Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  ~1 John 3:18 Our church is big on living the conduit life as a Christian—to be a passthrough of God’s love, mercy, and grace to others. Another way our pastor exhorts this truth is by saying, “Once we are rescued byContinue reading “sponge life”

How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?  ~Roman 10:14 After my husband and I had a wonderful time in Pittsburgh visiting our son and daughter-in-love, I was able toContinue reading “shoulda, coulda”

“I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ~John 10:10b On July 4, 1776, the new Congress of what would ultimately become the United States of America, put forth a Declaration of Independence. This document clearly enumerated Great Britain’s tyrannical actions and the young nation’s absolution from allegiance to the BritishContinue reading “life, liberty & the pursuit of joy”

Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. ~Philippians 2:14-15 My husband and I are huge fans of the “Great British Baking Show”—we’ve watched every season (and some moreContinue reading “prove yourself”

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that inContinue reading “bandwagon gospel”

Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.”  1 Samuel 15:10-11a I’d always scratched my head at the verses in 1 Samuel where the Lord said that He “regretted” His action to make Saul kingContinue reading “lamentable choices”

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 2:12 The term “brainwashed” typically has a very negative connotation. In fact, there’s been a lot of talk over the pastContinue reading “brainwashed”

“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” ~Mark 9:49-50 As I was reading through Mark’s gospel, which I have done many, many times, I saw a littleContinue reading “salted by fire”

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But theContinue reading “just move”