Susan Panzica, Author at Susan Panzica

End Injustice For All

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Susan Panzica

If you think that slavery in the U.S. ended in 1865, think again.

Human trafficking, a.k.a. modern day slavery, is the fastest growing criminal enterprise. The illegal buying and selling of human beings is second only to drug trafficking, equal in scope to arms trafficking. “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, and/or coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.” (NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking)

It is common to think – if we even do stop to think about it – that this is a problem that occurs elsewhere: Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America. And that would be true. But we often don’t realize that this problem occurs all across the United States as well: in small towns and big cities, along highways in truck stops, and around big sporting events.

THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING:

To read the rest of my article, click over to Circles of Faith.

To read more about our social media campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking, click over to our #HTchallenge website.

Susan

One Word for 2014

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Susan Panzica

Last year, my friend Elise wrote a post that challenged me to come up with one word for 2013. I wrote about it here.

Now I’m thinking about a word for 2014. But before I do, here’s a look back at how this “one word concept” impacted me in 2013.

My word was NOW.

I wanted to SAVOR the NOW – not miss the present because I was worried about the future.
~ and ~
I wanted to DO it NOW – stop procrastinating, take action, and avoid distraction.

This vase above was a gift from my daughter. I kept it on my desk, its image on my phone home screen, and thought about “NOW” a lot!

In my contemplation, my mind initially went to all the things I procrastinated about and I felt like a failure. Yup. Thankfully, that’s not the end of my story.

I thought some more about decisions that I did act upon – in the NOW. Yes, I may have put off some things, but not all things. And some of these decisions fulfilled lifelong aspirations.

One of them set me on a new trajectory in life.

In June, I saw a friend’s post on Facebook about human trafficking. Unknown to anyone, my interest in HT was growing. I harbored a desire to get involved in some way to rid the world of slavery, but had no idea how. I began collecting information, supporting friends who were serving with IJM in India, reading fiction and nonfiction on this issue.

When Tanya posted a story from her blog on facebook, I commented adding “I’m interested in this….” Another (totally unrelated) friend commented too, adding “If you do something, let me know.” This comment sparked the question in me – “Am I going to do something? Or is this another time where I say I want to do something, but don’t actually do anything?”

NOW – my word for 2013.

So in that moment, I did something. I reached out to Tanya, and God took over.

From our meeting across her kitchen table a few months ago, we have grown into Justice Network, an group dedicated to raising awareness of human trafficking and supporting organizations on the front lines of the issue, both local and global.

I’ve learned more in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Our little group is growing in unimaginable ways (Eph. 3:20-21). There’s LOT more I’ll be sharing with you about this in January. Look for it!!!

The purpose of today’s post is to share my word for 2014 and to hopefully inspire you to consider adopting a word for your 2014.

For the past 2 weeks, I pondered what my word would be for the new year.

And today it hit me. Just flew into my brain matter, struck a chord in my heart, and lodged there.

“FAITHFULNESS”

I want to not only be a woman of faith, who fully loves God, though that would be enough.

I want to be faithful in the commitments I make, those He calls me to. I want my “yes” to mean “yes.” I want to act faithfully, to learn more about this fruit of the Spirit, and to be transformed into the embodiment of faithfulness.

My favorite definition of faithfulness came from Wikipedia of all places!

Faithfulness is the concept of unfailingly remaining loyal to someone or something and putting that loyalty into consistent practice, regardless of extenuating circumstances. It may be applied to a husband or wife does not engage in sexual relationships outside of the marriage, a customer at a restaurant who regularly dines there, or even to God himself with regard to His perpetual love towards His children that is not dependent on their worthiness. Literally, it is the state of being full of faith in the somewhat archaic sense of steady devotion to a person, thing or concept. (emphasis mine)

Is faithfulness “somewhat archaic” as Wikipedia implies?

I hope not. What do you think???

For more information and inspiration about One Word for One Year, click on over to Circles of Faith where Elise shares her word for 2014 as well as a list of resources to guide you.

What’s YOUR word for 2014? Please let me know!

.

Will you HOPE or cope??

