Susan Panzica, Author at Susan Panzica

On being THE bride

Posted on July 19, 2017July 19, 2017 by Susan Panzica

Thirty years ago today, we said “I do.” We made a committment to love, honor, and cherish; to stand by each other for better or worse, richer or poorer, through sickness and health, good times and bad. Until death do us part.

I was a bride for one day, but as a Christian, I am part of the Bride of Christ every day . What does it mean to be the Bride of Christ? And how can we live each of our days in that identity?

What the Bride looks like:

When you imagine the Bride of Christ, what do you picture? A damsel clothed in white lace? Yet, the first person to declare Jesus to be the bridegroom was none other than John the Baptist.

“The bride belongs to the bridegroom.” John 3:29

These words spoken by John the Baptist open our eyes to a bride more rugged, truth-preaching and fierce than the delicate, frilly, and feminine damsel that’s widely depicted as the Bride. The Bride is not for women only. Christian men and women equally are the Bride.

The Betrothal:

Being the bride is about living in the betrothal period of preparation for a wedding. There were so many things to take care of, my engagement was the only time in my life that I lost weight without trying. Although there is much work, it is a joyous labor when a bride remembers the love of and for the groom and the life they will enjoy together. Betrothal is a time of complete covenant commitment to each other and expectancy about the wedding and lifetime to come. As the Bride of Christ, do you live with such expectancy?

The Bridegroom:

The bridegroom is the bride’s protector, her security. In Bible times, the groom paid a dowry for his bride. Jesus paid more than a dowry, He paid a ransom for His bride because of His deep love for her. When I attend a wedding and the dum-dum-de-dum starts to play, all heads turn to the back to see the bride enter. But I always look to the front and watch the groom’s face when he sees his bride approach. His smile lights up the room. To think that Jesus will receive me with such a smile on His face fills me with joy overflowing. I love how Psalm 36:5-9 reads in the Message translation:

“God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, … How exquisite your love, O God! How eager we are to run under your wings, … ”

“Say ‘yes’ to the dress.”:

In a crowded reception, can you pick out the Bride? Always – because of her garment. According to Rev. 19:6-8, the bride is arrayed in fine white linen, symbolizing the pure, holy and the righteous deeds of the saints. Our garment is the outer evidence of our inner person, our decisions, actions, thoughts. And by the way, nowhere does the Bible actually describe the garment as a “dress.” It says the bride is “arrayed” or “clothed” in fine “linen which is the righteous acts of the saints.” Righteous acts include obedience to God’s commandments and continually striving to follow Jesus’ perfect example. So men can wear the garment too!

Our attitude:

There’s a tv show called “Bridezillas”. According to the dictionary:

Bridezilla: noun. Formed from blending of the words bride and Godzilla (Japanese movie monster). Used to describe a woman whose behavior becomes outrageously bad in the course of planning for her wedding; a bride-to-be who focuses so much on the event that she becomes difficult and obnoxious

We become “Bridezillas” when “it’s ALL about ME!” What do I want? Our prayers are about what WE think is best. We get disappointed or disillusioned if things don’t go our way. We need to remember we are betrothed, redeemed, preparing, and waiting with eager anticipation for our Groom. It’s not about us. It’s about Him.

So let’s live every day with a committment to love, honor, and cherish our Lord; to stand with Him for better or worse, richer or poorer, through sickness and health, good times and bad. Until death do us see each other face to face.

Last but not least – Happy Anniverary, honey!!! So thankful for the godly husband and father that you are, for the 30 wonderful years we’ve had together and the many more to come!!

What happens when you assume?

Posted on July 5, 2017July 10, 2017 by Susan Panzica

All my life, I have always been the shyest person in the room. So when my mom convinced me to attend a 2 week sleep-away Girl Scout camp, it was a true miracle. Two girls from my troop went with me so that gave me a tiny bit of comfort, but when we arrived at the camp, I was assigned to be in a different campsite group. I now know that their campsite was right down the dirt path, but at the time, it seemed like a million miles away. I felt totally alone and completely miserable.

