Month: October 2008

Guidance

Posted on by Susan Panzica

This is from an email I received years ago that is so special to me. My daughter, Lauren, is a gifted dancer who uses her gift to teach and inspire others. May this post inspire you today to allow the Lord to be your partner, to lead and guide you in His song for you.

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw “G”: I thought of God, followed by “u” and “i”.
“God, “u” and “i” dance.”
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
Susan

The Inscription

Posted on by Susan Panzica

As an artist always autographs his work, so God too has placed His autograph on us. But not only is His image carved in us, we are carved on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:16). In Isaiah 49, the Israelites are wondering if God had forgotten them. He assures them that He could never forget them, they are written on His hand. Many of us have scribbled on our hand something we want to remember, whether it be a name or number or other information. Isaiah 49:16 is an assurance from God that we are inscribed, carved permanently, on His hand. He will never, ever forget us. When we mistakenly think that God has moved away from us, we must remember these words from Scripture, and ask ourselves the question, “If God feels far away, who moved?” As many steps as we might have taken away from God, it is only one step back. He never, ever forgets us.

Susan

Trust

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Once, there was a woman who asked God for a flower…
… and a butterfly.

But instead God gave her a cactus…

… and a caterpillar.

The woman was sad; she didn’t understand why her request was mistaken.
Then she thought: Oh, well, maybe God has too many people to care for…
maybe He doesn’t understand my needs…
She decided not to question.
After some time,

the woman went to check up on her request that she had left forgotten.
To her surprise, from the thorny and ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown.

And the unsightly caterpillar had been transformed into the most beautiful butterfly.


God always does things right!

His way is ALWAYS the best way, even if to us it seems all wrong.
If you asked God for one thing & received another, TRUST.

You can be sure that He will always give you what you need at the appropriate time.

Today’s THORN…
Is tomorrow’s flower!

God gives the very best to those who leave the choices up to Him.

“… my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD‘s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.”
Jeremiah 3:22-24

Cinderella Man

Posted on by Susan Panzica

As I’ve shared before, although I have grown to love it, there usually isn’t too much excitement in my son’s best sport, cross-country running. That is, until this year’s league championship race. With only one loss each, our team was tied with another team entering the race. There was much tension in the air to see who would end up as the League Champs. The gun sounded, the runners took off into woods, around the lake, back to the woods, and to thefinish line. One by one they came in, sweating, panting, exhausted. Which school would win the title? Unbelievable! The most unusual finish possible! It was a tie!

Now this sport has a unique method of scoring. Only a team’s first 5 runners to cross the finish line are counted for the team score. These are the runners whose names are recorded in the scorebooks and listed in the newspapers. But there are other runners on the teams who run just to finish (which is it’s own accomplishment!). Some aspire to break into the top 5, but often, their goal is just to improve their performance time. These runners rarely, if ever, are counted in the team score. That is, unless there is a tie!! Then the judges look to see where the 6th man on each team placed.

So the league championship title depended upon our 6th man, Jon. As usual, he finished near the end of the entire race. But he finished just ahead of our rival team’s 6th man!! A senior, Jon never received any public acclaim throughout his running career, but today, he was the hero!

As captain and 1st runner, my son, AJ, has had his name listed in the papers before. Today, he was quoted and had a whole paragraph, not for his own accomplishment but for the purpose of giving Jon the praise. This young man trained daily with his team. He ran a race to the best of his ability. He did it not for praise, but simply because it was what he was called to do. He never expected any reward other than the satisfaction of a job well done.

You and I run through our day, without any recognition most of the time. Yet if we are not distracted, if we keep our eye on the prize set before us, for a crown that will last forever, that is all the reward we need. One day, we will stand before the Judge who will say “Well done!”

1 Cor. 9:25-27 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Susan

Thankful Thursday

Posted on by Susan Panzica

First of all, let me express my thanks to you for sharing your precious time with me here at Eternity Cafe, for your encouragement and your support over this past week & a half. It’s a whole new world, this blogosphere!! And since I’m trying to write a book, I worried that this blog might become a burden. Instead, it has sparked my creative juices, and helped to focus me on my project!

I plan to use some Thursdays as an opportunity for you and me to express thanks! As Paul wrote in 1 Thess. 5:18, “Give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you.” Did you ever wonder – what is God’s will for me? Well, here it is! Giving thanks in all circumstances! (Not FOR all your circumstances, but IN all circumstances. And sometimes, it may be in spite of your circumstances. There’s always something to be thankful for.) When he wrote about prayer and peace in his letter to the Phillipians, Paul says that “in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…” Then that incomprehensible peace of God with stand guard over your heart and your mind. Do you want the peace of God? When you pray, be sure to include thanksgiving.
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I’m so thankful to God for the peace He alone can give. For loving me when I was (and am) unlovely. For His great sacrifice – giving me new life. I’m thankful for the other loves of my life – my wonderful family. God knew what He was doing when He gave me my husband and kids. I’m so proud of them, and I am a better person because they are in my life. And I couldn’t ask for a better church family!
Won’t you take a moment now to think of what you are thankful for?
Will you share a comment so that we can all be blessed?
THANK YOU!!!
Susan

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I received this as an email – so worth sharing!!
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.’

