I Am Doing A New Thing.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV).

Can you perceive the new thing in your own life? It’s such a precious thing when you can see that there is actually a lot of progress in your life. But you often overlook the progress by looking at your end goal and miss it, because the new thing the Lord is speaking about has to do with growth. And since growth is a process you have to look at each little step on your way.

So let me paint a picture for you to illustrate this progress. Let’s take a piece of Swiss cheese. In order to become all that it needs to be, this cheese has to go through a manufacturing and a maturing process. This cheese did not receive its good taste right from the beginning. No, there was a steady process and progress going on with this cheese until it reached its maturity.

So why not take a look at your own life for a moment and ask the Lord about your personal progress. I can assure you that you will be amazed at how much progress you are actually making. Take just an area of your life and look at it closely. This could be your abilities and talents or even your interaction with others. Do you face any challenges? Do you need more understanding or patience or is the Lord pointing out something specific? Whatever it may be, know in your heart that this very challenge is creating a new thing in your life! And then you will realize step by step that many things are springing forth in your life. This awareness alone will give you such a boost of faith and joy and lead you straight away out of your personal desert and wasteland.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Now Is The Appointed Time.

“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5, 15-16).


For quite some time now the LORD has been speaking to me about seasons. A good illustration you can always find is in the nature where you discover so many principles about God and how He intends for us to live.

For example look at the cycle of a flower. Spring is here and everything starts to grow. A little something grows out of the ground. It grows more and more until you can recognize what it is. It grows a little bit more and a bud springs forth. Then the bud tears open and spreads its whole glory before you. This is the peak season of the flower and it lasts only for a moment or for a short while for you to enjoy. There comes a time however, when its season is over and it dies. You see this cycle everywhere you look.

This principle is also valid for the human life, and I just felt an urgency from the LORD that we need to be aware of the cycle of life in our own life. You know you are very much like this little something. At some point in time you came into this world and you began grow. And so during your whole life you have been given the opportunity to display a glory from God as you walk with Him. Each day and each moment is such a great opportunity to make the most of it, because it is a given fact, you have only one life to live. Sometime in the future your season will be over and you will go home to be with the LORD. But as for now, as you dedicate yourself unto Him, you will look back and you will even look ahead and rejoice because your life has become so rich and meaningful.

I pray that the LORD would teach you to number your days and wisdom would fill your heart. This is how you will leave a legacy behind in the lives of others.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Suzanne Tanner

Wait on Me.

“Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42 NIV).

If you get a chance to go to our park in Ottumwa, do it! It’s such an interesting site and the Lord very often speaks to me through His creation. Recently I went for a walk and I observed some animals. There were many squirrels and geese and one day also a multitude of pelicans. As I stopped and pondered about this wildlife, the Lord showed me something interesting. These animals eat, rest and fly. Squirrels for example jump around and it seems that they are really enjoying their day! Nothing more they seem to do than fly, eat, rest and jump.

And then I thought about this verse above. Jesus praises Mary for sitting at his feet and listening to him. She is doing nothing more than that. She is actually doing far less than her sister Martha. But with much activity there also come a lot of worries. What was it that could not be taken away from Mary? It was the loving words of Jesus, the fellowship with Him, His instruction and His awesome presence. There is so much richness in just listening to the Lord. We easily get distracted don’t we, when we are so busy with many things.

So look at the squirrels and the geese next time you go to the park and rest assured, that he wants this same rest for you. He wants you to rejoice and be glad all the days of your life. This happiness will come when you rest in Him and hear His voice. Then equipped with His very words you will be ready for the day.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Use Your Authority!

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 NIV)

There are two ways we normally respond to the enemy’s schemes: attack or defense. One is correct and the other one is wrong and so the LORD showed me a powerful principle in dealing with the evil attacks of satan which I would like to share with you here.

Recently my husband and I went to have a look at a house. As we approached it we saw that there was a fence around the house and a gate. We opened the gate and left if open as we were going to return to our car soon. And so as we were walking toward the house suddenly out of nowhere and totally unexpected a black old dog came running along the fence and started to bark at us. My heart pounded heavily in fear as I realized that we had left the gate open and so my imagination went wild. He so much reminded me of a dangerous black gepard. And sure enough he walked through the gate and followed us around the house. I said to my husband “He is following us. What shall we do?” My husband was of course ahead of me and already had a plan! He grabbed a wooden log with two screws attached to it, lifted it up high and demonstrated to the dog that he was in charge. With a loud voice he rebuked the dog. I felt an instant shift of power, relief and complete safety. I so admired my husband for doing this. He said “Don’t worry honey. It’s going to be alright. If he attacks us I am going to hit him with this log”. It was such a strong experience I made that day, as I saw that by declaring out loud and using a weapon the threat immediately evaporated. It was quite amazing, that although the dog was still there, he was no threat to me anymore because my husband was ready to fight as he showed boldness and determination.

You need to remember the truth! Satan lost the battle over 2000 years ago as Jesus conquered him on the Cross of Calvary. He took all the keys from him and stripped him of all his power. Like with this dog that barked so loud, all satan now is allowed to do is roar. So do not retreat in defense but take a stand for Jesus and be determined to attack. Exercise your authority as a child of God by lifting up your sword that is Word of God. Declare that you are in charge and that you are ready to punish any disobedience. By doing this you will expose his true character and no longer fall for his ridiculous performance. So go now and live in the victory and freedom the LORD intended for you.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Suzanne Tanner

Do You Understand?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
(Proverbs 9:10)


As it was the 9th of October yesterday, I was reading the 9th chapter of Proverbs. What stood out to me was the second part of this one little verse mentioned above. The Lord had been addressing my thoughts recently and so I guess I was open to receive what he wanted to point out to me. I don’t know if you are also so mindful, but my mind can sometimes imagine things and write stories that only exist in my mind. I can have at times a very active imagination!

Let me explain to you what I mean. Recently as we were getting ready for our civil wedding a couple that needed to be there came an hour late. Firstly we were a little bit confused and a little upset. It was then very interesting and brought a smile to our face that at the very moment when the ceremony was carried out the church bells started to ring. The Lord knows how much my husband and I love church bells. Even during our trip to Europe we heard church bells all the time. So it was like the Lord saying to us: I approve of this covenant and you have my blessing but just let me start this wedding an hour later so that I can make these church bells ring for you :-).

Often we judge situations with our own mind, instead of consulting the Lord first for some insight. It is so important to know God’s thoughts, because very often we tend to view a situation incorrectly. I can guarantee you if you take the time to get to know the Lord your joy will increase. He will reveal to you His treasures and insight and your thoughts will not be the same anymore. You will start to think differently and you will start to act differently. AND last but not least, your loved ones and your environment will take note.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner