JourneyWise
Articles
Engaging insights and educational musings to guide and inspire you on your journey from the scholars and thinkers at the JourneyWise network.
ARTICLES BY TOPIC
Advent
Bible Reading
Christmas
Easter
Grief
Health & Wellness
Lent
Live Like Jesus
Love Jesus
Pentecost
Press Releases
Advent
JourneyWise Advent Resources 2024
The other day, I was at Costco, headed to the paper towels, when I overheard a conversation that caught my attention. I casually pulled my buggy up to the children's book area to see what the commotion was about. "A Bluey advent calendar!!! We have to have this!!" A...
Advent: The Gift of the Unexpected
I love Christmas because it is about surprises! We sneak around and buy gifts, then we wrap them and place them under our Christmas trees. There is still a little kid in most of us. Have you ever gotten one of those gifts that totally caught you off guard? Have you ever given a gift that you could hardly keep secret because you knew the person opening it would be so surprised? There is so much joy in watching someone receive a gift they never expected.
Looking for Lights of Christmas
Oh! Think of the possibility if we experience the awe and wonder of Christmas through the eyes of a child. What is it that draws us close to children during the anticipation of what we know as the Advent season? Children are so full of what our hearts should desire....
Bible Reading
Discipleship
Jesus did not stutter or make a suggestion. He stated a divine demand: “Make Disciples.” What many believers set aside as optional, Jesus stated as an essential command to be obeyed. When Jesus returns, His first words to His church just might be, “Why aren’t you doing what I demanded?”
Use Visualization to Interact with Scripture
Visualization is a technique that can be helpful in your Christian walk and can be used for Scripture memorization, stress reduction, a more meaningful prayer time, and a more intentional interaction with Scripture.
Cultural Differentiation
In Daniel 3, every but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bow down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. These three men refused to bow down, even though it came on penalty of death (though we know that the Lord delivered them from Nebuchadnezzar’s hand).
Christmas
Epiphany of Epiphany
I was asked to write this article on Epiphany by Chip, and in all honestly my first question was, “Chip… what is Epiphany?” You see, most of the great folks I work with have a Methodist or Anglican background. I, on the other hand, have a Baptist background, and we Baptists don’t celebrate Epiphany. When I asked Nicolet, “What is Epiphany?” she laughed and said, “Chip probably doesn’t remember you’re a Baptist.”
Unpacking The Nativity for Every Day
Charles Dickens was on to something when, in his novel A Christmas Carol, he described humanity’s journey through the lenses of past, present, and future. The hero (begun as the villain) of the story was Ebenezer Scrooge — a prominent, self-centered, greedy old man. Scrooge despised good cheer and celebrations like Christmas because he had long forgotten the winding roads of his own journey. In doing so, he left behind the avenues of fond memories, lost loves, and compassion for his fellow human beings. You know how the story goes, as Scrooge’s descent into a broken life engaged the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come. Through some not-so-pleasant windows into Scrooge’s life, the spirits convinced him that he needed to change, and motivated his transformation.
Twelve Days
I was having a conversation with a young(ish) pastor about a book the other day, and he mentioned that he and his family were “wrapping up the twelve days of Christmas.” I just looked at him. “Um… how can you be wrapping up the twelve days of Christmas, when they haven’t started yet?” He told me he thought it started on December 13, and wrapped up on the 25th, and didn’t really believe me when I told him the season starts on Christmas morning, and ends on Twelfthnight (January 6). It’s what is called “Christmastide,” and is a celebration that begins with the birth of Jesus and end on Epiphany, the day we celebrate the three kings arriving to meet the baby Jesus. My background is in medieval church history, and I think there are rich Christian traditions surrounding the holiday season that are often overlooked or forgotten. So, just in case you weren’t clear on your church history, I thought it would be good to talk about Christmastide.
Easter
Preparing for Holy Week
Holy Week is the centerpiece of the Christian year. During this week, we celebrate the events leading to his crucifixion and resurrection.
The Key to a More Meaningful Easter
One of the most pleasant surprises of my three years in seminary in Washington, D.C., was learning about the Christian calendar. I knew something about it, but not much. I knew, for example, that Advent came before Christmas.
“What is Lent, Mommy?”
Talking about Lent with young children can often be difficult. For adults, Lent is a deliberate time of prayer and preparation for the Week we know is coming. Even as an adult, I still get very excited about Holy Week and Easter morning. The joy of the Easter morning victory becomes very solemn when couched in the incredible pain and suffering of the violent and cruel treatment of Jesus in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion that we often talk about during Holy Week.
