The Blessed Soul

Step Away

I sat there listening to their words, 

But I was unable to hear a singe word they were saying. 

It was like - even though I was physically present, My soul had left me. 

One burden, stacked on top of another burden, stacked on another, and another, and yet another 

Left me feeling numb, tired, broken, and even lifeless. 

And yet, I was there to give them answers. 

So as I tried to listen, 

My spirit had given up. 

I couldn’t muster any more emotion. No words of encouragement, no spiritual insights, just empty - blank stares. 

I would have stopped and taken a moment for myself, but that’s not how it’s supposed to be. People look to me for answers. They expect solution. But something inside of me, couldn’t take on one more care. It was like, I had nothing left to give. 

Why do we feel guilty for that? 

When we have spent every ounce of who we are, why don’t we feel ok taking a moment? 

I think it’s because we feel like we will let someone down. 

Maybe others

Maybe ourselves

Maybe God? 

Are You The One

People’s sight has been restored, 

 

 A lame man, got up and walked for the first time in his life.

 

A widow’s son was mid-funeral, and He walked right up to those carrying his casket, placed his hand on the boy, and told him to get up! And the boy was raised to life! 

 

What amazing things are happening. 

 

Yet all John could do is wonder, “Then why am I still sitting here in this cell?”

 

John had been arrested and placed behind bars. 

 

And while Jesus went around healing, John sat there decaying. 

 

So when he heard the great things Jesus was doing, it was only natural that he would wonder. 

 

You know, the same question you have asked. . . 

 

I see you heal, I see you raise the dead, the blind see and the lame walk, but why am I still sitting here about to die? 

 

Sometimes, it can feel like we’ve done everything right, we’ve answered the call God has placed on our life, and we’ve even worked at it with all of our heart. Yet when it comes to our deepest darkest moments, where are you God? 

 

So John sends his disciples to Jesus with his rawest, most sincere question yet. 

 

“Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we be looking for someone else?” 

 

Have you ever felt that before? 

 

Because sometimes, things just don’t add up. We’ve seen him do the work, we’ve heard testimony of his power. Yet when it comes to our situation, nothing. . . 

In these moments, it’s easy to be let down. But even more, it’s easy to question and doubt that Jesus even is the one we’ve been waiting for. 

 

In a heartbreaking moment, Jesus answers the truth. 

 

Luke 7:22 Jesus says, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard- the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 

 

At first read, this sounds so calloused and heartless. 

 

But not to John. 

 

You see, John would have heard the stories of Angel Gabriel. 

 

Who visited his father Zechariah in the temple that night. 

 

And as Gabriel announced the upcoming birth of John the Baptist,

 

He declared John’s purpose? 

 

John will make ready for the Lord, a people prepared for him. . . 

 

You see what Jesus was actually doing. He was saying - well done. The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. All of which was possible because of you John; the one who prepared people to even accept this. 

 

A few moments later, Jesus would even recognize John as the greatest who has ever lived. 

 

So why didn’t he save him from prison? 

 

Because he was building a legacy on what John had started. 

Riddle Me Not

His riddles were so confusing. 

But at risk of feeling stupid, everyone kept quiet about it. 

He told stories that didn’t make sense, 

Used every day scenarios that no one understood, 

And even had to explain the meaning of his own explanations. 

So this time, when he walked in and started talking, It was like a few of them were done with trying to decipher. 

He told them that he had to leave, and that they couldn’t go with him. But don’t worry, I am preparing a place for you there. . . 

They must have looked at each other with utter confusion. 

You are leaving, 

We can’t go with you

But you are preparing a place for us. 

What is going on here! 

Then Thomas, probably with his hands up in confusion, says to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? “

To this, Jesus answers with another riddle. 

“I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father Except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 

After this answer, Philip jumps into the conversation. 

Philip said, “Lord, just show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 

It was like the disciples were ready for some simple answers. 

Have you ever been there before? 

Where you are tired of trying to figure out what God is saying, or what he is going to do. Have you ever felt like say, “enough is enough. Just show me the Father already, that will be enough.” 

It’s easy to be confused, and even get frustrated trying to figure out what God is doing and what he would say to you through different situations. Sometimes it can even feel like he is speaking in riddles. 

I hope you know, God isn’t trying to confuse you. He isn’t interested in leaving you with questions. Sometimes he is at work, preparing a place for you, while you are left to patiently wait to see what it looks like. 

This can be confusing, and even tiring times. 

Prison

I can still hear the chilling sound of the doors, as they slammed shut. 

The cold, raw metal bars were designed to secure occupants into the room, 

But loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety, pain, and suffering were complimentary room guests - free to come and go as they pleased. 

Every wall, every corner, every surface of the ceiling and floor- was covered in sterile, lifeless, despair. 

Privacy didn’t exist, and freedom was something found only in dreams.

This was prison.

It wasn’t meant to be pleasant. 

It didn’t come with warm heartfelt moments. 

It was heartbreaking, helpless, and impossible to get free from. 

Fortunately this experience I tell you of, comes from my time as a guard in a prison. 

But I know what that cell feels like. 

I’ve seen it. 

Stood in it. 

