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

Missing You

The silence is piercing
It bears witness that you are no longer here

The bed that once held you stands empty
The blanket that comforted you, brings comfort no more

Everywhere I look
There are memories of you

The house seems a little too quiet
Our home a little too empty

My heart is a little bit broken
My smile seems a little bit sad

Everywhere I look
There are reminders that I’m missing you

by Susan Bunts Wachtel
March 27, 2010

Enough?

 

Reeling from the sting of rejection
I cry out to the Lord
He answered me
Is My love not enough for you?

In whose eyes do you see yourself
Is it in the eyes of sinful man
Who will falter and fail
Or is it in the steadfast love of the Lord

You are accepted in the Beloved
Redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb
I will NEVER leave, nor forsake you
My love will never fail you

Is My love enough for you?

God's Will

 

Oh how the enemy robs me
When I fail to yield to God’s will

When I want what I want…in my timing
Unwilling to wait upon the Lord

When I plan my ways according to my will
But the Lord directs my steps elsewhere

Then anxiety fills my heart and mind
The peace of God evades me

When I try to manipulate circumstances
Unwilling to admit they are far beyond my control

When I stand in judgment of people
Who just don’t cooperate and mess up my plans

Then frustration and anger reigns
Consumes my every thought

When I don’t trust that God is good
Unless He answers my prayers in the manner I deem best

When my prayers are orders
Instead of a humble petition to omnipotent God

Then I raise myself up
In place of God

Oh Lord, give me the mind of Christ
Help me to die to self daily, pick up my cross and follow You

Put me in the refiner’s fire
Consume any wicked way that remains in me

Help me to wait upon You Lord
With confident assurance all Your ways are good


Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 26, 2010


Recently I was reminded of a time in my life…when I wasn’t yielded to God’s will.  Some of that struggle went on after I became a Christian.  Praise God…He keeps on whittling away at my sinfulness and conforming me into the image and likeness of Christ.  It’s an ongoing work this side of heaven.

Overriding Love

 

It was the day
God’s love overrode His righteous wrath
Against sinful man

Where He offered me a sinner
Mercy, grace and forgiveness
Called this enemy, His friend

But God’s wrath towards sinful man
Was poured out in full
Against the only begotten Son of God

The innocent Lamb of God
Put on my sin
So that the wrath of God would be satisfied

The Word of God
Fulfilled Scripture that day
Submitting Himself to the Father’s plan


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 23, 2010

San Juan Memories

I nearly choke back tears at the thought

Your feet may have strode upon the blue cobblestone bricks

That my feet tread upon today

Did you sit under a starry midnight sky

With a warm gentle breeze blowing

The sound of waves breaking on a nearby beach

Did you enjoy Sunday afternoon in the park

Teaching your two little brown eyed boys

To fly a kite high in the sunlit sky

Did your eyes gaze upon the azure blue sea

Watch the waves break

Taste the salty spray in the air

Can it really be nearly 50 years ago

A young wife became a mother

Made San Juan, Puerto Rico her home

by Susan Bunts Wachtel

February 16, 2010

Dedicated to my mother Gayle Merriam Johnson Bunts Lorenat

Hair Dryer Revelations

 

As I started my day I was overwhelmed
Feeling defeated by the mountain of responsibility that stood before me
Downcast at the prospect of walking through a dark valley
While drying my hair…God met me in my weakness

God assured me that He did not bring me to this mountain
So that I would be overwhelmed by my inability
But so He might come alongside me
Walk with me and strengthen me so that I can overcome by His power

God did not bring me to the valley
That I might be overwhelmed with despair
But that He would meet me there
Walk with me and bring me through the valley in His presence

Oh Lord, may I hold fast to You and remember
You are well able to handle all that concerns me today
May I find encouragement when facing a mountain or valley
Know with certainty that You are with me and will bring me through


Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 3, 2010
 

Chosen

When I suffer trouble or hardship
May I recognize I have been chosen by God
Not picked on
 
May I be willing to suffer affliction
As a tool and an instrument
In the hands of the Master
 
