Hold on Tight, and Whatever You Do, Don’t Let Go!

My old pastor said when you first come to know the Lord, life seems like all joy, all the time. Then you somehow hit a wall, and it feels like all pain. Eventually you realize that life is joy in the midst of pain. Joy isn’t fleeting happiness. It’s a real, yet sometimes indescribable life-giving connection to the eternal.

 

There is terrible teaching out there that if you're really walking with God, you won't suffer. If you're going through rough times, obviously it means you're in sin. Their favorite verse is: "God will never give you more than you can handle", which is found nowhere in Scripture. God often allows more than we can handle because we need Him. 

 

Many of us have experienced an unshakable anchor of joy—and possibly even some healthy laughter--in the midst of some of the darkest times in our lives. God gives us small “release valves” that keep us afloat in the floods. They help us cling to the still spot in a spinning universe. To be able to fly into the eye of a hurricane. To experience the security of an anchor that holds within the veil.

 

You don't need to search to find the suffering. Believe me, it will find you. We are promised suffering. Life is definitely not all rainbows and unicorns. But we are also promised joy, although sometimes we have to hunt earnestly for it.

 

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19)

 

Our security, hope, and joy are anchored in the reality of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. But God gives us glimpses of joy along the way to hold onto when we can't quite grasp eternity.

 

What brings you joy? It's a vitally serious question. A lot of people have no idea what brings them joy. Without joy, our soul shrivels. Our candle flickers. Our heart hardens.

 

Simple joys:

  • A beautiful sunrise or sunset.

  • A great book.

  • Baby laughter.

  • Grandchildren.

  • The glory of creation.

  • The power of music.

  • The freedom of dance.

  • Worship.

  • Love. Love in all its manifestations.

  • The perfect basketball shot.

  • Creating something with our hands.

  • A good day’s work.

  • Being of service.

 

What is a memory that brings you joy? It doesn't have to be your greatest memory. Just something that brings you joy when you remember it. What happens when you recall that treasure? It strengthens you. We all have rough patches, but we have experiences, relationships, memories, and supportive words that bolster us in the storms.

 

Search for joy. Tending to your soul is not selfish. If I don't intentionally fill my tanks, I will crash and burn when the tides turn. It is what will keep you from falling apart when everything hits the fan. Joy and beauty are healing. They drive those roots deep so the winds will not flatten you.

 

My friends know some of my “joy anchors”: being in the ocean, being on the ocean, being near the ocean, laughter, animals, friendship, creation, seeing people draw near to Jesus…

 

Holding onto joy is not a fluffy Hallmark card. It is an essential spiritual practice. It is a spark of life, perhaps a very tiny glowing ember. A reminder that we are held and loved by Someone who knows us, sees us, and invites us to lean into Him.

 

May you find your unique joys and hold them tight no matter what life brings.

 

Life is tossing a lot at me right now. We will be wrapping up Psalm One Ministries within the next few months. You can only imagine all the emotions I am experiencing. I am flooded by wonderful memories and the faces of all the men and women who have been drawing near to God with us for the past 26 years. The Lord has opened doors and used us “in Oregonia, and in all Ohio and the United States, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8, Revised Kline Version)

 

“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)

 

Please pray as I transition into the next chapter. I don't think God is quite finished with me yet. May the fruit of Psalm One remain and grow. Thank you for coming along with us.

 

Grace and peace,

Linda

 

  • Our LAST Refocus and Refuel Retreat is coming up quickly: March 27-29 in Cincinnati. I’d love for you to join me. This is for MEN and WOMEN, anyone who wants a deeper walk with Jesus. Especially renewing for those in vocational ministry. Time, space, and encouragement to step off the world’s whack-a-mole. Jesus’ gentle invitation to rest, remember, reflect, resolve, reprioritize, receive, then reboot. Spots are limited so sign up by March 13. For more info and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel

 

 

  • The 2026 Green Lake Sisterhood of the Fishbowl Pastors’ Wives Retreat April 10-12 is full but let me know if you would like to join a waiting list or stay in the loop for our weekly Thursday gatherings. https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

  • Some of you just returned from traveling with me (vicariously) to Africa. Wasn't it an incredible journey? Lions, elephants, giraffes, and even that amazing gift of the leopard cubs! God will continue to use the travel, photography, stories, wacky encounters, and divine appointments to encourage, challenge, and teach us. The Lord has many more journeys in store. If you want to come along with me as God whispers, “Say YES” and “Adventure lies ahead”, let me know and I will pack you into my carry-on. If you will pray for me on my travels, I will share photos, videos, and adventure with you. Contact me if you want to come along with me. England, Australia, New Zealand, back to Africa, and beyond…

 

  • Yes, Aussies and Kiwis, I will be down under July, August, and September. She’s coming back again like a boomerang!

