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

Scars & Wounds

Scars deeply embedded

Wounds left over from childhood

Seemingly dead and buried

Make themselves known

Affecting relationships even today

What I hear

Is much different than what was said

Unable to differentiate

What was intended

Verses what was felt

At any hint

Of irritation, anger or disappointment

I find my defenses mount up

Emotions shut down

Now I don’t have to feel or risk being hurt

Trying and stay ahead

Anticipate each move

Feeling justified

In my inability to trust

Will I ever feel loved?

Will I turn to Him

The One who binds my wounds

The Healer of my soul

Only He can set this prisoner free

Will I allow Him to show me how to trust again

Will I let the One

Who taught the angels to sing

To fill my heart and mouth

With songs of praise

How long until I sing the song of freedom

By Susan Bunts

July 23, 2008

Decisions...Prayerfully Considered

Decisions, decisions,
Oh Lord, may my response,
Be according to Your will,
Answering Your call,
Hearing Your voice alone.

If this is my imagine,
Trying to shape circumstances,
Interpreting the signs,
Imposing my will, but calling it Yours.
Stop me in my tracks...let me proceed no further.

May my desire,
Be obedience to my Father,
To please Him,
To love my Savior,
By serving the body of Christ where You have called me.

May I not seek my own glory,
Or try to proceed,
On my own strength, wisdom and power,
Instead may I know that this call is so far beyond me,
That I’m fully leaning and relying upon You.

Decisions, decisions,
May You guide my heart and mind,
Make Your leading clear,
Give me a holy unease,
If I dare to stray from the path You have set before me.

Susan Bunts
July 18, 2008

Tonight I received a phone called that seems to be the answer to a prayer. But as I started to pray that God would guide and direct me....make His leading clear, I realized that as much as I want to have my prayer answered...more than that...I desire to be in God’s will.

Because this decision will effect my husband to be...I needed to seek his counsel. To ask him to be in prayer regarding this. I also must willing to heed his counsel. He is a godly man...and God is well able to guide and direct Chris’ thinking, as well as my own. Will I choose to respect Chris’ wisdom and direction...even if it differs from mine?

In bringing Chris and I together God answered my prayer for a godly husband. At the same time...God answered Chris’ prayer to be stretched and taken out of his comfort zone. Sometimes, I teasingly tell Chris to stop the prayers for stretching...because when He stretches Chris...He’s stretching me too.

At the end of the day...I honestly don’t know which way God will direct us. Is this God answering Chris’ prayer for stretching? Will it be a test to see if I will respect and obey my husband to be? Even if it’s contrary to what I want or feel comfortable with?

Will we be in unified in our decision...in step with one another? Of one accord?

I’m glad I don’t have to rely on my own wisdom or the fickle deceitfulness of my feelings. But instead I can fully lean and trust in God as He answers my prayer for Him to guide and direct Chris and I in an important decision.

Eternal Destiny

Dare I take comfort in the thought,
That my loved one is no longer suffering?
When in fact, an unbeliever who perishes without Christ,
Has just begun to suffer and now knows the truth of eternal punishment.

Dare I take comfort in the calm assurance,
From a man who calls himself “Pastor”?
But one who fails to proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified,
As the only way to salvation.

Dare I take comfort in the platitudes offered,
By those who ignorantly believe that being “spiritual” saves us?
Saves us from what?
Condemnation from a holy, righteous, just God who was offended by our sin?

Dare I believe that I will live on in the memories of others?
What happens when they perish?
Or is it then that I perish...when no one remains who knew me?
When there is no one who was once touched and influenced by me?

Dare I serve a god,
Made of my own making...a god made in my own image?
A hodge podge of my own choosing...taking only what I like,
Selecting that which makes me feel comfortable and good about myself?

Or dare I believe that there is but One God?
One Mediator between God and man.
One Savior, Christ Jesus, whose blood was shed on the cross,
Who for once, for all...paid my sin debt in full.

Dare I acknowledge my sin?
Receive forgiveness through God’s only Son?
Dare I repent and loudly proclaim to a world lost in their sin,
Jesus Christ...salvation is found only in Him!

By Susan Bunts
July 5, 2008

Dedicated to those who are perishing in their sin...who have yet to receive Jesus Christ and Him crucified, His death on the cross as payment in full, covering their sin. Dedicated to those who call themselves pastor, but who do not know that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life...thus they can not boldly proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It is my prayer that one day your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and that you will not take or offer false comfort when someone dies without Christ. That instead it will become your life long mission to preach Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.