Author: Susan Panzica

Twitter Faith

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Last year, I got to observe first hand birds building a nest. From building the nest, to nuturing the babes, to the miracle of flight, I witnessed it all, right through my window on the world – my front door.
This year, the birds have decided to set up camp someplace else. Not that I’ve seen them. Nope, haven’t seen a thing. Wouldn’t even know they’re around. Except for one thing. I hear them. The tweeting, the cooing, the fluttering. Only this time, it’s behind a wall inside a chimney.

How do I know what they’re doing if I can’t see them?

Based on prior experience, I know. I don’t need to see them to know what they’re doing this year because of my experience last year. I have faith that what I’m hearing is what I’ve seen before.


God defines faith as substance of things hoped for, things NOT seen. But faith is not blind. It’s based upon evidence.

  • We have previous, personal experiences where God revealed Himself to us. He gave us hope in dire times, peace in troublesome times, love in lonely times.

  • We have the eye witness testimony of our friends, loved ones, fellow believers who have encountered His presence, provision, protection. 

  • Even with no prior experience, we can have faith based on the accounts of the saints (Hebrews 11) and others, and Jesus Himself speaks to us, encouraging us to “Remember the words I spoke to you…” John 15:20

The word “remember” appears 233 times in the Bible. Even though there are things that God forgets (thankfully!), we are instructed to remember the times that He was faithful to us and base our faith on His faithfulness. Repeatedly, we’re told He will never leave us or forsake us.

When we can’t see through the fog, we can believe the road is still there.
When we can’t see past the stones bombarding us, we can rely on the One who is the solid Rock.
When we can’t see what the future holds, we can trust the One who holds the future.

I’m not the only one who has faith that the birds, though unseen, are there, building away. My dog can’t see the birds, but she sure can hear them. Between the cooing, the fluttering, the tweeting, and the barking, it is a veritable cacophony of sounds, an orchestra from God.

Faith is the bird that sings when the dawn is still dark.


Beloved, is it dark where you are today?
Can you trust that He will bring you the dawn?

Wrinkled Ladies

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Beyonce has nothing on Anita Renfro and us wrinkled ladies!!





I often lament my wrinkles. They started to reveal their ugly selves when I was in my 30’s. The only benefit to those additional creeping pounds from my 40’s is that my wrinkles smoothed out a bit. I heard somewhere that middle age is when your age starts to show around your middle.

My mother-in-law is 92 (don’t tell her I told you), but the woman has NO wrinkles. Really!   And don’t tell me that worrying give you wrinkles. It’s her hobby. She’d win the gold if worrying was an Olympic event, yet her face is as smooth as it was 40 years ago. There oughta be a law!

I, on the other hand, am not a worrier, but have a lovely wrinkle collection! They say wrinkles are just “antique smiles.” Who knew I was an antique collector??

Someday though, I’ll be wrinkle-free!! Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Eph. 5:25-28

When I wash stuff, I create wrinkles, but when He does the cleansing, He removes them! Along with all our other imperfections. Can I hear an Amen?

On a weirdly similar theme, the winners of the book giveaway “Who Calls Me Beautiful?—Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God” are Karen Lange from Write Now, Jeanette Levellie from Audience of One and Cecelia, Quiet Spirit from Following My King. You are each so special and encouraging to me. Thank you!

Mothers Day … Shmothers Day!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I confess. I have a love/hate relationship with Mother’s Day. For too many years, it represented struggle. Then I became a mom. Still some struggle to be sure, but at last I discovered what it meant to be a child of God – for in my love for my child, I got a glimpse of the unabashed, uncompromising, unconditional, unending love that my Father has for me.



Of course, comparing what I am to what I feel I ought to be (the Proverbs 31 model) leaves me feeling less than best.


This year, I found myself getting stressed out because I wanted to share a brilliant Mother’s Day message to encourage you, but just couldn’t get it together in time. I read a really great post over at my friend, Jody Hedlund, about being (or not being) a supermom. She’s a gifted homeschooling, writing, supermom of 5, but here’s a snippet of what she had to say:

  • “When I really stop to think about all my friends, I realize each of them is a super-mom in their own unique way. We all have unique gifts and abilities. Each of us puts forth incredible amounts of effort and dedication to our talents.”

I wanted to write a post as good as hers.


But I didn’t.


And there’s this quote that I wanted to share:

  • “Every good mother, sooner or later, must understand she is denied ownership; she is merely granted stewardship.” T.D.Jakes

Isn’t that a great quote? I wanted to write a whole essay on the truths contained there.


