Category: devotion

Snow Day Lessons – Part 1

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Tuesday night, my husband gave me a lesson in Snowblowing 101. It left me more informed, yet less confident of my snowblowing abilities. Tony had to be at the office (you wouldn’t believe who goes out in blizzard conditions for their chiropractic adjustments). So with both kids now away at college and Tony at the office, the snow clearing responsibilities on the homefront were left to me. My usual contribution to snow shoveling is making hot chocolate and chicken soup for the rest of the family laboring away. Now alone I faced the gargantuan task of clearing away the massive snow. Well, not exactly alone. 


Thankfully, God meets us in the mundane.

As I was working away in the middle of the snowstorm, He met me and shared some valuable lessons. So many that it will take more than one post to share. Today and tomorrow, I’ll be sharing some snippets of what I learned in the storm.

Don’t Wait

First of all, I ventured out into the snowstorm to clear away the first 6 inches that had fallen. I knew that if I waited until it was 12 – 18 inches high, the job would be much more demanding. Since I am a first class procrastinator, this was a major accomplishment.
If only I would face my temptations, problems and weaknesses the same way, dealing with my issues early before they get deep-rooted.

Be Prepared

Before going out, I put on my warmest, driest ski coat, my waterproof Thinsulate boots, my ski gloves and hat, and my lumbar support belt. Preparing like this left me relatively warm and dry despite the cold and wet environment.
Before facing the storms of life, it pays to be prepared. It’s important to have God’s Word hidden in your heart before the crisis hits, so that when trials come, the Word can be brought to mind. When you need to withdraw some cash from the ATM, you can only do so if you previously made the deposit in the bank. The Lord can bring to mind only what was previously deposited there.


This May Hurt A Little

The branches heavily laden with snow look spectacular, a pristine winter wonderland. However, they present a danger to the tree. A few years ago, our dogwood tree split due to the weight of the snow and later died due to the gaping wound it exposed. My giant azalea and several trees were now in danger. It took a few battering blows to knock off the offending snow. But after the snow was gone, the branches lifted higher now relieved of their burden.
Jesus said that if we lean on Him, our burden is light (Matt. 11:30). He lifts our burdens and removes our pain. But sometimes, like the prodigal son, we need a “blow” to knock us to our senses and return to our Father.

Who’s Your Neighbor?
“That’s what neighbors do,” said Paul, my wonderful neighbor, who just finished snowblowing his driveway and, seeing my struggle, came over to do mine. We were at the 6 inch mark of the 18 inch snowstorm. Snow and tears froze on my eyelashes, my heart bursting with gratitude. Paul secretly came back later and removed another 8 inches.

When a Pharisee asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor,” Jesus responded with the parable of the “good” Samaritan who, with no thought of being repayed, cared for a man who was left bruised and beaten on the side of the road. He sacrificed his time and money to help another in need. Although he was from a very different neighborhood, the Samaritan was the true neighbor who we are to “love as we love ourselves.”




More on Paul and my life lessons tomorrow….

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

Susan

How Can This Be?

Posted on by Susan Panzica

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

A devout priest, Zechariah was a descendent of Aaron. When his priestly division was on duty at the Temple in Jerusalem, he was chosen to enter the Holy Place. A religious man, schooled in the Scriptures, he was in a religious place where one would expect to encounter God.


Yet, when the angel appeared to him, standing beside the altar of incense, Zechariah was gripped in fear. Gabriel comforted Zechariah, telling him not to be afraid and providing the reason for his visit. He was delivering good news. Zechariah’s elderly wife, Elizabeth, would bear them a son. Not just any son, but a son to be named John, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would prepare the people for the Messiah who was also coming to the world.


When Zechariah heard Gabriel’s words, he questioned him. “How can this be?” as he and his wife were well along in years and therefore could not bear a child. Gabriel discerned that Zechariah didn’t believe, and condemned him to silence until at the baby’s birth Zechariah demonstrated obedience by naming him John.

Mary also had a visit from the angel Gabriel. She wasn’t near the temple, but in a lowly village in Galilee, called Nazareth. She wasn’t schooled in the Scriptures. She was a simple devout young woman engaged to be married.

Gabriel greeted her, stating that she was highly favored and the Lord was with her. Troubled at his words (but not at the sight of him), he told her not to be afraid of what would happen to her, that she would miraculously bear a child. Hearing his words, Mary asked, “How can this be?” as a virgin cannot bear a child. Gabriel, discerning that she didn’t understand, explained to her about the Holy Spirit coming upon her, affirming that “nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded in faith, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”


Two appearances of the angel Gabriel
     -One is the place of highest esteem, the Temple
     -One in the lowest of villages (Can anything good come out of Nazareth? John 1:46)

Two expressing the same question, “How can this be?”
     -One an unbelieving, though devout, old man
     -One a believing, devout young woman

Two different responses by the angel to that same question
     -One was rendered speechless for at least 9 month
     -One was provided an answer to her question

So what can we glean from this?

