Camping out with Jesus…

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”  (John 1:14-18)

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The word translated “dwelt” here means to encamp with us, to reside with us as God did in the Tabernacle, a symbol of protection and communion, literally to “pitch His tent” with us. In Jesus, “tabernacle” transforms from a noun to a verb. The God of the universe took on flesh to dwell with us.

My mind flashes to a wonderful night “tabernacling” with a good friend in a dodgy, wet, dirty tent on a hilarious camping trip with buddies. There in the dark, we freely shared so many unedited thoughts, feelings, ideas, hopes, dreams, struggles, as well as enormous amounts of laughter--which is why we pitched our tent so far away from the others.

In pitching his tent with us, Jesus invites me into far greater companionship, communion, and connection. He left His throne and took on messy human form. Christmas means that God broke into our world to tabernacle with us. Why would He leave the glory of heaven to camp out with us? A love beyond anything we can imagine. A love that will not let me go.

He is El Roi, the God who Sees. He is the Paraclete, who comes alongside to comfort, teach, encourage, advocate, and guide. He is the High Priest, who leads us to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. He is the Good Shepherd, who calls me by name. I often wonder, "How does anyone do this life stuff without God?"

The LORD said, "I

• have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and

• have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I

• am aware of their sufferings.

So I have come down to deliver them…”

(Exodus 3:7-8)

He enters into our world and our struggles. This same term for tabernacling is used here as “dwell” in one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. "And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:3-5)

May I spend the rest of my life camping with Him and drawing near. That is the invitation of everything we do in Psalm One Ministries.

Let me dwell in Your tent forever;

Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

(Psalm 61:4)

Let every heart prepare Him room, now and always.

Grace and peace,

Linda

Ways to camp out with Psalm One:

• Begin 2024 with a clear mind and a full tank. Come away for the January 19-21 Refocus and Refuel Retreat to rest, reboot, revel, relax, recollect, reconsider, revive, return, recommit, remember, receive, recover and rejoice. For more information and to register for this Cincinnati event: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel For men and women!

• Could you use time in the Word and encouragement to keep your head, heart, and hands following hard after God? Join an encouraging, joyful community of men and women from all over the US and sometimes the other side of the planet Tuesdays at 7:30pm ET for the Psalm One Bible Study. Stay in the loop to receive the links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study

• Online Day of Refreshing! Yes, we miss the Days of Refreshing out among the woods and gardens of Oregonia. I know it’s not the same, but we will be having an online getaway February 24. This means that men and women from anywhere—not just SW Ohio, not just the States—can join us. Registration will begin soon. Space is limited. Watch your email.

• Soul Care Retreats for Pastors’ Wives:

A large part of what I do within Psalm One is to come alongside pastors, missionaries, and their families. Ministry is a great privilege, but it also has unique stressors. Where can a ministry wife who is trying to juggle ministry, marriage, children, career, home, and so many other hats go for a safe place of friendship, support, fun, and a listening ear? Our soul care retreats have become a lifeline and a shot in the arm for these amazing women who love Jesus, the church, and their families.

How can you help?

·         Invite a pastor’s wife from your church. https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives

·         Help us provide scholarships and blessings.  https://www.psalmone.org/donate  Please designate donation for “Ministry to Pastoral Families” on the drop-down menu or your check.

·         Pray for those on the front lines of ministry. Respond with “Prayer Team for Ministry Families”

For pastors’ wives:

Scroll down for info and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives. This is for any woman married to a full-time pastor, no matter which multiple hats she wears. You may be pastoring, teaching, counseling, working elsewhere, raising kids, or using your gifts in a myriad of ways. This is a relaxed getaway for you to be heard, refueled, and encouraged with others who understand the weird and wonderful world of ministry life.

·         Cincinnati, Ohio: February 9-11, 2024

·         Green Lake, Wisconsin: April 19-21, 2024

• Invest in Psalm One. Have you been encouraged, strengthened or blessed through the ministry of Psalm One? We depend on the giving of individuals, groups and churches who believe in the work we are doing with Bible teaching, Christ-centered Spiritual Formation, and caring for ministry families in Ohio, across the US, and around the world.. Psalm One Ministries is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, so all contributions are tax deductible. Online https://www.psalmone.org/donate or by check (payable to Psalm One Ministries) at  P.O. Box 653, Mason, Ohio 45040-9998. We are so grateful to all the people who make this ministry possible.