Our campsite had five tents with five girls in each. In my tent, there were two pairs of friends. And me.

As things went from bad to worse, in my loneliness, I was absolutely certain that no one liked me.

I cried myself to sleep every night and wrote letters every day detailing how much I hated it there, begging my parents to please take me home.

After a week of despair, my counselors allowed me to transfer to my friends’ campsite. It only took one minute there to realize I had made a big mistake. The disgusting smell that greeted me at the entrance was the first of several huge disappointments. In less than an hour, I asked to go back.

Never had I been so bold.

Fortunately, the powers-that-be let me return to my prior campsite and tent. My counselor sat me down for a long stern talk by the river.

Later, my 10 year old tent mate, one half of one of the pairs of little friends, assured me that she was happy I was back, and she said something that I remember to this day:

“How do you think it makes us feel when you say we don’t like you?”

Her words cut me to the core. In a good way. I hadn’t given their feelings any thought. I was too preoccupied with my own. I had made assumptions about these sweet pairs of friends that were completely untrue based on my own insecurities.

The second week at camp was completely different. I had such a good time, I cried buckets of tears when it was time to go home.

It’s been forty years, and how often since then have I made assumptions about people that turned out to be completely unfounded. I projected my own insecurities onto someone else, viewing their actions through my muddled lens.

I think we all remember Felix Unger’s famous lesson about assuming:

All kidding aside, false assumptions can create serious consequences, resulting in critically damaged relationships. In his book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Pete Scazzaro says:

“Every time I make an assumption about someone who has hurt or disappointed me without confirming it, I believe a lie about this person in my head. This assumption is a misrepresentation of reality. Because I have not checked it out with the other person, it is very possible I am believing something untrue.”

As a believer in Christ, I want to live in truth. Holding onto assumptions creates storylines in my head that cause me to live in a false reality. Since God is Truth, by filling my head with false assumptions, I’m essentially not making room for Him in the limited space in my brain.

Of course, sometimes my assumptions are correct. But for the sake of healthy relationships, it’s necessary to check with the person about whom I’m assuming to verify the truth.

In Acts 17, the Bereans listened to Paul and Silas, and rather than assume their message was true or false, they did their “fact-checking.”

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

How often do we make assumptions about others? About our circumstances? About ourselves? About God?

How much healthier would our relationships be if we took the time to fact-check and to clarify assumptions?

For more about assumptions and expectations, check out the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality materials at http://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/.

And/or a quick take on my previous blogposts:

http://susanpanzica.com/not-so-great-expectations/

http://susanpanzica.com/great-expectations-not/

To Be a Child of God

Posted on June 21, 2017June 21, 2017 by Susan Panzica

I don’t think I ever really understood what it meant to be a child of God until I had children of my own. My relationships with my natural parents were often strained, so when I became a Christian, my understanding of the Father nature of God was more head knowledge than heart knowledge.

That is until my daughter was born, and I was overwhelmed with unconditional love for her and began to catch a glimmer of the love the Father has for me. Then when I was pregnant with my son, I was terrified that I wouldn’t have enough love for the child in my womb because my love for my daughter seemed the max that a person could have. How amazing that when that little boy arrived, the measure of love in my heart grew exponentially!

And I began to glean glimpses of how completely and unconditionally my heavenly Father loves me. I’m still learning what it means to be a child of God, but there are a few things I’ve gathered:

As His child, I am secure. I can’t become more a “child of God” by anything I do or achieve. And I can’t become less a “child of God” no matter how many times I fail. When God is your Father, you are His child, and nothing I do can change that. I am His eternally.
As His child, I must not be childish. The Apostle Paul wrote, “When I was I child, I spoke as a child, but when I matured, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor. 13:11). Being childish includes being selfish, self-centered, immature, jealous, wanting MY way instead of HIS way.
Yet, I must be childlike. Jesus said, “Unless you become like a child, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 18:3) Being childlike means that I see the world through childlike eyes. I trust; I am teachable; I am not prejudiced; I am generous, innocent, care-free knowing that my Father has all things under control.

