On the way…

Sue’s Views

We all need support to keep us on the straight and narrow. For some that might mean a gentle word of encouragement. For others it might mean taking a tougher stance! A good friend will tell you the truth ….. not what you want to hear. And if you want to be a good friend ….. you might have to risk offending someone. 

Proverbs 27:5-6

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend;”

Sue’s Views

The reversal of Roe v Wade has been labelled ‘draconian’. Draco was a Greek  legislator who lived in the 7th century BC. His laws are said to have been cruel and harsh. Minor offences were punished by death or slavery. I’m not suggesting we go that far ….. but it seems to me that countries with tougher laws have less lawbreaking. God’s laws were pretty tough! Things like murder ….. adultery ….. stealing ….. we’re punishable by death. Laws have become very complicated. They have been adjusted to suit the moral decline in society ….. but the moral law (Gods Law) will never change. Jesus summed it up by saying “Love God first ….. and love people as you love yourself.“ It’s based on love! Love isn’t giving people what they want ….. it’s helping them do what’s right. God’s laws are not old fashioned ….. they are ancient!

Sue’s Views

It’s hard to appreciate the night sky when you live in urban areas ….. but I remember looking up when we were staying in a rural area of Fiji. It was the most amazing sight I’d ever seen! To think that those millions of bright shiny dots were bigger than our planet earth was mind blowing. And then to think how far away they are and how vast the universe is is incomprehensible. But the most amazing thing of all is the fact that they were all uniquely created by God ….. and that He knows each one by name! How great must He be! And yet ….. He knows you and me intimately as well. From the largest planet to the minutest cell in our bodies! He deserves all the praise and all the glory!

Sue’s Views

The camellias are looking fresh and vibrant at the moment. I love how God designed some flowers to bloom in winter when most are past their season. I also love how their petals fall to make a beautiful pathway. We don’t all shine at the same time ….. but we can enjoy someone else’s moment knowing our’s will come. And we can also be sure that the lessons we learn will pave the way for others ….. even when we are gone.

Sue’s Views

The difference between those who thrive and those who give up lies in knowing who you are. You are not defined by your family ….. culture ….. or past. You are defined by your Maker! His unique plan for your life takes into consideration every challenge ….. obstacle ….. and mistake you may have made. So don’t use those as an excuse! You have what it takes to be an over comer because that’s who He made you to be. 

‘we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.’ Romans 5:3-5

Sue’s Views 

Despite the amount of information at our fingertips ….. we’ve become a pretty dumb species! The human mind is incredible! It’s the part of us that is able to think ….. feel ….. and choose. It manages thousands of thoughts each day. But not everything we think is true! Neuroscientists are now discovering what the Bible has said for 4000 years: ‘As a man thinks so is he’. In other words ….. we become what we think. The recent documentary ‘What is a woman’ proves this. Apart from people being confused about their gender ….. it also portrays a woman (whatever that is!) who thinks she’s a wolf! She crawls on all fours and howls ….. and even spent time with wolves studying their habitat. Some have used their brilliant minds to help make the world a better place. The mind will always be a battle field. But we also have the power to choose.

Sue’s Views

Words have great power! They don’t just disappear into thin air. They have an impact on our bodies ….. and the world around us. For instance ….. when someone asks ‘How are you?’ ….. we might reply ‘I’m a bit under the weather’ …… or ‘ I’m ok under the circumstances!’ On our recent flight back from the South Island ….. God gave me a wonderful illustration. We flew above the clouds in bright sunshine and blue skies. I tried to imagine what it was like for those under those heavy clouds. The thing is ….. we can’t always change our circumstances any more than we can change the weather. But we can change the perspective we choose to view them from. God is always above the circumstances! And He’s always in control. Choose words of life!

“What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.” Proverbs 18:21 (GNT)

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

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

I like to find out the origin of some of the sayings that are commonly used. When I took this photo ….. ‘having your ducks in a row’ came to mind! I discovered there are many different stories as to where it comes from. Mostly sporting terms from ten pin bowling ….. to pool ….. to actual duck shooting. But the common thought seems to be to be prepared and organised before tackling a project. Great advice! It’s always good to be prepared and to count the cost. It reminds me of this passage from the Bible:

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?” Luke 14:28-31