The Morning Report


Condemnation reporting for duty
Master, how grand
We’ve been given another day
To try and thwart God’s revealed plan

To try to keep one more human soul
From receiving salvation through Jesus Christ
To beat down and render His believers ineffective
With the baggage of their own sin

Let me tell you about yesterday’s successes
We have those mired in the muck of their own sin
Blinded to the fact that there is no one righteous
Not understanding that Christ died for them anyway

We have one who calls himself Christian
But temptation achieved great success
Causing him to turn away and fall into sin
Because he failed to take every thought captive

Now instead of sharing the Gospel message
He’s preoccupied with covering his own sin
Lest he be called a hypocrite
Justifying why he chose to do that which God declared sinful

With the holidays upon us
Opportunities abound
Christian thinks she will share the Gospel message
With family and friends yet unsaved

But we reminded her that they are unworthy sinners
Undeserving to receive forgiveness and salvation
Through the sacrificial atoning death
Of that Babe born in Bethlehem, lo so many years ago

We will provoke irritation and disgust
In self-righteousness she won’t want to have anything to do with them
Much less walk in love and be quick to forgive
She’ll abandon her plan to share the Gospel with the ones bound for hell

Instead she’ll be quick to condemn and slow to pray
Focused on the sinner and their sin
Oblivious to the real enemy
The hater of every human soul

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
January 1, 2009

May we be mindful that there is only one true enemy. He desires that we be focused on the sin not the sinner, so disgusted and put off that we won’t think them worthy of sharing the Gospel. In doing so we walk in the sin of pride and self righteousness.

Condemning Power

When I start condemning and stop praying
That’s when I stop believing in a personal God
Who is able to save completely and transform lives

When does criticism become sin
When I’d prefer to stand in judgment
Rather than stand in love and pray

When I’d rather shake my finger and say shame on you
Than to look in the mirror and examine myself
See if I had contributed to the fall of another

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
December 29, 2008

Willing?


Am I willing to live a life
That will glorify God

To accept a delay
Or even “no” to a lifelong dream

Am I prepared to endure the pain
When answers and relief are not forthcoming

Am I willing to trust God
When my life doesn’t make sense

Am I willing to praise His Name
When my circumstances are bleak

Am I willing to persevere in prayer
When God remains silent

Am I willing to cling to Him
When all around me falls away

Am I willing to believe that God is good
When God permits the enemy to attack me

Am I willing to be a blessing to others
When I’m not feeling blessed by God

Am I willing to walk by faith
When sight walking would cause me to doubt God

Am I willing to recognize God’s hand upon me
Not attribute success to my own human efforts

Am I willing to wait upon the Lord
Not proceed according to my will and plans

Am I willing to remember that He is more than able
Not manipulate circumstances to have my way

Am I willing to forgive
The one intentionally hurt me

Am I willing to pray for salvation and forgiveness
Not just for the nice unsaved person…but for my enemy too

Am I willing to remember there is only one true enemy
The one who seeks to kill, steal and destroy

Am I willing to see with the eyes of love
Hope and believe all things rather than believe a bad report

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
December 29, 2008

Without Christ



No hope

No peace

No sense of purpose

No wisdom

No strength

No moral foundation

No truth

No meaning

No reason for right and wrong

No light

No joy

No future worth living for

No defender

No deliverer

Nothing worth dying for

No comfort

No rest

No future secured

No salvation through Christ Jesus

No Holy Spirit dwelling within

No Abba Father to call your own

By Susan Bunts Wachtel

December 30, 2008

Dedicated to the one who reminds me daily of what it’s like to live without Christ and to have no hope or firm foundation. Dear one…I pray for your salvation. That you will one day have the hope of heaven…Jesus Christ

A Jewel

Dearest Janet…what a treasure you are

A precious jewel in the in the crown of our Savior





Walking in the love of Christ

You show a kind and a gentle spirit to all





Through the strength of our Lord

You are able to bear and endure all things





By trusting in the power and providence of God

You have a hope that endures





Following the example of Jesus

You walk in humility and obedience to the Father





With the knowledge of God’s word

You rejoice in the truth





Through the work of the Holy Spirit within

You have a desire for holiness and purity





Believing with certainty in God’s promises

You eagerly desire the Lord’s return





On this your birthday

We celebrate the gift that you are





We are most thankful for you

Our dear precious sister in Christ





By Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 30, 2008





Dedicated to Janet Corsi

Our friend and precious sister in Christ.

Happy Birthday to one whom Jesus shines through so brightly.

