November 2004

Greetings from Sydney, Australia!

I'm wrapping up a season of ministry down under in Australia and New Zealand, getting ready to head back to the other side of the planet. Trying to figure out how my luggage can multiply when I didn't buy anything. I'll be leaving early summer here (it is 100 degrees F today!) and heading into early winter in the Northern hemisphere. Is it cold yet back home in Cincinnati?

As I look back onto this ministry stint, three things stand out:

1. The kindness of people. I have been received with such warmth, friendship and humor. Families have taken me in and offered such generous and flexible hospitality. Folks have gone beyond hosting me to befriending me. They have shown me their beautiful land of unique beauty. They have offered me a refuge of peace and quiet. They have surrounded me with wild parties and much silliness (you know who you are). They have trusted me with their hearts, their struggles, their pain. They have shared good times, good food, good laughter. People here have gone out of their way to care for me in so many ways. And people at home have encouraged me with prayers, emails, cards, little gifts of communication and support. That kindness means so much when I am 10,000 miles away from home, after a full year of illness, coming to terms with...

2. My weakness. When I arrived in New Zealand, it immediately became apparent that I had only a fraction of the physical, mental and emotional stamina I had a year ago. So frustrating to feel fine, then suddenly feel the "engines shutting down" (that's how this illness flares up). The spirit is willing, but the flesh is so weak right now. As one friend describes it, I have only a thimbleful of strength, and when that is gone, there are no reserves. During this trip I gave 100% of what I had, but I sometimes struggled when that didn't seem to be very much. Frustration like that makes me so aware of...

3. The grace of God. When the multitudes needed to be fed, Jesus asked the disciples, "How many loaves do you have?". They had to know how poor they were in order to see their own glaring lack be transformed into God's overwhelming sufficiency. In the hands of God my paltry "fish and loaves" have been multiplied to feed many. Through the retreats, teaching, preaching, sharing, He has born fruit that will remain and grow. " You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." (John 15:16)

I see my job description as pretty straightforward : take someone's hand, put it in the hand of Jesus, and get out of the way. This has not been an easy ministry stint. God has required blood, sweat and tears of me on every session. But what an amazing grace that the Lord can take my frailty, my simple words, at a time when I feel so lousy, and communicate truth and healing to people's hearts. Chuck Swindoll says that there are two key words to doing ministry God's way: "Show up." I have shown up. And God has taken my simple words and supernaturally used them to connect some people with Jesus.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me." (1 Cor 15:10) I am what I am--and am not. Do you ever struggle with who you are? Or with who you are not? That's not what matters to the Lord. He only asks me to put it ALL in His hands, and let Him use my broken pieces to build His kingdom. What an amazing grace.

So please pray for me as I travel back home to see what God has in store for me next. See you on the other side of the world!

His,

Linda

P.S. Please be praying for the Day of Refreshing on Saturday, December 11. Everyone is welcome--men and women! Let me know ASAP if you would like to join us for this retreat. Keep an eye on the website (http://psalmone.org) for upcoming events and news.