In light of the recent elections I was reminded at how grateful I am to live in a free country and that I am able to exercise my freedom to vote.
In the United States the right to vote is a privilege and responsibility that is taken all too lightly.
Lord, let me always be mindful of the sacrifice of our founding fathers and the men and women who have served this country, fought and even laid down their lives so that we might be free.
To those who know me…it’s no surprise that my top list of things I’m thankful for relate to God and His word. Continuing on in that same vein I thank God for pastors, teachers and churches that are committed and faithful to preach and teach the full counsel of God’s word.
I have been abundantly blessed by God to sit under pastors who have been gifted by God. Pastors who diligently study God’s word so they can feed and care for the flock. They strive to present the bride of Christ, the church, as holy and blameless, sanctified and set apart, holy and dedicated unto Him.
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. – Acts 20:26-27
Pastor Philip De Courcy
Pastor Chuck Obremski
Pastor John MacArthur
Pastor John Piper
Oneplace.com
As I reflect on the many blessings from God…one of the most important is the Word of God.
The Bible is God’s revelation given to man…it is God breathed. Through reading God’s word I can know the mind and heart of God. Because God is so far beyond our comprehension…I can study the Bible for a lifetime and never fully know God…barely scratching the surface. In the scriptures God has revealed Himself, His will and His good and perfect plan for our lives. In the Bible God has given us truth…He has given us light to drive out the darkness.
Through the word of God, I learned of the Father’s plan of salvation offered to me through His Son Jesus Christ. Through the reading of God’s word, the Holy Spirit corrects, convicts and encourages me. I am washed and renewed through the study of God’s word.
I can hold a Bible in my hand without fear of persecution and I praise God that I have been educated and am able to read God’s word for myself. Through the Holy Spirit I can understand the Bible.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to take some time each day and give thanks to God for the many blessings that He has lavished on me.
First and foremost I am thankful to God for my salvation that He freely gave me through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for my sin. He bought me off slave market of sin…He ransomed me paying the bill in full with His own blood.
It’s amazing to contemplate that before the foundations of the world were laid that God the Father chose me…the wretched, sinful, unworthy person that I am. He set me free. Free from the penalty of sin, free from the power of sin and one day I will be freed from the presence of sin. Hallelujah…what a Savior!
How about you…what are you most thankful for?
This week the infamous Santa Ana winds were blowing on Wednesday. Whenever the winds blow hard the phrase “the winds of change” comes to mind and probably even more so this week because we anticipated that there might be changes coming down the pike at work.
With the economy continuing to tank and folks losing their jobs and remaining out of work for extended periods of time…I always have in the back of my mind the possibility that a work layoff could be in my future. Each day, it makes me so grateful to have a job…and not take it for granted. It reminds me that every good and perfect gift, employment and the ability to perform the work, is a gift from my heavenly Father above. I’m also mindful to be thankful for today what God has given me and try to be faithful through His power and strength.
While we anticipated the strong possibility of changes coming at work…we didn’t know exactly when, who or how many folks might be effected. I was praying in the weeks and days leading up to this time and I’m so grateful that God gave me such a sense of peace regarding my work situation. I had peace with the thought that I might be let go and I gratitude if I was permitted to keep my job.
Thankfully work has been very busy, so there wasn’t any time to waste being preoccupied with thoughts of “what if”. Instead all of us were working hard to keep up.
When praying about work, I found that my will was fully submitted to God’s will for the situation. This time around I wasn’t dictating to God what I thought was the best outcome. I had been through similar circumstances four years ago and handled it much differently. But this time…I was absolutely at peace with whatever happened. God had indeed given me the peace that passes all understanding. My husband Chris was praying that by God’s mercy my job might be spared so that we would continue to be able to meet our financial obligations without undue stress. However, I continued to pray for God’s will to be done. It almost felt like if I prayed that my job would be spared, I was in essence praying for my co-workers to lose their jobs. So instead, I prayed for God’s will to be done.
I praise God for the peace that He gave me…absolutely trusting in His will and plan. I was confident that God knows my future and my friends and co-workers future…and He has a good and perfect plan for each our lives that He is working out. I may not always understand why God permits certain circumstances…but in heaven it will all be made clear.
While I anticipated changes…I didn’t know the exact day they would hit. Just in case I would be let go, I ordered my prescriptions while I still had a job and insurance coverage.
This week that fateful day came…a little earlier than I expected. It was a hard day as people whom I consider friends were laid off. It didn’t seem to make any sense who was laid off because I knew the great work they did and the positive attitude they brought to work every day. It was a hard and sad day.
