Category: prayer

Will the real miracle please stand up!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
I’m sharing this re-run first because it refers to She Speaks, the conference in Charlotte, NC that I’m returning to next week. Last time, I was on the speaker track, this time I’m pursuing the writer’s track.
Friday, January 16, 2009

Miracle on the Hudson

I’m sure you heard about the “splash crash” of US Airways flight 1549 to Charlotte, NC yesterday. Taking off, a flock of geese were caught in the engines, and the plane went down in the Hudson River. Thankfully, the pilot’s skillful maneuvering averted greater disaster, and the quick response by ferry and boat operators helped to rescue the passengers. The newscasts cited people testifying that, during this ordeal, many prayers were uttered throughout the cabin. Some, maybe many, of these prayers were spoken by people by who have never prayed before, but this desperate situation brought them to their knees. An old saying goes, “Nothing improves your prayer life like big trouble!” And, unfortunately, that is true. We often amble through life without any communication with the One who gave us life. That is – until trouble hits.
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The real miracle here, I think, is not so much that people were spared death. The miracle is prayer itself. That the Creator of the entire universe would deem to hear our feeble cries for help is amazing. That He who set stars and planets into orbits is concerned with our baby’s fever, our financial woes, our relationship problems, even our parking spaces! (Don’t even tell me you’ve never prayed for a parking spot!) He is intimately aquainted with all our ways, and He greatly desires to spend time with us as a mother loves to spend time with her child. What if we never heard from our child unless he or she was in trouble? Wouldn’t that be so sad? We love to celebrate their joys, their sorrows and their everyday experiences. And so does our heavenly Father. It’s not that He doesn’t know about what’s happening. It’s about relationship! He wants to hear about it from us, and prayer will build that relationship on our part. It will help us to know Him better the more we speak with Him.
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Miracle in Charlotte
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When I heard that the plane was destined for Charlotte, I felt the impact profoundly. Charlotte holds a very special place in my heart, having visited there last June for what has become a turning point of my life. I plan to share more on this in the future, but God’s miracles were present at the She Speaks conference in Charlotte. The fact that I was even there was a miracle in itself. It was a conference for speakers and writers and women in Christian ministry. I have kept secret a desire to write a book for about 8 years when I found myself at this con ference. At the end of the first day, I cried myself to sleep, “There is NO way that I am up to this task.” My thoughts as I drifted off to sleep were that I would pay attention to the sessions the next day and glean what I could from the various speakers, but forget about my book dream. When I woke up the following morning, a single thought pushed through the haze. “Do not bury your talent. ” I had one talent, and I did NOT want to be compared to the wicked and lazy servant who buried his one talent rather than invest it. I didn’t give this much more thought, but my spirit felt lighter as I made my way to the sessions that day. The first speaker shared an uplifting devotion, and then I proceeded to a session I had previously selected called “Pathway to Publication.” This presentation was a nuts & bolts, point by point, systematic discussion about pursuing publication. Since I had decided that I wasn’t going to pursue publication, I wondered what I was doing there. Near the end of the session, the speaker said, “Now, don’t forget. You have to give an account to God. Do not bury your talent.” She continued on with her factual helpful information, but sitting there, I could barely breathe. Did I hear correctly? Indeed I did. Later on, we spoke and she (again very matter-of-factly) repeated, “Yes, you have to give an account… Do not bury your talent.” This was a confirmation to me to do what I believe God has called me to do.
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I purchased a keychain in Charlotte Airport waiting for my delayed flight back to NY. It is a daily reminder to me that God works even in the smallest details of my life.
There were many other doors that opened in 2008, but I share this one today because it confirms the miracle that our all-knowing, all-powerful God cares about our concerns, no matter how tiny they seem in comparison to His vastness, and He wants us to share our burdens with Him. He desires relationship with us, and to me, that’s a miracle!!
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Miracle at your place
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Prayer ought not to be a laundry list of requests to God. It’s not even just pleasant conversation with God. I am reminded of what Corrie ten Boom shared in “The Hiding Place”. She was being taken out of her barrack at the concentration camp by Nazi guards. Her friend ran past her and whispered, “I’m storming the gates of heaven for you.” That’s what prayer is – entering a spiritual dimension where God dwells. And we’re invited!

News

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Friends,

I have some good news and some perhaps less than good news for those who have been a reader for a while.
The good news:
I have been awarded a scholarship to attend the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference the first week in August. I will have many opportunities to learn and grow as a writer, and also to meet with industry professionals who might (hopefully) be interested in my work. This is one more door that God has opened before me, and I am walking through!

