Hi friends:
Five years ago (has it really been that long?), my father was declining quickly in the devastating last stages of Alzheimer's. I was driving 200 miles round trip once or twice a week, helping my sister care for both aging parents. (We lost Mom at the end of 2020.) My whole life was compressed into two packed sections: Psalm One Ministries and the ministry of caring for my struggling parents. In the midst of some of the hardest days of my life (I know so many of you have been there), I heard God saying, "Come away with me." My first response was, "No way. I can't. Can't you see I'm totally overwhelmed with everything going on here?" But He kept calling, beckoning, inviting me away. To a remote place. To a place with more animals than people. To a place near the sea. To extended silence, uninterrupted companionship, and unhurried time at Jesus' feet. To a place where He and I could wander in prayer far away from the unrelenting stress, grief, and exhaustion of my life here.
Life has a way of reminding us that we are not in control. Our limitations, failures, and disappointments teach us that we are not all that and a bag of chips. Things happen every day that were never on my agenda. Some waves threaten to overwhelm us. Some of life is just incredibly painful no matter how you cut it.
I would not have survived 2018 without that prayer pilgrimage. God knows me intimately, and knows exactly what I need for the days ahead. I took another prayer pilgrimage in 2019 and planned another in 2020—which I will finally embark on in August. This has become a non-negotiable aspect of what I need to do the ministry. If I am going to invite others into solitude, silence, and life-giving renewal, I need to respond to that invitation myself. My ministry must flow out of a place of surrender if I am to pour out Jesus instead of Linda.
What have I learned through these prayer pilgrimages?
He is El Roi, the God Who Sees.
There is one Savior, and it is not me.
We can too easily become a ministry machine or an empty shell in the midst of a world full of urgent, loud, and conflicting demands.
God reigns in eternity, and He is fully capable of running the world without me for a while when I step away to sharpen the saw and let him do a few necessary renovations.
I serve an indescribably amazing God of extraordinary love, mercy, compassion, power, creativity, humor, rest, and power.
A prayer pilgrimage is not a vacation. I love fun getaways with friends, but this is intentional time alone with Jesus. It's not a holiday. It is a long obedience in the same direction. It is choosing extended silence and solitude, seeking God, and following Him as the dust settles in my life and I surrender to His open-heart surgery. It is filling all my tanks for the journey ahead. In many ways, it is a fast from all the scaffolding that is not God. It will most likely involve some dark nights of the soul, heart-rending loneliness, transforming work in the spirit, deep study, much-needed insights, indescribable joy, amazing encounters, exploding worship, divine appointments, and perhaps a few hilarious stories.
Please pray:
For travel logistics, safety on planes, trains, automobiles, boats, and especially out on the rugged road.
For provision. It's really expensive to travel alone, but that's kind of the point of all of this.
For my health. I have several limitations and chronic conditions that can be a challenge on the best of days, but especially thousands of miles away from home.
For meaningful and delightful encounters with people, animals, and especially with Jesus.
As some are aware, I know you should not approach wildlife, but wildlife doesn't know it should not approach me. I tend to have lots of close encounters of the animal kind. Pray for safety with whatever I encounter that may have fur, fins, flippers, feathers, or fangs. What could possibly go wrong in the wilds of Alaska?
For a few special photo ops as I wander with my camera, journal, and Bible. My good camera died on the sabbatical, so I have coughed up for a new one. Photography has become a powerful spiritual practice for me, and the photos may provide some joy to others.
As I trust God for His next marching orders. Where might He be calling me next? What open doors of ministry might He have for me? What invitations lie ahead? How can I share what He has given me? How might He use my teaching, writing, photography, discipleship, counseling, consulting, and connections?
That I will attentively listen to the Lord--that I will hear Him and obey.
On the road again…
Grace and peace,
Linda
I realize most of you are unable to pull away for an extended prayer pilgrimage like this. God is probably not calling you to do it. It may also sound absolutely horrible or so boring to some of you. Part of my goal is always to bring some of the lessons and treasures back to you vicariously through the Bible studies, retreats, soul care, speaking, teaching, writings, scripture pictures, and wacky "tales from the road". So please join us as with come alongside one another in this adventure of living in the Kingdom. All Psalm One events (except for pastors’ wives gatherings) are for men and women, lay and clergy, single and married, any age, anyone who desires to draw closer to Jesus.
Psalm One opportunities:
Ø Join us for your own mini prayer pilgrimage at the Refocus and Refuel Retreat. A semi-silent getaway for Men and Women. September 22-24 or November 17-19 in Cincinnati. (Spoiler alert for the Aussies and Kiwis: Lord willing, Down Under in 2024.) Your own room plus acres of beautiful creation to roam. Time, space, silence, teaching, spiritual direction, and rest as we respond to Jesus 's grand invitation of grace. Spending time at Jesus’ feet individually and together. Don't be intimidated if you've never done anything like this before. You will have materials, direction, and the encouragement of others who are seeking God with you. My prayer is always, “Lord meet us where we are and take us where we need to be.” For more information and to register: https://www.psalmone.org/refocus-and-refuel
“Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone amidst non-stop interruptions? It was so refreshing to have the opportunity to listen to God's speak through His Word without interruption and pour my heart out to Him in prayer! I came home feeling light at having given the burdens of my heart to the Lord!”
Ø Every Tuesday at 7:30pm ET: The Psalm One Bible Study. For Men and Women. We gather with friends from anywhere for Bible study, and the locals meet for dinner and fellowship. We are currently in Matthew, and you are always welcome to drop in. To stay in the loop to receive links and resources: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study
Ø Thursday night “Sisterhood of the Fishbowl” just for Pastors’ Wives. This group has been a joyful lifeline for so many. An oasis in the week where we can gather with friends, share our roller coaster lives, laugh quite a bit, and receive a spiritual boost. Thursdays, 7:30pm Eastern Standard Time. To stay in the loop for these online gatherings, resources, and encouragement, sign up at the top of this page: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives
Ø Soul Care Retreats just for Pastors’ Wives:
Life in the ministry is wonderful, weird, and sometimes very woolly. Come away to a fun and encouraging getaway with others who understand life on the front lines of ministry. Mark your calendars now to join us our next getaway.
Cincinnati, Ohio: February 9-11, 2024
Green Lake, Wisconsin: April 19-21, 2024
For more information and to register: Scroll down on https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives