Category: i am…

To Be a Child of God

Posted on by Susan Panzica

John 1-12

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  

 

 

 

Can you feel the love??

Posted on by Susan Panzica

disciple Jesus loved

 

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.

Be A Sheep!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
I was a sheep yesterday.
I didn’t plan to be a sheep. After a particularly long work day, I planned to put my feet up, zone out a little on Facebook, and maybe get to bed early in preparation for a big event the next night.
But a tiny sentence on Facebook set in motion other plans. A friend asking for prayer indicated she was down, at “rock bottom.” Struggles that had been increasing in the past year now threatened to sink her.

I called to see if she wanted company, and was honestly surprised that she did. So over I went. And in the end, I was never so glad to put aside my plans for His.
I didn’t do anything noteworthy. Just sat on the couch with her so she didn’t have to cry alone. No special skills needed.
So often, we think that to do God’s work, we need an exceptional anointing, a wealth of Bible knowledge, remarkable speaking or leadership abilities,when all God really wants is someone willing to set aside their own agenda for His. [Tweet this] 
Matthew 25 tells us that in the end, the King will separate the sheep from the goats. The distinction between them is who gave of themselves – who gave something to eat, drink, or wear, who welcomed a stranger or a prisoner into their company. The King says when we do that for the “least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.”
To serve the King, we don’t need special skills. We don’t need anything more than a willingness to be used by the King.
It’s such a simple message, but one I learned anew last night. Despite how tired I felt going to my friend’s home, I felt infinitely lighter, stronger, and renewed in spirit on the way home. To be used by God in a small matter is no small matter at all.. [Tweet this] 


What can you do today to be a sheep?

photo credit: Lightstock.com  



Who do YOU Say I am?

Posted on by Susan Panzica


photo credit: Brianna Campos

When the enemy tears at our souls, he uses tactics to convince us that we aren’t worthy. He entices us to compare ourselves to other people, to focus on our flaws, to remind us of our failings. We see an obscured picture of the truth that God wants us to see and to possess and to act upon.

The truth is that God is very clear about who HE says we are:

To continue reading, click on over to visit with me at Circles of Faith OR at Laced With Grace.

i am a Servant

Posted on by Susan Panzica



Jimmy is a simple man. In pretty much every way. Occasionally cantankerous, he stands guard over his domain – the church’s kitchen – keeping the younger generation safely outside its borders. He stands at the sanctuary’s entrance, anticipating his opportunity to usher the offering and communion plates. He has few wants and fewer needs. To some, he’s almost invisible, and he prefers it that way.
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On retreat one year, Alice and her senior friends were struggling at the food line. At least, so it seemed to me. Alice’s cane hooked over her arm as she slid the heavy plastic tray along the metal bar. I rushed over to carry their trays.
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Gently, Alice assured me she needed no help from me.
“When we get to the end, Jimmy will be there.”
And sure enough, when the gals got to the end, Jimmy was there ready to carry the trays to their table. He had been doing that for every meal. Where had I been?

The impact of Alice’s statement took me from the dining hall to the pearly gates. When Jimmy gets to the end, he will be there. He is a faithful servant seeking nothing in return, investing his talents in the lives of others. It was to those who had invested their talents that the Master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”


“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: … taking the very nature of a servant.” Phil. 2:1-7

Unlike biblical times, we are a servants by choice, not of a harsh master, but of a loving and kind one. In fact, our Master knows what it is to be a servant. He said that He Himself came not to be served, but to serve, and He set an example for us to follow. It is not hard to serve our Lord and Master because of His character.

The great price He paid for us gives us security, freeing us from worry. A servant doesn’t need to worry about where his next house payment is coming from, where his next meal is coming from. The servant knows that the Master has taken care of all that the servant needs, maybe not every desire, but certainly all the needs. A servant is a demanding full-time, life-time job, but with wonderful long-term benefits.

