"Share Your Plans With Him"

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28-30).

 

 

We recently had an electrician install many more outlets in our house. I never really paid much attention to the electricity and how it functions in the house. I mean it’s like you take it for granted. You switch on the light and the light goes on. It was then truly amazing to see how much wire and planning and calculation was needed before he dared to drill a hole in the wall.
 

Then finally when everything was set into place he was able to pull the electrical wire through the wall and attach it to the outlets. He did an excellent job and the best part of it was his planning skills. The planning and calculation phase was his foundation and guaranteed the success of his work. He counted the costs very well.

These verses in Luke 14 are mentioned under a paragraph called "the cost of being a disciple". Planning and calculating are one of the excellent characteristics of a disciple. They plan and calculate well before they do anything. There lies such an excellence in this discipline because at the end of this chapter the Lord Jesus concludes in verse 34" that salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?". The truth of the matter is, the Lord wants you to be effective and represent Him well on this earth.

I encourage you today that whatever you are called to do, that you would dare to sit down with the Lord first before you move forward. Share with Him your plans and let Him help you with counting the costs. Then, when everything is set in place, go forward boldly and be a shining light in this world.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!


Suzanne Tanner

 

Called To Breakthrough

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
~ 2 Corinthians, 4: 7 – 9 NIV ~

 

Next to our local Wal-Mart store there used to be a huge sloping down patch of green grass, perhaps 600 feet long and 150 feet wide. I would imagine for maintenance and cost reasons somebody decided to get a company in to cover up the whole area with big heavy boulders.

This was quite an undertaking because for days the trucks would haul the boulders, and bulldozers on site would distribute them over the whole area. Now the problem was solved. No weeding, no maintenance efforts anymore, and everything nicely covered up. Not so!

I recently discovered that from beneath the boulders slowly but surely green bushes were pushing their way through the rocks. I had to chuckle quite a bit because I right away thought about Christians. They are unstoppable. They cannot be put down nor can they be wiped out. They will always find a way like their Master and will breakthrough all adversity, pressure, heaviness and impossibilities.

This leads me to say that we are so called "breakthroughers," you know, like tender living bushes conquering the dead heavy boulders! So don’t be concerned anymore by all kinds of pressure that comes against you but know that inside of you there’s a new heart that beats to the rhythm of victory!

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Look at the Progress!

“Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb-line in the hand of Zerubbabel” (Zechariah 4:10 NIV).

God is at work in your life, did you know that? He that has begun a good work in you will also accomplish it. The Lord desires to lay a good and solid foundation in your life. But because you look at your calling there is a good chance that you could despise the small beginnings. Perhaps you are thinking that you are taking “baby steps” and that they are not worth of any consideration. But you forget an important principle: each and every step is needed to climb the ladder.

Let’s be honest: It’s very difficult to take big steps in the Kingdom of God. It’s not Gods way anyway. He plants a seed and then he waits for it to grow. So trust me; you need to take these small ones. Little by little, step by step, day by day, week by week you will realize that you are standing on solid ground. This growth will give you such a confidence and enable you to build the Kingdom Gods way. I encourage you today to focus on the progress you are making and at the same time to hold onto your calling that is in your right hand.

And then listen to the Masters Voice saying to you: 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Change Your Perspective

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”(Psalm 118:24)

There are mornings where you can just sense that this is going to be a goodday. It is as if all the cares and the spiritual attacks have been lifted away of. But for many of us these days seem to be rare ones. Often we see ourselves confronted with problems, opposition and the issues of our own hearts. These are the days where you know that you are walking on the narrow path. How then can you possibly find joy in all these circumstances when you are so overwhelmed by them?

Let me help you here. Whether you feel good or not, it is a fact that the Lord has made this day and He wants you to be happy! He wants you to be glad and know that He is in control of every day. After all, he is the creator of all good things, right? So it all starts with your perspective towards this day and your attitude towards God.

 

Here is a simple question for you to answer: is your glass half full or half empty? Do you view your situation negatively or could it be an opportunity to grow for example in patience, love or obedience? Whatever it might be chose to learn regardless of how you feel. Believe the Lord and His word. Take every opportunity to grow in the Lord and learn from Him and you will soon realize that your days are filled with joy and gladness.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!

Suzanne Tanner

Out of Proportion

 

"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV).

In German we have a saying that goes like this: "to make mosquito into an elephant" which basically means to make a mountain out of a molehill. I got to experience this recently when I took the trash to the dumpster whilst working my 2nd shift at the hotel.

It was already late and it was dark. As I opened the door and was ready to throw the trash in the dumpster I noticed a reasonably big shadow reflected by the parking light that was moving behind the dumpster. I right away froze thinking that I had taken a person by surprise. I quickly shut the door ready to head back to the safe environment of the hotel, when from underneath the door a scared cat took a flight!

How I was relieved. I chuckled a little and thought that this was so true; shadows are always bigger than the real objects and so are the deceiving suggestions of the devil. He always brings things out of proportion, doesn’t he? How we react to situations will ultimately always determine our well-being.

Now think about it for a moment, what kind of shadows do you have in your life? Look them in the face and then realize that these are out of proportion thoughts, deceiving whisperings of the devil. Do not allow him to tempt you in any way but at all times chose to protect your mind. You do this by turning to the Lord and asking Him to reveal "the mosquitos and molehills" to you.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Suzanne Tanner

 

Now Available!

The God's Heart Devotions Book is now available on Amazon.

 

Click here to order: Amazon

It would be nice if you could post your review on Amazon to help promote the book once you have read it for yourself.

Thank-you in advance for your purchase and may you have a memorable Christmas time.

Suzanne Tanner