devotion Archives - Page 5 of 11

Baby it’s cold outside! Or is it???

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Susan Panzica

Photo by Jan Lucas

The other day, several patients entered our office declaring, “It’s so warm outside!” It was a sunny 34^o. After several overcast days of single digit temperatures, it seemed downright balmy.

But the same 34^o in August would be frigid.

This thing is – 34 degrees is 34 degrees.

Period.

If it’s been cold, 34^o feels like a heat wave, but if it’s been warm, 34^o feels chilly.

It only seems to be cold or warm because of our feelings. The temperature is what it is, but we respond to it differently based upon how we feel at any given moment.

And our feelings are subjective. They are influenced by people around us, circumstances that we can or cannot control, health or hormones, the slow driver in front of us, the pants that no longer zipper up, the song that reminds us of something we want to forget.

How we feel about something doesn’t necessarily reveal the truth of a matter.

Today I’m over at Laced With Grace with some thoughts on feelings vs. truth. Join me in the conversation there.

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What fingerprints will you leave?

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Susan Panzica

It started with a fortune cookie.

“A part of us remains wherever we have been.”

Ah so, very wise…

I’d been mulling this thought over for a week.

And then my mother-in-law passed away last Sunday.

At the cemetery, instead of taking a flower and tossing on the casket, we were instructed to place our fingerprints on it symbolically expressing the imprint she made on our lives.

My son took this photo and shared his thoughts:

“Fingerprints are evidence that something, or someone, has been touched. Today we left Nana with a collage of our identities as a symbol that we’ll always be together. The irony is that every person was standing there smothered in her fingerprints from the many ways she had touched our lives.”

Then we received a sympathy card which says:

“We never lose the people we care about….

Their love leaves an indelible imprint on our memories.”

All this has me wondering about the imprint that I leave with the people I interact with. What part of me remains with those I love? What about people I barely know? When they see me, do they see Jesus in me?

Which brings me to one of my favorite songs. “Live Like That” by Sidewalk Prophets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfosSggwQS0

And since they say it better than I can, here are my thoughts expressed by Sidewalk Prophets:

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I’m only just a memory
When I’m home where my soul belongs

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Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of us
Was my worship more than just a song

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I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

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If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

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I want to live like that
I want to live like that

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Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change our heart
Do I live like Your love is true

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People pass
And even if they don’t know my name
Is there evidence that I’ve been changed
When they see me, do they see You

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I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

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If love is who I am
Then this is where I’ll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

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I want to live like that
I want to live like that

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I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I’m longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that. I want to make a difference by extending grace, loving well, forgiving, caring for those in need, living in integrity. I want the fingerprints I leave on people’s hearts to be those of Jesus. I want people to see Him when they see me.

What about you? What kind of fingerprints do you want to leave as your legacy?

Joy is a choice

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Susan Panzica

When the Apostle Paul was in a Roman prison, he wrote several letters. His prison was no Ritz Hotel, and he was chained to a Roman guard night and day. His freedom robbed, he nevertheless continued on his mission. He opens his letter to the Philippian church by thanking God and praying for them. Then he goes on to say:

To keep reading and for a great tip on how to cultivate joy in troubled times, click here where I’m at Laced With Grace.

From Rubbish to Restored

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Susan Panzica

SLOW DOWN!!! My husband Tony shrieked as I drove down the street. I thought there was mortal danger ahead and nearly caused some myself, but no – he wanted to scan the yard sale we were passing.

And that’s why I don’t drive when he’s in the car.

But this week, he was passing a house in lovely Franklin Lakes when he spotted an amp sitting at the curb. Being the master guitar player (and garbage picker – you didn’t hear that from me) that he is, he couldn’t resist. He stopped, and the owner told him that the amp was broken and Tony was free to take it. And being the master Mr. Fixit that he is, he did just that. He took it home and repaired it to work perfectly!

This is life with Tony.

Sometimes we feel like that amp – broken, useless, good for nothing but the garbage heap. At one time, we were new, clean and fresh, but life was hard. We might have been treated badly. Perhaps we were ignored or overlooked. Maybe we made some bad choices that hurt others or ourselves. And now we feel wounded or inadequate.

We feel like the amp out on the curb might feel – broken, defeated, alienated, separated from what could have been.

What we need is life with Jesus, the original Mr. Fixit. He takes our broken pieces and makes them like new.

Throughout Scripture, God restores His people, their health, their wealth, their hopes. He restored nations and order. He restored “the crushed spirit of the humble and revived courage of the repentant” (Is 57:15). He brought “sparkle to eyes” (Ps 13:3)

Jesus comforted the alienated and the outcast. He healed the infirmed. He made people useful and vibrant again. And He still does this today. If we let Him.