Being a servant means relinquishing control to the Master. In today’s culture where it is almost fashionable to be a “control-freak,” it goes against the very fabric of our society to voluntarily yield to another’s wishes. But 2000 years ago, faced with the daunting charge of birthing and mothering the Son of God, young Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” She surely had other plans – to be married to a godly carpenter, honorably raising a devout Jewish family, respected in her hometown. However, in identifying herself as a servant, she surrendered control and set aside her desires to satisfy those of her Master.

To be a servant, we don’t need to have all the answers or abilities. In fact, we find God’s strength more glorified when we serve Him in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The old adage goes, “God is not looking for our ability, but our avail-ability.” He wants a willing servant that He can work through.


Check out this list:

the 3 patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; Moses; Joshua; Ruth; Hannah; Samuel; David; Solomon; Elijah; Nehemiah; Job; Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego; Daniel; Mary; Jesus; Paul; Peter; James; Timothy; John…
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This list could be a Who’s Who of important, influential people in the Bible, yet each one was called or called themselves a servant of the Lord. As you embrace the identity of a servant, what might your future hold?

“Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10



i am an Ambassador

Posted on by Susan Panzica

The first day of school brings a cacophony of sounds – humming engines of school buses; children laughing, yelling, crying; moms laughing, yelling, crying; and Donna’s loud cheerful greetings.
Donna is my neighbor, my friend, and part of our neighborhood Bible study. One day, Donna announced that she just got her dream job – the crossing guard at our local elementary school, the school she attended as a child. I just love that of all the jobs in all the word, this was her dream. Through heat waves, cold spells, rain, hail, sleet and snow, and beautiful days too, Donna mans her post with a smile.
But she is more than a crossing guard. She is our neighborhood’s ambassador for Christ. Her focus is not just the physical safety of the children. Week after week, Donna brought prayer requests to our study group. Often she brought a friend, sometimes a parent she met at her post. If a neighbor was sick, she spread the news so that we could provide assistance. She could just focus on the required elements of her job, but instead she sees beyond the physical to the spiritual needs.
What is an ambassador?
“An authorized messenger or representative. Often, a diplomatic official, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative.”
An ambassador is someone who lives in a place other than his or her true home and serves to represent that true home to others. Ambassadors must live in foreign, maybe hostile, environments and convey the virtues of their native land, encouraging others to travel there, to invest/trade there, to move there. As Christians, our home is the kingdom of heaven. We are to encourage others to make the kingdom their home as well. We must represent the kingdom in a way that draws people unto our King.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…” 2 Cor. 5:20
Perhaps we assume that it is someone else’s job to be an ambassador. A minister or a Sunday School teacher or a traveling evangelist. Someone better equipped to handle God’s Word. But in this paragraph, Paul says “if ANYone is in Christ, he is a new creation. … WE are Christ’s ambassadors, God is making his appeal through US.” Through you and me. If God can use a donkey and a crossing guard, I have to believe He can use me, and you too. We don’t need to preach a sermon. We just need to share our experience. “All I know is this – once I was blind, now I see.”
I am a Christian today because someone was His ambassador to me. Is there someone you can bring God’s grace to? 

