Category: growth

Climate Change

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Yesterday, a patient entered our office declaring, “It’s so hot outside.” Hmmmm… It’s January in New Jersey, how can it be considered “hot”?? Well, at 55 degrees, it was sweltering and came close to setting a record.    

But the same 55 degrees in August would be considered frigid.

Now today it’s down to 35 degrees, a cold snap compared to yesterday, but compared to the 10 degree temperatures we suffered in December, today’s 35 degrees would be considered downright balmy.
This thing is – 55 degrees is 55 degrees.
Period.
If it’s been cold, 55 feels like a heat wave, but if it’s been warm, 55 feels chilly.

It only seems to be cold or warm because of our feelings. The temperature is what it is, but we respond to it differently based upon how we feel at any given moment.

And our feelings are subjective. They are influenced by people around us, circumstances that we can or cannot control, health issues, the slow driver in front of us, the pants that no longer zipper up, the song that reminds us of something we want to forget, hormones (or as Beth Moore says “haaar-mones, ladies”).

How we feel about something doesn’t necessarily reveal the truth of a matter.

One day, my husband can ask, “Are you ready?” and I’ll say, “Just a minute, hon, gotta grab my bag.”

And another day, same question, same 3 words, but I’ll bite his head off. “What do you mean – am I ready? Who do you think you are anyway, the time-dictator? You’re always criticizing how long it takes me to do things. You don’t always have to wait for me. Sometimes, I’m ready on time. Do you think I try to make you wait? This is how long it takes me to get ready, so just hold your horses. Now I gotta grab my tissues and makeup. You made me cry. Thanks a lot.”

Same question. Two different responses depending on how I was feeling.

Our feelings change like the weather, up and down. (Sometimes even because of the weather, right?) And how we feel changes how we perceive things.

But there is something that never changes.

Jesus.

He is who He is – unchanging, fixed, the same yesterday, today and forever. Our temperature may change, but His truth remains the same.

When we are upset or depressed, we must evaluate our feelings against the barometer of God’s Word. What is really the truth? How I feel? Or what God says?

True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. In fact, true peace is found in spite of them. (Philippians 4:6,7)

And speaking of personal climate change, Ron Hutchcraft wrote a wonderful story about how our temperature affects those around us.

http://www.hutchcraft.com/a-word-with-you/your-personal-power/changing-the-climate-6010

His conclusion:
It’s easy to complain about how things are in your family, or how they are at work or how they are at church or at school. But complaining won’t change a thing. Neither will condemning or criticizing or preaching. What is needed where you are is someone who will be what they wish others would be – to lead by contagious example. To step out from a climate that is negative or nasty or stressed or prideful or selfish, and to challenge it, not by their words, but by their actions. Decide how you wish everyone would be in your situation, and then start being it yourself!


Over time, one person can have amazing power to change the atmosphere and to improve the climate. In the places God has put you, why don’t you be the one who quietly leads everyone else to something better? Don’t wait for someone else to change. You have the power to start changing the climate in your personal world.


————




How can you be a climate-changer? What would it take? 

Susan

Elementary, my dear….

Posted on by Susan Panzica
For my birthday, the family and I went to see the new mystery movie, “Sherlock Holmes.” I won’t critique it for you nor will I spoil it for you by giving away any info. But there is one observation that I do want to share with you.
Several times in the movie, we are allowed a vision of what Sherlock Holmes is planning. The director reveals what is about to happen, and then it does happen.
Other times, however, we see Sherlock making observations, but have absolutely no idea what the clue might mean, if it is relevant, or how they will all fit together.
Life with God can be like that, too.
And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, … Ephesians 1:9
Sometimes, His strategy is clear. He reveals to us just what He wants us to do, His perfect plan apparent to our lowly eyes. The Word provides confirmation, and we can take action with the confidence that comes from knowing we are following His will.
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

But there are times when it is all just a complete mystery, and we won’t know the reason for His plan until much later, if in this lifetime at all.

Perhaps we need to mature some more before we are ready to understand:
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 

Or perhaps, He just wants us to trust Him. It is at those times that we walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7) like a child holding hands with her Father. [See my post on that here.]

