Following Jesus
Jesus’ initial call to his disciples is the same as his invitation to us: “Follow me.” As Jesus-followers, we’re to partner with him in bringing God’s kingdom to life in our world. How? By loving one another as he has loved us (John 13:34). Although the command is simple, living it out is challenging.
- 20 Bible Verses for Times of Crisis: When Words Fail
When life unraveled and words failed, God met me through Scripture. These 20 Bible verses carried me through fear, grief, and uncertainty, and continue to offer hope in hard seasons. - 3 Keys to Spiritual Growth: Lessons from the Woman at the WellI never expected to discover keys to spiritual growth from having both knees replaced at once. Yet painful physical therapy taught me what Scripture confirms. Growth doesn’t come from wishing for strength, but from showing up, staying committed through discomfort, and practicing faithful obedience day after day. The woman at the well learned the same truth when Jesus met her in the middle of an ordinary task and invited her into transforming grace.
- Rejoice in the Lord Always: Choosing Joy Despite CircumstancesRejoicing is not a personality trait or a denial of pain. Drawing from Paul’s prison letter to the Philippians, this post explores what it means to rejoice in the Lord always and how choosing joy despite our circumstances becomes an act of trust and spiritual growth.
- How to Choose Jesus Over the Pressures of the Christmas SeasonWhen Christmas pressures pull us in every direction, Scripture invites us to choose Jesus instead. Explore how the story of Herod and Jesus reveals two kingdoms and one life-changing choice.
- 24 Bible Verses for Advent: Preparing Our Hearts as We Wait for ChristmasSlow down this Advent with 24 Bible verses and daily reflection questions that guide your heart as you wait on God, rediscover the wonder of Christmas, and welcome the light Jesus brings into your darkest nights.
- Recipe for Thanksgiving Peace: 5 Steps to a Grace-Filled TableThanksgiving is meant to draw us closer to God and one another, yet sometimes the table feels anything but peaceful. Unspoken hurts, clashing opinions, and unmet expectations can quickly steal our gratitude. Before carving the turkey this year, let’s carve out space for peace. In this post, you’ll discover a simple, Scripture-inspired recipe—five faith-filled steps to prepare not just your table, but your heart.
- How to Let Go of Shame and Find Healing in God’s GraceThe bleeding woman shows how to let go of shame and find healing in God’s grace. Discover how Jesus restores peace, dignity, and your true identity.
- What the Bible Says About Shame: How Jesus Secures Our HonorDiscover what the Bible says about shame and how Jesus silences our shame and secures our honor. From Adam and Eve’s hiding place to the cross, God pursues the shamed, restores dignity, and offers freedom through his redeeming grace.
- Trusting God with Prodigals: How to Pray, Wait, and Find PeaceDiscover practical ways for trusting God with prodigals through prayer, worship, and Scripture. Find encouragement, peace, and hope as you wait for God’s perfect timing to restore and redeem your prodigal.
- 9 Tips for Navigating the Journey: How to Embrace Your ProdigalParents grieve when children distance themselves, closing their hearts and lives to their parents’ love. Find tips to navigate your journey and embrace your prodigal in this post.
- Supportive Resources to Help You Navigate Your Grief JourneyGrief has many faces but one cause—loss. The pain can devastate us, leaving us with questions and doubts. If you’re looking for encouraging resources to help you navigate your grief journey, you can find them here. Click to discover Bible verses, books, articles, and videos.
- 20 Practical Tips for Supporting Someone Who’s GrievingWe want to support someone who’s grieving but struggle to know what to say, do, and avoid. In this post, find 20 practical tips to help.
- Songs to Nourish Your Soul: Finding Your Voice When God Is SilentWords set to music nourish our souls in ways words alone don’t. Listen to songs that speak of God’s presence even when he is silent.
- How to Embrace Faith in God’s Silence: Find Strength in His WordGod’s silence can stretch and strengthen our faith. When we wonder how to respond, Scripture can direct our steps.
- What Does Jesus Mean When He Calls Us to Follow Him?Jesus’ definition of discipleship includes following him. What did that mean to those he called, and what does it mean today? Is there more to discipleship than belief in Jesus?