A Differnt Kind of Fire



There is a different kind of fire

Not visible to the human eye

Yet it causes incalculable damage



Like a wildfire

Consuming everything in its path

So too the tongue…causes widespread destruction



Be it the match of gossip

Or the flame of criticism

Its devastation leaves victims wounded and hurt



It may be a reputation that lies in the rubble

Of lies and deceit

Suffocating its victim like a poisonous gas



It may be talk about those in authority

Causing dissension…leaving the foundation weak and exposed

Unable to withstand the heat



There is one fire prevention

Proven and true

That is to bring our tongue under the obedience of Christ



He alone can slay the arsonist

Whose weapon of choice is the tongue

The intended victim…a vulnerable human soul



Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 18, 2008



It seems no one is immune from the human condition of gossip and a critical spirit. Be it an unbeliever…who doesn’t know or care about what God says in His word. Or a new believer who is immature and still weak and vulnerable in this area of sin. It can even be seen in believers of many years. Those who have extensive knowledge of the word of God. They have a head knowledge that hasn’t yet worked its way down to change their heart.



How easy it is to choose to gossip…or speak our mind and share a critical negative spirit. It’s much harder to go to the person and share our concern. To get on our knees and pray instead of sharing that delectable bit of truth that no one else knows about. To choose insignificance rather than raise myself up by stepping on the reputation of another. To believe all things, hope all things…and dwell on that which is good, lovely, pure and of a good report.



There is only one winner in the game. His name is Satan. Gossip and a critical spirit bring reproach upon the body of Christ. It tears down everyone…from the person who speaks out to the one who is the topic of conversation.



I think that when we get to heaven…there will be tears shed. Not only will we cry when we see the hurt and devastation that our words brought to other’s lives. But we will weep when we know the eternal cost. Those who chose to turn their back and reject Christ because of the ugliness they saw in Christians. It’s not something that we can change after the fact or make better. When those words escape our lips…the match has been lit.



It only takes one time…when you’ve been on the receiving end of gossip to help you understand how hurtful it is. To know that others are speaking ill of you…believing half truths and outright lies. Once you’ve been on the receiving end…you don’t want to be a contributor or participant.



How will we feel when we stand before Jesus…and have to give an account for every idle word? He’ll know the intentions of our heart. All will be exposed.



Isn’t it better that right now…today…that we choose to listen to the reining in of the Holy Spirit. To pay attention when He tugs at our conscious. It’s it better that our words be few. To utter that which builds up and encourages…or speak the truth of God’s word in humility and love.



“They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love.”



Who will know you are a Christian by your love?

Consuming Fire



Our God is a consuming fire

None can stand before Him

Save One

Christ Jesus our Lord


All our works

Will one day be revealed

Only salvation found in the cross of Christ

Will remain secure and unscathed


Works righteousness

Will be judged in the refining fire

All our own works

Will be scorched…burned…unrecognizable


Only Christ

His work on the cross

Will remain untouched

His work alone will endure


Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 17, 2008

Thank you Jesus…for our secure salvation found only in you!

Picture from Jim Salinger…thank you!

By the Grace of God









By the grace of God

Our church still stands


From the fire and winds

Sparks and embers flew wild


The peril was great

The dangers many


He gave courage to men

Emboldened them to take a stand


The fire burned close

As it neared our beloved cross


Fire burned hot

Ash rained down


Prayers of the faithful were raised

Pleading for God’s mercy and grace


Homes nearby went up in flames

By God’s grace…lives were spared


As ash and cinders fell

Flames dared to touch the sign


But God used men

Everyday heroes to accomplish His will


By the grace of God

Our church still stands


May we never take for granted

That this building will be here one more day


May we thank God for the privilege to worship Him here

The body of Christ united…at Kindred


By the grace of God

Our church still stands


Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 15, 2008


How easy it is to be complacent…take for granted that our church will always be here for us to assemble and worship our Lord and Savior.


But as the ash rained down…and smoke filled the sky when we looked toward the east our hearts were burdened to pray for God’s mercy and grace in these circumstances.


Thank you Lord…for answering our prayers…and protecting the building called Kindred Community Church. We are most grateful. Thank you for sending brave men…ordinary citizens…to stand in the gap. We thank you for the firefights who willingly put their lives on the lines. We pray for those who have lost their homes in the fires. We pray for relief for all effected by the fires.


The pictures above are of our beloved cross…the sight of which I love so very much. They were taken just last Sunday…on a cloud filled rainy day. When I see it from a distance…it so reminds me of God’s love and His power in my life and circumstances. When I see it…my stress level starts to melt away.


