“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty- he is the King of glory” (Psalm 24: 7-9 NIV).
I am so glad that the LORD pointed out to me this little green “thing” that was hanging one day on a really thin thread next to our side entry door.
When I detected this “thing” I had to really get close to it. At first I thought it was a glass bead, you know a piece of jewelry that had fallen to the ground and then had been transported by the wind over to our house. The color was so beautifully green like an emerald; the quality was like of fine glass and these golden spots and a fine golden line that went across the top of this object made my eyebrows rise even more. I didn’t dare to touch it; it looked so fragile and so beautiful. As I gazed at it for a while with much curiosity and amazement I had to call my husband and other people to let them know about my discovery. I wanted to know what they thought of it.
The question arose “Could this be a cocoon?” Now I took an even closer look at it and discovered a texture like wings of a Butterfly behind the thin “thing”.” Oh Lord, your glory is revealed to us right now, isn’t it?” I said. Could this be true? Would we actually be able to witness such a beauty made by the awesome hand of God today? I went on the Internet and looked for “cocoon of a Monarch” and what did I find? I found the exact same picture of our cocoon. Wow, now that was definitely the fingerprint of Almighty God! It brought tremendous great joy and encouragement to all of us as we realized that the LORD wanted to reassure us of who He is and bless us with a God given delicate miracle.
The Bible says that the earth and all that is within it is His and that He is the King of Glory. But do you really experience and perceive in your daily life the glory of God and how glorious He is? Don’t you think that if He can make such a small precious cocoon with a golden rim and golden spots, transform a caterpillar into one of the most beautiful butterflies I know of and is called by the royal name Monarch that He could be the author of even greater glorious things?
Today I felt that the LORD wants you to experience the reality of His glory in your own personal life. You will experience it when you take time to gaze upon the beauty of Jesus Christ. He is the Royal Son of God, the miracle and reflection of Almighty God. He is your King! It is then when you will realize that you are chosen and holy, a royal priesthood belonging to God and be made sensitive at all times to the royalty of God in your life.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Sunday, 23 January 2011
"I Will Bring Back To Life What Was Lost"
“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 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
Sunday, 16 January 2011
“Soak in my Presence”
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him” (Psalm 62:1 NIV)
When I came to America a few years ago, I was confronted with a lot of change. One of the things I noticed was that our shower curtain would have mold and mildew after a couple of weeks. That was a new thing for me and so I asked my husband how to get rid of it. He said, “Wash it in the washing machine.” I thought that was a great idea, but unfortunately I chose the wrong washing program. The curtain was torn up, we had to throw it away and buy a new one. I asked my husband again how to get rid of the mold and he said “Use bleach.” So every month when the curtain really looked bad, I would take it down and scrub it outside on our back porch for about an hour. To be honest with you, I didn’t like this procedure very much.
So another month approached and I knew I would have to get rid of the mold again. This time I thought I will check the internet and see what a larger group of Americans say about this problem. I searched for “How to get rid of mold on your shower curtain,” and I got a fantastic answer: “Soak the curtain in the bath tub with water and a cup of bleach and then let it rest for one hour”. Ha, I liked that idea, because it didn’t require much work from my side. After an hour I was prepared to scrub the curtain but surprisingly found out that all the mold and mildew had miraculously disappeared during that hour. “Could that be true” I asked myself? Because now getting rid of the mold once a month would definitely be a joyful and easy thing for me to do!!!
Did you know that His presence is a resting place for you? When you rest in Him all the cares and struggles, worries, concerns and fearful thoughts are washed away by His love. It doesn’t really require much of you. Just chose to rest in His presence, let go of your cares, open your heart to Him and then listen to what He wants to share with you. As you make it your daily need to soak in His presence, I promise you that you will experience the truth that comes from knowing that only Jesus can wash away your cares.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
When I came to America a few years ago, I was confronted with a lot of change. One of the things I noticed was that our shower curtain would have mold and mildew after a couple of weeks. That was a new thing for me and so I asked my husband how to get rid of it. He said, “Wash it in the washing machine.” I thought that was a great idea, but unfortunately I chose the wrong washing program. The curtain was torn up, we had to throw it away and buy a new one. I asked my husband again how to get rid of the mold and he said “Use bleach.” So every month when the curtain really looked bad, I would take it down and scrub it outside on our back porch for about an hour. To be honest with you, I didn’t like this procedure very much.
So another month approached and I knew I would have to get rid of the mold again. This time I thought I will check the internet and see what a larger group of Americans say about this problem. I searched for “How to get rid of mold on your shower curtain,” and I got a fantastic answer: “Soak the curtain in the bath tub with water and a cup of bleach and then let it rest for one hour”. Ha, I liked that idea, because it didn’t require much work from my side. After an hour I was prepared to scrub the curtain but surprisingly found out that all the mold and mildew had miraculously disappeared during that hour. “Could that be true” I asked myself? Because now getting rid of the mold once a month would definitely be a joyful and easy thing for me to do!!!
Did you know that His presence is a resting place for you? When you rest in Him all the cares and struggles, worries, concerns and fearful thoughts are washed away by His love. It doesn’t really require much of you. Just chose to rest in His presence, let go of your cares, open your heart to Him and then listen to what He wants to share with you. As you make it your daily need to soak in His presence, I promise you that you will experience the truth that comes from knowing that only Jesus can wash away your cares.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
Saturday, 8 January 2011
"He Watches Over Your Life"
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
One morning I was thinking about a particular plant, a basil plant that my husband and I had planted a while back. We were staying at a hotel at that time, and one of the amenities that the hotel offered was that we could plant a seed in a small container. So on this particular morning it was as if I was taken back in time to when we planted this seed. Now as I looked at the basil I was just so thankful to see such a wonderful growth. Over the last few months I had watched it. I remembered wondering when we planted the seed, if it would make it at all. It did! It grew steadily. Day by day it slowly pushed its way through the soil. At first the leaves didn’t look like basil at all, but now sure enough it does! It smells like basil and it looks like basil. Every morning I had gone out to our green room to inspect its growth. I would water it, take care of it, place it in the sun and make sure that it would grow under the best possible conditions. You know, very much like a proud parent.
