Divine Appointment

Over 150,000 people
Had a divine appointment today
Nameless and faceless to most
But each is known by God
The One to Whom we must give an account

The date of that divine appointment
Was set long before we took our first breath
The One who formed us in our mother’s womb
Measured our days and scheduled the appointment
The day and the hour when we will take our last breath

In the Bible
God counsels us
To number our days
He warns us that it is appointed for man to die once
Then comes judgment

There are no second chances
There are no mulligans to be claimed
Though all will stand before God one day
Not all paths will end in heaven
For some another place has been reserved

For those who have rejected God
All of their days
Those who have worshipped a god
Of their own making
They will spend eternity separated from God’s presence

And such were some of us
Until the Son of Man
Set us free
From the bondage of sin and death
He put us on the narrow path

We found there is but One Way to salvation
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
If you confess with your mouth
And believe with your heart
You will be saved!


Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 26, 2009


When the news came yesterday of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett’s deaths…it was kind of shocking. Both were famous people whose careers were at their heights in my younger days…and today they are dead.

It was interesting hearing and reading people’s comments. Some were shocked by Jackson’s sudden death at a young age. Some were upset that most of the press coverage was devoted to Michael Jackson with nary a word about Farrah Fawcett or Ed McMahon’s deaths.

When I read the words, “Two people died today, not just one” I wanted to shout, “No…thousands and thousands of people died today!”

Most of them…you will never know. But their family and friends will shed tears and grieve their loss. Not because they were famous, rich, beautiful or talented…but because they were loved. How many of them died without accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? How many people had a divine appointment that they didn’t anticipate or plan for? How many will be separated from God for eternity in hell?”

As horrible as cancer is…at least Farrah Fawcett had time to prepare herself, to make peace with God if she so desired. On the other hand…Michael Jackson’s death was sudden and unexpected. I’ll bet he didn’t wake up thinking, “I may be dead before the day is over.” It was probably a day like any other.

But God had a divine appointment in store…as He does for each one of us.

Are you ready for your divine appointment?

When Fear Grips My Heart

I turn on the news
Only to hear the reporter inform
The economy continues to spiral downward…out of control

Fear grips my heart

I pick up the phone
Listen to more bad news
Another friend lost their job today

With a lump in my throat I whisper, “I’ll pray”

I open the prayer email
I scan the requests only to find
Another family is facing foreclosure

I fall on my knees and cry out, “Oh Lord…”

All around me the rumors fly
Then we get word
A mandatory meeting…“Be there at 3:00 pm sharp!”

My heart is beating a little faster and my hands start to sweat

Then the Holy Spirit reminds me
Take every thought captive
Meditate upon the goodness and faithfulness of God

Never have the righteous been forsaken

With each bad report
May I be moved with compassion
Fall on my face before my sovereign Lord and King

Not even a sparrow falls without it escaping the Father’s notice

May I count it a privilege
To come before God’s throne in prayer
As I lift up my family, friends and strangers from afar

Cast all your anxiety upon the Lord, for He cares for you

May I delight
Not in possessions
But in the Lord Jesus Christ

May I praise You in the morning and evening…all throughout the day

May I find security
In God alone
When the phone call comes and my hand trembles

May I find peace in the presence of my Master

Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 24, 2009

Dare I?

Dare I let tomorrow
Steal today’s joy

Dare I doubt
Rather than trust and believe God

Dare I hold on to the past
At the expense of today

Dare I hold on to a grudge
While I plead for forgiveness

Dare I esteem the inconsequential
Rather than value that which is eternal

Dare I force my plans
Rather than yield to God’s plan

Dare I?
I dare not!

Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 22, 2009

In Christ

In my despair
You are my hope

In my darkness
You are the light unto my path

When I’m mourning
You comfort me

In my sorrow
You give me joy

When I’m lonely
You are with me

When I’m betrayed and all turn against me
You are my defender

When all is lost
I find riches in Christ Jesus

When I sin
You forgive me

When I’m weak
You strengthen me

When I’m tempted
You provide a way out

When I lack understanding
You give me wisdom

In a world build on shifting sands
You are my Solid Rock

When lies abound
You are truth

When the world tells me I should fit in
You consecrate me

When my soul is disquieted
You give me Peace

When I’m prideful
You humble me

When I’m hated
You love me

When words fail me
You intercede for me

When enemies surround me
You are my friend

When stuck in miry clay
You freed me

When I deserve judgment
You give me mercy

When defiled by the filth of my own sin
You cleansed me

In the unworthiness of my sin
You redeemed me

When I deserved condemnation
Christ was crucified

In death
You are Life


by Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 19, 2009

Easy Faith

An easy faith
That requires nothing of me

I come to God as I see fit
On my own terms

Church attendance is not required
No time in my busy schedule

Prayers are uttered
But only in times of crisis

No need to study God’s word
No desire to know truth revealed in Scripture

My faith is more about how I feel
An experience that makes me feel good

No need to share the gospel
Don’t all paths lead to God

My thoughts are not taken captive
There’s not much difference between me and the world

