God's Heart - Weekly Devotional

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noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:17:00 +0000

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"Warzone".

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:57:00 +0000

“Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV).

The winter in Iowa was extremely rough. Although I grew up in Switzerland, the weather here in the Midwest caught me by surprise and I had to get used to the extreme weather conditions. One day I thought I could leave my house and walk down the road without a cap on my head. Within 5 minutes my ears were nearly frozen stiff. Also in my home I often had to protect myself by wearing warm clothes, woolen socks, and blankets. For months it seemed I had gone through much adaptation and change. And then one day in March I stepped outside well armed with a warm coat, gloves and a shawl and what happened? At once there was such a pleasant temperature in the air and I didn’t need this protection anymore. I was suspicious at first because I had been so alert all the time. But it was true, I didn’t need this protection anymore, and I tell you, that was such an awesome relief.

It is a fact that as believers we stand in a warzone. We need to wear our spiritual armor all the time and fight each day battle after battle. We resist and overcome our enemy by the blood of the Lamb. We get used to this lifestyle of a warrior very much like I did with the weather conditions. But there is this place in His presence where you can come freely and let go of your weapons and leave your armor behind. This is a realm where you can fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ in absolute freedom and security. I pray for you, you mighty warrior of the LORD in shining armor. May you be always drawn to come back to that place of rest after a battle and spend time with your wonderful King.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“I Will Bring Back To Life”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:54:00 +0000

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26 NIV).

I have to tell you quite an amazing story which will make you believe that with God all things are possible.

Back when I was living in Switzerland I bought a pricy Swiss watch which I just treasured. After a few years however, to my great disappointment it stopped working. The jewelers in Switzerland told me that I had to send the watch to the original manufacturer and they quoted a repair cost of $ 400.00. Because of this unexpected expense my husband and I had to decide against the repair.

And so I put my watch in the drawer and there it remained for about 1 1/2 years. I had lost hope that this watch would ever be working again. Then shortly before Christmas of 2009 my husband told me that he had an incredible gift for me. “I would never guess what it would be” he said. “It was too great, too amazing and too wonderful for me to imagine” he added. I stopped trying to figure out what it could be. Then Christmas morning arrived and I opened my present. There was my most beautiful Swiss watch brought back to life! I held it in my hands and had no words on my lips but just cried and cried. My husband knew how I missed my watch and he made a way to bring it back to life. Our local jewelers here in Iowa made it possible and charged my husband in the end only for a new battery and not for the repair.

This story reminded me so much of God’s love and that with Him all things are possible. He will open the heavens for you and He will shower you with all of His goodness. I encourage you today to put your trust in Him and to know in your heart that He means it so well with you.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“I will strengthen you.”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:44:00 +0000

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”(John 15:5).

It was such a nice and warm day and so I decided to take a walk to the nearby park. I had missed my walks a lot and because our winter was so cold, I had to wait for the spring to come. I was so glad to be back and to see the squirrels and the geese again and to enjoy the nature. Whilst I was walking on my routine path I observed the beautiful trees. I stopped at a very remarkable tree and made an interesting observation. Next to this huge and strong tree I saw a shoot that was growing alongside. I noticed that it was not growing independently, no it was somehow drawn to this tree and clung onto it and it was impossible for me to break it loose. I thought if this shoot had grown all on its own I could have pulled it out of the ground easily and I also would have been able to bend its small branches. But this shoot had grown so close to this tree and had become so strong by clinging to it that it actually became one with it.

And then the LORD explained to me that apart from Him we are weak, but when we cling to him, we become extremely strong. We grow close to Him and there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from Him. He is our refuge, our protector and strong tower. So whatever you are facing in your life know that by clinging onto the LORD you will grow close to Him. You will become one with Him and you will discover that your true strength lies in Him alone.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“God’s Great Eraser”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:42:00 +0000

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2 NIV).

I have to share with you a little secret about myself: I don’t like to make mistakes. It’s better now that I am a believer, but on and off I still struggle with forgiveness.