Just because we are in a religious place doesn’t make us holy. You may have heard the saying, “Just because you are in a garage doesn’t make you a car.” Despite Zechariah’s expectation of meeting with God in the Holy Place, he was shocked and terrified at seeing the angel. Mary, however, fully experienced the presence of God in the humblest of locations. Unlike real estate, when it comes to experiencing God, physical location seems to be of little consequence.

What is of great consequence is the state of our heart. We can live a life as “devout and blameless” as Zechariah and still miss God. While it is fitting to “study to show ourselves approved,” it must not be just head-knowledge. The simple faith of a young virgin must inspire our desire to know Him, and to be willing to serve Him in whatever way He leads.

Fortunately, Zechariah’s song (Luke 1:67-79) makes it clear that he now possessed great understanding and belief in how his child would fulfill the Messianic prophesies. This encourages me to realize that even when I stumble, there always remains hope in the future to make it right.

In her song (Luke 1:46-55), Mary doesn’t appear to have the depth of comprehension that Zechariah had regarding the coming of the Messiah. What she does have is the simple understanding that she is blessed because He was “mindful of her, His servant.”

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Luke 1:45


Do you believe that He will accomplish what He said? Then you are blessed! When we ask the Lord, “How can this be?” let us be sure to ask with the heart of Mary, believing and trusting.


Susan

The Real White Christmas

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Here’s a post of mine from last year:



Bing Crosby may have been dreaming of a white Christmas, but Jesus can make it a reality for you.




“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18



Scarlet was the color of a deep-red permanent dye, virtually impossible to remove from clothing. The stain of sin may seem equally permanent, but God can remove sin’s stain from our life just as He promised to do for the Israelites. God’s Word assures us that if we are willing and obedient (v.19), God will forgive and remove our most indelible stains. He will make us “as clean as freshly fallen snow” (NLT).




“Cleanse me, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 Because David was truly repentent for committing adultery and murder, God mercifully forgave him. No sin is too bad to be forgiven! Sometimes, I feel separated from God because of having done something wrong. Do you? Well, nothing could be further from the truth. God is waiting for us to confess and repent, to “come clean” as the saying goes, so He can make us truly clean and restore that close fellowship that He longs to have with us.


May this Christmas be one of reconcilation with the God who emptied Himself, took on the appearance of a human and the position of a servant, died the death of a criminal – the death that we deserved, then rose from the dead in total victory! (see Phil. 2)

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
 

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
Praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!


Susan

God’s Eye View

Posted on by Susan Panzica
As the plane began its descent, I spotted a familiar circular building, a hotel on NJ’s Route 80. Knowing it was near my home, I scanned the landscape for other familiar landmarks. There’s the Garden State Plaza, Ikea and my house! Continuing to focus out the window, I spotted Route 46, Teterboro Airport with its tiny white planes scattered on the tarmac, two Giant Stadiums side-by-side next to the watery Meadowlands landscape. I spotted Lady Liberty, gracefully welcoming visitors amid the busyness of New York City and Port Newark.
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As we neared Newark Airport, I spied stacks of brightly colored containers that looked like a Crayola box, but were in fact huge trailers. There were boats in the port unloading their container cargo, trains racing, planes taxiing, and cars, trucks & buses speeding along the roadways. This birds-eye view enabled me to see a wide spectrum of activity so familiar to me, yet never seen all at once. Since I am usually on the ground amid all this activity, I can never see what is beyond my sight distance. I don’t know that around the bend may be a dangerous accident or that there is a fire burning a few miles away. I am limited in my vision because I am on the ground. But up here in the sky, I can see the bigger picture.
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Hmmm, maybe that’s why I can trust that God knows more than me! I can only see with limited vision, but He can see the big picture. He knows my past, my present and my future. My own memory of my past is colored by various emotions. My present may be pretty clear at the moment. But my future is a complete unknown. And I can only discern that which is in my immediate vicinity. But God can see it all. He knows when I stand and when I sit (Ps 139:2). He knows when you stand and sit. He knows when his child on the other side of the world stands and sits. He knows who I will meet tomorrow. Is there anything He doesn’t know? I don’t know! But He does!
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So our challenge is to fully put our trust in a God who fully deserves it. When we totally grasp that He is not limited as we are, we are able to release what we hold onto and leave it in His capable arms.
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. .
Broken Dreams
By: Author Unknown
..
As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.
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But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
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At last I snatched them back and cried,
“How could you be so slow”
“My child,” He said, “What could I do?
You never did let go.”
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Will you let go to the God who sees it all ?

