Author: Susan Panzica

You’re Invited!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
If you’re in the north Jersey area, please join me on Sunday morning 3/24/13 as I share the Word at High Mountain Church, in North Haledon.

Shhhh! Don’t tell your man the topic. I’m presenting a fresh new look at what it means to be the Bride. Hint: It has nothing to do with lace, giggles or hormones! I’ll just say this: it may not be pretty, but it is powerful, and it’s something both men and women need to know. Paul calls the relationship “A Profound Mystery.” We’ll unravel some clues of this mystery to walk  deeper and closer in the most important relationship we’ll ever have for all eternity.

Where:

     High Mountain Church
     681 High Mountain Rd.
     North Haledon, NJ

Time:
     10:30 am

Hope to see you! Be sure to say “hi!”

photo credit: www.sarahhalstead.com

Break My Heart

Posted on by Susan Panzica
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70232215/break-my-heart-with-what-breaks-yours


60 years ago a man named Bob Pierce prayed these words in a prayer: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” Dr. Bob Pierce founded World Vision after traveling to China in 1947 when his heart was broken with the needs of one little girl.
Yet I think there are other things, personal things, that break the heart of God. As I continued to mediate about this lyric, God whispered: You can love people around the world, but can you love the person sitting next to you?

Ouch!

What breaks God’s heart? Not just the children dying in poverty. It breaks God’s heart when my attitudes and actions represent the enemy more than they represent Him. I believe God is not as grieved by sinners who act like sinners as He is by Christians who act like sinners.

Please join me over at Laced With Grace today for more on what breaks God’s heart ~ and how not to! 

Refining Fire

Posted on by Susan Panzica

When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2

It’s a sad promise that we WILL go through the overwhelming waters and the burning fire. The verse above doesn’t say “if,” it says “when.” Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you WILL have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33  

Fortunately, when we pass through the waters and the fire, the Lord promises to be with us and we will not be swept away or burned or in any way destroyed by the trials we experience.

But it’s more than that….

For the rest of the post and a story about a little “bling”, click here to visit me at Laced With Grace. 



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One Word for 2013

Posted on by Susan Panzica

My friend, Elise, recently shared a post about her “one word” for 2012. I discovered I may be a little late joining the “One Word” bandwagon, but I think it’s a great idea, one that I think I can actually commit to long term.
Rather than making a list of resolutions with little hope of lasting, I look forward to having one word as a theme to carry me through the year in all aspects of life.
And for 2013, I’m stealing Elise’s word because I believe it’s a perfect one for me this coming year. Her word – and now mine – is NOW.

Lauren’s Christmas gift to me – my word for 2013!

I chose this word because:
I want to SAVOR the NOW
I don’t want to miss the present because I’m worrying about the future or reliving the past. I want to relish the time spent with friends and family, at work and play, at rest or in activity.
I want to DO it NOW
I admit it. I procrastinate. I often have great intentions that never materialize into anything worthwhile because I put off the initial step. Like making that phone call or sending a card. Like choosing to write rather than lose myself in reading or research. Like starting a project rather than imagining it finished. I want to take the action rather than the distraction. 

For more info on the “One Word” approach, check out these worthwhile links:

Jon Gordon’s post “One Word that Will Change Your Life”:
Melissa Fedderson on her word for 2013:
Melanie at Only A Breath is sharing her gift of making free blog graphic/buttons:
Debbie at Heart Choices shared her word for this year and the past 2 years:
And the ONE WORD 365 community:
Valuable tips on choosing your one word:

Will you leave a comment with YOUR word for 2013?
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How can this be?

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Has a phone call or conversation ever delivered incomprehensible news and you wondered, “How can this be?” You’re not alone…

Both the elderly priest Zechariah and the young virgin Mary wondered this, asking the same question of the messenger angel Gabriel. But Gabriel responded very differently to each of them. 

Click here to read more… 
Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Jesus

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If It’s Possible….

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Illustrated Wall Art by Mandipidy
http://www.etsy.com/listing/105657216/live-peaceably-with-all-romans-1218

If I’m honest, I have to admit it. It’s not easy to always live at peace with everyone. People can be foolish, angry, bossy, hostile, offensive, stuck-up, needy. Some people push our buttons. Sometimes it’s deliberate. Other times it’s unintentional.

The to-do list of behavioral mandates the Apostle Paul gives us in Romans 12 seems daunting:

     v. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
     v. 14 Bless those who persecute you
     v. 19 Do not take revenge
     v. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

But tucked within these verses is a beautiful sentence that qualifies the rest. Click here for my post about Romans 12:18 and the possibilities for peace-filled relationships it brings.
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Black Friday

Posted on by Susan Panzica

The term “Black Friday” screams from the TV, newspapers, radio and online. 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 “in the black” (at a profit). Stores are now opening at midnight, even 10 pm the night before, offering crazy low prices to lure customers in hoping they’ll spend lots of money. 

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. 

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

photo~ -Richard K-LOVE Radio


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. 

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