Confident that God will use all difficulties
To help build a solid faith on the firm foundation of Christ
Not a faith founded on the shifting sands of circumstances
 
Knowing that He has entrusted me with troubles
So that my heart might be made tender
To the hurting souls around me
 
So those who lack outward beauty
Won’t be invisible to me,
May I be focused more on them, less on me
 
May the reproach of this world
Hold little sway or weight
Compared to the approval of God
 
May I take that which troubles me
Thoughts and attitudes that tempt me to sin
Lay them down at the cross
 
May I let go of my false beliefs and misperceptions
Tainted by this world of sin
Instead saturate my heart and mind with God’s word
 
My I recognize my unbelief is not harmless
But a sin against God
Calling into question His motives and character
 

By Susan Bunts Wachtel
January 14, 2010

Sometimes I find myself tempted to ask “Why me God?” when I encounter seasons of prolonged difficulties.  But I must say that God is so good and faithful to use difficult circumstances, trials, temptation and pain to prepare me to reach out to others.  He is so faithful to redeem my dark days by allowing me to come alongside people and encourage them or testify to the faithfulness of the Lord.

An Inconvenient Life

The abortion industry thrives on despair
Prospers on lies and deception
But the truth is
It’s a baby, not just a fetus
A child, not tissue

A mother’s womb
So perfectly designed by God
To nourish and protect
Nascent human life
Has become a chamber of death

They say it’s just tissue and won’t feel a thing
But he is already fully formed, all organs in place
With arms and legs, hands and feet
And a beating human heart
Knit so perfectly together by God in the hidden place

This wee little one…does he feel anxiety
As adrenalin courses through his mother’s body
He’s resting, protected within his mother’s womb
Until a probe enters in
And pokes him in the side

He has no knowledge of what it is
He only knows it hurts
His arms and legs flail
He tries in vain to move away
But there will be no escape

In a matter of seconds
A beating heart is stilled
His body is mangled and torn apart
As it silently slips away through the hose
His life and death invisible to all but God

The mother who was to give birth
Sentenced her child to death
The one who pledged to protect human life
Now extinguishes life for profit
Parents who desire to have a babe in their arms must wait a little longer

An inconvenience, a consequence
Soon to be swept away by a “simple procedure”
But this child will never be forgotten
Reminders surround his mother…even haunt her
It’s everywhere…the smile of a child or a date on the calendar

But there is healing and forgiveness to be found
Confession
Repentance
Salvation through Christ Jesus the Redeemer
Adoption by the Lover of her soul


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
January 21, 2009

This poem was inspired by Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director, turned Pro Life when confronted with the undeniable truth…it’s a baby growing within a womb.  To hear her story log on to Focus on the Family and listen to the shows from January 21 and 22, 2010. 

The Gift of Discouragement

Oh lowest and most evil one
I have a delicious, delectable bad report
Of inroads made into the hearts and minds the enemy’s saints
 
God gives the gift of, dare I say, encouragement
But I’ve been able to successfully supplant it
With the gift of discouragement
 
Aided by pride and feelings of self righteousness
The unsuspecting saint didn’t have a clue
Of the exchange made while sitting in the church pew
 
The overflow of their heart
Spewed forth criticism and condemnation
Aimed squarely at a fellow believer
 
Unaware of the opportunity God presented
To pray for, encourage, and build up one another
I was able to come alongside and whisper in their ear
 
Out of their mouth came words I effectively used
To tear down, discourage and cause division
With one they call brother in Christ
 
As they sat in church
Feelings of superiority took hold
While they focused on the faults and failures of another
 
All the while
I was able to distract the one who was hurt
With hurt feelings, anger and un-forgiveness
 
The real victory was won
When I distracted both from hearing the pastor’s message
The Word of God was falling on deaf ears and distracted minds
 
I predict continued success
So long as they fail to take every thought captive
Or resist offering forgiveness for an offense
 
I dare say we may take even more of the enemy’s ground
If we can light a fire and watch it spread throughout the congregation
Fueled by pride and self-righteousness
 

Susan Bunts Wachtel
January 18, 2010
 

Another

Another store front went dark today
Another business locked their doors
Another owner won’t be collecting rent for their property
 
Today, countless employees joined the ranks of the unemployed
More people were given bad news
You’re dismissed, turn in your keys and go home
 
An application for unemployment
Worry sets in
How long will it be?
 
