Rudy was enjoying the view of backyard, when what to his wandering eye should appear, but outdoor kitty. Rudy was not pleased. Not pleased at all. Rudy has a tiny little voice. While his meow sounded sweet and cute…he was not a happy camper and made every attempt to let outdoor kitty know that his presence was not welcome!
Most importantly we thank Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith for bringing Chris and I together when it seemed all but impossible. For holding our marriage together as we learn to grow together.
There are so many people to thank who helped in all aspects of our wedding. We are so grateful for our family and friends love and support, both now and then. Without it, our marriage would not be nearly as rich.
Thank you Donna and Jay Hoyt for standing with me in place of my parents. Thank you to the Silvestri family Denise, Pete, Travis, Reed, Alyssa, Scott, Susan and Danica for being there. Thank you Susan for taking care of my make up!
Thank you to my new family for taking me in…Ron and Carol, Cindy, Molly and Nathan, Kylan and Madison, Andrew and Amber, Hannah and Zoe and Casey too. I look forward to a lifetime getting to know you.
Thank you to Pastor Dave Dunn…for performing our wedding ceremony…you did a marvelous job and made it so memorable and personal. Thank you to Chance Conner who performed the songs for our wedding…thank you for sharing your talents on our special day. Thank you to our wedding photographer Sherry Hebestreit and Mike Farrel who did the audio and video for our wedding.
Thank you to Chris, my beloved husband. Thank you for marrying me and loving me, working through the hard times and laughing with me during the good times. I love you so much. You are a good man and I am most blessed by God to call you my husband. Love you Dub! Happy 1st Anniversary!
I had a “tude” today
I could have given you a laundry list of everything that’s wrong
Lament about things that aren’t fair
Drone on about things that are just not right
I know that there is a fine line
Between a heart that is hurting, sadden and grieved
And spirit of grumbling and complaining against God
I crossed that line today
But my God was patient and gentle with me
I know that instead of whining and complaining
Against circumstances, people and God
That I should go before God with my cares and concerns
Today, He went before me
Offered grace and mercy when I deserved none
He heard my cry of pain
Thinly disguised as complaining
He worked out the circumstances of a busy day
Smoothed out the path before me
Allowed me to accomplish all that needed to done
Showed me that my fear was for naught
He led me to the healing balm of praise and worship
Through hymns, songs and spiritual songs
Reminded me of His sovereignty in all things
Assured me that He is working all these things for good
While I may not know His purpose
In allowing things that are wrong, not fair and just not right
He does have a purpose and a plan
None of it escapes His notice
At God’s appointed time
He will provide deliverance
Work through my circumstance
And bring much more than I could ask or imagine
Susan Bunts Wachtel
October 3, 2009
Yester day my attitude stinketh. I meditated on everything that wasn’t fair or right. I mulled over the things that are wrong in my life.
But I was amazed at how gently God dealt with me. I know that just like the Israelites grumbling and complaining as they walked through the desert was wrong and an offence to God…so too is my grumbling and complaining.
In the midst of my bad attitude day…God led me to put in a worship CD from Kristen and Keith Getty called “Awaken the Dawn”. Was a wonderful way to be reminded about the sovereignty of God! Of His tender loving care even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
In thinking about the sin of grumbling and complaining…I see that it is simply a manifestation of doubt and unbelief. It’s doubting God…doubting that He is who He says He is. Displaying a lack of confidence that He can do what He says He can do. It’s my failure to trust His goodness and character. It’s focusing on me. It’s wanting things my way, in my timing. It’s having no regard for God’s plan, purpose and timing.
Grumbling and complaining is doing the easy thing. It’s not disciplining my heart and mind to go to God in prayer and lift up what concerns me.
When I grumble and complain…there is no room for thanksgiving or prayer for others. Just as the Israelites complained about the manna that God provided…my bad attitude and grumbling was really a complaint against what God has seen fit to provide me.
When I grumble and complain, I fail to recognize that God is doing a greater work to conform me to the image and likeness of Christ.
