Category: fear

An Invitation from the Speaker of the House!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

As I walked into church on Sunday, I was met by my beloved friend, Rose, who greets everyone with the hugest smile ever!
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As she handed me the bulletin, Rose noticed that I was to be the speaker at our annual Ladies Tea this year. She commented that I have been doing a lot of speaking lately! (Not a lot really – but more than she has!) Then she declared that I was the Speaker of the House! We roared with laughter!
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If only she knew (and she will after Saturday night) the journey that God has taken me on to bring me to the point where I can stand in front of people, much less speak. When I was a child, my mother’s motto was that children should be seen and not heard. She meant in front of company, of course, but I fit the bill perfectly. If being quiet was the standard of proper behavior, I was a model child. But, the truth is that I was very far from a model child, just a quiet one! I was painfully shy and riddled with fears. My fears morphed and grew over the years to monumentable proportions.
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So this Saturday, please join me as I share about the journey that God has brought me – to face these fears and bring me freedom. It will be a wonderful evening with extraordinary special music, delicious food and raffles of beautiful baskets, gift certificates and other items.
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Here’s the info:
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Saturday, June 6, 2009 . . . 5:30pm
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High Mountain Church of the Nazarene
681 High Mountain Rd., No. Haledon, NJ
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$15 per person
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Call the church office for tickets:
973-427-2575
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Hope to see you there!
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Susan

Things not said . . .

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Last night, I was the speaker at a Ladies Tea. It was a perfectly lovely evening in every way. The theme of the evening was “You are the light of the world.” My message looked at why we may experience darkness, and how we can let our light shine. It was full of my trademark word pictures and illustrations. I had used candles in my presentation, and unknown to me, their theme song for the week leading up to the tea (Missions Week) was “Light Your Candle.” My friend and I joked “It’s a God thing!”

So why did I feel unsettled when it was over? The truth is – I knew that my message was not what it could have been. Not what it should have been.

It didn’t occur to me until afterwards that what was missing was my personal testimony of how God met me in a dark place and how He delivered me into His light. I’m still not quite sure why I hadn’t thought of that earlier, but perhaps it’s because He wants me to share it with an even wider audience. And so, tomorrow I will share my story with you.

Today, I’m thinking about things not said. Now to be honest, many people, including me, have regrets about things that they did say. Words spoken in anger or out of spite. Words spoken in haste. Words spoken before thinking. Open mouth, insert foot. And I have certainly had my fair share of those moments. But, for me, I have even more regrets about things I have left unsaid. Times that I was silent for God. Times that I wasn’t honest in saying how I feel. Times when afterward I would say all those things I’d wanted to say, but say them to my steering wheel or showerhead.

Why? Why did I keep silent when I knew I should have spoken?
Out of fear. To avoid confrontation. To appear to be a better person than I am. There are many reasons why. None of them good.

I know that there are times when I should keep silent and times when I should speak up. Scripture says there’s “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Eccl. 3:7
It’s how to know when to be silent and when to speak that requires discernment first, and then the boldness to speak or the patience to remain silent. To help me along, I memorized two Bible verses:

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col. 4:6
and
“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent…” Prov. 17:28
or as an olden proverb says: “It’s better to be silent and be thought a a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

Now when I find myself unsure about whether to speak up or remain silent (but silently speak to God), I pray and ask God to bring one of these verses to mind. Then I can act with the confidence that comes from knowing that I am in God’s will whether I speak or keep silent.

Susan

You Say, God Says

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Some time ago, I received the following email:

*****
You say: “It’s impossible.”
God says: “All things are possible.” Luke 18:27

You say: “I’m too tired.”
God says: “I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28-30

You say: “Nobody really loves me.”
God says: “I love you.” John 3:16&34

You say: “I can’t go on.”
God says: “My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Cor. 12:9

You say: “I can’t figure things out.”
God says: “I will direct your steps.” Prov. 3:5-6

You say: “I can’t do it.”
God says: “You can do all things.” Phil. 4:13

You say: “I’m not able.”
God says: “I am able.” 2 cor. 9:8

You say: “It’s not worth it.”
God says: “It will be worth it.” Rom. 8:28

You say: “I can’t forgive myself.”
God says: “I forgive you.” 1 John 1:9, Rom. 8:1

You say: “I can’t manage.”
God says: “I will supply all your needs.” Phil. 4:19

You say: “I’m afraid.”
God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” 2 Tim. 1:7

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.”
God says: “Cast all your cares on ME.” 1 Peter 5:7

You say: “I’m not smart enough.”
God says: “I give you wisdom.” 1 Cor. 1:30

You say: “I feel all alone.”
God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Heb. 13:5

*****
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Why is it so easy to listen to the voice of the deceiver? The band, Casting Crowns, sings:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
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Won’t you listen to the voice of truth? When you hear those lies and accusations, won’t you choose to listen to the voice of truth? Philippians 4:8 says
“Finally, ‘sisters’,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.”
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This is an instruction = “Think on these things” – not a suggestion or a wishful thinking = not “try to think…”
God would not instruct us to do something that is not possible to do. When you catch yourself drifting into false thoughts, lasso those thoughts – “take every thought captive.” Several years ago, my friend, Ashley, was facing a very difficult time. Pregnant with a very sick baby, her thoughts often drifted to worry. So she decided to make a list of what is true, noble, etc. She had so many listed under “true” that she went no further. When her thoughts drifted to worry, she pulled out her list to remove those thoughts and replace them with truths from the Word.
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The result of applying this Scripture to your thoughtlife? The verses before and after Phil. 4:8 tell us the peace of God will guard your heart and mind (v.7) and the God of peace will be with you (v.9). Your thoughts are surrounded by the bookends of peace!
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“Thou wilt keep her in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because she trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3
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Susan

Fear Is A Four Letter Word

Posted on by Susan Panzica

For as long as I can remember, fear has been a most unwelcome companion of mine, a curse you might say. I’ve tried to raise my children to be strong in the face of fear so that they would not have to deal with some of the stuff I’ve endured. But my dog? Well, she’s just a scaredy-dog!

