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

Stop the world, I want to get off!

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:

  1. Where is my home?

  2. Who is my family?

  3. 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

 

 

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!

Musings from a Mermaid

Hello friends:

 

I’ve just returned from a few days underwater. I live very frugally so I can save up and head to the ocean. A place of wonder, worship, and freedom.

 

I have multiple health issues that leave me very weak, often in pain, and sometimes unable to do what the other kids do. I have to acknowledge and respect my limitations, but I muster every bit of strength to keep going. And going. And going.

 

I've had friends who have shamed me and blamed me for my illness and handicaps. I've been lectured for being too slow. I've had friends who have left me behind and gone on walking without me when I can't keep up. I've been told I don't trust God and I'm not willing to confess my sin in order to be healed. Because most of my handicaps are invisible, I'm sure many people think I'm just really lazy.

 

But I've had other friends who have shown me such grace and support. I've had total strangers give me a hand. I have families who have adopted me and made me feel so welcome and loved. I have an amazing support system of men and women who have gone above and beyond for me in so very many ways. I know the most incredible human beings who have gotten me through some very dark times. I have buddies who leave me laughing before and after surgery. I have a wonderful community of people around the world who offer a hand, bring meals, send cards, call to check on me, pray for me, send me chocolate and goofy gifts, and make me smile over and over. So many have given me a literal or figurative cup of cold water...

 

"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

 

I will never forget the words of a very kind man who was helping me after a flood damaged my condo. I kept apologizing, and he turned to me and said, "Linda, do you think we think less of you because you can't do this?"

 

(Yeah, I’m afraid sometimes I do...)

 

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

 

God continues to fling me around the planet. I hobble and struggle on land. But once I am in the water, I grow gills, fins, and a mermaid's tail--and I am free. I’m not a fast or elegant swimmer, but I am half fish. I can stay out in the open ocean for hours and hours, exploring and taking endless photos of God's indescribable, colorful, miraculous creation.

 

One day I will be free from any handicaps, pain, or limping. Occasionally God gives me a glimpse of the freedom that lies ahead. He brings Aaron and Hur (Exodus 17) along to hold my arms up in the battle. He brings kind and supportive friends who are willing to walk with me at my uneven pace. He reminds me that I am loved completely apart from anything I can or cannot do.

 

I'll never be in the Olympics, and I can't keep up with most people. But my goal is to walk at the pace of God. In a world that keeps speeding up, I provide opportunities to slow down, notice God, and hear that quiet voice say, “This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

 

Even with a limp. Even if we have to pause or go slow. Even if it hurts. May we learn to walk at the pace of God. And may we walk with one another in grace.

 

Much love,

Linda

 

  • My travel and ministry schedule varies over the next month or so, but we are still meeting for the Psalm One Bible Study. Keep an eye on your email since anything can happen when Goodtime Linda hits the road. For men and women! 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. Ink it in now to come along for this drink of cool water. November https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel

 

 

Soul Care Retreats

Free weekends never just appear. Block out the dates now to join us for one of these wonderful getaways!

  • 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.

 

Life is challenging. Don’t try to do this alone. We need one another!

psalm one ministries

- MASON, Ohio -