But I didn’t.


Then I received that email with a great message worth sharing.


And I did.


Too often, I find myself clinging to the memories of my failures. I measure myself against Solomon’s description, that excellent wife whose noble doings surpass all other women, and I am found wanting.


It’s just too easy for me to go jogging down that memory lane. The enemy of our souls would have us settle there in that discouragement. He’s a bully, an intimidator. Peter calls him a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. When I dwell in discouragement, I feel like a toy mouse batted around by a huge, hungry cat.


It’s then that I must flee the cat, dash to the Liontamer, and remember the truth – he is a ravenous lion, but one with his teeth knocked out! He is already a defeated foe. When James says to resist the devil and he will flee from you, he first says to humble yourself before the Lord. Only by recognizing who we are in Christ can we stand firm to resist the devil. Never can we do this in our own strength.


Just as the enemy used Scripture to tempt Jesus in the desert, He can do that to me with parts of Proverbs 31, that portrayal of a true “supermom”. But Scripture is balanced, even Proverbs 31. Here’s the comment I left after reading Jody’s supermom post:

  • People who have called me a “supermom” are those who have seen just a sliver of who I really am, the outside busy part. You are so right when you say each mom has their own gifts and talents that others admire. Sadly, too often we see our failings and admire others’ gifts and talents as more valuable than our own. The only thing that really makes us super is the Maker who made us. Solomon sums it up best: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; BUT A WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED!”

It isn’t about what I accomplish or what I look like. It isn’t even about who I am. It’s about Who’s I am. Merely being a woman who fears the Lord is reason enough to be praised. Now instead of jogging down memory lane, I’m going to take up residence in lover’s lane with my Bridegroom.

Happy Mother’s Day! (part 1)

Posted on by Susan Panzica
After struggling this week to put together a Mother’s Day post, I received an email from my sweet friend, Betsy containing the following message from Roy Lessin at Meet Me In The Meadow. So I’m totally stealing it (well, with permission) to share with you all.

—-

Continue On


A co-worker once asked if I could write something that would be an encouragement for mothers. The message “Continue On” was the result. It is based upon the example of my wife who has faithfully served the Lord in our home through the years.

A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life. She feared she was wasting her potential being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference.

At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. “Is it worth it?” she often wondered. “Is there something better that I could be doing with my time?”

It was during these moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart. “You are a wife and mother because that is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye. But I notice. Most of what you give is done without remuneration. But I am your reward…

Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love…

Your children are precious to Me, even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me…

You may never be in the public spotlight. But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me. Continue on. Remember you are My servant. Do all to please Me.”


And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Col. 3:23-24

—–
Happy Mother’s Day to you all, whether you’re a mom or have one. May you be blessed by knowing you are adopted into His family!

Be sure to check in tomorrow with the post I was going to write!

Life Without Limbs – Nick Vujicic

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Nick Vujicic is a truly remarkable man. Born without arms and legs, he is an inspiration both in how he lives his life and how he captivates a huge audience of teens. I have written about him before. When you have a few extra minutes, be sure to watch the amazing videos I’ve linked below. I promise you will not be the same after watching them.
These are some of Nick’s quotes from his talk at Battle Cry in April:

– If you’ve prayed for a miracle and God doesn’t give you the miracle, you be a miracle for someone else.

– D.I.S. = when you “dis” someone, it’s not a good thing.
     D = demon
     I  = inspired
     S = suggestions
     as in: DIScouragement, DISillusionment, DISpair, DISsatisfied…

– Put your faith, not in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
     Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,
     plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

– If He told you everything, you’d never be in a position to walk by faith.

– When the world says you’re not good enough, get a second opinion.

– When a mum wants her kids for dinner, she calls, “COME!” The kids say, “I’m coming…” Then repeat it over again 2 – 3 times. When God calls you, don’t say “I’m coming…” Say “Here I am!”

– How can you be Jesus’ hands and feet when you don’t have arms or legs?

