Author Archives: Susan Wachtel

Lazarus’ Prayer

Posted in God's Love, God's Timing, Prayer by


God’s love for you is certain
His love cannot be measured by time
Your prayers will be answered
His blessings will be made visible
In a package well-disguised
In God’s perfect time
by Susan Wachtel
January 28, 2012
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”  John 11:1-7
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Five Minute Friday – Tender Heart

Posted in Five Minute Friday, The Gypsy Mama by
What came to mind when I read today’s word “tender” was the scripture verse Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”


I want to have a heart that is tender towards God.  He wants me to have a tender heart towards others.  


In my life God has used trying and difficult circumstances to make me more compassionate towards people.  He’s also used my failures and sin to help me be more understanding and compassionate towards others.  


When I’m prideful and think, “Why I would never do that!” you can be sure I’m going to have a major fall in very short order.  After that fall, the Lord in His mercy and compassion, forgives me of my sin and helps me to learn from experience, what I failed to pay attention to and learn from when reading the Bible.  


I want to have a heart that is tender to the Lord and to incline my ear to hear His voice through the pages of scripture and the Holy Spirit within.


This post is being linked to  5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!


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Five Minute Friday – Vivid Memories

Posted in Five Minute Friday, The Gypsy Mama by


What do a couple of raggedy old oven mitts, stray pieces of silverware and an old pink mixing bowl have in common? 
Any one of these would be junk in anyone else’s eyes, but to me they are a treasure because they remind me of my mother.  When I see these objects I have vivid memories of her. 
The oven mitts may have been my grandmother’s, but somewhere along the line they ended up with my mom.  Even though they don’t guard against the heat too well these days, I still use them.  When I see them, I think of my mom.
Odds and ends, that’s all that’s left now, of the silverware set my mom gave me when I got my own apartment.  For a number of years I had shared a place with friends, but then I moved out on my own and my mom bought me a set of silverware.  If I had known what vivid memories the silverware would evoke one day, I would have taken better care and been careful to not lose any of it. 
The mixing bowl is so old, the color has faded and one would hardly even know it’s pink.  But I remember.  I remember the bowl holding Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters…a tradition I carry on to this day.
It’s funny what brings back memories.  Ordinary days with everyday household items that bring back vivid memories of my mom. 

This post is being linked to 5-MinuteFriday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!
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The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

Posted in Christian Movies, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry by

My husband Chris and I had the pleasure of watching “The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry” this evening.  We give it a big thumbs up.  It’s a wonderful movie for the whole family and it has timeless lessons for everyone.

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Listening to God

Posted in Distance by



Do you ever go through those seasons where God seems distant?  


David Fisher at Pilgrim Scribblings recently had a post “Powerfully Present” in which I related to his quote:  “If God seems absent tonight…He’s not!  Maybe hidden but NOT gone!”


I’m going through one of those seasons right now.  I continue to read God’s word, pray, attend church and participate in Bible studies.  But God seems distant from me.  


But there have been moments when God has quietly spoken.  Such as when I start my day and I’m tempted to dive right in because there is always so much to do.  But I feel God calling me, “Susan, don’t you want to hear what I have to say to you before you start your day?”  I feel His call to pick up my Bible and read from the scriptures and read from my devotionals.


In the past, I’ve tried to keep a journal, but it’s always been something I started only to stop within a few days.  A couple of weeks ago, I felt God leading me to jot down in a notebook when I’m reading through the Bible verses that stand out to me, or record what’s going on with me that day that I’m struggling with or rejoicing over.  


As I’m going through my day I’m on the lookout for Jesus.  When I have those encounters I’m writing them down in a small notebook.  It may be the Holy Spirit bringing to mind something I’ve studied, or it might be something I hear while listening to a radio program or an encouraging or convicting word that some speaks to me.  


During this time when God seems distant, I feel led to ask the Lord is there some area of sin in my life that is displeasing or dishonoring to You?  Is there something that I need to repent of?  Do I have a wrong attitude or is there an overt action that I need to repent of?  