Will you let Him in today? Will you enter into life with Jesus? How can I pray for you, beloved?

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10

Two Scoops of Grace – Book Review and Giveaway!

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Susan Panzica

When I first met Jeanette Levellie, I’d already known her for years. We first became friends after she commented on my post and then I commented on hers and then emails followed as kindred spirits knit together. Finally last August, we met in person at the Philly Writers Conference. Smiles and hugs abounded. I’m so happy to announce that Jen’s dream has come true. Her first book is published!

Now you can share with me the delight in reading Jen’s words. Her warmth, wit, and wisdom radiate through these pages. Jen puts a comical and spiritual spin on stories and events from everyday life. You’ll smile, sob, laugh, cry, and draw closer the One who scripts our lives.

Here’s the official blurb about Jeanette, the book, and her awesome giveaway. The contests ends at midnight May 10, 2012:

About the Book
What do drive-by diaper stores and God have in common? When is blabbing an acceptable habit? Why should you beware of moths and sligs? In her entertaining, uplifting style, award-winning author and humorist Jeanette Levellie weaves 72 amusing stories with affirming Biblical truths. These soul-nourishing examples of God’s favor and grace will help you:

Laugh when you find cow patties in your field instead of daisies
Discover the bottomless heart of God
Grow in your acceptance of yourself and others

Welcome a vacation from stress as you discover the sweetness of Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top.

You can buy the book here.

About the Author
A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Bigger, a popular feature in the Paris Beacon News since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars. She is also a prolific speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL. with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

Visit Jeanette on her blog, On Wings of Mirth and Worth, at www.jeanettelevellie.com.

Jeanette’s Giveaways
You can win one of ten free downloads of my debut humor devotional, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top for your eReader. Here are the very simple rules:

For each share of this post link on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog, you will receive one entry.

For each like on Jeanette’s Author Page or my Two Scoops Book Page on Facebook, or follow on my Twitter page or this blog, you will receive one entry. If you already like and/or follow me, mention that and I will count it.

Please send me ONE comment to tell me how many times you shared, liked, or followed, so I can give you the correct amount of entries. I reserve the right to verify all information given me, and disqualify anyone from the drawing who falsifies information. (Do not leave comments here to be entered, you MUST go to Jeanette’s blog post for the giveaway.)

Contest starts today and ends midnight, May 10, 2012. Jeanette will announce the winners in a blog post Sunday, May 13, 2012.

….and a $100 Gift Card Drawing~~~WOWZA!!!

After you have read/reviewed Two Scoops, check out my blog at www.jeanettelevellie.com for a contest to win a $100 gift card by answering ten easy questions about the book! After I receive your entry, your name will go into the hat for a $100 gift card to one of the following places (your choice): Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Ruby Tuesday. This giveaway will run until August 10, 2012 so there is PLENTY of time for you to enter!

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This cannot be the end….

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Susan Panzica

This poem, written by Maude Carolan Pych, a truly gifted poet of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group, is so powerful I couldn’t NOT share it with you.
May this minister to you this Good Friday.

THE PIETA

After the earthquake

the peals of thunder

the flashes of lightening across the sky

After the curious crowds dispersed

Mary sat in ominous dimness

upon a mound of earth

at the base of The Cross

holding the body

of her Son

She cradled Him

in the hollow of her lap

close to her bosom

as she had

when he was

her baby boy

Mary removed

thorns of mockery

that encircled His forehead

and tossed it to the side

Straining to see in the shadows

she carefully picked

fragments of thorn needles

still stuck in His lifeless flesh

although they couldn’t hurt Him

any longer

With her fingertips

she tenderly closed the lids

over His dark, vacant eyes

and smoothed

the disheveled, matted hair

…then she kissed Him

O my beautiful Son…

Tears flowed

down her face onto His cheeks

mingling with dried blood

With the edge of her garment

she wiped some blood away

John came

and rested his hand

upon her trembling shoulder

He was now her son

She was now his mother

Mysteries

too deep to comprehend

swirled in her mind

like the flap and flutter

of wings and overshadowing

Son of the Most High

and David’s throne

like pregnant Elizabeth’s joy

when the baby leapt in her womb

and the Baptizer himself, when grown

proclaiming his younger cousin

“The Lamb of God, Who

takes away the sin of the world”

and Simeon’s prophesy

that Jesus would be

a Light of revelation

to the Gentiles and the glory

of the people of Israel

Where is the Light?

Where is the glory?

Where is the throne?

Overwhelmed by sorrow

so intense it stabbed her

deep, deep in her inner parts

Mary cried out in anguish

and rent her robe

Was this what old Simeon meant

long ago in the Temple

when he held Jesus in his arms

and said a sword would pierce

my very soul?

O my Son, my beautiful Son…

I cannot fathom the ways of God, but

I do know this cannot be the end

Maude Carolan Pych

Thank God ~ that was not the end!

Wishing a blessed Resurrection Day to all!

How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted on March 16, 2012March 17, 2018 by Susan Panzica

What did you first think when you read the title of today’s post?
– Leprechauns? Shamrocks? Pot of gold?
– Drunken revelry? Celebrations out of control?
– Green bagels? Green beer? Green painted people?

After working in NYC for years, I’ve seen it all. I find it most curious the way that people “honor” St. Patrick on March 17th. I once witnessed a near-fatal showdown between mounted police and carousing, green-faced partygoers who spilled out of a bar and blocked 33rd St. and nearly became a casualty myself!

Since St. Patricks Day in Ireland is a religious holiday, I wondered how these American traditions developed. MSN.com provided a few answers:

Leprechauns
-In Irish folklore, leprechauns were cranky tricksters who you wouldn’t want to mess with. The cheerful, friendly ‘lil fairy most Americans associate with St. Paddy’s Day stems from a 1959 Walt Disney film called Darby O’Gill & the Little People. The Americanized, good-natured leprechaun soon became a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland in general.

Shamrocks
– You may have worn a shamrock tattoo or donned a clover-covered necklace on some St. Patrick’s Day past. According to Irish legend, St. Patrick used a three-leaved clover, or shamrock, to illustrate the idea of the Holy Trinity, versus the good luck associated with the four-leaved variety, a mistake many Americans make.

Green Milk Shake
– Introduced in 1970, and discontinued in 1990, the deliciously minty McDonald’s Shamrock Shake returned to select stores in 2008. Only available for the month of March, the shake has received rave reviews by milkshake connoisseurs, who have entire websites dedicated to finding all of the shake-selling McDonald’s outposts.

Chicago’s Green River
– Chicago has dyed its river green for St. Patrick’s Day every year since 1962, when city workers realized that the dye they used to trace illegal dumping would provide a fun way to celebrate the holiday. They released 100 pounds of dye into the river, which kept it green for an entire week. Chicago now uses just enough dye to last one day in order to be kinder to Mother Earth.

Parades
– The First St. Paddy’s Parade didn’t take place in Ireland but in the U.S. in 1762, when Irish soldiers serving in the British military marched through the New York City streets playing music. In America today, New York, Boston and Chicago boast the biggest St. Paddy’s Day parades, with New York being the longest-running civilian parade in the world. (Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is a wee 75 years old.)

Drinking … a Lot
– While Americans associate St. Paddy’s with binge drinking, the Irish consider it a religious holiday. Until the 1970s, a law required all Irish pubs to close every March 17th. Drinking on St. Paddy’s really only became popular in Ireland post-1995, with the start of a national campaign to attract tourists for the holiday. It worked — over a million people now attend Dublin’s five-day festival.

Corned Beef
– Those who celebrate old-school by eating a meal of corned beef and cabbage are only really getting it partly right: The dish was originally eaten with bacon, not corned beef. Irish immigrants in America couldn’t afford the traditional bacon, so they substituted it with corned beef, a cheaper option they picked up from their Jewish neighbors. (Too bad they didn’t grab some bagels while they were at it!)

The prayer of St. Patrick adds the right perspective to this celebratory day. After reading the words and sensing the heart of this godly man, it grieves me to see the misunderstanding that the celebration of his life has become.

I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear for me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

Christ be with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise.

Christ in the heart of everyone thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me.

Christ in every eye that sees me.

Christ in every ear that hears me.

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

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Do You See What I See?

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Susan Panzica

It’s funny how two people can look at the same image and see two different things. But once it’s pointed out to you, you can see both!

Today, I’m having a little fun with the popular Christmas carol: Do You See What I See? Once again, I’m over at Laced With Grace. Please click here to read one of my favorite posts from 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/7fw4uea

Shhhh! It’s coming!

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Susan Panzica

Shhhh! It’s coming…..

But we have to shhhh or we’ll miss it.

The “coming.”

Advent.

Looking ahead over the next four weeks, the so-called Advent season, what do you see coming? It’s so easy to get swept up in the “what” – the seemingly endless tornado of cooking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, partying – that we miss the “Who”.

To continue reading, click here . Join me over at Laced With Grace today:
http://lacedwithgrace.com/?p=8673