Complaining make my heart hard and resistant to the hands of the skillful, knowledgeable Potter who seeks to form this pot as He sees fit. The hardness of my heart against my circumstances and God makes the work that God is doing in me, more painful than it needs to be.
Thank You Lord Jesus for Your mercy to me.
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead of being overcome with fear
I stand firm in faith
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead of my circumstances
I have a peace which passes all understanding
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead of focusing on my enemies
I believe that He will deliver me
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead my weaknesses and limitations
I pray with confidence that He will do the impossible
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead of remembering my sin
I have the assurance of God’s forgiveness
When I have my eyes on Jesus
Instead of the here and now
I have the promise of heaven that will never pass away
Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 23, 2009
This fall started out the same as usual…but quickly took a detour from the route I expected and planned. I started out in one Bible study and due to changing circumstances made the move to a different study.
Thursday was my first week with the new group. This is the first women’s Bible study I’ve been involved with through my church. We are going through Beth Moore’s study, “Jesus the One and Only”.
I think that God prepared the way for this move as I worked on Beth Moore’s “Psalms of Ascent” study this summer. It was so different from the Bible study I’ve been in for over ten years that it took me a little while to get used it. But before long I was enjoying the new study. One thing I liked in particular were the “ah ha” moments I experienced as I started to think of my life, beliefs and thinking in light of God’s Word.
Because I started the study a week late…I did not have my first week’s questions completed. So mostly I listened while the other women shared their answers.
One of the segments spoke about the different responses that Zechariah and Mary had when the angel Gabriel visited them with good news about God’s miraculous intervention in their lives.
Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had wanted to have a child for years. They prayed for many years, but now their bodies were well past the child bearing years. But the angel came to tell that their prayer had been answered and that Elizabeth would give birth to a boy. He was to be called John. He was to be no ordinary child, but instead he was the forerunner of the Messiah and would prepare the way of the Lord.
Zechariah responded with doubt and unbelief and asked, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
As a result of his unbelief…the angel struck Zechariah mute until after John was born.
Now Mary on the other hand had a much bigger miracle in store. She hadn’t prayed to have a child. In fact she was betrothed to Joseph and still a virgin when the angel Gabriel informed her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that she would give birth to a Son. She was to call Him Jesus and He was the Holy One and would be called the Son of God.
Mary also asked angel a question, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
But Mary’s question wasn’t motivated by doubt and unbelief. The angel did not rebuke her. Perhaps Mary’s question was motivated by wonder and amazement how God would accomplish this impossible event.
After reading the events from Luke 1, I started to think about at what point did Mary conceive Jesus? Was it at the moment she believed the angel’s words? Or was it when she was in route to see her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant in her old age.
Was it similar to the ten lepers in Luke 17, who cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”? Jesus heard their cries and told them to go show themselves to the priests. As they went and obeyed Jesus command they were healed.
Did the Holy Spirit come upon Mary as she went forth in faith?
The study also provoked me to challenge myself…when I pray, do I pray in such a manner that I’m ready for God to knock my socks off? Do I believe God for the impossible? When I’m praying do I look at my circumstances or is my focus on God? Am I prepared to trust and wait upon God and His timing in answering my prayers?
Well…I look forward to the study as I seek to know Jesus more…and have Him be my All in all.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Ever since Chris and I moved into our new home we’ve been battling spider plants. They take up a large part of the planter in the front of our home. We would like to get rid of them and plant something more beautiful or appealing.
But it’s so hard to get the plants out. First we tried to whack them…thinking that they would die. They just came back hardier than ever and thrived. We’d pull the plants out…but much of the root remained behind and soon plants were shooting up and looking better than ever.
Today Chris did battle again. This time…we’ve tried a different tactic. We stopped the sprinklers from watering the plants. That’s allowed the dirt to dry out.
So today…Chris was able to actually make some progress in getting the roots out. When we looked at the mess of tangled roots it reminded me of sin and its effects in our lives.
