Author: Susan Panzica

Make A Difference From Here

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I was on the plane home after leaving my daughter in Australia (where she’d study dance ministry for a year) when I watched the movie, Taken. A bad choice. Really bad timing. I love a thriller, but this one hit too close to home. It’s a story of two American girls traveling in Europe who are abducted and sold into human trafficking. The ex-spy dad violently came to his daughter’s rescue. But not until after the slave auction scene burned into my brain.
The picture of modern day slavery haunts me. It’s not just a movie. It’s reality. And it’s not just in some far off countries but in the US as well.
Here are 5 facts about human trafficking: 
1. There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. That’s the highest recorded number of slaves in history! An estimated 13 million children are enslaved around the world today, accounting for nearly half of trafficking victims in the world.
2. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90. According to estimates, approximately 80 percent of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19 percent involves labor exploitation.
3. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal enterprise in the world, after drug smuggling and arms dealing.
4. The average age of a young woman being trafficked is 12–14 years old.
5. The United States is one of the top three destination points for trafficked victims. California, New York, Texas and Nevada are the top destination states within the country. Immigration agents estimate that 10,000 women are being held in Los Angeles’ underground brothels; this does not include the thousands of victims in domestic work, sweatshops or other informal industries.
  
Don’t let these troubling facts and grim human trafficking statistics overwhelm you.
How you can help
Let this quote by Elie Wiesel inspire you to take action: “I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” Refuse to be neutral. Educate yourself on human trafficking issues. Spread the word. Stand for freedom. 
An organization that is making a difference is Children’s HopeChest. I got to spend some time with Laura Fisher, VP of Operations, while at the She Speaks conference two weeks ago. Children’s HopeChest was founded in 1994 to meet the needs of orphans in Russia. Children who “graduate” from Russian orphanages find themselves on the street with little or no life skills and often fall into the waiting hands of human traffickers. To help these and orphans in 9 other countries, Children’s HopeChest partners with churches, businesses, and Christian communities by meeting basic needs and providing training and discipleship. To find out more about Children’s HopeChest, visit their website, watch videos, or like them on facebook. 
There are many other worthy organizations making a difference. In the months to come, I’ll be highlighting some others and ways that we can make a difference from here.
Some people are “go-ers.” They travel to places around the world, investing their lives into the lives of others. Some people are “senders” providing a way for the “go-ers,” both financially and prayerfully. We can all be “do-ers.”
A new group, Justice Network, is growing in northern NJ. We are supporting the organizations on the front lines of this issue. Our next meeting is Aug. 20. If you want to be a “do-er,” let me know! 

I WILL!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Driving to the airport following the She Speaks conference, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to our driver, Bug. Among other things, we talked about the men’s group he leads at his church in NC.

The whole time we talked, I couldn’t help but stare at his bracelet.

/========== I WILL ==========

Bug shared that the bracelet is from his men’s group study on the book Courageous. The men are encouraged to “man up!” and take responsibility to be the godly husband and dad they’re called to be. The other side of the bracelet says I RESOLVE.

But for me the I WILL was huge.

I usually fall into the I WANT TO camp, often falling short of completing what I set out to do.

  • I want to send a note or make a call to let a friend know I’m thinking of her. 
  • I want to ‘ship’ some writing pieces but I keep “perfecting” them which is in reality just procrastination. 
  • I want to finish projects around the house but I keep finding some other “priority” to do instead. 
  • I want to be faithful in reading the Word, but sometimes my eyes just glaze over the words on the page, that is if I even take out my Bible in the first place. 

My “want to’s” are pretty well established.

But if I’m honest, I’ll call it what it is – sin. That’s what Paul called it:

The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?           Rom. 7:21-24 MSG



Thankfully, Paul doesn’t stop there. He answers that question with this:

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. Rom. 7:25-8:2 MSG

I’m painfully aware that there is an enemy who doesn’t want me to do kingdom work. Since I’m easily distracted, he’ll dangle some bright shiny thing to divert my attention whenever I start about my task. If you’re a task-oriented person, he’ll use some other tactic. 
But let’s also be aware that he is a defeated foe. We stand in victory, already bought and paid for! 
My action steps following this conference are bullet-points on the back page of my workbook. I want to do them, but will I DO them? 
      Yes. 
      Yes, /===I WILL===
When tempted with distraction, I will remember that bracelet and I WILL do what’s He’s called me to. 

