Kinda like a Whack-A-Mole

How shall I describe 2020? “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” (William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18)

 

Hardly!

 

What words come to mind as you reflect on life since March? So many loaded words and phrases…

  • Surreal

  • Bizarre

  • Chaotic

  • Weary

  • Relentless

  • Struggle

  • Conflict

  • Upheaval

  • Whack-a-mole (Thanks, Becky D)

  • Should-have-beens (Thanks, Becky L)

  • Jackhammer of uncertainty (Brian Morykon)

  • Burning dumpster

  • Exhaustion

  • Endless debates

  • Roller coaster (as a noun and verb)

  • Toxicity

  • Conspiracy

  • Political venom

  • Murder hornets (Did I miss those or did we dodge that one bullet?)

 

And the terms we’re all sick of hearing…

  • Unprecedented

  • Lock-down

  • Social distance

  • Masks

 

My favorite word is British slang (originally from the TV show “The Thick of It”, well known for other words that I cannot print here): omnishambles, “a term for a situation of total disorder.” Isn’t omnishambles a great descriptor?

 

Many people would vote for Allstate’s ever-present advertising character Mayhem for “Person of the Year”. In general, this is a year that has not sparked joy for most of us.

 

How would you describe your 2020? As I talk to people, responses range from “I’m fine. My life hasn’t changed much.” to “Torture. This is the worst year of my life”. It’s been a year with a lot of grief. Everyone has lost something, from vacations, weddings, family gatherings to relationships and hugs to income, jobs, businesses, health, and loved ones.

 

We have unprecedented opportunities in 2020 to live like the body of Christ. Are we doing it? We have endless open doors to use our fish and loaves to relieve suffering. We have unique windows to witness to the love, sovereignty, and transformation of Jesus. Get creative. Use what you have to lift one another up. A dear woman said today, “This is a time for acts of kindness, for generosity, for doing what each of us can to soften the blows that just keep coming. Send a letter or a text, leave apples on a doorstep, do whatever small & large things you can do to make this mad season feel a little softer.”

 

I find I must live out a “gap plan” to maintain my priorities, my sanity (such as it is), and my walk with God. If we are not intentional about our spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and relational health, 2020 will crush us. What is your plan for soul care? What are the priorities you need in this challenging time? What is your diet of spiritual feeding? For example, the non-negotiable elements I need right now:

  1. Sleep/Rest/sabbath

  2. Beauty/creativity/creation/four-legged therapy (including photography as a spiritual exercise for me and a ministry to others)

  3. Laughter/joy/play

  4. Tears (Sunday is Crying Day with mini-meltdowns as needed through the week)

  5. Exercise/Swimming/Walking/Moving your body

  6. Unhurried time with God (plus taking advantage of the incredible content through sermons, books, podcasts, websites, apps, webinars, classes, online retreats, etc. available right now)

 

As we reluctantly head into winter on this side of the globe, how do we remember the sovereignty of the Almighty? How can we find stability in Jesus Christ who is the same, yesterday, today, and forever? What does it mean to rest in the strong and unshakeable Kingdom of God?

 

We need one another more than ever. We need those horizontal connections with brothers and sisters as well as that vertical security in Christ. Depending on your location, weather, facilities, and demographics, it may or may not be safe to resume meetings face-to-face. I am very high risk with lung damage and I am also caring for a vulnerable 90 year old mother. As much as I would love to gather people in person for hugs and chocolate chip cookies, I am only able to meet virtually. But thank God for technology. Psalm One Ministries has not shut its doors. Far from it! God is working overtime in the lives of people across the world.

 

Tuesday Bible Study (for men and women): Now, no matter where you live, you can come to the Psalm One gathering for support, encouragement, life-giving tools, and time together seeking the Lord. You don’t have to live in Ohio. This is for men and women, lay and clergy, married and single, any church, anyone who can join us at Tuesday nights at 7:30pm EDT (that’s Wednesday morning for some of you!). We are currently in the Prison Epistles. Seems appropriate for 2020 as Paul distills his message down to the core of what it means to follow Christ in any circumstances. Anyone is welcome, whether you are there every week or once in a blue moon. Sign up to receive the Zoom link and stay in the loop: https://www.psalmone.org/tuesday-night-bible-study 

 

Retreats: We are praying to be able to resume Days of Refreshing and Refocus and Refuel Retreats, but it is not possible yet. Due to multiple roadblocks, we are so sad to cancel our beloved Soul Care Retreats for pastors’ wives for February 2021. Please pray we will be able to gather safely very soon.

