Author Archives: Julianne Winkler Smith

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! ~Psalm 134:2 Among Christians there can be a big brouhaha about the musical part of Sunday worship. Some demand solemn hymns—anything else is irreverent, they say. Others want loud, contemporary praise that blows off the roof. Sometimes, the desire for “a good show” strips thisContinue reading “raise ’em up”

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?  ~ Romans 10:14 At a recent church retreat I attended, the group was asked to write out a one-minute gospel presentation. TheContinue reading “what do you say?”

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ~ColossiansContinue reading “dress for success”

…having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Colossians 2:14 Ah, tax season. Fun times. How do you play the tax game all year? Do you keep everything you can each payday in hopesContinue reading “tax relief”

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shallContinue reading “the gospel according to pirates”

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 Easter. For some, it is a day of colored egg hunts and baskets full of jellybeans and chocolate bunnies. For others, it means a day off of work. Plenty of people acknowledgeContinue reading “no neutral ground”

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5 Do you get this? Really? If you’re a new Christian, the astounding fact of Jesus’ sacrifice—His brutal crucifixion to take the penalty we deserve—may be fresh inContinue reading “in awe of the wounding (reprised)”

A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  Luke 18:18 “What must I do?” Isn’t this the cry of us all? Being good enough. Doing enough good. The general consensus of our day (and of humanity throughout history) is that we just have to reach that “good-over-bad” tippingContinue reading ““What must I do?””

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3 Words. I love them. In fact, I make my living byContinue reading “the Word”

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those whoContinue reading “beautiful feet”