“Once you were dead, now you are alive!”

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV).

It was clear, the winter had passed away and the snow had gone. But what came from underneath the snow I didn’t expect. The grass was brown and dry and it looked dead. I had no hope for our lawn. “Would it ever become green again?” I asked myself. How could it be that new life could arise from this dead grass? God is the author of creation and of life, and so day by day I saw green grass springing forth and eventually replacing the dead grass.

I made a similar observation which was also quite amazing. The rosebushes had also died in the fall. They went into a deep sleep during the wintertime, and now as spring was approaching, these bushes were also brown and lifeless. But one day something changed. I noticed that from the trunk of one of the rosebushes new life was springing forth. The brown branches suddenly changed their color. From the bottom of the bush new life was infiltrating the branch and slowly they began to change their color to green. Leaves began to grow and to my surprise, even more had sprung forth than in the last year. A miracle had taken place and the rosebush was standing there proudly as it became alive.

As Christians we have this hope and its name is Jesus Christ. Once you were dead, but now you have been made alive in Him. At an appointed time He came into your life and everything changed, didn’t it? This new life is indeed Christ in you, the hope of glory. But just as this rosebush resurrected and was filled with new life, the story doesn’t end there at all. The rosebush will eventually carry beautiful roses with an even more beautiful fragrance. Christ made you alive, that you would disperse the fragrance of His life and of the knowledge of Him. You are a miracle of God made alive to glorify His name on earth. Now rest in this knowledge and let God pour out His everlasting life through you.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Suzanne Tanner

It’s Going To Be Worth It!

"Blessed it s the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 NIV).

I had always lived in apartments and so now that I live in America and I am married, I am blessed to have a home of my own. Along with a home comes also the privilege of enjoying the beauty of a garden. It brings a lot of joy to my heart to observe all the plants and flowers we have in the garden. I like to walk around the house and take a closer look at all the plants. I am amazed to see how much growth takes place day by day. And so one day the time arrived for the tulips to show up! First the leaves started to grow. For a time they were doing well, but all of a sudden there came an enemy that started to chew on the leaves and destroy them. We figured that it was a rabbit. The tulips were in danger as the leaves already looked very bad. Some tulips didn’t make it at all and were completely destroyed, but to my surprise I discovered that some in fact did make it through all that adversity, and stood the test so to speak! These tulips were standing there like proud soldiers and it was as if they were saying, “Hello. Do you see me? I’ve made it through! I persevered despite all adversity. I wasn’t discouraged and I pressed through.”

Doesn’t this story remind you a little bit of your own life? There is a constant battle going on and there is an enemy that wants to destroy the calling on your life. But like with these tulips that made it through all adversity, so the LORD would speak these words unto you: “Hold on to me, press through, endure, persevere, stand firm and don’t let the enemy put you down or lie to you. It is going to be alright and it is going to be worth it!” I encourage you today to stand the test and to fight the good fight. In due course the LORD will place upon your head something of worth. It is going to be a crown which will remain on you forever!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Suzanne Tanner