And have even felt the dread of being locked up. 

But while I was a guard in this prison. I’ve stayed in a prison of my own. 

My thoughts. 

I’ve had recurring feelings. Helpless emotions. And even lonely confinements. 

I’ve felt the prison door of anxiety slam shut, as the isolation of depression echoed off lifeless walls of my heart. 

In those moments. 

I’ve been in despair. 

You know that feeling? When you don’t know what else to do because you are so worn out, tired, frustrated, and just -done with the situation. It’s like you are locked in a prison cell with no way out. 

In the book of Acts we read about Paul and Silas in prison. They have been locked away for doing the work of the Lord. They did nothing wrong, they only spoke truth and did what was right. It would be easy for them to be upset. In fact, I can imagine them being straight up angry! 

 

They are locked in an inner cell, where there is no comfort, no privacy, and no hope. 

 

I imagine they spent the evening wondering why they were there. They knew the unfairness of their sentencing. And they wrestled with it for hours. The other inmates were listening and probably even sympathizing with them. Everyone probably wondered how this could be happening. 

But in the midnight hour, when they could’t rest, and when their minds wouldn’t shut off for a moment of peace. They had nothing left to do. Not understanding what say, or where to turn, they did the only thing they had left to do. They began to praise the Lord. 

Listen to Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” 

You see, when you praise the Lord, it has a way of setting captives free. The praise of the Lord is used to proclaim hope, speak life, and bring salvation to those in desperation. 

You might be in a prison. 

You might be frustrated beyond reason, hurt beyond repair, and even done with the situation. . . But I promise you, freedom is found in praising the Lord. 

 

I know how impossible it is to shake free from the prison cell you find yourself in. 

It’s hard to let go of thoughts, or to refocus your heart. 

So let praise be the freedom you desire. 

It’s funny, 

Even God knows that praise to his name brings freedom. 

Listen to Zepheniah 3:17

 

The Lord your God is with you, 

The Mighty Warrior who saves. 

He will take delight in you with gladness. 

With his love, he will calm all your fears. 

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. 

Even God sings over you while he rescues you. And when you need someone else to praise for you, turn on worship, soak it in, and let God grant you freedom. 

So let me read this Pslam of praise on your behalf. 

 

Listen to Pslam 100

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 

Worship the Lord with gladness; 

Come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the Lord is God. 

It is he who made us, and we are his 

We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving 

And his courts with praise; 

Give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, 

His faithfulness continues through all generations. 

So, may you find a song of praise, deep in your heart. 

May you find the strength to sing - in your weakest point

May worship accompany the breath and it crosses your lips

And May you find freedom, as you worship the Lord Today. 

Streams Of Living Water

 

She had a deep, dark past 

 

That brought shame and disappointment. 

 

It hurt to walk in public, because everywhere she went, people knew her as, “That woman.” In fact it hurt so bad, she would find the most obscure, inconvenient, troublesome times to do regular every day tasks. 

 

This day was no different. 

 

It was normal for women to get out early, before the heat of the sun made the task unbearable. But just like any day, she waited for the moment where she would be free from the judgmental eyes of her peers. As the noon day sun began to take its tole, the well was finally empty. So she stepped from her home, and made her way through the hot dusty streets. No one ever went to the well at this time of day. 

 

But as she approached, her plan had failed. For this time, a man sat there at the well, as if he were waiting for her. Her guard was instantly up. This never ended well for her. Surely he has heard of her reputation, and has either come to taunt her, or ridicule her. 

 

As she begins to fill her jar with water, the man begins to speak with her. 

 

“Will you give me a drink?” 

 

His words startle her. For he was a Jew, and she a Samaritan. They had deep routed history of judgement and hatred. So she confronts her biggest fear. Convincing herself that he surely is taunting her, she admits the obvious. 

 

“How can you ask me this. I am a Samaritan, and you are Jew.” 

 

Her observation only emphasized the worth she felt of her self evaluation. 

 

But Jesus, knew what she thought about herself. In fact, to prove it, he calls out her cause for deepest regrets. 

I Don’t Feel Like Praising

I don’t feel like praising God right now. . . 

Have you ever felt that way before? 

It might be because you are frustrated, 

Or It might be because something disappointing has happened 

And in that disappointment, you find yourself struggling to praise God. 

You haven’t forgotten him

You aren’t against him

You still believe him to be God and in control. 

You just don’t have the words to praise him. 

Sometimes when we walk through difficult moments, it steals the words from our lips, It strips the desire from our heart, and we are left with an inability to simply praise God. 

The writer of the 43rd Psalm understands this dilemma. 

Listen to verse 5 of this Psalm, 

 

Why am I discouraged? 

Why is my heart so sad? 

I will put my hope in God! 

I will praise him again - 

My savior and my God!

 

The writer is battling something, and in that battle, their praise is gone. 

The sadness of the heart, 

And the discouragement of the situation, 

Have completely robbed the writer of their praise. 

Have you been there before? 

That moment where you feel so discouraged, that you don’t even have the strength to bring praise to the Lord? It’s a real feeling. It’s not because you are evil, or even because you don’t love the Lord. You are simply trying to figure things out. 

