“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 […]
“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”- Genesis 2:15 “Soul satisfaction is tied more to responsibility itself than a particular role or dream job.”- Judah Smith Today Pastor Judah Smith presents the second element of a healthy soul environment (Chapter 2, How’s […]
“So how about you enjoy the trees, eat some fruit, and relax a little bit. You’re not that big of a deal, just FYI.”- Judah Smith’s take on God’s communication with Adam in the Garden of Eden “And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom […]
“The Creator himself has given us a handbook for a healthy soul: the Bible.”- Judah Smith “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.”- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) In Chapter 2 (“Original Home”) of How’s Your Soul?, Pastor Judah Smith opines that […]
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”- Psalm 103:1 Judah Smith concludes Chapter 1 of How’s Your Soul? by noting it’s notoriously hard to define the term soul. Since we cannot see our souls, we find it difficult to describe them, much less proactively care for […]
“Our health and wellness don’t move from the outside in, but from the inside out.”- Judah Smith As Judah Smith continues Chapter 1 of How’s Your Soul?, he notes that our physical bodies, bank accounts, vehicles, and families get regular attention. However, we rarely, if ever, focus on our souls. Routine soul checkups?- almost nonexistent. […]
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”- 3 John 1:2 (ESV) In Chapter 1 (“Home Sweet Home”) of How’s Your Soul?, Judah Smith informs us that, while he loves arriving, he despises traveling. Unfortunately, Pastor Smith quips, […]
“The ‘Are you okay?’ question is scary, because it has to do with the real you.”- Judah Smith “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each.”- Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV) Judah Smith, lead pastor at City Church […]
“The fellowship of the broken believe that suffering is a gift He entrusts to us and He can be trusted to make this suffering into a gift.”- Ann Voskamp Ann Voskamp concludes Chapter 18 of The Broken Way by noting we tend to shrink back from the razor edge of broken things. However, Ms. Voskamp […]
“Full cruciformity . . . to give someone your broken heart means breaking pride, breaking lies, breaking fear.”- Ann Voskamp Ann Voskamp continues Chapter 18, the concluding chapter of The Broken Way, by noting the benefit of sitting in your burn and brokenness. As you live into the givenness even of your brokenness, the crisis […]
“Generosity does give birth to intimacy — but there’s a far deeper intimacy when we’re generous in sharing our brokenness.”- Ann Voskamp Ann Voskamp begins Chapter 18 (“Why You Don’t Have to Be Afraid to Be Broken”) with a definition of faith. Ms. Voskamp defines faith as “confidence in the kindness of God, no matter […]