i am a Shepherd

Posted on by Susan Panzica
You might think for a shepherd post, I’d choose to highlight my pastor who is indeed an awesome shepherd of our flock. You might pick your pastor too. Maybe that’s why I didn’t. We often associate the job of the pastor with the identity of a shepherd. In fact, we often confuse our profession with our identity. Randomly ask someone “Who are you?” and the answer might be “I’m an accountant… a teacher… a stay-at-home mom… etc…”
The truth is our identity is not what we do, but who we are. And who we are is what determines what we will do. For example, if we are a shepherd, we will care for our sheep. Not because it is our profession, but because it is how we are made.
In the weeks to come, I will be sharing “people posts,” posts about people who demonstrate a particular biblical identity. And I do believe there will be some surprises, unexpected choices. In fact, every one of the people you will read about was shocked that I asked to write about them. Like Dee Silva. Dee is the front end manager of a local gourmet food store, and my kids’ first boss.
I shop in the Market Basket often. It’s on my way to work, church, and just about everywhere I go. It’s also chock full of excellent produce, meat and specialties. So in high school, when my kids were interested in earning a regular paycheck, it was the first place they applied.
It probably wasn’t the job best suited for my kids. One is a dancer who hated being stationary behind her cash register. The other is superactive and hated being tied to a strict schedule. Yet, from a mom’s point of view, the job was ideal – largely because of their boss.
From Day 1, Dee was and is interested in the youth in her employ. She is compassionate when needed, and she disciplines when appropriate.
My kids haven’t worked there for several years, yet when I ran into Dee a few weeks ago, her first question was, “Today is Lauren’s dance performance, isn’t it?” It was. How did she know??? Facebook. Dee keeps us with her lambs even after they no longer are in her employment. After my son returned from his mission trip this summer, on fire to begin a nonprofit ministry, Dee spent time with him sharing her wisdom about the proper steps he needs to take on his journey.
When my friend asked me if I’d recommend the Market Basket as a suitable place for her daughter’s first job, it was a no-brainer. Dee would be my choice for any first boss.
One dictionary definition of shepherd is: a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people. I could have picked a mom who nurtures her cubs or a coach who encourages his team, a babysitter or a CEO, a writer or a salesclerk. Perhaps I could have picked you.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. While sharing breakfast on the shore, He issued a commission to Peter. After Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” and Peter responded, “You know I do”, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Peter was given his mission. Later, the apostle Paul stated that he acted as both a caring mother and an encouraging father to the Thessalonian church. Likewise, you and I are exhorted to care for those Jesus loves, the weak, the unfortunate, the new believers.  It is not just the pastor who is the shepherd.  All of us are called upon to shepherd the lambs of Jesus, leading them to safety, protecting them from their enemy, helping them to grow, knowing them by name.
He is the Good Shepherd …
The Shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3
I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. John 10:14
Who even shepherds the stars!
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Is 40:26
We are the little shepherds called to care for His people…
Feed My lambs. John 21:15

who am i ???

Posted on by Susan Panzica

As some of you know, the subject of my book (still a work-in-progress) is who we are in Christ. There are many books on the names and titles of God, but precious few on who He says we are. Each chapter of my book looks at a different identity that He calls us – an ambassador, the bride, a part of the body, a child, clay, salt, light, a servant, sheep, a shepherd, etc. Since God is called the Great I AM, I call these identities “little i am’s.” 

You know, it’s hard to type a little “i” since Word automatically changes my little “i” to a capital “I.” It takes constant effort to repeatedly undo that “I” and insert the lower case “i.” To me, this illustrates the constant struggle to keep God (capital I AM) on the throne and not me (little i am).

But the Great I AM made us “little i am’s” in His image and for His purpose. By maintaining a sense of who He made us to be, we are encouraged and become more confident to do what He wants us to do.
– When I feel alone and cut off, it helps me to remember that I am a branch of the Vine.
– If I’m under attack, I recall the weapons at my disposal as a soldier of the most high Commander-in-Chief.
– Should I feel crushed under my circumstances, I’ll remember the refining process used by the Potter.
– When I feel unloved, I’m comforted to know that I am loved unconditionally by my Bridegroom.
– If I feel I cannot go on, I learn to press on like an athlete running a marathon.


Over the next few weeks, I’m excited to share what I’m calling “People Posts” based on random people in my life who through their character or circumstances exemplify a particular God-given identity.  Stay tuned. You never know, you could be next 🙂

Battle Cry – Part 2 – The Word

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Two weeks ago, I shared part 1 of my observations of the Battle Cry teen event. You can read what I shared about the worship experience here. Today, I want to share a few insights I gleaned from the teaching that was offered at Battle Cry.


During the opening message by Ron Luce, “Smitten With Love,” a waterfall thundered on the enormous video screens from floor to towering ceiling. The roaring water continually cascaded, its power inescapable. Encouraged to figuratively stick our toe in and immerse ourselves in the waterfall of His love, I felt drenched from head to toe.


The message that God is “wooing” us was a bit lost on the teens, but went straight to my  woman’s heart. God wants to capture not just our attention, but to capture our heart with complete commitment to Him, no dating others! After courting, sweethearts get married and then they live together, not separately.