Today the LORD showed me a powerful truth: I was recording some of my devotionals at the local radio studio. My Christian friend, helper and sound technician at the studio does the mixing and the optimization of the recording. He has all the great tools, software and hardware to make me look really good.

So today as also in recent recordings I made some mistakes while I was speaking into the microphone. I either spoke the wrong words, paused too long, or my tongue just didn’t properly form the word I wanted to say. But do you know what? I can make as many mistakes as I like! Ken will always be able to fix them! He is so patient with me and all he wants to do is to make me sound really good all the time! He just goes back in the recording, erases or corrects a word, or just wipes out a pause that was too long.

Very much like Ken wipes out all of my recording mistakes, you have a godly eraser! It’s Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that shed His blood and took away the sins of the world. Today He wants to reassure you that He will always forgive you for any past, present and future sin. Bring to Him your failures and experience the freedom and relief that comes from knowing that your transgressions have been truly erased by Him. This is the starting point where you can rise up once again and be restored to everlasting joy.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

I Will Restore You!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:42:00 +0000

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD,' because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no-one cares” (Jeremiah 30:17 NIV).

I made an interesting observation recently. When I moved into my husband’s house I noticed that the plants looked a little dull. It seemed as if they had no life within them. The leaves were dry and without any glow. And since I was now in charge of the household I thought I would water our plants on a regular basis. So I made up my mind to water them every Friday with a cup of water. And after a few weeks I could already see a significant change in their appearance. New leaves started to come forth and I saw a new strength in the plants. It was such an encouraging thing to see that by giving the plants water on a continual basis they would grow, become strong and healthy.

Do you know that the LORD deeply cares for your well-being? As I was taking care of the leaves and watering the plants I felt so strongly that the LORD desires to restore, to heal and to bring forth such a beauty in His children. So why not allow him to be your restorer and your healer? He has hope for your life and whatever was lost He will find! Know in your heart that in His care you are absolutely safe.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“I Am Your Helper”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:40:00 +0000

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1 NIV).

I am going to tell you a story that I am sure you can relate to: Being a helper to my husband I find myself often doing the following: My husband would say to me “Honey, I am looking for my sunglasses. Have you seen them? Can you help me find them?”

We had the exact same situation yesterday. My husband had misplaced his sunglasses and just couldn’t find them. I have to be honest with you, I don’t like looking for things, I don’t find any pleasure in it, and besides that, I just find it a waste of time. Anyway, to save time I prayed in my heart and said to the Lord “Lord please show me where the sunglasses are – please!” I got a very quick impression of a guitar case. I followed that impression right away, went to the car, opened up the guitar case and to my great great joy I saw the sunglasses. I said to my husband “Isn’t the LORD just so good? Now this is a miracle right there, isn’t it!”

Isn’t He just a great God that helps us in times of need! Perhaps you are also somebody that often is looking for their sunglasses or house keys like my husband. Perhaps you need some help with writing a letter or finding a job. Whatever it is, rest assured that the LORD wants to be your helper. Although He is the great I AM, the Maker of heaven and earth, there is no situation or aspect that is too unimportant or too insignificant to Him. All that He wants is to be involved in your life. So, do you want to see more miracles in your life? Then give him your hand and allow Him to help you. You will be amazed to see “how much God” is in your life!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

I Am In Control.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:37:00 +0000

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”
(1 Peter 5, 6-7 NIV).

It had been such a rough day to say the least. And this not being enough already, we came home only to see that my husbands laptop, that came back from the repair center that day had lost all it’s data. After hours of talking to the computer specialist over the phone and somehow getting nowhere, my husband was so exhausted. He eventually said to me “I don’t know what to do anymore.” With the little hope he still had, he made one last phone call and spoke to another IT specialist. It was arranged that the specialist took control over his laptop all the way from India. She was sitting in that office in India whilst we were in our home in the U.S. We watched her moving the cursor on our screen and working on our problems. It was such a fascinating thing to watch her and with her calm and friendly voice say to us “Do not worry. I am taking control now.” Not only did she have an extraordinary expertise, she had such a gentle character and her words simply allowed us to rely on her and sit back and watch her taking control of everything.