As a child of God, we have complete assurance that we belong to our Father. He loves us with an unconditional love. When we are born-again of the Spirit, we are both born and adopted into the family of God and become a joint heir with Jesus Christ. This relationship gives us rights and privileges, as well as responsibilities.

Knowing the difference between being childlike and childish is the key to maturity. Our Father God, our Abba – translated Daddy, is not distant or aloof. He invites us into an intimate, secure family relationship.

My relationship with my earthly dad may have been difficult, but now I celebrate my heavenly Father each Father’s Day!

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

Be An Oyster!

Posted on June 7, 2017June 6, 2017 by Susan Panzica

My friend, Cathy, showed up one day sporting an eye patch. She’s a stellar athlete who has triumphed over hard-hitting competition, but thanks to a tiny grain of sand that scratched her cornea, she was kept on the sidelines, out of the action. A microscopic irritant grated against the delicate tissue producing redness and tears and would ultimately cause permanent destruction if not removed.

But take that very same grain of sand, that source of irritation to the eye, place it in an oyster, and something magical happens. When that irritant is caught inside the oyster’s shell, the oyster starts to secrete a substance called nacre. This substance coats the irritant and encapsulates it. According to Wikipedia, “Nacre, also known as mother of pearl, is strong, resilient, and iridescent. This substance is called ‘mother of pearl’ because it is literally the ‘mother’, or creator, of true pearls.” What begins as an irritating annoyance is transformed. The insignificant grain of sand has become a valuable pearl.

It’s important to note that the irritant in the eye is exactly the same as the one in the oyster. What is different is the response! Scripture is clear that God allows tribulations in our lives. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The phrase, “you will have trouble” is sandwiched between “you may have peace” and “take heart. I have overcome the world!”.

If you have someone, or something, in your life that is a source of irritation, it can suck the joy and peace right out of you. Just the sight of that person can raise all sorts of emotions. Just the reminder of that difficult situation can cause physical responses such as tightening of the muscles, headaches, stomach pains … do I need to go on?

Like sand trapped inside an oyster, whatever your source of irritation, it can be transformed into a valuable pearl. You can be “strong, resilient and iridescent” (reflecting the light), receiving your irritation as the beginning of a beautiful transformation in your life. Surround the grain with beauty and grace. Forgive them for being themselves. They really don’t know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) If you recognize that God allowed this person or situation for your benefit, you will be creating pearls!

Don’t let yourself be troubled by what really is a small matter compared to eternity! Allow that nuisance to bring about transformation – Christlikeness – the most precious, priceless, valuable quality you could ever possess.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:1

The Multiplication Factor

Posted on May 17, 2017May 17, 2017 by Susan Panzica

At this point in my empty-nester life, I thought I’d be winding down from work and from ministry, but I find myself busier than ever. What began as a passing interest has multiplied into a ministry that has had a global reach.

I’m not quite sure how it happened or exactly when it started. More like snippets of awareness than a thunderbolt awakening. Three years ago, human trafficking wasn’t a household word. As I came across more and more articles about the issue, my heart broke for those caught in modern day slavery. I started a Word document where I copied and pasted the links to various anti-human trafficking organizations — faith-based, secular, government. I had no idea why I was doing this or what I would do with the document or if it would ever be finished. The list just kept growing.

Then one day, in response to a friend’s facebook post on the slavery issue, I reached out. It was a small act that would quickly reap big consequences. Over the past three years, we’ve grown in numbers and partnered with many other groups, making an impact far beyond anything I could have imagined. Our little band of abolitionists, Justice Network is still going strong.

I discovered that one little step in faith is the beginning of a journey where God provides the increase.