Adventure Lies Ahead

26 years.

 

As of next month, I have been teaching the Word, speaking, counseling, consulting, resourcing, discipling, listening, praying, as well as facilitating soul care retreats, helping people celebrate Sabbath, creating safe space and spiritual direction to sit at Jesus' feet, pointing people to God, and caring for those on the frontlines of ministry under the umbrella of Psalm One Ministries for 26 years. I have been privileged beyond words to serve God as He has called me with the friendship, freedom, support, service, investment, and encouragement of so very many amazing people.

 

In a few months, I will be "retiring" and we will wrap up Psalm One Ministries with a big bow, thanking and praising God for all He has done through this ministry, basing us in sleepy little Oregonia, Ohio, but reaching out to thousands of people around the world.

 

I put retiring in quotation marks, because I don't think God is quite finished with me yet. I will serve Him in whatever capacity He directs until He takes me home.

 

God keeps opening unexpected doors and telling me, "Say yes!" I keep hearing Him whisper: "Adventure Lies Ahead!" (Which excites some of my friends and terrifies others.) For a girl who never thought she'd get beyond exotic Fort Wayne, Indiana, God has astonished me by flinging me around the planet and connecting me with wonderful friends, many of whom have become my family.

 

Apparently, He plans to keep flinging me. Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, 2026 will find me in England, Kenya, California, Wisconsin, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and possibly a few other nearby states and far-flung countries. I’ll be exploring remote destinations, serving and encouraging people in faith, spending precious time with friends and family, taking a few photos, and hanging out with creatures who might have fur, fins, feathers, flippers and/or fangs.

 

Since He called me into vocational ministry at 17, God has used my spiritual gifts, training, education, and experience to minster. I believe He also wants to use my writing, travel, photography, divine appointments, and hilarious encounters of the close kind with people--as well as sharks, lions, whales, giraffes, turtles, octopuses, sheep, kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras, moose, magpies, monkeys, marsupials, mantas, manatees, and whatever else He sends to the Animal Whisperer. Never a dull moment for Goodtime Linda.

 

All this to say, stay tuned! I haven't vanished yet. Closing date is not set. Please pray for us as we seek God for the next chapter.

 

Much love,

Linda

 

Come along before I fly the coop!

 

  • Adventure Lies Ahead Team: I need faithful friends who will pray for me on the road, in the air, and underwater. I’ll share photos and stories as have a front row seat to divine appointments and wacky encounters. I’ll take you out into the deep ocean, through jungles, across the savannah, along cliffs and over mountains. We’ll hang out with koalas, sea turtles, elephants, octopuses, mantas, rhinos, sheep, lions, birds, dolphins, kangaroos, giraffes, sharks, and whatever else God brings along.

 If you would like to come along vicariously, let me know…

(NOTE: If you are already on the “Adventure Lies Ahead” team, you are packed in my carry-on. You're now headed to Africa February 17 unless you remove yourself.)

****************

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

 

  • Refocus and Refuel Retreat: March 27-29 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Could you use some extended time to let the "muchness and manyness", noise and busyness, clatter and conflict dissipate so you can hear God's voice? Could you use time and space to rest, receive, release, rethink, rekindle, reprioritize, and reboot? Join us for the Refocus and Refuel Retreat! This is for men and women--anyone who wants to clear the cobwebs away so we can see God better, anyone who desires a deeper connection with Jesus. For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel

 

NOTE: This is the last Refocus and Refuel Retreat in Ohio for the foreseeable future. Space is limited, so don’t wait to register. However, there's a good possibility I will be doing a Refocus and Refuel Retreat in one or more of these far-flung places...

 

  • The Sisterhood of the Fishbowl Soul Care Retreat: April 10-12 in Green Lake, Wisconsin. This is exclusively for pastors' wives, no matter what hats you wear. Come away to prevent your soul, marriage, children, and family from becoming collateral damage of the ministry. Come to Narnia with some of the most understanding, wise, fabulous, hilarious friends you will ever meet. Come and receive rest, a listening ear, encouragement, refreshment, chocolate, and laughter. A lot of laughter. For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

NOTE: Space is limited and this retreat is filling up. We cannot hold a spot for you until paid in full. Do not wait to register. Hop on Pop now! I’m looking at you, Regulars!

