Saturday, November 8, 2008
Several years ago, I was asked to speak at a women’s retreat. The theme was “How to Keep Growing When the Son Don’t Shine.” As I contemplated this idea, the thought came to me – but, the sun is always shining! There are various reasons we may not see it, but the sun never ceases to shine. As for the Son, He never ceases to shine either. He IS the light of the world – not He will be nor He was – but He IS the light of the world. Always IS. Present tense. Yesterday, today and forever, He shines!!
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So then, why does it seem dark sometimes? One reason is because it is nighttime. At night, the earth is turned away from the sun. And when it seems dark spiritually, perhaps it is because we have turned away from Him. Have we stopped spending time with Him? Are we standing in or relying on our own strength? The answer is simple: turn our focus back to Him, spend time in the Word and prayer, enjoy the fellowship of believers. I know I said the answer is simple, but that’s just simple for me to say. It is not always easy to do. Just take one tiny baby step in the right direction, and God will meet with us. He may ask us to keep taking those steps, but He gives us the strength to do it as we lean on Him. “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” (2 Cor. 4:6-7)
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Other times, it seems dark because something is blocking the sun, like an eclipse or dark clouds. There are things that seem huge and overwhelming, but the fact is – nothing is bigger than the sun! It’s just that these issues are closer. When is your thumb bigger than the sun? When it’s right in front of your eye! These obstacles capture our attention and block our view of the Son. But if we can step back and put things in the proper perspective, they shrink in comparison. My friends, we are engaged in spiritual warfare, and an effective enemy tactic is to distract our focus. He uses busyness, family or friend problems, work concerns, over-sensitivity, self-consciousness, financial worries, etc. to attract our attention. When we concentrate on eternal matters, the things of this world dim in comparison. Like looking through the lens of a camera, if our focus is on things nearby, those details in the background are fuzzy. When we adjust the lens, we can bring the background into crisp detail, and the close things are less harrowing. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”(Heb. 12:2-3)
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Lastly, when the sun’s glare is difficult to endure, we put on our sunglasses. We can still see the sun, but it’s dimmed. And people can’t see us as clearly either. We hide behind a façade, and don’t face the issues that keep us from the light. From minor misunderstandings to serious hidden sin, we can cautiously be near God, and yet separated from Him. We put up a barrier to keep God and people at a “safe” distance. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. God removed the barrier to the Holy of Holies signifying our new opportunity to have a direct personal relationship with Jesus. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. … All of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” ( 2 Cor. 3:16-18)
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Oh, may we become more like Him and reflect His glory more and more!! That is my prayer for you and for me, beloved.
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Susan
Author: Susan Panzica
Gentle Leader
My little pup, Roxie and I took a stroll yesterday in the beautiful autumn weather. Now, this doggie of mine is a natural born “puller”. She always has been. Put the leash on her, and she is so excited, she can’t wait to get moving. It puts a terrible strain on her neck. We tried the choker collar to no avail. Tried one with teeth that cut into her neck, that was a nightmare. Then we found the “Gentle Leader”. It is a miracle. No stress. No pulling. No problem. It’s based on the theory of a horse’s reign. Instead of attaching the leash to the back of her neck, it attaches under her chin. If she pulls, her head will go down and she stops pulling immediately. The only thing is – she doesn’t much like putting it on. 
Saddest face ever 🙁
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When she sees it coming, she turns her head to the side. So like the mom I am, I start talking to her: “I know, baby, it’s not what you want, but it’s what you need.” Well, that reminded me of the Rolling Stones song my husband would sing to our kids when they were young: “You can’t always get what you want… you get what you need…”
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This episode got me thinking that I have a Gentle Leader too: “You will keep on guiding me with Your command leading me to a glorious destiny.” Psalm 73:24
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Our Lord is a most Gentle Leader, is He not? We want to pull this way or that. He knows that often what we want is not what we need, and He leads us in the right direction. We may resist or turn aside, but if we allow Him to direct us our paths, we will experience His best for us.
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Roxie overcomes her initial objection because she knows that it’s only with the Gentle Lead
er she’ll have that walk she longs to have.
Would we be so wise and let our Gentle Leader lead us!!
Susan
Susan
Will the real miracle please stand up!
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
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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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
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!!
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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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!
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
Susan
News
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
Big Fruit!
$1.99/lb for cherries! What a bargain, right? I ran to the supermarket to get 2 lbs. I usually buy my produce in a gourmet market that I pass every day going to work. Some things there are quite expensive, but since the produce usually is reasonable and is excellent quality, I get it there. But they never have cherries for $1.99/lb., so I thought I was getting quite a bargain. But you get what you pay for! The gourmet store cherry is on the left; the supermarket cherry is on the right.
