Rest, Refresh, Refuel, Refocus, Reboot, and Return.

Psalm One is doing a bit of remodeling in 2022. We’ve all had to adjust, re-calibrate, and retool a bit through the non-stop roller coasters of the last few years, haven’t we? Flex and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to flex and obey.

 

March marks 23 years of Psalm One Ministries. God has opened doors to serve far more than we could have ever imagined around Ohio, across the world, and through a pandemic. He is continuing to use us in strategic ministry, so I need a retreat myself before I lead the next batch of retreats!

 

In April, I am heading on an extended sabbatical, then continuing the ministry of Psalm One. Same Psalm One you’ve always known, just a new “back office”. Psalm One remains unchanged.

 

Sabbatical?

 

Why do you need a sabbatical?

  • After 40 years of uninterrupted full-time ministry, I need an extended break before shifting to the next chapter of ministry. I need a furlough, but I have no desire to quit. I want to draw away with the Lord before returning to hands-on ministry with renewed insight, vigor, and strength. Jesus is my model in this. If He needed to pull away with the Father, how much more do I? I don’t think God is finished with me, so I want to pour out of a full cup again.

  • When most people think of a sabbatical, it is often for the purpose of writing a book, continued education, or a special project. A pastoral sabbatical is about rest, refueling, and renewal. I need an extended prayer pilgrimage with time in the Word, in creation, and at Jesus’ feet. I need time to read and study. I need to have my heart, soul, mind, spirit, and body restored by God.

  • This is what I teach. This is what I must do. Half of my ministry is coaching how to integrate sabbath into our lives so we keep our hearts alive toward God and don’t burn out in ministry. How can I teach others if I am a burned-out shell?

  • The last few stressful, toxic, and combative years of upheaval have taken a big toll on my soul, and covid has taken a big toll on my health. I’ve weathered two bouts of covid and am still trying to heal from long haul covid.

  • I cared for two aging and ailing parents 100 miles away for 9 years, then lost both my parents within two years. I’m so thankful to have been able to be there, but it depleted me.

  • I want to combine my ministry, writing, travel experiences, photography, and whatever else God gives me in ways that bless, inspire, teach, and encourage people.

 

Where are you going?

I already have a couple of options, but I plan to be in several locations along the way. Does anyone know of anyplace affordable I could rent? Private, quiet, remote. Somewhere I can be alone to wander with my Bible, journal, and camera. Prayer, study, writing, photography. Ocean, shoreline, island, ocean, mountains, woods, lake, or ocean. Cottage, condo, cabin, crib, cow shed. Preferably most of my neighbors would have fur, fins, feathers, flippers, or even fangs. Willing to consider anywhere in the world (I get around), but well aware that border and travel restrictions could change at any point. Email or call me as soon as possible if you have any ideas.

 

How will you pay for this?

I will be using my savings and donations from people who want to support this prayer pilgrimage. Have you been encouraged, strengthened or blessed through my ministry? I would be honored if you would consider investing in this sabbatical. https://www.psalmone.org/donate

 

Be sure to choose sabbatical from the drop-down screen or otherwise indicate. Checks should be made out to Psalm One Ministries and mailed to the address below. Note the new P.O. Box. Please do not send mail to old PO Box and Oregonia address.  We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization so all contributions are tax deductible. Do not put my name on the check.

 

How can I pray?

I need a team of faithful people who will travel with me (vicariously—do not start packing) and pray for my time with Jesus, my safety, all the logistics. In return, you will be blessed and possibly entertained by occasional emails from the road, which might include wacky stories of weird adventures, divine appointments, whispers from God, and a photo or two. If you are willing to pray, reply with Sabbatical Prayer Team.

 

After the sabbatical, Psalm One will continue as always with:

  • Bible teaching

  • Christ-centered, Biblically based spiritual formation

  • Soul care retreats

  • Refocus and refuel retreats

  • Care, consulting, counseling, equipping, and encouraging ministry families

 

Psalm One Ministries depends upon faithful people to invest in our ongoing ministry. We are still receiving donations to continue our work—and especially so I can hit the ground running once I return from my time away.