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. Phil 1:6 MSG 


The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it. 1 Thess. 5:24 NIV 

What do you struggle with wanting to do, but not actually doing it? Let’s be accountability partners! Leave a comment below. Together, let’s say I WILL, and then let’s DO IT! 

What – Me Worry??

Posted on by Susan Panzica

This week, I’m heading to the speaker/writer conference She Speaks, with my book proposal in tow. I’m filled with anticipation of exciting possibilities ~ meeting women from across the country, learning from experts in their fields, and appointments with publishers to present my proposal. And despite the excitement, a measure of fear lurks beneath. And I’m not alone. I see from friends I know and those I will get to know that many are experiencing similar emotions.
Some worry about their families at home. Others about the conference itself and what they’ll say in their presentations.
Worry seems to be a universal tool of the enemy to keep our eyes focused on ourselves instead of God. But thankfully, there’s an antidote to worry.

Jesus knew the disciples would be called to speak publicly and He had this advice for them:

“…don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mk 13:11

The Holy Spirit inside us, comforting us, guiding us, dispels the worries that plague us.
If we try to fit God into our agenda, we’ll be worried and stressed. When we rest in the knowledge that the Spirit is doing the talking, we’ll experience peace. This is not to say that we shouldn’t be diligently prepared.  It is to say that we let God guide our thoughts and actions.
We have no control over many of the things that happen to us each day. Family, health, financial, weather, and job situations press upon us and weigh us down. In any given moment, we could receive bad news, have an argument, be required to do something seemingly beyond our ability.
In that moment, we have a choice.
We can wallow in the gloom of self-pity, worry, fear, or depression. Or we can ask God for His perspective. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul shares the secret to finding joy in troubling times:

Finally, brothers and 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. Phil 4:8

This process is the same whether it’s worship or worry. Worry is life-sucking meditation on the negative. Paul tells us what to meditate on: what’s true, noble, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtuous and praise-worthy things.
When a dear friend was going through a terrible time, she started a list. Using this Scripture, she decided to  list verses that stated what was true, noble, just, etc. She never got past “true.” Her truth list was comprehensive enough for her to rewire her brain to meditate on the truth of God’s unfailing love, His hope-filled plans for her, His never-ending compassion, His mercy, His trust-worthiness, His peace that passes understanding. 

What’s on your truth list? 

Somebody’s Daughter

Posted on by Susan Panzica
My heart pounded me awake. The screaming in my ears was my own. As my eyes adjusted to the 3 am darkness, it dawned on me that it was just a dream. For me, it was a dream but for others it’s a living nightmare.
In my dream, my daughter, who is studying in Australia, was abducted and sold into slavery. I remember every agonizing detail of the dream, where she was, how they grabbed her, the dread in her eyes, the terror in my heart, and  my panic that it would take me 24 hours just to travel there and by then she’d have disappeared into the abyss.

With my husband still peacefully asleep, I grabbed my phone & texted my daughter to make sure she was ok. And she was. The flood of relief that it wasn’t my daughter in the nightmare came with an immediate awareness that though not mine, it was somebody’s daughter.


 

Please click on over to my friend Tanya Dennis’ blog to continue reading the story. It’s a story that began with a dream and is growing into a new ministry.

Yesterday, Independence Day, was all about celebrating freedom. Today I’m posting is about those who are denied freedom. There are more slaves in the world today than there were during the Civil War, in fact more than at any time in history.

God started moving me to do something about it. In a week’s time, my group of two increased to nine. We are meeting on Tues, July 9, 2013 to answer the question “How can we make a difference from here?” What can we do? A lot, it turns out. If you’d like more information, please leave a comment on the post or reply via email.

http://www.thea21campaign.org/



Is it about the nail?

Posted on by Susan Panzica
I hate to generalize. Not ALL men are from Mars. Not ALL women are from Venus. But there are enough examples in life to make some truisms even if they don’t always apply to everyone.

Case in point – “they” say:

  • Men are problem-solvers. They want to fix problems. 
  • Women are talkers & emotional. They want to be heard, not fixed. 

This issue raises its ugly head in my marriage, and likely does in yours too. My husband Tony thinks he’s trying to help. I assume he’s trying to fix something in me that I don’t think is broken.

So when Tony found this brilliant, hysterical video on facebook, he shared it – on facebook, in small groups, told our patients, pretty much let his entire corner of the world know it was out there.