Nick was so dynamic and powerful a speaker that I completely lost sight of his lack of limbs. Perched on a table, he shuffled back and forth as he spoke. When he was finished, the lights went off the table and on the next speaker. In the dark, he waited, and I watched, wondering how he’d get off that table. While all eyes (except mine) were on the next speaker, a man silently came up to the table, wrapped his arms around Nick’s torso, picked him up and carried him away like a sack of laundry with a head popping out. The humility of his being carried away like that spoke volumes to my breaking heart. This man had wowed the crowd. He was both hysterically funny and dramatically poignant, holding the audience completely enrapt. Yet in his weakness, he needed the help of another just to exit the stage. And it occurred to me that God wants us to be reduced to allow others to meet us in our weakness, and He will carry us. You can subscribe to his newsletter and read about his amazing ministry.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:7

—————–
Here are some of the links to watch Nick yourself:

The Butterfly Circus movie (20 minutes – bring tissues!)
http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The%20Butterfly%20Circus/

Nick Vujicic – Greg Laurie Interview (21 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Cwx2UbTJA

No arms, No legs, No worries (9 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3LFBqvvW-M
Shows Nick swimming, cooking, grooming, daily activities

I Love Living Life. I Am Happy. (7 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY
Motivational clip of Nick speaking to youth

Nick Vujicic’ s Official Website
http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/
    

Battle Cry – Part 2 – The Word

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Two weeks ago, I shared part 1 of my observations of the Battle Cry teen event. You can read what I shared about the worship experience here. Today, I want to share a few insights I gleaned from the teaching that was offered at Battle Cry.


During the opening message by Ron Luce, “Smitten With Love,” a waterfall thundered on the enormous video screens from floor to towering ceiling. The roaring water continually cascaded, its power inescapable. Encouraged to figuratively stick our toe in and immerse ourselves in the waterfall of His love, I felt drenched from head to toe.


The message that God is “wooing” us was a bit lost on the teens, but went straight to my  woman’s heart. God wants to capture not just our attention, but to capture our heart with complete commitment to Him, no dating others! After courting, sweethearts get married and then they live together, not separately.


And after we say “I do” we are to dwell together, not have divided lives. Newlyweds completely reorient their lives, and as believers, we are to reorient ourselves completely to our Bridegroom. The Lord didn’t send a love note. He sent us Himself.


——————————————————————————-


Ron’s closing message, “Who You Gonna Listen To,” was one that resonated loudly with both the teens and me. Of the many voices that scream at us, you must choose to listen to love. When you listen to the wrong voices, your identity is stolen. Since this is the very topic of my book, I was hooked, especially by the videos that punctuated his message. One in particular showed a teen getting ready for school. He opened his dresser drawer to pull out some clothes. Then he rummaged in the bottom of the drawer and pulled out a handful of passports, each one with a different identity. One day he went to school as Mr. Smooth, another day it was Nervous Ned or Locker Room Loser or Dark Magic. But the last passport bore the name “Re-bourne Identity” (which happens to be one of my possible book titles!!!), and the audience boomed their applause.
.
It was a totally awesome video, but I realized it stopped short of my topic, so I’ll be hunting for some videographers to make a sequel! You see, my book is about the identities that we assume after we are re-born. We are new creations in Christ, but often live defeated lives, not bearing our true identities: We are children of the King, joint heirs with Christ, ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven of which we are citizens. We are soldiers engaged in battle, athletes running a marathon, branches of the life-giving Vine. We are instruments fit for the Master’s use, His workmanship fearfully and wonderfully made, clay in the Potter’s hands. We are a vapor, sheep, salt and light. I could go on, but you get the idea.


The message summation is this – You must choose which voice to listen to. You must choose to listen to love. If you encountered God this weekend, then on Monday, BE the love encounter. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 You don’t need to love many, but love one and make a difference.


Stay tuned tomorrow. I have a few more morsels to share from Nick Vujicic. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!


And if you haven’t yet left a comment regarding my book giveaway from last week, please be sure to so I know if you’re interested in the drawing. It’s an awesome book about “finding our true image in the mirror of God.” Contest ends Wednesday.

Thanks AND Book Giveaway

Posted on by Susan Panzica
What a joy to spend a day with the women of Calvary Chapel North Jersey on Saturday. It was a special day dedicated to the beauty of the Lord, and the beauty that He instills in us.

How good and pleasant it is when sisters live together in unity! Ps. 133:1
My first thought was how good it was to be there, to be in the company of such lovely women.  And I remembered someone else who said,”It is good for us to be here.”
One day, Jesus took His inner circle, Peter, James and John, up on a high mountain. Miraculously, Jesus was transformed into a figure of blazing white, and He was joined by Elijah and Moses. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here…” Matt. 17:4
Peter also suggested building 3 shelters so that they could stay on the mountaintop. But that wasn’t God’s plan then, nor is it now. In His grace, He provides us spiritual mountaintop experiences, but He doesn’t want us to set up camp and stay there. Were we to stay permanently up on the mountain, the people in the valley would never get to hear the good news. Also, fruit doesn’t grow on mountaintops. Fruit grows in the valley.
So thankfully, we get glimmers of glory, and then we are  commissioned to share what He has shared with us. We enjoy brief periods of R + R before we head back to the struggle, back to the valley. Yet whether on the mountaintop or in the valley, He is with us.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Ps. 23:4 NLT
So as much as I would love to stay on a retreat, experiencing the sweet joy and fellowship with God and His people, it is necessary to take what I’ve gleaned and return to the frontlines. To continue the blessing and as a thank-you to the women of Calvary Chapel, I am giving away the book “Who Calls Me Beautiful” by Regina Frankin. I will make 2 copies available.