If you’re like me, you want to know it all – all the “who, what, where, why and  how’s” of  life. But “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1), so by its very nature, the life of faith must contain the unknown.

It’s a wonderful mystery, the greatest story ever told. And we are part of it!

Susan

 

Carpe Annum!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

 

It’s that time again.
A new year.
A new decade, too.
Some people reflect on the past.
Others look ahead.

 
 
 
 
 
Sometimes, God’s Word says to look back and remember.

  • And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, … Exodus 13:3
  • Jesus asked, “You of little faith, … Don’t you remember … ? Matt 16:8-10

And other times, we’re warned against looking back.

  •  No one in the field should go back for anything… Remember Lot’s wife! Luke 17:32
  • Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

Sometimes, we’re encouraged to forget the past and look ahead at the goal.

  • Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
  • But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal … Phil. 3:13-14

Yet, other times, we’re cautioned to just focus on today, not the future.

  • Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. Josh 24:15
  • Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt. 6:34

So confusing –
Do I look back or not?
Do I look ahead or not?
What’s a girl to do?

After compiling 4 pages of Scripture verses on both sides of this issue, I have arrived at the following conclusion:

There is a time to look back and remember, as long as our looking back is not filled with regretting and remorse.
Over and over, when the Lord talks about remembering, it is the covenant He made with His people that He remembers(Gen. 9:15).
Jesus’ closing words to His disciples at the Last Supper include exhortations to “remember the words I spoke to you.” (Jn 15:20)

David remembered the works of God. “I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

As for our sin, that He chooses to forget (Heb. 10:17).
Oh, thank you, Jesus!



Corrie ten Boom said, “When God buries your sins in the deepest sea, He posts a sign that says No Fishing Allowed!”


Time spent rehashing “could’ve, should’ve, would’ve” is time wasted. In a recent email I received, author Cec Murphy said, “No matter how many times I examine the past, there’s nothing I can do to make it different.”


Okay, so here it is –
Remember His words, remember His works, and remember the “great cloud of witnesses” that the writer of Hebrews mentions – those people like us who have gone before us, have had experiences like ours, have been victorious and are now cheering us on in our race of life.


Learning from past mistakes is worthwhile, but regurgitating the past is just futile.

At this time of New Year resolutions, we look back and evaluate how far we’ve come. We look forward and see how far we have to go. We set goals and make plans. My friend, Jean from Encouraging Words, said, “I can usually handle planning my work. But I’ve come to realize that I fall short in the area of working my plan.” How true those words are for me, which is why I often regret looking back.

I recently saw a magazine with the headline, “Carpe Annum!” I so want to seize 2010, but it seems too awesome a task. Yet time is so fleeting. Can you believe Y2K was 10 years ago!! We need to make the most of every opportunity.


The key for me is found in Psalm 118:24:

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”


How do I seize the year? Hmmmm – Carpe Diem – day by day.



The caption above says,
“Every moment is an opportunity for those who are ready to seize it.”


In the movie “Dead Poets Society,” Robin Williams quotes John Keating when he says, “Carpe diem.
Seize the day, boys.
Make your lives extraordinary.”




Well, friends, I guess it’s about time I take my own advice 🙂

Susan

How to Climb Mount Everest!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
Recently, I attended a chiropractic seminar with my husband. The speaker one night was Dr. Tim Warren, who climbed Mount Everest reaching the summit. His talk and slide show were captivating, and his conclusion was a quote by one of the guides (called “sherpas”) who helped lead Dr. Tim and his group up to the summit.

“If you are facing in the right direction,
keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
– Phinjo Sherpa
I just love that quote. So often, we hear motivational quotes regarding the importance of putting one foot in front of the other:

Keep on keepin’ on.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Don’t watch the clock. Do what it does…
keep going. – Sam Levenson
When you come to the end of your rope,
tie a knot and hang on. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Consider the postage stamp:
its usefulness consists in the ability to
stick to one thing till it gets there. – Josh Billings


But, what all these quotes lack is the importance of facing the right direction. Frequently, we’re running a race that is just spinning our wheels, or worse – taking us in the wrong direction – away from the plan God has for us. Jonah put his feet, one in front of the other, but in the wrong direction! Same for Elijah, Jacob, Moses, David, need I go on?

