Author Archives: Susan Wachtel
Missing You
But memories of you
Fill my mind today
I find myself preoccupied
A little sadder…somewhat somber
Because my heart misses you
This year has been filled with many firsts
Shortly after your death
There was Mother’s Day…the first one without you
Today…we would have celebrated your 87th birthday
But instead…it is filled
With remembrances of you
There is no birthday card to write
To tell you that you are loved
No gift will be selected…to bring a smile to your face
When I was married just a few short weeks ago
I looked out at the congregation
If only I could have seen your face
Family and friends came alongside us
But none could take your place
You should have been there to celebrate the long awaited day
Oh dear one
Will I see you in heaven
Will we have an eternity to celebrate your birth
Susan Bunts
October 23, 2008
November 5th
November 5th, 2008
God…will still be upon His throne
We look for our salvation
In Christ…the victorious One riding upon a white horse
Our deliverance is not in man
Not a man named McCain, nor Obama
But in the One
Who is fully God and fully Man
We look to Him
Who is sovereign in all things
He alone establishes authority
He raises up leaders and brings down kingdoms
Our assurance is not in circumstances
Nor in good fortune or times of comfort and ease
Instead our surety
Is built upon the immovable Rock
Susan Bunts Wachtel
October 12, 2008
With This Ring…
Chris & Susan…Becoming One
One of the fun things that my fiancé Chris Wachtel & I did in preparing for our wedding day was to put together a video of our lives. We stand amazed…as we look back and see how God concurrently and providentially worked in our lives to bring us together. We clearly see how He used events in our lives to shape and form us so that we are so perfectly suited for one another. October 4th, 2008 on our wedding day…this video will be shown at our wedding. We want honor and glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the Author of our love story. We thank our family and friends for their love, support and prayers as we become one. Chris…I am so grateful that my hopes, dreams and prayers will be coming true with you…as we begin our new life as husband and wife on October 4th. May Jesus Christ be the Foundation of our marriage and first place in our lives. After Christ, may we put each other first. We fondly remember our parents who will not be here to share this day with us. We love you and thank you Leo & Ruth Wachtel, Frank Bunts and Gayle & Joseph Lorenat. I love you Christopher Leo Wachtel and can hardly wait to be Mrs. Christopher Wachtel!
Our engagement photo was taken by Sherry Hebestreit. Sherry does wedding photography in the Orange County area. We were very pleased with the work that Sherry has done and look forward to seeing the pictures from our wedding day.
Fireproof…Never Leave Your Partner Behind
The Everlasting God
The Creator of Heaven & Earth
Alleluia
Kindred Community Church Adult Choir singing one of my favorite songs. The choir continues to grow and they sound marvelous.
In this song…I can get lost in worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a small taste of heaven.
Tell Tale Signs
The body of Christ
Suffered another assault today
By one who calls himself Christian
By outward appearances
The signs were all there
Indeed he put on a good show
In church each Sunday
With Bible in hand
He even shared Christ with those not yet saved
A fish symbol strategically placed on his car
A bumper sticker proclaiming
Know Jesus, Know Peace
But closer examination
By the One who looks upon the heart
Revealed a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Sacred vows made to love his wife
As Christ so loved the church
Were set aside and trampled underfoot
His children
Once beloved were now forgotten
In his quest for personal happiness
The Lord whom he proclaimed to love
With all his heart, mind, soul and strength
Was long forgotten as he raised himself in God’s place
Destruction and devastation lay in the wake
From the vehicles of lies and deceit
No concern is demonstrated for those he once claimed to love
Those who once admired the Lord’s blessings to this man
Stand with their mouth gapping
Poised and ready to utter the words hypocrite and liar
The witness for Christ
He so carefully sought to build and protect
Now lies in the heap covered by selfishness and pride
Oh Lord, even now we lift up this one so deceived
Like a lamb led to slaughter
So willingly he followed the father of lies
We pray for his salvation
Forgiveness for his sins
That without Jesus he will have no peace
Like the prodigal son
May he come to his senses
And return to the Father whom he once he loved
By Susan Bunts
September 26, 2008
Dissention…Reporting for Duty
Here I am boss
Reporting for duty
Have I got a good report for you
The assignment you gave
I executed with ease
As I got those tongues wagging
That place which seeks to be a beacon on a hill
Reflecting the Light of the world
Instead grew a little dimmer today
I started with those who are idle
Who have the time to talk
In no time at all…the seed of gossip blossomed
The trick is
When they are talking about others
They don’t have time to read the word of God
When they are negative and brooding
Completely lacking the joy of the Lord
They are not taking every thought captive
When they spend time
Debating about which songs should be sung
They don’t have the time to worship their Lord
When they set aside the diligent study of the Bible
How can they hold it up
To examine themselves in light of God’s word
When the rest on their laurels