Who Calls Me Beautiful?—Finding Our True Image in the Mirror of God


Who Calls Me Beautiful? helps you to identify the forces that influence your life and affect how you understand “beauty,” and encourages you to embrace a biblical and spiritual balance that honors the God who created you.

“I am an ordinary woman who has faced the same struggles that other women face,” says Regina Franklin. “But we have an extraordinary God who sees us as His beautiful vessels.”

Contest Rules:

1. For the Calvary gals, if you sign up to be a follower or subscriber to Eternity Cafe, and leave a comment with your email address, you will be entered to win.


2. If you already follow or subscribe to Eternity Cafe and leave a comment with your email address, you will be entered to win.

Contest ends Wednesday, May 5th

Battle Cry – Part 1 – Worship

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I will praise you in the great assembly.
I will fulfill my vows in the presence
of those who worship you.
Psalm 22:25

This past weekend, I had the privilege to accompany some of the teens in our church to the Battle Cry event at the Meadowlands arena. It was both exhausting and exhilarating. Over the next few posts, I will share with you some small snippets that spoke to me in a huge way over this past weekend.

On Friday night, Hillsong United performed as the closing act of the night. As a huge fan of their music, that alone was reason enough for me to go. I sat behind our 6 boys (the girls were beside me) and was blessed to my core to see them all actively engaged in worship, hands raised and hearts abandoned.

I felt compelled to send this text message to my pastor who is also their Sunday School teacher.

Boys… 6
Arms raised… 12
Worshipping God… Priceless

After the song “The Stand,” which contains the lyrics “I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned,” the lead singer said, “God is more pleased with the heart abandoned part than the hands raised part.” As a bona fide arm-raiser, that statement pierced me deeply to examine the degree of heart abandonment I offer God, and not just during worship, but in my day-to-day experience.

Do I get caught up in the music experience and miss the divine encounter?
Do I offer merely lip service to God when He wants radical heart change?

The next day, I was challenged again. Believe it or not, during the rap concert! Now, I love contemporary Christian music, which to some hymn-lovers is akin to heresy. But honestly, I am guilty of feeling that way about rap music. Until Saturday.

I was in the back row with a birds-eye view of the entire arena.
16,500 people, mostly youth, multi-cultural, every race represented.
31,000 arms pulsing back and forth in unison, voices raised, loudly praising God.
The rapper kept yelling “Let me ask a question!” To which he and the entire gathering yelled back, “Anybody wanna praise the Lord!” Over and over and over. When I thought it was over, he’d do it over and over and over again.

Suddenly, to my eye, the bright white stagelights blurred, and I sensed the presence of Jesus in that light joyfully receiving the praises of tens of thousands of His people.

I saw a vast crowd, too great to count,
from every nation and tribe and people and language,
standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.
… they were shouting with a mighty shout…
Revelation 7:9-10
Imagine – Jesus enjoying rap! It challenged me to expand my limited imaginings about what heaven may be like. Surely Jesus on His throne will revel in receiving praises accompanied by all kinds of music – African drumbeats, Caribbean steel drums, harps, guitars, and yes, even rap.

 

Pray With ______________ .

Posted on by Susan Panzica

A few weeks ago, I shared a post called Healing Faith. I have been praying for your requests as you have, and God has already answered. Amen!

Recently, my dear friend Lisa and I were texting. Her text asked me how things were going, and I texted back a prayer request. Her simple response was

“praying with expectation…”

I love that response. She prayed with the assurance that our prayers are not merely words floating like gossamer clouds through the atmosphere. They are known by our God even before we voice them. If He instructs us to pray, we can expect that He will hear and answer.  

Tonight in doing some research for my book, I came across some great quotes about prayer that I want to share with you. Enjoy!

