This month we are in a series called Sabbath Invitation. We will be looking at Sabbath through the story of the crippled woman found in Luke 13:10-17. This week, our Sabbath invitation is Connection.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: Jesus we thank you

Exhale: For seeing us

Opening Prayer

Gracious God,

We come today asking to be seen

Not for what we have done

Or what we have failed to do

But because you already see us

Through the eyes of love

Speak to us

Touch us

And make us whole

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Text

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. —Luke 13:12-13

Key Takeaways

Through the crippled woman's story we learn:

Jesus saw her, even though nothing in the text suggests she saw him first. Jesus spoke to her, and his word broke her stronghold. Jesus touched her, and his touch healed her body.

She may not have known Jesus was even there. But he saw her. And when Jesus sees us, everything changes.

No matter what stronghold we carry, God sees us one way — through the eyes of love.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

This month we are in a series called, Sabbath Invitation. We will be looking at Sabbath through the story of the crippled women found in Luke 13:10-17. This week, our sabbath invitation is Unburden.

Breath Prayer

Inhale: God I come to you

Exhale: With all I am carrying

Opening Prayer

Gracious God,

We come today with all our burdens

Those we’ve been carrying for a little while

And those we have been carrying so long

They have become part of us

Help us to hear your voice

And learn to unburdened those things

That come between where we are and where you desire we be

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Text

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. -Luke 13:10-11

Key Takeaways

Through the crippled woman story we learn:

Strongholds skew our posture.

Strongholds skew our perspective.

Strongholds skew our progress.

Although her life was skewed by an 18-year stronghold, she was not without hope. She showed up at the synagogue. She may not have even notice Jesus’ feet. She may not have been like the woman with the issue of blood, straining to touch the hem of his garment. She may not have been like Mary, getting her healing at the feet of Jesus. She may have just seen another pair of feet like all the other feet she had seen in the past 18 years. She may have missed Jesus sitting right there in her presence. She was in the presence of God and probably didn’t know it. However, she showed up.

Sometimes, that is all we can do - come to the place of worship. Sometimes, we can only get to our position to serve or get to our favorite pew. Sometimes, all we can do is come. Sometimes, all we can do is show up.

Guess what, sometimes, that is all God needs - for us to shuffle along until we show up where he needs us to show up.

SoulWork

Consider the following questions during your quiet time or in your journaling.

What stronghold have been carrying?

How has that stronghold skewed your posture, perspective, and or vision?

Where is God asking you to show up?

What would life look like if you showed up where God is waiting?

SoulWork for Writers

As one called to serve others through writing, sit with your answers to our SoulWork questions.

Then, ask, what can you say to encourage you audience to address their strongholds.

Don’t worry about the final product, just allow God to speak to you on their behalf through your writing.

Then, when you are led, shape the message into a final form - blog post, word of proclamation, book, etc.

Then, when you are led, share the message.

Closing Blessing Prayer

May you always be aware of God’s presence and goodness.

May you never forget God’s faithfulness.

May you trust in the God who loves you and longs to lift the burdens you carry.

May your heart stay connected to the one who grace is greater than any stronghold

May you ever see your lift through the lens of God’s love.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.

e91 Echoing Silence: Resting

As you move through this week,

notice where you are still striving.

Not in the obvious places —

but in the quiet ones.

The way you measure your prayer time.

The way you evaluate your stillness.

The way you turn even rest into something to get right.

We are not a resting people.

And that restlessness follows us

even into the presence of God.

But rest — true rest —

is not something we achieve.

It is something we receive.

It is the posture of a soul

that has stopped needing to be in control.

Not because everything is resolved,

but because the One who holds all things

is trustworthy.

This month, we have entered.

We have dwelled. We have listened.

Now, we simply rest.

We let the silence hold us.

We trust that our open hands

are their own kind of prayer.

A PRAYER TO CARRY

God of rest, I release what I have been carrying — the striving, the measuring, the need to get this right. Hold me. That is enough. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper: Notes for the Journey

If you desire to go deeper this week, I invite you to join my newsletter, Notes for the Journey. Subscribers receive additional resources—guided reflections, Scripture, and practices that are not shared on the podcast or in these notes. It’s a quiet space to continue this work with God, slowly and prayerfully, throughout the week.

[Join here]

If you’d like to help sustain this work, you’re welcome to support it here.

Disclaimer: The content shared on the SoulWork Sanctuary podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only. While I am an ordained minister and trained spiritual director, I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. This podcast does not provide medical or mental health advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional care. Please seek support from a qualified provider if needed.