Author Archives: Susan Wachtel

Hard Reading

Posted in Bible, Holy Spirit by

Last night, before going to sleep, I picked up my Bible to read from Matthew.  I don’t think I realized it until afterwards, when I started reading one of my favorite books “At Home in Mitford”, how challenging it can be to read Bible.

When I read the Bible, I’m examining myself in light of God’s word and that can be hard work!  While my outward actions and words might seem okay, God looks at my heart.  God uses His word to expose the thoughts and intentions of my heart and sometimes it’s not pretty. 

Praise God that I feel that conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Praise God that He is at work in me.  Praise God that when I submit to God in obedience, He changes and molds me into the person He designed me to be, making me into the image and likeness of Christ.  That work will continue until I die.

While I’ll enjoy reading books, fiction and non-fiction, it can be a way to escape and to not confront myself with the mirror of God’s word.  That’s not to say I shouldn’t read books other than the Bible, but I need to put the word of God first in my life.  I need to be ready and willing to let God do the hard work of shining the Light into the dark recesses of my heart and mind and clean out the uglies. 

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99 Balloons – Every Life is Precious in the Eyes of the Lord

Posted in 99 Balloons, A Warrior's Heart, Prayer by
Today I stopped by Joshua’s blog “A Warrior’s Heart” and found this video “99 Balloons“.  Take a few minutes and watch it.  The video is about the life of Baby Elliot will be a reminder that every life is precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Please stop by Joshua’s blog and read his post on prayer.  Joshua is a man after God’s own heart.  He loves the Lord and is filled with love and compassion for people.  He is a passionate prayer warrior and shares the Word of God.

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Prayer as a Way of Walking in Love: A Personal Journey

Posted in Francis Chan, Prayer by

Do you love to pray or do you struggle with prayer?  Do you want to grow closer to the Lord?  Do you want to have a heart like David who was a man after God’s own heart?  Be sure to listen to Francis Chan’s message at this year’s Desiring God Conference for Pastors.  It’s one you may want to download and listen to again. 

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The Eastman Chronicles…Convicting

Posted in Convicting, Michelle Eastman, The Eastman Chronicles by

I love reading other blogger’s writings, especially Christian bloggers.  I love hearing what the Lord is teaching them through the study of God’s or about the work He is doing in their lives. 

One of my favorite bloggers is Michelle Eastman at “The Eastman Chronicles”.  Michelle is an amazing woman of God, wife, mother, daughter and friend.  She is open and transparent about her life and her love for the Lord and His word is evident in what she writes and how she lives her life. 

Click on over to “The Eastman Chronicles” and be challenged by today’s post “Incredibly Convicting”. 

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Just Thinking…Trials & Tribulations

Posted in Faith, Jesus Christ, L:ord, Potter and Clay, Trials and Tribulation by

It’s easy to love the Lord when things are going good in our lives.  But I find out if I really love the Him during difficult times and trials and tribulations. 

Fear is unbelief in action.  It reveals who my focus is on, is it on the Lord or is it on me?  Do I depend upon the Lord or rely on my strength? 

Trials and tribulations are instruments God uses for good in our lives.  If I trust God during hard times my faith is strengthened.  My love for Christ Jesus grows.

Do I really believe, do my thoughts and actions reflect the truth of Scripture that He is the Potter and I am the clay?  Clay being molded doesn’t get off the Potter’s wheel and protest, whine and complain.  Instead the clay submits to the skillful hands of the Potter.

But now, O LORD,
You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8
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Selfish & Fickle

Posted in Heart, Selfish by

Recently when struggling with God about something that I didn’t think was fair, I felt as if the Holy Spirit rebuked me.  He challenged my thinking which was focused on me, how I felt and what I wanted. 

It’s hard, if not impossible, to love someone else when I put myself first.  When I make my feelings the measuring rod by which I determine if someone is right or wrong or good or bad, they will always fall short in my estimation. 

That doesn’t even take into account the fickleness of my feelings.  I need to remember God’s counsel that the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. 


