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
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.
Am I broken,
Over churches who compromise,
Fail to teach the Word of God?
Am I grieved,
When churches aim to please seekers,
Instead of feeding the flock?
Do I cry,
When my Savior,
Has been made a mockery to an unbelieving world?
Do I sorrow,
Over pastors who seek to entertain,
With feel good messages?
Do I question,
Pastors who desire to grow numbers,
Rather than grow character?
Do I turn off,
Not even listen,
To pastors who dare not utter the word “sinner”?
Am I appalled,
When a pastor changes a hymn,
From “wretch”, to “saved a soul like me”?
Do I tolerate,
The pastor who embraces a Muslim,
And proclaims we that worship the same God?
Do I confront heresy,
When those in the pulpit,
Deny the trinity, the virgin birth, even Jesus Christ our Lord?
Am I embarrassed,
By those who claim to be a “man of God”,
Yet are ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Or do I diligently seek,
Listen attentively,
For the Bible, the inerrant Word of God?
Is the Bible my measure,
To discern,
If one is truly in the faith?
Do I thank God,
Fall upon my knees,
For the uncompromised preaching of the Word of God?
Do I allow,
The full counsel of His Word,
To rebuke, correct, instruct me in righteousness?
Am I overcome,
With gratitude…do I loudly proclaim,
I am a sinner, saved by grace, not of works, least I boast?
By Susan Bunts
February 17, 2008
Dear Papa,
I pray that one day,
You might know my Jesus.
You confess that you just don’t know for sure,
That the Bible alone reveals,
The One True God called Jehovah.
How can there only be one way?
How narrow to say salvation is found in no other.
That the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
You say that my good works,
Count for nothing,
That salvation comes only through the blood of the Lamb.
I know so very well…I’m no saint,
Nor a wretch…deserving of hell.
Surely He must grade on a curve.
Dear Papa…I beg you please,
Cry out to Him…challenge Him,
Ask that He might reveal Himself to thee.
Dear Jesus…
I beg You…I plead…
Pour out Your mercy upon my Dad.
Bring him to the end of himself,
That he might look up and see,
My Savior’s face…and receive.
Welcome him into the fold,
Grant him life everlasting.
Come into his heart and reside.
His debt marked “paid in full”,
Cleansed…
Made whiter than snow.
Dedicated to Terry
We all have loved ones…family and friends who are yet unsaved. It’s a heavy burden…especially as we see an aging parent remain resolute in their unbelief. Yet…our God is a God of mercy and grace…and He just loves to work miracles in the least likely souls. Tonight my heart is burdened for a dear friend Terry as she is in prayer for a loved one’s salvation. Terry…so many people join with you in your ongoing prayer…and we look forward to God answering those prayers in a way we can not even ask or imagine. Blessings to you dear one.
Reluctant…I don’t want to offend,
The Gospel message seems so narrow a path,
So I don’t share, lest they think I’m judgmental.
How ironic…if they had cancer,
I would be so eager to share the good news,
Medicine that would spare their terminal prognosis.
Whether they believe in no God or many,
Create a god of their own making,
Or deceive themselves that they are god.
Do I lack confidence,
Because I fail to know the Truth,
Or do I study God’s Word so I might know?
Not my own words,
Nor my own wisdom,
But the Truth from the infallible Word of God.
We are lost in our sin,
Unable to save ourselves,
Our own works…will never bring righteousness.
There is only One Way,
He Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life,
We can only come unto the Father by Him alone.
Instead I draw back…fail to share the truth,
After all I am no scholar or theologian,
I might not be able to answer all their questions or challenges.
So instead I stand back,
Let them go forth to eternity,
Lost…soon to share that which God created for Satan and his demons.
How pray tell is that walking in love?
Like letting one walk off a cliff,
Only to fall to their most certain death.
Those lost in their sin will pay the eternal price.
Will I choose to remain silent?
Or share the life giving message…salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone?
By Susan Bunts
September 16, 2007
The above poem was inspired by today’s sermon from guest speaker Kevin Lewis. Kevin addressed a concern, near and dear to his heart…the Christian church is influenced by today’s secular society and is weak and lacking in their Bible knowledge. So much so that we are ineffective in sharing the Gospel message with those who are perishing…lost in their sin. Kevin got down to basics as we started to delve into “Jesus Christ …the Only Way to Eternal Life”.
Even the elect may be deceived,
By a work packaged with purpose.
Influenced by their emotions,
Their words of praise are influenced and driven.
Even as they themselves firmly preach the Word of God,
Acknowledge today’s church, like the infant only desires milk.
Well hidden by the attractive wrappings,
They fail to see that the meat of the Word is not preached.
Souls lost in their sin sitting on Sunday morn,
Will not hear the Gospel message for fear that it might offend.
Observation will reveal,
Attendees do not carry, nor raise the sword of the Spirit.
Satan delights as they grow and prosper,
Earn widespread praise from the mouths of men.
An ineffective foe they are,
For the battle they fail to be equipped.
Deceived as they sit in their pews,
Ears tickled and they feel so good.
The Word of God delectably mixed,
With error and the wisdom of men.
Does the preacher feel no conviction?
Is not the son disciplined by the Father?
Tragically some will one day hear,
The Savior’s final words, “Away from me, I never knew you!”
By Susan Bunts
August 4, 2007
The above poem was inspired when I heard a beloved Bible study teacher singing the praises of a ministry that regularly preaches a watered down Gospel message due to the offensive nature of the cross and sin to the unbeliever.
Sinners will not hear the Gospel message out in the world for the world does not know the message of salvation. The place unbelievers must hear Gospel is in the church. If we fail to preach and teach the full counsel of the Word of God for fear that we will offend…are we not consigning the sinner to hell? All done with the good intention of not wanting to hurt of offend or hurt someone. Is not an eternity in hell infinitely worse than any hurt or offense felt when confronted by the truth of the Word of God?
“In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.” – Luke 16:23-25
