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

 

Overwhelmed?

Hi friends:

 

The word I keep hearing from everyone I encounter is overwhelmed.

 

Overwhelmed by the

  • News

  • Conflict

  • Anger

  • Loss

  • Us vs. Them

  • Meanness

  • Health struggles

  • Grief

  • Splintering

  • Undone “to do” lists

  • Estranged relationships

  • Needs of others

  • Stress

 

Jesus’ gracious, patient, and gentle invitation is not…

  • “Get over it!”

  • “Quit being a whiner!”

  • “Man up!”

  • “Fight for your position!”

  • “You want to cry? I’ll give you something to cry about!”

 

And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while."

(For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves. (Mark 6:31-32)

 

Jesus’ voice whispers to pull away, rest our souls, fill our empty tanks, and lean into the one and only Savior who can handle everything on our platter. Then we can return to family, community, work, ministry, and the craziness of life with a refocused and refueled spirit.

 

  • How are you feeding your soul?

  • Who is encouraging you to keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith?

  • Do you need to pull away from the “muchness and manyness” as Richard Foster calls it?

  • Do you need to let the whirlwind settle until you can hear clearly again?

  • Do you need some time at the feet of Jesus?

 

The song that keeps playing in my head, inviting me to walk at the pace of God… Take a deep breath, then sing with me…

 

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise

In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

 

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

 

When I am alone

When I am alone

When I am alone, give me Jesus

 

Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus

You can have all this world

But give me Jesus

 

(traditional spiritual)

 

Do you need Jesus? Come along with us as we seek to know, follow, and experience the presence of God no matter what sort of whack-a-mole you are currently handling.

 

Refocus and Refuel Retreat:

Could you use a reboot? Everything—including YOU—works better if you shut it down, let it rest, then fire it up again.

 

Do you need space, time, encouragement, and direction to seek Jesus without interruptions? Men and women are invited to join us for the Refocus and Refuel Retreat. We would love to have you with us for this restful getaway November 14-16 in Cincinnati.

 

This is a great way to prepare Him room before we head into the craziness and busyness of the holiday season.

 

Especially helpful and restful for pastors and missionaries to be recharged without any expectations on your platter!

 

Space is limited, so register NOW to come along for this drink of cool water. https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel

 

New Bible Study Series:

November 4 we will soon be starting a new Bible series in Colossians! We are online, so men and women from anywhere are welcome to join us. Come along as we marvel at the supremacy of Christ:

 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

 

I need a fresh and powerful vision of Jesus. Do you? Sign up to receive the links and resources whether you can join us every week or once in a while: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study

 

Just for Pastors’ Wives:

 

  • Psalm One Soul Care Retreats. We LOVE these small, relaxed, fun, renewing getaways.

 

“Pastors’ wives have full (often over-full) schedules and may also shy away from “Stepford Wives” types of gatherings. The “Sisterhood of the Fishbowl” Soul Care Retreat is nothing like this! The past retreat that I attended was so life-giving and necessary for me. We’ve been going through a difficult time in our church and I was shattered. Being able to talk to others who knew exactly where I was coming from and to receive prayer and encouragement from them, was like having my burdens lifted from my shoulders and carried by these women. It’s amazing how you can develop such a strong connection to people you’ve never met before. I’m an introvert and being in a group of strangers is very intimidating for me, but it doesn’t take long to find commonalities with the other women. Linda Kline also facilitates this gathering in a way that is healthy, safe, God-focused, healing, and fun. It is absolutely worth the time, money, and effort. If you’re hesitating in any way, give it a chance and sign up. You’ll never hesitate again.”

 

Free weekends never just appear. You may think you cannot take a weekend away to replenish your soul, but in reality we can't afford not to. Block out the dates now to join us for one of these wonderful retreats! Space is limited. If you want to come to both, this is the year to do it…

§  Cincinnati, Ohio—January 30 to February 1

§  Green Lake, Wisconsin—April 10-12

 

Questions? Hesitations? Available spots? Call Linda at 513-226-0025. For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

  • Thursday Night Oasis: Once a year is not enough. Whether you live in downtown Manhattan or the middle of nowhere, you can join us once a week! Come gather with the Sisterhood of the Fishbowl Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time for laughter, prayer, encouragement, shared wisdom, and a supportive community of women who know life in the ministry. You are always welcome, whether you drop in from time to time or able to be there every week. You never know what we’ll wind up discussing! Sign up to stay in the loop with links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

Life is complicated. Don’t try to handle this alone. Let’s link arms and follow Jesus together.

 

Much love,

Linda

 

Vitally important questions for Ministry Wives to ponder…

Vitally important questions for Ministry Wives to ponder…

 

  • Where are your truly safe places?

  • Where can you “unclench” and relax and just be your genuine self?

  • Who are your Aarons and Hurs (Exodus 17) to hold your arms up in the battle?

  • Who truly understands the roller coaster world of ministry?

  • Where do you feel free to cry or scream if need be?

  • Who points you to God when you are worn out and struggling to find your North Star?

  • What restores your perspective and priorities?