 

In the meantime, I am still here and available through March.

 

Pray for a seamless transition. Change is never easy. But we know God will to continue to use Psalm One. He will finish the work he has begun in us as we flex and obey.

 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

 

Thanks for listening and praying,

Grace and peace,

Linda

Merry Christmas from Linda and Psalm One Ministries

A Psalm of Christmas

 

Our

Savior

Lord Jesus,

Master, Teacher,

We love this season of light.

We treasure the joyful traditions.

Decorations, celebrations, carols, and cookies.

Precious time with friends and family.

Concerts and dinners and candlelight services.

Music and gifts and fun and whimsy.

Beautiful reminders of Christmases past.

But Lord, it’s been a long, challenging season.

Weeks turned into months. Months turned into years.

Distance, separation, illness, loss, conflict, divisions,

Broken relationships, confusion, anger, tears, exhaustion.

Battling sickness. Missing loved ones who have passed.

Wondering if whatever we recognize as normal will return.

We’re tired. So tired. We’re frustrated. We want it all to stop.

For this we need Jesus, and for this, we have Jesus.

You do not change. You are the same yesterday and today and forever.

You are El Roi, the God Who Sees. You are I am. God Almighty.

You are the suffering servant who wept at Mary’s tears.

You are the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ who will shepherd us.

We don’t have to handle life, death, and the messy bits in between on our own.

We live in the miraculous reality of Immanuel, God with us. Christ in us, the hope of glory.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will

rest on His shoulders. The broad and strong and sovereign shoulders of God Only Wise.

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

We celebrate the Word becoming Flesh. We dance in joy with the Trinity.

Glory.

Selah.

 

So grateful for each

and every one of you

With much love, Linda

 

 

 

Be Still. Be Loved.

I’ve just returned from the first Psalm One Refocus and Refuel Retreat since March 2020. It was a lavish treasure from above. I love teaching and leading these getaways. Maybe someday I can do one with you.

 

I often say my job description is to put your hand in the hand of Jesus and get out of the way. My prayer at a retreat like this is always, “Lord, meet us where we are and take us where we need to be.”

 

We shared reminders of God's love and truth, gifts, good food, camaraderie, discussions around the fireplace, creativity, safety, trust, manatees, chocolate and homemade cinnamon rolls, wisdom, the Word, coffee or tea in our pajamas, healing silence, prayer, peace, joy, a boy, a mole, a fox, a horse, and most of all, time in silence at the feet of Jesus. A few needed tears, or “liquid prayers” as one person describes them. Lots and lots of laughter. Hilarity is good for the soul.

 

We arrive, begin the dial-down, and lay our busy lives, jumbled minds, and scattered hearts before God. Then we seek the Lord alone together. That's not a contradiction in terms. That's a wonderful game plan. “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12)

 

We had a whole new experience of Psalm 46 and 62. We journal page after page, as thoughts, burdens, and dreams flowed out of our pens that we didn’t realize were in our heads. God gives each person something so unique and powerful. We prepare our souls, then leave the agenda up to God. His theme came out loud and clear: Be My Beloved Daughter. Be My Beloved Son. Beloved. Be. Loved. Being grounded in being loved by the Beloved.

 

“The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.’” (Jeremiah 31:3)

 

Beloved.

Be. Loved.

 

Be still and know that He is God.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Be.

 

After almost two exhausting years, one song kept echoing in my head:

 

    There is a balm in Gilead

    To make the wounded whole.

    There is a balm in Gilead

    To heal the sin-sick soul.

 

    Sometimes I feel discouraged,

    And think my work’s in vain,

    But then the Holy Spirit

    Revives my soul again.

 

For this we need Jesus. And for this we have Jesus. Jesus has placed us in His Body of fellow believers. May you find a community where you can seek God alone together. May the power and blessing of these vertical and the horizontal relationships transform us as we walk with the Trinity.

 

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:8-12)

 

Giving thanks for each of you this week.

 

Much love,

Linda

psalm one ministries

- MASON, Ohio -