This is what the LORD has for you too! Are you having some problems that you cannot fix by yourself? Do you need God to intervene on your behalf? I encourage you to give all of your concerns to the LORD. Then watch Him take over and solve them for you. After all, He is still the great I AM and He deeply cares for you. He wants your life to be carefree. So will you allow Him to be your hero?

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“I Am The Transformer”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:16:00 +0000

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).

I have never seen such an intense transformation taking place in the fall season like it does here in Iowa, Northern America. This is just such an amazing play of colors and I really stand in awe as I marvel at God the great Creator. These colors are so intense and shine so brightly that I sometimes think I need to put on my sunglasses!

What amazes me the most is that when the leaves lose their color they don't just get brown, die and fall to the ground. No, before they die they actually transform from the ordinary green into an excellent bright red, radiant orange or intense yellow. This season has become my absolute favorite one.

The LORD spoke to me about these leaves and said that He wants His children to display this same kind of glory that is excellent, radiant and intense. It comes from the inside out and this glory is God in you! Believe that this word is true and you will see an extraordinary transformation of your own personality taking place. This is when people cannot any longer deny that there is a God that is alive.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Be Prepared!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:56:00 +0000

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction”
(2 Timothy 4:2).

I recently had an appointment with the local radio station in my hometown. I had seen the building from the outside and so I made my own conclusions about it. I thought I could dress very casual. After all the outside of the building looked a bit insignificant. The windows of the building were dark and so I couldn’t see how the inside looked like.

How I was mistaken! As I opened the front door and entered into their offices I was hit by a big surprise: A whole new realm opened itself up to me and it was like coming from the darkness into the light. Their offices were extremely elegant and exquisite. I was welcomed with much respect by two men in suits and ties and I was also introduced to the founder and his elegant wife.

As I was sitting in a most sophisticated meeting room, I thought about my appearance. Here I was sitting in my jogging suit with no make-up on my face. On top of that my hair looked awful. You can imagine how embarrassing this was for me and I thought “Lord, please get me out of here right away.” But I had to endure my foolishness highly underestimating the situation.

So think about this: As a born again believer you are Christ’s ambassador and so readiness at all times is a good place to be in. After all, you never know where the LORD will lead you today, right?! He might just want you to stand before Kings and Queens and represent the King of Kings! Do not think you are insignificant because He thinks you are worthy to represent Him. So be ready and expect great things to happen before your eyes.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

He Knows Your Needs.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:10:00 +0000

“Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him (Matthew 6:8 NIV)”.

What do you think of that: One morning you discover a brand new pair of tennis shoes on your property placed by some anonymous somebody. You don’t know who it is, but you sense right away that this is something from God. Well, this happened to us and I was touched by this kind provision from above. First I thought they were for me but as I tried them on I realized they were too big for my feet. So my husband and I put these shoes aside in our foyer. They were waiting there for a while until a young man moved into our house. We are helping him “get back on his feet” again. One of the things we noticed right away was that he urgently needed a new pair of shoes. The ones he was wearing were torn up and also not fit for the cold season that was approaching. And you know what? These new shoes fit him perfectly! They were waiting all these weeks just for him, a person that needed a new pair of shoes. It’s like an angel of the Lord just stopped by one day and dropped these shoes off in advance for him.

Isn’t this just a beautiful story of how the Father in Heaven knows what we need before we even ask Him? Well in advance He knew that this young man was going to stay with us and that he would need a new pair of shoes. He used a person unknown to us to provide and put them in our yard.

Today your heavenly Father wants to reassure you that He knows what you need. He knows all your emotional, physical, material and spiritual needs and He wants to be the one that meets them all. The only requirement He needs from you is that you put your entire trust in Him. So do not put your trust away which has such a great reward. Wait upon the LORD and the manifestation of His provision for you. I tell you the truth, your trust in Him and your walk of faith will never be the same. Remember, you serve an awesome God!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Give What You Have.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:49:00 +0000

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow- when you now have it with you" (Proverbs 3:27-28 NIV).

