Laced With Grace Archives

One Word for 2017

Posted on January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 by Susan Panzica

For the past few years, I’ve been part of a growing trend – to select one word for the year, rather than set a bunch of resolutions likely doomed to failure.

I thought the one word concept would work for me. And often throughout the year, it does. My word can serve as a little bird that flutters in my brain at the point of decision making, keeping me on track. Or it can serve as a sit-down-and-contemplate-for-a- while-experience. Previous one-words for me include: Now, Faithfulness, Obey, Purpose.

To be honest, each year I fell short of my one little word. These words, all of them, were intended to spur me on to good works and help me stay on track of projects. They were to inspire my actions, to be purposeful, faithful, and obedient. Instead, too often I was distracted, disillusioned, or downright disobedient. At those times, I wavered between (1) berating myself for my lack of discipline and (2) remembering that in His grace, God still loves me, yet feeling like I disappointed Him.

I considered not choosing a word this year, right along with not making resolutions that I’d fail at anyway. But during this period of contemplation, I had a realization. It occurred to me that each of my words, strong and worthy as they were, focused on my efforts and achievement. They required the work of my will to be fullfilled.

I decided to change my focus. My word for this year is WORSHIP.

Rather than striving in my strength, I will seek the Lord on His holy hill. I will breathe in the Spirit. I will let Him guide me in these decisions. And all my actions will flow FROM His leading, rather than striving in my own strength and marginal wisdom.

Growing up, I attended Hebrew school and learned Jewish prayers that almost always start this way:

ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו, מלך העולם…

Transliteration: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha`olam…

Translation: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe…”

Before asking for anything, we worshipped God. I’ve now printed out these words and posted them by my desk so that I have the reminder to worship throughout the day.

I realize that I still need to be obedient to His calling, but if my focus is on Him, I anticipate He will direct me. Both the words “discipline” and “disciple” share the same root: learner. If I am a disciple, I will allow my Teacher to lead me, and the discipline will flow.

Ultimately, for me, my purpose is to bring an eternal perspective to everything here on earth. There is an overarching purpose for each of our lives, and the daily circumstances and roles we play are small ingredients in much larger divine recipe. As I learn to keep my focus on the eternal in worship, I trust that God will direct me in everything I do and in every relationship I have.

Do you have a word for the year? What is it? And why?

The Aftermath

Posted on November 9, 2016November 9, 2016 by Susan Panzica

For the past few months, I repeatedly read and heard people say, “I can’t wait for Nov. 9 for all this to be over!!”

Well, it is Nov. 9. And nothing is over. It’s just beginning.

I wrote this post yesterday – on Election Day – without knowing who won the election. But some things I do know about my tomorrow – The Day After.

There are a lot of unhappy people now. Half our nation is reeling that their candidate lost the election and are imagining the worst case scenarios.

There are a lot of happy people now. Their candidate won, and they picture their agendas coming to pass over the next few years.

What can these happy and unhappy people agree on?

Whether people are pleased or not with the election outcome, all will agree that this was an historic American election. Either the first woman president will be inaugurated. Or a non-politician Washington outsider will be.

And I think most people will agree that this nation is polarized. People are climbing into their bunkers of ideology shooting barbs at enemy combatants with differing opinions, forgetting that their enemies are also created by the same God, whether they know it or not.

My ministry tagline is “Bringing an eternal perspective to earthly matters.” And I think that this perspective is needed now more than ever. So to bring that eternal perspective, let me share some historical and biblical truths.

Persecution and governments hostile to the gospel have not hindered the growth of the church.
- When Paul appealed to Caesar in Act 25, he was appealing his case to Nero, arguably “most despicable manifestations of human flesh ever to disgrace this planet”. The Apostle presented his case to a governmental authority riddled with corruption and hatred for the gospel.
- Romans threw Christians to the lions, which did not extinguish Christianity but strengthened the believers’ faith.
- Persecution in Jerusalem caused the church to grow and spread (Acts 8:1)
- The church is growing in China, Africa, other persecuted areas while it is shrinking in the US, a supposedly “Christian nation.”