Anyway, whilst I was pondering about this basil and my heart was filled with such gladness, the LORD spoke to me about His children. “Even before time was”, He said, “I was thinking of you”. “When you were in your mother’s womb, I was the One that formed you. I watched over your coming into this world and I am the One that is concerned about your life, your growth and your well-being. I am the One that takes good care of you and I will lead you through your life so that the plans I have spoken over you will surely come to pass.” So rest now in this safe assurance today that your wonderful heavenly Father, the awesome Great I AM, definitely holds your precious life in His hands. Hallelujah!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
One morning I was thinking about a particular plant, a basil plant that my husband and I had planted a while back. We were staying at a hotel at that time, and one of the amenities that the hotel offered was that we could plant a seed in a small container. So on this particular morning it was as if I was taken back in time to when we planted this seed. Now as I looked at the basil I was just so thankful to see such a wonderful growth. Over the last few months I had watched it. I remembered wondering when we planted the seed, if it would make it at all. It did! It grew steadily. Day by day it slowly pushed its way through the soil. At first the leaves didn’t look like basil at all, but now sure enough it does! It smells like basil and it looks like basil. Every morning I had gone out to our green room to inspect its growth. I would water it, take care of it, place it in the sun and make sure that it would grow under the best possible conditions. You know, very much like a proud parent.
Anyway, whilst I was pondering about this basil and my heart was filled with such gladness, the LORD spoke to me about His children. “Even before time was”, He said, “I was thinking of you”. “When you were in your mother’s womb, I was the One that formed you. I watched over your coming into this world and I am the One that is concerned about your life, your growth and your well-being. I am the One that takes good care of you and I will lead you through your life so that the plans I have spoken over you will surely come to pass.” So rest now in this safe assurance today that your wonderful heavenly Father, the awesome Great I AM, definitely holds your precious life in His hands. Hallelujah!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Jumping to Conclusions
"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV).
Do you also jump to conclusions easily and then find out that your conclusions were wrong? Oh let me tell you how the LORD recently corrected me on one of my conclusions. Fortunately it was only between Him and me, and He didn’t expose my thoughts. But I am going to share them with you today because I learned a very good lesson!
In that particular week I wasn’t able to attend our local Farmers Market, so we sent our friend and ministry partner to represent me and to sell our home made Swiss bread. When I came back from our trip that evening I counted the remaining loaves and discovered that one had been opened. I thought that this was a little odd, but figured our friend had been hungry that afternoon and wanted to eat some of the freshly baked bread. The more I thought about it, the more I got irritated because I reasoned that he could have sold that loaf or at least asked me if he could have a bite or two. I admit that those were my thoughts and my conclusions.
Then, full of excitement, our friend began to share with me his side of the story. He hadn’t sold a lot of bread that afternoon and so he prayed to God. He took action and opened up a loaf, went to each and every vendor at the Farmers Market and offered them a sample so that they could taste the great bread. By doing this he sold three more loaves of bread. Oh no, I couldn’t believe what I just heard! My conclusions were totally wrong and I was ashamed at myself for having had such thoughts. I definitely learned my lesson that day!
The Bible warns us in verse 5 of 1 Corinthians chapter 4 that we should not judge before the appointed time and that the LORD will bring light to everything that is hidden. The lesson I learned that day was that jumping to conclusions and acting as if I knew it all was totally wrong. I firmly believe now that we absolutely need to give room to the LORD to bring light and exposure into the motives of the hearts of man. On our part we need to wait for the arrival of the appointed time. Do you agree? Then let’s wait, see and jump when the LORD says so!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
Do you also jump to conclusions easily and then find out that your conclusions were wrong? Oh let me tell you how the LORD recently corrected me on one of my conclusions. Fortunately it was only between Him and me, and He didn’t expose my thoughts. But I am going to share them with you today because I learned a very good lesson!
In that particular week I wasn’t able to attend our local Farmers Market, so we sent our friend and ministry partner to represent me and to sell our home made Swiss bread. When I came back from our trip that evening I counted the remaining loaves and discovered that one had been opened. I thought that this was a little odd, but figured our friend had been hungry that afternoon and wanted to eat some of the freshly baked bread. The more I thought about it, the more I got irritated because I reasoned that he could have sold that loaf or at least asked me if he could have a bite or two. I admit that those were my thoughts and my conclusions.
Then, full of excitement, our friend began to share with me his side of the story. He hadn’t sold a lot of bread that afternoon and so he prayed to God. He took action and opened up a loaf, went to each and every vendor at the Farmers Market and offered them a sample so that they could taste the great bread. By doing this he sold three more loaves of bread. Oh no, I couldn’t believe what I just heard! My conclusions were totally wrong and I was ashamed at myself for having had such thoughts. I definitely learned my lesson that day!
The Bible warns us in verse 5 of 1 Corinthians chapter 4 that we should not judge before the appointed time and that the LORD will bring light to everything that is hidden. The lesson I learned that day was that jumping to conclusions and acting as if I knew it all was totally wrong. I firmly believe now that we absolutely need to give room to the LORD to bring light and exposure into the motives of the hearts of man. On our part we need to wait for the arrival of the appointed time. Do you agree? Then let’s wait, see and jump when the LORD says so!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner
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