Seek the LORD while He may found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ~Isaiah 55:6-7 Reading the Old TestamentContinue reading “the Gospel according to Isaiah”
Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith
unstoppable, incomprehensible
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overcome] it. ~John 1:5 It’s getting more obvious, the darkness and the light. The chasm between them is growing wider in our culture, nation, and world—making that gap harder and harder for people to straddle. In just the first few verses of John’s gospel,Continue reading “unstoppable, incomprehensible”
embrace endurance
Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured theContinue reading “embrace endurance”
dealing with dandelions
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ~Romans 8:13 I recently heard a great analogy from a pastor visiting our church. The overarching theme was for believers to truly live the John 10:10 abundant life byContinue reading “dealing with dandelions”
keeping monovision
Where there is no vision, the people are out of control, But how blessed is he who keeps the law. ~Proverbs 29:18 Almost three years ago, I experienced a torn retina in my right eye. It was terrifying, but the Lord moved in a big way during that time—miraculously, really—to change my spiritual life. Sadly, the eye surgeries thatContinue reading “keeping monovision”
an answer to your why
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.For the moreContinue reading “an answer to your why”
tasty morsels
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. ~Proverbs 18:8 Reading the book of Proverbs sometimes feels like you’re in the boxing ring being pummeled with truth punches—left hook of warning, right uppercut of counsel, left cross caution. Oh, those stings of conviction. From verse toContinue reading “tasty morsels”
pray, then speak
Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said… ~Nehemiah 2:4-5a Not sure about any of you all, but I’m a talk-thinker—I guess the official term is “verbal processor.” Often, when a question is asked of me (whether at work or with friends orContinue reading “pray, then speak”
make a way of escape
The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him toContinue reading “make a way of escape”
looking for miracles in the storm
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exaltedContinue reading “looking for miracles in the storm”
encouraged by grace 