Sometimes, we are trying to reach the mountaintop in our own strength like the Galatians: Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:3

To reach our goal, we must follow the wisdom Paul shared with the Philippians: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers [and sisters], I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:12-14

Our goal is not necessarily the finish line. Peter assures us that we can receive our goal today whether we see it or not. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Climbing Mt. Everest was no easy task. Dr. Warren could not always see his finish line. The journey required a considerable amount of effort, money, time, and committment.

Walking with the Lord is a committment as well, but we have the best Guide ever! He will lead us into all truth, set us in the right direction, strengthen us to keep putting our feet one in front of the other, enable us to scale heights unknown.

Susan

Rejection Correction!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I am just technically challenged, no two ways about it. It’s really a wonder that I can do this blog at all!

In my last post about rejection, I had cut and pasted a Scripture verse [Ps. 94:14] into the post. Unfortunately, it split in two with 1/2 above and 1/2 below my other verse [Prov. 3:5-6]. I have no idea how this happened, but when it did, I lost the link to the Proverbs 31 devo about rejection. So ……

First of all, here’s the correct link to the devotion
(written by Lysa TerKeurst, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries):
http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/2009/11/rejection.html

And while I’m here at the keyboard, I can’t resist adding some additional nuggets 🙂
I have already heard from some of you what a timely topic this was for you, too. From job loss to family issues to friendship hardships, it’s been just tough all around. Some of us are feeling the sting of recent rejection, and some of us are still trying to deal with past rejection, trying to make sense of it, to overcome it, to let the pain of it subside.  Emotions may have been buried, but never confronted, and so they fester only to erupt later.

I want to share with you part of a comment that was left anonymously on the P31 devotion:
“Disappointment is a part of life. Not a pleasant part, but one that affords the opportunity to wallow in self pity like the spoiled brat OR be redirected, realigned, brought into right relationship. Like the merging lane to enter the freeway, disappointment will end and we’ll be on our way- on His straight path- as we trust in Him with all our hearts (Prov 3:5). If the road seems excessively bumpy, I may want to consider if I’ve continued down the side of the road, hanging on to disappointment, instead of following in the direction the LORD has prepared.”

This comment really hit home for me. I don’t think I’m necessarily a “spoiled brat”, but I sure do like to “wallow in self-pity” sometimes. If I don’t want to hang on to disappointment, rejection, or any other emotion that will keep me from enjoying God’s best, I need to readdress my focus (as I’ve shared previously).  Lysa’s devo closed with these encouraging words:

But God’s girls have a beautiful promise tucked in our pocket that lets us smile even when tears puddle in the corner of our eyes. Even when there’s no rainbow, pot of gold, or galloping prince, we have the promise of redemption.


On the other side of every death there will always be a resurrection of some sort. Maybe not a resurrection of our circumstances. And maybe not a resurrection of things lining up like we thought they should. But there will be a resurrection. Jesus has insured that.


Nothing in this world can permanently strip hope from our lives when we know we do “not follow cleverly invented stories…about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” but we follow the reality of the Risen One (2 Peter 1:16, NIV). He is our resurrection.


He is our hope.
He is that beautiful reminder that rejection from man never means rejection from God.
And He is the one who is weaving a story into our life that will one day make sense.


Dear Lord, I know You suffered the sting of rejection in a much more intense way than I ever will. And while this rejection is small in the grand scheme of life, it feels huge in my heart right now. Will You help me process this? Will You help me see past it? Will You let this fragile heart feel the warmth of Your acceptance and love today? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thanks to Lysa and the anonymous commenter for adding such timely insights!
Susan

Focus → Refocus

Posted on by Susan Panzica

A little while ago, I shared about focus and how it is so easy to focus on the 1% negative instead of the 99% positive. Last week in Bible study, one of the women made a sweet comment that Ashley’s hair was so beautiful and my nails were so nice. She didn’t say anything about anyone else in the room. Don’t you know my first thought was “What’s wrong with my hair?” Why, oh why, do we women do this to ourselves?

On a walk in the arboretum near my house, I again spotted my rainbow in the spray. I wanted to get a better look, so I moved past the tree to my right, and the rainbow disappeared!

A step back to my previous position and the rainbow returned. In order to see the rainbow, I had to be in the right place and to be looking in the right direction.
And to see the promises of God, I also need spiritually to be in the right place and to be looking in the right direction. When Paul says, “Think on these things…” (Phil 4:8), it is an instruction to us – “Do this… Think this…” God would not instruct us to do something if we would not be able to do it.
Years ago, my friend Ashley, the one with the great hair, went through a difficult time. Tests revealed that the baby she was carrying was very sick, a chromosome anomoly. It was uncertain how long her baby would live. Ashley was faced with worries most of us could never imagine. To combat her fears, she put Paul’s words to the test. She decided to make a list of “whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely,  admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.” As she wrote, she realized that she didn’t even have to go past “true.” With Ashley’s permission, here is her list:

Whatever is true:

1. The Lord gives strength to His people
2. The Lord blesses His people with peace Ps. 29:11
3. For You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb Ps.139:13
4. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear. I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
5. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job5:9
6. Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23

Whatever is noble:
1. This is what God the Lord says-
     He who created the heavens and stretches them out
     Who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it
     Who gives breath to its people and life to those who walk on it:
     I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness
     I will take hold of your hand. Isaiah 42:5-6
2. For God is the King of all the earth
    Sing to Him a psalm of praise
    God reigns over the nations
    God is seated on His holy throne. Psalm 47:7,8
For the remainder of her pregnancy and baby Laura’s short life, Ashley’s list kept her thoughts from racing in a downward spiral. Throughout her trial, Ashley and her husband were beacons of light to those around them. At the funeral, the pastor said that baby Laura was like a shooting star that he and his family saw while star-gazing on a recent camping trip. For a brief moment, all attention was given to this shooting star. And for a brief while, with all attention on Laura and her family, God’s light in them shone in the darkness. In their grief, they were able to comfort others with the comfort they received from the Lord. 2 Cor. 1:3-4
Be in the right place and be looking in the right direction, and the promises of God will be all you can see!

Susan

Your Roots Are Showing

Posted on by Susan Panzica
“But blessed is the (woman) man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in Him.
(She) He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8







Once a month or so, my pup and I have “Grooming Day”! She visits the groomer, and across the street, I get my nails done. This Thursday was a triple grooming experience as I needed to have my hair done as well.


 I hadn’t visited my wonderful hairdresser, Nina, since May. You can imagine the mess. I need regular touchups to cover the gray, but I had to confess that I had been cheating on Nina. I was using a product called Root Touchup which got me through the summer, but that only takes care of a small portion of my head. My roots needed real attention, and thanks to AnnMarie & Nina, on Thursday, they got it.

The Bible has something to say about our roots from a spiritual perspective. Jeremiah tells us that the woman who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him, is blessed. And it’s not just feeling blessed, it’s a blessing with tangible benefits.



(She) He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.




The roots of a tree planted by the water naturally grow in the direction of the water. They stretch out to be fed by the stream. They search for that life-giving source. They don’t wait for a gardener to show up with a watering can. Likewise, we ought to seek the life-giving flow of Living Water, the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to nourish us, not just depending upon a church sermon or Sunday School class to feed us.





It does not fear when heat comes;


The droughts in California cause the timber to be bone dry allowing a tiny spark to ignite a devastating fire. But wetlands have no fear of the fire. If we have partaken of ample Living Water, we need have no fear of the heat when it comes – and note, Jeremiah says “when” heat comes, not “if” it comes. We can be sure that heat will come, but if our roots are well watered, we will be like that tree standing firm.





its leaves are always green.


Years ago, my friend, Therese, and I sat in a car under tree near a streetlight for hours sharing our hearts. It was autumn, and we noticed that most of the leaves had fallen off the tree, except for one area of the tree near the light. The light kept the leaves on that part of the tree green and alive reminding us of our need to stay near our source of life-giving Light.





