Tag: confident living in Jesus

Dead and Buried- That is where my sins are! Thank you Jesus!

nofearlindaLeave a comment

This is one of my favorite promises that brings me great comfort. Micah 7:18-19

Where is another God like you,
    who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
    overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
    because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
    You will trample our sins under your feet
    and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Promise: God will pardon my sins and throw them into the deepest ocean.

Those who believe in Jesus are counted as God’s people. God has treated us with forgiveness, mercy, unending patience, and constant love. In His compassion He sent Jesus to atone for our sins so that through faith in Jesus we can be reconciled to Him and stand before Him forgiven. He has thrown my sins and yours into the depths of the sea out of sight and out of mind. Without God’s pardon, I would be sentenced to death for my sins. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” As I ponder this, I am reminded of Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” John 3:16-17 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” God loved me while I was a sinner and in His great love He sent Jesus so we could be reconciled to Him. He graciously pardoned my sins, buried them in the depth of the sea and does not hold them against me. Amazing! He is indeed compassionate and merciful.

What we can know from these verses: God forgives completely, God pardons us from the death sentence that sin carries, God is merciful and compassionate, sin angers God.

Lenten reflections: What sins do I need to confess so that God can remove them from me? Have I considered His loving forgiveness and the difference it is making in my life? Am I thankful?

Perhaps you can see why I love this promise so much. God took me, who is a sinner, and has forgiven me and will not hold those sins against me. He is filled with grace and mercy towards me which I do not deserve. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am forgiven and my sins are completely gone by God’s grace. I am pardoned completely.

Linda

Related verses: Colossians 1:13-14, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:23, Psalm 103:8, Proverbs 6:16-19.

Peace and Strength, Available from God

nofearlindaLeave a comment

What do you do when you are troubled? How do you find assurance and peace? In our chaotic world with wars, rumors of wars, famine, geopolitics and unsettling circumstances all around us, there seems to be no place with or for peace. David lived in such a time as he was pursued by his enemy King Saul for 10+ years. Saul was jealous of David and wanted him gone! David found peace in the assurances of the Lord and comfort from God’s faithful promise that he would be king. God held his future, and David leaned into and depended upon God.

Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
11 The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace.

Promise: God promises strength and peace to His people.

David knew that God was sovereign and in control of the world around him. He trusted him for his future and the circumstances of his life. He took God at his word that he would provide the strength David needed to face and oppose Saul, lead his people and fight the battles before him. What about your strength? Do you seem to run out of strength to face the hard things in your life? Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:19 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Christ is the source of all strength and He will provide. In Isaiah 40:29 God assures us, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” God is the source of all strength and it is to be ours through Jesus who gives us the strength we need. We need to ask Him for His strength when we are feeling weak. He will provide what we need to meet the challenges we face.

David also took God at his word and relied upon Him for peace. Not peace from his enemies, but internal peace knowing that all was in God’s hands and under His control. Do you know that peace? It transcends our world and is from within. Jesus spoke of this peace in John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Jesus knew we are prone to worry and would struggle with the circumstances of our lives. He did not want us to live in turmoil or to be afraid! Jesus wanted us to see his peace as a blessing to our lives. It is a blessing that provides hope and assurance and rest in Him.

What we can know from these verses: God our source of strength, God’s peace is a blessing to us when we receive it, God cares about me, God wants me to be secure and resting in His peace.

Lenten reflections: How am I doing at accepting and reflecting God’s peace in my life? Is He winning or am I succumbing to the pressures and worries of the world? Have I asked God to give me strength instead of trying to do all things on my own?

I pray that you will look to Jesus as the source of your strength and peace. He had promised to provide them both. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can trust Him to provide peace and strength in my life as He has promised!

Related verses: Isaiah 40:29, Philippians 4:19, 2 Timothy 4:17, John 14:27, Jon 16:33, Romans 5:1, Psalm 102:27-28, Psalm 62:1-2.

Linda

Here is the entire Psalm 29. Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
    honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
    The God of glory thunders.
    The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
    the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
    he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
    with bolts of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

10 The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
11 The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace.

Walking in Trust

nofearlinda1 Comment

Today’s promise comes from my favorite chapter of Romans, Romans 8:28. This is a verse to be claimed at all times, especially when you don’t understand what is happening. It can give you courage and backbone that comes directly from God.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Promise: God promises He can and does use (work) all things for the good of the believer.

