It's My Pleasure...

“It’s my pleasure!” a young waitress said to me recently at a restaurant.

“We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.”  Psalm 123:2 NLT

Boy. Good customer service sure goes a long way. Wouldn’t you agree? Excellent or poor customer service can make or break an experience. And this leads me to reconsider what it means when we say…

“I will wait upon the Lord.”

Inherent in this phrase is the thought that we are waiting either patiently – or not – for God to hurry up and answer a prayer, bring a promise to pass, or for His timing to be fulfilled. Waiting sucks. Ok. There I said it. However, it may help if we consider waiting on King Jesus in the way described by the Psalmist.

“Lord, what is your order today?”

“How may I best serve You, my Father?”

“What is your bidding, Jesus? I am here to fulfill it.

This is what real waiting is about. Serving Him with full delight. Seeking what would please Him. Asking what would He like to “order” today. Knowing Him so intimately that it isn’t hard to wait because His presence, power, and words are life abundant itself.

One of the Hebrew words for waiting on God means to be so bound up with Him that we are lost in His embrace. I wanna do that kind of waiting, so that whatever He speaks for me to do, I promptly and from my heart say…

“It's my pleasure, Lord!”

Restoration...

This often-quoted verse is often greatly underestimated...

"He restores my soul..."
Psalm 23:3

First, we must understand that the soul is our:

Heart
Emotions
Mind
Thought Life
Ability to Choose
Our Intellect
Our Personality

Now read again this simple, but profound, promise above. What arena of your soul needs His restoration?

Yep. You got it right. All of our soul.

This is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Never stop seeking His restoration and never stop walking in ever greater freedom and healing in Him.

He is able -- simply come.

Untie the Knots...

To untie the knots of my heart...my mind...my life. Yes, Lord, yes. I want this more than anything, that I might bring You glory.

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 

Honestly. When I live less-than, purposeless, and for myself, the enemy of my soul ties me up in knots. When situations are overwhelming, I fall prey to fatigue, fear, or worry. For you, too? When I allow the devil to have his way, the complexity of who I am, my emotions and my thoughts are like a knotted mass of chains from a jewelry box gone awry.

But Jesus came. He comes to me now. He comes to destroy, to untie, to loosen me from the knots of my stuff, my sin, and the devil. He comes to loosen completely the grip of my past. This is what the original Greek word for destroy means in this passage. And, Jesus is the only One who can...Who wants to...Who has and will continue to free me. And free me for what?

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

To wait in the original language here means to be bound up in and entwined with, and be held closely by Someone. Jesus loosens my knots that I am free to be forever caught up, bound up, and knotted in His lavish love and all His heart wants to give me: His strength, His joy...His ability to soar.

Yes, Lord...yes.

Search Me...

One of the greatest aspects of the Gospel is His healing for the brokenness we experience in the deep recesses of our lives…

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.  Psalm 139:23-24

We need never fear the Holy Spirit’s searchlight into our innermost being – our hearts and minds. He can wade through all the muck and mire; shame and pride; lust and selfishness. Jesus longs to bring us into His freedom and wholeness. He never once stops loving us, no matter what His searchlight reveals. He is with us in those dark places.

If we are tired of living with anxiety, insecurity, and bondage to habits we disdain, and a myriad of other soul sicknesses – the verse above is the launching point to release in our lives. Let’s let Jesus go deep in our souls and allow His truth to reveal the lies we believe about ourselves. Let’s take some time before this day ends to meet with the Great Counselor to start this great journey of freedom. He is able and He is waiting for us to come and experience His healing, tender touch.

Really. Honestly.

When I heard about my two friends reconciling after hitting a rough patch in their relationship, it brought me to tears and I remembered this portion of the Lord’s Prayer...

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Really. Honestly. When I truly see my own brokenness, failings, and failures, I can more readily forgive others. I wouldn’t have thought this true. Yet as the Lord began to heal me from the inside-out of my own shame, insecurities, wounds, hurts, and addictions – I couldn’t hold blame over anyone else’s life.

