Monthly Archives: June 2013

Five Minute Friday – Strategic Connection

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The rhythm of life
Continues to speed up and up and up
It’s such a frantic pace
I can scarcely keep up

Every day…from morning till night
I’m busy, busy, busy
Most of it
Is of no eternal consequence

All around me people seek connection
By Facebook, Twitter, email and cell
Talking to a friend face to face, iPhone in hand
They are disconnected and distracted

Is all this connection glorifying God
Is it putting the Christ and others first
Or have we been bamboozled by the enemy
Who strategically uses anything to keep us from what really matters

Susan Wachtel
June 22, 2013

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker 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.

Five Minute Friday – Whom will I listen to?

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Bible Heart Sepia

Just coming back from vacation and after listening to the world’s messages on television, I’m struck by the contrast to the Word of God and Christ’s message to the church.

The world’s messages:

  • Entitlement
  • I deserve this
  • Dissatisfied with what I have
  • Always wanting more
  • It’s all about me
  • If it feels good, do it
  • Elevate myself
  • It’s important that people feel good about themselves
  • Approval of everyone’s choices and lifestyle, except the narrow minded, bigoted, rightwing conservative Christians who think they know right from wrong.
  • Everyone goes to heaven except for a few people who were really evil, like Hitler.
  • Get even when I have been wronged
  • All paths lead to God or heaven

Christ’s Messages to His followers

• Die to self, pick up your cross daily and follow Me.
• Forgive those who hurt you, persecute and despitefully use you.
• Trust God, in good times and bad
• Thy will be done
• Glorify God
• Be sanctified, set apart, dedicated unto the Lord
• Be thankful always
• Trust that God is doing a good and perfect work, even in your affliction and pain
• Do good, even to your enemies
• When I am weak, then I am strong
• Guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
• Choose to meditate on that which is true, just, noble, pure, lovely and of good report
• Repent, godly sorrow leads to repentance
• What I deserve is hell for I have sinned against a holy, righteous and just God.
• What I have received is mercy and the grace of God.
• There is an objective standard of right and wrong which God has revealed in the inerrant Word of God, the Bible
• That which God has declared sin, is sin
• There is One Way to salvation, through Jesus Christ. Those who confess with their mouth, believe with their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord will be saved.

Lord, help me to listen to Your Word and tune out the world’s messages. Holy Spirit, guide me and help me to understand, apply and practice the truth revealed in Your word. Please put a guard around me, may I put on the full armor of God each day.

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday writing challenge. Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker 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.

Five Minute Friday –Soon Fall Away

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ImageFrom the dawn of a new day
Until the midnight hour
It seems as if I’m in a race

Non-stop
Fast paced
Going, going, going

The shot has been fired
A new day has begun
No time to rest

Oh Lord, I am so weary
More than fatigue
From a restless night’s sleep

It’s a weariness of my mind
Precious little time to think
Meditate on You and Your Word

Instead my day is filled
With things that are perishing
Worthless things of no eternal value

Thoughts, time and attention
On that which will soon fall away
Like chaff blown away in the wind

Lord, help me to desire You above all things
Pursue You diligently
Through the study of Your Word and prayer

May love for You consume me
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit
Give me the mind of Christ

By Susan Wachtel
June 8, 2013

Okay…I confess I took longer than five minutes…but I needed to reflect on what the last few months have been like.  I start each day with reading God’s Word, a devotional and writing in a journal.  I end the day reading the Bible.  I’m in prayer each day and listen to solid Bible teachers in my car and as time permits on my I-pod.  But I must say…even with that, it’s not enough.  The non-stop, fast pace has left me weary.  Thankfully not weariness of my soul…but of my mind and body.  

I’m looking forward to an upcoming vacation.  Where I can rest and draw near to the Lord.  Spend time with and enjoy the gift He has given me in my husband Chris.  

I’m asking for the Lord to show me how to have a balance.  To be a dedicated worker, with quality work, a good attitude and be caring about the people I see each day…but somehow, slow down and spend more time with the Lord.  Write down the things I am thankful for, the verses that jump off the page when I’m reading, the encouragement and conviction of the Holy Spirit and to meditate on the Lord.  

I want to be able to take the time to read more Christian bloggers, the words of precious men and women who love the Lord Jesus and share from their heart, encourage, exhort and challenge their readers.  

I want to be consumed by the Lord, with an unquenchable desire, hunger and thirst for His word and to know Him more and just spend time with Him and reflect on my awesome God.  

How about you precious friend…do you too need more time with the Lord?

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s Five Minute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker 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.