The Forgotten God

He is the Forgotten God

Oft thought of as “It”, rather than He

 

In today’s church He bears little resemblance

To the Holy Spirit’s work in New Testament believers

 

Do our lives reflect the work of the Holy Spirit

Or do we desire to experience more

 

He is the promised Counselor and Comforter

Our bodies are His temple and He resides within

 

The Holy Spirit has been unleashed

He is available to all believers

 

He empowers us with supernatural gifts for the brethren

Through Him we can put sin to death in us

 

Our lives can be radically different

Won't you yield to the Holy Spirit’s active work within? 

by Susan Bunts Wachtel

May 21, 2010

 

This poem was inspired by Francis Chan’s new book “The Forgotten God”. 

Sight Walking Faith

Oh the error
Of sight walking faith

Instead of believing the Lover of my soul
I believe the one who seeks to steal, kill and destroy

I surrender certain victory in Christ
For continuous daily defeat

I swap the strength of the Lord
For my weakness

I exchange the truth of God
For a lie

I trade the peace of God that passes all understanding
For worry, anxiety and stress

I substitute praying to God in faith
With meditating on my problems
 

by Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 18, 2010

The Power of Praise

It’s through praise and worship
I’m ushered into Your presence Lord Jesus
 
When I glorify Your holy Name
Life comes into perspective
 
As Your power and strength are manifest
My problems and concerns diminish
 
The One who is mighty to save
Is able to deliver me from all my afflictions
 
The cares of this world fade away
As I behold Your glory
 
It’s through the power of praise and worship my soul is strengthened
My heart and mind are stayed on Thee
 
 
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 11, 2010
 

Seeds of Discontent

Each program intended to build up and edify
Instead sows seeds of discontentment
Bringing a bountiful harvest of discouragement
 
Discussions on what a perfect marriage and family should be
Serve as a reminder
That reality often differs from the ideal
 
Examples on how to be a better husband and wife
Instead highlight imperfections
In the spouse that God has given us
 
Perhaps the better route is to read the manual given by our Creator
Let God guide and direct us through His word
Speak to our hearts through prayer
 
We’ll likely find God requires us
To remove the beam from our own eye
Before removing the speck from our spouse’s eye
 
Marriage a tool in the hand of God
Used to buff out our sin nature
Make us more like Christ
 
God cares more about our holiness than our happiness
But we can achieve both
When we yield to the hands of the Master
 
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 11, 2010
 
Do you ever listen to Christian radio programs about marriage and family only to find yourself discouraged because your life is not quite the ideal that they are portraying?  Sometimes I’ll be listening to a list of things that my husband should be doing, according to the resident expert, and realize that Chris is not living up their checklist.  According to their list…I’m falling far short of what it is to be an ideal wife.
 
I have no doubt…that we are both a work in progress.  That God is in the process of forming and shaping us and using our spouse as a tool.  Sometimes it’s a painful process.
 
Perhaps it’s time for me to fast from a few of the marriage and family programs.  Instead, pick up God’s word to see what He requires of us.  Take up the challenge to pray for my husband, instead of comparing him to someone else’s checklist.  Ask God how I might encourage Chris in his quest to be the man and the husband that God wants him to be.  Read what God requires of me as a wife and seek God’s help to walk according to His plan. 

Cry Out to God

In your deepest valley
During your darkest night
When facing the fiercest storm
Cry out to God
 
During your busy day
In the midst trying circumstances
When faced with overwhelming demands
Cry out to God
 
While standing on the mountaintop
When all seems right with the world
When your heart overflows with joy
Cry out to God
 
He comforts us in our deepest sorrow
He meets us in our pressing need
Shares in our heartfelt joy
Cry out to God and let Him meet you there
 

Susan Bunts Wachtel
April 27, 2010