Feel comfortable in their accomplishments
They won’t desire a fresh work of God in their life
When they fail to trust and respect
The leaders whom God raised up
A negative critical spirit takes its place
When they attempt to love on their own power
They will be unable to bear all things, nor hope and believe
Their love will never endure on its own
Some I will lure into exhaustion
Through pressing needs, good works and few helping hands
It’s there I will stir up resentment
May they bow their knee to their Lord
But never their will
There they can rest in a false sense of piety
Oh hater of their soul
The fruits of our labor
Are plentiful and abundant
May they never see it
Or recognize the handwriting of our work
It’s there we can turn them against one another
Render ineffective their witness
When they are focused on one another
They won’t remember to take the gospel to the lost and dying world
by Susan Bunts
September 23, 2008
Invisible
I am the nameless, faceless one
You seek to avoid
You see me coming down the street
And look down or walk the other way
Sometimes I mutter to myself
For there is no one else to listen or who cares
When I stand behind you in the checkout line
You hold your breath
It’s been…I don’t know how long
Since I’ve had a warm shower or put on clean clothes
Of course I know I stink
Thankfully after a while I became immune to the smell
Shame should be my name
Would it be better if I had never been born
My family doesn’t even know
If I’m dead or alive
There’s no means to contact me
No phone to pick up or place to drop by
Would they even recognize me
If they passed me on the street
Society thought they did good
In giving me the right to choose
Take my medication
Or be locked up for my own good
Do tell…how can someone not in their right mind
Make a rational decision
Even though you pass me by
With nary a look or a smile sent my way
No matter how hard you try to pretend I’m not…
I am here
By Susan Bunts
September 17, 2008
For a Season

Oh Lord, in these days
The place where we meet
Has been denied me for a season
My soul longs for
Cries out
For our time to connect
You have answered my prayers
Given me my heart’s desire
In ways that are more than I can ask or imagine
Yet that place where we meet
Where my mind processes all that is going on
Has been held at bay
It’s been replaced
By busyness and plans
That will soon come to fruition
But it’s in writing
That I reflect
So clearly see Your presence in my life
It’s when my fingers strike the keyboard
That I work through the emotions
Through the grid of Your Word and the Holy Spirit’s leading
As much as I love my betrothed
Look forward with eager anticipation to that day when we become one
My heart cries out and I long for You, Oh God
May I never say
My name is Ichabod
That the glory of the Lord has departed from my life
May I be mindful
Of Your presence in my life
Your leading, Your guidance, Your tender correction
There are not enough sermons
Nor Bible studies attended
That can take the place of time spend with You
Oh God…carry me through this season
Restore unto me the time and place
And let us meet once again…daily commune
Until then God
Carry me, enable me, strengthen me…bring me through
To that private place where we meet again, one day face to face
Susan Bunts
September 16, 2008
Victory
Tonight, the Lord enabled me
To snatch victory from the jaws of the enemy
When I heard the word…a smile crossed my lips
“Yes Lord…forgive”
The battle began early
I felt pummeled…assaulted on every side
Relentless…unending
Subtle…but it was an effective attack
Who would recognize it
Trace it back…to the enemy
Who would recognize the handwriting
Scripted by the hater of my soul
It felt like a war
The enemy was on every front
It left me wounded and numb
Spent…barely able to lift my head
Then the “piece of resistance”
Words wielded…left me battered and bloody
Oh Lord…just get me through this day
Help me to not respond in kind
Understanding their true nature
Brought no comfort
Knowledge that they are but a puppet of the enemy
Was not a healing balm to my soul
But in the quiet…at the end of the day
I came to the end of my reserves
It was there that the Holy Spirit reminded me
Of my “new nature” in Christ
He’s the One
When He whispered the word, “Forgive”…peace filled my soul
He’s the One who will enable me to return the arena
Enter where the prowling lions seek to devour me
Yet I fear not…for He is the One
Who will shut tight the jaws that would otherwise crush me
Tonight…the Holy Spirit within
Enabled me to forgive
In doing so He snatched victory
From the deadly jaws of Satan
A powerful and effective foe to a created one
But a defeated foe to the Kind of kings and Lord of lords
By Susan Bunts
September 9, 2008
Only Believe
If I had believed those who told me
It’s God’s will that you never marry
Would I have ceased to pray
Never more asked God to grant me the desires of my heart
If I believed that the chapters yet to be written
Would never be different
From that which had gone before
Would my faith have failed me
If I believed the lies of the enemy
Doubted the goodness of God
Would I have presented my requests to Him
Confident that He is able
If I had never asked
God to bring me a godly husband
Would I have ever donned a wedding gown
Or felt your hand in mine
If I had not risked
Being embarrassed
Feeling the failure
Would I have gathered the courage to asked others to pray
If I had not heeded
The still small voice within
Would I have lacked the vision
To only believe
By Susan Bunts
September 3, 2008
Eternal Vision
Seek His will
Then hesitate to follow where He leads?