  • Who helps you laugh at the crazy mix of ministry, marriage, family, career, and life?

  • When did you last experience unhurried and peaceful rest?

  • Are you struggling with something so heartbreaking, dark, or weird that you feel no one would understand or even believe?

  • Who feeds your soul?

  • Who pastors you?

  • Who helps reminds you how much you are loved and treasured?

  • How often do you PLAY and have FUN?

 

Every week I work with pastors, missionaries, ministry spouses, pastors’ kids, and others from ministry families who are dealing with various struggles. They may be dealing with stress, depression, conflict, betrayal, deep loneliness, or fear of the wheels coming off in some way. The common denominator in usually: no close friends. Lots of acquaintances, maybe hundreds or even thousands. But few or no friends who can truly listen, come alongside, and care for their soul.

 

"Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away." –Dinah Maria Mulock Craik

 

The Sisterhood of the Fishbowl (as we call it) is Psalm One’s (https://www.psalmone.org/) community of encouragement for pastors’ wives. These women are MY lifeline. They are the finest human beings I know. Authentic, non-Stepford-Wife friends of depth, substance, camaraderie, transparency, support, and laughter. Our gatherings and retreats are not about being the Perfect Pastor’s Wife. They are designed to restore your soul and spirit, find your identity in God, build healthy and reciprocal friendships, and nurture the connections, peace, security, grace, rest, release, laughter and tools we all need to keep our heart alive toward Jesus.

 

Where can you find friends who understand the unique stressors of life in the fishbowl of ministry?

 

  • Psalm One Soul Care Retreats just for Ministry Wives. We LOVE these small, relaxed getaways.

 

“Pastors’ wives have full (often over-full) schedules and may also shy away from “Stepford Wives” types of gatherings. The “Sisterhood of the Fishbowl” Soul Care Retreat is nothing like this! The past retreat that I attended was so life-giving and necessary for me. We’ve been going through a difficult time in our church and I was shattered. Being able to talk to others who knew exactly where I was coming from and to receive prayer and encouragement from them, was like having my burdens lifted from my shoulders and carried by these women. It’s amazing how you can develop such a strong connection to people you’ve never met before. I’m an introvert and being in a group of strangers is very intimidating for me, but it doesn’t take long to find commonalities with the other women. Linda Kline also facilitates this gathering in a way that is healthy, safe, God-focused, healing, and fun. It is absolutely worth the time, money, and effort. If you’re hesitating in any way, give it a chance and sign up. You’ll never hesitate again.”

***

“It was a true gift to come away with God and friends — both old and new — to share our stories, lift one another up, and spend uninterrupted time with Jesus. Our lives are so busy, and many times it feels we are being ‘pecked to death’ by demands from spouse, children, parents, job, and ministry. These retreat times give us space to connect more deeply with Jesus and to share life with women who just ‘get it'.  The age range this weekend was significant, spanning 3 generations. In spite of this, our shared lives of ministry gave us a great deal in common. We could laugh together uproariously and also grieve empathetically. Shared challenges, successes, griefs, fears, joys, and just a bit of irreverence about ministry life make a wonderful mesh of connections. If you are a pastor’s wife wondering whether you can justify the cost and/or the time away from responsibilities:  YES! These retreats pay dividends for months and years after the event.”

 

Free weekends never just appear. You may think you cannot take a weekend away to replenish your soul, but in reality we can't afford not to. Block out the dates now to join us for one of these wonderful retreats! Space is limited. If you want to come to both, this is the year to do it…

§  Cincinnati, Ohio—January 30 to February 1

§  Green Lake, Wisconsin—April 10-12

 

Questions? Hesitations? Available spots? Call Linda at 513-226-0025. For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

  • Once a year is not enough. Where you live in downtown Manhattan or the middle of nowhere, you can join us once a week! Come meet with the Sisterhood of the Fishbowl Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time for laughter, prayer, encouragement, shared wisdom, and a supportive community of women who know life in the ministry. You are always welcome, whether you drop in from time to time or able to be there every week. Sign up to stay in the loop with links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

 

    • Craving time in the Word that you don’t have to lead? Join us for the Psalm One Bible Study! A great group of people who encourage and support one another as we learn from the Scriptures. Tuesdays at 7:30 Pm Eastern Time. For men and women from any time zone. Sign up to stay in the loop for links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study

 

  • Could you or your husband (or both) use a reboot? Sometime to pull away from the muchness and manyness to focus on Jesus without interruptions? Men and women are invited to join us for the Refocus and Refuel Retreat. We would love to have you with us for this restful getaway November 14-16 in Cincinnati. This is a great way to prepare Him room before we head into the craziness and busyness of the holiday season. Especially helpful and restful for pastors and missionaries to be recharged without any expectations on your platter! Register NOW to come along for this drink of cool water. https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel

 

We need each other. Life is too hard to handle on your own. Ministry is definitely too tough to go it alone. Come and find a friend or two. If you need a listening ear, prayer, resources, spiritual direction, or a place to scream, I’m here. (Just give me a heads-up if you’re going to scream…)

 

Much love,

Linda

psalm one ministries

- MASON, Ohio -