The root ball that Chris was able to get out of the ground was a tangled mess. The small little plants had large embedded, entangled roots that went very deep. Just as the roots send out tendrils that go all throughout the planter…so too sin does in our lives. In his efforts to get the roots out, one of the trowels was bent. When we work to get sin out of our lives, it can be a very painful process.
In the end…just like the plants…it’s better that we never let the sin get started in our life. Otherwise something that looks pretty and harmless can take over.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t remember the horrific events of September 11th, 2001. The people who perished, the valiant efforts of the rescue workers and heroes of the day. Of course who can forget the evil men who orchestrated the events.
Thank you Lord that thus far the death and destruction of that day has not been repeated in the United States. We pray for Your continued hand of protection against an evil foe.
These pictures were taking on September 9, 2002, when a September 11th exhibit came to the Nixon Library. It was very sobering and heart rendering.
Abba Father
In Your Word You proclaim
No good thing will You withhold
From those who walk uprightly
But God
In my humanity
That’s so hard to understand
When what I see contradicts what I believe
What about the husband and wife who month after month
Year after year
Yearn for and desire to have a child
Only to continually be met with disappointment
Or what about the maiden
Once young
She is now considered an old maid
Her heart’s desire for a husband is never fulfilled
What about the parents
Who from before the birth of their little one
Prayed for their child’s salvation
Only to have them reject Jesus Christ all their days
God in Your Word You tell us
Blessed is the man who household is full of children
He who finds a wife has found a good thing
You desire that all would come to repentance
Yet in Your sovereignty
In Your perfect plan
You may choose to withhold
That which is good
How can I understand it God?
It is too far beyond me
So I must walk by faith
Not by sight
Trust that You are good
Know that You are weaving together a tapestry seen from the backside
Yet in eternity when I see it in from the right side, I will know
You worked all things together for good for those who love the Lord
Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 11, 2009
Have you every prayed about something only to have God delay or ultimately say no? Have you ever struggled and wondered why God allows something that He’s proclaimed good to be withheld?
Right now I don’t always understand what God is doing. My God is incomprehensible. I dare not judge God by appearances and before His work is complete.
Even in my ignorance….when I don’t understand why God chooses to say no, or chooses to withhold the good thing the we’ve diligently and persistently prayed for…yet I will raise my hands to heaven and say, “Blessed be the Name of the Lord, my God and my Savior Jesus Christ.” Amen and amen!
The above photo was from our wedding by our photographer Sherry Hebestreit. I took the liberty of playing with a photo editing program and applying a filter. One of these days…I’m going to post a video from our wedding. Perhaps on our first anniversary? Or maybe by the tenth if the Lord tarries.
The early riser may get a glimpse of God’s handiwork. The above picture was taken early this week in the early morning hours from our home in Orange.
Self is such a miserable place to be
At the end of the day
That’s just what hell may be like
There will be no escaping me
In self
I’m absorbed in my own misery
Consumed with my own pain
Continually thinking it’s all about me
In self
Daily I pursue
That which brings me pleasure
Rather than disciplining myself to do the hard things
In self
I forget about others
Fail to notice their needs
Nor offer a helping hand
In self
I’m determined to accomplish my will
Never yielding or obeying God
If I could…I’d make God to be like I want Him to be
In self
While I’ll never admit it
I treat others
As if they are here to serve me
In self
There is no joy in the Lord
For my eyes fail to see Him
My focus is entirely on me
In self
I am filled with only me
There is no room for anyone else
At times it’s a pretty lonely place to be
Yet there is One who tells me
I am to die to self daily
That I must be a servant of all
That I am to love the Lord with all my heart
Only the One
Who humbled Himself
Who came to do His Father’s will
Can show me how to live for Christ and not for me
Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 4, 2009
Satan wants us to come to the come to the battlefield equipped in our own strength and armor because he knows that’s how he can defeat us.
But it’s in Christ Jesus…that we have the victory.