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I prefer big, juicy, ripe fruit. Don’t you? And we’re not the only ones. God does too!
Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in his letter to the church at Galatia: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal. 5:22-23
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How do we get that good juicy fruit?
Jesus tells us, “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. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:1-8
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So if I want to “bear much fruit,” I must yield to the pruning process (ouch!), and I must remain in Him and His words must remain in me. A few years ago, I purchased 2 climbing hydrangea vines. They are supposed to produce flowers in shady locations. So far, no flowers. When I brought my complaint to the center where I bought them, I was asked if the vine had grown. Oh, yes, it’s enormous, but no flowers. I was instructed that all the plant’s efforts are going toward the new growth instead of blooms, so I was to cut the plant back and be sure to fertilize (feed) the plant. Good advice!
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Spiritually, we must allow God to cut out the activities and attitudes that don’t produce good fruit. Imagine asking a plant if it hurt to be pruned. That’d be a “yes!” But God is more concerned with our character than our comfort, and like the faithful, caring, loving gardener He is, He lops off anything which would otherwise suck the life out of that which is fruit bearing. Don’t resist the pruning process – it will only hurt more. Corrie ten Boom once said that she learned to hold things loosely in her hand because it hurts more if the Father has to pry it out of her tight fist.
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And we must be fed by His Word which will produce healthy fruit. If we replace those unfruitful activities with time spent reading and studying, we allow the words of life to nourish our souls and ultimately grow big fruit.
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And I pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Col. 1:10-12
Susan
Don’t need to see it to believe it
The other day, my husband and I drove through two torrential downpours. The deluge of rain was so intense that we could not see the hood of our own car, much less the car in front or the roadway we were driving on.
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As we inched along, squinting out the windshield, the chorus of the song on the radio filled the car:
“… I don’t need to see it to believe it…”
My husband quipped, “I don’t need to see the road to know it’s there.”
The song, “Tear Down the Walls” by Hillsong United, was speaking about faith.
The very definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1 which says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” If we can see it, it isn’t faith. It’s knowledge.
I know people who say that if they could see God, they might believe in Him.
But Jesus said “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'” Luke 16:31
And Paul said, “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20-21
The evidence is all around us, but we need to open our eyes to see it.
I know people who do know God who wish they could see all the future holds for them.
But, the psalmist said, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 In essence, he is saying God provides a flashlight, not a floodlight. He provides enough light to take the next step on the path, but does not illuminate the entire area. If He did reveal our future, we might turn and run the other way!!
Jeremiah said, “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.” Jer. 29:11 We can trust God with our future. His plans are better than anything we can imagine. He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Eph. 3:20
God wants us to trust in Him without having to see it for ourselves. Missouri is proud to call itself the “Show-Me state.” God wants us to live in the “Trust Me” state.
We already have faith we don’t even realize:
I have faith that if I release a stone from my hand, it will fall to the ground. I have never seen gravity, but I have experienced it, so I believe it.
I have faith that when I drive, the cars on the other side of the roadway will remain on their side of the painted line. If I didn’t, I’d never drive anywhere.
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I have faith that if I plant a seed in the ground, it will take root and grow. I can’t see it underground, but nevertheless, I believe that the seed is growing and transforming.
I have faith that if I fly in an airplane, the pilot is in control. The pilot may not be able to see anything if it is nighttime or cloudy, but he trusts his instrument panel to inform him of where he is, where he is going and what his current condition is.
Our control panel when we cannot see: God’s Word.
It is our light to guide our way.
It provides a method to assess our current condition.
And it contains the very words of God Himself that He breathes life into and speaks to us.
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Jesus used wind to describe life in the spirit (John 3:8). We can’t see wind. One might say that they can see the wind blowing the trees. I would counter – no, we can’t see the wind. We can see only the leaves. They are moving because of the effect the wind has on them. We can feel the wind. We can see the effect the wind has on other things, but we cannot see the wind itself. So it is with the spirit. We can feel the spirit. We can see the effect the spirit has on other people, but we cannot see the spirit itself.
Do we believe the wind exists?
So can we believe the God does too?
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Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:28
May we believe and be blessed!!
Do we believe the wind exists?
So can we believe the God does too?
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Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:28
May we believe and be blessed!!