 

Pastors’ Wives: In the meantime, pastors’ wives continue to meet with authentic friends who understand life in the ministry. The Sisterhood of the Fishbowl is having a wonderful time together Thursday nights at 7:30pm EDT. Such a great group. No risk, no travel, no cost, no slippery roads, from the comfort of your own home, Covid hair and pajamas welcome! We are currently learning and practicing tools to jump-start our spiritual lives and strengthen our walk with Jesus. We are always glad to see you whether pop in once or are there every week. Pastors’ wives are invited to sign up to receive the Zoom link and stay in the loop: https://www.psalmone.org/pastors-wives   

 

Thank you so much to those who have continued to invest in Psalm One! As you can imagine, our giving is down. If you have been blessed, strengthened, or encouraged by Psalm One, I invite you to keep us going with your prayers, gifts, and donations. To invest in the ongoing work of Psalm One: https://www.psalmone.org/donate

 

Please continue to pray for us as we continue to encourage and challenge believers to follow hard after Jesus with our head, heart, and hands. He is still on His throne and our security is in Christ.

 

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,

But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,

And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"

Says the LORD who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

 

Much love,

Linda

 

 

We’ve never done it this way before.

It has been said the seven last words of a dying church are “We’ve never done it that way before”.

 

Well, 2020 has certainly knocked us out of that complacency. Most of us have had no choice but to do Church a different way. This varies drastically depending on where you are in the world, local demographics, current stats in your area, at-risk participants, and other factors. Things seem to change daily, and everyone has a different viewpoint depending on what you experience, where you live, whose opinion you trust, what you read, and which news you watch. Many of us thought, “We can stay at home for two weeks. I need to catch up on Netflix anyway. No problem!” But in much of the world, weeks have turned to months, and God alone knows how things will continue to unfold, along with all the answers to so many tough questions.

 

God has taken our training wheels off, and now we'll see if we can ride this bicycle without quite as much assistance. We are officially kicked out of our Comfort Zone.

 

As hard as it is, I see good things coming out of this. We have to acknowledge and care for the weakest among us. It’s not all about me. We have to be intentional to connect. We have to make wise choices to care for our souls.

 

There are incredibly good resources online. I'm being encouraged and strengthened by outstanding content being made available affordably and conveniently. Sermons, webinars, podcasts, audiobooks, online retreats, virtual learning, so much great input.

 

God keeps opening doors for ministry. He is not quarantined. We are no longer limited by location. Men and women are coming to our Tuesday night Bible study from Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Canada, and Australia. I am able to bring pastors’ wives together on Thursdays for soul care from across the US and other countries with without travel, risk, cost, or concerns about weather conditions. And we can do it all on our couch in our pajamas!

 

It's all I can offer personally right now since I’m very high risk and caring for a 90-year-old mother. Through Psalm One Ministries, we are trying to put teaching, training, and tools in the hands of men and women who are struggling to handle the challenges of 2020 in a way that honors Christ.

 

It's hard. We're all grieving. We’ve all lost something. It's not the same. The cancelations are so disappointing. The restrictions are incredibly frustrating. I am so eager for our next Day of Refreshing or Refocus and Refuel Retreat. I hope we can be together soon, face-to-face, freely interacting, hugging, laughing, connecting without any obnoxious masks or intimidating concerns over safety. But for right now, many of us have to love and support one another from afar.

 

I am reminded of a wonderful but long-distance boyfriend. Even though it was hard we had to learn to express our care for each other in a physically-distant way. Many of us still must socially distance. How do we do fellowship in 2020? Get creative. Do what you can. Look for the good. What loaves and fishes can I offer to come alongside others?

 

I keep a running list of people as God brings them to mind. Then I contact them. Call me a dinosaur, but I actually use a telephone to make a voice call. Crazy, I know. Inevitably either they need to talk with me, or I need to hear from them. We must keep seeking God on a vertical level, but we also need to keep seeking connection with one another on a horizontal level.

