Happy Anniversary To Me – A Gift For You!

Posted on by Susan Panzica

Today is my one year anniversary! Who would believe it? Not me!


I started blogging as a way to practice and improve my writing skills, and hopefully, to encourage someone in the process. It has turned into a sweet blessing for me, making so many new friends in cyberspace. My life will never be the same because of you!

To thank you for your encouragement and support over the past year, I am hosting my first “give-away”. Everyone who shares a comment will be entered in a drawing for the newest Max Lucado book “Fearless”. To be eligible to win, please leave me a comment on the blog (http://www.eternitycafe.blogspot.com/) or reply to this email. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win. At the end of the week, one of my kids will pull the winning name.


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To commemorate this anniversary, I’m sharing my first blogpost, still one of my favorites!
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Monday, October 13, 2008
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Thanks for visiting Eternity Cafe today. Well, friends, I’m finally in the 21st century, and here’s my first post!! It is my desire that this blog will serve to shine God’s light in your life and mine. I just love to share ideas, stories, illustrations, photos, even recipes as they come to me, either through my crazy brain or by way of email, devotions, sermons, conversation, etc. I hope that you will join me adding your insights by posting your comments.

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For my first post, I chose a story that is near and dear to my heart. Years ago, when my 20 year old daughter was just four, we were standing side by side in church singing during the worship service. (By the way, she now stands beside her dad as she plays bass guitar leading the worship with him! How time flies!) But at that time, my observant little girl asked me a question. She said, “Why do people raise their hands when they worship?” I was just about to share my great wisdom with her, providing some brilliant answer when I felt the Lord just shutting my mouth tight. So I asked her, “Why do you think that people raise their hands when they worship?” To which she thoughtfully replied, “I think that they are holding hands with God.”
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From that moment on, I always asked her (and my son) what they thought before I provided my answer!
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Her answer revealed so much insight into what our relationship with God ought to be. It was the prophet Micah who said, “He has showed you, O man (or woman), what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” You might say “… to walk holding hands with God.”
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Now just imagine that you are a child holding the hand of your Father. His hand covers yours, and you feel His protection. He is so much bigger than you are. He is gripping you tightly because He doesn’t want to lose you. He doesn’t want any harm to come to you. He wants to protect you, even though sometimes He allows you to reap consequences, because that too, is for your good.
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Imagine as you hold His hand where His eyes are. He can see across the street. He can see what lies ahead. He can see where the dangers are, and He can shield you from them. Imagine His vision and realize how limited your vision is. And remember, when a child holds her daddy’s hand, it is gripped and supported – He is doing the holding! It is not nearly as difficult as when you try to keep your hand raised in your own strength.
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Imagine how much the owner of that Hand loves you. How He cares for your every need, even those that you don’t realize you have. How His grip is a confirmation of how you are tenderly loved with a strength beyond your own understanding. Realize that if a great danger were heading your way, how He would push you out of the way, and sacrifice Himself that you might live.
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This is what it is to be a child of God.





Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Psalm 37:24
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“I want men (& women & children!) everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer.”
1 Timothy 2:8.

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Susan

18 thoughts on “Happy Anniversary To Me – A Gift For You!”

  2. Congratulations on the one year anniversary!!! I love how you felt God quiet you and ask what your daughter thought raising hands meant. I like her answer too. I don't think I'll ever think of raising hands in worship differently again.

    Thanks for your suggestion on my blog about doing Lysa's DVD study coming in January.

    Reply

  3. Susan,

    That was a beautiful post. Out of the mouths of babes comes the truth as it is! How precious that God spoke to your daughter and then through her God spoke to you too. "holding hands with God", precious!

    You know, I like to paint pictures, but haven't done alot with the talent God has given me for so long. Just recently, I decided I needed to take time to use this gift as worship to him. ONe of the things I really want to learn to paint is God's hands holding ours, or God's hands holding us up in some way. When I read scripture (which his hands is everywhere in scripture) and come across his hands within the words, it makes it sooo personal. So I would love your prayers that God will direct me in the creativity area to go through with this. I've been going to do this for a couple months, but haven't, and reading your message in the post was another divine appt. for me from the Lord telling me to begin and obey!

    Thank you Susan.

    Lee Ann

    Reply

  5. Happy Anniversary and many more, dear Susan!

    I love the story about your daughter; what a profound truth.

    If I'm not too late for the drawing, jeanettelevellie(at)gmail(dot)com.

    Blessings,
    Jen
    Audience of ONE

    Reply

  7. Hi Sue,
    Thanks for stopping by my blog,
    Jesus Knows You Best.

    I left you a comment under
    "The Purpose Of Your Life"

    Please come visit again anytime.
    All the best to you and
    GBU!
    K. Frangeskos at
    Jesus Knows You Best

    Reply

  8. Hi,
    Congrats on your first year!
    Your blog is wonderful and beautiful! Please keep up the great work serving God…

    You first post was great too!

    I found you on She Speaks Conference blog…I hope we meet up again.
    If you wish, I have a blog devoted
    to Jesus called,
    JESUS KNOWS YOU BEST.BLOGSPOT.COM

    Please visit anytime and share your thoughts.
    Sincerely,
    K. Frangeskos at
    Jesus Knows You Best

    Reply

  9. CONGRATULATIONS !!! BLESSINGS on the next year coming. This is a BEAUTIFUL story
    I really enjoyed it, out of the mouths of babes. Your blogs has been something I look forward to
    reading and I'm blessed to be apart of experiencing God's working in your life. Continued Blessings on your journey. As always you are in my thoughts and prayers. Kathy D.

    Reply

  11. Happy Anniversary! God is really using you in a big way. As you are learning and sharing, you are blessing us!

    Thank you for changing hearts & lives!

    Linda

    Reply

  13. Hi Susan,

    Your Blog has been such a blessing to me this year. When I would open my email and see the latest offering, it always lifted my spirits, inspired me toward a closer walk with our Lord or let me know I wasn’t alone in some of life’s challenges. You express yourself beautifully and clearly and I hope you will continue to share with us what God shares with you through this Blog and future book (God willing). Greetings to the family!

    Love,

    Mina

    Reply

  14. Hi Susan,

    Happy Anniversary, It can't be a year, where did that time go? I wish you another successful year of blogging on the net. Your teaching and writings have been truly inspired by God. May the Lord bless you abundantly. Thanks for this journey.

    Love,Marlene

    Reply

  15. Happy Anniversary! I really do enjoy the encouragement from your blog. Thank you! And may you have many more years worshiping the Lord through your words.

    Reply

  16. Congratulations, Susan! I've enjoyed your writing for a full year now, and this message stands out. You have made a difference in the lives of many people. 🙂

    Reply

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