My son whom I love so much
Surely he is good enough

No need to train him up
In the way he shall go

No time to take him to church
When our days are filled with baseball, basketball, football and tennis

God’s warning may go unheeded
By ears who do not hear

Rather than being welcomed home
“Come, enter into the joy of your Master”

There will be a loud and resounding proclamation
“Away from Me, I never knew you”


Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 17, 2009

Glorious Return

Each day I long for
Look for
Eagerly anticipate
Your glorious return

The time seems short
You will be coming soon
For Your bride, the church
Any day now

When I see a flash of lightening
Hear the thunder roar
I wonder
Is my Savior coming

Even as I long for that day
Desire it with an unquenchable thirst
I’m reminded
Of those for whom I pray

Each day I lift up their names
Before Your throne
Pray for their salvation
For deliverance from darkness

I pray that family and friends will be set free
Those who believe in counterfeit Jesus
Those who worship a god of their own making
Those who deny the very existence of God

For their sakes
I wait patiently
Pray that they will call upon the name of Jesus
And be saved

Yet…I desire
To gaze up Jesus
Worship Him
The One who is good, lovely and pure

I long to spend eternity in Your presence
Even here may my lips overflow with praises
Even now may my heart sing with thanksgiving
Of Jesus who gave Himself up for me



Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 16, 2009

Soul Talk

Oh my soul
Here I am adrift
In a sea of wild emotions

Hope has turned to despair
Depression is closing in
Oh may I not fall into the sin of unbelief

Lord…I feel as though I have been exiled
Banished from Your presence
May I not given in to my feelings

Soul…I must take every thought captive
Find encouragement in God’s word
May I firmly cinch the Belt of Truth around me

When I feel as though I’m drowning
May I reach out and cling
To the Rock Who is higher than I

When I feel abandoned
May I remember Your promises
Assured that You will never leave, nor forsake me

When the darkness descends
May You be my Bright & Morning Star
The Light unto my path

When taunted, “Where is your God?”
May I remember…while He is invisible
God is never inactive

May I seek You Lord
Bask in the glory of Your presence
See my life in light of Your purpose and plan

May I find hope in Your radiance
Comfort in Your word
Peace in Your presence


Susan Bunts Wachtel
June 14, 2009

Have you had the experience that when the Pastor is preaching…you feel certain that the message is just for you? That’s what I experienced today. I felt as though Pastor Philip De Courcy was preaching a message designed especially for me. I’ll bet you a lot of folks felt that way this morning.

It was the right message and was in God’s perfect timing.

Pastor Philip preached a message out of Psalm 42 -43 on despair and depression. The word of God not only comforts and acts as a healing balm but it challenges us to “get a grip” . In this instance…take every thought captive.

This poem was motivated by and composed from the notes I took from today’s sermon.

In the Heavenlies

The Ring

I stepped into the ring today
Before I knew it the bell had rung
The fight was on

The first punch was doubt
Followed by a blow of discouragement
Well aimed at my heart

I didn’t have my gear on
Soon I was blocked on all sides
Couldn’t even lift my head

I cried out
Sought deliverance from my Lord
Silence ensued as I waited

In the heavenlies
A battle raged
Between unseen forces of good and evil

Suddenly…there was a break
I was freed
Saved from a powerful foe

I emerged weary, worn and tired
While no human eye could see it
A battle was waged in the heavenlies

May I cling to my risen Savior
Daily equip myself with the armor God has provided
Remember the battle belongs to the Lord…Jehovah-Nissi

Praise God the enemy is a vanquished foe
The crushing blow was wielded at the cross
His victory certified when Christ arose from the grave


Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 27, 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.

Far Away

How is it
I feel far away
From the One who will never leave me?

How is it
I feel deserted
By the Him who will never forsake me?

How is it
I feel separated
From God who indwells me with His Holy Spirit?

How can I
Trust my feelings
Which contradict the Word of God?

How can I
Believe the enemy’s lies
Rather than remember God’s faithfulness?

Susan Bunts Wachtel
May 15, 2009


This poem was written on a low day, in which the enemy’s attacks were many. Finally relief came in answer to prayer. I found hope and peace when I encouraged myself with reminders of God’s faithfulness and through the truth found in His word.