 

I’ve been helping people come up with a “Gap Plan” to help us “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30), then to love your neighbor as yourself.

 

My own Gap Plan (non-negotiables to keep my heart alive in 2020):

  • Sleep/Rest/sabbath

  • Beauty/creativity/creation/four-legged therapy (Photography as a spiritual exercise for me and a ministry to others)

  • Laughter/joy/play (Rummikub and Ruminations with friends across the globe)

  • Tears/Lament/Unloading (Sunday is Crying Day with mini-meltdowns as needed through the week)

  • Swimming/exercise/exploring

  • Unhurried time with God (plus taking advantage of the incredible content through sermons, books, podcasts, websites, apps, webinars, classes, online retreats, etc. available right now)

 

Please pray for those in ministry. We are making some exceedingly difficult choices. We are coming alongside faithful, wonderful, beloved people who are grieving, fearful, angry, disappointed, lonely, isolated, frustrated, anxious, depressed, antsy, and weary. Everyone has opinions. Most are being incredibly gracious, kind, patient, helpful, understanding, and supportive. Some are impatient, judgmental, and downright combative. We have had to disappoint a lot of people. Some have been heartbroken. Some have been angry. Others have been so happy and appreciative to be together without having to second-guess their risk factor. The pastors I interact with are deeply concerned about the flocks they love. And most are exhausted. Pray for us.

 

Figure out your own Gap Plan as we take the next step in this “long obedience in the same direction.” Praying for you!

 

Much love,

Linda

 

 

 

 

2020. What a year.

2020. What a year. And we’re only halway through! We are living in a time with more questions than answers. We are wrestling with multiple levels of confusion, and conflict. Some of us are struggling with isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, anger, and fear. We are all weary. We are all tired of the holding pattern, uncertainty, precautions, restrictions, and best guesses. We are all antsy to return to normal (whatever that means). Can I get an amen?

 

Life looks quite different across the world depending upon your geography, demographics, family situation, and personal dynamics. I have a wide range of friends way to the left and way to the right, ideologically, theologically, and politically. I have been heartbroken by the ugly, judgmental, divisive comments lobbed like grenades from all sides at those who disagree. There are no easy answers in 2020. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to all of our issues.

 

My soul keeps repeating: “From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

 

My mind keeps repeating three counter-cultural words: Listen, Peace, Contentment.

 

  • Listen. I can love you and listen to you whether or not we see things the same way. I don’t have to agree in order to listen and love. Listening carefully and respectfully does not equal agreement nor approval. But I will always learn something from listening. My world view is limited. As a wise friend says, “My perspective is always limited. It’s just a matter of where and to what extent.” We don’t know the battles and obstacles people are facing behind their doors. Being heard, truly heard is a powerful, precious gift we can extend to others. No matter what. Listen.

 

  • Peace. The peace of God is always a valid goal. Peace does not mean circumstances are wonderful. Peace does not mean inaction. Peace does not mean exemption from suffering. Peace does not mean unicorns and rainbows. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27) Surpasses all comprehension. Not as the world gives. Have you ever experienced the peace of God in the midst of circumstances that were anything but peaceful? God offers a supernatural, unshakable, inexplicable peace in the middle of our darkest hours, a “hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast”. (Hebrews 6:19)

 

  • Contentment. 2020 has not panned out the way I would like. How about you and your plans? Had any cancellations, disappointments, adjustments in your schedule? Few verses are taken out of context and misused more than Philippians 4:13—"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Back up a little. Look at the context: “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (Philippians 4:11-12) 4:13 is not a name-it-and-claim-it ticket to be Superman or Wonder Woman. It is about learning the secret of choosing to be content. Even when my plans are crushed. Even when I can’t do the things I wanted, see the people I love, or even live life the way I enjoy. Tough lesson. I’m definitely still learning this one.

 

I must continually choose this posture:

O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;

Nor do I involve myself in great matters,

Or in things too difficult for me.

Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;

Like a weaned child rests against his mother,

My soul is like a weaned child within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD

From this time forth and forever.

Psalm 131

 

Praying for all of us as we learn to take each step through the uncertainty, upheaval, and landmines in watchful obedience to the sovereign God of Eternity.

 

Grace and Peace,

Linda

 

psalm one ministries

- MASON, Ohio -