May my heart be tender towards the Lord and may I be sensitive to His Holy Spirit.

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Five Minute Friday…Awake!

Posted in Five Minute Friday, The Gypsy Mama by

Oh my goodness, here I am awake again.  It’s going to be morning before I know it.  I have to get up and go to work.  I have a meeting and I need to be able to focus.  What time is it?  12:15 am and I’ve been lying here for over two hours. 

Lord, please help me to sleep.  What time is it…1:00 am.  With each passing minute I feel more stressed.  

Okay Lord, whom do you want me to pray for?  Help me to focus so I can at least make this time productive.  

It seems like the sleepless nights are too frequent.  I’m awake and cannot go to sleep, no matter how tired I am.  I find when I fret, I just get more stressed and stay awake longer.  

However when I take the approach that perhaps it’s a divine appointment that the Lord may have me up so that I can be praying, it takes the stress out it.  At least the time is productive and I’m not keeping my husband awake too.  

The Lord will bring different people and situations to mind for me to pray about.  I also ask that the Lord will help me to make it through that day despite precious little sleep.  



This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.  Go ahead…head on over and give it a try!

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Five Minute Friday – Roar

Posted in Five Minute Friday, The Gypsy Mama by

When I read the word roar, the first thing that comes to mind was the scripture in 1 Peter 5:8 that tells us that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  


One day there will be a thunderous roar in heaven when Jesus stands up and says “Enough!” and comes to get His bride the church.  Oh how I look forward to that day.  I long for it.  There is not a day that goes by in which I don’t think of Jesus’ soon return.  With each passing day, it seems as though it’s eminent.  


There was day 2,000 years ago, when the crowd roared “Crucify Him!” and the roaring lion thought he had won the victory.  Little did he know that three days later, Jesus Christ would emerge from the tomb, not a vanquished foe, but a triumphant Victor.  A Victor over sin and death.


Now that ought to elicit a loud roar of praise from my lips…Thank You Jesus!


This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!




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Cry Out to God

Posted in Scripture by
Today the Lord strengthened and encouraged me through His word, in His perfect timing.  

 16 As for me, I call to God, 
   and the LORD saves me. 
17 Evening, morning and noon 
   I cry out in distress, 
   and he hears my voice. 
18 He rescues me unharmed 
   from the battle waged against me, 
   even though many oppose me.

Psalm 55:16-18 
NIV
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Rock Harbor’s India Team & Harvest India

Posted in Harvest India, Rock Harbor India Team by
Our friend Rachel has gone to India along with others from Rock Harbor Church on a missions trip.  Each day they are sharing a blog post about what they did that day.  I would encourage you to follow their missions trip and see what the Lord is doing in and through them.


Please watch the video below to see the lives being touched through Harvest India.
  


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Endings & Beginnings

Posted in Chris Wachtel, Kindred Community Church, Pastor Philip De Courcy by

As I look back over this past year, I’m asking the Lord to reveal to me what I did right so I can keep on doing it and show me my failures so that I can learn and not repeat them.  


I find that there are many things I’m grateful for:

  • I’m grateful for my heavenly Father who planned from before the foundations of the world to save me from my sin.
  • I’m grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who willingly laid down His life to pay the penalty for my sin, so that could be forgiven of my sins and be made righteous by the precious blood of the Lamb.  
  • I’m grateful that my hope and promise of an eternity spent in heaven is not based on my worth or righteousness, but on the fact that I am in Christ and I’m a new creation.
  • I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit who lives within me.  That He helps me to grow through the study of God’s word and prayer.  That He restrains me, because like Paul this side of heaven sometimes I do the things I don’t want to do and don’t do the things I should do.
  • I’m grateful to have the Word of God to read for myself.
  • I’m grateful for the resources that are available today to help me know God’s word, from Bible website, Bible studies that are available online, and bloggers who share what they are learning on their faith journey.
  • I’m grateful for prayer, to be able to come before the throne of God in confidence and present my requests to God.  To be able to intercede on behalf of others.  To have friends and family be in prayer for me when I’m going through a trial.  