I also made the wondrous discovery that spending a little bit of time in Jesus’ overwhelming presence filled my soul to overflowing. From these shared moments with the Savior, I realized that stuff which would have previously wounded my heart, just didn’t have that power any longer.

Hurt people – hurt people. Nevertheless, when Jesus forgives, heals, and transforms us, we learn that forgiven people can forgive people. I want to live this way. You too?

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week...

Should you lose your car keys, lose the cat, or maybe even think that you are losing your mind, rest assured. God is still on His throne. Just be sure, however, that He is on the throne of your life! As long as you are in control in matters both great and small, He isn’t. Surrender all to Jesus, then back off. You get the idea.

Should the sink back up, your friends fail to show up, or you just want to throw up your hands in the air over your life circumstances, this is the time – ahem, it ALWAYS the time – to draw close to Jesus. Quiet your heart in a quiet place and let His Holy Spirit make His presence real. Open His Word and let Him speak exactly what you need to hear. He is waiting for you to come.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!

1 John 4:4

Broadway...

Sometimes we need to learn to live in the small, confined place before the Lord can release us into His broad place...

“I called on the LORD in distress; 
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.”
Psalm 118:5

Have you ever been in a situation that felt confining, hard, and difficult? Have you – like me – complained to the Lord about it, yet your prayers seem to go unanswered? This could be a relationship, a marriage, a workplace, home, school -- you name it situation.

If you are in currently in one of these ‘small’ places, can I encourage you to quit your complaining, griping, and placing blame elsewhere and instead ask the Lord what it is He is trying to work out of your character so that you may take on more of His? Escaping, quitting, and running away only delays the inevitable go-round of the same issue again, somewhere and sometime in your life.

Take it from me who had to learn this lesson in the small place.

When I began to believe and live what comes later in this same Psalm, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it,” no matter what my circumstances were, I found abundance in the small place – because I found HIM in the small place. And I usually wasn’t long after that my circumstances would change completely.

Yes, I can tell you story after story. Find joy in the narrow road and shortly you will be walking on the street named: His Broadway.

Little Verse...

This little verse turned my world right side up...

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8

The Greek word used here for destroy is lyo: to loosen any person or thing that is tied or fastened, to loosen one that is bound; to set free.

I was someone who was tied up in knots for years. No, I wasn’t the anxious type – I am a southern California beach girl through and through with the matching personality. Yet, I was twisted in the enemy’s knots and lies about my worth: my appearance and my abilities.

If you are struggling today, get help, help, help. Don't delay! Most of all, seek the Good Shepherd who came to untie the knots of any and everything the devil, the world, others, and your own flesh may have bound and entangled you with.

He is more than able. He is more than willing. He loves you more than you will ever know, and He can untie every knot you find yourself caught in.

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week.

Should your dog eat your slippers, your favorite team bite the dust, or you just plain feel like the stuff of your life is insurmountable, look to the One who holds all the answers. He never promised life would be easy in this broken, evil world, but He did promise that you are more than a conqueror when you abide in Him. He delivers on His promises.

Should your relationships be frayed and worn, and impatience and frustration are tempting you, look at yourself first. Don’t place blame. It takes two-to-tango, as the saying goes. Jesus always tells us to take the splinter out of our own eye first before even attempting to point out the log in another’s eye. Let Jesus deal with your issues. That’s what He is asking of you in this moment.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!
1 John 4:4

Time to Get Wet...

Ahhhh. To live in the river of God’s presence. Nevertheless...

There are bills to pay, diapers to change, cars to fix, families to fix, carpets to be vacuumed, laundry piles, laundry mountains, laundry-lava-flows. There are kids to discipline, runny noses to wipe, work deadlines to meet, work gossip to put up with – work, work, work. You get the idea.

"Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Ezekiel 47:12

Short and sweet. If we live in the river of His presence – spending time alone with Jesus, hearing His voice through His Word and presence – the stuff of our lives will be different. Including the laundry.

Jesus can make the mundane extraordinary, take the tedious and make it holy ground, restore joy (yes, giddy happiness) when the darkness closes in. And, He can bring His healing touch to any situation. Honestly. It is time to get wet.

He Is For You...