This is a much quoted verse that give comfort to believers. When we face difficult circumstances such as: major problems, dire consequences, financial reversals, the death of a loved one, natural disasters or tragedies, it is only human nature to question God and say, Why me? Why did this have to happen? Why did you allow it God? The believer in Jesus can cling to this verse knowing that God keeps His promises and will bring good out of the circumstances for us and for His kingdom. Many times the good is evident right away and sometimes it is a long time coming or not evident at all in our lifetime. As believers we have to cling to this verse and claim its truth! We know God’s intent is always for our good and His glory. We have to trust Him knowing He is sovereign and His will absolutely will come to pass in His way. We need to hold on and have faith in our Heavenly Father.

What we can know from this verse: no circumstance is beyond God’s control, His intentions are good towards me, God has a special purpose for me as a believer and God’s ways are not our human ways and we have to trust Him with the past, present and future.

Lenten reflections – Am I harboring anger towards God about a situation that I need to seek His forgiveness? What am I facing today that I need to trust Him, knowing He has my best interest at heart?

Related verses: 2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalm 34:8, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, John 10:29, Acts 17:26, Ephesians 1:11-14, Philippians 2:12-13 and 2 Timothy 1:9-10.

I pray that this verse or one of these related verses will encourage your trust in God and that you may catch a glimpse of his plans for you. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, so that you can be assured of His love, care and plans for you and your future.

Linda

Lent 2025, Promises

nofearlindaLeave a comment

As I was praying about what to write on during our 6 week Lenten journey, God impressed upon me that He keeps His promises and not knowing His promises means you are are lacking something vital that God intends you to have! I decided to blog each day on a different promise that God has for us in His Word. The promises will come from both the Old and New Testament as He has been in the promise giving and keeping business since the beginning of creation.

In my book, Promises for Dynamic Living, I wrote the following in the forward. It seemed a very appropriate reminder of why we need to know and claim His promises. “In studying God’s promises I have seen a completeness to God’s Word and how He has woven it together to confirm, assure, and build us up to be the men and women He desires. His Word in us glorifies Him, and He longs for us to study and know Him. When I work with young people, I try to teach them that God’s Word, on the pages of our Bible, holds the same power as the spoken word of God, which brought the world into existence. There is power in His Word and He desires that we know His Word and claim it in our lives.

I am so encouraged because the depth of God’s promises span throughout the entire Bible. God’s promises are not just limited to those things given to us by Christ. God has been in the promise-making business from the very beginning of His relationship with man. He knows us and knows that we need assurance of who He is and what He will do in, and through our lives. I pray that you will find promises in both the Old and New Testaments to enrich your walk with the Lord and that it brings you assurance of His loving character. May His promises remove, any and all doubts you are experiencing. Claiming His promises in your life will dispel doubts and fear. It will lead you on the pathway towards assurance and HOPE in Christ.”

Are you feeling doubts about the future from the circumstances that surround you? Are you anxious about your finances or health issues? Studying God’s promises is guaranteed to reassure and uplift. If this is what you need. Join me for the next six weeks and be ready for joy and hope to invade your life!

Walking with His promises this Lenten Season!

Linda

3,000 New Believers, What now??

nofearlindaLeave a comment

What can we learn from the early days of the church? Peter’s speech at Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2. It was noted in verse 41 that 3,000 were baptized into their number that very day. What did they do to grow their faith both together and by themselves? How did they handle life after coming to know the Lord? Acts 2:42-43 gives us a glimpse into those early days filled with new believers. The Apostles had a preeminent place as they were the teachers. They had been with Jesus and taught filled with His Holy Spirit. They continued to perform miracles and the believers saw their faith in action. “ And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.” When it refers to breaking bread here, scholar suggest this refers to their practice of having communion which was demonstrated by Jesus in Luke 22:19-20.

Next we see that they were unified in spirit and action. They took care of one another seeing to each others needs. 2:44-45 “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” They let the joy of being with other believers spill over into their homes. 2:46-47 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” The result of sharing their lives and faith with one another and those they met was an increase in their numbers- people coming to know Jesus! The joy of Jesus was with them 24/7 and it produced results that glorified God.

