Unintended Consequences

How could I have known

Of the unintended consequences

From a decision I made, an action I took

At that moment

It felt like the right thing to do

But now, I see a ripple effect

Which seems like a tsunami

Washing away what I hold dear

Though all around me, everything is slipping away

You alone O Lord will never leave, nor forsake me

Oh Lord, I cry out to You

As the waves crash in, help me hold on to the Anchor of my soul

Help me to trust You Lord Jesus, in the darkest night

Though my words fail, the Holy Spirit intercedes for me

My compassionate Savior prays for me and the merciful Father hears

Susan Bunts Wachtel

December 3, 2017

Sometimes its easier to see things in the lives of others, only to look back and see similar seasons in my own life.  When I look back and see the trials the Lord has brought me through, I stand amazed.  Thank You Jesus for not wasting one trial, or temptation or difficult season.  Thank You for the growth that can take place in the most difficult circumstances.  Though I can’t see the unintended circumstances that may come from something I do or say today, You can.  Help me to look to You, listen and obey You as you guide and direct me. 

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”. 

Darkness of the Soul

There is a certain darkness to your soul
Unapproachable
A place where no one can come in

Your thoughts remain private
Silence
I’m at a loss on what to say or do

A frown so deep, so low
Profound
Sadness, loneliness or is it anger I see

I cry out to God
Desperate
For His presence to go before you

My words so ineffective
Intercede Holy Spirit
Translate when I don't know what to pray


Susan Bunts Wachtel
July 15, 2009

The Pretender

He sat in the pews among us
Heard sermons proclaiming God’s Word
Sang the great hymns alongside us
He was with us, but not of us

Sermons were heard
But his heart was not convicted
Hymns were sung
But there was no worship in his heart nor praise on his lips

He tasted the Bread of Life
But did not eat
He sipped the Living Water
But did not drink

His heart has become hardened
His ears accustomed to tuning out the Word of God
The Holy Spirit knocks at the door of his heart
But that knocking will one day cease

He has been enlightened, tasted and shared
In the goodness and mercy of the Lord
Yet he continues to sin
There is no sign of repentance

Oh Lord
May he heed Your warning
That it is impossible for those who have fallen away
To be brought back to repentance


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 31, 2009


Hebrews 6:4-6

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.


It was sobering hearing a Bible study taught by Pastor Dave Dunn on Hebrew 6:1-8. We all know people who sit alongside us in church that are not Christians. They hear the Word of God but continue unrepentant in their sin. Tuning out the warnings of the Holy Spirit.

There may be some who give the appearance of being a Christian, but there is no growth or demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit in their life. While there may be no overt sin, their hearts are far from God and they will one day walk away. They are in church, but not in Christ. Oh Lord, may they not presume upon Your mercy and but turn to You for forgiveness of their sin. Today is the day of salvation.

Oh Lord, may I examine my own heart, mind, will and actions. Measure them against Your Word. May I have ears to hear and a heart that is quick to repent and turn to You.

Victory

Tonight, the Lord enabled me

To snatch victory from the jaws of the enemy

When I heard the word…a smile crossed my lips

“Yes Lord…forgive”

The battle began early

I felt pummeled…assaulted on every side

Relentless…unending

Subtle…but it was an effective attack

Who would recognize it

Trace it back…to the enemy

Who would recognize the handwriting

Scripted by the hater of my soul

It felt like a war

The enemy was on every front

It left me wounded and numb

Spent…barely able to lift my head

Then the "piece of resistance"

Words wielded…left me battered and bloody

Oh Lord…just get me through this day

Help me to not respond in kind

Understanding their true nature

Brought no comfort

Knowledge that they are but a puppet of the enemy

Was not a healing balm to my soul

But in the quiet…at the end of the day

I came to the end of my reserves

It was there that the Holy Spirit reminded me

Of my “new nature” in Christ

He’s the One

When He whispered the word, “Forgive”…peace filled my soul

He’s the One who will enable me to return the arena

Enter where the prowling lions seek to devour me

Yet I fear not…for He is the One

Who will shut tight the jaws that would otherwise crush me

Tonight…the Holy Spirit within

Enabled me to forgive

In doing so He snatched victory

From the deadly jaws of Satan

A powerful and effective foe to a created one

But a defeated foe to the Kind of kings and Lord of lords

By Susan Bunts

September 9, 2008

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