Solitude, community, and ministry…

Solitude, community, and ministry…

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community... Let him who is not in community beware of being alone... Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.”― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

If we follow Jesus’ pattern, fruitful life flows from cycles of solitude, community, and ministry. We need all three to effectively love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31)

We need authentic community now more than ever. But we need community that flows from and is fed by a living bond with Jesus rather than just our own opinions and agenda. Ministry will be the natural fruit of healthy community that is formed by growing connections with God. Whether it is pulling away from the “to do” list to savor a few quiet moments, a walk outside to think and pray, a daily time with the Word, or an extended period to clear the cobwebs, we need to build serenity into our noisy lives.

"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)

Cease striving, stop fighting, be still, stand silent, step out of the traffic, whatever your version says… It literally means “drop your fur” as an animal relaxes his hackles when he knows it is safe. Some of us have had our fur up for a very long time.

When I seek God with others, I am strengthened in so many ways.

• Knowing I am not alone in my wonderful, weird, and wooly life.

• Having the encouragement and accountability of others who also love Jesus.

• Being reminded of God’s faithful and powerful hand as I hear the different ways God is guiding us.

• Seeing God pour his love out in such personal and individual ways.

• Gleaning nuggets of wisdom and insight from others.

• Having others faithfully hold my unique story as I hold theirs.

• Learning tools to experience intimacy with God.

At the Psalm One Refocus and Refuel Retreat, we spend time at Jesus’ feet alone together. Alone together? A contradiction in terms? No.

Have you ever intended to set aside a chunk of time to be with God and God alone? Has it ever dissipated or vanished by being crowded out by distractions or just drifting off track? When we seek God alone together, we form a small community of men and women intent on spending time at Jesus’ feet.

Many people fear silence and solitude, but it is not isolation. It is spending renewing time with the One who loves you more than you can ever imagine. As one colleague says, “Isolation is when you put yourself in a cage. Solitude is when you put all the distractions in a cage.” Far from being isolated, intentional silence and solitude is spending clarifying and strengthening time with the Beloved. It has become oxygen to my soul.

Our Refocus and Refuel is a “semi-silent” retreat. We open with time in the Word and heart preparation, close in time in the Word, prayer, and considering how God may be whispering and nudging. We talk and laugh over wonderful meals. I am available for spiritual direction if you are wrestling with how God might be leading you, if you want help in bringing an issue before the Lord, if you want to pray with someone, or you’re not sure how to connect with God. In between, however, we give one another the gift of silence so you can enjoy unhurried, uninterrupted time of study, prayer, meditation on the Word, journaling, and resting in His presence.

It takes a while to dial down and become still enough to hear that still, small voice. It takes longer than a few minutes to let the whirlwind of my full life settle so I can truly see what is worth keeping, what should be weeded out, what treasures I may be missing. When the dust settles, I can see His light shining into every corner of my world. Priorities are reexamined, choices are reassessed, thoughts are taken captive, and God’s Word and voice come alive. 

• For more information and to register for the Cincinnati November 17-19 Refocus and Refuel Retreat: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel For men and women.

Too far from Cincinnati or can’t clear a weekend? Geography doesn’t stop us.

• For my friends Down Under: Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, I will be back in Australia and New Zealand in 2024. Interested in hosting a Refocus and Reuel Retreat, Day of Refreshing, Soul Care Retreat, other speaking, teaching, preaching, or ministry of any kind? Contact me and let’s see what God may have up His sleeve.

• Online Day of Refreshing! Yes, we miss the Days of Refreshing out among the woods and gardens of Oregonia. I know it’s not the same, but we will be having an online getaway soon. This means that men and women from anywhere—not just SW Ohio—can join us. Dates to be announced. Space is limited. Watch your email.

• Could you use some time in the Word and some encouragement to keep your head, heart, and hands following hard after God? Join us Tuesdays at 7:30pm ET for the Psalm One Bible Study. Join an encouraging, joyful community of men and women from all over the US and sometimes the other side of the planet. We are currently in Matthew and will begin a new book soon, but you are welcome to pop in anytime. To stay in the loop: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study

• I can’t do any of this without prayer support. If you would like to pray for Psalm One Ministries (and its director 😉), reply with “Prayer Team”. I need a team to listen, pray, and come along with me as God leads us.