She absolutely loves people, sometimes too much. My daughter says that Roxie has no concept of personal space. When visitors are over, she is right in their face, her tail wagging her whole body. But she does not like other dogs, no sir-ree. On our walk today, we came across the tiniest dog. Quaking with fear, she ran behind my legs and encircled the leash around them. I nearly fell over. It was not pretty!

Later, the plumber arrived. Roxie would have loved to be right under the sink with him, so I had to block her off. And what did I use? Something else she is afraid of – paper bags!

So here is Roxie trapped in the dining room behind four empty paper bags from my morning grocery shopping excursion. If she so much as sneezed, they’d blow over. But now, she is a prisoner of her own fears.

Too often, what we are afraid of is just substance of our own making. You have probably heard of the acronym F-E-A-R = False Evidence Appearing Real. It’s true that some fears are based on very real situations (a diagnosis from the doctor, a child or spouse in the military, job layoffs, economic disasters), but unfortunately, all too often, it’s just our emotions run amok.

While on the retreat a few weeks ago, the group leaders shared a common thread that was mentioned in each of the groups. When discussing what prevented the group members from fufilling God’s calling in their lives, most mentioned fear. Fear of speaking to someone, fear of taking a stand, fear of moving out of their comfort zone, fear of the unknown, fear of repercussions, fear of failure, and so on.

Over the years, I’ve learned that there is only one fear we ought to have – the fear of the Lord. There is nothing else to fear. I’ve heard that “fear not” appears 365 times in the Word. This means that there is a “fear not” for every single day! Fear has served a purpose in my life. It has kept me on my knees. I know God can supernaturally remove it, and He has done so on occasion. But, if He doesn’t, I understand that it causes me to go to Him.

When the entire nation of Israel was terrified of the giant Goliath, young David had another perspective. He utters one of my favorite verses in the Bible, “Who is this uncircumcized Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” When I am facing a fearful situation, I now try to keep an eternal perspective, and not feel overpowered by it.

These verses have ministered greatly to me:
“Thou wilt keep (her) in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because (s)he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”1 John 4:18
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:4
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind..” 2 Tim. 1:7

What is it that you are facing today? If you seriously think about it, is it just a paper bag? Or is it real? Can you see beyond the immediate situation to view this problem from an eternal viewpoint? Whether real or not, will you make it a matter of prayer today? Will you send me an email or a comment so that I can pray for and with you?

In those famous words of FDR, for most of us “there is nothing to fear, but fear itself.”
Susan


ps – On Saturday, June 6th, I will be speaking at High Mountain’s Ladies Tea on this subject of fear. Won’t you join us? It’s a great event. I’m sure you’ll be blessed.

Fear Not!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I recently joined an online writer’s group where the moderators ask a question, and members email their responses to each other. I read and I learn, but I don’t usually share anything because I am so new to this writing “gig” that I feel I don’t have something worthy to share. This week’s question, though, was one in which I (unfortunately) have a great deal of experience: “What are you afraid of?” The question, of course, related to the field of writing, but I felt led to share what I will now share with you as well.

Since I will be speaking at a Ladies Tea in June on the subject of fear, I have had this on my mind. If you are coming to the Tea and want to be surprised, stop reading here. But this is a preview of what I’ll be sharing.

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Fear has been a constant companion all my life. One of my biggest fears has always been the fear of public speaking. I’ve heard that the fear of public speaking is the #1 fear in this country. The #2 fear is death. That means that at a funeral, the average person would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy! Jerry Seinfeld said that, and it’s the only punchline I can ever remember, probably because it hits so close to home.

Over the years, I’ve learned that there is only one fear we ought to have – the fear of the Lord. There is nothing else to fear. I’ve heard that “fear not” appears 365 times in the Word. This means that there is a “fear not” for every single day! Fear has served a purpose in my life. It keeps me on my knees. I know God can supernaturally remove it, and He has done so on occasion. But, if He doesn’t, I understand that it causes me to go to Him.

Despite my fears, I have been a speaker for years, but writing is a new endeavor for me. I struggle with whether I am good enough and how much there is to learn about this craft and this industry, but I do not want to be like the servant who buried his talent. We have to give an account someday of what we’ve been entrusted with, and I want to be found faithful.

To me, fear is like the threshold found in a doorway. It prevents me from going further. When I was little, I remember being afraid of participating in a pillow fight my dad was having with my sister. I stood silently at the entrance to the room, even after they invited me to join them. I still find that fear prevents me from moving forward. BUT, as the bride of Christ, I daily choose to allow my Bridegroom to carry me over that threshold, past that fear, leave it behind and enter into a place of peace, free of fear.

These verses have ministered greatly to me:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
“In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:4
Susan