Do I unburden my heart
Share my fears, hurt and sorrow
Then refuse to accept His comfort?
Do I know the Word of God
Even have it hidden within my heart
But fail to trust God’s goodness in my circumstances?
Do I give the enemy a foothold
Listen to the lies he whispers in my ears
Believe him who seeks steal, kill and destroy?
Or dare I have an eternal vision
Knowing that God’s plan may include pain
And one day He will turn it…to victory and gain?
Do I trust Him
Who takes away
Will one day restore?
Do I look back at the past
Feel the pain of the present
Am I unable to see past this moment?
Do I believe him
Who seeks to destroy my witness
Render it ineffective to an unbelieving world?
Or do I believe God
Know with confidence
God’s glory and goodness through all eternity far outweighs it all?
Will I choose to be earth bound
Focused on the past
The here and now?
Or will I have an eternal vision
Examine everything through the grid of eternity
Trust that everything is in the hands of my trustworthy God?
“Oh dear one,”
Whispers the still small voice within
“Won’t you trust Me in your pain?”
By Susan Bunts
August 30, 2008
The Measuring Rod
Do my words inflict wounds
On a weary burdened soul
Do my demands, my needs
Add to someone’s heavy load
Do I freely offer my opinion
But withhold a helping hand
Does my tongue tear people down
Fail to build them up
Does my speech contain truth
But lack love
Do I proclaim Christ
But fail to possess the love of the Lord
Do I know the truth of the Gospel
But refuse to let it change my heart
Am I quick to judge
But slow to love
Do I disguise pride
As concern
Does my attitude drive people away
Instead of draw them close
If 1 Corinthians 13 were the measuring rod
Would I be proven to be a Christian…by my love
Susan Bunts
August 26, 2008
Ready
With the belt of truth girded about me Ready to stand victorious
Obeying the Commander who called me to battle
Ready to stand firm…immovable
Cutting off all entanglements…breaking from this world Ready to stand with an attitude of truthfulness
Committed…sincere…without hypocrisy Ready and disciplined
Pursing that which is excellent…not settling for what is good Ready to endure
Run the race…obtain the prize of our high calling Ready to bring praise, glory and honor
To my great God and Savior, Christ Jesus my Lord
Susan Bunts
August 20, 2008
For Chris…my love and husband to be. I’m so grateful to have a partner as we endeavor to fight the good fight and seek by the power of God to endure till the end. By His power alone…may we present Jesus our shield covered with arrows from the enemy that missed because of His hand of protection upon us.
The Heart of a Woman
Let me tell you a secret
Just between you and me
Share the heart of a women
And every girl’s dream
No matter if she’s a raving beauty
Or just a plain shy ordinary girl
The desire for a husband’s love
Runs ever so deep
Even those who are mentally challenged
Or those who have been deceived and bought the feminist lie
Have a desire to share their life
Know what it is to feel loved, honored and cherished
All too vividly
I remember the pain
Of a lifetime spent alone
With no end was in sight
Each passing year was harder
The pain was always there and cut like a knife
The rejoicing at the blessings of others,
Was followed by a tears shed in the solitude
It is with gratitude and thanksgiving I prepare,
To walk down the aisle
Veiled in white lace
Join hands with my love and say, “I do”
Even as I rejoice in God’s grace towards me
For love unmerited and undeserved
May I be humble and remember in prayer
The heart of the woman who still dreams of “that day”
By Susan Bunts
August 12, 2008
At no time have I been more aware of the ubiquitous desire of women to be married and be loved by a husband than when a precious friend who has the heart and mind of a child shared her desire to one day marry.
