading their territory. And it’s about setting an example ….. being a person of integrity ….. even when they may go astray. So many lessons from a forest!