A few months ago we were able to by a navigation system for our car. You cannot imagine the great relief we experienced. No more maps, no more hassle to find a street, no more late arrivals and no more arguments in the car. It is a wonderful instrument and such a great invention. As we were talking with a friend about it he got so excited and asked us if he could borrow it for his next trip. As we had grown close to it and it had become so dear to us, it was at first a little difficult for us to let it go. But of course we gave it to him and you know, the more he borrowed it from us the happier we got because we were able to meet his need and give something away which we had.

You know the Bible tells us that God loves the cheerful giver and that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Wow and how this was true! One day my husband received from our friend a totally unexpected wonderful gift. I mean a truly awesome gift! It was a fine leather jacket with the emblem of his alma mater, The Ohio State University, which he absolutely adores. And to make things perfect the jacket came just in the right size. Think about that. A new leather jacket, in just the right size, with his home state college mascot delivered to our front door step - three states away!

We serve an awesome God, don’t we and his rewards are just amazing. So what do we learn here? What is it that you have? Belongings, time, money? Whatever it is, give what you have, serve your brother and sister with what you have, and surely God will take care of you. I can assure you that He will open His storehouses for you and pour out His abundant blessings on you.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“Going To The Next Level”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:31:00 +0000

“Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19 NIV).

I am so blessed that I have a husband that loves to fish and is an expert in so many things he does. He recently bought me a fishing rod and all the utensils you need so that our next fishing outreach would be a success. I learned a lot about casting out the rod, waiting for the fish, knowing where they were, different animate and inanimate baits. I came to the conclusion if you want to be a successful fisherman you need to focus on the fish and you need to give them the best bait you have, otherwise they will not nibble at all.

I learned that wax worms are a very good and tasty bait, especially when they are alive. The only problem I had was that I just couldn’t touch the bait nor the fish when it was caught with my bare hands, it disgusted me too much. My husband was gracious enough to do the job for me for a while. All I now had to do was cast out my rod and wait for the fish to get caught. But you know what, although I was highly excited about fishing, I was dependent on my husband to do the “dirty job” for me and unless I had the courage to overcome, I would remain on this level and never become a skillful fisherman.

Perhaps you have some areas in your life that hinder you to go forward and to do the work of the LORD. You rely on others to do it or you say you are not good enough and let others do the “job”. Today the LORD wants to encourage you to overcome and to go to the next level of your walk with Him. He wants you to be a skillful fisher of man. Dare to be open enough to talk to the LORD about these areas and allow Him to bring you to the next level. The excitement for the adventure will arise again and you will be empowered with boldness from on high.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

A Sigh To Heaven.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:16:00 +0000

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4)

This is an often quoted verse and a well known one to many of us. But what is LORD speaking about when He says that He will give you the desires of your heart? Do these desires include cars, houses, jewelry, money – I mean all the things you cannot afford? Let me share a little story with you to answer this question:

One evening it began to snow heavily and our sidewalk and porch were covered by a heavy layer of snow. Some boys were knocking at our door and asking if they could clear the snow for us. We didn’t have the money to pay them, nor did we have a shovel to do it ourselves. Besides, my husband was feeling very sick and couldn’t do the job anyway. The next day I had a look at our property and in my heart I so wished we could clear the way for other people to walk past our house on safe ground. Looking over to the house across the street I saw that they were working with a snow plough. I thought, “That’s a smart and efficient way to get rid of all that snow fast and without much strain”. I so desired to have a clear side walk for us. And you know what? Next thing I know, our elderly neighbor who had gone through some major surgery, comes walking around our house with his snow plough sweeping away all the excessive snow without us asking!

You see there is a fine difference between demanding and desiring. You need to realize that you cannot make demands on somebody you love. And when you replace your demands for desires you will discover the delight in the LORD that the Bible is talking about. I encourage you today to put your trust in Him and to talk with Him about the things you carry in your heart. And then you will see Him move in truly amazing ways in your life!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Your Affect On Others.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:05:00 +0000

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1 NIV).

