Category: i am…

W O W – What an Outrageous Weekend!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
W O W – With Outstanding Women!
I’m so thankful for the wonderful time I spent with the women from the PVCA retreat this past weekend! They are a beautiful bunch, inside and out. And we were in a beautiful place, inside and out! Many thanks to Nancy, Pam and the committee who worked so hard all year long to put together such a blessed experience.
We strolled along the ocean.

And rested on the jetties.


We ate (mostly)
delicious meals.
And had lots of laughs.
(That’s Heather!)

Time was spent in small groups and large groups, dining, laughing, sharing, catching up with old friends and getting to know new ones. So many inspiring stories were shared with both humor and tears.

The small group leaders did a fabulous job helping me to present the message about who we are in Christ. They shared about what it means to be an ambassador, the bride, a servant, salt, a soldier, an heir, a sheep and a branch of the Vine, about what prevents us from living as we should and what can we do to get back on track.

On a side note – I noticed that many of the group leaders shared that fear was a factor, so I want to invite you to attend High Mountain Church’s Ladies Tea (June 6th) where I was asked to speak on what subject — fear! Fear is something that I have wrangled with all my life, and it seems that I’m not alone. Especially in these dark days, with the economy and spiritually, fear hits very close to home. But take heart – “perfect Love casts out fear!!” “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and self-discipline.”

Back to the retreat – One image that will stay with me was when little Alex (our very special male attendee) heard his aunt’s voice and turned his head, looking up at her with eyes brimming with adoration and a smile to match. It reminded me that His sheep know His voice, and when we hear His voice, we must turn toward His direction with joy.

Aunt Nettie, Alex and mom Amanda

At the very end, the entire group turned toward the wall of windows facing the bay (and the mainland in the distance) and sang “Shout to The Lord.” It was a holy moment, one which bridged the sacred to the secular.


As we leave the Spirit-filled weekend, may the lessons that God showed us strengthen us to know who we are because of who He is and to be His representatives back in our realities at home, work, church, school, wherever He’s placed us.

Susan

i am … Excited!

Posted on by Susan Panzica
As many of you know, I have been writing a book that is tentatively titled,
“i know You are . . . but what am i?”
It’s about what I call the “little i am’s”. God is the “Great I Am”, so we are the “little i am’s”. Each chapter will explore the concept of who God says we are – for example, i am . . . an ambassador, an athlete, a soldier, the bride, salt, light, and so on.
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After a whirlwind year last year, my progress on the book itself has been SLOW. I put it aside for a while to learn more about how to write and about the publishing industry. But now, I’m back! I had some outside influence to bring this front and center once again. My son!
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In his Bible & Worship class at school, he and his classmates are assigned the task of putting together the chapels for the entire school. As they were brainstorming a theme, he suggested the “little i am’s”. The students chose it, and I am now “consulting” with the class to present this material to the entire school. It is a thrill for me that they expressed interest in this subject, and I am taking it as a confirmation that God wants me to continue with the vision I have for this book project.
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I attended the class this morning, and they are such a great group! I offered some advice, but mostly I wanted to hear what their ideas were. A schedule was developed for which topics will be on which day, and they are lining up speakers for each presentation – 6 in all (an athlete, a soldier, etc.). My son, AJ, will be sharing the message about what it means to be clay in the hands of the Potter. (Can I say I’m more than a little proud?)
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I will be sharing the introductory message this Thursday 3/5/09 at 9:40 am, and while I am so excited, I must be honest – I covet your prayers. I so want to be relevant to the student body (and staff). And while I love teaching and sharing in small group settings, being on stage is just never a comfortable spot for me.
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And while I’m at it, can I be so bold as to also ask for prayers for the book I am writing? My sole desire is that discovering our true identity in Christ will be encouraging and empowering to the reader. Please pray that I will be focused on the task and that my writing skills improve to present a worthy product. I also am exploring publication in magazine articles. Thanks so much in advance!!
Isaiah 62:2 “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”

Isaiah 43:1, “But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”

Susan

Salt and Ice

Posted on by Susan Panzica

The first snowstorm of the season! So beautiful! So dangerous! My husband and I were at our office, keeping very busy in the morning as our patients changed their appointments to try to make it home before the worst of the storm. By the time we were making our way home, the worst had passed, but the roads were terrible. Thank God for 4 wheel drive! Anyway, as we crossed from one town into another, the state of the roads would change depending upon how each town treated the roads. Then on one road near our home, the road was practically clear! It was apparent that the town had salted that roadway early on and throughout the day. The salt had thoroughly melted the frozen snow and ice.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth. ” As salt is used to thaw the frozen roadways, our job is to thaw frozen hearts.

Salt was a precious commodity in Bible times, used to preserve food and provide flavor. It has healing properties, produces thirst, and was so valuable that people were often paid in salt (sal-ary). All these qualities relate to us as disciples as well. We are to be a preserving factor in society, adding flavor to people’s lives, being a healing influence on those around us and producing a thirst for God.

Jesus warns, “But what good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out.” Since salt is a very stable substance, it is impossible for salt to lose any of its properties. So what did Jesus mean? In His day, the way that salt lost its “saltiness” was to become comingled with other substances, like sand. In other words, as salt, we are to remain pure, and to be the one having a positive effect on others, to be the influencer.

Let the salt we so commonly use every day be a reminder for us to “be the salt of the earth”.
Susan

Betrothed

Posted on by Susan Panzica

All over the country, men and women have just been elected to national, state, county and local government positions. However, none of these newly elected officials will take office for 2 – 3 months. They are legally committed to their new position, but are not officially serving in that office yet.

In the Bible, there was a betrothal period in which the bride and groom had made a binding legal commitment to each other, but were not officially married yet. This is why the Bible says that Joseph considered quietly “divorcing” Mary when she was found to be miraculously pregnant, even though the formal wedding had not yet occurred.

When we become Christians, we are in a betrothal period with our Bridegroom. We are committed to Him, bound to Him, serving Him until such time as our formal wedding to Him takes place. We represent Him here on earth. We are cared for by Him and are under His protection. One day, we will be completely united with Him in glory, but until that time we live this life with Him as our Bridegroom.

Let us keep Him in our thoughts throughout our day, each and every day. Let us experience Him beside us and inside us. Let us live with the joyous expectancy a bride feels as her wedding day approaches. It’s a time of preparation and work, but always keeping our focus on the joy set before us.


Susan