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Words of a Gossip

Posted in Gossip, Sinful Wicked Heart by

Words of a gossip
Go down with ease
Taste sweet to the hearer delighted to partake

Pride
Arrogance
Judgment abounds

Two or three gathered together
Words said in a whisper
Lest anyone else should overhear

Ugly heart
Ill intentions
Calculated and designed to raise themselves up

Beware to the one who listens
Soon you will be the topic of conversation
Your name will be bandied about in a whisper

Instead step away
Shut your mouth
Lock your ears

Know there is One who overhears it all
He knows the thoughts and intentions
Of our sinful, wicked hearts


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 3, 2010


Oh how I hate gossip and know its destructive force.  If find it amazing that people are so easily lured in to the conversation of a gossip.  Do they really think that the person with whom they are conversing won’t do the same thing to them at an opportune time?  If someone was gossiping about a loved one…how would they feel?  Angry, upset over the injustice and judgmental attitude from the ignorant, wicked heart?  There is nothing good about gossip! 

12 Who is the man who desires life,
         And loves many days, that he may see good?
 13 Keep your tongue from evil,
         And your lips from speaking deceit.
 14 Depart from evil and do good;
         Seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34: 12-14

  16 These six things the LORD hates,
      Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
       17 A proud look,
      A lying tongue,
      Hands that shed innocent blood,
       18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
      Feet that are swift in running to evil,
       19 A false witness who speaks lies,
      And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. – James 3:6-9


Just Thinking…About the Lord

Posted in Anxiety, God, Worry by

I find comfort and assurance in knowing that the Lord never wrings His hands in worry.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.  God never has an anxious thought.  He doesn’t toss and turn all night or need an extra cup of coffee to get through the day.  He’s never weary.  God never wonders “what if”. 

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Patty Biven’s Blog

Posted in Community Bible Study, Patty Bivens by

This last year, it was my privilege to do an in-depth Bible study through Community Bible Study in the book of Revelation.  While I’ve read and studied Revelation before I came away from this study with a greater understanding of this book and confidence that the prophecies are true and will come to pass.  It certainly gave me a greater passion and desire to pray for the salvation for unsaved family and friends.  Especially in light of what they will face if they live during the tribulation period and an eternity in hell for those who reject Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The teaching director for our class is Patty Biven’s.  God has greatly gifted this woman to teach His word.  She is so faithful to study each week and dig into the truth of God’s word and share it with women who are hungry to know God and His word. 

To my great delight, Patty Biven’s has started her own blog.  She is open and transparent and shares what she is learning through the trials she and her husband are currently facing.  Her faith is a testimony to God faithfulness and His work in a servant fully committed to Him.

Are you going through trying times?  Have you been impacted by the economy and job loss?  Are you loosing heart?  Is your faith waning?  If so…click on over to Patty Biven’s blog and read what God is doing and what He is teaching Patty during this season in her life.

If you are looking for an in-depth Bible study, please consider Community Bible Study.  If you live in Orange County, you may want to sign-up for the Orange Evening Women’s class.  Starting this fall we will be studying the gospel of John.

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Charismatic Chaos Enters the Mainstream

Posted in Bible, Charismatic Movement, Grace to You, Pastor John MacArthur, Truth, Word of God by

A friend had recently shared how powerful Pastor John MacArthur’s sermons are on the Charismatic movement.  Truth filled sermons and exposing the lack of biblical doctrine, errors and documenting blasphemous, heretical teaching of many Charismatic leaders. 

I am so thankful for Pastor John MacArthur and Grace to You ministries who have made available for free the download of thousands of sermons he has preached for over 40 years.  I went online and downloaded Pastor MacArthur’s series “Charismatic Chaos”. 

My eyes were opened to the subtly of Charismatic teaching that has made its way into mainstream churches, pastors and Bible studies.  Teaching that is based on personal experience that’s put on par with or elevate over the Bible.  Feelings take precedence over Biblical truth.  People claim that they’ve received messages from God, however those messages don’t always line up with scripture. 

The problem comes if God is still speaking to us outside of scripture, then the Biblical canon is not closed. Who do you believe?  Do you believe the Bible or do you believe the person who is claiming to have a word from God?

Because the Bible is whole, perfect, complete and the plumb line by which everything should be measured, if someone’s teaching doesn’t line up with the Bible then they are in error. 

At first I found myself saddened when I recognized some of the errors in one of my favorite Bible study teachers.  But I realized that I should be grateful that we have been given the inerrant and inspired word of God by which we can discern error.  Am I going to love God and His word above all things and people?  Am I going to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength?  Am I going to guard the truth?