 

  • Psalm One Bible Study: For 26 years I have taught the Bible every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Now that we are online, I can teach no matter where you are, and sometimes no matter where I am. So, if you are willing to work around my crazy travel schedule, the Psalm One Bible study will continue until at least May. This is for men and women, single and married, any age, anyone who desires to know the Word and to follow Jesus. We laugh and cry together, pray for one another, and seek God in scripture. We are currently in Colossians and you can jump in at any time. To stay in the loop with links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

Hi friends:

 

Joy to the world; the Lord is come;

Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room!

 

But how can my heart prepare Him room?

 

The heart is not primarily something from a Hallmark movie (even a Christmas Hallmark movie), a rom-com, or Valentine's Day. The heart is the core of a person; the seat of thoughts, will, emotions, faith, intentions, purpose, imagination, reason, understanding, grief, connections, perceptions, decisions, affections, and desires.

 

A heart can easily become brittle, cold, numb, dry, stubborn, guarded, and closed. I don't know about you, but my heart gets exhausted, cluttered, jumbled, over-scheduled, overloaded, and overwhelmed. Like a new word I found this week: Exhausterwhelmulated, describing the intense state of being exhausted, overwhelmed, and overstimulated all at once—a feeling of being too tired to rest, too stressed to function, and too wired to calm down, common in modern life. 

 

But an open heart can also enjoy rest, exude peace, celebrate joy, experience and extend love, embrace freedom, calm anxiety, and develop great wisdom. It is beyond essential that I present my entire life to my Creator for some much-needed open-heart surgery.

 

I have this weird job description in Psalm One Ministries: Help people see the One Who is Invisible. El Roi. The God Who Sees Me.

 

Moses “persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)

 

“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)

 

My goal is to provide space, time, and direction for men and women to prepare Him room. To be discipled by Jesus and the Word instead of social media, peer pressure, and opinions. Learning to tend our souls well. I teach very countercultural things like reducing distraction instead of adding stimulation, uni-tasking instead of multitasking, integrating Sabbath and real rest instead of burning the candle at both ends, slowing down to listen carefully enough so our “ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left”. (Isaiah 30:21) That’s awfully hard to do at 100 miles per hour in the middle of the “muchness and manyness”, noise and clatter, anger and splintering, and remaining logged into a chaotic world 24/7/365.

 

“But in the spiritual life, the word discipline means ‘the effort to create some space in which God can act.’ Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life; discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on.” (Henri Nouwen)

 

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

 

If I don't take time to sit at Jesus’s feet, how can I guide others to prepare Him room? If I don't pull away to be with Jesus and Jesus alone, my ministry will flow out of my own severely limited strength, faulty wisdom, and earthly advice, instead of the rivers of living water that flow out of a vital connection to God Himself.

 

I aim to take an extended prayer pilgrimage at some point each year, celebrate Sabbath each week, and also set aside January 1st as a day with the Lord. Ministry has no closure, so I need to stop, dial way down, let the dust settle, and pray through all God has been showing me in the past year, then lay my future plans before Him, bouncing everything against God and giving Him full detour and veto power. Sometimes we think we are so generous to say, “Lord, I am willing to go with either Plan A or B. Look how much I trust you!” I can almost hear God chuckling, saying, “My dear child, I am sending you out on Plan Q. You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

 

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’ (James 4:13-15)

 

If 2020 taught us anything, it is that God alone knows what lies ahead. “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)   

 

God keeps whispering to me, “Say YES!” and “Adventure lies ahead” (which both excites and frightens those who know some of my past adventures). If I walk through every door He seems to be opening, I will cover a lot of ground in 2026.

 

I need faithful friends who will pray for me on the road, in the air, and underwater. I’ll share photos and stories. You can have a front row seat to divine appointments and wacky encounters with lots of characters. I’ll take you out into the deep ocean, through jungles, across the savannah, along cliffs and over mountains. We’ll hang out with koalas, sea turtles, elephants, octopuses, mantas, rhinos, sheep, lions, birds, dolphins, kangaroos, giraffes, sharks, and whatever else God brings along.

 

If you would like to come along vicariously, (1) join WhatsApp and (2) reply with “Adventure Prayer Team” before Monday. 

 

Let every heart prepare Him room as we head into a new year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope to see you somewhere along the way. May Christmas hold unexpected blessings and meaning for you this year!

 

Much love,

Linda

 

psalm one ministries

- MASON, Ohio -