When a Rebel Goes Free, and the Righteous Takes His Place

“Away with this Man and release to us Barabbas” – who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder.   Luke 23:18-19 The insurrectionists sat in their cells as they awaited their fate. They, who had once taken pleasure in creating chaos and fear, were now the ones […]

A Traitor’s Kiss, How to Confront Betrayal as Jesus Did

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  Luke 22:48 The glow from the torches and lanterns snaked along the road from Antonia’s Fortress toward Jesus and his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. The speckled line of light grew brighter, and the marching footsteps grew louder as they inched closer. For […]

Hudson Taylor’s Secret to Success was in “The Exchanged Life”

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”  John 15:4 In the early 1890’s Reverend Macartney, from Melbourne, Australia traveled to China to visit Hudson Taylor. Taylor was the first missionary to go into […]

MAN OF SORROWS: How to Overcome Temptation Like Jesus Did

“Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:40 Jesus was only a stone’s throw away from his three closest disciples, when he lay prostrate on the ground, sobbing and praying for the cup to pass. The thick grove of olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane provided a quiet and private place Jesus […]

How Disrupted Plans Reveal the Care & Love of God

This article was originally posted on The Joyful Life Blog. Next week is our 2-year anniversary of living in Arizona. It seemed like an opportune time to recount our journey and God’s faithfulness to bring us here. I was smiling, but inside I was desperately trying to hold it all together. Looking around the room […]

Lessons From Bartimaeus: 5 Eye-Opening Ways to See Your Need

Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke 18:39 Bartimaeus coughed as a thick cloud of dust kicked up around him as the crowd shuffled past. He was sitting at his usual corner, doing what he did every day: begging for money. While the world lay in utter darkness to him, the seeing world preferred […]

You Are Worth More Than Many Sparrows

Do your needs loom large, and your faith feel small today? Learn from the faith-filled example of George Muller the intimate and detailed provision of God for his children.