Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 When you were growing up, did you like school—I mean the academics part? (The whole social structure, cliques, jocks-versus-nerds thing aside for now.) As for me, whether in second grade or during senior year, IContinue reading “nothing less than perfection”

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 The heated theological dispute of faith alone versus faith-plus-works has been raging for centuries—even millennia. In fact, this very topic is why Martin Luther launched the Reformation just over 500 years ago. But God’s WordContinue reading “the need for deeds”

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 I live in Florida—and I absolutely love it. But if you had told me just two years ago that I’d be moving to the Sunshine State, I would have laughed and said that you’reContinue reading “God’s will, not mine.”

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  James 4:7-8 War is on everyone’s mind right now. Some are obsessed about it, given our 24/7 media and real-time reporting. In fact, a lotContinue reading “surrender for victory”

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:16 In elementary school, there are few things more painful than being made fun of on the playground. Although I don’t have the best memory, I can recall glimpses of time where my “friends” made funContinue reading “gladly mocked”

With (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. James 3:9-11 The Bible has a lot to say about the power of our words—both the OldContinue reading “two-faced tongue”

“You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:18 Over the past two years, we’ve all had a lot of two-dimensional interactions. I don’t know about you, but I’m on video meetings every single day—some days I couldContinue reading “3D faith”

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.  Psalm 36:5 (NLT) Regardless of the family members that may surround you at home (whether it’s one person or 10), or the friends that you hang out with every weekend, or even those Monday-through-Friday coworkers that can be categorizedContinue reading “immeasurable”

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 Have you ever been threatened? Most likely, every one of us has been in a situation where we have, either physically or mentally. Maybe it was a verbal confrontation in a storeContinue reading “unthreatened”

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10b Back in the 1980s (best decade ever, just saying), there was a trendy little crafting tool called The Beddazzler. It allowed you to add rhinestones and metallics to your clothes, belts, purses, etc., creating a uniquely sparkly ensemble. The commercials promised theContinue reading “a bedazzled life”