On the way…

Sue’s Views

When everything you hoped for is stripped away ….. there are two ways you can look at it. 1. It’s over ….. 2. It’s a new beginning. It may be the end of a chapter but it’s not the end of the story. The oak tree looses its foliage in order to reproduce. It may look like it’s over ….. but it is teeming with new life and opportunity. So are you!

Sue’s Views

Well ….. half the year has passed! How is yours going? Before we allow the second half to carry us away ….. it might be a good time to pause and revisit those goals we set at the beginning of the year. You know ….. all those things we vowed we would do better ….. or stop doing! Don’t feel condemned! God is a God of new beginnings. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking ” I’ve messed up so I may as well give up!” No way! Acknowledge where you’re at and start afresh. The game is won or lost in the second half!

Sue’s Views

Love is in the air! Love is not always about the feelings! Often ….. it’s looking up to heaven and wondering ‘who is this person beside me?’ ….. while that person beside you has no idea what you’re thinking. But ….. it’s about sticking together in the good times …..  and the not so good. It’s about agreeing to disagree at times. It’s about having each other’s back ….. and balancing each other out. That’s true love!

Sue’s Views

These rose hips remind me that sometimes we are of more use after our ‘best’ season ….. once the beauty, fragrance and abundance has left us perhaps feeling bare ….. disappointed ….. and unfruitful. But what’s left is full of goodness ….. healing ….. and promise of more fruit to come. Don’t be discouraged! You are just the medicine someone needs today!

Sue’s Views

What does God’s plan for our lives look like? Probably very different to what we’d expect! I would have chosen a nice straight path with few obstacles. But ….. in all honesty ….. it probably looks more like this picture! Winding roads ….. traffic ….. and mountains! Part of the reason for that is the choices I make. I don’t always follow the A road! Therefore ….. in His mercy ….. God has to open up the B road! Then there are other peoples choices. They don’t always follow plan A either and their choices may clash with mine. But I also believe that God is more interested in my character than in my comfort. It’s the winding roads that develop prudence ….. the traffic patience ….. and the mountains strength and perseverance. His ways are higher than mine!

Sue’s Views 

Have you wandered off the path ….. found yourself in a dark place? Are you telling yourself all kinds of lies to justify where you are? Does it seem too hard ….. and too far to get back on track ….. so you just keep digging a deeper ….. and darker hole? It’s not as far as you think! If you do a 180 turn and take 1 step ….. you’ll find your Father has run the rest of the distance to meet you! In fact He’s been there all the time ….. just waiting for you to turn around!

Sue’s Views

If we are honest ….. I think most of us believe our way of doing things is the right way. Until I married someone of a different culture ….. and experienced living in that culture ….. I had that misguided belief! Then I began to see that some of my ‘traditions’ made no sense ….. and some of his were way more practical. You don’t have to be from another culture or ethnicity to be different. We all have our differences ….. but as you’ll know if you are married ….. opposites attract. This is no better illustrated than by this pair of ducks! They mate for life and are always together!

Sue’s Views

We were never designed to be alone but to live in relationship with others. Like it or not ….. your life affects other people. Your choices have an impact on your family ….. friends ….. workmates ….. neighbours etc. They are there for a reason. They will keep you grounded ….. and rub off any rough edges you have. But mostly they will support you and be there for you when you need them.

Sue’s Views

I love how the camellia is one of the most delicately beautiful blossoms ….. and yet it blooms during the harshest months of the year. What’s its secret? Only that it was created ‘for such a time as this’. If your circumstances seem harsh ….. remember your Father in Heaven knew about it before you did. But He has put into you His own Spirit ….. the same Spirit that raised Christ from death! If you try to do it in your own strength ….. you’ll fail. But if you allow His strength ….. life ….. and wisdom to flow through you ….. nothing can hold you back!

Sue’s Views 

Did you know that God created you for a specific and unique purpose? No one else can do what He designed you to do ….. and you can’t do what He designed someone else to do. That’s why it’s so important that we discover our own pathway. But ….. at the same time ….. you have gifts that others need. We are not designed to live separately ….. but to live in relationship with others whose gifts we can encourage and enhance. So there’s no point in comparing or envying! Your gift is just as valuable as everyone else’s so long as you use it for God. Receive your gift with thanksgiving ….. and then share it with others!

 ‘But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.’ 2 Cor 10:12