As citizens of heaven, our trust is in an eternal government led by God, not by mankind.
- “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control….” Phil 3:20-21

God calls us to obedience to those in authority.
- “All authority come from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Rom. 13:1
- “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him” 1 Pet. 2:13-14

We are to pray for those in authority, and we will live in peace if we do.
- “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” 1 Tim. 2:1-2
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!” Phil. 4:6-7

God is in control whether we believe it or not. He rules the universe with precision, keeping billions of molten stars, planets, and galaxies in perfect order. God will still be in control no matter who leads this small patch of the universe.
- “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Ps. 22:28
- “…putting everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Heb. 2:8

He knew who would be elected, even planned it, no matter how ungodly you think the candidate may be.
- “The Lord Almighty has sworn,’Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.’” Is. 14:24
- The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Prov. 16:4

As I said in the beginning of this post, when the election is over, it isn’t the end. It’s the beginning. It is incumbent upon us to be people that represent God well. We must demonstrate the love of Christ that is in our hearts. We have it in our power to bring healing to a country divided. I’ve heard people say that if ____ gets elected, I’m leaving the country. To that I say, don’t leave – the country needs you now more than ever.

Let us be salt and light, making our voices heard with respect for our opponents.

Let our conversation be gracious and attractive so that we will have the right response for everyone. Col. 4:6

Let us be ambassadors for a loving, compassionate God.

To Provoke or Not To Provoke

Posted on October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Watching the political debates evokes the word “provoke.” Personal conversations and social media interactions are filled with words and emotions that “provoke” each other. In our church’s marriage group, we discussed how we might “provoke” our spouses. So I did a little research on this difficult word.

The dictionary defines provoking as:

to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex
to stir up, arouse, or call forth
to incite or provide the needed stimulus for action
to give rise to, induce, or bring about

By this definition, provoking can be good or bad. It depends on who’s getting “vexed” or the action that is stimulated. To me, the word “provoke” always had a negative connotation. But looking at this list, I see that Jesus was a provoker in every category:

He angered the religious leaders of the day, pointing out their folly.
He aroused the crowds and called forth disciples.
He stimulated people to action, leaving home and families to follow Him.
He brought about a transformation that changed the course of history.

Here’s a few do’s and don’ts from the Word regarding provoking:

Don’t provoke the Lord to jealousy. The Israelites did this repeatedly in the Old Testament, following after kings and other gods, losing sight of the One who deserved their love and full attention. Paul asked the believers, “Do you dare to provoke the Lord’s jealousy as Israel did? Do you think you are stronger than He is?”1 Cor. 10:22
Don’t provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4) lest they be discouraged (Col. 3:21)
DO provoke one another to love and good works! (Heb. 10:24) The NLT translates this verse: “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.”I love that – outbursts of love!

So, let’s start provoking! Let us stir up love, encourage good works, speak up for those who cannot. What can 1 person do? Start with your family. Provoke those around you to love and good works. Start a transformation that can change the course of history!

Saving Stones

Posted on August 2, 2016August 2, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Photo credit: AJ Panzica , Zion National Park, 7/2016

My husband and I have a tradition that when God performs a mighty act in our lives, we save a rock or stone from the event. When we started this, we didn’t realize that this was a biblical tradition! Back in Old Testament days, the patriarchs and prophets lived nomadic lives. There were long periods of time in which they did not hear from God. So when they did hear from Him, they often built a pile of rocks, called an altar, as a tangible reminder of His work in their lives before they moved on to their next location. (Gen 8:16-22, Gen. 31:44-46, 1 Sam. 7:1)

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We find it a valuable practice and one that our now adult children carry on. Holding that rock in our hands brings us back to the place where God radically intercepted our lives.
These rocks are more than keepsakes. My collection sits in a prominent place atop our fireplace mantel so that as we are coming and going, it serves as an often-needed reminder that the God who worked so powerfully then, still does today.

stones_or_pebbles_on_gravestone — Photo: from Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

From this biblical history comes a Jewish tradition of leaving a pebble or stone on top of a tombstone to signify that someone has honored the deceased person’s memory with a visit to the grave. This was poignantly depicted at the end of the movie Schindler’s List.

So what are some stories my stones tell?

In a direct answer to prayer, our home/office was saved from certain destruction. Twice!
On a family trip prior to my husband’s surgery, God repeatedly went before us in the most amazing ways, and then healed him with incredible swiftness.
One rock with 3 stripes symbolizes my 3 knee surgeries and my daughter’s 3^rd grade stitches on her knee, representing the stripes by which we are healed.

On my daughter’s first mission trip, she was unfairly given a disciplinary action requiring some manual labor. As she was working, she had a spiritual awareness of how Jesus was unfairly treated, and during this time, she found a heart shaped rock.