  • I’m grateful for Kindred Community Church and our pastors and teachers including Pastor Philip De Courcy, Doug McAllister, Mark Bundy, Dave Dunn and Dave Doyle and the many others who dedicate themselves to the study of God’s word so they can faithfully teach each week.  I’m grateful that through the power of God they persevere through trials and depend upon God to be their Shield and Defender.  
  • I’m grateful for Community Bible Study and our teacher Patty Bivens, a woman called and gifted by God to teach the word.  She is faithful to study each week so that she can share and accurately handle the word of God.  I’m grateful for her humility and willingness to be open and transparent.  I’m grateful for my discussion leader Hap Brandon who encourages me as I study each week.  As she leads our group she calls on all the women to share what they learned from the study.  There are times I learn as much from the discussion as I do from studying the passage myself.

  • I’m grateful for my husband Chris.  I remember all too well living life alone for many, many years.  It’s wonderful to have good man who is loving and caring, hardworking and giving.  He is strong when I am weak.  He helps make life fun and brings a balance and perspective that I never had before.
  • I’m grateful for friends and family who care and are there for us and sharing their own lives with us.  
Trip to Louisiana


  • I’m grateful for our vacations that we took this year including a trip to Louisiana to see my sister-in-love Carol and brother-in-love Ron.  They made our trip so special and we got to see amazing sites in their state.  I still love looking at the pictures from our trip to Louisiana.  We had a wonderful trip as we drove up the coast to central California and stayed in a lovely place called the Back Bay Inn.  We saw the amazing beauty of God’s creation.
Trip to the California Central Coast


  • I’m grateful for our kitty cats Rudy and Junior; they make life a little sweeter and warmer.

  • I’m grateful that each day is new and fresh and allows me a new beginning.
  • I’m grateful for the home God has provided us with.  This year when I was off work for back surgery I especially enjoyed it.  I was able to sit in the backyard for my prayer time and watch the birds coming to eat at our feeders and drink from the bird bath and dripper.


  • I’m grateful that both Chris and I are gainfully employed for companies that are stable.  I don’t want to take that for grated these days in light of how many people have lost their job in this stinky economy.  I don’t want to be presumptuous and think that because I have a job today, that I will have one tomorrow.  That causes me to be mindful its God who provides and be dependent upon Him.
  • I’m grateful for Valerie Sinex and the staff at Wild Birds Unlimited in Yorba Linda.  It’s a treat going to the store and visit.  Valerie is so sweet, loving and caring to both people and birds alike.  
  • I’m thankful for the sermons and conference messages that I hear, online or via podcast, including John MacArthur, Joel Rosenberg, Kay Arthur, Anne Graham Lotz,  John Piper, Voddie Baucham, Dave Rolph, Beth Moore, Family Life Today, Family Talk and Focus on the Family. 
  • I’m grateful for a warm bed to sleep in each night and hot and cold running water.  In reality that is a huge thing that is so easy to take for granted. 
  • I’m grateful for God’s daily provisions.
  • I’m grateful to be able to participate in Blogging for Books, Book Sneeze and Tyndale Blog Network; to be able to read new books and give a review.  It’s both fun and a challenge.



Those are just a few of the things I’m grateful for as I reflect on this past year.  I pray that I will have a grateful heart in 2012 and live each day through the grace and power of God.


Happy New Year to you and your family.  

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Fresh-brewed Life – Take a Pass

Posted in Fresh-brewed Life, Nicole Johnson, Secular Psychology by


I was excited at the prospect of reading Nicole Johnson’s book “Fresh-brewed Life”.  I had seen her at Women of Faith and hoped to be inspired and touched by her book as I had been by her dramatic performances.