If you haven’t seen it, you must.

And then after  you watch it, continue reading below:

 

For over 2 years, Tony and I have been enmeshed in a current day David and Goliath fight. Our opponent looks and acts so much like Mr. Potter from It’s A Wonderful Life that I occasionally inadvertently refer to him as Mr. Potter. Our Mr. Potter is a real estate mogul who bullies people into doing his will rather than obey the town ordinances, and unfortunately our house stands in his way.

This week provided another round of worries as we tried to discern what Mr. Potter and his land-moving equipment were up to.

Throughout this ordeal, Tony has tried to solve the problem ~ as men are apt to do. He’s tried to reason what steps we should take or not take as the case may be. There are a few decisions we’ve had to make, but at this point, there’s little we can do but wonder. So this week, Tony did what he’s done before. He took a walk.

His walks in our local arboretum have been incredible transformational times where he’s grown closer to God. And this week was no exception.

When he returned, Tony shared how he had been caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts ~ what are they doing, is there something I can do about it, who should I talk to, on and on. Then he sensed the Lord saying,

“It’s not about the nail: Don’t try to fix it. Just listen to Me.”

It goes completely against his problem-solving nature. I’m so darn proud of my man for seeing this truth, for sharing it with me, and for allowing me to share it with you.

So let me close with this:

Ladies: Sometimes it really IS just about the nail. Don’t be defensive or argue with your husband because his solution to your problem may be all you really need.

Men: It isn’t always as obvious as the nail. Situations we deal with can be complex and unsolvable, at least at the moment. There may be other people or issues involved. Sometimes it’s enough to be a compassionate listener without offering advice.

And everyone: Don’t try to fix things in your own strength. And always listen to God!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways,”
declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8

Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,
and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 

But He said to me, 
“My grace is sufficient for you, 
for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9



Who do you identify with more? The fixer or the one who wants to be heard? How do you resolve differences between you and your spouse?

How Can We Know God’s Will?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

The question of the day – most every day – for those who desire to follow God. How can I know God’s will?  Choices are not always crystal clear no matter how strong our desire to follow God’s plan. The Apostle Paul provides a clue in two of the choices he made.  
In Acts 16, Paul planned to go east to Asia but “the Holy Spirit told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time.” So he and his companions “headed for the province of Bithynia” (in the north), “but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go.” Then that night, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia in Greece (due west), “pleading with him, ‘Come over here and help us.’ So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.”
Making those choices eventually landed Paul and Silas in jail where they sang worship songs and prayed, survived an earthquake, led the jailer and his family to faith in Jesus, and founded the church at Philippi and others on their second missionary journey.  
Later, on his third journey, Paul planned to go to Rome. He was arrested and appeared before the Roman rulers and would have been set free except for his appeal to go to Rome. After several years, he finally set sail, still a prisoner in chains. A storm arose so fierce that the sailors were terrified, but Paul the prisoner reassured them, “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
After the shipwreck, Paul was on the island of Malta where he was bitten by a deadly snake which he shook off into the fire. So deadly was this snake, when he didn’t die, the islanders thought he was a god.
On his second journey, Paul did an about-face twice changing the directions of his travels, but on his third journey, he was resolute to reach his destination of Rome despite storm, shipwreck, snakebite and being a prisoner.
So here’s the question – how did he know? How did Paul know to give up his plans for Asia and Bithynia, while never giving up on Rome despite serious setbacks?
What would I do?
Would I have been willing to quickly abandon my plans because a dream indicated to go another way or would I stubbornly set my jaw and press on against God’s will for what I think I want?
Would I be resolute to journey forth despite storm and hardship or would I give up under the strain thinking something so difficult couldn’t be of God?
Honestly, I can’t say.
What I can conclude is this. Paul didn’t make these decisions according to the emotions he felt on any given day.
He didn’t make a list of pros and cons reasoning out the best plan to follow.
He based his decisions on a lifelong sensitivity to God’s leading.
In prison, he worshipped and prayed. He didn’t decide to develop a prayer life when hardship hit. This godly behavior in tough times came from a life of prayer and worship in the ordinary times.
Want to know God’s will in the difficult times? Get to know His will each day, whether there are big decisions to make or not. Spending time with Him in prayer and praise will increase sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading.  There’s simply no shortcut or substitute.
  