Listen to the first part of the Psalm. 

 

Declare me innocent, O God! 

Defend me against these ungodly people. 

Rescue me from these unjust liars. 

For you are God, my only safe haven. 

Why have you tossed me aside? 

Why must I wander around in grief, 

Oppressed by my enemies? 

Send out your light and your truth; 

Let them guide me. 

Let them lead me to your holy mountain,

To the place where you live. 

There I will go to the altar of God

To God-the source of all my joy. 

I will praise you with my harp, 

O God, my God!

 

The writer starts with expressing their feelings of let down, hurt, fear, and grief. 

They bring a word of discouragement and sadness first.

It’s only then, that they are able to realign. 

Male And Female

God looked, 

and there, 

in the middle of the entire creation, placed in the most beautiful garden 

Man was alone. . . . 

It’s in that moment, God pronounces the most profound statement about man and his design. 

He says, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” 

The almighty creator, the one who designed and made mankind, the one who put man right into the middle of this peacefully beautiful world, recognizes this deep understanding. The human heart, will break on its own. Human beings were designed to be in relationship. They were designed for connection. 

Alone, the human heart only hurts. 

But it’s the next phrase that changes everything. In fact, it’s this phrase that so many people have gotten wrong, especially those inside of the church. God continues by saying, “I will make a suitable helper for him.” 

Now this wasn’t God’s understanding of man’s loneliness,

This wasn’t his intent to make a woman as man’s sidekick, or understudy of some sort. 

This was God’s recognition that man wasn’t in sync with creation yet. 

God had created all things to work in harmony. 

There was evening, and there was day

There was light, and there was dark

There was the dark sky, and then heavenly lights filled the void

There was the waters, and there were fish to populate them

There was the ground, and livestock of all kinds to roam the land

Man, however, was alone. He needed the next piece. Not to make him happy, or to do what he said. But to bring him into a purposed union with creation. Man needed his equal part that not only offset him, but gave him balance inside of creation. 

Refuge

My kids are getting older now, but it wasn’t long ago that they really believed I could do anything. After all, I’m dad. I can handle anything, I will protect them, and nothing can get past me. 

Unfortunately, I’m human. 

I can only do so much. 

And as my kids get older, they realize I am a mortal human being, just like them. 

But when they were younger, there was nothing better than that feeling, when the thought of danger, caused them to simply turn to me and raise their arms. I would pick them up, and they knew they were safe. After all, I was bigger, stronger, and more capable then them. 

What a good feeling as their dad, but what a better feeling as a child. There is something amazing that happens when you know without a doubt that someone is protecting you and making sure you are alright. 

Listen to the power in this Psalm. 

God is our refuge and strength, 
Always ready to help in times of trouble. 
So we will not fear when earthquakes come 
And the mountains crumble into the sea. 
Let the oceans roar and foam. 
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Fearfully and Wonderfully

I’m disgusting!

Have you ever looked at yourself this way? 

It might be a dissatisfaction with the way you perform, maybe you feel shame towards your body, or maybe you’ve just felt like you don’t measure up. 

I think we have all had a moment where we don’t feel very valuable. 

I get frustrated with my weaknesses. 

I dont’ know why I have to be so confrontational. It’ just comes natural for me. 

I wish I wasn’t so impatient. I know it annoys others

I can’t figure out why I am critical at times.

If only I could be taller, 

Have better hair, 

Weigh less

Be more athletic

Be more likable. 

Talk differently and have different gifting. . . 

The list goes on! If I were to sit here and think about it too long, I can start to get depressed! In fact, I can start to wonder if I am even able to be liked. Am I a mistake? Can one person really be this annoying? Have this many problems? Be so stubborn and difficult? 

It’s interesting to think that at my weakest, lowest, most offensive point, Christ died for me. Maybe it’s because he didn’t fully understand how awful and evil I am. Could that be the problem? 

Pslam 139 would disagree with this. It’s a reminder that God not only knows every single things about me, but he loves me, and even more - wants to be around me. In fact, he won’t let me go! 

Cain And Abel

I work hard! 

I’m not just saying that, I really do work hard. 

I’m the type of personality that is totally invested. 

When I’m putting my mind to something, there is no stopping me. 

I will push through, fight for, and even go to war over whatever it is I am working on. 

But you know what really gets me tore up inside? 

I feel like I can kill myself, even going above and beyond, only to have someone else come in and get credit. I also hate seeing people give half hearted efforts, and on top of that, they get praised because of their talents! 

I give my all in everything I do! 

I don’t expect thanks, or even a reward for what I do. I do it, because I believe in what I’m putting my hands to. 

But that aside, I hate it when others are rewarded- when what they brought, was half hearted. When someone else gets infinite favor and all they did was show up, it crushes me! I think the sentiment you might relate to sounds like this - Well that’s not even fair!

when others are rewarded for what comes natural, it’s like we are devalued for working hard, 

Just because of their specific gifting, they are getting all the attention. Their not fully invested, they don’t stay awake tossing and turning over results. They just come in smiling, waving, pointing to people, and walking out getting all the glory. 

It makes me so angry!