The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. ~William McGill

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties. ~Oswald Chambers

What we usually pray to God is not that His will be done, but that He approve ours. ~Helga Bergold Gross

We must move from asking God to take care of the things that are breaking our hearts, to praying about the things that are breaking His heart. ~Margaret Gibb

Before we can pray, “Lord, Thy Kingdom come,” we must be willing to pray, “My Kingdom go.” ~Alan Redpath

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the spirit of God. ~Edwin Keith

Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden. ~Corrie ten Boom

Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. ~Walter A. Mueller

Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things. ~Samuel M. Shoemaker


Call on God, but row away from the rocks. ~Indian Proverb
 
 
Did one speak to you? 

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my request before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
 

The Italian Stallion

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I wrote this post 2 weeks ago on our return from Florida, but waited for family clearance before publishing it. How funny that my last 2 posts were about that waiting period that God allows us to experience sometimes, and this post chronicles our unexpected and unwelcome delay to begin our trip.

 It all began with a rocky start. Apparently, due to the severe weather on Saturday, JetBlue cancelled our Sunday flight. Just cancelled it. As in, too bad, nothing you can do about it, just cancelled, want your money back? Uh, nooooo, what I want is to fly to Florida! I could share my rant about the 2 hours on hold, the misinformation I repeatedly received, or the rude desk attendant who informed me that the other airlines – who did not cancel flights – fly in different air currents to Florida (air currents? really??), but I’ll spare you. (And in the interest of full disclosure, the flight home was excellent and staffed with wonderful attendants.)


Instead, I would like to share a surprising happy experience.


Because we were delayed 24 hours, holed up in a Queens NY hotel, we decided to visit my husband’s uncle who rarely gets visitors now that he’s in a nursing home following knee surgery. Uncle Joey, my mother-in-law’s favorite brother, is a colorful character, and our hour-long conversation with him was like “The Godfather” meets “Abbott and Costello.”


The Panzica’s (P): Hi, Uncle Joey. So good to see you.


Uncle Joey (J): Yo. How ya doin’?


P: Good, you?


J: Menza, menz. Ey – whatcha gonna do?


J: (to AJ) Yo, you got tall. [at 5’8” AJ is never called tall, so he appreciated that!]


P: What’s new with you?


J: Nuthin’. Hey, he got tall, and I got bald.


P: So, how’s the food here?


J: Stinks! Macalacala! But whatcha gonna do?


The invisible guy in the next bed behind the curtain utters “fkejesjseucksyrdufbe” punctuated by hacking coughs.


J: So how’d ya find this place?


P: We followed the GPS.


J: What? (to AJ) Kid, you work for UPS?


AJP: No, we followed the GPS to get here. You know, satellites and maps giving directions….

 J: So, you like working for UPS? Ay – he got tall. So is she.
(She being Lauren who is 5’2″!)


We call my mother-in-law so Uncle Joey can talk to her.

Unfortunately, she doesn’t have her hearing aids in.


P: Hey, ma! We’re here with Uncle Joey. I’ll put him on.


J: Yo, Nina! Gravatsa! …. Wha’? – ya don’t understand me? …. Mercy mercy, mercy.


– “fkejesjseucksyrdufbe”


J: You gotta make the woochies!
(woochies are Italian fig cookies that take 2 days to make)


P: Uncle Joey, we’re gonna make woochies soon. We’ll bring you some.


J: Yeah, I want woochies. Ay – he got tall.


– “fkejesjseucksyrdufbe”


P: So, is there a good pizza place around here?


J: I dunno. Angelo opened up a place in Queens. On the highway. Ant’ny, you know Angelo?


P: I think so. What’s the name of the pizza place?


J: I dunno. It don’t have a name. He just opened up a pizza place – down the road – on the highway.


P: Did you ever sell pizza?


J: Oh yeah. Made pizza in my house. But Angelo, he opened up a pizza place – down the road – on the highway.


P: What else did you do?


J: I did everything, you name it. I delivered trees on 72nd to famous people. I sold firecrackers, you know, the good ones (the illegal ones). I worked for Bond Bread. For 40 years, I worked for them.


P: Did they give you a gold watch when you retired?


J: Ya know, they gave me a watch when I retired. Never worked.


P: Well, we gotta go, Uncle Joey.


J: Thanks for comin’. Ay – he got tall.


-“fkejesjseucksyrdufbe




We had been so disappointed about our delay, but because of it, we were able to visit with Uncle Joey which we had long wanted to do, but never found time for. An unexpected blessing that we would have missed if we spent our time griping and focused on our frustrating plight.


And we eventually did get to Florida, had a wonderful time with family and vacationing at the beach, even though it was 72 degrees both in Miami and in NJ!




Susan