- How to Unveil the Unseen and Expose What’s Hidden in Plain SightHow much of God’s activity are we missing? Lee Strobel’s book Seeing the Supernatural investigates miracles, unveiling God’s unseen workings. His description of Barbara’s miraculous healing exemplifies divine intervention. Check out the post for recommendations on sharpening our vision to see what’s hidden in plain sight.
- How to Increase Our Chances of Making Wise ChoicesWant to increase your chances of making wise choices? Learn from Adam and Eve’s disastrous decision and discover three steps to grow your ability to formulate informed, God-honoring judgments.
- Thomas ~ What to Do with DoubtCan a person wrestle with doubt and still hold onto faith? Definitely. Many believers experience times of uncertainty. Thomas shows us what to do during those seasons. If we allow our unanswered questions to push us toward the One who knows all the answers, times of doubt can become times of growth.
- Rachel ~ Keys to Increase ContentmentHow can we derail discontent before it derails us? Unlike Jacob’s wife, Rachel, who thought happiness meant having it all, we can discover the keys to increasing our contentment level despite life’s trials.
- Joseph ~ Holding onto Faith in the Dark (Part 2)How can we maintain our faith when we strain to hear God’s voice and struggle to find his way? Holding onto faith in the dark challenges us. Like Mary’s husband, Joseph, Harry and I struggled to discern God’s direction during a period of uncertainty. Yet, while we awaited his guidance, he was at work. Ultimately, at the right time, he spoke to us and to Joseph—not to reveal his entire plan but to instruct us on the next step.
- Joseph ~ Holding onto Faith in the Dark (Part 1)Harry and I faced a dilemma when a church in Hong Kong asked us to consider a pastoral role. In the dark about God’s will, we struggled to hold onto our faith amid our uncertainty. Joseph also grappled with his faith as he faced Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Both stories highlight faith and the quest for divine direction in challenging times.
- The Key to SurvivalThe Bahrain Tree of Life, thriving in the desert with no clear water source, parallels the resilience of persecuted Christians who flourish against adversity. Scientists speculate an underground water supply sustains the tree, symbolizing Christians’ unseen spiritual sustenance. The tree inspires believers to live by faith and rely on Jesus’ support and strength.
- Hosea ~ Do You Need Aggressive Grace? (Part 2)The story of Kalani illustrates God’s radical forgiveness and aggressive grace. Despite a severe attack and her husband’s murder, Kalani forgave her attacker and continued to pastor her village. Her journey mirrors the prophet Hosea’s commitment to aggressive grace and radical forgiveness, offering a powerful example of overcoming evil with good.
- Hosea ~ Do You Need Aggressive Grace? (Part 1)Kalani, despite surviving a traumatic attack that left her a widow and disabled, returned to her village to continue her husband’s ministry, choosing forgiveness over revenge. Her actions echo the biblical story of Hosea’s radical forgiveness and aggressive grace.
- How to Reverse Spiritual Burnout ~ Part TwoSpiritual burnout becomes a real possibility when we allow busyness, even busyness for God, to replace time spent with him. How can we reverse it?
- How to Reverse Spiritual Burnout ~ Part OneLife’s overwhelming demands may lead to an empty heart and an evaporating sense of God’s presence. What then? Jesus sees our desperation and offers to reverse spiritual burnout by refilling our souls with his life-giving joy.
- When God Doesn’t Meet Our Expectations (Part 2)Pilate’s Passover entry into Jerusalem offers a competing vision and strategy for victory when God doesn’t meet our expectations. Will you follow Jesus or Pilate?
- When God Doesn’t Meet Our Expectations (Part 1)We beg God for answers, but his responses either confuse or seem nonexistent. What should we do when God doesn’t meet our expectations?
- Mary ~ How to Reconcile Our Pain with God’s LoveMary gave birth to the Messiah, but she also bore shame, heartache, and confusion throughout Jesus’ life. How could she reconcile God’s love with her pain? How can we?
- Adam & Eve ~ How to Understand God’s Question: “Where Are You?”A new year allows us to start over. God challenges us to use this season to question our priorities, activities, and relationships and align our primary concerns with his. We begin by considering his first question to Adam: “Where are you?” He also asks us–not where we are physically but where we are spiritually. How will you answer?
- How to Tell Time God’s WayWhy must we wait for answers to our prayers? Is God’s way of telling time different from ours?
- Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego ~ How to Choose: Stand Up or Fit InA preview from my upcoming book, Real Faith for a Real World: Turning Trials into Triumphs. What do you think?
- Discovering the One Who’s Hidden in Plain SightSometimes what we think we’ve lost is hidden in plain sight. Maybe our inability to see God isn’t because he’s invisible but because our presumptions limit our perception. What then?
- Change ~ How to Become More Like JesusDid you make New Year’s resolutions? Which areas of your life do you hope to change, and how will you make that happen? Did you include becoming more like Jesus this year? Read about a change that can help you move toward that goal.
- Shepherds ~ How to Experience the Excitement of the ShepherdsHas Christmas become an endless list of errands and events that leave you exhausted? Is it possible to rekindle our joy and rediscover the excitement of the first witnesses? When we follow the steps of the shepherds, we can experience their excitement.
- How to Rejoice When Life Drains Our JoyThe Bible tells us to rejoice always. But how can we do that when life runs roughshod over us? How can we be both faithful and real?
- Is Peace Possible?Regardless of political persuasion, most of us lament the current polarization in our country. Is peace possible? Will you be a purveyor of peace?
- How to Win the War Against WorryDespite knowing worry brings neither peace nor results, many succumb to the temptation. Discover steps to win the war against worry.
- Searching for Signs of HopeThe pandemic has driven many to consider Christ. Are we searching for a manageable Messiah or One whose word and wisdom we can trust?
- How to Navigate an Uncertain FutureWith the pandemic, political changes, and personal crises, we face an uncertain future. How can we navigate to better days?
- How to Find HopeHow can we find healing and hope when God doesn’t do what we request or expect?
- Exile ~ Successful Strategies for EmancipationThanksgiving restrictions imposed by authorities leave some of us feeling as if we’re in exile. Regardless of how we define exile, we long for the end. How can we find freedom?
- How to Eliminate Our EnemiesEnemies: we may have them even if we don’t want them. Jesus told us to love them. But how and why? Can’t we just eliminate them?
- How to Avoid Asking the Wrong QuestionWhen I face difficulties, I often ask what I should learn. But what if that’s not the point? Maybe the challenges we encounter aren’t meant to teach us but to make us.
- Changing Cultures ~ From One Extreme to AnotherIs the US changing cultures, exchanging one extreme for another? From hyper-individualism to toxic tribalism. How should believers respond?
- 4 Steps to Redeem the Culture WarThe US is witnessing a cultural shift that feels like a culture war. How should Christians respond? Discover 4 steps to redeem the opportunity.
- Depression ~ How to Turn Brokenness into BeautyDepression can leave us feeling broken and useless. In Elijah’s story, we can discover steps that lead to healing and allow God to turn our brokenness into beauty.
- Overcoming Depression ~ How to Find Your WayDepression will either define us or refine us. Join Elijah on Mt. Horeb, where he met God. Discover how God’s question to Elijah can direct our steps in overcoming depression.
- Fighting Depression ~ God’s Provision for ElijahGod’s treatment plan for fighting depression begins with rest. But what did that mean for Elijah, and how can it help us?
- Elijah’s Battle with Depression ~ and OursElijah’s battle with depression began after receiving a death threat from Jezebel. How can his story help us when we feel depressed?
- Racial Reconciliation ~ More than RelationshipsRacial Reconciliation ~ More Than Relationships: Whites and non-Whites see the racial divide from different perspectives. Do we need more than interracial relationships to achieve racial reconciliation?
- For Such a Time as This ~ Why Me? Why This? Why Now?What does God want us to do in this place at this time? He has a purpose and has placed us where we are for such a time as this. Read to discover what we can do to promote healing.
- Anger: Is Mine Righteous?Anger may be America’s favorite sport. Long-term conflicts have risen to the surface, resulting in rage. Some defend their wrath, calling it “righteous anger.” Can we be righteous and angry at the same time? Click the link to discover what the Bible says.
- Where’s the Good?Do you wonder how anything good can come from the pandemonium we’re experiencing? The Bible promises God can bring good from everything, but how?
- Gideon ~ Overcoming Obstacles to PeaceSurrounded by demonstrations and discontent, the obstacles to peace can seem overwhelming. Gideon and the Israelites also faced desperate circumstances. Learn steps to peace, overcoming what seems overwhelming.
