This and That

No Five Minute Friday to prompt me.  No hustle and bustle of the holidays to distract me and keep me going like the Energizer bunny.

It’s seems this is the first quiet Saturday morn in weeks.  I have time to think and reflect on all that’s gone on in the last few weeks and months.  To quiet my heart and mind and listen to the Lord.

Lessons I’ve had in the past, some of which I’ve failed at miserably, are coming around again.  This time I’m facing those lessons with the Lord Jesus Christ, with my heavenly Father to give me wisdom and the Holy Spirit residing within me.  May I incline my ear to the Lord, listen carefully and follow His leading and guidance as I navigate these waters afresh. 

May I have the mind of Christ and the love of God.  May I be obedient and honor God with all I do, say, think and feel. 

May I stay in close communication with God, not forsake time in prayer and listening to Him through His Word, which is perfect, inerrant and complete.  May I boast in nothing except for Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  May my heart be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He nudges me or corrects me or convicts me of sin.  Help me to be mindful of my absolute need and dependence upon You Lord and please keep me close. 

As of late, I’ve been feeling empty, spent and depleted with nothing left to give.  Even the simplest task seems like more than I can handle.  I need to be fed and replenished spiritually from God’s Word and through worship and praise of my great God and Savior.  I need the physical rest and sleep so that I’m no operating on empty.  I need to renew my mind through the washing of the Word. 

I can scarcely believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  Not only that…but we are on the edge of a New Year.  I would never have guessed all the changes that happened in 2013, how it’s ending.  What will the new year hold?  Only the Lord knows and I need to stay close to Him each day.  Keep my eyes on Him, not my circumstances, other people and especially not myself. 

Winner for Priscilla Shirer's book God is Able

I'm pleased to announce that blogger Ceil from Evangelize to Me is the winner of Priscilla Shirer's new book God Is Able.

Ceil please send me an email (susanwalkergirl@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I'll put the book in the mail.

Congratulation Ceil...hope you enjoy the book.

Hide & Seek

There are days when the Lord seems

        Distant and far away

                        Silent

                                His presence veiled

When I recognize that feeling, it causes me to

        Examine myself

                See if there is unconfessed sin

                        Hindering, impacting my relationship

Have I let the noise of this present world

        Drown out God’s still small voice

Am I distracted by

        What I can see and hear

                Ignoring that which is apprehended by faith

Have I put other things

        Ahead of God and His Word

                Set aside the eternal

                        For that which is passing away

Lord, Your Word assures me

        You will never leave nor forsake me

                Never abandon me

                        You are ever present

When I feel You are not near

        May I pursue You diligently

                Seek You while You may be found

By Susan Wachtel

November 30, 2013

God Is Able – A Well-timed Message

It was my pleasure to read Priscilla Shirer’s newest book God Is Able and it was a well-timed message that I need to be reminded about.

In God Is Able, Priscilla camps on two of the most powerful verses of scripture in the New Testament, Ephesians 3:20-21.  “Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.”

Those are two life change verses if we can really grab a hold of what those verses are saying and apply them to our lives.  Priscilla digs in and shares what she learned by studying each word in those verses and applying them to her life. 

Why a whole chapter devoted to “Now”?  When you think about it, do you really get that the Lord God Almighty loves you, is there and available to be at work in your life in that impossible situation you are dealing with right now?  He is well able to work exceedingly abundantly in those circumstances that are beyond you.  Our circumstances are never beyond God.

One of the things I appreciate about Priscilla’s writing is that she has a high and holy view of God.  She does not downplay the sovereignty of God.  Sometimes God’s work that is beyond what we can imagine is when God in His sovereignty says “No”.  He is doing a work in us and through us that may impact others.  He desires to grow us and transform us into the image of Christ. 

I enjoy Priscilla’s style of writing.  I feel like I’m sitting across the table from a friend, who is being open, honest, real and transparent. 

I recommend God Is Able by Priscilla Shirer.  This book would be excellent for someone who wants to better understand God’s love and His power at work in the lives of His people.  Perhaps for a person who is going through difficult circumstances and needs some hope.  Or maybe if you just want to sit down and meditate on the awesome and amazing God we serve. 

I would like to thank B&H Publishing Group for providing me a copy of God Is Able to read in exchange for an honest review. 

I am pleased to announce that B&H Publishing Group has provided me with an extra copy to give away.  If you would like to read God Is Able please leave a comment or send me an email at susanwalkergirl@gmail.com.  On Saturday, November 30^th, I’ll will select a winner and notify you via email to get your mailing address.

Evangelize to Me by Ceil

It was a Five Minute Friday post that led me to blogger Ceil’s website Evangelize to Me.  After reading her post, I signed up to follow her blog.  On those busy days when I feel spent and need some encouragement or correction, it’s good to drop by Ceil’s blog and read about what she’s learning from the Lord. 

Earlier this week, I dropped by and read her post, “A Parable and a Pruning”.  In this post she shares about how she pruned a bush that was overgrown but had bare branches on the inside and she applied that to how the Lord sometime prunes us when our inner life is barren. 

I would encourage you to drop by Evangelize to Me and be encouraged and challenged in your faith by this precious sister in Christ.

Thank you to Wanda at the Well Watered Soul for an opportunity to join with you and others in highlighting posts by fellow bloggers. 

Five Minute Friday – Fly Out the Window

In the middle of a busy and somewhat chaotic week, the Lord was there to meet me and had some lessons for me.

I was feeling quite overwhelmed by the amount of things I had to accomplish, requests coming in right and left and I was seeing the stress on others too.  I was overwhelmed and felt unable to do what I needed to or be of help to anyone.   

When I stepped away for while I felt like the Holy Spirit was nudging me and asking me, “Susan, where’s your focus?  It’s not on God, but it’s on your circumstances and people.  You need to get your focus back on Me.” 

In my own strength and power I would be unable to accomplish what I needed to.  My peace would fly out the window.  I wouldn’t be living in a manner that glorifies God.  I would be of no help to others or be able to encourage and strengthen others. 

Instead I need to see my circumstance through my God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than I can ask or imagine.  I need to be going to my Heavenly Father in prayer, with thanksgiving and present my requests to Him. 

I need to be prayed up and taking my every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  Let God overwhelm my impossible circumstances with His overcoming power.

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” 2 Chronicles 14:11

It’s another Saturday morn and I wanted to participate in Lisa-Jo Baker’s FiveMinute Friday writing challenge.  Head over to her website “Lisa Jo Baker Tales from a Gypsy Mama”.  Be sure to read some of the entries from other writers.  I can promise you that you will be blessed.

A Sailor's Dying Wish

On my drive home tonight I listened to the Hugh Hewitt show and was greatly moved by an article that Hugh read.  I encourage you to click on the link and read about "A Sailor's Dying Wish" by Jennie Haskamp.  

It's the kind of article that make you proud to be an American and grateful for the sacrifice of servicemen and women who protect and defect our nation, both in the past and present.