When the dust started to settle, I went to lunch and called Chris. I told him that it had been a very hard and ugly day, but that his prayers had been answered. At the end of the day…I still had a job.
A number of folks talked about having “survivor’s guilt” and not understanding why good people were let go when others still had jobs. I guess to some degree I felt that way.
I’m certain with the new responsibilities that I will have due to the recent layoffs, it will cause me to depend upon God even more. There is no way that I could manage it on my own strength and might.
When I pray each day…there has been an ongoing list of people whom I’ve been praying for regarding their employment situation. Now my prayer list has greatly expanded. But I know my God is faithful. He is merciful and pours out His loving kindness on each of us. I pray that the God of all comfort will draw each of these people near and reveal Himself as Jehovah Jira the God who provides for all our needs.
Things won’t be the same at work and I’m already missing the people I worked with each day. Oh Lord…cause me to depend upon You more, be filled with gratitude and faithful in prayer.
It’s election time again and time to make your voice heard. If you would like some information to help you determine who to vote for and who best represents your values try Nancy’s Picks.
Though near or far
Present or absent
We are one
Knitted together in the body of Christ
United in our worship of God
Hungering to know Him through His word
Desirous to love Him more
Eager to obey Him quickly and completely
Susan Bunts Wachtel
October 7, 2010
Do you ever experience those times…when God seems to be silent?
That’s what I’ve been experiencing. Recently, my husband Chris and I were on vacation and departed from our normal routines. As much as we need vacations…there’s something that I like about ordinary life. It’s easier for me to be disciplined in prayer and the study of God’s word when I’m at home. I find that when I’m living out of a suitcase and traveling from place to place it’s harder for me to be focused in my prayers or to read the Bible without distraction. So while part of me would like some more time off from work…I appreciate getting back into a disciplined schedule.
While on vacation…I didn’t listen to my I-Pod which is chock full of sermons and Biblically based programs. I missed it greatly. During the long drive home…I had the time to put on my head phones and listen to God’s word again….and it felt like a welcomed friend.
Since then I’ve been working on my Bible study, reading God’s word and coming before the throne of grace in prayer. Despite that…my spiritual tanks seem low. I feel like God has been silent. I’ve prayed that if there was an area of sin or something that is displeasing to the Lord, that God would help me to see it so that I can repent.
I praise God that daily I can ask for Him to forgive my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. But I didn’t feel as though God was bringing to mind an area of disobedience that I needed to address. Yet…the silence continue and I found myself focusing more and more on me and continuing to ask, “Lord what have I done wrong?”.
When I read my morning email devotional from Elizabeth Elliot a quote leap off the page at me, “There is another reason, I think, for the cause of the feeling (a spirit of discontent) within us. It comes from the flesh and self-introspection. It is good for us to look at self and know how loathsome it is, but with one look at self we must take ten looks at Christ.”
When I read that quote, I realized that in the time of silence from God, I had turned my focus inward. In my attempt to examine myself for sin or a barrier between God and me…I had taken my eyes off the Lord.
I need to keep my eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, stay in the word of God and preserver in prayer. God calls us to walk by faith, not by sight. I must not allow myself to be drawn off course by my feelings. When I’ve sinned, I can trust the Holy Spirit to bring it to mind so that I can confess and repent.
No matter if it’s a fruitful and intimate time with the Lord or a time of silence…I need to keep my eyes on Jesus Christ.
The other day after hearing about a prayer request, I started thinking about what a privilege it is to be able to pray for people. To be able to bring them before the throne of grace and see God and His faithfulness do much more than we can ask or imagine.
Then I started thinking about my Dad who died 41 years ago when I was 10 years old. Unless he accepted Christ in the hospital on his deathbed, my Dad never knew Christ and is spending eternity in hell. We weren’t plugged into a local church and weren’t surrounded by Christian family and friends. We weren’t believers.
Was there anybody there at the hospital that prayed for my Dad? Was there any body that shared the truth of the Gospel message with this dying man? Will I see him in heaven?
I consider it a privilege to be in prayer for people…family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, government officials and even fellow drivers on the road. I don’t know who is in their life and praying for them…but where our paths intersect…may the Lord enable me to be faithful in prayer.
Who doesn’t like a movie where good triumphs over evil? I love a movie where the hero stands strong in his convictions despite great opposition. That’s why I selected “The Least Among You” from Book Sneeze. Based on the movie’s description…I thought the movie would be inspirational.
