On the way…

Sue’s Views

How do you view ageing? Is it something to dread ….. or embrace? Many of my patients at work are in their 80s and 90s. They comment about the challenges of getting old ….. constant pain ….. limited movement ….. the high risk of falling etc. But inside these dear folk is a mind that is full of wisdom from life’s lessons ….. and full of memories and wonderful stories from the past. Sometimes a listening ear is all they need. We need to respect and value our elderly and see them as beautiful. After all ….. I’m rapidly becoming one of them! Now did I tell you about the time ….. 

Sue’s Views

It’s not every day you see someone riding a horse in our township of Manurewa! But this guy was acting as though it was perfectly normal! The thing that amazed me was how calm the horse was in spite of heavy traffic and  lots of onlookers. I guess it’s a message to us to be prepared for the unexpected ….. and to not allow the chaos around us to spoil our day! I wonder where he parked his horse!

Sue’s View

Harsh circumstances have the potential to destroy us ….. or to make us more beautiful! True beauty doesn’t come out of a bottle or a salon. And it doesn’t come from a life of ease and privilege. It comes from a life of daily walking with God and allowing His Spirit to guide you. We were never promised an easy road. Jesus said ‘In this world you will have trouble ….. but I have overcome the world!’ Some of the most beautiful people have lined faces that tell stories of hardship and sorrow but eyes that shine with love and joy. Don’t allow bitterness to set in. The frost on this grass has turned it into a work of art. You too are a masterpiece that God is working on!

Sue’s Views

I love how these fern leaves start all curled up ….. and gradually unfurl to reveal their splendour. It reminds me of how we all begin life as a tiny curled up little foetus. Everything we need is already there to become the unique person God designed us to be. Much has been argued about when life begins ….. but I think it’s pretty obvious that growth ….. development ….. and change are all signs of life. By the time it becomes evident ….. a life has already begun. Every life is a miracle ….. no matter how it began!

Sue’s Views

Whatever season you are in ….. God is there! When Moses asked God ‘What is your name?’ ….. God answered ‘I Am!’ Not ‘I was’ ….. or ‘I will be’! He is God of the past ….. present ….. and future. When you are troubled by past memories or regrets ….. He says ‘I am your healer ….. forgiver ….. and reconciler.’ When you are struggling with your present situation ….. He says ‘I am your helper ….. provider ….. and wisdom.’ When you are anxious about your future ….. He says ‘I am your peace ….. protector ….. and guide.’ This pic portrays 3 seasons in one. Autumn leaves ….. winter trees ….. and spring flowers. He is the God of yesterday ….. today ….. and ever more!

Sue’s Views

It’s midwinter here in New Zealand ….. and for some ….. the winter blues may have settled in. The winter season is not always welcome but it is a necessary and productive season. It strips us of the old and prepares us for the new. It also exposes who we really are. It’s a time of adjustment maybe ….. or just a time of acceptance. When asked which of the Commandments is the greatest ….. Jesus replied ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ We can only love others as much as we love ourselves. Soon this weeping cherry will be covered in the most beautiful blossoms you can imagine. And your season will come too. But I encourage you to use this time to really get to know your ‘inner’ self.

Sue’s Views

Communication is one of the most important ingredients in any relationship! It requires two skills ….. assertive speaking ….. and active listening. Don’t assume your partner knows what you are thinking. They have no idea! Be clear ….. and make sure they have understood your message. When someone is speaking to you ….. listen! Be attentive! Don’t focus on what you are going to say next. In a world of high tech communication ….. we have to work hard to maintain the art of conversation. These two seem to have it sorted!

Sue’s Views

The heart is the most important organ in our bodies because it is the life line to every other part. An unhealthy heart can cause sickness and disease in every other organ. Similarly ….. our spiritual heart is also the lifeline to our spiritual well-being. Things like envy ….. bitterness ….. unforgiveness ….. greed ….. and lust ….. will produce ‘dis – ease’. We lose our peace. We lose our joy. King David gave us a great example of heart surgery when he prayed ‘Create in me a clean heart, Oh Lord, and renew a right spirit within me’. When we acknowledge our sin ….. and are sorry enough to change direction ….. our hearts become mouldable in God’s hands. How is your heart?

Sue’s Views

When things get overwhelming and all we can see is hopelessness and defeat ….. we need to remember the story of Elijah and his servant who were surrounded by an enemy army. The servant could only see certain defeat and destruction because that’s what was happening in the natural realm. Elisha however was a man of tremendous faith ….. and he saw beyond the natural realm to the supernatural. He prayed that God would open his servants eyes and he did! They both were able to see a much larger army of angel warriors surrounding the enemy. The result was that the enemy soldiers were struck with blindness and lost their sense of direction. Ask God to open your eyes to see what He is doing behind the scene. He is fighting the battle on your behalf. You just need to trust Him!

Sue’s Views

Today is the last day of the school holidays here in NZ for term 2. I just want to give a shout out to all the teachers ….. who work so hard and diligently to not only educate ….. but also take care of our kids in so many ways. They are often called on to be counselors ….. mediators ….. problem solvers ….. protectors ….. and confidantes. They have such an impact on a child’s life. I hope and pray you will be recognised and recompensed ….. and valued for who you are. Hope you have enjoyed your break! You deserve it!