There is a fish-shaped rock from Charlotte, NC, site of my first writer’s conference where God clearly spoke to me about my future in Him.

One of our rocks is not a rock at all. It is a piece of gas pipe. My husband discovered in our boiler room a gas pipe that the plumber had not connected. It was a complete miracle that for two years, it hadn’t moved, spewing gas into a room with a constant flame, thus blowing up the house.

2 decorative rocks were gifts to me, each bearing a Scripture verse:
“The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and My Deliverer.” Ps. 18:2
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:13
1 small rock (a gift from my son) imprinted with – “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Jesus Christ Another important truth to remember!

Epilogue:
When we got our dog 13 years ago, we were brainstorming to find a name for her. When my daughter suggested “Roxie,” my first thought was of the character Roxie Hart from the movie “Chicago” that had been released around that time.
I kept silent as my brain screamed inside: “Name my dog after a murdering adulteress?? I don’t think so!”
But then Lauren explained her reasoning:
She said she was thinking of things about her family that are unique, and she remembered our rock collection.
“Name my dog after the great works of God? Oh, yeah, that works!”

Do you have a similar tradition? Perhaps a journal or a special picture serves as your rock collection. Tell me about it!

True Freedom

Posted on July 4, 2016June 30, 2016 by Susan Panzica

On Independence Day, there’s a lot of talk about freedom and liberty. Thankfully, we do not live under the bondage that is found in some other countries. But all too often, we live in bondage to fear, pride, depression, anger. We may not have control over these areas of our lives. The answer is surrender.

In Bible times, slavery was common. Slaves had no freedom, but when offered freedom, some chose to live surrendered to their Master, for life with a kind Master was superior to freedom outside that home. These surrendered slaves were called “bond-slaves.” The Apostle Paul often referred to himself as a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
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While unjustly imprisoned, Paul wrote the letter to the Philippian church. In it, he says that due to his being in chains, the gospel was shared with entire palace guard. He sees that his lack of freedom had a greater purpose. He was surrendered.
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From Paul’s letter to the Philippians we can discern his answers to the bondages I mentioned above:

You will not have to worry
Phil. 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

You will not feel the need to be in charge
Phil. 2:3-4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

You will experience true joy
Phil. 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

You will be free from anger
Phil. 2:14-15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

The Christian life is a paradox in many ways-
-When we are weak, we are strong.
-The first shall be last.
-You must lose your life to find it.
-To live forever, you must die to yourself.

And…
-True freedom means surrender to the One who owns you.

May you experience true freedom in surrender to the King of Kings!

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36 NLT

Rock With A View

Posted on June 20, 2016June 20, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Yesterday, my husband, kids, in-laws, and I went hiking at one of our favorite places on earth, Mohonk Mountain House in the NY Catskills. It’s one of those places that you really have to see to believe, a pristine lake atop a mountain surrounded by scenic vistas, rock climbs, and miles of hiking trails.

Tony, Bill and the ‘kids’ hiked the difficult path through the Labyrinth, Lemon Squeeze and the Crevice to reach Sky Top.

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My sister-in-law, Cathy, and I took the easier walking trail to the summit leaving us time to rest a bit along the cliff edge. We were, as always, enthralled with the view, especially when we saw a hawk below and realized we’d never seen a hawk in flight from above before.

Up on a pinnacle, we were given a tiny glimpse of what God sees all the time. From our normal vantage point, all we can see is the hawk’s underbelly. Our point of view is so limited, but God’s view from above is all-encompassing.

When we struggle to understand, it’s because we can only see what’s right around us. We are unable to see the bigger picture. When the ark finally rested on the mountains at Ararat, water still surrounded Noah and his loved ones. It was months before the water subsided and the mountaintops were visible, and weeks after that when Noah first sent out a raven, then a dove, to see if the water had receeded. Even after the dove returned with olive leaf proof, Noah waited. Even after he saw the dry surface of the ground with his own eyes, he waited. A month later, not just the surface, but the whole earth was dry, yet Noah waited. He waited to leave the ark until he heard from God.

When Tony & crew scrambled through the crevice, they couldn’t see the summit. At times, they couldn’t see where to take the next step. But they had a trail map to guide them. When we are ark-bound, unable to see beyond our immediate circumstances, it may seem that there is no hope, no sure footing to stand on. But with His Word as our guide, God’s promises are as sure a foundation as there is.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Ps. 18:2.

Mohonk’s gift shop sells a book, “A Rock With A View.” Surely, our Lord Himself is a Rock with a view.

Happy Father's Day, Pops! — Happy Father’s Day, Pops!

Roadside Lessons

Posted on May 23, 2016May 23, 2016 by Susan Panzica

If we’re friends on Facebook (and I hope we are!), you might have seen my day of disaster and delight on Friday. We started out to Atlantic City for a concert, but were sidelined by car trouble. Twice we needed AAA for the rescue. The second time, we waited by the side of Rte. 287, definitely NOT the safest place to be. My husband insisted it was safer to wait outside the vehicle, so I stood perched on a few feet of pavement between certain death either way. In front of me were cars, motorcycles, and GIANT trucks whizzing by. Behind me on the other side of a way-too-low-guardrail was a deep ravine.

Fortunately, the Lord provided something (or things) to take my mind off my dilemma.

Yup, these critters.

I’m not sure if they’re centipedes or millipedes or something else entirely. I do know that there were quite a few of them, and they each individually had the same goal. They had crawled up from the ravine behind me and were intent on getting to the highway.

However, each time a truck flew by the force of the wind gusts caused the little critters to tumble sideways over and over again. What I found fascinating was that each time they finished rolling, they wasted no time and got right back on their mission, their tiny feet taking step after step heading to the highway. Until the next gust of wind. And then they did it again, back to their mission.

After getting over my distaste sharing my space with them, I was extremely impressed with their tenacity. I thought I could learn a few things from them. And I did.

1. How often do I let far lesser interruptions derail me from my purpose?

It doesn’t take much for me to get distracted or discouraged, too often quitting before the finish line. Time after time, these critters were tossed headlong, but immediately set themselves back on track. I want to take my cue from them when things come crashing down around me, and keep my focus on what God has called me to do and to be

2. How often do I pursue something long after God has shown me to let it go?

These critters didn’t realize it, but for those who made it to the highway, their journey ended in the harshest way possible. Those on the sideline were on their way to certain death. I couldn’t imagine what drove them to destruction. (My mom suggested it might be mating season, so perhaps there were some cuties on the other side.) Unfortunately, the dangers didn’t deter them, and in this case, they should have.

Perhaps the turmoil of the winds served as a protection from the disastrous situation on the road ahead. In the same way God protects us, but too often we continue on our perilous journeys despite His warnings. We cling to our plans rather than let God direct us. Our own arrogance and personal desires can be our greatest downfall.

So…

On the one hand, we need to persevere. On the other hand, we need to let go. How to know? The key here is to remain in deep personal relationship with the Lord in prayer and through His Word to be sensitive to His leading. And then to obey. This needs to be daily practice, not something we initiate when the crisis hits. Like the Apostle Paul, we need to be willing to press on, yet turn around when led to do so. (See my prior post.)

Here’s my spin on the famous Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the tenacity to stick to the plans You have for me.

The grace to surrender when You have a better strategy.

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Can we talk? Do you struggle more with pressing on or surrendering?

Lights In The Darkness

Posted on April 20, 2016April 20, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Driving past the airport in the 4 am darkness, looking out the window, I saw acres of blue lights shining like glowing forget-me-nots on a black velvet carpet. From my ground level view, they looked totally random and downright messy.

But from above, these blue dots guide pilots to the correct destination avoiding total disaster. Each light is part of a complex pattern directing the plane to the proper runway to safely land from the sky, and then leading the pilot to the exact gate.

As the plane readied to take off, I noticed the control tower. In the midst of all the chaos, traffic controllers provided needed guidance and instruction. And when I landed, the ground crew further directed the pilot.

Just the perspective I needed that morning as I reflected on the random messes in my life. To me, these events and relationships are confusing and sometimes distressing. But to God, they’re part of an intricate pattern He designed to bring me to the destination He has in mind.

Both by His Spirit and through people on the ground, God provides the guidance and encouragement I need to continue on the journey He has set before me.

We often want our circumstances and our future to be clearly laid out before us. On this journey we’re traveling, God’s Word is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our paths.” (Ps. 139:105) It is not like a stadium floodlight that makes the night as bright as day. It’s more like a flashlight in the dark allowing us to see one step at a time. Perhaps if we could see more, we’d run the other way. But God leads us providing the peace and the strength to continue forward with trust that someday we will know. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” 1 Cor. 13:12

God is faithful. He will lead, and guide, and prompt us to follow. He wants us to do His will even more than we do. Too often, we seek a sign before we move. What He desires is for us to seek His way, to seek to be taught, to be sensitive to His leading and obedient to His call.