My expectations were soon dashed as I worked my way through “Fresh-brewed Life”. The book is about the work and changes Nicole made in her life to help her overcome her painful past.  However, I didn’t connect with the author and found it a chore to finish reading the book. 


Instead of offering something fresh and new a “Fresh-brewed Life” is filled with secular psychology and has a little bit of scripture thrown in for good measure.  God seems to be another resource to help fill our needs rather than the One Whom we worship and give an account.   


What I found most troubling is Nicole’s views didn’t align with scripture at times.  The most grievous example is on pages 58 and 59 where she describes and encounter with a woman who came to speak with her at a conference.  Sandra came and asked Nicole to pray for her because she was having an affair.  Nicole shared some of the details on what drove this woman to have an affair.  At no time during this exchange did Nicole tell this woman that what she is doing is wrong before God.  Instead she asked Sandra to tell how this man made her feel and counseled her that she needed to better understand her longings and take them to God.  At no time were the words sin and repentance mentioned.  The saddest sentence in the book, “I don’t know what happened with Sandra’s marriage or whether or not she ended her affair with Jerry.”  


“Fresh-brewed Life” is not entirely without merit.  I liked the chapter on friendships.  There were a few things throughout the book that were insightful.  However, overall the author seemed very self-centered instead of Christ exalting and off base scripturally.  Therefore, I do not recommend this book.  


I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”



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Thank you Troops & Veterans

Posted in Military, Sacrifice, Thank You by

Wishing the men and women of our military and their families a very Merry Christmas.  I thank you for your service to this nation and for the sacrifice that you and your family make so that we can remain a free country.


Thank you Lloyd at Solid Rock or Sinking Sand for sharing this tribute to our military.

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You Shall Call Him Jesus

Posted in Christmas, Full God and Fully Man, Jesus Christ, Virgin BirthIRTH by

Mary, a virgin conceived a Child
By the power of the Holy Spirit

Joseph a righteous and compassionate man
Decided to end their betrothal privately

Then an angel of the Lord appeared 
Commanded Joseph to fear not

Take Mary as your wife
That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit

She shall bring forth a Son, you shall call Him Jesus 
For He shall save His people from their sins

In this, the Lord fulfilled the prophesy of old
Isaiah 7:14

A virgin shall conceive a child, and bear a Son
His name shall be called Immanuel, God with us

Then Joseph awaken
Did as the Lord commanded 

He took Mary as his wife and did not know her
Until after the birth of her firstborn 

The virgin born Son, conceived of the Holy Spirit
His name is Jesus for He shall save His people from their sin


By Susan Wachtel
December 21, 2011

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 


22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 


24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,  25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.   And he called His name JESUS. – Matthew 1:18-25

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The God Margin

Posted in Uncategorized by

It’s time to step out
Face impossible circumstance
Dare to be out numbered 450 to 1
Stand and see what the LORD will do
When the trumpet blows
Enemies will flee and victory is certain
In the God margin

by Susan Wachtel
December 11, 2011



So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands.  Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!”   And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled.   When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the LORD set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. –Judges 7:19-22

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Five Minute Friday: Color This Week Over

Posted in 5 Minute Friday, Prayer, Wrestling with God by
Color this week over, I’m glad it’s done.  It was a hard week, a challenging week in many ways: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  It left me feeling blue.  I did some wrestling with God this week in prayer.  There were tears shed.  I wondered if my prayers did any good.  It seems I pray and pray and pray, but it comes to naught.  Right about then God does a big work in the life of someone I’ve been praying for.  It kind of feels like a poke in the chest and God saying, “See I hear your prayers and I do answer them, but in My time frame and according to My plan.” 

After struggling with prayer today, I realized that it was the enemy trying to discourage me.  When I got a hold of that…I prayed those faithful prayers, that Lord willing He will answer.  Especially the prayers for the salvation of my family and friends, Lord willing.

This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.  

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