I believe that all too often people, especially women, have a hard time confronting error and standing for the truth.  We are so easily led by our hearts instead of reason.  But when I see erroneous teaching, it’s an opportunity to reach out and do so with love and humility and covered in prayer. 

From the beginning Satan has been mixing the truth with lies.  He still does that today.  The enemy’s lies touch our feelings and emotions and it’s hard to see the truth from the lie.  But if we have an unchanging standard of truth, the Bible, we can measure what we are hearing against the truth in the word of God.

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. – Galatians 1:6-10


To listen to Pastor John MacArthur’s sermons on the Charismatic movement click on the links below:

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The Bible

Posted in Bible, God's Word by

Perfect
Complete
Infallible

Truth
Trustworthy
The Standard

Authoritative
Sufficient
Effect

God breathed
Inspired
Word of God

Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 28, 2011

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PAIN!

Posted in Healing, Pain, Trusting God by

After seven months of being in pain, 24/7, I’ve finally come to a decision to undergo surgery for my back problems (stenosis, bulging disk, bone spurs, sciatica, etc).

Not only has this impacted me, but it’s adversely effected my husband Chris most notably regarding sleep.  When mama ain’t sleeping, ain’t no body sleeping!  On a good night, if I take a pain killer right before I go to sleep, I may be able to sleep for about 5 to 6 hours before waking up in pain.  I have back pain as well as pain in my right ankle from sciatica.  On a bad night…there’s not a whole lot of sleep happening at the Wachtel household.

I’ve tried some of the more conservative methods to bring pain relief including a course of three epidurals.  The second epidural made the most impact by reducing the pain for about three weeks.  Other than that…there’s not been a whole lot of relief. 

Chris and I met with a neurosurgeon to get a second opinion.  I feel confident that this was the right doctor to entrust my back to.  She had studied my MRI and was able to show us exactly what’s happening and what treatment she recommended.  I felt relief at her words, “After undergoing conservative treatment for several months, which has brought no relief, surgery is a reasonable option.”

People’s reactions and opinions are kind of funny.  I’ve had advice from many different perspectives.  There are those who are dead set against surgery and suggest seeking help from chiropractors, acupuncturists, spinal decompression, etc.  There are people who had back pain who have undergone surgery with great success.  I know one man who had surgery who had more pain following surgery than he had before.  The one thing I know for certain is that there are no guarantees and everyones body responds differently. 

People’s responses have been passionate!  They relate their experience and what worked for them, confident that’s the step I should take, some without knowing what’s happening with my back.  I’m sure that their intent is good and they desire that I find permanent relief from the pain, but honestly often I walk away more confused than when I started. 

When I mention I’m considering surgery, I’ve experienced a lot of disapproval from people who think I’m making a huge mistake.  After being in pain for seven months straight, not having a good night sleep in months, not being able to sit or lay down without being in pain, surgery seems like a good and reasonable option. 

We both know that if there is any healing or relief from the constant pain, that it’s the Lord doing the work.  He uses various means to accomplish healing, including doctors, medicine and if He so chooses, a miraculous healing that can only be attributed to God. 

We know that we need to trust the Lord in this situation, no matter what.  Should He choose to heal me, we will praise Him.  Should He choose to not heal me, we will praise Him.  Our praise of God is not contingent upon a favorable outcome. 

The one thing that is certain, our dependence upon God has deepened.  When crying out to Him for pain relief and when seeking wisdom to make life altering decisions, like surgery, we are depending upon and looking to the Lord.

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Some Thoughts…At the End of the Day

Posted in Bible, Prayer, Word of God by

I am so grateful to have friends in my life who are more committed to my holiness than my happiness.  People who are not afraid to speak the truth from the word of God into my life.  They have an unbending standard and they can speak with confidence when their counsel is based on the solid rock of God’s word. 

I’m grateful for friends who know the King of kings and Lord of lords and are able come to the throne of grace in prayer.  Rather than someone telling me, “I’ll be thinking about you”, or “Best of luck to you”, I know that they will go to God in prayer and that He hears our prayers.