Sometimes I feel as though
I’m in the middle of crossing the Jordan
In between doubt and defeat or
Experiencing victory through believing God
Between standing on my own strength or
Walking in God’s omnipotent power
Between leaning on my own understanding or
Trusting God’s wisdom and His perfect Word
Between following God at a distance or
Walking in lock step with Him
Between seeing God’s power in the lives of others or
Knowing through experience His all sufficient power in my own life
Between captivity and victimhood or
Deliverance and victory through Christ Jesus
Between sin and death or
Walking in the newness of life
Between choosing my own will or
Obeying God
Oh God, may I remember that You have gone before me
That You are with me in the middle of the Jordan
May this be my Ebenezer Stone
A witness that Lord has brought me thus far
God You are the Covenant Maker and Keeper
You will bring me safely through
Hold on to me ever so tight Lord
Never let me go
Always be with me
You go before me
Your Spirit is within me
You surround me God
May I cling to Your Word
Saturate my heart and mind
With truth, knowledge and wisdom
Fill me with Your peace
Give me a hope that endures
Through all circumstances, trials and tribulation
God…You are my All in all
Jesus…You are my salvation
Victory is found in Christ alone
Susan Bunts Wachtel
August 26, 2009
Now who would have ever thought that Chris Wachtel would be putting together a slide show for Facebook? Well…it took a reunion with his friends from Fountain Valley High School’s theater group to do so.
What a fun evening we had. It was great to meet the people whom Chris has spoken so fondly of.
Last week I listened to several programs from Focus on the Family in which Fred Stoeker talked about his struggle with pornography and how he was able to overcome the addiction by God’s grace.
Not only was he able to overcome the addiction…but God who is able to do abundantly, exceedingly, more than we ask or imagine…changed the course of his family. While Fred’s father was addicted to pornography and passed that sin along to his son…Fred was able to draw a line in the sand and say no further. His son Jason is a man who is committed to purity and stands along with his dad in living and promoting purity.
It was an amazing story. I felt many emotions while listening to the program. I felt deeply grieved and saddened. No more so than to hear about pornography’s hold on Christian males and young people (both men and women). It’s significant and the ramifications are huge for the body of Christ. It renders the men and women that God has called to serve Him ineffective because they are caught in sin.
Any of us who has been caught in sin’s web know how effectively Satan uses it to trap, condemn and bind us. When we are trapped in our own sin…we don’t want to confront people in their sin…because we know that we are hypocrites. We are unwilling to take a stand for the truth because we are deeply embedded in our own sin. We don’t want to serve because we feel unworthy. There is always the nagging doubt…what if someone finds out?
Fred then made a comment about how God instructs husbands to be the leaders of their home and to love their wife as Christ so loves the church.
That thought…of a husband loving his wife as Christ so loved the church…took hold of me. What would that look like…if a husband really loved his wife that way?
What would it look like if Christians loved people as Christ loved the church? How would it affect our actions and how we treat people? What would our words be like?
Obviously, I feel inadequate and lacking when I measure myself against that standard of love. But then I thought…would I want how I love people to be the measure by which Christ loved me?
If Jesus Christ had the measure of love that I have…would He have gone to the cross? Would He have loved me…who denied Him and sinned against Him for far too many years? Would He have forgiven me of my sin?
In my sinful imperfect self…my love is very far from loving others as Christ so loved the church. Yet…as I submit myself to Jesus Christ and the Father’s will for me…if I yield more and more, day by day to the Holy Spirit…if I seek to know God through the study of His word and through prayer…I can grow in sanctification.
As I love God and yield and submit myself…He will help me to grow and learn how to do what’s impossible to do without Him. This side of heaven…I’ll never achieve that perfect love. But that shouldn’t stop me from doing what God has commanded me to do. To have that perfect love…to love as Christ Jesus loved…requires that I deny myself daily.
But oh… to think how marvelous heaven will be…when all the saints around us are able to love with a more perfect love. Love untainted by sin and selfishness.
Susan's Blog 