tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158051882011-06-28T21:59:45.443-05:00only by his Grace.Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-86273958965554390442008-08-19T21:12:00.005-05:002008-08-19T21:17:42.450-05:00

On August 15, 2008, Pragmatic Communion was moved tohttp://pragmaticcommunion.wordpress.com/Come on over!

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-24824939358754380982008-07-03T14:43:00.022-05:002008-07-03T18:41:09.342-05:00

So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it all in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it. 1 Peter 4:19, The MessageEight years ago, we left our previous church.My husband had served as part time music minister there for more than 5 years. My son was born during that time. Both FirstHusband and I taught Sunday school. He even

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-7996662612390933002008-05-30T19:35:00.004-05:002008-05-31T12:23:09.160-05:00

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-54425676316934556102008-05-08T15:24:00.004-05:002008-05-25T13:03:20.605-05:00

"With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort."1 Corinthians 15:58 the MessageThis is a reminder that there is great value in the small."It's okay that they don't see. We don't work for them. We work for Him. We sacrifice for Him. They

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-80839797550099731502008-02-19T10:19:00.006-05:002008-02-19T12:17:01.338-05:00

Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]Colossians 3:21 The Amplified BibleMy daughter is a free spirit.She sings. Loud. She sings Disney princess songs and hymns. Praise songs and jingles. She sings her own personal

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-37548123132446359272008-02-11T08:27:00.000-05:002008-02-12T18:22:04.056-05:00

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.Proverbs 15:1We watch Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. By "we," I mean our entire family. Our house is laid out so that the kitchen and the family room are pretty much one big room. So when Hannah Montana is on the TV, it’s difficult to miss. Truth is, I like it. We all like it. We like it so much that we have the DVR

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-50182565135903270082008-01-29T10:21:00.000-05:002008-01-29T10:53:52.921-05:00

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-40181621238590328392008-01-28T11:24:00.000-05:002008-02-02T22:50:37.128-05:00

My random number generator produced the number 60! Congratulations to Sarah!Welcome to my Bloggy Giveaway! I'm offering one giveaway on each of my blogs, so check them out! If you have a minute (a second?) check out my "i sort my m&m's by color" page, my latest "Devotion" post or my post on my anti-filing system to see if one of my blogs might of interest to you in the future! If so, you can

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-2599980394411517882008-01-25T10:32:00.001-05:002008-01-26T10:30:44.194-05:00

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-7414251381360169622008-01-20T14:46:00.000-05:002008-01-21T01:12:41.922-05:00

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)We must be doing something right! Check out this recent conversation with my 7 year old daughter:“I accidentally lied to Mrs. L today so I sat out 5 minutes in recess.”“You lied to Mrs. L?!” “Accidentally! I didn't mean to. I thought she was asking me if somebody else was talking, but

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-40438045743168119502008-01-08T11:40:00.000-05:002008-01-08T12:08:40.295-05:00

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life,

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-11522199136114887602007-12-06T23:45:00.000-05:002007-12-15T12:55:20.705-05:00

And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’” Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-79809516461088671462007-11-01T09:31:00.000-05:002007-11-02T07:19:37.063-05:00

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12I’m the book lady. Every year, my church has a HUGE rummage sale. Two full weeks,

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-83013054190756080732007-10-24T09:20:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:01:12.842-05:00

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-40548603620812340162007-06-30T21:33:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:01:36.289-05:00

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-25794074636273697992007-01-24T09:20:00.000-05:002007-02-13T09:36:49.782-05:00

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. Proverbs 15:18 NIVAdolescence and menopause in the same house? I PRAY that doesn't happen. I can't imagine how things would be if I had a reduced capacity for patience, understanding and giving grace when faced with an unreasonable, prolonged outburst from a cranky person who has decided to use me as a scape goat for .

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-56067575057282156222006-09-11T15:46:00.000-05:002007-02-22T15:59:01.451-05:00

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-37643302252945617932006-06-02T23:09:00.000-05:002007-02-13T09:42:34.597-05:00

To everything there is a season, A timefor every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJVLast year, I led music and one of the sessions at the woman’s retreat for my church. It was . . . comfortable. Time consuming, but not difficult. It was a natural expression of combining my work experience, my music and my faith.So the big question: Is this “next” for me?Do I begin speaking and

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-1145984555546168932006-03-21T12:52:00.000-05:002007-02-13T09:43:48.528-05:00

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. Luke 18.1 NRSVPray always? How can we always be praying?We have STUFF to do:bacon to bring home, errands to run, kids to chauffeur, dentist, doctor and haircut appointments to keep, family to care for, church commitments to fulfill, houses to clean repair, meals to cook eat, things books to buy!

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-34660668006725983362005-11-10T13:34:00.000-05:002007-11-01T10:03:33.781-05:00

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJVSo why now? Why, after decades of compartmentalizing my life, do I decide to remove all the structural lines separating my professional and personal life and see what I get? If I combine so many seemingly unrelated aspects of my

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-1145989791537485972005-10-14T13:21:00.000-05:002007-02-13T09:49:59.886-05:00

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJVLast month I shared my prayer as I seek God’s direction in my life:"Lord, please use people, circumstances, your Word and your Spirit to guide me in the direction I need to go in order to glorify you . . . and please, please, please

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15805188.post-1126719061443346192005-09-14T12:26:00.000-05:002007-01-24T09:35:45.481-05:00

when you combine:a mid-life crisis     (I turned 29 just 12 short years ago!),a few good books     (okay, more than a few),a whole lot of soul searching     (my husband LOVED the conversations - all 4,263 of them.)a background of seemingly unrelated skills, education & experience     (God can use anything, right?)and two years of listening and waiting on God     (I hate it when God teaches me

Julie Stiles Millsnoreply@blogger.com0