Sad, but true. I spent a number of years thinking God was against me.

What then shall we say to these things? 
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31

What we just read is the truth. We have a heavenly Father who loves us beyond reason and never withdraws, withholds, or revokes His unfailing agape toward us. Yet, we have an enemy. Take him, plus the failings and brokenness of our souls, and it is oh so easy to believe the lie our God is against us.

Most of us aren’t even for our own selves. We know our stuff. You know, the stuff no one sees. And the shame of our stuff lies to us. We can pray up a storm for others, but we can barely lift our eyes to pray and believe our Father would pour out blessings upon us.

If this is you, it is time to break the root of this lie. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where it started – usually in your very early years. Get it taken care of and break the agreement with it. Then, let your Father scoop you up in His arms and whisper His truth into your heart:

He is for you.

Blame Game...

It’s never about others. Jesus is after us...

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves…

2 Corinthians 13:5

It is so easy to look to others as the reason for our unhappiness, our dissatisfaction, or our stuff. If only… we think about those close to us. If only – they were different… We pray and pray for the folks in our lives to change, but God doesn’t seem to answer our prayers. So, we remain stuck. Stuck in our lives.

Does this resonate with you in any way? Have you ever had these thoughts? Been there, done that myself. Yet, it wasn’t until I let Jesus ruthlessly speak into my life about my stuff, my selfishness, and my issues did radical transformation happen in me and around me.

Someone needs to hear this. You are blaming others, yet King Jesus is after you. Nothing is going to change around you until you let Him deal with you first. Stop playing the blame game, because healing and restoration begins with you. Let Him clean your house and then see the bounty of His abundant life explode around you.

His Light...

I tell my story wherever He opens the door for me to share...

“God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me! 
You are the revelation-light in my darkness, 
and in Your brightness, I can see the path ahead.”
Psalm 18:28 TPT

Many years ago, I was one messed-up puppy. I had everything, but I was unhappy with all of it. I tried to leave my wonderful husband, three darling kids, the church we pastored, and our beautiful home, but the trouble was – wherever I would have gone, I would have taken ME along. Only Jesus.

Only Jesus could rescue me from depression, a fifteen-year eating disorder, and uncontrollable thought life. Let alone other areas of enemy oppression and fleshly insecurity and wounding. And He did. He did rescue me fully and completely. Now, I have the honor and privilege to be used a tiny bit by Him to bring rescue to others.

Yes, indeed. Only Lord Jesus could catch me in His life-giving light.

For a free copy of my freedom story in the Lord Jesus, simply click here: http://www.sueboldt.com/giveaway/

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week…

If you are pooped, tired, and weary before the day has even started, it is probably time to spend…some time…waiting (a great Bible word) on the Lord. Yes, take time alone with the One who can renew your strength. 
Isaiah 40:29-31

Should you receive a difficult diagnosis, bank statement, or a problematic phone call; don’t run around trying to fix these issues. Instead, grab His Written Word, stop and hear His Heart, and wait for His instruction as to how to proceed next. He knew before you did about these things.
Isaiah 30:21

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything! 
1 John 4:4

He Said to Me...

What area of life have you been trying to help the Lord with?

For me, I started to take back on my shoulders a big remodel of a house that He has given us to be used, not only for our family, but for His ministry as well.

I have been drinking in the Scripture the Holy Spirit gave me below. Come have a drink with me – well, you know what I mean – and apply this passage and promise to your own life.

"So he answered and said to me: 
"This is the word of the LORD to _______ (place your name here): 
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' 
Says the LORD of hosts.

'Who are you, O great mountain _________ (name your burden)? 
Before ________ (your name) you shall become a plain! 
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" 
Zechariah 4:6-7

Now reread it again, with the inserts you have placed in the blanks! Surrender completely your burden – your mountain – and be encouraged. The Lord is with you

Titles...

I. Am. His. Child.

“So, go ahead—let everyone know it!
Tell the world how he broke through
and delivered you from the power of darkness and
has gathered us together from all over the world.
He has set us free to be his very own!”
Psalm 107-2-3 TPT

I had to be reminded recently, that this is the only title I will ever need. Or could ever want.

