Monthly Archives: November 2012

Five Minute Friday – Giving Thanks

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Father as I meditate on Your loving-kindness and goodness
Thanksgiving comes from my heart and is on my lips
Thank You for sending Your Son to bear my sins upon the cross
Because of Christ, my sin debt was marked “Paid in Full”
Thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ
Which cleansed me from all my sin
Thank You for the Gift of Promise
The Holy Spirit, my Guarantee of a future spent with You
Thank You for redeeming this wretched sinner
Taking my heart of stone and giving me a heart of flesh
Thank You for clothing me
In the righteousness of Christ
Thank You for Your life giving Word
Like a river of life for my thirsty soul
Thank You for Your transforming power
Empowering and enabling me to walk victoriously over sin
Thank You for the promise of heaven
An eternity spent with You…the Lover of my soul
By Susan Wachtel
November 23, 2012
If you would like to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday Challengehead over to her website “Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.
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Five Minute Friday – Stay Close

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Like a ravenous wolf
The enemy trailed the flock of sheep
Watching and waiting
For an opportune time
Before long his next victim was in sight
A young lamb who had wandered from the flock
He lost sight of the Good Shepherd
Faced a vicious enemy alone
With lighting speed and power
The enemy pounced upon his prey
Tearing flesh, ripping muscle and crushing bone
Jaws poised and ready to clamp down on the lamb’s neck
Without warning the enemy was struck with a rod
The Good Shepherd went looking for His lost lamb
He heard the terror filled cries
Intent upon destruction he didn’t see the death blow coming
The lamb was freed
Saved from certain death
The Good Shepherd picked up the injured lamb
Carried him back to the fold
Tenderly his wounds were nursed
Healing balm applied
The Good Shepherd lovingly spoke
Precious lamb, stay close to the One who loves you
Susan Wachtel
November 17, 2012
If you would like to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday Challengehead over to her website “Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.
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Curl Up with A Wreath of Snow

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A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs is set in Stirling, Scotland during 1894.  Main characters Meg Campbell and Gordon Shaw are both heading by train to Edinburgh on Christmas Eve.  Most folks head home on Christmas Eve, so why is Meg leaving town without even saying goodbye to her family?  Though Stirling was once his hometown, Gordon is anxious to leave without anyone recognizing him.  A chance meeting on the train will reintroduce characters whose lives were profoundly changed by an accident that occurred twelve years earlier.  Through their Christian faith Meg and Gordon grapple with lies and truth, sin and forgiveness and the possibility of finding true love.  The story unfolds against the backdrop of a Victorian Christmas. 
This is the first book that I’ve read by author Liz Curtis Higgs and I selected it because it’s fun to read a Christmas novel during the Christmas season.  The author’s style of writing was easy to get into.  When I wasn’t reading the book I found myself thinking about the characters and tried to figure out what was going on and how everything would be resolved.  I would recommend this book to fans of Liz Curtis Higgs and people who like to read Christmas novels and Christian fiction.  After this introduction to this author, I would like to read more of her books.
Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers provided me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book for review purposes.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review. 
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Rivival Needed

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Below is a comment from Ken at Following Jesus.  A while back I stumbled upon Ken’s blog and am blessed to read his posts.  He always seeks to glorify the Lord.  Kind of like Andrew…he brings people to Jesus.  I’m posting his comment in response to a recent post about the election.  Ken captures my feelings too about our nation and the need for repentance and revival

Hi Susan,
I struggled deciding what to do with this election. First off, no way I was I going to vote for Obama and was not liking Romney either. It was hard for me to vote for a Mormon.

Over the last couple of days one thing became clear to me, this nation needs a revival in the church. I believe us believers need to be on our knees praying for this nation, that God grant us repentance. If we are going to change the direction of this nation, it must start in the church.

I did not like the outcome of the election, however God is still sovereign. I can still look to heaven and rejoice because He is in control.

God bless,
Ken

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In the Quiet of Early Morn

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It’s in the quiet of early morn
I seek the Lord
Though others are fast asleep
The sun has yet to kiss the dawn
I meet with You
Before my day begins
I read from Your Word
You give me fresh eyes to see it anew
Scriptures I’ve read a dozen times before
Leap off the page and capture my attention
You give me wise counsel
For the day ahead
You are not a distant faraway God
But my loving Father who keeps His eye upon me
It’s in the quiet of early morn
I meet with my Heavenly Father above
By Susan Wachtel
November 11, 2012

If you would like to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday Challengehead over to her website “Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.
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As Election Day Draws Near

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When I originally started this blog I used to write about politics.  But over time I’ve spent less and less time writing about politics because compared to the importance of the Gospel message and its eternal consequences, politics pales in comparison. 
However, on Tuesday, November 6th, we are facing a pivotal election.  It is important for Christians and people who support Judeo Christian values to get out and exercise their God given right to vote. 
Something that I wrestled with four years ago was, how can I vote for a Mormon when the Mormon religion is in contradiction to Biblical Christianity.  That struggle was irrelevant after John McCain became the Republican nominee. 
As Election Day 2012 draws near I wanted to share some thoughts from our Pastor, Philip De Courcy, who answered the question, “Can a Christian Vote for a Mormon”.  Please click on the link and listen online or download and share this message with those who are also wrestling with the idea of voting for a Mormon.
I join with many Christians in this nation who are praying for this election and the next President of the United States. 
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Five Minute Friday – Uprooted

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He had a wanderlust that could not be quenched
Moving from town to town
Changing jobs at the drop of a hat
With family in tow, there was always another move in store
His wife became an expert packer
Frequent moves do not lend themselves to collecting precious things
Friendships started were once again uprooted
One could only hope it was at the beginning of the school year
The ripple effects would be felt over a lifetime
A consuming passion is what did him in
Cigarette after cigarette, no less than two packs a day
He died way too young, never to see his children grown
By the time she was ten, they had moved ten times
Is it any wonder that she doesn’t know how
To let the roots of friendship grow
Something is always held in reserve
So that the deep wounds of her soul won’t be hurt again
Will she ever be unafraid of the changes tomorrow will bring
She longs to be settled for a lifetime
Letting her roots grow deep
With the husband she loves, in the place she calls home
Susan Wachtel
November 3, 2012
If you would like to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday Challenge head over to her website “Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.
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