2000 years ago, when a huge, hungry crowd waited to hear Jesus speak, He fed them all by sharing a young boy’s lunch, giving thanks, and multiplying two fish and five loaves. I find it interesting that after everyone ate as much as they wanted, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of broken leftovers, one basket for each disciple to hold in his hands – a physical manifestation of the great miracle of multiplication.

Just as a young boy offered his fish and loaves, God will multiply that which we freely surrender for the benefit of others.

I believe that God allowed our ministry to multiply as it did as a testimony of what He can do with what is surrendered to Him. And remembering what He has done encourages me to keep on stepping forward in faith.

This truth is not limited to ministries. Whenever we step out in faith, when we surrender to God and relinquish our fears and need for control, we will see God work in ways beyond what our own limited abilities can do. He may be just waiting for us to step out of His way!

Of course, our motives must be pure and not for personal gain. Surrender means we trust God to work without interference from our own agendas or desire to manipulate a situation. It means that we really trust that God is bigger than whatever circumstance is before us.

Dear sister, hold out your hands – palms up. Open your fingers, and close your eyes. What are you carrying? Is it a burden? Release it, trusting that He is more than able to carry it, and you too. Trust that He can not only carry it; He can multiply it to overflowing.

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” Ps. 68:19

Can you really have “perfect peace?”

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Susan Panzica

A few years ago, Hurricane Irene came to our NJ town. And afterwards so did the President and Governor. The aftermath of flooding left our neighborhoods destroyed, people displaced, businesses ruined. But the destruction was selective. While some areas were devastated, others were spared.

Among the many affected were two churches. In both cases, they had never experienced flooding, and so expected none this time. In both cases, they were wrong.

The Butler Community Church was undergoing a facelift. The downstairs, used for concerts and coffeehouses, was ready to have the floor painted. During the week, the congregation had raised furniture and valuable musical equipment two feet off the floor to prepare it for washing before painting. Along came Irene and the deluge of water that covered the floor. The next day, the fire department pumped all the water out leaving it sparkling clean, ready for painting!

Down the road, Beth Israel Church had nearly finished their massive 4 year renovation project turning an abandoned furniture store into a breathtaking sanctuary and ministry center. It was almost ready for dedication. The brand new carpet had just been laid when Irene came to town leaving the building with 4 feet of smelly, murky, oily water. Everything from floor to ceiling was in ruins. After the initial shock, the congregation’s first response was to see how they might serve their neighbors, providing meals to those who lost everything.

Did God show favor to one over the other?

Did God answer the prayers of one and not the other?

Or did He choose each for different purposes –

One to proclaim His deliverance.

One to reveal His grace.

We might not have an abundance of water to contend with, but what about other calamities, maybe a frightful diagnosis? Some who pray are miraculously delivered to share amazing testimonies about the power of the Almighty.

Yet there are others who pray with as much fervor and faith, yet still experience the tribulations of all manner of physical disease, mental illness, or addiction.

Thirty years ago, a friend was diagnosed with MS. She was a dancer and one morning woke up unable to move a single muscle. Miraculously, she has been symptom-free since then. Twenty years ago, another friend was diagnosed with MS. He prayed for healing. Yet the ravages of his disease have affected his speech, motion, and emotions. Today, he thanks God and credits Him with transformation in the best sense of the word. He’ll tell you he used to be “cocky,” a head-turning, stellar athlete filled with an over-abundance of self-confidence. He now barely walks with a steel walker, but it is God who he leans on.

We can and should pray for our circumstances as our heavenly Father wants us to bring all our concerns to Him. But we must realize that these circumstances do not define us or God. They are tools in His hands used to refine us. He may allow the flood, the disease, the broken relationships, the financial woes. Or He may deliver us from them entirely. He is sovereign. We are not – but when we know the One who is, when we trust His character, when we converse with Him in prayer, when we experience His presence through the Spirit, and when we know that He CAN deliver us, but chooses not to, then we can experience His perfect peace despite our circumstances. And that is a powerful testimony that will speak loudly to the lives of others still struggling in their own circumstances.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Luke 22:42-43

May He strengthen you too, dear one.