The less than good news:
It was most unexpected, and although I am thrilled, I confess, I’m concerned. It comes at a somewhat inconvenient time. I am attending the She Speaks women’s conference the weekend before, and our family vacation is also at that time. The time crunch to prepare for both conferences and vacation means that something else has to give.
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So I’ve decided that for July and maybe early August, I need to pause in writing for this blog. But I still want to be sharing with you, so I will be scheduling some of my older favorite posts. Since there are some new readers out there, they’ll be new to you. And for my faithful “old” friends, please consider these as “summer re-runs”! I know sometimes, I need to hear things a second time anyway.

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I promise to update you with news from the conferences, and I covet your prayers for these meetings. It’s exciting and a little scary at the same time, a whole new chapter of my life. I thank you for walking on this journey with me.

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Most of all, I pray God’s will is done, that I will sense His will and be obedient to it, that I will be able to fulfill His calling, and He be glorified in and through me.

And I pray that for you, my friend, as well.
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As it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor. 2:9
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph. 3:20-22
Susan

MySpace (part 2) MY TREASURES

Posted on by Susan Panzica

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned the “treasures” I have displayed in MySpace. And I’d like to share a few with you.
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Two are items that we had given to our beloved Aunt Anna when she was going in and out of the hospital and rehab during her last year before she went home to glory. One is a cross that bears the verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13. When I am certain that I cannot write another word, I am reminded that it is not I who is doing the writing. The other is a “promise box” containing Scripture verses to daily remind me of His faithful promises to His children.
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Around my desk, I have my books on one side and family photos on the other side, and the sweet journal that my daughter gave me in between.
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But the most prominent item is the rock collection atop my desk. Why rocks??
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My husband and I have a tradition that when God performs a mighty act in our lives, we save a rock from the event. When we started this, we didn’t even realize that this was a biblical tradition! Back in Old Testament days, the patriarchs and prophets lived nomadic lives. There were long periods of time in which they did not hear from God. So when they did hear from Him, they often built a pile of rocks, called an altar, as a tangible reminder of His work in their lives before they moved on to their next location.
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So what are some stories my rocks tell?
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-Our home/office was threatened to be taken from us by the state to build a new road. We were firmly told that there was absolutely nothing that could be done to change this action, so we prayed and asked many others to pray as well. Several months later, miraculously the decision was reversed with no reason given!
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-My husband was apprehensive about surgery that he was having in Canada. We made a family trip out of it, and throughout the entire journey, God repeatedly went before us in the most amazing ways.
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-We have a rock with 3 stripes, symbolizing the scars that I have from my knee surgeries and my daughter’s stitches on her knee, representing the stripes by which we are healed.
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-On my daughter’s first mission trip, she was unfairly given a disciplinary action. Called a “special blessing”, she was required to do some manual labor. As she was working, she had a spiritual awareness of how Jesus was unfairly treated, and during this time, she found a heart shaped rock.
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-There is a fish-shaped rock from Charlotte, NC, site of my first writer’s conference where God clearly spoke to me about my future in Him.
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-One of our rocks is not a rock at all. It is a piece of gas pipe. My husband discovered that in our boiler room was a gas pipe that the plumber had not connected. It was a complete miracle that it hadn’t moved, or spewed gas into a room with a constant flame, or blew the house up. My husband says that there was an angel with hands raised holding this pipe together for 2 years!
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-2 decorative rocks were gifts to me, each bearing a Scripture verse:
“The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and My Deliverer.” Ps. 18:2
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13
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-1 small rock (a gift from my son) imprinted with – “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Jesus Christ
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Epilogue:
When we got our dog 5 years ago, we were brainstorming to find a name for her. My daughter suggested “Roxie.” My first thought was of the character Roxie Hart from the movie “Chicago” that had been released shortly before:
“Name my dog after a murdering adulteress?? I don’t think so!”
But then Lauren explained her reasoning:
She said she was thinking of things about her family that are unique, and she remembered our rock collection.
“Name my dog after the great works of God? Oh, yeah, that works!”
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Susan

Answered Prayer

Posted on by Susan Panzica

There’s an email circling around about a medical missionary in Africa who was traveling in a dangerous area carrying medical supplies and money. Alone, he had camped overnight and arrived safely to his destination, but later he was told that some men from the city had planned to kill him for the drugs and money. When they arrived at his campsight, they fled because they saw 26 guards surrounding him.

While on furlough in Michigan, the missionary related this story to a group of men. One of the men asked him when this event happened. It was discovered that at the very moment the missionary was in danger, some of the men had felt a strong urge to pray for the missionary, and there were exactly 26 men who had prayed!