After the movie ended my husband Chris turned to me and said, “I’m glad that I don’t have to review that movie.” I wasn’t eager to write my review on “The Least Among You” because overall the movie was disappointing.
The movie is based on a true story of Richard Kelly (Cedric Sanders) who was arrested following the Watt’s riots in 1965. Richard was accused of assaulting a police officer and decided to serve probation instead of fighting the charges. His probation was to be served out at an all-white seminary near Los Angeles. As the only black student, Richard encounters prejudice from both students and professors. The seminary’s president Alan Beckett (William Devane) encourages Richard to break through the racial barriers until his actions threaten the schools financial backing for a media center. Samuel Benton (Louis Gosset, Jr.), a gardener at the seminary, befriends Richard and encourages him through many trials.
Some of the performances in the movie were good, in particular Cedric Sanders and Louis Gosset. The most interesting characters were the gardener Samuel Benton (Louis Gossett, Jr.) and his wife Bessie Benton (Starletta DuPois). They demonstrated the most Christ-like characteristics and seemed to have a living faith that had transformed their lives.
However, I find fault and take issue with the movie’s screenplay. Most of the Christians in this movie were portrayed as corrupt, or bigoted, or lying thieves, or greedy and lacking in faith. They seem like a caricatures, rather than real people.
The seminary’s president was greedy and corrupt and many of the professors were ignorant and prejudice. A former missionary Kate Allison (Lauren Holly) seemed like a caricature of liberated women in the 60’s and throughout the movie she was smoking and drinking. Worse yet most of the characters at this seminary, professors and students alike, seemed to be devoid of anything resembling true faith in Jesus Christ. Why any of them were at the seminary is a mystery.
The movie was provided to me free through Book Sneeze as part of their selection for Christian bloggers. After watching this movie, I’m not sure what would qualify it as a “Christian” based movie. Not only was the movie disappointing, but it was also offensive to me as a Christian.
In my opinion the alternate theme of the movie can best be described as the “dangers of going to a liberal theological seminary”. In the movie, the miracles in the Bible are called into question and attributed to being nothing more than allegories, and truth is said to be relative. Rather than sharing the Gospel message that salvation and forgiveness of sin is found in Jesus Christ, the movie’s message is centered around a social gospel which promotes change.
The movie never fully explains what happened to the former missionary to cause her crisis of faith. Also it left me wondering what happened to the seminary president’s wife who appeared to have suffered some type of mental breakdown. I wanted to know what led to the president’s downfall and corruption. Was he ever a “man of faith” or was he just running a business?
Because this movie is “based on a true story” it’s hard to know what’s true and where writer/director Mark Young took literary license. Based on the screenplay I wanted to ask Mark Young if he personally knows any Christians?
I would not recommend this movie. Spend your time and money elsewhere on something that is in keeping with your Christian faith and values and gives a faithful presentation of the Gospel.
The words of a gossip should never be trusted
Today they are tearing someone else down
Tomorrow in front of a different audience
You will be the topic of conversation
Words spoken in a whisper
Are seldom shared face to face
The person held in judgment
Is never there to offer a defense
In the heart of the one listening
There is a nudge
A twinge of their conscience
The knowledge that gossiping is wrong
However any objection
Or the courage to speak up is stilled
As the listening audience
Is invited to join in the sin
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 16, 2010
This year I’ve made a concerted effort to memorize scripture. My aim was to memorize one verse a week.
For a long time…I thought that I couldn’t memorize scripture because my memory seems to get worse with each passing day. While I may find it a challenge to pull up information lickety split I have been surprised that I have been able to memorize the scripture verses relatively easy.
While typically it’s been one verse a week…there’s been a few times that I’ve memorized longer passages. Though it may take me a couple of weeks on the longer passages I am grateful that I’ve been able to memorize Bible verses.
There are all sorts of tips on how best to memorize scripture. It will vary on what’s most effective for each person.
For me I will write out the scripture on a Post It Note and place it on my computer screen and on the bathroom mirror at home. I’ll read the scripture verse throughout the day and when I’m at my computer, I’ll type that verse several times each day. If I’m in the bathroom I may speak the verse out loud. As I add a new verse each week…I’ll go back and recite or retype the previous verses so that I remember them.
One thing that’s been neat is being able to incorporate those verses into my prayers. Having God’s word in my memory bank helps me to pray more boldly because I know what His word says and I can be confident that it’s within the will of God.
I’ve also witnessed the Holy Spirit convicting, correcting and washing me with the Word of God. It’s hard to claim ignorance when I know what God’s word says. If I attempt to continue to go down that wrong road and disobey God…you can be sure that the Holy Spirit is taking me to the wood shed. So I find I’m quicker to obey and quicker to repent.
