Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Follow the Pillar
During a long wait, it might have been tempting to put down roots and settle in. But the focus needed to be on…
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Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: A Poor Man’s Grace
I pictured myself as a beggar, pleading for the crumbs and scraps from God’s table…
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Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The Blessing in Our Wounds
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV At first glance, the thought that there is a blessing in our wounds sounds absurd. No one in their right mind knowingly asks for an insult or wound, let alone a disease or life-altering loss. However, as I was preparing my heart for Thanksgiving, I was suddenly … Continue reading →
Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: A Prayer for the Prodigal
Father God, it’s getting cold outside. I look out the window at the frosty rooftops of my neighbors, and my heart sinks to think of those without a roof over their head or hope in their heart. I think of those held prisoner in the clutches of addiction, those without food to eat and whose only socks are threadbare with holes. Father we lift the homeless, the lost, the sick, the addicted and the vulnerable. We lift those who left rashly, … Continue reading →
Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Blessing the Father’s Child
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ~Romans 12:14 NIV Many of us are working diligently to learn to be “blessers”—those that are purposeful to bless and be a blessing to those the Lord places around us. As the Body of Christ, we are endowed with the authority to speak blessing and to be a blessing. The Father strategically positions us to be agents of grace and mercy, ministers of comfort and bringers of peace and hope … Continue reading →
Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The One
Recently I was talking to a friend who is in ministry. She was discouraged that her ministry was so slow-growing and that while she was faithful to obey the Lord’s leading, some of her efforts seemed to fall flat. …
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Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The Hem of His Garment
You have not been abandoned, beloved. You have come to this lowly place to meet with Jesus. He, too, took the lowest place. It is the place of miracles. …
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Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Comforted to Comfort
In the days and weeks surrounding his passing, the Lord sent several to minister to me. All of their kindnesses were of comfort, but it was the voices of other widows, my sisters in Christ, that spoke with the greatest volume. Knowing that they had suffered similar grief and loss elevated their voices above others. They had survived what to me felt unsurvivable. I looked to them as a roadmap, as I searched for hope and a way of escape from the unending heartache. …
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Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Power in the Blood: Declining the Impotent Gospel
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 NIV Years ago, I had a conversation with someone about offensive words found in scripture. I am not talking about unwholesome language, but words like sin, death, crucifixion, hell and the blood. Some congregations had postulated that cultured people are offended by the graphic nature of these words, and a more diluted and sanitized gospel began to emerge. … Continue reading →
Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Are You Myth-ing Something?
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-2 NIV Ever have one of those nights when you wake up for no apparent reason and can’t get back to sleep? I had one of those earlier this week and grabbed my phone to do a word search in an attempt to … Continue reading →