People with their minds set on you,
    you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
    because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
    because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. Is. 26:3 MSG

Dive Deep!

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Susan Panzica

While on retreat a while back, our rooms had a beautiful view overlooking the bay. As we watched the activity among the geese swimming and frolicking in the water, my friend shared with me her wise observation about the geese.

Noticing the many geese diving down into the water despite the ample food along the shoreline, she said that it must be that the food in the water is the good stuff. And so rather than settle for the easy way, the geese made the effort to dive down deep to get the better morsels. Just like we should dive down deep for the good stuff in God’s Word. .

Oswald Chambers said, “Good is the enemy of best.” If we settle for what’s good, we miss out on what’s best.

When it comes time for reading the Bible, sometimes we skim the surface rather than dive in to find deeper meaning. But the good stuff is down deep!

When we learn that it was in prison that Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” it means more than if he was writing these words from the comfort of his home.
When we learn the meaning of the words in their original language, they take on new meaning. For example, the parts of the armor of God in Ephesians 6 include the “sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” All the other parts of the armor are defensive (helmet, shield, etc.) The sword (God’s Word) is our only offense. But the word for sword does not mean a large saber-type sword. No, it is a small sword, like a scalpel, to be used an instrument of healing removing that which is detrimental to our health, not as a machete to hurt someone.
Down deep, we find the history of the times in which the words were recorded. And the geneologies that we so often skip over contain nuggets of insight, like the fact that there is a harlot (Rahab) in the line of David and Jesus.

It’s worthwhile to dive down deep to be fed spiritually on the Word. The Bible refers to itself as our spiritual food. Babies eat milk because they can’t digest meat. But as they mature, they move on to meatier, more complex things. And so should we.

Along that same line, we should not be discouraged if we don’t understand some of what we read in the Bible. We just haven’t grown to that point yet, but it’s something to look forward to. What we don’t want is to settle for less than best.

So friends, let’s go! Won’t you dive in deep with me and discover the amazing truths found in His Word?

Future Perfect

Posted on March 15, 2017March 15, 2017 by Susan Panzica

The words streamed out of my car radio and embedded themselves deep in my soul as David Crowder shared about his new album, American Prodigal.

“God doesn’t love our future self more than He loves us right now.”

My present self often dwells on my mistakes, things I’ve said or things I wished I said, actions I’ve taken or those I wish I had. I berate myself for not being the person that I think I should be. And although I know the forgiveness of God, I also carry a hope that someday when I get it all right, I’ll make God smile more than I do right now.

And that is doing God a great disservice.

We perceive love within our limits of time and space. But God IS love. And He IS eternal. So His love is the same past, present, and future – a future He already knows, by the way.

Our natural love is mercurial, changing with emotions and circumstances. It grows and diminishes. And it’s conditional. But His love is based on the fact that He created us. It’s unconditional. Nothing we do or don’t do changes His love for us.

So to think that God will love us more in the future when we finally get our act together is to misunderstand the limitless, timeless, unrestricted, complete love that God has for you and for me.

God loves us when we don’t deserve it. He loves us the same when we are behaving and thinking as we should. Because we are performance oriented, we experience approval and rejection based on our standards or someone else’s.

But God’s standard is His Word. We will never meet His standards. And knowing that, He loved us so much that He gave His Son that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life with Him.

Can you right now close your eyes, breathe in deep, sense His abiding adoring presence, and thank Him for His eternal boundless love?

Give thanks to the God of heaven!
His love is eternal. Ps. 136:26

Break My Heart

Posted on March 1, 2017March 1, 2017 by Susan Panzica

I caught myself humming and accidentally meditating on some lyrics from a favorite worship song – Hillsong’s Hosanna :

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

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. On that trip, his heart was broken with the need of one little girl. In the decades since, World Vision met the needs of millions of people in the US and all over the globe.

