Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

Joshua did just as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. So it came about, when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed; but when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed. And Moses’ hands were heavy. So they took a stone and put it under him,Continue reading “Him/Hur”

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 6:1 Social media has created look-at-me monsters in our society, birthing the selfie (which was not actually a thing at one point, I promise), as wellContinue reading “unseen, not unnoticed”

(The Lord) will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with fairness. Psalm 98:9 There’s a lot of talk these days about justice…and pardons. In fact, until recent months (and days) the concept of pardoning probably didn’t cross our minds. Then, rather suddenly, they’re flying around like those old Oprah days when she had herContinue reading “justice is served”

“And if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye is causing you toContinue reading “go to extremes”

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”  ~Luke 15:1-2 My husband came home from his men’s group the other day and shared a simple, yet profound, phrase someone had mentioned almost offContinue reading “the power of a preposition”

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.   ~Psalm 33:8 It’s been a week since we’ve been launched into 2025. That said, how are those New Year’s resolutions going so far? Are they losing their appeal? If not, studies show that, sadly, most of us will dropContinue reading “resolve to awe”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.” ~Luke 5:31-32 “I don’t go to church—it’s full of hypocrites.” You’ve likely heard this statement (or something similar) before. Maybe it wasContinue reading “church is for sinners”

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6 It’s Christmas! And as I was flipping through the Bible to contemplate all the many Old Testament prophecies that point us to theContinue reading “Christmas paradox”

And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, the One who is and who was, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” ~Revelation 16:5-6 Studying the book of Revelation is a wild ride. It’sContinue reading “they deserve it”

Listen to my words, Lord, Consider my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. ~Psalm 5:1-2 I was recently talking with my sweet stepmother about our respective ongoing physical woes. She recently injured her back and has slowly and steadily been on the path back toContinue reading “pray for me”