Susan
Tear Down The Walls by Hillsong United
Tear down the walls
See the world
Is there something we have missed
Turn from ourselves
Look beyond
There is so much more than this
And I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this
Fire deep inside my heart
Look to the skies hope arise
See His majesty revealed
More than this life there is love
There is hope and this is real
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Oh for all the sons and daughters
Who are walking in the darkness
You are calling us to lead them back to You
We will see
Your spirit rising
As the lost come out of hiding
Every heart will see this hope we have in You
Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning
Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising
As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls
That all creation would
Come back to You
It’s all for You
Your Name is glorious
Glorious
Your love is changing us
Calling us
To worship in spirit and in truth
As all creation returns to You
Surrender is Freedom
On Independence Day, there’s a lot of talk about freedom and liberty. Thankfully, we do not live under the bondage that is found in some other countries. But all too often, we live in bondage to fear, pride, depression, anger. We may not have control over these areas of our lives. The answer is surrender.
In Bible times, slavery was common. Slaves had no freedom, but when offered freedom, some chose to live surrendered to their Master, for life with a kind Master was superior to freedom outside that home. These surrendered slaves were called “bond-slaves.” The Apostle Paul often referred to himself as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
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While unjustly imprisoned, Paul wrote the letter to the Philippian church. In it, he says that due to his being in chains, the gospel was shared with entire palace guard. He sees that his lack of freedom had a greater purpose. He was surrendered.
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From Paul’s letter to the Philippians we can discern his answers to the bondages I mentioned above:
You will not have to worry
Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
You will not feel the need to be in charge
Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
You will experience true joy
Phil: 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
You will be free from anger
Phil 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
The Christian life is a paradox in many ways-
-When we are weak, we are strong
-The first shall be last
-You must lose your life to find it
-To live forever, you must die to yourself
And…
-True freedom means surrender to the One who owns you
Happy Independence Day to you.
May you experience true freedom in surrender to the King of Kings!
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Susan
We’re Empty Nesters!
It was a finale that only the moguls of Hollywood or the Master of Heaven could have orchestrated. And since there were no movie cameras, actors or scripts, it’s safe to assume who directed this show!!
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Background:
For 14 years, I hated making brown bag lunches for my kids. But now that my son was about to graduate high school, I got emotional every morning knowing that the end of this task was approaching. You see, my husband and I are about to be “empty-nesters,” and I’m not quite sure I’m ready.
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Speaking of nests, as you know from previous posts, for the past 2 weeks, our front door wreath has been home to a growing robin family. I have learned much from observing these busy feathered friends.
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The early bird gets the worm:
I am not a morning person. Never have been. I used to be a night owl, but now that I’m older, I’m strictly an afternoon person. Well, this morning I had to drop my daughter off for leadership training for her mission trip. Getting up and out at 5:45 a.m. was no picnic, let me tell you. But as I tiptoed down the stairs, I got to see both Momma and Poppa bird feeding their babes. A worm banquet! Those babes now barely fit in the nest as they have developed into sturdy little round robins.
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I soon found out that this bounty of worms was their last meal at home. This afternoon, I came to the front door and saw one lone baby robin standing on the edge of the nest (pictured here) .
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Before long, both Momma and Poppa returned, flying to and fro in a frenzy encouraging baby to take flight with them.
Before long, both Momma and Poppa returned, flying to and fro in a frenzy encouraging baby to take flight with them.
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After a few seconds, baby tenderly lit off the nest and experienced her first miracle of flight. The three flew across the yard, across the street headed for a neighbor’s tree, the first stop on their journey onward.
After a few seconds, baby tenderly lit off the nest and experienced her first miracle of flight. The three flew across the yard, across the street headed for a neighbor’s tree, the first stop on their journey onward.
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And here’s the Hollywood ending:
As they took off across our yard, who walked up the pathway to the house? My own baby boy who is about to take off to college! AJ was away all day, working down the block doing landscaping, and returned home for just a minute. At the very moment that he approached, the birds made their final exit and sailed away right over his head. Get me a Kleenex, please!
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Epilogue:
I didn’t see the other babies leave, but AJ saw the first one leave and shared his story. (I’m guessing it was the one bird that was so restless in the nest, always fluttering and extending his wings.) He stood on the edge of the nest and took off prematurely, falling to the ground injuring himself. He hobbled to the side yard, and we are unsure of his fate.
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Didn’t he read my last blogpost? “… but those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Key word here being “Wait…”
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Postscript:
I never had much of a liking for birds. During this experience, however, I have come to appreciate this special segment of God’s creation.