You may do much for others, yet think that no one ever sees. Each of us (parent, grandparent, spouse, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

Gentle Leader

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Roxie Panzica

My little pup, Roxie (I’ll explain the name in a future post – think “rock-see”) and I took a stroll yesterday in the beautiful autumn weather. Now, this doggie of mine is a natural born “puller”. She always has been. Put the leash on her, and she is so excited, she can’t wait to get moving. It puts a terrible strain on her neck. We tried the choker collar to no avail. Tried one with teeth that cut into her neck, that was a nightmare. Then we found the “Gentle Leader”. It is a miracle. No stress. No pulling. No problem. It’s based on the theory of a horse’s reign. Instead of attaching the leash to the back of her neck, it attaches under her chin. If she pulls, her head will go down and she stops pulling immediately. The only thing is – she doesn’t much like putting it on.
Saddest face ever 🙁

When she sees it coming, she turns her head to the side. So like the mom I am, I start talking to her: “I know, baby, it’s not what you want, but it’s what you need.” Well, that reminded me of the Rolling Stones song my husband would sing to our kids when they were young: “You can’t always get what you want… you get what you need…”

This episode got me thinking that I have a Gentle Leader too: “You will keep on guiding me with Your command leading me to a glorious destiny.” Psalm 73:24 Our Lord is a most Gentle Leader, is He not? We want to pull this way or that. He knows that often what we want is not what we need, and He leads us in the right direction. We may resist or turn aside, but if we allow Him to direct us our paths, we will experience His best for us.

Roxie overcomes her initial objection because she knows that it’s only with the Gentle Leader she’ll have that walk she longs to have.

Oh, so happy! 🙂

Would we be so wise and let our Gentle Leader lead us!!
Susan

Daredevils

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Yesterday morning on the Today show, Nik Wallenda of the Flying Wallendas crossed between 2 buildings on a tightwire – 12 stories up – on a bicycle – without a net!! At every commercial break, the anchors said to stay tuned for “Daredevil Nik Wallenda”. Got me thinking about that word – daredevil.

You and I may not attempt to cross a high-wire, go base-jumping, or scale a skyscraper, but we may be daredevils nevertheless.

I’m not referring to those certain sinful behaviors that are clearly defined as acts of the sinful nature (drunkenness, sexual immorality, outbursts of anger). Consider this – we are being a daredevil when we secretly harbor bitterness in our hearts. Paul calls bitterness a “root”, and like Jack and the Beanstalk, that root will grow and eventually overtake us. When we are consumed with bitterness, our focus is not on God, but on the person we resent. Often, that person has no idea and is walking around carefree, and meanwhile we are so focused on them that they actually have control over us! Any move they make elicits a response in us. I have heard it said that: “Bitterness does more damage to the vessel that contains it than to the object on which it is poured.” It is like an acid that burns inside, even if we are smiling on the outside.

How about secret jealousies, longings, pride, entertaining temptations (even if we never act on them)? Or what about busyness? We can be so busy that our time with our Savior is at the bottom of our to-do list. All these make us “daredevils” as we keep our toe in the polluted ocean hoping not to get bitten by the powerful shark lurking nearby.

I once saw a Christian T-shirt that said, “I’m a confident Christian. Bring on the lions.” Whoa, yes – we can be confident that Satan is a defeated foe. He has no power over us, and cannot even touch us unless he gets the go-ahead from the Lord, our protector. But Peter tells us he is like a “lion, prowling around seeking someone to devour.” I say he is like a lion whose teeth have been knocked out. We need not live in constant fear of the enemy, but a lion without teeth is still a potent adversary, and we would do well to keep our focus on our Savior, our Protector, our Deliver, our Redeemer. Keep our focus in His Word, and let it nourish us so that we may be strong to resist temptation. Focus is what daredevil Nik Wallenda needed to cross the tightwire, and focus is what we need to safely navigate our way, too.

Susan

RUNNING THE RACE!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Wow! To all who signed on, commented and emailed me, a huge thanks for all your encouragement! I’m so excited I can’t wait until tomorrow! I’m doing another blog today!!

It’s autumn here in Jersey. My favorite season. I love the colors, the coolness, the apples… and cross-country season! My son is an excellent cross country runner, and I have come to love this sport. It’s not because it’s exciting to watch. After all, the runners take off, and you don’t see a thing until 16 – 20 minutes later when the runners return to cross the finish line. I love the sport because although there is the team element, you can be a winner even if your team doesn’t come in first. Just improve your time from your last race, and you’re a winner. In fact, just crossing the finish line makes you a winner. How many of us can run those 3.1 miles?

At my son’s last race, as I was waiting for our guys to start coming back, the previous race was concluding. It was a girls’ race, and many girls had come in already when my eye caught one girl who was struggling with the last ¼ mile. She was bent over, and it was clearly an effort for her to put one foot in front of the other. And it was uphill besides! Then I saw 5 girls run over and begin running beside her. They had already crossed the finish line, some wearing medals indicating that they had been in the top 10. But now they ran beside their teammate shouting encouragement along the way. “You can do it, Jen!” “Keep it up, Jen!” “You’re almost there, Jen!” “We’re with you, Jen!” Jen still struggled, but her head lifted higher. She found new energy to keep going. (It was all I could do to not start bawling out loud.) I had just witnessed teamwork at its best.

And that is what we are called to do as well. We are all part of the same team, and we must continually encourage one another as long as it is called today. Solomon tells us that two are better than one because if one falls down, the other can pick her up. He goes on to say, “A cord of three is not quickly broken.” You, me and God –now that’s a team!!

Susan