Hi friends:
Have you ever felt like “Stop the world, I want to get off!”?
Yikes. So much turmoil and conflict around us. So many people hurting on so many levels. So many people lashing out at others. So much angst and grief.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed. I can’t meet all these needs. Nor was I meant to. There is one Savior and it is not me. But we are all called to do what I can to lift up one another, especially now.
We need each other. But the Church is more splintered than ever in my memory. Christians are so far apart in so many ways. With so many ways to connect, we are more isolated and lonely than ever before.
Check on your friends. We are not okay.
For the last couple of years I have been wrestling with three questions:
Where is my home?
Who is my family?
What is my voice?
The most important is #3. What is my voice in the midst of this fractured world? I long to be able to say, "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given ME to do.” (John 17:4). What is MY assignment? What is yours? I believe mine is:
To point to Jesus.
To teach the Word.
To love people.
To be attentive enough to notice God at work.
To share beauty, humor, joy, adventure, encouragement, and challenge.
To be a sounding board for those who are struggling with faith and the Church.
To help people see, experience, and follow Jesus.
That's what God has called me to do. Through teaching, speaking, discipleship, consulting, counseling, but also through divine appointments, photography, stories, travel, prayer pilgrimages, and interactions with people around the globe. People have invisible antennas out, wondering, "Is there anything real? Does genuine love exist? How can I trust anyone? Who is Jesus? What constitutes genuine Christianity?"
I am most definitely in process. I have definitely not arrived. But I believe that people are hungry for genuine, transformative, humble, transparent faith.
A large part of my ministry right now is helping Christians hold on to their faith who are looking around and feeling very spiritually homeless. Pastors who are caught in the crossfire of screaming demands from opposite camps. People who are honestly searching and saying, “I believe, help me in my unbelief.” People who want to hold on to Jesus but are profoundly appalled and disappointed in much of what they observe. Being a sounding board for people who are trying to hold on when it seems like the world has lost its mind.
The only way I can point people to Jesus is to observe Jesus, His relationships, priorities, and patterns.
When we read the Gospels, it sometimes looks like Jesus continually trying to break away and be alone with His Father, and the disciples and others keep dragging Him back into the mess:
“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, ‘Everyone is looking for You.’" “Is your phone actually on silent? You haven’t replied to any of our texts! You haven’t updated your Facebook status today. Didn’t you see my Instagram post on Messenger? Why haven’t you left anything in the WhatsApp string? I left a Post-it note on your Bible!”
(Mark 1:35-37, plus my slight embellishments)
If Jesus needed to pull away to be with the Father, how much more do I?
It's not that we run away and never return. (Although I am often tempted…) It's that we pull away intentionally
to have our minds renewed and
to have our hearts softened and
to have our tanks filled and
to be filled with the Holy Spirit who is often very, very different than my spirit.
to return to a world that needs God, with my soul hopefully more full of Jesus than of Linda.
To follow His cycle of solitude, community, ministry… To pull away for five minutes, an hour, an evening, or a weekend to let the dust settle and to re-surface with renewed vision and energy. To deeply connect with others who listen and lift us, and help us understand and walk with Jesus. To reach out in any way God calls us to love and serve people. Then to pull away to be refueled again. Repeat.
That’s why I do what I do in Psalm One Ministries. My voice has not changed in 40 years of ministry. (Am I really that old????)
“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)
Much love,
Linda
Come along with us to learn the unforced rhythms of grace: solitude, community, and ministry:
Whether you live in Cincinnati or the middle of nowhere, please 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 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
Pastors' Wives are some of the most incredible people I know. But where can you share the unique stressors of life in the fish bowl of ministry? https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives
Soul Care Retreats just for Ministry Wives no matter how many hats you wear:
Free weekends never just appear. Block out the dates now to join us for one of these wonderful getaways! 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
Once a year is not enough? Join us Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time for laughter, prayer, encouragement, and a supportive community of women who know life in the ministry.
For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives
Life is challenging. Don’t try to do this alone. We need one another!