Stories like that amaze us, but also can seem like they only happen to others. But God is faithful whether we think the matters are of small importance or large.
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Years ago, while still a new Christian, I was having severe problems with insomnia. I couldn’t fall asleep, and then I couldn’t stay asleep. And during the brief sleep I did have, I had terrible nightmares. It began to affect my health. One day, my friend Nancy asked me how have I been sleeping. She had been praying for me. When she asked me the question, I realized that for the past few nights, my sleep had been wonderfully restful. I had hadn’t even noticed until she asked! That experience taught me the power and significance of intercessory prayer.
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Recently, my daughter had experienced a big disappointment. She was feeling overwhelmed and depressed and couldn’t seem to move past it. One day, as she was busy walking back and forth across campus registering for classes, she noticed the weight had just mysteriously lifted. No reason why. No particular thoughts in her mind. Simply freedom from the oppression. She was so joyful as she told me all about it. And she said that she felt that she was being prayed for. When I shared this with my husband, he said that that very afternoon as he was working on the computer, he was praying for her. Tony noticed the picture that Lauren had set as background for my desktop:


This picture of Lauren and me was taken at my brother’s wedding when she was their 5 year old flower girl. My husband prayed that she would have the weight lifted off her shoulders – and her heart – and that she would be as free as she was in those days of innocence.

This may not be life and death stuff, but it has been a powerful testimony in our family that God does hear and answer prayer. Nothing is too small for Him to be concerned about nor too big for Him to handle.

“but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” Ps.66:19-20

Susan

“Cuts” by Guest Blogger Lauren

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Today, we have a special guest blogger.
Many thanks to my daughter, Lauren,
beautiful on the inside and outside.

Last week, I danced in our Good Friday service. I love dancing and I use this gift God has given me in order to serve him and to worship him. However, this time I got hurt during the dance. I didn’t pull a muscle or twist my ankle. It was a small little floor burn on the top of my foot. I’m a dance major at college so I’m used to getting them but for some reason this one hurt really bad. It made me think… How could a tiny little cut hurt so badly when the rest of my body was perfectly healthy? Everything else in my whole body was fine but this cut was driving me nuts. I couldn’t touch it, wanted to fix it, it stings and couldn’t take my mind off it.

Isn’t it interesting how this tiny little cut is exactly like disappointments, heartbreak and problems in our life that seem like they shouldn’t matter, but they matter the most to us? In comparison to natural disasters, being diagnosed with cancer, losing a job, or losing someone you love, the “small” things in our personal life that we deal with don’t seem to match up. A floor burn doesn’t match up to a pulled muscle or twisted ankle, but it still hurts. Sometimes I feel guilty dwelling and praying fervently on matters in my personal life because I know there are people going through much harder issues. How could this tiny little cut in our life hurt so badly when the rest of our life is looking good?

Guess what, the heartache I’m facing right now is exactly like my cut. I can’t touch it, want to fix it, it stings and can’t take my mind off it. Cuts don’t go away quickly, and if we don’t take care of it, it can get infected and then our little cut turns into a big problem. So how can we prevent more damage from the cuts in our life? The Bible and prayer can be used like Neosporin. It removes bacteria like it removes our fears, and quickens the healing process. Christian family and friends can be used like a band-aid. They can’t remove the pain but they can cover it and prevent more irritation. Although these things can help, the pain doesn’t go away quickly, it still takes time.

The little cuts do matter.
Lauren
P.S.- here is a clip from the “Lead Me to the Cross” dance:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=1058572228163&ref=mf

Check me out!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Well, thanks to my husband, I’m on the world wide web!
You can see my website at:
It’s still a little rough, but you have to start somewhere!
Other news:
This weekend I will be the speaker at the PVCA’s annual Ladies Retreat.
I appreciate your prayers regarding this event.
That God alone would be glorified.
That women’s hearts would draw closer to Him.
That as we learn more about who we are in Christ,
the more empowered we will be to serve Him as He leads.
Thanks so much!
Next week, I’ll let you know how it went.
Susan

i am … Excited!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
As many of you know, I have been writing a book that is tentatively titled,
“i know You are . . . but what am i?”
It’s about what I call the “little i am’s”. God is the “Great I Am”, so we are the “little i am’s”. Each chapter will explore the concept of who God says we are – for example, i am . . . an ambassador, an athlete, a soldier, the bride, salt, light, and so on.
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After a whirlwind year last year, my progress on the book itself has been SLOW. I put it aside for a while to learn more about how to write and about the publishing industry. But now, I’m back! I had some outside influence to bring this front and center once again. My son!
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In his Bible & Worship class at school, he and his classmates are assigned the task of putting together the chapels for the entire school. As they were brainstorming a theme, he suggested the “little i am’s”. The students chose it, and I am now “consulting” with the class to present this material to the entire school. It is a thrill for me that they expressed interest in this subject, and I am taking it as a confirmation that God wants me to continue with the vision I have for this book project.
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I attended the class this morning, and they are such a great group! I offered some advice, but mostly I wanted to hear what their ideas were. A schedule was developed for which topics will be on which day, and they are lining up speakers for each presentation – 6 in all (an athlete, a soldier, etc.). My son, AJ, will be sharing the message about what it means to be clay in the hands of the Potter. (Can I say I’m more than a little proud?)
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I will be sharing the introductory message this Thursday 3/5/09 at 9:40 am, and while I am so excited, I must be honest – I covet your prayers. I so want to be relevant to the student body (and staff). And while I love teaching and sharing in small group settings, being on stage is just never a comfortable spot for me.
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And while I’m at it, can I be so bold as to also ask for prayers for the book I am writing? My sole desire is that discovering our true identity in Christ will be encouraging and empowering to the reader. Please pray that I will be focused on the task and that my writing skills improve to present a worthy product. I also am exploring publication in magazine articles. Thanks so much in advance!!
Isaiah 62:2 “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”

