The Word of God

The Word of God
Creator of all things

The True Light
Rejected by His own

Receives children, born by the will of God
Those who receive and believe

The glorious Son of God
Christ Jesus full of grace and truth

by Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 18, 2011


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. – John 1:1-5

How Great Thou Art - sung by Selah

Fitting In

One of my favorite things is to hear people tell their story on how they came to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and what God has done and is doing in their life.  Each story is different and I’m always moved by the goodness of the Lord.  It’s amazing to hear what depths God brings us from. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear people share their salvation story.  One of the people shared how as a teenager they felt like they didn’t fit.  As they talked it brought back some painful memories of my own teenage years and beyond when I didn’t fit in.  It brought back things I hadn’t thought of in years.

As I laid my head on the pillow my mind wouldn’t shut off.  Instead scene after scene of those painful years kept coming to mind…like a slideshow.  Sleep evaded me as painful memories took over and I questioned God, “Why did you let that happen?” 

Of course there were no answers to my why question.  I did a lot of wrestling with God that night.  I wasn’t able to sleep until I got to the point where I said, “God, You alone are God and I am not.  I don’t know why You allowed those painful situations in my life.  I don’t like it, nor do I understand it.  But I am confident in this…You are good.  You are wise.  You are working out a plan in my life, far greater than I can understand.  Perhaps You allowed the rejection and pain to bring me to an end of myself so that I might turn to You?  Perhaps, without rejection I wouldn’t have ever have come to know You Jesus?  So Lord…I surrender.  I surrender the pain and hurt from those years into Your loving hands.”

Once I got to the place of surrender, I was able to fall asleep.  Morning came far too quickly and I was tired that day from a lack of sleep, but I wasn’t haunted by painful memories.

As a teenager and young adult, I didn’t have the perspective I have now.  These days if I don’t fit in…I’m not overly troubled by it.  Especially when that disapproval or rejection comes from someone whom I don’t know, like or respect.  If it’s from a friend or loved one…it may hurt deeply and I need to examine myself before the Lord.  But I’m able take my hurt feelings to the Lord…He’s able to heal my heart and emotions.  He brings an eternal perspective to life’s hurts.

How do people live life without knowing Christ Jesus?  I am so grateful I don’t have to. 

In My Seat

All Shook Up?

Has your world, your life been shaken?  Have you, like millions, suffered loss from the unprecedented natural disasters, economic disaster or job loss?  Do you ever wonder what God is up to with so much bad stuff going on in the world?

Does God have your attention?  He has mine.  I would encourage you to visit Joel Rosenberg's blog and read the recap of his recent message "Four Reasons Why God Is Shaking Up America and the World" at the Wake Up Call For God's People conference. 

Meet Me In The Stairwell

I will remember always!  

Wake Up Call For God's People...Are You Listening?

To participate in Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg's "A Wake Up Call For God's People" click on the hyper link.  The conference will be broadcast live on Sunday September 11, 2011.  Watch or listen to the conference simulcast live and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
         “May they prosper who love you.
 ⁷ Peace be within your walls,
         Prosperity within your palaces.”
 ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and companions,
         I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
 ⁹ Because of the house of the LORD our God
         I will seek your good.

Psalm 122:6-9

Young & Restless

They call themselves Young, Restless & Reformed
Touting their Christian liberties
 
Seemingly more concerned about their freedom to indulge
Than stumbling a weaker brother
 
Distracted by the pleasures of this world
Which are passing away
 
Unconcerned about their influence on those
Who already feel the pull of a self-indulgent, godless culture
 
Focused on the here and now
Vs. the by and by
 
Whatever happened to
Be holy as I am holy

Whatever happened to
Be sanctified

Whatever happened to
Deny thyself, pick up your cross daily and follow Me

by Susan Bunts Wachtel
August 31, 2011


For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. – Titus 2:11-14

Beer, Bohemianism, and True Christian Liberty

On the Lookout

As I was praying this last week, I felt rather downcast and hopeless.  I had finished praying for the salvation of people whom God has laid on my heart.  It seems that the list continues to increase.  Some of the people have been on the list for many years.  Some people have moved on and I may never see them again, but I continue to pray for their salvation. 