One of the nice things I have experienced here in America is that you take good care of your neighbors! I think I have the greatest neighbor in all times and I just love to visit and talk to her. She is really a wonderful lady; she is always so friendly, has a great attitude and is just the nicest neighbor you can have. I know that the LORD loves it when we visit the widows and so when I spend time with her, I know I am in Gods will.

In my recent visit she told me that since we had removed one of our great trees in the backyard, she has more sun coming into her kitchen in the morning and she now has to cover up the furniture that is in her sun room with a blanket. We had told her previously that we needed to cut the tree down because we were about to build a garage that needed some extra space. But little did we realize that our tree had given her so much shade and protection in all these years. What was good and necessary for us had now brought about some significant change to her daily life.

What spoke to me right away was how often our actions affect others without our even knowing it! Think about it for a moment: we rarely realize how much our actions influence a persons well being. That’s why you need to make every effort to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Life or death, blessing or curse, joy or sorrow is in your hands. Chose to be a blessing today and realize that each and every step you take not only shapes the course of your life, but positively affects the lives of people you come across.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Do It For Me.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:36:00 +0000

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).

Do you get busy at times? Do you find yourself doing so many things and then getting overwhelmed by them? On top of all that work you also lose your joy and hope. Oh, that’s a bad situation right there, isn’t it, when you lose the passion for what you are doing. But let me give you some encouragement here!

When you lose your joy and strength for the task, you need to stop right where you are and turn to Jesus. Then you will hear His tender voice gently speaking to you: do it for me. Whatever you are doing, do it unto me! And so your reply will be: Ahh yes Lord, of course I’ll do it for you! Why would I not want to do it for you, you are the love of my life. And as you take up your work again you will have a greater joy and determination in your heart. I tell you, you will accomplish great things for the LORD only by serving Him with this kind of attitude. And besides, think about it. Isn’t it a great thing to be a servant of Christ? So rejoice now and know that this satisfaction and honor is your inheritance. You are accumulating eternal rewards right here on earth!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“Free Yourself”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:28:00 +0000

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12, 1 NIV).

In one of my previous devotionals I shared about the clematis that had been growing so nicely in our garden. Well, here is another story about this wondrous plant. We had gone on a trip for about 2 weeks and when we returned I was so anxious to see the growth in the garden. You know, when you are gone for a while you see much more growth than if you are around the garden every single day. To my surprise this clematis had practically overtaken the whole flowerbed. What looked quite nice in the beginning looked now awful. Taking a closer look at this growth I was amazed to see how it had entangled all the plants and the rose bush in such a short time. As I started to cut the clematis I looked at how it had grown around the plants. It indeed had become a nuisance; it was annoying and a burden. After cutting through the many branches I finally saw our flowerbed freed from this ugly growth. It was quite amazing, because step by step, day by day this clematis moved forward like a snake until it had overcome our beautiful flowerbed. At this moment the LORD reminded me of this verse in Hebrews 12:1 and opened my eyes to the characteristic of sin in our lives.

You know, if you do not watch it, sin will entangle you and choke your life. What looks quite insignificant at first will soon become ugly and burdensome to you. You need to daily be aware of this danger and throw off everything that will hinder you. Do not wait for any sin to grow root in you but use every opportunity to resist that very enemy that wants to destroy the freedom in your life. And this is the key to free yourself and to enjoy your walk in divine victory.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Ask And You Shall Receive!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:37:00 +0000

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24 NIV).

I carried a concern with me for quite some time. I kept it to myself and didn’t talk to anyone about it, not even to my husband. Then when this need became a real big one I just couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. I had to talk to him about it and ask if he could meet that need. And do you know what? He made a way! He didn’t turn me down, he didn’t say that I needed to come to him another day. No, he instantly said yes although at that time we didn’t have the means. I received what I had asked for! The nice thing was that later on that day we had a check in the mailbox that covered more than I needed.

This story reflects so much the heart of God and how it “works” in His Kingdom. If you read the above verse carefully, you will discover that when you ask the LORD for something, you need to believe. The LORD says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith is also being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. Although whatever you have asked for might not be visible yet, you need to hear and know in your heart that the LORD said Yes and Amen to your request. Only then you are really walking by faith and receive what is yours. So next time you have a need, dare to ask the LORD. Know that He will not turn you down. He loves you too much. He wants your joy to be complete and your faith in Him to be unshaken. So go now and receive your blessings from God!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

“Become Like Me”

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:08:00 +0000

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus”
(Acts 4, 13 NIV).

I recently had a dream that I would like to share with you. In this dream was a young boy that I know who is about 6 years old who was preaching to a group of children his age. As I observed him in this dream, I thought that this is not like he usually behaves. His talk was bold and it seemed to me that he felt totally confident and consumed by this new and more mature character that had become his. He so much reminded me of his 25 year old big brother. And in my dream, as I was thinking about why he had become like his big brother, I realized two important things; Firstly, I knew that he loved and admired his brother very much. Secondly, the more time that he spent with this brother that he loved, the more he became like him. He spoke like him and he acted like him.

This is the great joy we also have as brothers and sisters in Christ. The more time we spend with Jesus Christ, the lover of our souls, the more we become like Him. So the more time that you spend in His Word and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the more you will reflect Him in your walk and talk. This is what the world needs! They need to see and experience the reality of Jesus Christ in you, the hope of Glory. I tell you, chose to invest time in your relationship with Him each and every day of your life and you will start to experience a transformation of your own personality. You will talk like Him, you will act like Him and you will greatly impact the lives of others and point them to Jesus.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

I Am With You

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:07:00 +0000

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NIV).

Although the wintertime is a pretty season, the fact of the matter is that it is often dark and nature seems to be asleep. In our hometown when it gets dark we turn on the lights! During the night time all the bare trees in our park are covered with thousands of pretty lights. The lights also reflect a wonderful picture of the Christmas season: they are used to paint scenes, stars, pine trees, the nativity story and many other well known characters. You can even drive through the park if you like and enjoy the pictures and the warmth of the lights. I tell you, it’s a whole new world and for a moment or two you forget that this is just an ordinary park. You see, although you know without a shadow of doubt that the lights are there, during daylight the evidence and effect of them are invisible to the human eye.

This scene in the park reminded me very much of the invisible God. Although He is always with us, he is unseen to the human eye. But when we turn to him and fellowship with Him, a whole new world opens up to us. A life that was lost, ordinary and empty becomes a life of abundance, happiness and meaningfulness. Perhaps your life is like that. But this doesn’t have to remain like this forever! Turn to your Savior and He will open your spiritual eyes and you will experience and enjoy the wonderful rich life that is found in the presence of the one true God. His name is Jesus Christ and He is the Light of the World.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

There Is Strength In Weakness

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:27:00 +0000

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” (2 Cor. 12:9 NIV).

I recently had such a liberating experience about weakness which I would like to share with you today. We got together as a group of women to learn all about the benefits of walking as a source of fitness. One of the things we received for attending this orientation was a free pedometer. This is a little instrument you attach close to your hip and when you start walking it counts how many steps you take and how many calories you can burn. The funny thing about this tool was that when were holding it in our hands and given the instructions how to set the parameters, you could just see on all our foreheads an invisible big question mark. One woman had the boldness or perhaps it was just her meek nature to ask, “I don’t understand how it works, please help me.” This powerful statement broke the ice instantly and I could just sense such a relief, freedom and ease as we all could admit that we were weak in this area and were in desperate help. The help was right there and our instructor was most willing to set the parameters for us and help us operate our pedometer.

It seems like a paradox doesn’t it, but there is strength in weakness! Why? Because when you admit that you are weak, an immediate strength will replace a wall of insecurity. You know you don’t have to be insecure or fear rejection anymore because the power and freedom of Christ will come and overshadow and cover you. Ask the Holy Spirit for help in every weak situation and I promise you that you will experience the power of Christ resting on you. This is when you will be made perfect and others will follow your example!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

The Giver Of All Good Things.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:29:00 +0000

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:4-6 NIV).