Give thanks in all circumstances;  for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:12 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

http://pastorerickson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/apostlepaul.jpg

Do you struggle to know God’s will sometimes? How can I best pray for you beloved? .

My husband, the Snickers commercial

Posted on by Susan Panzica

It only took me 25 years to catch on.
25 years of being defensive and overly sensitive. Taking things personally that really weren’t personal.
You see, my husband and I work together. He’s a chiropractor and I manage the office. Ok, I hear it all the time “Wow – I could never work with my husband.” To which I nod, sweetly smile, and say “I could never work with your husband either.” 
But that aside, we have had our challenging moments. Often around 12:50 pm. We break for lunch at 1:00 and, if there’s no patient in the office, around 12:50 he starts hovering. “What are you doing?” “Are you done with that yet?” “How long will you be on the phone?” “I’m hungry, let’s go before I get a headache.” And so on…..
My response usually begins with a rumbling volcano deep in my gut that periodically erupts. Not every day, but far too often. I take his questioning personally like he’s criticizing my job performance, or my wifely abilities, or my character. Sometimes it’s due to his tone of voice. Other times it’s because I’m wound up tight in defensive mode ready to uncoil and pounce as soon as he opens his mouth. And frankly, if I don’t say something in response, I’m thinking it. 
Except for that day last month. 
In he came, and with my fingers on the keyboard and my face to the monitor, my gut started tightening. The questions started, but for some reason known only to God, my reply was remarkably different. The volcano ebbed as I slowly turned in my chair to face him,
     “You’re a Snickers commercial hon. You’re just not you when you’re hungry.”
With the realization that the guy is hungry not angry at me, the pressure cooker valve released as the tension subsided and it was laughter that erupted. 
And now we have a new tagline whenever stresses arise. 
..
Snickers Commercial with Joe Pesci and Don Rickles

“And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. ... Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph. 4:26-27, 31-32

How about you? Do you find yourself at the ready to defend even if you’re not under attack? How many arguments could be avoided if we sought to extend grace rather than dig our heels in? 

Thanks Tony for letting me share our story! 

Joy is a choice

Posted on 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.

When must we NOT show mercy?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

When must we NOT show mercy?
This is the first, but surely not the last, you will read about my gardening experiences. I find so many illustrations about the Christian life when I am tending my garden. Maybe that’s why it all began in a garden.
The truth is: I have a love/hate relationship with my garden. Oh, how I love the blooms, the fragrance, the sheer beauty that shows its face each spring. Oh, how I hate the seemingly endless care that it requires. And to be honest, I’m not the most gifted gardener. But, I try.


Today, I was attacking an overgrown hydrangea with the pruning shears. Perhaps “attacking” is too strong a word, but I think the hydrangea would disagree. From the plant’s point of view, I seemed just vicious, showing no mercy. But in fact, I was saving its life. There were shoots of dead wood, and if left intact, they would have a negative impact on the rest of the plant, as well as the other plants in the garden, especially the peony next door.
At times, I feared I was too aggressive, but I’ve had this hydrangea a long time. We’ve been through this before, and from past experience, I know that this seemingly harsh treatment is very beneficial. My hydrangea rewards me every summer with a bounty of blooms because with the life-sucking shoots gone, its energy can be directed toward new life.
As Christians, we are instructed to show mercy. Jesus says “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matt. 5:7). Mercy is the very hallmark of the Christian. But there are times when what appears to be mercy isn’t. 

When a friend or loved one is engaged in dangerous behavior, they need boundaries and consequences, not an enabler. When sin is crouching at our door, it needs a swift kick right out that door. When envy or bitterness or resentment start slithering under our skin, we need to uproot and destroy it. Just a few verses after Jesus teaches about mercy, He says, 

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matt. 5:39) 

Ouch, well, that doesn’t seem too merciful to the eye, does it? No, but sin is like gangrene. It may start small, but unless it is amputated and removed, it will spread causing death and destruction.
So the truly merciful thing to do is nip it in the bud, just like my hydrangea. 

Oklahoma Hope

Posted on by Susan Panzica

“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
This verse above was how I ended my last post – a post about rubbish being restored. Who knew? Who knew what devastation was to occur within 36 hours of that post? Only God. 
It’s hard, no it’s impossible, for me to hold it together seeing the images and hearing the stories from Oklahoma. The children. The destruction. The seemingly randomness of it all. Why were some spared while others were obliterated? 

To read the rest, please click over to Circles of Faith where I am a contributing writer.