I spent far too many years alone. I had bought…hook, line and sinker…the feminist lies. You know the ones I mean. The line that “a woman needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle” or that “men and women are basically the same”. Yeah right! Anyone who has spent time with the opposite sex…knows darn good and well…that men and women are very different. It’s not something cultural…however culture may shape the way it’s expressed. But instead it’s inherent…those difference were built in by our Designer.
Those differences are not something good or bad. They simply are. One sex is not superior to the other. One is not good and the other a wretch. Instead God designed us to complement each other and to keep things interesting…and challenging…He made us very different from one another.
One of the most amazing things I’ve been aware of since meeting my fiancé Chris is that the loneliness and the emptiness are gone. The desire to be well known and well loved is being fulfilled…day by day.
That’s not to say…we don’t have our challenges. The differences inherent in our personalities and those between men and women present a challenge to our relationship every day. Add on top of that…the stresses of planning a wedding…and oh baby, baby you’ve got “stress”.
While it’s not always easy it has been wonderful to fall in love, grow in love, to be in love. There is something noticeably different that I can’t quite put my finger on. My sister Denise commented recently that I seem to be more peaceful. I think that’s true…the anxiety and concerns that I will I be alone for the rest of my life are gone. The questioning…am I so unlovable that no body will ever love me…has been answered.
While I know I’m a lot less than perfect…I am most grateful to God for bringing Chris. A man who is mature in his faith. One who sees my flaws but has been able to look past them to see something good that God has given me. He is willing to work through the uncomfortable challenges and differences in us. Working through those times…and coming out on the other side have helped us to become closer.
When my precious childlike friend commented that she desires to one day marry…it was so painful. When I turn and see so many wonderful women around me…women who are smarter or prettier or better than me in so many respects…when I see them in the same predicament that I was for so many years…it hurts. I hurt for them because the pain of unending singleness and lack of romantic love is still very fresh. I know it well and it left many a scar. Part of me is tempted to cry out “Why…I don’t understand it”.
Yet…I know in part it’s the consequences and outworking of a society that has replaced marriage and family…with uncommitted sex and self-fulfillment. The millions of single men and women who are alone and lonely have reaped the consequences that have come from poor judgment and sin. Even those who are not outwardly sinning and breaking God’s commands are bearing the brunt of the increasing tidal wave of consequences.
I am so grateful to God for acting on my behalf. Fulfilling my life long dream to be married. For going before both Chris and I…preparing us and fitting us so perfectly for one another. By His divine plan and providence bring two people who otherwise would have never met, much less taken a second look at one another and allowing us to enter into the covenant of marriage. How marvelous and miraculous are Your ways oh God?
God answered my prayer for a husband and Chris’ prayer to be stretched and taken out of his comfort zone…in one fell swoop…by bringing us together. By removing our impaired vision when we first met and allowing us to see one another’s heart. By moving and stirring in our hearts that could have so easily been hardened and settled. By holding our hands as we crossed a mighty river of fear into the unknown. By helping and guiding us to say, “yes God”, when we encountered the scary territories of trusting God and learning to trust each other.
Dare I think that my mighty God who had compassion upon me…He who heard my cries does not hear the cries of my sisters who remain single not by choice? Do I think that God will not be moved to go before them…and give them the desires of their heart?
God is no respecter of persons. What He’s done for me…He is more than able to do the same and mightier works than these…for those whom He chooses to act.
Thus…I must lift up my sisters in prayer. Those whose pain…I know all to well. I also know my God. I know firsthand the compassionate, mighty, out working of His plan according to His perfect will and timing.
The Battle
Weary
From the seemingly endless attacks
Relentless
On every side
“No more!”
I cry out
I want to give up
Step aside
Take a break
For just a little while
What’s that?
Is that a snicker I hear?
“Discouragement,
Job well done!”
Success
She’s let down her shield again
We’ll win
If she comes to the battle alone
Victory is ours
If she comes unarmed and unprepared
The battle is on
Let’s turn up the heat
Be subtle
Lest she’ll turn to her God again
Oh no…she’s on bended knee
Pleading with her Lord for strength
She beseeches Him
To guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus
She remembers
He will never leave nor forsake her
She asks for wisdom
For God to guide her every step
If the battle remains between us
The victory is ours
If she enlists the help of her God
All is lost
Susan Bunts
August 10, 2008






















