Author: Lia Smith

Is it just me? The build up of stress weighs me down first thing in the morning these days. The anticipation of “What’s next? What’s next?” thumps a little too urgently in my chest at times. But I need to remember that the fear and worry about tomorrow isn’t ever beneficial. In fact God tells…Read more

“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—  and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not…Read more

“David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: ‘The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn…Read more

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to…Read more

Today was a good reminder of our citizenship in heaven. I consider the freedom we experience here in America, especially in regards to religion. But we know the kingdom of God is even more free than what we see and experience. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there,…Read more

Earlier this evening, I went berry picking with my family. As I was walking along the black raspberry bush, the very beginning seemed like there were a lot of berries everywhere. It was actually a really good start. Once I hit maybe five or six feet down the row, however, it started to piddle out…Read more

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9, NIV). The phrase “be like-minded” was translated…Read more

I think often about how in the Old Testament, God would show up to people and they wouldn’t even know who He was. Often times, it was in a voice, but other times, He showed up so that He could physically be seen. He made Himself personal to the people He was talking to. Many…Read more

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since…Read more

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but…Read more