“A calm and quiet spirit is the result of understanding that our relationship with God is not based on worth but on birth.”- Judah Smith Judah Smith completes Chapter 6 of How’s Your Soul? by discussing verses two and three of Psalm 131. 4. “Like a weaned child with it’s mother; like a weaned child […]
“A level soul, a balanced soul, a genuine soul — that is a gift from God.”- Judah Smith As Judah Smith continues Chapter 6 of How’s Your Soul?, he moves on to the second verse of Psalm 131. 3. “I have calmed and quieted my soul.” Pastor Smith notes that the Hebrew word translated calm […]
“Do you have a God-category in your life?”- Judah Smith Judah Smith continues Chapter 6 of How’s Your Soul? with a discussion of the second half of Psalm 131:1. 2. “I do not occupy myself with things too great and marvelous for me.” Essentially, King David admits he’s’ okay with not knowing all the facts or […]
“We equate external control with inner tranquility.”- Judah Smith “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”- Isaiah 30:5 (NLT) In Chapter 6 (“A Quiet Soul”) of How’s Your Soul?, Judah Smith notes we live in a loud culture- inundated on a daily […]
“Grace has no gaps and love knows no limits. Love endures all things.”- Judah Smith Pastor Judah Smith concludes Chapter 5 of How’s Your Soul? by discussing the third and fourth characteristics of love, as found in 1 Corinthians 13:7. 3. Love hopes all things. Authentic God-love functions all the time. As the author quips: “No […]
“One phrase that you should insert into your vocabulary and conversation on a daily basis: ‘He (or she) didn’t mean it.’ “- Judah Smith “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”- 1 Corinthians 13:7 As Pastor Judah Smith continues Chapter 5 of How’s Your Soul?, he cites the Apostle […]
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”- 1 John 4:7 In Chapter 5 (“Is Love God or Is God Love?”) of How’s Your Soul?, Judah Smith states […]
“People sign up for helicopter Jesus all the time. I cannot wait to follow Jesus, they think, because he’s my heavenly helicopter. Get me out, Father! Hoist away, Jesus!– Judah Smith As Pastor Judah Smith concludes Chapter 4 of How’s Your Soul?, he confesses that he wishes the writer of Hebrews said helicopter of my […]
“In almost an instant our souls can go from being buoyant to being four inches from capsizing.”- Judah Smith “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.”- Hebrews 6:19-20 (NIV) In […]
“God is the master architect of the complicated, confusing, and even contradictory constructs that we call our souls.”- Judah Smith Pastor Judah Smith concludes Chapter 3 of How’s Your Soul? by noting that perhaps our souls surprise us- but they don’t surprise God. The up-and-down tendencies of our hearts fail to shock or scandalize Him. […]
“But unfortunately, we can’t live . . . in a glorious and perpetual state of serenity and tranquility.”- Judah Smith In Chapter 3 (“Surprised by My Soul”) of How’s Your Soul?, Judah Smith notes that, more often than we’d care to admit, our souls go through emotional upheavals. Furthermore, we find it confusing- shocking- disconcerting. […]
“Restriction and restraint are necessary for a healthy soul.”- Judah Smith And the LORD commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you shall surely die.”- Genesis 2:16-17 […]