What lessons can we take from these early believers?

  • Make sure that part of your day and week is spent with other believers learning more about Jesus.
  • Make it a habit to be in worship weekly, pray daily and study God’s Word.
  • Develop a heart for others and be open about giving to the needs of others.
  • Have others into your home with a generous heart.
  • Make it a habit to praise God often!

Are these easy? No! But looking to the early Christians and the Apostles as examples, we see the effects of their ministries. Without them, we would not be here as believers. Faith is to be lived and passed on! It is our commission from Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 “ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Be bold for Christ. e3He promised to be with us all the way!

Linda

Facing the World, Fearlessly!

nofearlinda1 Comment

How do you reconcile your actions with your faith? It is one thing to read the books of theology and yet another to put them into practice. Acts is a book that seeks to show us how the disciples approached the hostile world without Jesus personally with them and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. In Acts 1 Luke introduces himself as the writer and in 16:10 he reveals that he is seeing these things happen as a companion of the Apostle Paul.  “And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

In the first chapter Jesus is still with them and He gives them a command and commission before ascending into heaven. Acts 1:4-8 “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus wanted them to wait for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, not be concerned about future events and to focus on witnessing and telling others about Him.

How often do we not want to wait on the Lord’s timing? We are anxious and think we know best. Prayer and patience are needed in abundance as we walk with Jesus. How often are we anxious about the future, how events will turn out, or what we need to do to be prepared for them? Jesus says we are not to be concerned about the how and when and focus on Him. It is hard to remember at times that there are things that are for God to know and only Him. We need to trust He will tell us what we need to know and when we need to know it. Lastly, Jesus had a job for them to do. It is the same job He has for us which is witnessing and telling the world about Jesus’ love and redemption!

This wonderful passage ends with then seeing Jesus being taken into heaven and their confrontation with two men in white; angels with a timely message. Acts 1:9-11 “ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Are you still standing and waiting for Jesus to make things happen? We need to act upon what we know to be true. Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus will return and Jesus has a job for us to do while we are here. God wants us up and about doing His work in the world. We are to be his hands and feet, mouthpieces, bearers of hope and love to a hurting world. Pray about what God wants you to do today and step out in faith. He promises to go with you, Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” No Fear! God promises to be with us and He is greater than anything or anyone we will encounter in the hostile world.

Linda

No Worries, Delight in the Lord

nofearlindaLeave a comment

This week we will spend all week in Psalm 37. It is filled with rich promises from God that give us hope and direction for our lives. I devoted 3 days in my book, Promise for Dynamic Living, to this psalm. The psalmist, David, is addressing the fact that evil seems to be triumphant around us. He points us to the Lord and reminds us of who is in charge and why we should not fill our lives with worry.

Psalm 37:1-2 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb. Worry and envy are not to be in our hearts or on our minds when we consider the happenings in the world. The psalmist knows that evil doers will die and fade away like the spring grasses. They come up green but are short lived. They are soon brown and dried up. So the evil doers we encounter, will not be victorious and will not last.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. The psalmist says if we trust in God, do good, keep on living rightly, and delight ourselves in the Lord, we will be rewarded. That is a promise we can claim as we know God rewards those who follow Him in faith. Hebrews 11:1 and 6 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” God wants us to make faithfulness our friend and live daily for Him.

The promise in verse 4 is one we can surely claim in our daily lives and when we pray. I have often prayed this verse for friends who struggle with lifelong desires that do not seem to be in God’s will for their lives. Young men or women waiting for a godly mate (as they so want to be married), those who desire to have a child and cannot seem to conceive, others waiting on a much needed job, while still others struggle with the job they have, wanting to change directions, etc. These are just some of the things people wrestle with that may be considered the desires of their hearts. What I pray for those waiting on God’s timing and plan is that they will grow in trust and faithfulness. Also, that God would be their delight as they wait upon Him and that they would be able to call upon Him for strength and perseverance. I pray that they will be open to what God has for them.

Difficult times require me to delight myself in Him and cling to His faithfulness, trusting He has a perfect plan for my life. Sometimes that which we pray for as the ‘desires of our hearts’ God shows us, in His infinite wisdom, that He has something better for me. Again, I have to trust in Him and His wisdom. God knows me and my desires and He wants good things for me. I have to claim Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Whatever God has for me will be for my good and His glory. It is a walk of faith, day by day Fearless Living for Jesus.