How about you…are you memorizing scripture? Do you hide God’s word in your heart so that you might not sin against Him?
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
Controlled by sin, deceived by satan
A son of disobedience
He lives according to the lust of his flesh
Follows every sinful desire of his wicked heart
This child of wrath
Is dead in his trespasses and sin
Thought he thinks he’s alive
He’s a dead man walking
by Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 23, 2010
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. – Ephesians 2:1-3
It’s not always an easy choice
When I hear God’s command
“Follow Me”
Further instructions are given only after I obey
No itinerary is laid out except the next step
“Follow Me”
The past bids me to stay
Attachments cause me to waver when I hear
“Follow Me”
Will I trust the One who calls
Or will I put others before God’s bid
“Follow Me”
Obedience is the key
Walking in His will the reward when He calls
“Follow Me”
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 20, 2010
Dedicated to those who have heard God’s call to “Follow Me”.
Though it’s unrealistic, as a Christian sometimes I expect other believers to be a whole lot better than what they are. At the same time…I know that we will never be perfect this side of heaven.
When I encounter that person who is a “work in progress” and see something that is unlovely and less than pure…it’s so easy to focus on that.
But God’s is challenging me that when I see that imperfection…when I encounter that sin in other believers instead of harping on what’s wrong with them I should bring them before the throne of grace in prayer. I can pray with confidence when I pray for that person what God has written in His word is His will for them.
Instead of letting something make me embittered or angry…I need to turn it around and pray. Perhaps that sin that I see in myself and others should be a flag to be in prayer.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get off track concerning the Lord? Something that starts out good and is even intended to be of service can quickly become a distraction from that which is necessary and essential.
In my fallen sinful nature it’s so easy to let things or people distract me from the Lord. All too easily I let activity eclipse the need for worship and undistracted study of God’s word alongside the body of Christ.
The Lord has been doing business with me in areas where I have gotten off track. It would be far better if I were a Mary and not a Martha, which is my natural tendency.
It’s far too tempting for me to desire to be pleasing to people and let them set my schedule rather than go to the Lord and ask what He would have me to do. When I let other people drive my schedule…it may be filled from morning to night taking care of all sorts of things that the Lord never intended for me to do. When I know that my schedule is ordered by the Lord…that it’s far easier to say no or yes when and where it’s appropriate, because I’ve already said yes to the Lord.
It seems kind of crazy…but if I want to have that time with the Lord…if I want to be obedient and have a Sabbath rest then I need to intentionally and purposely plan for that.
On Sunday as I sat in our Bible study class the Lord spoke clearly to me, “Susan, love Me more!”
What does loving the Lord more look like? How will that impact my schedule and activities? How will it affect my attitude? I liken it loving my husband. Some of the ways I demonstrate my love for Chris and how my love is manifest will be similar to how I love the Lord.
The one thing that I know is that I can’t even do that on my own. Instead I need to go to the Lord and ask for Him to guide me and direct my steps. I need to be still and listen for the Lord.
I’ve done many a Bible study over the years. For a number of years, I was blessed to study God’s word through Bible Study Fellowship and most recently through a women’s study through our church.
But each time I begin a new study, I find myself nervous…but also excited and hopeful that I will build friendships and bond with the women in my study. I’m prayerful that God will enable me to be faithful in my study…that I will diligently study God’s word. That I will be open and teachable and let God’s word rebuke, encourage, and conform and transform me.
Last night I began a new study in the book of Ephesians, a Precepts study by Kay Arthur. Through this study I will learn a new in depth Bible study method. What a great book to study so that I might walk with confidence of who I am in Christ.
When I start feeling nervous…I always remind myself that within a few short weeks the ladies in the study will get to know and love one another. I need to keep my focus on Jesus Christ and follow where He leads.
While she may be new to blogging, photographer Sherry Hebestreit is not new to photography.
I may be prejudiced…because Sherry was our wedding photographer…but I think she does lovely work.
Sherry has a love and passion for photography that started back when she was in the 4th grade. Today she is a professional photographer and captures the special moments in people’s lives…weddings, engagements, birth of a child or family photos.
If you have an event coming up and you need someone to capture those special moments…you may want to have Sherry there with her trust cameras in hand. You can see some of her work on new blog, Photography by Sherry Hebestreit.
Sherry…thank you for capturing the most important day of our lives so we can relive the memory of that wonderful day for years to come!
Susan's Blog 