As I walked into Corner Bakery to pick-up my breakfast, I felt that the Lord rebuke me for my downcast attitude. 

Here I am praying to the God of the universe…the Creator of all things, the One Who spoke the words and our world came into existence.  God, Who from before the foundations of the world, knew me and chose to save me from my sin through the atoning death of His Son, my Savior Jesus Christ.  God Who knows me intimately, knows the number of hairs on my head, knows my thoughts before the words come out of my mouth and puts my tears in a bottle.  I’m praying to Almighty God and I’m feeling downcast?  Are you kidding me? 

I felt as if God challenged me that day.  I pray many prayers, but am I on the lookout for God at work each day.  Do I look expectantly and am I excited to see what God is doing each day?

To prove His point, later that day I had an encounter with someone for whom I’ve been praying.  I got to hear what God is doing in their life, a definite God thing…a work that only He could be doing. 

My downcast and hopeless feelings were nothing short of unbelief, which is sin.  I didn’t have my eyes on God, nor trust Him and His perfect timing to answer my prayer. 

Now I’m choosing to remind myself to Whom I’m praying to each day, and be on the lookout for the answers to those prayers and see God actively at work in all situations. 

Mixed Feelings

It was with mixed feelings that I returned to work following my six week leave to heal from back surgery. 

I would have never guessed how much I would enjoy being off for so long.  I thought I would be bored, especially since I was restricted in what I could do.  No lifting, bending or twisting.  Do you have any idea how many activities involve one or all of those actions?  Simple things, everyday things that you don’t give a second thought to unless you can’t do them.  I wasn’t able to drive for four weeks and was at home most of the day. 

I found the time passed quickly and I enjoyed each day.  I was able to go for a couple of walks each day and over time increased my distance.  When I got home from my morning walk, I spent time in the backyard praying.  I was able to work on a Bible study and read.  The six weeks went by so quickly, I could hardly believe that it was time to return to work.

The first five weeks of my leave were the most peaceful time of my life.  I got a picture of what it’s like to be stress free.  Each day I looked forward to Chris coming home from work.  Sometimes we went for a walk, sometimes we watched a movie or read.  Nothing big or monumental, but it was time we enjoyed each other without the demands, stress and pressures of life intruding in on our relationship.  My last week was busy with various appointments so that I could ensure that everything was handled before I returned to work. 

It was with tears that I returned to work.  Both my husband Chris and I were sad that this time of peace and enjoying each other, without pressing demands from the outside world, had ended. 

This is not to say that I’m not grateful to have a good job with a good company.  How could I not be, especially these days when so many people are out of work for extended periods of time?  I am grateful, yet at the same time, I long to be home. 

My first day back at work, I felt cushioned by God’s grace.  After that, it was stepping back in the stream of things, a fast flowing stream.  By God’s grace and with full dependence up Him, I am getting back into the swing of things. 

I am so grateful to be out of pain and for the peaceful days that I was able to spend recovering from surgery.  I’m grateful for the loving care and support of my husband Chris.  I’m grateful for God’s presence in my life, be it at home while praying in my back yard, or when I’m at work or in rush hour traffic, or when I come home tired at the end of the day…He is always with me.  Thank You Lord.  Of all the memories of my time off, the time I spent with You in prayer and in Your Word mean the most to me Lord.  A taste of things to come.

Mary Poppins...Simply Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Last night Chris and I saw Mary Poppins at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts.  It has lots of wow moments.  The music and dancing were practically perfect.  If you want a foot tapping good time, hurry down to the Segerstrom Theater and catch the last few performances of Mary Poppins.