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Susan Panzica

When my friend Ann lost her firefighter husband on 9/11, she received stacks of mail from NYC advising her on ways to cope. Ann searched the Scriptures to see what said said about coping, and…

To see what she discovered, click over to Laced With Grace for the rest of the post.

Black Friday

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Susan Panzica

We keep hearing the term “Black Friday” screaming from the TV and newspapers. The day after Thanksgiving begins the unofficial “holiday shopping season,” the time of year when retailers move from operating “in the red” (at a loss) to operating “in the black” (making a profit). Stores offer crazy low prices to lure customers in, hoping that they will in turn spend a lot of money for gifts. The debt accumulated all year is finally paid.

I can’t help but think of another “Black Friday”, a day when the greatest price was paid for the greatest gift ever given. 2000 years ago, an innocent man gave His life so that others might live. Jesus, God the Son, left His heavenly home, to be born into an ordinary family and live an ordinary life in an ordinary town, until He began His extra-ordinary ministry on earth. For 3 years, He healed the hurting, taught those who would listen, and preached the truth to all. The conclusion of His time on earth was paying the price for the sins of the entire world, past, present and future, and providing the gift of eternal life to any who receive it. In a word, He paid the debt that we owe, a debt we were powerless to pay.

Now that Thanksgiving Day is over, let’s continue to live with thanksgiving in our hearts.

Thank You Lord for paying the debt we owe. Thank You for rising from the dead in victory, giving us the opportunity to live in victory. May we keep You as our focus in the days and weeks to come, and be ever ready to share the real reason for the season.

Six Ways to Vanquish the Unappreciation Woes

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Susan Panzica

Ever feel unappreciated? This is the month that focuses on giving thanks, but what about when thanks are due to you ~ and it isn’t happening? Rather than churn inside, grit your teeth, or explode, try these tips.

Join me over at Circles Of Faith and let’s talk about it.

Occupy YOUR Street

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Susan Panzica

The salesclerk asked a simple question – one I answered easily every year. But this year, I hesitated.

“Would you like to add on ‘Thanks for Sharing’?” Smile. Slight head tilt. Credit card please?

Every year at this time – for a $25 enrollment fee that goes to charity – Macy’s offers their customers an opportunity to earn 10% back on their purchases through the end of the year. Since I usually spend at least $250 at Macy’s during this time, it always made financial sense to enroll.

But because of my growing awareness of human trafficking, slave labor, injustice in the world, and poverty, my spending patterns have changed. I no longer spend as much money in Macys, but shop for gifts in catalogs by World Vision, IJM, Fair Trade vendors, etc.

And so I stood there mute, not moving a muscle while my brain raced away.

As the clock ticked and the awkward silence grew, I knew I had to say something. So I said the truth – that this year the question is not as easy to answer as previous years because things have changed.

I chose to explain to the salesclerk WHY I was hesitating. I told her about Advent Conspiracy, Justice Network, Charity:Water, and how God is directing me to make my spending be intentional in both fighting poverty and injustice and building relationships with family and friends.

She stood there dumbfounded at first, but then she shared with me that her mother watches the 700 Club and often asks for prayer. “Is that similar?” she asked. And then I was able to enter into a deep conversation with her. I gave her my business card inviting her to read my blog. She asked about my church, and I was able to tell her not only about church but more importantly about God and what Christmas is really about for me and my family, and could be for her too.

I am, by nature, an introvert. My natural inclination is just to say “No thank you” or “Sure sign me up” and leave it at that. But that night, God impressed upon me to speak up, and He gave me the words to share. (Col. 4:6)

When I came home and told my daughter Lauren about the conversation, she said, “Way to go, Mom. That’s what Pastor Carl would call – ‘occupying your street’.” Her pastor, Carl Lenz of Hillsong NYC, used the Occupy Wall Street movement as an illustration to apply the phrase to our Christian lives. He exhorted us to make an impact for Christ in the immediate world around us – our street, our workplace, our family, our friends, our church, even our local Macy*s cosmetics counter.

Lauren’s favorite quote among the many she recorded from his message, “Shock people with the dream in your heart, and impact them with your dedication to what’s in your hand right now.”

What was in my hand that day? My credit card.