There are things that are crystal clear – activities and attitudes to avoid, and those to pursue. That’s where our focus should be. For what is not clear, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). We walk according to what is clear and trust Him to reveal the rest in His timing.

How to make it through the journey? Follow the directions for what you can see, and trust God for what you can’t see!

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. Heb. 11:1 (The Message)

Who’s calling you?

Posted on March 11, 2016March 10, 2016 by Susan Panzica

“AJ, COME HERE!!”

My son AJ turned and put down the rake. Sweaty and tired from his backyard landscaping project, the last thing he expected was to hear our beloved neighbor across the street calling him so harshly. “There must be something wrong,” he thought. And there it was again.

“AJ, COME HERE NOW!!!”

Bewildered, AJ sauntered across the street and saw Kim in her front yard, hands cupped aside her mouth, bellowing, “AJ, COME HERE!”

“Kim, is something wrong?”

Her eyes landed on AJ, and when she saw the expression on his face, Kim broke out in hysterical laughter, hands on knees, almost rolling over into the driveway. It was several minutes before she was able to compose herself enough to squeak out the story. She was dog-sitting, and AJ-the dog had run away down the street.

AJ-the son, greatly relieved that she was calling AJ-the dog, ran off to retrieve the missing pet.

There’s an important lesson we can glean from this light-hearted case of mistaken identity.

Often, we hear someone calling our name. We hear a familiar “voice” speaking harshly to us.

We “hear” that we’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough. The voice tells us we’re too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short. We hear that no one cares about us, or that we totally messed up, or that it’s just too hard, so give up.

And we entertain that voice, letting it entangle in our brains or pierce our hearts, mulling over these accusations as if they were true – but they’re not.

Referring to the devil, Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

When we hear these words of condemnation and criticism, we need to quickly recognize that they are not the voice of God who calls us with conviction and compassion. And then we need to combat them with truths of God’s Word – where He calls us His beloved, precious, chosen, child, friend, the apple of His eye!

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.”

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 impossible. When you catch yourself drifting into false thoughts, lasso those thoughts – “take every thought captive.”

And the result of applying this Scripture to your thought life?

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!

” You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”

Isaiah 26:3

Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Susan Panzica

Last week, my husband and I redeemed some hotel points and flyer miles to steal away for a rare treat. Leaving behind a NJ ice storm, we enjoyed a few days in beautiful Cancun, Mexico. It was incredible in many unexpected ways, both large and small. From upgraded plane seats to hotel rooms to other unpaid benefits, we walked (or floated) along in God’s favor.

While we have no idea why God chose to bless us in this way at this time, we spent every minute in deep appreciation for our Lord, enjoying both His creation and His presence, seeing Him work in our lives and speak to our hearts in new and fresh ways. For example:

When we opened the glass doors of our spacious “honeymoon suite” (yup, we were honeymooners after 28½ years of marriage!) to the ocean-front balcony, the roar of the surf, one of my favorite sounds on earth, instantly brought a huge smile to my face.

Yet later, when we sat at the water’s edge at the beach or by the pool, right next to the ocean, it wasn’t nearly as loud. The sounds of the surf seemed more like background “white noise.”

The difference: the competing sounds were louder too. With guests engaged in conversation, workers serving and building, birds calling to each other, and vendors hawking their wares, all the noises blended into one, including the ocean.

But when we were up several stories, away from the distractions, we could hear the sound of the surf distinctly.

It’s like that with the Lord.

When we are caught up in our busy lives, the gentle whisper of the Lord is drowned out. He and His voice haven’t changed. What changed is us – our position, our engagement with other activities, our distractions.

Martha was distracted with much serving. …

But the Lord answered her,“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things..

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:40-42

Susanna Wesley is known as the mother of John and Charles, who were powerful men of God, a preacher and a hymnwriter. Susanna had 19 children, only 10 of whom lived to adulthood. She experienced many difficulties in her life, but she was committed to prayer. Without much time to herself, she would bury her head in her apron, and her children knew not to disturb her – it was her prayer time, her time to be free of distraction.

We each need to find our own apron, our own “war room,” our own upper room (aka “honeymoon suite”) to escape the competing noise so that we can clearly hear His voice.

He said to them, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

What is your best way to eliminate the distractions and “come away” into quiet time with the Lord?