March 2016 - Susan Panzica

In The Middle – the dark place between sorrow and joy

Posted on March 26, 2016March 31, 2018 by Susan Panzica

Today we are in the middle.

Yesterday was Good Friday –

the pain of suffering,

despair, heartache,

the event that left us full of tears

Tomorrow is Easter –

the joy of new life,

resurrection,

rising from the ashes of pain

Today we are just in the middle-

the preparing for tomorrow’s feast,

tomorrow’s worship,

tomorrow’s new garments

Do you ever feel – in the middle? Having experienced tragedy or loss, but waiting for the future hope and peace that is promised? We must wait, but not as those with no hope. It was while Jesus was waiting that He set the captives free.

When I was in Israel, one of the most powerful moments for me was at the Garden Tomb. I entered the empty tomb, and after my eyes adjusted to the darkness, saw the white garments folded on the stone bench. Turning to exit the tomb and enter the light, I saw a rough, wooden sign that read:

“He is not here;

he has risen,

just as he said.”

Matt. 28:6

Seeing those words in that place was a powerful reminder that He has risen. The full verse includes the words JUST AS HE SAID! So what else did He say?

We have been healed:“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”-1 Peter 2:24

We have a future:“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

So we must:“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Titus 1:2

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3

Today, while still in the middle, this is my prayer for you:“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

My heart is grieving for a family that suffered a tragic loss. They are in the dark Saturday tomb and have lost hope for the future. They aren’t preparing for a glorious tomorrow. They are clinging to the pain of today. Perhaps you are in that place too or know someone stuck in their dark night of the soul, a place we are meant to transverse, not dwell.

The angels at the tomb asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee…” Lk. 24:5-6

Oh that we could stop looking among the dead, in the dark, but remember and cling to what He told us, the hope for the future.

Today let us pray together that you and they and we all may remember the truth He told us and catch of glimmer of the glorious hope to come.

May you have a most blessed Resurrection Day! May you rejoice with Him who rose from the dead to give you eternal life, who endured the darkness to bring us with Him into the light. And may you be preparing for the ultimate feast, worship and garments yet to come!!

The Passover Question About Good Friday

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Part of the Passover Seder is the reading of the Four Questions. Usually this is done by the youngest boy, but when I was a child, my siblings were too young, so it was my job to recite – in Hebrew – the Four Questions. It is actually one question with four answers.

Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilos?

Why is this night different from all other nights?

The answers:

On all other nights we eat leavened products and matzah,

and on this night only matzah.

On all other nights we eat all vegetables,

and on this night only bitter herbs.

On all other nights, we don’t dip our food even once,

and on this night we dip twice.

On all other nights we eat sitting or reclining,

and on this night we only recline.

When I saw the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” several years ago, I was struck by one scene in particular, an ordinary scene that would not stand out to most of the viewers. In her home, Mary, the mother of Jesus, conversationally asked, “Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilos?” The subtitles displayed the familiar words I already understood, “Why is this night different from all other nights?”

It was a lightbulb moment for me. I had known the question in the context of the Passover Seder, the Exodus, the familiar story from from childhood. Now I heard it in the context of the imminent betrayal of my Messiah.

This night was different from all other nights because the sacrifice would be made for the sins of the world, past, present and future.

This night was different because Scripture’s prophesies were about to be fulfilled.

This night was different because the world would be forever changed. <<click to tweet>>

That’s why we call it Good Friday. It is a night different from all other nights. It was the night that we were redeemed.

Tonight, if you attend a Good Friday service, remember the question “Why is this night different from all other nights.” More importantly, remember the answer!

Who’s calling you?

Posted on March 11, 2016March 10, 2016 by Susan Panzica

“AJ, COME HERE!!”

My son AJ turned and put down the rake. Sweaty and tired from his backyard landscaping project, the last thing he expected was to hear our beloved neighbor across the street calling him so harshly. “There must be something wrong,” he thought. And there it was again.

“AJ, COME HERE NOW!!!”

Bewildered, AJ sauntered across the street and saw Kim in her front yard, hands cupped aside her mouth, bellowing, “AJ, COME HERE!”

“Kim, is something wrong?”

Her eyes landed on AJ, and when she saw the expression on his face, Kim broke out in hysterical laughter, hands on knees, almost rolling over into the driveway. It was several minutes before she was able to compose herself enough to squeak out the story. She was dog-sitting, and AJ-the dog had run away down the street.

AJ-the son, greatly relieved that she was calling AJ-the dog, ran off to retrieve the missing pet.

There’s an important lesson we can glean from this light-hearted case of mistaken identity.

Often, we hear someone calling our name. We hear a familiar “voice” speaking harshly to us.

We “hear” that we’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough. The voice tells us we’re too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short. We hear that no one cares about us, or that we totally messed up, or that it’s just too hard, so give up.

And we entertain that voice, letting it entangle in our brains or pierce our hearts, mulling over these accusations as if they were true – but they’re not.

Referring to the devil, Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

When we hear these words of condemnation and criticism, we need to quickly recognize that they are not the voice of God who calls us with conviction and compassion. And then we need to combat them with truths of God’s Word – where He calls us His beloved, precious, chosen, child, friend, the apple of His eye!

When you hear those lies and accusations, won’t you choose to listen to the voice of truth? Philippians 4:8 says

^“Finally, … sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

This is an instruction = “Think on these things” – not a suggestion or a wishful thinking = not “try to think…”

God would not instruct us to do something that is impossible. When you catch yourself drifting into false thoughts, lasso those thoughts – “take every thought captive.”

And the result of applying this Scripture to your thought life?

The verses before and after Phil. 4:8 tell us the peace of God will guard your heart and mind (v.7) and the God of peace will be with you(v.9). Your thoughts are surrounded by the bookends of peace!

” You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”

Isaiah 26:3