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. We can all have days when we don’t bring our A-Game. And sometimes we need to brush up on our skills. However, sometimes on those flat days, the message the Lord is sending through us really isn’t for the masses, but … Continue reading →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The Hem of His Garment

Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace. ~Luke 8:48 NIV For twenty years I played the role of the woman who was healed from the issue of blood, in our church drama productions. Considered unclean, she timidly worked her way among the crowds. From bended knee, she stretched out her arm to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed. Jesus felt power leave Him and said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” Luke … Continue reading →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Comforted to Comfort

I was a widow at 53. My precious first husband, Jim, developed cancer and died before he could see his 60th birthday. 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 … Continue reading →

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 →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The Burning Coals Project

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew‬ ‭5:44‬ ‭NIV‬‬ It was the hardest year of my life. It was in 2013 that my husband, Jim, succumbed to cancer. I would love to tell you that after my husband died that countless people rallied around me, as a new widow, to help me in such a brutally hard time, but they didn’t. Apart from my parents and a couple of close friends I … Continue reading →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: The End of the Roll

Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB For me, it was like nails on a chalkboard to walk into the bathroom and see that tiny tail at the very end of the roll of toilet paper just hanging there. There were at least a half dozen rolls, mere inches away, under the sink, but the PEOPLE living in my house were preoccupied with other things. We had had … Continue reading →

Julie Souza Bradley Lilly: Our Daily Bread

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13 NIV Have you ever wondered why smack dab in the middle of the Lord’s prayer, Jesus shifts the topic from seeking God’s … Continue reading →

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