Another resume submitted
The waiting begins
Finally a call comes in and an interview is scheduled
 
Another offer…with wages so low it won’t even pay the rent
Another email, “I’m sorry but…we’ve selected another candidate.”
Another day goes by...no news and nothing on the horizon
 
I’m sorry, you are overqualified
We can’t pay you what you’re worth
If we hire you, surely you won’t stay
 
There’s a knock at the door
It’s the superintendent coming to collect rent
Shhhhh...be quiet…maybe he’ll go away

Please just give me a chance
I’m desperate to put food on the table and pay the rent
I have a wife and children at home…I don’t want them to go hungry another day
 
 
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
January 14, 2010
 

This poem is dedicated to the many people on my prayer list who have lost their job and to Jesus Christ…the One who is faithful and true.  May His mercy and grace abound as He brings you through this difficult season. 

A Beacon on a Hill

Their little church

Became a beacon on a hill

A shinning light

Bidding all who want to follow Jesus

Come…follow Him

From humble beginnings

A group of people

Who loved God’s word

Studied the scriptures diligently

That they might accurately divide the word of Truth

Though their shepherd was struck

They kept their eyes on Christ

Called out to God

That He might bring another pastor

Faithful to preach the full counsel of God’s word

In His perfect timing

God brought His servant

A man ready to preach

In season and out of season

Teaching sound doctrine to equip the saints

God continues to bring them

From far and wide

Those who are unwilling to have their ears tickled

But would rather be reproved, corrected and instructed

So they might be thoroughly equipped for every good work

God is growing His church daily

Knitting each one perfectly into the body of Christ

The saints are not ashamed of the Gospel

For they know personally, it is the power of salvation

For all who believe

By Susan Bunts Wachtel

January 4, 2010

The Bridegroom

Just as the bride waits and longs for
The Bridegroom’s soon return
So my soul longs for You oh Lord
 
Surely, You’ll return any day now
You’ve been gone nearly 2,000 years
Preparing a place for me
 
With each passing day, I long to be in Your presence
Not to escape the un-pleasantries of life
But to behold You in Your glory
 
Thank You for all You’ve given me this side of heaven
For entrusting me to care for Your people and creation
But this place is not my home
 
My prayers for salvation for those who don’t know You
Grow more intense with each passing day
That they might be spared the pain and judgment to come

Oh Lord, when You come to take me to home
May I be found faithful to the end
Looking up…waiting for Your soon return
 
 
Susan Bunts Wachtel
December 30, 2009

Broken and Contrite Heart

Oh God
May I come to You
Not with a prideful, haughty spirit
But a broken and contrite heart

Humbled
Knowing that Jesus’ blood was shed
Not only for my sin
But all who will receive Him

When I see those engaged in sin
May I not condemn them
But be broken over that which breaks Your heart
May I be moved to pray fervently and unceasingly

For the unbeliever
Who has no knowledge of God
May I be ready to share
Salvation is found in no other name than Christ Jesus

For those who say they believe
But their lives are no different from unbelievers
May I point them back to Your word
You alone are able to judge their thoughts and intentions

When I see Christ followers, following at a distance
May I encourage them to partake in the joy and peace
That comes from abiding and remaining in Christ
To receive His strength and not be conformed to this world

May I be mindful it is by grace alone, through faith alone,
I stand forgiven at the cross
It is through the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within me
That I can abide, remain and am sanctified daily

Susan Bunts Wachtel
December 23, 2009

The Hard Thing

It’s harder to forgive
Than to hold on to a hurt

It’s harder to pray
Than to whine and complain

It’s harder to bring everything by prayer and petition to God
Than to go to a friend and gossip or lament

