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Welcome to our weekly Friday Check-in for June 20th, 2025 ✅
If you are new to Soul Care, WELCOME!! We are so glad you are here. We have a weekly rhythm of checking in together on Fridays. We use Soul Care's Page, Person, Plan framework to create a weekly rhythm and prepare ourselves for Sabbath rest.
How are you? How did God meet your needs this week? Please take a deep breath and know:
...you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. (Isaiah 58:9)
Let's begin with,
Page: An Invitation to Reflection
Today, read Luke 21:5-19 (The Message) three times:
One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts. Jesus said, “All this you’re admiring so much—the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble.”
They asked him, “Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it’s about to take place?”
He said, “Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One,’ or, ‘The end is near.’ Don’t fall for any of that. When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end.”
He went on, “Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. You’ll think at times that the very sky is falling.
“But before any of this happens, they’ll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’ll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I’ll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.
“You’ll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. Some of you will be killed. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. Even so, every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.
Spend a few minutes journaling in response to this passage:
- What stands out to you most? Is there a particular word or phrase?
- As you read through it a second time… ask God, “to what area of my life does that particular word or phrase connect?”
- And as you read a third time, be asking God, “Is there an invitation for me?” Is there a response of some kind that God is inviting you into?
Next up is,
Person: An Invitation to Connection
We are continuing to meditate on the theme from this month’s Semi-Silent Retreat: “HEARING GOD”.
How does it feel to really HEAR these encouragements from the Lord today:
- to “keep your head and don’t panic”...
- that God will provide you with the “words and wisdom”...
- to “make up your mind right now not to worry about it”...
- that every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in God’s care...
Which phrase stands out most to you? Spend a minute in prayer, listening for what else the Lord might want to say to you. Then ask yourself:
“How does hearing this today change the way I engage with others in my life? How does this affect my relationships and influence the way I show up for others today?”
Plan: An Invitation to Intention
A Rule of Life - having a Soul Care “plan” - is like a trellis. In this section, you are invited weekly to build a framework to support your soul’s growth.
Have you ever developed a Rule of Life before? What did you include? This week, look at your calendar... non-judgmentally... to see what is there. Can you begin to get a clear picture of your current reality in how you have allocated time and attention? How can you create more space in your calendar in the week ahead and allow it to be open (avoid refilling that space!)? How might this present fresh opportunities to hear from God?
A closing communal prayer for us:
Holy God,
In the midst of uncertain times, You remind us through Your Word that all earthly things will pass away, but Your promises endure forever. As Jesus spoke of wars, betrayal, and the shaking of what seems unshakable, we are reminded not to place our hope in what we see, but in You alone.
Lord, when trials come, when we are misunderstood, hated, or even persecuted for Your name’s sake, give us courage. Help us to stand firm, not in our own strength, but in the wisdom and presence You have promised to provide.
You said not a hair on our heads would perish, and that by endurance, we would gain our souls. So, Father, strengthen our hearts to endure. Teach us to trust that You are sovereign in every storm and that even in suffering, You are with us.
Let our lives and words be a testimony to Your truth and grace. May justice flow, may righteousness shine, may your kingdom come... And let our perseverance bring glory to Your name.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Thanks for checking in today - Blessings!