And after we say “I do” we are to dwell together, not have divided lives. Newlyweds completely reorient their lives, and as believers, we are to reorient ourselves completely to our Bridegroom. The Lord didn’t send a love note. He sent us Himself.


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Ron’s closing message, “Who You Gonna Listen To,” was one that resonated loudly with both the teens and me. Of the many voices that scream at us, you must choose to listen to love. When you listen to the wrong voices, your identity is stolen. Since this is the very topic of my book, I was hooked, especially by the videos that punctuated his message. One in particular showed a teen getting ready for school. He opened his dresser drawer to pull out some clothes. Then he rummaged in the bottom of the drawer and pulled out a handful of passports, each one with a different identity. One day he went to school as Mr. Smooth, another day it was Nervous Ned or Locker Room Loser or Dark Magic. But the last passport bore the name “Re-bourne Identity” (which happens to be one of my possible book titles!!!), and the audience boomed their applause.
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It was a totally awesome video, but I realized it stopped short of my topic, so I’ll be hunting for some videographers to make a sequel! You see, my book is about the identities that we assume after we are re-born. We are new creations in Christ, but often live defeated lives, not bearing our true identities: We are children of the King, joint heirs with Christ, ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven of which we are citizens. We are soldiers engaged in battle, athletes running a marathon, branches of the life-giving Vine. We are instruments fit for the Master’s use, His workmanship fearfully and wonderfully made, clay in the Potter’s hands. We are a vapor, sheep, salt and light. I could go on, but you get the idea.


The message summation is this – You must choose which voice to listen to. You must choose to listen to love. If you encountered God this weekend, then on Monday, BE the love encounter. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 You don’t need to love many, but love one and make a difference.


Stay tuned tomorrow. I have a few more morsels to share from Nick Vujicic. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!


And if you haven’t yet left a comment regarding my book giveaway from last week, please be sure to so I know if you’re interested in the drawing. It’s an awesome book about “finding our true image in the mirror of God.” Contest ends Wednesday.

Mourning to Gladness

Posted on by Susan Panzica

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Well, I wasn’t exactly mourning. That’s way too strong a word, but I sure was disappointed.

Yesterday at my son’s high school was the final chapel of the series based on my book-to-be. It has been a terrific series, and the finale of this last chapel was a wonderful presentation by the students in the class. As James softly played the piano, one by one each student in the class came on the stage, alternately from the left and right. Each one spoke a different “i am . . .”, read a Bible verse and carried or wore a symbol representing that identity. Fourteen in all portrayed clay, child, bride, soldier, part of the body, instrument, ambassador and so on. To wrap it up, I came up last and shared the final “i am” – “Here I am . . . send me. . .” During my conclusion, I shared the words I had first shared 7 weeks ago:

“I am not who you think I am.
I am not even who I think I am.
I am who God says I am.”
The whole presentation was very moving, and it was videotaped so that we could put it on YouTube and be an encouragement to others (including you!). Well, we thought it was videotaped. You see, in order to be taped, it is necessary to push the “REC” button, and the guy doing the recording did everything but press “REC”.
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My heart sank when I heard the news. I tried to be cool about it, but secretly I was so-o-o-o disappointed.
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Until later that night.
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My son called me over to see something on the computer. He was checking Facebook (what else is new??) and pointed toward the middle of the screen. There amid the many photos and newsy updates was a picture of a girl from his school, and what do I see next to her picture in the “what’s on your mind” box: “I AM NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM. I AM NOT WHO I THINK I AM. I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM.”
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Oh, God is so good!
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The class wants to re-enact the presentation to properly film it in a few weeks, so hopefully you’ll be able to see it. But whether or not that actually takes place is not quite as important to me now. To know that the message reached at least one, hopefully more, was such a blessing. To have this young lady declare it boldy to the world, at least her part of the world, is such a testimony to importance of this message.
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Isn’t it funny how we can feel so disappointed one minute, then soaring with gladness the next? All because we see God working. Oh, may we remember that He is always working!!
Susan