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Woodshed Time 

Posted in Prayer, Stress, Worry by
After a sleepless night filled with physical pain, fear and worry about a family member I finally got out of bed and went about my morning routine.  This morning I let my thoughts wander down the path of worry, and started feeling as though I was responsible for another person’s life and choices.  Instead of praying, I opted to worry.  
In the middle of those troublesome thoughts, I felt as though God tapped me on my shoulder and said, “Susan, I am still on My throne.  Do you realize that all this time you spent worrying you could have been praying?  The Trinity doesn’t meet in an emergency session.  I know all things and nothing escapes My attention.”


It was after I listened to the Lord and reminded myself who God is and what He can do that my stress and worry faded away.  I felt a calm and peace come over me.  I was able to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  I remembered that I need to be about my Father’s business…praying.  God is faithful and true and He is working out His perfect plan, not only in my life, but in the life of family and friends.  

When I worry I’m acting as if there is no God.  It’s good to be taken to the woodshed now and again.  It reminds me Whose I am.  But surely it would be better if I chose instead to believe God…to walk by faith, not by sight.

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Our Sinful Heart

Posted in Jesus Christ, Salvation, Sin by

Our sinful heart
Willful unbending spirit
We refuse the offer of forgiveness
Found in Christ Jesus alone
Instead we worship gods of our own making
Drink water made from our own wells
We would rather thirst again
Then receive the living water from the Savior
Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 7, 2011

Before the Throne

Posted in Forgiveness, Heaven, Jesus Christ by

As we are nearing the end of our study in the book of Revelation, we are learning about the New Jerusalem.

I’m not sure I can fully imagine what it will be like to stand before the throne of God with a multitude of believers and the heavenly hosts worshiping the Lamb of God and God the Father.  To finally see my Savior face to face…the One who bore my sins so that I would be forgiven and clothed in His righteousness.  What will it be like?

Then my thoughts turned to forgiveness.  How many people have I held a grudge towards?  What about my friend who hasn’t forgiven me?  If they are believers…we will one day stand before the throne of God together.  At that time the things of this earth will have long since have been forgotten and forgiven.  In heaven I won’t even remember the hurts and offenses that I choose to hold on to this side of heaven. 

In light of heaven, in light of the forgiveness of Christ for my sin…how can I not run to the throne of grace and freely abundantly forgive?

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“Max on Life” by Max Lucado – A book worth pondering

Posted in Book Sneeze, Max Lucado, Max on Life by

When Max Lucado’s new book “Max on Life – Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions” was made available to read and review, I quickly jumped at the opportunity and I was not disappointed. 

In his latest book Max has compiled his responses to 172 questions that he has received over the years.  The questions are grouped together by topic such as hope, hurt, help, him/her, home, have/have-nots and the hereafter. 

What I appreciate about Max’s style of writing is his ability to simplify and put into practice his faith based on the solid foundation of God’s word.  He doesn’t make apologies about some Bible passages that people may take offense to when they are suffering or going through a difficult time in their life.  While taking God at His word is simple, it’s not easy.  There are many things we won’t have an answer to this of heaven.  Yet, that doesn’t stop the author from speaking the truth from the word of God into people’s lives with love and compassion. 

Some of topics I found powerful were on forgiveness, growing closer to God, faith in the face of cancer, prayer, the Holy Spirit, marriage, family, sex, male/female differences, and heaven and hell. 

While the book was very good, I found myself wanting Max to be stronger in his responses about sin and repentance, salvation, and abortion.  An area I wish Max had covered was about the holiness of God and how a holy God views our sin. 

I do recommend Max Lucado’s newest book “Max on Life”.  It’s the kind of book that would be good to have on your nightstand so you can read some of the questions and answers before turning in or when waking up.  There were many of Max’s answers and scripture references that I found myself pondering and meditating on.  It’s well organized and there is a topic and scripture index for quick reference.
 

Disclosure of Material Connection: 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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Hope and a Prayer

Posted in Hope, Prayer, Spiritual Battle by

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

I have a dear friend who has committed to praying for my husband and me and our marriage.  I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful that is.  She and her husband love the Lord and seek His face and desire to do His will.  She continually points me back to God’s word and what scripture says and the absolute truth contained therein.  Prayer is a powerful and wonderful gift.

Recently she sent me an email that she was going to be praying Romans 15:13 for both of us.  When I read the verse, I found that it was in line with what I’ve been going through in the last couple of weeks and what God has been impressing upon me through my circumstances. 

Do you ever find that the Lord continues to bring you back to a topic over and over again?  During the last couple of weeks the focus has been on hope in sermons, Bible study, scripture and radio programs.