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But there’s one thing that I just can’t get past..If you look closely at our window, you will see that the birds left us a most unpleasant reminder of their stay! Yuk! Now that the birds have made me an empty-nester, I have quite a job to do!
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Wouldn’t you know, not ev
en one hour later, I saw the following sign:
en one hour later, I saw the following sign:
You gotta love birds.
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We give them seeds.
They poop on our decks.
(and windows!)
They poop on our decks.
(and windows!)
Birds-Eye View
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27
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While Momma Bird may have made a foolish choice of location for her nest (see previous post), we are blessed because she did. Through the glass pane on our front door, we have a “birds-eye view” of the fascinating circle of life. Over the past week, we have witnessed the behaviors of Momma and her brand new babies. And, of course, I have a few observations!
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First, let’s take a look at Momma-
She is a provider for her children. She feeds them, protects them, nurtures them and ultimately will enable them to fly for themselves. We have seen the delightful (not really) assortment of worms and bugs she provides. She sits on top of her fuzzy babies sheltering them from the storm and the elements.
Throughout Scripture, we see how the Lord has provided for His children. Woven through the Word from Genesis to Revelation, He has provided land, shelter, food, wool and flax for clothing, comfort, even a way of escape from temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). He provided the ram for the sacrifice saving Isaac, and He provided Jesus, the supreme sacrifice saving you and me: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3
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God also provides the very strength we need: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 4:11
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Now, what about those babies:
There are 3 growing babies in the nest. They are all different. One squirms and scratches himself all the time. One often appears to be despondent – crying, hanging his head over the side of the nest with beak wide open. And one just seems to be mellow, waiting to be served. But all of them have some things in common, too. 
When Momma shows up at mealtime, they all clamor to be fed. Even when she isn’t there, they often extend their scrawny necks reaching as high as they can with gaping mouths. They are unable to fly, but have grown from downy little balls to fidgeting masses of tufts, feathers and beaks. Their strength is increasing, and one day they will fly away, soaring to heights previously unknown.
We also are all different, uniquely created. Whether we are active, or melancholy or peaceful, we all need the nurture that our heavenly Father provides. The babies remind me of when I was a young Christian, devouring the Bible, my spiritual food. As I feasted on the Word, I matured and grew in my faith. Witnessing the birds straining their heads upwards with beaks wide open, convicts me that I ought to still yearn for the Word, straining to be nourished by it.
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Right now, the babies remain huddled in their nest, waiting, growing and gaining the strength they will need for their future.
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Right now, you may be waiting, hoping for a change in your circumstances. Rest assured, the time of waiting is not time wasted. It is a time of preparation. It is a time to be renewed, a time to strengthen your hope in the Lord, a time to develop what is needed to soar.
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Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Isaiah 40:28-31
Susan
A Bird in the WHAT?
There she sits, Momma Bird, who built her nest atop my front door wreath. Not too smart, Momma!
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The front door is a busy place in our house. Outside, my husband and son worked for weeks building the front walkway (an awesome job they did, by the way!). On the inside, a bustling family, complete with dog and a staircase just a few feet from the front door. Every time we are near the door, Momma senses danger and flies away to a nearby tree. Now you and I know that she is not really in danger, but from her point of view, there is grave danger. So, my question is – why, with the safe haven of a giant oak nearby, did she pick such a potentially dangerous place to build her nest?
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Reminds me of someone we read about in the book of Genesis – Abraham’s nephew, Lot. When Abraham and his nephew moved to Canaan, Lot “moved his tents near Sodom. The people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.” More than once, Uncle Abraham had to come to his rescue. Yet Lot remained camped at the edge of sin.
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In our lives today, we can behave like Lot. Listening to music or watching movies or TV shows that chip away at our sense of moral conduct. We engage in conversations that steer towards gossip rather than honest caring sharing. We purchase items with money we don’t have. It may not seem like the outrageous sin of Sodom, but when we are camped near the boundary of unrighteous behavior, our consciences become dulled. When we are entertained by the things of this world, we diminish our sensitivity to things of God. And that is a dangerous situation to be in!
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Our Momma bird has become less fearful of danger. Where she used to fly away at the slightest whisper, she now remains perched even when we come close to the door, acclimated to her environment.
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The moral of the story: While we are to be in the world, we are not be of it. Be loving, but not compromising. Life in the spirit is a battle, and as any good soldier will tell you, don’t camp near the enemy!
“Sin is crouching at your door and you must master it.” (Gen. 4:7)
“Let us be alert and self-controlled.” (1 Thess.5:6)
Susan