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can walk in complete faith trusting in the completeness of His salvation and His plans for our life. Romans 10:13 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” Hebrews 10:10 “And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Depend upon Him and the truth of His Word.

Linda

Prayer to Accessible God

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Psalm 27 comes straight out of David’s heart. He is concerned about what is happening around and to him but David remains confident in the Lord. He knows God is in control and no matter what He will be with Him in heaven. David is taking the long view of life and down the tunnel of time he sees God and knows without a shadow of a doubt that God will be there for Him. May we all ‘catch’ his view.

He begin with verses 1-3 with his high view of God and ends the psalm with confidence!

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
    when my enemies and foes attack me,
    they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

David seeks heaven as He knows he will be safe and loved there. verses 4-6 The one thing I ask of the Lord—    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
    above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
    singing and praising the Lord with music.

In verses 7-10 David pleads with the Lord to hear him as he prays-Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
    Be merciful and answer me! In verses 11-13 David asks the Lord to teach, guide and protect him. Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
    For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
    with every breath they threaten me with violence.

David concludes with a return to full confidence in verses 13 and 14.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
    while I am here in the land of the living. 14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

How much our prayers resemble David’s psalm. We begin praising God, knowing He is real and will answer, then petition Him and as we pull up the happenings of the world we get mired down. By the time we have finished pouring our heart out to God, we realize that He is in control and we will be victorious in Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can pour out my heart knowing the Holy Spirit will intercede for me before the Father. Romans 8:26-27 “ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” We can truly pray with confidence and hope waiting patiently for His response.

Linda

Keeping Eternal Pleasures in Mind

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today we are looking at the remainder of Psalm 16 verses 7-11. I read this in various translations but I really felt the Message was the most direct.

The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. Do you ever go to bed with a problem and think you’ll sleep on it and maybe in the morning you will know your mind and decided what to do? The psalmist is identifying with this, saying God is directing him during the day and then confirms his directions while he sleeps. So night and day, God is his guiding light. I find this both comforting and encouraging and it reaffirms Deuteronomy 31:6 “ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” That means God is with us day and night!

9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination! David, the psalmist, was convinced that God had his eternity secure and that he had a heavenly home with God. His faith in God had cancelled his sin and assured him of a heavenly home. We can be assured of this too as faith in Christ and his work on the cross confirms our gift of eternal life with Him. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way. David knows his pathway is assured and it is lifelong. He is on the right pathway in life walking hand and hand with God.

We too can say we have a heavenly home, God is our light and guide, and we do not need to fear death and punishment in Hell. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of life eternal and walking with him day by day. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Looking for God’s Pleasant Lines

nofearlindaLeave a comment

I plan to take Psalm 16 in two pieces. Today verses 1-6 and tomorrow the remainder of the psalm. Psalm 16 has one of my favorite verses,6, which holds a very dear promise.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

Jesus said this too in John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Without Christ me can accomplish nothing with eternal value.

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight. 4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips. Are you seeking to please God and be his delight or are you chasing after other gods? 2 Corinthians 1:19-21 “ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,” Christ is the answer all else leads to No’s.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

Can you say this promise is true for your life? Do you see lines drawn in places, relationships, jobs, etc. that were of God’s making? What would be a pleasant place for you? Does it involve a beautiful climate? Does it have perfect relationships? Is it driven with excellent purpose? All of those can be said of the Christian life. Our climate is with Him. His Holy Spirit indwells us and can and will work in all our relationship and jobs. What of our inheritance? Ephesians 1:13-14 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Our purpose it to glorify God as David expresses in Psalm 86:12 “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” We also have a commission from the Lord Jesus given in Matthew 28:19-20  “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Glory is the sum total of all God’s attributes. So showing mercy, compassion, love, humility, patience, hope, etc. in His name brings Him glory. Telling other about Jesus also brings Him glory.

So, if following Jesus is your chosen ‘cup’ as the psalmist says, then look for God’s lines to be drawn in pleasant places in your life now and into the future! Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can be assured of pleasant lines of God in our lives. Thank you Jesus.

Linda