Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

“Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven…” Daniel 2:17-18 The Old Testament Book of Daniel is pretty exciting. Even if you haven’t read it through, you’re probably familiar with at least a couple of its action-packed events.Continue reading “circle of friends”

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 How can we really be sure what’s right and wrong? How can we know God’s will for our lives—the moment-by-moment guidance and the big-picture direction andContinue reading “profitable”

When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?   Psalm 56:3-4 These verses from David, as he was on the run from King Saul’s murderous pursuit, may seem contradictory atContinue reading “trusting God through fear”

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 Uncertainty. Anxiety. Fear. These thoughts and emotions are among the most prevalent in today’s “unprecedented” times. (Well, they’re not that unprecedented, but that’s another story.)  In fact, the CDC—rightContinue reading “a sure thing”

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. Matthew 5:13 Today, people have a love-hate relationship with salt. We love the way it makes our food tasteContinue reading “do you make others thirsty?”

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greaterContinue reading ““Hypocrites!””

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 15:13 I heard a pastor talk mention how Christians believe in three creations—which I thought was a pretty cool concept. Simply put, weContinue reading “hope of creation”

Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble (NLT). Proverbs 21:23 Have your words ever gotten you into trouble? Have you uttered thoughts out loud—either under your breath or at the top of your lungs—that you wish you could have taken back the moment they left your lips?Continue reading “words of the wise”

My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 I took a trip to ED the other evening. (For those of you around my age, it was previously known as the “ER”—not sure when the shift happened. But I digress.) It was not fun. At all. I’ll spareContinue reading “dependent”

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 The past several months (or has it been years?) have been, well, weird. And no matter where you land on the spectrum between “we’re all gonna die” and “this is all a hoax,” you’ve probably been experiencing weirdnessContinue reading “tired”