I love the Lord Jesus Christ and my Father in heaven.  I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit in me and growing and sanctifying me.  I love God’s word…and I have a hope that cannot be squelched or quenched.

Yet, the last couple of weeks I’ve felt overwhelmed.  The demands and busyness have been intense.  Dealing with people and things that are out of my control left me feeling frustrated, angry, and very low.  I had my eyes on my circumstances and was focused on my feelings instead of God.

In the mornings I pray before starting my day and that includes prayer for the people with whom I interact with each day.  I pray for salvation for those who are unsaved.  If they are going through difficult times, I pray for whatever they are going through.

Even though I had started my day in prayer, instead of walking in the victory I have in Christ Jesus I felt swamped and like my boat was going under.  The very people for whom I prayed were now the focus of my frustration and anger.  I just wanted to quit and escape those circumstances.  Yet God calls me to endure through His power, wisdom and might.

Alright…so I may be a little slow on the uptake.  After a week of messages on hope you would think I would get it.  But it wasn’t until my friend emailed me about the verse she was praying for us this week, that I realized that I felt rather hopeless.  Hopeless because I was trying to suck it up, gut it out and get through these challenging circumstances on my strength.  God never gives us burdens to bear alone.  Instead He desires that we run to the throne of grace and seek His help in order to run the race with endurance.

God helped me to see that I can’t even do the everyday things on my own.  I need to come to Him in the morning seeking His strength and wisdom to handle the people and things that I will encounter.  Throughout the day, come to Him in prayer for each problem and challenge I’m facing.  I need to pray for God to help me love those who frustrate me.  That’s not something I can do on my own…I need to stay focused on God continually.

I believe there was a spiritual battle taking place during the last couple of weeks.  One that left me feeling defeated when I attempted to face it alone.  It was only after I reached out to some friends and asked for their prayer that I was able to keep my eyes on the Lord and come to Him in prayer throughout the day.  The challenges kept coming…but now I was facing them though the power and strength of the Lord. 

The enemy, the hater of our souls, seeks to have us walk alone.  He knows the power of prayer and wants to keep us from praying for those who are unsaved.  What better way to keep me from praying than to keep me frustrated, angry and focused on my circumstances rather than being dependent upon God. 

I’ve been meditating on Romans 15:13 this week and thinking about hope.  What is hope?  For a Christian it’s a confident expectation based on the truth and knowledge of who God is and a remembrance of what He’s done in the past.  Based on that knowledge I can know with certainty that He will act in the present and that my future is secure in Christ Jesus.  Nothing can overwhelm Omnipotence who reigns on high. 

When I view my circumstances in the light of God…I have a hope that cannot be shaken or moved. 

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For Personal Thought

Posted in Faithfulness, Jesus Christ, Service, Sin by

In my weekly Bible study class, there will be the occasional question marked “for personal thought.”  The question from last week’s lesson really hit home.

We are studying the book of Revelation.  In chapter 20, we are learning about Christ’s reign on the earth during the millennium.  The saints will be serving during that time on the earth.  The personal question was, “If your position of authority in Christ’s kingdom will be in proportion to your faithfulness in service today, how much responsibility will you have?” 

I responded that honestly, I don’t know.  I wasted too many years where my focus was outward and striving for the praises of men.  I’ve been self focused and had tainted motives.  Thankfully, the Lord is patient and helping me to grow.  I love Him more and trust Him more and desire to obey Him more. 

I don’t know what responsibilities the Lord will give me based on me being a faithful servant. 

But I do know this, that I trust Him to judge rightly and reward me accordingly.  I also know that He didn’t give me what I do deserve for my sin.  Instead He laid the punishment for all my sin on Jesus Christ.  Thank You Lord!

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Houma, Louisiana Vacation – March 2011

Posted in Annie Miller's Son's Swamp and Marsh Tours, Avery Island, Houma Louisiana, LUMCON, Oak Alley Plantation by

Click the icon to show the slide show in full screen to see the majesty of God’s handiwork in nature.
The slide show pictures were taken on our recent vacation to Houma, Louisiana.  My sister-in-law Carol and her husband Ron took us to some of the most beautiful places near their home.  We had a wonderful week and enjoyed our vacation immensely.  Thank you Ron and Carol!  We love you!
Some of the places we visited and recommend:
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