It has no worries in a year of drought


Why wouldn’t the tree have worries in a drought? Because it has stored up enough water to sustain it during dry periods. There is no doubt that we will have dry periods, too. But that is not a cause for worry. The Bible calls itself our spiritual food (milk and meat). I’ve heard it said that sometimes reading the Bible is like dessert, so delicious we could savor every morsel. Sometimes, it’s like cereal, a bit dry, but we eat to sustain us and provide building blocks for growth. And still other times, it’s like medicine. It may not satisfy our tastebuds, but it provides healing. Drought or not, we ought not to worry (Matt. 6:33, Phil. 4:6).





and never fails to bear fruit.


The by-product of abiding in the Vine is bearing fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is not like a gift of the Spirit which is given at the discretion of the Giver. Fruit is the consequence of obeying and remaining with Jesus, the Vine. An apple tree can’t produce more fruit by force or wishful thinking. No huffing & puffing on the part of the tree will result in more fruit. Fruit is produced on a branch that is firmly attached, is fed, watered and in the light . . . over a period of time.






One last thing about roots – the Bible tells us that we if we miss the grace of God, a bitter root can grow and cause trouble (Heb. 12:15) and that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). These are roots to be avoided because they will poison the tree.






The roots are what sustain the tree. No more root touchups here! Let’s make sure our roots are firmly planted, stretching toward living water, free from fear and worry, and bearing good fruit. Then we can be proud to say our roots are showing!






Susan

Splendor in the Ordinary

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Last night, some friends and I attended a minor league baseball game.
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Parking Fee: $2.00
Entrance Fee: $7.00
Piece of Americana: Priceless

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It was so much fun watching and participating in this all-American sport – being at this small venue, rooting for the home team, eating hot dogs (my son, not me!), seeing the local advertisers. And after the game – a terrific fireworks display.
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I noticed that during the fireworks, the ground crew was busy on the field, in the dark, cleaning up the infield, going about their business, paying no attention whatsoever to the splendor above them.
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And I wondered…
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How often do I go about my business, running errands, cleaning up my home, and fail to notice the spendor all around me?
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How often do I miss the plants, green all summer, that burst into bloom now in the fall? The photos of my loved ones on the windowsill that might need dusting, but really need a prayer today? The sun behind the clouds providing warmth and light? The stars and moon illuminating the night sky like jewels on velvet?
..
How often to I take for granted my abilities just to do my ordinary tasks? To be thankful for limbs that work, eyes that see, ears that hear? To appreciate my voice that can’t sing a note on key, but can be heard by my children, sharing words of encouragement? To be grateful for the heart that pumps without my notice, the lungs that breathe in comingled air – take in needed oxygen – and expel the rest, the tiny circulating white blood cell soldiers combating infection, all without my notice?
..
How often do I grumble rather than thank my Provider for my home that needs work? my clutter that represents memories of sweet days gone by? my other clutter demanding my attention which, in time, I am able to provide?
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Do I resent the intrusion of cell phones that keeps my kids fingers texting at the dinner table or do I thank the Lord for technology that allows me to keep in touch with them in their language while they are away at college? that even took the picture above capturing my moment of inspiration?
..
Sharing this with my husband, he said, “The crew sees the fireworks every night. They just wanna go home.” And that is true enough. But there is splendor in our every day experiences that we miss because they become ordinary to us.
…
Today, I encourage you to take notice of God’s presence in the ordinary. Your day will not be the same!
.

Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you
who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thess.5:18


