On the way…

Sue’s Views 

I love autumn! I think it gets a bad rap because it reminds us that winter is coming ….. but autumn is a season all on its own. I was never very great at science ….. but apparently there’s a lot of chemistry happening in those trees! The reduced sunlight and temperature cause the high concentration of chlorophyll (that’s what makes the leaves green) ….. to break down and to reveal the colours of the secondary pigments that were hidden. 

I guess it’s like that in life. We don’t always see what’s really inside us until we go through some situations that force a change. When we get out of our comfort zone ….. when things get a bit darker and colder ….. we discover there are other ‘colours’ within us. Beautiful colours! Maybe you’ve discovered a new hobby ….. a new way of doing a business ….. a new way of communicating ….. a new way to adapt and build upon old ideas. 

Dear Lord, thank you for the different seasons in life. Please help us to be willing to allow the changes to bring out the best in us so we can use the gifts You’ve given us to bring You glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sue’s Views

Walking with God means going through the tough times! When we are in a situation we’d rather not be in ….. our prayer is often …..”God, get me outta here!” We look for all the ways God could rescue us ….. but He usually doesn’t send a helicopter to take us out. No! He comes down to where we are and walks us through! I’m glad I’ve walked through some things I had wanted to go away. I know God so much better!

Sue’s Views

Vaianu let us off lightly here in Auckland ….. but has impacted other parts of the country. So often warnings don’t turn out to be as bad as predicted ….. but we would be unwise to ignore them. The Bible is full of warnings. God never does anything without warning the people through His prophets ….. often years before the actual event. That’s because He is merciful. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. But He is also just and that’s a tricky balance. He has to follow up on His word. He gives us time to meet His conditions which are always for our good. There are plenty of signs to let us know that time is running out. 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” Amos 3:7

Sue’s Views

Our circumstances don’t determine our outcome ….. our thinking does! If you believe you’re a victim ….. you’ll live like one. But if you believe that nothing can hold back the potential God has put inside you ….. no rock ….. mountain ….. or obstacle will be able to stop you! Your harsh circumstances only serve to give all the more glory to God!

Sue’s Views

Does it seem like your life has taken a detour? Things were going along nicely ….. and then you were thrown a curve ball? You feel like you are going in the wrong direction ….. heading away from your goal? That’s when we need to trust our Heavenly Father ….. who sees obstacles in our path way before we do. Our ‘inconvenience’ may be to accommodate someone else’s need. Don’t worry! He will bring you back on course!

Sue’s Views

If we knew today was going to be our last day on earth ….. I wonder how we would spend it and what conversations we would have. Jesus chose to spend his with his disciples ….. preparing them for what lay ahead. They could not understand why He had to leave them. What was the point of it all? One thing He told them was that it was better for them that He go because He was going to sent a Helper ….. a Comforter ….. Someone who would be like having Jesus by their side every moment of every day! And not only that ….. but also Someone who would empower them to do the things Jesus did! He was talking about the Holy Spirit ….. who is available to each one of us because of Jesus death and resurrection! They received this wonderful gift fifty days later and ….. with the help of the Holy Spirit ….. they turned the world upside down! He turned their mourning into joy ….. and He will do the same for you!

Sue’s Views

Today we celebrate the most amazing act of love the world has ever seen. A Father ….. seeing the need of us His children ….. and knowing there was only one way to meet that need ….. gave His only Son to die in our place ….. as a sacrifice for our sin. Crucifiction was one of the cruelest and most humiliating way to die. But Jesus focus was on you and me being reconciled to God and able to live with Him forever.  He even prayed for our forgiveness as He was dying. What should be our response? Jesus made it possible for us to be saved ….. but the choice is still ours. The term ‘unconditional love’ is used a lot lately but you won’t find it in the Bible! It’s true in the sense that a parent never stops loving their child no matter what they do ….. but that same love forces them to punish wrong behaviour. We have a choice to make! And it’s Heaven or Hell! Yes, there is such a place as Hell ….. but nobody will go there because God doesn’t love them. On the contrary, they will go there precisely because they have willfully chosen to reject His love, freely offered to them in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. ‘Choose you this day whom you will serve.’