Saturday, August 30, 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

Tuesday, August 26, 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


Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Ready


Ready to stand
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.

Saturday, August 16, 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.


Sunday, August 10, 2008

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