Well I’m not dedicated to my credit card, but God used it just the same. I may never see that salesclerk again, but I will look for her on my next visit to Macy’s.

And I decided to go ahead and purchase the $25 Thanks for Giving program. Whether it makes financial sense or not, the money goes to charity so it makes perfect sense.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. …

And he called his servants… and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:10,13

In what way can you occupy YOUR street in the months to come?

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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

.

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?

Cutting away the good….

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Susan Panzica

Colorado had unquenchable fires then uncontrollable floods.

In New Jersey, the reverse.

The flood from last year’s record-breaking “super storm” “perfect storm” Sandy left the Jersey shore, particularly the Seaside areas, reeling.

Then this week, a destructive fire on the Seaside boardwalk, newly restored after the devastating flood, caused the loss of 68 businesses and close to $2 million in damage.

I’m no expert in firefighting, but news reports of both the Colorado and New Jersey fires reported a similar strategy. In Colorado, intentional boundary fires were set to control the path of the blaze and limit the destruction.

In New Jersey, a section of the boardwalk was cut out creating a gap to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading:

In normal circumstances, setting a fire or cutting the boardwalk would be criminal. But in these situations, the experts knew it was necessary to destroy something good in order to prevent further widespread destruction.

Jesus had something to say about cutting away something good for the better.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2

Did you catch that? Every branch that DOES bear fruit, He prunes. Why? So that it can be even more fruitful.

Hanging in my office, I have what once was a lovely lush philodendren that is now stringy and sparse. My neglect allowed it to grow longer and longer. Had I trimmed it, it’d be much fuller. So recently I lopped off some perfectly good branches to stimulate new growth.

In my garden, I have to cut away seemingly perfectly good branches because they become “suckers.” If left to grow, they will draw precious fruit or flower-bearing energy away from the rest of the plant.

Now if the boardwalk planks could talk, I’m sure they’d be screaming when the firefighters took their axes to them. The Colorado boundary trees might argue that the fire is over there, don’t torch us! Or my plants would weep when I approached with my scissors.

In life, sometimes we have to choose to eliminate some seemingly perfect activities or opportunities. And sometimes, God the Gardner removes them for us. Why? Because He loves us. Because He doesn’t neglect us. Because He knows what’s best for us.

When such situations occur, we must remember that despite the pain of loss, it’s for our own protection or fruitfulness. We can trust the Master Gardener to prune at the right time, using the right tools, removing the right branches, for the right purpose.

Have you been pruned? How can I pray for you, beloved?

Pray for His Presence

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Susan Panzica

I once heard a pastor on the radio encourage his congregation to pray – not for God’s power or for God to do something, but just to pray for His presence.

Those words changed me, changed my prayer perspective. I know that God says to ask, knock, and seek, but what is it that we are asking, knocking, and seeking for? If we ask and seek for His presence, all other matters will fall into proper perspective. We’ll have His peace, even if in a storm. We’ll have His wisdom, even if in a time of indecision. His presence will put to rest our questions, doubts, fears. It will dissipate our anger, resentment, frustration.

Before we make our confessions (examining ourselves) or our supplications (requests for others or ourselves), let’s pursue His presence. Then our prayers will align with His will, and we’ll be asking, knocking, and seeking after what He desires for us.

Before we make our plans, let’s seek His presence that we will only do as He directs.

Before we set our feet to the floor in the morning, may we breathe in His presence that we will walk in agreement with Him like synchronized swimmers. Like a dancer following His lead, every movement choreographed according to His design. May our voices speak in perfect harmony with His. Like Moses, may we not move if His Presence does not go with us:

“The LORD replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.'” Ex. 33:14-15

Thank you Lord, for sharing Your presence with us. May we relish it afresh every day, every moment.

Over at Circles of Faith today, you’ll find posts on prayer by all the contributing writers. And on facebook, Circles of Faith has a new page devoted to prayer where you can share your requests.

Click here for the Circles of Faith facebook Prayer group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1417475981805472/

Starting today, Circles of Faith will be hosting a Facebook Prayer community; a place where we can join together to share our prayer needs and testimonies of God’s provision. It is a forum for us to gather on-line and share what we are believing God for.