After my children went on mission trips, their hearts were broken for people in Uganda, India, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bahamas, and the US. They followed up their trips with actions to help meet the needs they encountered and inspired me to do the same.

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! The sting of conviction penetrated deep in my soul.

What breaks God’s heart? Not just 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.

Can we love those who are lovely?

Of course, that’s easy.

Love the poor?

Sure, most of us can do that. In fact, there are many non-Christians who care for the poor, who sacrifice life and limb to live in impoverished nations, who are in the Peace Corps, the military, the inner cities, Indian reservations, homeless shelters, safe houses for abused. There are non-Christians who are doing what more Christians ought to be doing.

How about loving those who annoy you? What about loving those who hurt you? What about loving someone who hurt your child?

Apart from the grace of God, it’s next to impossible. Yet that is exactly what God calls us to do:

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matt. 5:43-47 MSG

Our “enemies” give us an opportunity to develop Christ-likeness. When we can forgive as He forgave and love as He loved, we become more like Him ~ and we stop grieving Him.

We must stop “acting” like a Christian and start “being” one from the inside out:

“If we are to be imitators of Christ, we need to stop trying to act like Christians (external actions) and instead focus on BEING a Christian from our core (internal transformation). When this becomes our focus, we will discover that it’s not difficult to act like a Christian, because we simply ARE one. Period.” ~ Christine Caine

May our hearts break for that which breaks God’s heart.

And help us Lord to not break Yours.

Can you feel the love??

Posted on February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 by Susan Panzica

In his gospel, the Apostle John didn’t refer to himself by name. The only John mentioned in the Gospel of John is John the Baptist. John the disciple referred to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23, John 20:2, John 2:17, John 21:20)

Now some people jokingly say – sure, you can call yourself “The ONE Jesus Loved” when you write your own book. True enough. But I have a different opinion of this designation John chose for himself.

John’s whole identity was wrapped up in the fact the Jesus loved him. He, a lowly fisherman, an arrogant “Son of Thunder” who argued about who was the greatest, was loved by Jesus.

By calling himself “the one Jesus loved,” I believe John is emphasizing that Jesus is a lover of the unlovely. By identifying himself as one loved by Jesus, he is offering a tribute to Jesus, not to himself – the recipient of that love.

Because John was confident in the love the Jesus had for him, he leaned on Jesus’ chest at the Last Supper. Because of His love for him, John remained at the cross and thus Jesus entrusted His mother to John’s care. Because of Jesus’ love for him, John ran ahead of Peter to the empty tomb and later recognized Jesus on the shore while he was out on the lake hauling in a miraculous catch of fish.

Because of that assurance of the love that Jesus had for him, John replaced his given name with the description “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” That became his whole identity.

Jesus loves you as much as He loved John. Can you do the same as John?

Can you replace your name in the phrase “the disciple Jesus loved?”

Can you look in the mirror and say, “Good morning, self. You are loved by the Savior. No matter how you’ve stumbled, you are still infinitely and unconditionally loved.”

Now say it in the first person, “I am ___(insert your name), a child of God, a disciple that Jesus loves. Yes, I am loved.”

If you have children, don’t you want them to know that they are loved, no matter what they might have done wrong? Don’t you want them to have that assurance?

Well child of God, Jesus wants you to have the same assurance of His love for you. That is your true identity – you are a “disciple that Jesus loves.” And nothing can change that.

Knowing that you are so loved allows you to love others with the love you have received from Christ.

Can you look at your husband, your family, your coworker, that annoying person at the market, the rude driver on the road, and can you say, “she (or he) is one that Jesus loves.”

How will that change how you go through your day?

What if we all were to experience His love and share it in our conversations, on our social media, in our actions? We would not only live more fulfilling lives, we would change the world.