Yes, just like you, I have had many titles throughout my life and most of them have been huge, outright blessings: mom, daughter, wife, senior assistant, speaker, and pastor,

But other titles? Maybe not so much a blessing. Failure, not wise, too silly, poor choice maker, without talent. Oh my, should I continue? And if I were to ask, what title are you living under today?

Well, there is only one title that matters. I am His child. I belong to the King of Kings and that encompasses every human desire, hope, treasure, and indeed life itself. And when I live like His child nothing else really matters because this title is: More. Than. Enough.

The Ultimate Fixer-Upper...

When Jesus does a remodel, a redo, a restoration, or whatever you may call it, He does it well...

“That’s where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me the pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to His name.”
Psalm 23:3 TPT

I took me far too many years to take these words literally from Psalm 23. He is the only One who truly can restore and revive. Others may help encourage, and counsel us about...our stuff. But yes, only Lord Jesus can heal and restore.

Now I am all for counseling. Don’t get me wrong. I have been a pastoral counselor for years and I facilitate an inner healing ministry called Steps to Breakthrough – Healing Life’s Hurts. Nevertheless, I know there is only One who really knows what He is doing. And He not only knows the intimacies of our lives – the deepest, darkest stuff – He is right there with us in the midst of them Psalm 39 tells us.

I know this is true. His grace in my dark has brought me into His light. I was once a broken mess, but now I live as a daughter of the King in the healing purchased for me. Because I brought Him no glory hiding in the shadows of my flesh and the enemy. Nope. No more. I be wanting to live in more and more of His light. His power. His Healing. His joy overwhelming. His beyond reason love.

So, what about you? Do you need a remodel, redo, or a restoration? Are you a fixer-upper waiting to be discovered? Jesus can do it. Simply surrender and let Him begin.

Run...

Not long ago, we received a thank you note from our nephew...

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14

We had sent Ryan some financial support for his up-coming, two-year mission trip to the South Pacific. In his note to us, Ryan wrote:

“Thank you for...helping a young man run after God.”

These words knocked the wind out of me. These are powerful words. These are life-changing words. To run after God is to pursue Life itself. To put Jesus’ Kingdom first and then let Him so effortlessly take care of the rest of what so often trips us up, consumes our thoughts, resources, energy, and affections.

I am late to running after God. I was a Christian for years before truly pursuing Him first and only. And may I tell you these past years have been a joy-ride, a thrill-ride, an adventure, and yep, He has even used my life to bring salvation, healing, and hope to others. Jesus has provided for EVERY need and then some. These past years have been extravagant, rich, abundant, and superfluous. No joke.

So, I ask you. Are you running after God? If not, it is time to make the decision to do so. Don’t waste another minute of your precious life, make it an ardent, precious pursuit instead.

At the Start of This Week...

At the start of this week...

If your birthday is forgotten, your boss passes you over to give a promotion to someone else, or you feel generally unseen, run to the One whose arms are always open wide to embrace you. Let Him. Stay. Linger. And wait in the Lord's presence until you sense His comfort, His nearness, and His still small voice reminding you that He sees you. He is the only One who really matters.

Should your car break down, a relationship breaks down, or you feel on the verge of -- a breakdown. Turn to the Only One Who can genuinely heal your soul. He even cares about such details as cars and relationships, too. He is the source of Your strength, so don't give place to the temptation to have a pity party because the God of the Universe is on your side. Open His Word, drink it in, and be refreshed.

This is a week of new beginnings, hopes to be realized, and miracles to watch for. Keep your eyes open, your heart tender, and your mind from distraction. This week will be awesome in Jesus because He Who is in you is greater than anything!  1 John 4:4

Surrender...

I have been oh so slow to learn this...

But when I surrender my strong, often obstinate will for His grand and glorious ways -- life happens. yes oh yes. Miraculous and wonder-filled life happens. Even in the midst of the most dark and treacherous of circumstances.

Yes. My heart is slowly learning this -- and being transformed.

"If you keep my commands, you will live in My love, just as I have kept my Father's commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by His love."
John 15:10 The Passion Translation

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