May you find places to experience life-giving solitude, community, and ministry as we walk with Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Linda

Awesome. Not just some awe. Lots of awe.

I’ve been on a Prayer Pilgrimage…

What's a prayer pilgrimage? An extended, intentional, unhurried, uninterrupted time of prayer, contemplation on the Word, journaling, and resting at Jesus’s feet--preferably somewhere remote with more animals than humans. I occasionally need to be out of “ministry mode” for a prayer pilgrimage in order to be renewed for ministry.

“Silence your body to listen to words

Silence your tongue to listen to your thoughts

Silence your thoughts to listen to your heart beating

Silence your heart to listen to your spirit

Silence your spirit to listen to His spirit

In silence, you leave many to be with the One.”

Mama Maggie Gobran

This journey was in Alaska. Those of you who’ve been there know Alaska is stunning, spectacular, and larger than life. But I think the word that describes it for me is AWE.

We have diminished the word awe by calling everything awesome. Graeter’s ice cream is awesome (and it is). This shirt is awesome. That basketball game was awesome. Awesome parking space. Awesome new shampoo.

But genuine awe halts me when I see something that could only be the creation of God. I am immediately reminded that I am not in charge—and Someone else is. There is Someone far greater who sits on His throne, who is not forgetful, overwhelmed, or worried, or wringing his hands. As I wandered around Alaska with my Bible and journal, I was awestruck, stopped in my tracks by the work and presence of God. Moved to silence, stillness, tears, worship, confession, singing, celebration, even dancing (when no one could see me). Training to be attentive. To read about Jesus as I travel through His creation. To pour out my heart before God and record His whispers as I listen. To watch a bear by a stream or an enormous moose munching in the meadow. To befriend a 2500 pound stellar sea lion. To join the early morning bald eagles by the water. Everything points to a Creator and Redeemer. Everything points to the glory of God. This is what renews my soul. It leaves me in awe, being still and knowing that He is God.

Photography has become a powerful spiritual practice for me. Photos can never do justice to the splendor. Photos cannot capture the beauty of Alaska. But photography slows me down and helps me become attentive. I share photos with you in hopes that they might inspire awe, hope, joy, reverence, fun, smiles, beauty, and something of the reality of God.

These pilgrimages help bolster a genuine unshakable joy that gets me through the dark days, the hard times, the conflict, and splintering. I remember the moment on last year’s sabbatical when I looked in the mirror and realized the light had finally returned to my eyes. I have a lot of brothers and sisters right now whose light has been dimmed for so many different reasons. I want the light to return to our eyes. At the end of the sabbatical, I heard God saying the sabbatical is not over. Weave it into your life.

How do I keep following Jesus on this a long obedience in the same direction? Life can wear us down. This adventure was a spiritual shot in my arm, but life is not lived on the mountaintop. Walking with Jesus is 99% hidden, invisible, long-term, and ordinary. We need to build the things into our lives that will keep our heart alive no matter what hits it. I need rhythms and patterns of solitude, community, and ministry in my life. I personally need a prayer pilgrimage, a weekly Sabbath, spiritual practices that fuel my soul, and friends with whom I can discuss the deep things of God.

Do you want any of these woven into your life? Join me.

• Could your soul use some feeding? Some rest? Do you need to let the dust settle? Come away with me to a beautiful and quiet setting in Cincinnati for the September 22-24 for a Refocus and Refuel Retreat. For Men and Women. More info and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel  NOTE: I’ve been out of commission and running behind, so Early Bird pricing is extended until Monday, September 11th.

• Could you use some time in the Word and some encouragement to keep your head, heart, and hands following hard after God? Join us on Tuesdays: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study For Men and Women.

So grateful for my team on the prayer pilgrimage. Once again, thank you for coming along, for listening, and for praying.

Much love,

Linda

P.S. I am going to start selling some of my photos, so you will be able to hang one of your favorites on your wall. Let me know if you would like the details as soon as I get it set up.

My Alaskan friend warned me I might not see any wildlife at all. I only saw grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, goats, muskoxen, sandhill cranes, swans, beluga whales, harbor seals, orcas (Killer whales), bald eagles, stellar sea lions, tufted puffins, guillemots, willow ptarmigans, porcupines, horned puffins, cormorants, sea otters, humpback whales, Arctic ground squirrels, greater yellowlegs, and other assorted creatures.