Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,Continue reading “Lord willing”

You were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23 In this time warp that is 2020, it’s astounding to me that Christmas is just around the corner. Wasn’t it just the 4th of July last week? Or, wait, maybe that was 17 years ago. The nation’s response to this virus has turned every day sinceContinue reading “full price”

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.   Acts 16:25 It’s easy to praise the Lord when things are going smoothly in life—when family, work, health, finances, etc., are all humming along. (Wait, is that even a thing?) And a hearty “hallelujah!” rolls right off the lipsContinue reading “they’re listening”

…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this shouldContinue reading “forked tongue”

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 As this year is coming to end, my chronological reading of the Bible has brought me to the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion. And amid the various emotions stirred by the events (bewilderment, shock, and grief, toContinue reading “prison break”

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. Psalm 103:11-12 If you set out to go north from Lynchburg, Virginia (where I sit as I write this),Continue reading “unfathomable distance”

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.     James 1:2-4 Some people believe, mostly because of false teachers, that when they give their livesContinue reading “no cake walk”

Psalm 10 Why do You stand far away, Lord?Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the needy;Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his soul’s desire,And the greedy person curses and shows disrespect to the Lord.The wicked, in his haughtiness, does not seek Him.There is no God in all his schemes. His ways succeed at all times;Yet Your judgmentsContinue reading “sometimes a Psalm will do”

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20 Do you ever wake up with a worship song on your heart and mind? I love when this happens, as it makes me smile toContinue reading “evil deeds, good outcome”

“Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?” Matthew 16:9-10 Don’t you just love the timeliness of God’s Word? For me, there are mornings of reading when the verses seem written directly to me,Continue reading “forgetful”