Susan

A Desperate Day – A Glorious Day

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Sept 1st.
.
I set the date weeks ago.
The day both kids are off at college.
The day I will become organized, disciplined, focused.
The day I will start my healthy regimen of both diet and exercise.
The day I will block out a schedule for Tuesdays and Thursdays
(the days I don’t work from 8 am to 8 pm).
The day I set with Cheri, my accountability partner.
The day I woke up on my own at 6 am, eager to get started!
The day I went back to sleep, woke up at 7 am, went back to sleep and finally crawled out of bed at 8 am. Ugh!
The day I decided to go for a long brisk walk with my dog, but stopped to load some new Travis Cottrell worship cd’s onto my ipod first. Oh boy!
The day I stopped by the computer to check my email before I picked up my Bible to check in with the Lord. Uh-oh!
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Just yesterday I wrote about Christians who rarely read the Bible settling for just an experiential relationship with the Lord. I knew when I wrote it that I was the “chiefest of sinners” in this matter, and that I was speaking to myself as much as anyone else, yet here I was the very next day doing the same old bad habits.
I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
I want to do what is good, but I don’t.
I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Oh, what a miserable person I am!
Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin…?
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 7:18-19, 24-25 NLT
. .
I saw in my email that Cheri was organizing, exercising, being accountable.
Like I was supposed to be.
.
I had a choice.
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I could say, “Today is lost already. I’ll just start Thursday instead.”
Or I could say, “Okay, you lost a few hours, but get moving now!”
I chose the second.
And my day went from desperate to glorious.
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As Roxie and I set out, the day was perfect. When I entered the neighborhood arboretum where I walk, I turned to the left instead of my normal route to the right and witnessed some beautiful new sights along the way as I worshipped the Lord with my new tunes!
A new gazebo was being installed.
A rainbow shimmered in the spray of the fountain.
A family of ducks gently skimmed their way across the pond.
A new bench was under the trees near a grove of 8 foot tall magnificent plants I never saw before.
My 20 minute excursion lasted almost an hour.
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At the beginning of our walk, Roxie rubbed her face on the ground because of the Gentle Leader around her nose (see her feelings about that here.) After a warning from me, she continued to walk ahead of me, but would often turn around to check to see if she was on the right track.
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After the Lord so gently chided me, I plan to keep checking with Him to make sure I’m on the right track!
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So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
And because you belong to Him,
the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin.
Romans 8:1-2
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My accountability email from Cheri ended with these words, “There are obvious blessings in this day……….and some not so easily recognized! I hope He makes you aware of all of them!!!!”
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I’m thanking God that so far He made me aware of many of them, and I’m anticipating more to come!
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If you would like to join me in my quest for discipline, please let me know. You can comment on the blog or privately send me an email. We can be accountability partners through the miracle of the internet! Let us encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today… Heb. 3:13


the new gazebo . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the rainbow in the spray

the new bench by the grove

Susan

By Person AND By Letter

Posted on by Susan Panzica

With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. 2 Thess. 2:15 NLT
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Preparing for my Sunday School class last week, this Scripture verse caught my attention. We have been studying the letters Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, a church born in the midst of struggle. In his 2nd letter, Paul corrected their errors and encouraged them again to stand firm in the face of persecution. He urged them to “keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.” The Thessalonians heard from Paul both in person and by letter.
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Likewise, we need to hear from God both in person and by letter.

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Supernaturally, by the Holy Spirit, we can experience the presence of God. We sense His leading. We feel His peace. We are strengthened by His power. We can hear from God in person.
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We also hear from God through the Bible, His love letter to us, His children. The words in the Word are “living and active.” They are not merely ink on a page. They speak directly to our hearts in miraculous ways.
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The danger is when our relationship with God is one OR the other.

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I know some Christians who have an entirely experiential relationship with God. They rarely read the Bible. They don’t ever memorize Scripture. They attend Christian functions, listen to Christian radio and music, shoot off prayer requests, even serve in ministry. But they depend upon experiences alone to hear from God. Maybe a word from the pulpit or from another Christian hits a nerve. But without reading the Bible on their own, they are like a boat without an anchor. They drift along from experience to experience without any foundation. In the book of Acts, Luke tells us that he Beareans were considered more noble than those in Thessalonica because after they heard the word from Paul, they searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was saying was true. Likewise, we must partake of our spiritual food (milk as babes, then meat) to grow into mature Christians. When we speak we use words, when God speaks, He uses His Word.
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I know other Christians who are scholars in the Word. They can cite verse and address and put myself to shame. But the danger here is that it is just head knowledge. An old tract was titled, “Missing Heaven By 18 Inches” because 18 inches is the distance between our head and our heart. We can store up much information in our brains, but if we lack love, we are just a resounding gong and will be lacking the other fruits of the Spirit – joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
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Today, would you join me and let’s examine ourselves?
Let us always seek to hear from God both in person and by letter!
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Susan