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

Last Christmas

If I would have known last Christmas was to be your last

What would I have done different

Would I have spent the whole day by your side

Would I have hugged you a little tighter

Would I have held your hands

As we watched the movies of old

Truly believed in my heart

That it is a wonderful life…in spite of all the messes

Would I have gone to the ends of the earth

Found just the right present to bring you a smile

Would I have shared the good news of Christmas

Ensured that you received God’s gift of the Savior

Susan Bunts Wachtel

December 17, 2008

Dedicated to Gayle Merriam Johnson Bunts Lorenat…my mother who died on April 29, 2008.

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.

Double Blessed

I am a citizen times two

Double blessed

For which I give thanks

According to God’s divine plan

I was chosen from before the foundations of the world

To be a citizen of heaven…where I’ll one day go

My entrance was paid in full

By the precious blood of the Lamb

Irrevocable…secure…my residency is sure

By God’s grace & mercy

His divine providence

I was born in this great nation

Chosen by His will

To live in a county

Where liberty and freedom are available to all

Permitted to live

In a nation where the Gospel is preached unfettered

A beacon to take the Light of the world…to the world

On this Thanksgiving Day

I offer my humble thanks and praise

For the double blessing…so undeserved

Susan Bunts Wachtel

November 27, 2008

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 dissention…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?