Susan

When the Son Don’t Shine

Posted on by Susan Panzica

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

Big Fruit!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

$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
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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

Driven or Led??

Posted on by Susan Panzica

These words today come from my new friend on the web, Jeannette. She is a gifted writer who posted these words from her journal on her blog, and has given me permission to share them with you.

Jesus was not driven. He was led. If you’re driven, there is a furious fire that is never quenched, growing larger and hotter and more dangerous. If you’re led, you are always listening for My voice, and your heart is open to changes I may make in your agenda. There is no panic or force. If you are aggressive, it is not because you fear—it’s because I’m leading you to be bold. If you are quiet and restful it’s not from laziness, but My hand of peace upon you.

You can be like Jesus if you are willing to follow and not insist on “leading your own life.” Leading is my job. I know how.

Teach me how to follow, dear Lord. Give me a heart to obey, in Jesus’ Name.

Jeanette

In The Middle

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Today we are in the middle.
Yesterday was Good Friday –
the pain of suffering,
despair, heartache,
the event that left us full of tears
Tomorrow is Easter –
the joy of new life,
resurrection,
rising from the ashes of pain
Today we are just in the middle-
the preparing for tomorrow’s feast,
tomorrow’s worship,
tomorrow’s new garments

Do you ever feel – in the middle? Having survived tragedy or loss, but still waiting for the future hope and peace that is promised? We must wait, but not as those with no hope. It was while Jesus was waiting that He set the captives free.

When I was in Israel, one of the most powerful moments for me was at the Garden Tomb. I entered the empty tomb, and after my eyes adjusted to the darkness saw the white garments folded on the stone bench. When I turned to exit the tomb and enter the light, there was a sign that read:

“He is not here;
he has risen,
just as he said.”
Matt. 28:6

Seeing those words in that place was a powerful reminder that He has risen – JUST AS HE SAID! What else did He say?

We have been healed:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”-1 Peter 2:24

We have a future:
“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.” – Jeremiah 29:11

So we must:
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Titus 1:2
“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.” Hebrews 12:2-3

Today, while still in the middle, this is my prayer for you:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

May you have a most blessed Resurrection Day! May you rejoice with Him who rose from the dead to give you eternal life, who endured the darkness to bring us with Him into the light. And may you be preparing for the ultimate feast, worship and garments yet to come!!

Susan

Wisdom From Lauren, the Textmaster !

Posted on by Susan Panzica

My daughter’s response to my post about texting is worth a post of her own.

How thankful am I to have a daughter with such great wisdom and insight! I could joke about how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree or how I did such a great job imparting my wisdom, but the truth is I have made my fair share of mistakes along the way, and I know many moms who have excelled at parenting only to see their child make poor choices or face many trials along the way. So I know that it is by the grace of God alone that I can be proud of my daughter’s wisdom and accomplishments.

Here’s her comment to yesterday’s post:

When you text someone, its easy to read their text with expressions because you know exactly how they meant it. When people don’t text as much, I feel like the texts are more on a factual basis. The same thing can be related to God. The more we text, or read the Bible, the easier it is to see the expression, and know what His will is. If we don’t read as much, we can still say we are Christians, but its more of a factual basis instead of a relationship in which we delve into expressing ourselves with the love we have for our Lord and Savior.

In today’s fast-paced society, we often hear that spending “quality time” with our kids is more important than “quantity time.” But the truth is that there is no adequate substitute for spending ample amounts of time together when it comes to developing real relationships. Having 2 aunts that I equally adore, one here in NJ, the other in Arizona, taught me that it is easier to recognize the voice on the phone when speaking with my local aunt who I spent more time with. The more time we spend in communication the easier it is to recognize the unseen voice. The same with God. The more time spent in prayer and Bible reading, the easier it is to recognize His voice.

Let’s all commit to spending both “quality time” and “quantity time” with the Lord and with our loved ones!! Thanks, Lauren, for the insight!!
Susan

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate

Posted on by Susan Panzica
I received this email, and since we won’t be having hot chocolate much longer, thought I’d better share it soon! Enjoy!


A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were discussing their lives at a class reunion. They decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired, who was always an inspiration to them.

During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work, lives and relationships.

Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups. Some cups were porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. He invited each to help themselves to the hot chocolate.

When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor shared his thoughts.

“Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

“The cup that you are drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases, it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.

“What each of you really wanted was hot chocolate. You did not want the cup… but you consciously went for the best cups.

“And soon, you began to eye one another’s cups. Now friends, please consider this…

“Life is the hot chocolate … your job, money and position in society are the cups.

“They are just tools to hold and contain life.

“The cup you have does not define, nor does it change, the quality of life you are living.

“Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.”

Always, remember this ……..

God brews the hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup.

The happiest people don’t have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything they have!

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

The richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.

Susan