It’s harder to give thanks in difficult circumstances or in pain
Than it is to grumble and complain

It’s harder to restrain my mouth and just plain shut up
Than it is to freely speak my mind

It’s not just harder
It’s impossible to take back a word spoken in anger

It’s harder to be disciplined and make time to study God’s word
Than it is to waste time on worthless things

It’s harder to make time for family and friends
Than to let my time be driven by pressing but inconsequential things

It’s harder to take every thought captive
Than it is to let my imagination and thoughts go wild

It’s hard to do what is right before God
When I’m feeding my mind and heart with the things of this world

Oh Lord, may I choose to do the hard thing
Not by might, but by Your Spirit

May I remember when I am weak
Then I am strong in Christ


By Susan Bunts Wachtel
December 2, 2009

Thanksgiving….Much Better Than I Deserve

I would be remiss
If I failed to bow my head and give thanks
For the many blessing
From my heavenly Father above

First and foremost
Salvation found in Christ Jesus alone
For His sacrificial atoning death on the cross
So that my sins, which are many, are forgiven in full

For the Holy Spirit
Who dwells within me
For His comfort and conviction
Daily sanctifying and cleansing me

The Bible
The very Word of God
Solid truth in a world filled with lies and deception
A light unto my path in a very dark world

The Father’s plan of redemption
Put in place before the foundations of the earth were laid
My loving Father is looking and waiting, arms open wide
For this prodigal to come to her senses and return home

I am included in the body of Christ
Called to a church named Kindred
Surrounded by those who faithfully serve
Motivated out of love and obedience to Christ the Risen Lord

For a country founded with a purpose
A place where we might be free
A foundation built on principals
Inalienable rights granted by our Creator

Abundant blessings flow
From the Father’s hand
I can truly say
I’m doing much better than I deserve

My husband Chris
The one for whom I prayed many years
He loves the Lord with all his heart
By God’s grace he just happens to love me too

A home we call our own
With much more than I can ask or imagine
A fireplace to sit by on a cool autumn evening
A backyard, my retreat to enjoy God’s creation

Family and friends make each day richer
Filled with grace, mercy and love
They share in the laughter and joy of the moment
Then come alongside to help lift the burden of a heavy load

Work…a means by which God provides
A place to use the skills, talents and abilities
Gainful employment means much more these days
When so many are still seeking a job

This is just a start
Of the many things for which I give thanks
You can truly see
I am blessed far beyond that which I deserve


Susan Bunts Wachtel
November 25, 2009

God Colored Glasses

Daily I put on
God colored glasses
My heart fully open and surrendered to Him

Conscious of God’s presence
In all areas of my life
God is the filter through which every experience passes

In good times
When blessings flow from God’s hand
I offer praise, adoration and thanks

When tempted by sin
I confess, repent and pray
Equip myself with the full armor of God

In the presence of evil
I pray righteousness will triumph
Where inequity presently reigns that it will be crushed

When God is dishonored
Where His name has been besmirched
I am grieved and pray that He will vindicate Himself

When people are in distress
I come before my Father and pray
God be honored and glorified through their deliverance

In all things, through all things
May I set the Lord ever before me
See everything through my God colored glasses


Susan Bunts Wachtel
November 17, 2009

Burdened

Today I awoke downcast
As though I was grieving
Profoundly sad
For no explainable reason

Then my path crossed
With those who bear a heavy burden
Whose tear stained face
Bears the marks of grief, pain and fear

Those who lost a loved one
A life cut down at such a young age
Family and friends who had no time to grasp the enormity
Before they stood at their loved one’s grave

Or the one who received a bad report
Without warning, in an instant
Life had changed
Each day recognized as a gift, not a guarantee

Then there is the one who suddenly
Finds themselves unemployed
In stiff competition with untold others
Praying that someone will just give them a chance

God did you burden my soul
Give me a small picture of their pain
That I might be compelled
To plead for them before Your throne


Susan Bunts Wachtel
November 16, 2009