I reached a point in my life, where I absolutely needed to do something about my alarming weight gain. I evaluated different fitness studios in my home town, I tested their equipment, I talked to the staff about their program, and I compared the membership fees. During that time my desire really grew strong, but there was one little problem: I didn’t have the money to buy a membership. So what do you do when you cannot do anything anymore? You have this desire, but you cannot make it happen. I want to tell you, that this is such a good place to be and a great opportunity for the LORD to step in and to do something wonderful in your life.

You know in a short period of time the LORD provided something miraculous for me: He found the best place in town where I could workout for free, teach children and even earn a little money.

The delight the Bible is speaking about comes from being at that place where your only hope is in the LORD. It is a place where all human efforts cease and your faith becomes real. Do you have a desire in your heart, but you in yourself are not able to meet that need? I encourage you today to take your eyes off all impossibilities and to talk to the LORD about your desires. Know that with Him all things are possible and that He is the giver of all good things. He desires to give you the best and above your expectation! He will surely do it for you. I guarantee that your joy will overflow in praise and your faith in Him will strengthen your heart when you hear the Master Voice say to you: I did it for you; I paid the price.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

All About Hidden Things.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:34:00 +0000

"He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him" (Daniel 2:22 NIV).

One good thing about having your whole backyard nearly torn up is that you get to see how a good size garage is being built. It was very interesting for me to watch the construction workers doing their job. I thought that there is such a lot of preparation to be done before they can pour the concrete onto the ground. Exact measurements are made, a framework is put into place and thick steel wires are installed that will hold the concrete together and guarantee a strong foundation. In the process of this construction I also got to see what the drainage really looks like before it is buried in the ground.

So this leads me to thikn that some things are completely hidden to the human eye like the steel wire and some things like the drainage that are only partly visible. I think that the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry rightly concluded "We see well only with our hearts. The important things are invisible to the eyes." As a child of God you have the benefit and privilege to access the Spirit of God that will lead you into all truth. Can you imagine this huge realm of deep and hidden secrets that waits to be unveiled to you? All you need to do is open your eyes and ears to the Holy Spirit and expect that what you see is only part of the puzzle. The LORD holds in His hands all other pieces and sees the whole picture. This is a good starting point as this is the foundation for your walk in the Spirit!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Leave it to me.

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:02:00 +0000

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV).

In Iowa where I now live there are such a lot of trees. And now that the autumn season has arrived, the leaves are falling to the ground and leaving all the trees bare. One day the trees are full of leaves, and then the next day a heavy wind comes and blows all the leaves off the trees. It's just the way it is. The Lord has set seasons in place and when it is time for another season, there comes a change. For all yard owners there is work to be done ,and that means to rake all the leaves from the ground. That's hard work and it needs endurance and muscle power to clear the lawn from all the leave.

But you know what? There is a much easier way for all that work that needs to be done! Do you know how? Wait for the wind to come and he will do the work for you! With is power he will blow those leaves off your lawn in just a moment. Do you get the picture? Do you see it for yourself? This is the lifestyle of a follower of Jesus Christ: Enjoy your life and let Him do the work that is too heavy for you.

Are there things in your life that are burdening you too much and wearing you down? Wait upon the LORD and hand these very things over to Him. Then trust and rest in Him. He will surely carry them for you. And then you can lean back and enjoy your life as a Christian. Give Him the right of way and your life will become easy and light!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Follow Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanne Tanner) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:45:00 +0000

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Luke 18: 22 NIV).

Have you ever watched the dynamics in a group of geese? Whether they fly or walk, they follow the lead of this one goose that is ahead of them. It seems that without any questioning or reasoning these geese just walk after that one leader as he brings them from one place to another. If they are crossing the street, camping at the lagoons or taking a swim, they are always together. And what really spoke to me the other day was that they show a great discipline as they do not look to the left or to the right, but are all entirely pressing forward without any delay.

So don't you think that if these geese can do it, you can do it too? Do not waste your time any longer by wandering around alone, but choose to follow the One that will lead you out of your personal darkness. Do you want to be in a better place right now? Then just consider these geese one more time and look at their obedience and discipline. Follow the impulses of the Holy Spirit and chose to be a follower. I know you can do it! It's just a decision away and it's God's plan for your life!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner