The New Thing

Sue’s Views
Life has its ups and downs ….. but one thing we can count on is God’s faithfulness! He never fails to come through. Just as the starkness of winter breaks forth into the beauty and freshness of spring ….. so your situation will give way to the ‘new thing’ God is doing in your life. Wait for it! It’s on the way!
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Dealing With Change

Sue’s Views
We live in an ever changing world. One thing we can be sure of is change! Seasons change ….. governments change ….. laws change ….. people change ….. our circumstances change. It can make us stronger and more adaptable ….. or it can make us fearful and suspicious. It seems we can no longer take people at their word ….. but there is One who we can always depend on to follow through on His promises. He is the same yesterday ….. today ….. and forever more. We can trust Him 100%! If you put your trust in Him ….. He will help you navigate through the changes!
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
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Keep Looking Up!

Sue’s Views
Are you struggling with confusion or conflict? ‘Con’ means against! There are always forces against us that try to rob us of our peace and joy. Jesus said we would always have trouble in this world but He also said “I have overcome the world.” If He lives in you ….. that means you too are an overcomer! Keep looking up! From where He sits ….. everything is going to plan.
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Proverbs 3: 5-6

Sue’s Views
Proverbs 3:5-6 has become my go to scripture of late. It says:
  
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
There is so much treasure in those two verses. First we are to trust God wholeheartedly. That alone is a challenge! We are so used to being in control. And then to stop relying on what we know can sound irresponsible! But we need to realise that our understanding is limited and fallible whereas God knows everything and is totally reliable. He sees all the pitfalls and hidden agendas. Lastly we are to acknowledge Him in every situation ….. whether on the mountain top of exhilaration or in the depths of despair. Remember ….. it’s not about what we feel or see. It’s about Who He is! He is able to lead you through to where He wants you to be. ‘Making your paths straight’ suggests to me that He will help us practically as well as spiritually.
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Faith

Sue’s Views
The thing that pleases God the most  is Faith. ‘Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.’ Hebrews 11:1 (Berea Study Bible). The Bereans were commended for their diligence in searching out the scriptures before believing what they were taught. Our faith must be anchored in Gods Word ….. it’s not just wishful thinking! But if God says something ….. we can stand upon it with the utmost assurance. That doesn’t mean it will happen in our timing or the way we would like. But it will happen! Hold fast to your confession of faith without wavering ….. because God always keeps His promises!
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Give Me A Break!

Sue’s Views
I had to laugh at this mummy sheep who kept trying to walk away from her very determined baby. We’ve all had moments like that! ‘Give me a break!’ If you are a Mum of littlies ….. you’ll identify! But I can assure you ….. it is a season that will come to an end all too soon. You’ll look back longingly at those times when you were their world. They will become independent ….. and you will know you gave them the best possible start in life. Hang in there!
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Lessons from Nelson Mandela

I recently
finished reading Nelson Mandela’s Autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom”. Few
life stories have moved me more than his in recent reads, although there are
many, many incredible stories out there. Perhaps it was the high cost he paid
for the freedom of others, the enormity of the task set before him, or the
extremity of the racial oppression he faced…

As I was
reading the incredible account of his journey, there was one part in particular
that struck me. It was something that may even seem minor, or somewhat irrelevant to the
grand narrative, but I found it fascinating, and it caused me to ponder.

Nelson had already
spent around 20 years in a high-security prison on Robben Island, suffering terrible
hardships along with his co-workers in the struggle for the racial freedom of others.
But now he was suddenly being moved to another prison, isolated and away from
his friends and colleagues. He was given much better food, a larger room, and
even a balcony where he could grow vegetables. The guards who had treated him
and his friends so viciously then began to take him on outings in their
vehicles, to lovely little townships along the coast, filled with white people
drinking tea and enjoying a life away from racial tension, poverty, and crime.
He was even taken to meet the guards’ families at their homes for a meal.

He welcomed
the relief from harsh prison life, and started looking forward to these
outings, longing to see the outside world which had been closed off to him for
20 years. He was desperate for everyday activities like buying a drink from the
convenience store, and saying hello to passers-by.

But he
thought it all very strange… why was he suddenly being treated so well? What
had changed? And then, it struck him… the government knew he was soon to be
released, and they knew the potential he had to change South Africa… so they
were trying to distract him. They were showing him the comfortable life he
could enjoy, away from all the mess that came with his cause… they were
tempting him to give in when he was so close to winning the battle he had long
been engaged in. Thankfully, he recognised it for what it was, and continued in
his pursuit of full freedom for himself and his fellow countrymen, giving up a
life of pleasure, ease and comfort.

It made me think
of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, who goes out to sow his seed. Some
fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it. Some fell on the rocky places
and sprang up quickly, but because the soil was shallow, the plants withered
when the sun came up. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants. And some fell on good soil, which produced a large crop.

The seed
sown along the path stands for those who, when they hear the message about the
kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was
sown in their heart. The seed falling on rocky ground are those who hear the
word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last
only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes, they quickly fall away. The
seed falling among the thorns are those who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the
word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil are those who
hear the word and receive it. They are the ones who produce a crop, yielding a
hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

I don’t know
about you, but I feel that I am often susceptible to being the third type of
soil. Many of us who may have been in church for a while have received the
word, and things are growing, and we’ve had seasons of working hard to
cultivate good soil in our hearts. But I also find myself in seasons of worry… worry about my children, finances, the future… I grow cares of the world in my
heart, become distracted and start pursuing other things, I have other loves in
my heart that seem to choke out the fruit that may have been starting to grow.

When I read
Mandela’s account of the temptation to give in, I was struck by how easy it
would have been to justify having a quiet life of comfort in his old age after
a lifetime of fighting for freedom. The thing is, he was about to be freed, but
his goal had been the freedom of ALL his fellow men. He could have said yes to
wealth, health and a host of other things that he probably deserved for all his
sacrifice. But he didn’t… he continued to fight for his own freedom, and the
freedom of others. He reminds me of the good soil, the one that yields a large
crop, 30, 60, or 100 times what was sown.

We too have
an enemy that likes to distract us. He likes to offer us things that are appealing
and comfortable, telling us we deserve them. He causes us to worry, to take our
eyes off Jesus, to lose our focus on Kingdom living, and causes us to focus on
anything but Christ. He knows we already have freedom bought by the blood of
Jesus, and He knows our potential, and he will throw anything at us to make
sure we don’t walk in it and bear fruit. I’ve been guilty of this many, many
times…

It's good to spend some time reflecting on
the cost Jesus paid for that freedom… his own life. We can reflect on our own
hearts, and the condition of our heart soil. Maybe we need to allow God to
reveal some weeds that are choking out the Word and making it unfruitful, and
then do the dirty, hard work of pulling them out.

Let’s not
give up the freedom that Jesus bought us, freedom from sin, worry, and fear, and
be tempted to settle for lesser things…

Let’s
cultivate good heart soil that yields an abundant crop.

God’s Got This

Sue’s Views
“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities
Who heals all your diseases
 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.” Psalm 103:1-6
These verses cover all our needs ….. spiritual ….. physical ….. mental ….. emotional ….. and judicial. There’s no need to be anxious or angry! God’s got this!
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Overcomers

Sue’s Views
Well October is here ….. and the signs of spring are everywhere. The wisteria is one of my favourite flowers. Not only are they beautiful to look at ….. but they are also resilient. It seems that they get tested by the September gales every year ….. but hold their own. Spring can be a testing time in many ways. Unseasonal snow falls and frosts are a challenge to farmers ….. and fruit growers. The baby lambs and produce still come despite the weather. We too must be resilient and ready in season and out of season. We are guaranteed trials and hardship ….. but we are overcomers through Christ!
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Wonderful Counsellor


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 week. I decided to go for a walk and to 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! 
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