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.

Double Harvest in Haiti

Your donation to the Double Harvest Disaster Relief project will go 100% to the victims of the earthquake. Your donation will buy fuel for transport of materials to be distributed at the project, food, fuel to pump pure water from the wells on the farm, medical supplies and medical care. Long term friends of Double Harvest have built a general fund that takes care of administrative duties. Please be assured that Board Members of Double Harvest are in Haiti making sure that these activities are taking place in a way that your donation is being used to full capacity. Thanks for your help. 

You may also send a check to Double Harvest at the address on the Donate page. Please designate clearly on a separate note: “Disaster Relief”. We thank you for your concern and prayers.

Help Haiti Live Benefit Concert by Compassion International

Help Haiti February 27th - HelpHaitiLive.com from Compassion International on Vimeo.

HELP COMPASSION HELP HAITI
On January 12th an earthquake shook Port-au-Prince leaving thousands dead and many more without food, water, or shelter. Now, more than a month later, Compassion International is still standing with the people of Haiti.

Compassion has been meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Haitians for more than forty years and will continue to serve them in this time of extreme need. Already Compassion International has supplied more than 15,000 families with clean water, food, blankets, temporary shelter, medical supplies and counseling.

On February 27th, 2010 tune in to HelpHaitiLive.com to watch a multi-artist multi-city concert to help Compassion help Haiti. Proceeds will lay bricks, feed, educate, clothe, heal and rebuild Haiti in Jesus’ name for many months to come.

Blog Party...Are You Game?

The blog party continues at Abigail’s Rear Window blog.  Like any good party…you try to get to know folks.  If you are game…head on over to Rear Window and join the blog party. 

1.  What's your favorite time of the day, and why?
Early morning when I’m taking my walk.  The world is quiet…the sun is coming up and it feels like it’s just God and me.  Before the busyness of the day.

2.  If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?
How about salad and breadsticks from the Olive Garden? 

3.  If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?
Either for the Rapture to occur…or to have the many people whose salvation I pray for, come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

4.  What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?
About being strong and opinionated.  I’m definitely not a wishy washy kind of gal.

5.  If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?
Probably a Jan Karon book “At Home in Mitford”…one of the quirky towns people at church.

6.  If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?
I would love to be able to play the piano.  I learned when I was young…but didn’t advance far and didn’t keep it up.

7.  If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?
An Alaska cruise with John MacArthur or Charles Stanley…with some great Gospel singing groups like Greater Vision.  Of course I would want a stateroom with a balcony.  Can you imagine seeing God’s creation along with other Christians who love the Lord?

8.  If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?
Gospel Music

9.  If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?
Best Buy...computer or camera equipment.

10.  If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?
I think right now…it’s just right for me.  I love to write and take photos…and the avenues that are open to me are marvelous. 

11.  If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?
Brown…even though it’s my husband’s least favorite…I like it.  Or maybe pink…but it depends on what shade. 

12.  If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?
(Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)
Happy…my husband says I’m perky…so that’s the closest. 

13.  What's the last album you listened to?
It was either Keith & Kristyn Getty’s “Awaken the Dawn” or the soundtrack from “Facing the Giants”.

14.  What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?
I used to be a shoplift agent.

Attention All Christians…Modesty Heart Checklist

At Kindred we are currently going through a study in Revelation.  For the past few weeks, the topic has been about the church at Thyatira.  In preaching through this passage, Pastor Philip De Courcy has been addressing the issue of sexual immorality.  While we’d like to think that the Christian church is immune to such temptation, I’m sure that we’ve all heard or seen many stories about pastors and prominent Christians who have fallen into sexual sin.

On Sunday, our church passed out a message from CJ Mahaney called “The Soul of Modesty”. 

“The Soul of Modesty” is an excellent message and one that all Christians should hear.  Be it a Christian woman who is trying to navigate the waters of looking attractive, but trying not to tempt men into sexual sin.  Or the father and mother trying to raise their children in a culture that is hostile to Christian values. 

In the message CJ Mahaney mentions a guide that his wife Carolyn Mahaney and their daughters put together.  “Modesty Heart Check” is a checklist for both the heart and the dress of Christian women. 

I can promise you will be challenged by both the “Modesty Heart Check” and CJ Mahaney’s message “The Soul of Modesty”.  Challenged, but in a good way. 

Doesn’t God’s word tell us that we are to have the mind of Christ?  (1 Corinthians 2:16)  As a Christian…there nothing that is off limits to God and that includes my dress. 

I encourage you to click on the above links and learn from CJ Mahaney’s very transparent message how a woman’s dress effects men and Carolyn Mahaney’s guide for Christian women. 

Here Comes the Sun

 

  

  

 

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

Good Golly...Are you up for a Blog Party?

Come join the fun!

Scripture Recitation by Rachel and Joshua

Recently some dear friends, Rachel and Joshua did Scripture Recitation during Sunday morning's service. Their example and commitment to memorize Scripture is both inspiring and challenging.  

God has impressed upon me the importance of memorizing Scripture.  He is so faithful and shortly after I had memorized several verses God enabled me to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ by focusing my thoughts on His Word.  

I pray that you will be encouraged by Rachel and Joshua's video.  Please also take some time to read their blogs:

Hope Journey

A Warrior's Heart 

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

A Time Away...Cruising the Southern Caribbean

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