Isaiah 43:1, “But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”

Susan

Will the real miracle please stand up!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Miracle on the Hudson
I’m sure you heard about the “splash crash” of US Airways flight 1549 to Charlotte, NC yesterday. Taking off, a flock of geese were caught in the engines, and the plane went down in the Hudson River. Thankfully, the pilot’s skillful maneuvering averted greater disaster, and the quick response by ferry and boat operators helped to rescue the passengers. The newscasts cited people testifying that, during this ordeal, many prayers were uttered throughout the cabin. Some, maybe many, of these prayers were spoken by people by who have never prayed before, but this desperate situation brought them to their knees. An old saying goes, “Nothing improves your prayer life like big trouble!” And, unfortunately, that is true. We often amble through life without any communication with the One who gave us life. That is – until trouble hits.
The real miracle here, I think, is not so much that people were spared death. The miracle is prayer itself. That the Creator of the entire universe would deem to hear our feeble cries for help is amazing. That He who set stars and planets into orbits is concerned with our baby’s fever, our financial woes, our relationship problems, even our parking spaces! (Don’t even tell me you’ve never prayed for a parking spot!) He is intimately aquainted with all our ways, and He greatly desires to spend time with us as a mother loves to spend time with her child. What if we never heard from our child unless he or she was in trouble? Wouldn’t that be so sad? We love to celebrate their joys, their sorrows and their everyday experiences. And so does our heavenly Father. It’s not that He doesn’t know about what’s happening. It’s about relationship! He wants to hear about it from us, and prayer will build that relationship on our part. It will help us to know Him better the more we speak with Him.

Miracle in Charlotte
When I heard that the plane was destined for Charlotte, I felt the impact profoundly. Charlotte holds a very special place in my heart, having visited there last June for what has become a turning point of my life. I plan to share more on this in the future, but God’s miracles were present at the She Speaks conference in Charlotte. The fact that I was even there was a miracle in itself. It was a conference for speakers and writers and women in Christian ministry. I have kept secret a desire to write a book for about 8 years when I found myself at this conference. At the end of the first day, I cried myself to sleep, “There is NO way that I am up to this task.” My thoughts as I drifted off to sleep were that I would pay attention to the sessions the next day and glean what I could from the various speakers, but forget about my book dream. When I woke up the following morning, a single thought pushed through the haze. “Do not bury your talent. “ I had one talent, and I did NOT want to be compared to the wicked and lazy servant who buried his one talent rather than invest it. I didn’t give this much more thought, but my spirit felt lighter as I made my way to the sessions that day. The first speaker shared an uplifting devotion, and then I proceeded to a session I had previously selected called “Pathway to Publication.” This presentation was a nuts & bolts, point by point, systematic discussion about pursuing publication. Since I had decided that I wasn’t going to pursue publication, I wondered what I was doing there. Near the end of the session, the speaker said, “Now, don’t forget. You have to give an account to God. Do not bury your talent.” She continued on with her factual helpful information, but sitting there, I could barely breathe. Did I hear correctly? Indeed I did. Later on, we spoke and she (again very matter-of-factly) repeated, “Yes, you have to give an account… Do not bury your talent.” This was a confirmation to me to do what I believe God has called me to do.
I purchased the keychain pictured to the right in Charlotte Airport waiting for my delayed flight back to NY. It is a daily reminder to me that God works even in the smallest details of my life.
There were many other doors that opened in 2008, but I share this one today because it confirms the miracle that our all-knowing, all-powerful God cares about our concerns, no matter how tiny they seem in comparison to His vastness, and He wants us to share our burdens with Him. He desires relationship with us, and to me, that’s a miracle!!
Miracle at your place
Prayer ought not to be a laundry list of requests to God. It’s not even just pleasant conversation with God. I am reminded of what Corrie ten Boom shared in “The Hiding Place”. She was being taken out of her barrack at the concentration camp by Nazi guards. Her friend ran past her and whispered, “I’m storming the gates of heaven for you.” That’s what prayer is – entering a spiritual dimension where God dwells. And we’re invited! My friend, Lisa, sent me an email that said: “Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says, “Oh no, she’s awake!”
Susan