Who would have thought that just a week later…our church building would lie in the path of wildfires. Well our God knew that…nothing takes Him by surprise. Today…He protected our church home. While tomorrow…we will not meet as a church body…you can be sure that the members of Kindred will be one in giving thanks to our God for His mercy and grace bestowed upon our church.


Just a few miles away…in the middle of moving to a new apartment, my husband Chris and I looked up into the sky as the smoke clouds increased and the sun turned red.


We were amazed at God’s hand upon us as we heard the news that apartments we had considered moving to just a couple weeks earlier…had just gone up in flames. 50 apartment homes were lost. By the grace of God…so far no lives have been lost.


Below are the pictures taken with my cell phone. The ash was poured down…and breathing was difficult…and we were several miles from the fire. I can’t even imagine how horrible it would be for those much closer and in the path of the flames.







Unavailable



Emotionally unavailable

Preoccupied

Busy

Just not there





An annoyance

Interruption

Disturbance

Just another burden to bear





Esteemed, now demeaned

Exchange the greater for the lesser

Set aside that I once cherished

Once my friend, now my adversary





Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 12, 2008



A Different Way



My heart is sad today

For God is calling my friend

To go a different way



Over the years

My dear sister in Christ

Stood with me through many trials and tears



Each of us had our own burden to bear

But it always seemed a little lighter

When we had someone to share it with



Between us we saw

Divorce and the challenges of single parenthood

Endless singlehood…and bearing the load of a sick parent



Through it all

We stood by one another

Lifting each other in prayer



Through it all

We saw the faithfulness of our God

Who never left us, nor forsook us



Our Lord delivered us

He brought love into our lives

And turned our burdens into joy



It is our God

To whom I commit you my friend

Knowing with confidence that He will bring you through



It is my prayer

That He will draw you close

Comfort you with the love of a Father



He will be your strength when you are weak

Your Light when your days are dark

You will find Him sufficient for your every need



God has gifted you in so many ways

I am excited to see how

He will guide and direct you



Allow those gifts

To be used

To bring Your Father in heaven much glory



I take the sadness in my heart

As a reminder

Of one I’ve been privileged to call friend



It’s a good kind of hurt that’s my heart feels today

A reminder of the love for a dear friend

Who has now been called to go a different way



Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 7, 2008



For Andrea…you will be missed

Permission



I need to give you permission

To be you…

Much different than me

Not right

Nor wrong

Just different

Not better

Or worse

Just different

Permission to be you

Without finding fault

Or trying to make you into a lesser me

Permission to get up at the crack of dawn

Or wake up slowly and fall asleep early

Even to drag yourself to bed at the end of a long hard day

Permission to speak up

Or stay silent

Trusting God for the right time to say what’s on your mind

Permission to think different than me

To come to the same conclusion via a different route

Or arrive at something entirely different

Permission to feel that which I seldom feel

To express your emotions

In ways…I still don’t understand

Permission to go out ahead

Or stay behind at a slower clip

Without passing judgment as to who is right or wrong

Permission to not fully understand you

Or to no know why you do the things you do

Or why you are the way you are

Permission to be the one

Whom God formed in your mother’s womb

Not just your body…but your personality too

Permission to have weaknesses and flaws

Knowing full well

God is working on your character as well as mine

Permission to have a past

That formed you and shaped you

Leaving imperfections that are all too visible this side of heaven

Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 3, 2008

Yet Will I Trust Him



When it doesn’t make sense

When I don’t understand

Yet will I trust Him


When uncertainty abounds

Confusion is abundant

I will diligently seek His wisdom


When my heart is hurting

Everything in me longs to be elsewhere

I will choose to obey


When circumstances are painful

All have turned against me

I will depend on Him


By Susan Bunts Wachtel

October 28, 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

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

Eternal Vision


Do I offer a prayer to God for my future
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 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

Transforming Power

In my weakness
I want to turn around and walk away
But by the power of the Holy Spirit
I will return to the lion’s den this day

In my flesh
I want to strike back
But under the control of the Holy Spirit
I will choose to turn the other cheek

In my sin nature
I want to tell others of the offense against me
By the transforming power of Christ within
I will instead offer a prayer for the offender

In my humanity
Tears flow as I’m surrounded by quite
From the Word planted in my heart
I’m reminded that God will wipe every tear from my eyes

In my solitude
I attempt to wrestle against the spiritual forces of darkness
When I remember I am part of the body of Christ
I reach out and ask for my day to be covered in prayer

In my self confidence
I fail to prepare for spiritual warfare
In His wisdom, power and strength
I put on the full armor of God so I can stand against the devil’s schemes

By Susan Bunts
July 25, 2008