Grief
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
Jesus encourages us to love with real openness and honesty, but such love also brings great vulnerability. By loving and living in a way that we mourn deeply, we open ourselves up to incredible heartache, trouble, and hurt. But! We also draw closer to Jesus, and, with Him, there is potential for great joy because Jesus has overcome the world. (See John 16:33.) In other words, the risk of grief or mourning can be overwhelming. It is not easy to love people to a point where we mourn over hardship and loss. But, through it, God promises life-changing joy if we are willing to take the chance.
Our Comfort in Mourning
As Advent is a season to prepare for the coming of Jesus, Lent is a time to face the reality of death in the world as we look forward to the resurrection power brought to us on Easter. As we sit with the brokenness, death, and suffering we see around us, we can learn from Jesus who took our mourning seriously.
Broken-Hearted: A Lenten Journey
I was lying there looking at a bank of monitors on the wall. They all had images of my heart on them. No, not the little red hearts like valentines, but my beating heart. It was like an out-of-body experience. The medicine I had been given made me feel like I was in a dream.
Health and Wellness
Biblical Principles for Dealing With a Difficult Diagnosis
Few experiences test our faith and resolve like receiving a difficult diagnosis. As believers, we have hope and encouragement rooted in Scripture.
The Need for Sleep
We all need it, and yet we all struggle to get it. It makes us do better in every area of our lives, and yet we treat it as if it is optional. It helps us achieve our goals, yet if we don’t get it, we cannot become all we were meant to be. So what is it? Sleep.
Use Visualization to Interact with Scripture
Visualization is a technique that can be helpful in your Christian walk and can be used for Scripture memorization, stress reduction, a more meaningful prayer time, and a more intentional interaction with Scripture.
Lent
Following Side by Side
Scripture Focus: If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 (NLT) Living the Jesus way is never easy. In many parts of the world, surface religious activity can seem acceptable, even...
The Meaning and Importance of the Season of Lent
The journey through Lent prepares Christians to fully experience the joy of Easter, celebrating the triumph of Jesus over sin and death.
Don’t Leave Your Joy Outside the Door
The season of Lent is not always a season of joy, and we can often dissect joy from this time of reflection. Our problem is that our joy is most often tied to our circumstances. Despite the suffering He endured, Jesus’ joy remained constant.
Live Like Jesus
Discipleship
Jesus did not stutter or make a suggestion. He stated a divine demand: “Make Disciples.” What many believers set aside as optional, Jesus stated as an essential command to be obeyed. When Jesus returns, His first words to His church just might be, “Why aren’t you doing what I demanded?”
Ordinary Time, Explained
During those times of year when we shift away from the high celebrations of the church, think about how the early followers of Jesus felt as they no longer had the physical presence of their Lord.
Preparing for Lent: A Time for Fearless Inventory of Your Life
Lent is a six-week season of intentional self-denial and focus in preparation for Easter. Many followers of Jesus Christ struggle with understanding the meaning and purpose of Lent. Does it even matter?
Love Jesus
A Gospel for the Wanderer
It seems for quite a lot of people, there is a very real need to assert that they may be wandering, but they’re definitely not lost, and no one needs to save them. Bumper stickers proclaim this “not lost-ness” and Pinterest boards are filled with memes about the virtues of wandering.
What Are You Planting?
A few years ago, my husband and I traveled to Montana in April. We were so excited for our trip to fly fish, horseback ride, and hiking—all the great things you do at a ranch. We kept watching the weather thinking it was going to be great weather. The forecast was showing around 70 degrees during the day and in the 50’s at night. We were imagining sitting out by the fire at night, enjoying fishing in the creek with fresh green grass all around us.
Discipleship
Jesus did not stutter or make a suggestion. He stated a divine demand: “Make Disciples.” What many believers set aside as optional, Jesus stated as an essential command to be obeyed. When Jesus returns, His first words to His church just might be, “Why aren’t you doing what I demanded?”
Love Like Jesus
Following Side by Side
Scripture Focus: If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23 (NLT) Living the Jesus way is never easy. In many parts of the world, surface religious activity can seem acceptable, even...
Pentecost: God Comes Unexpectedly
The New Testament Book of Acts tells the story of the birth of the Church. Here is an exciting part of the story. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the...
Waiting on the Holy Spirit
Waiting is not an easy task for me. I’ve been known to drive miles out of the way to avoid being delayed by a train. I’ve been caught sneaking food from the dish before it was placed on the table. I’ve evaluated the check-out lanes at Wal-Mart in order to choose the...
Pentecost
Pentecost: God Comes Unexpectedly
The New Testament Book of Acts tells the story of the birth of the Church. Here is an exciting part of the story. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the...
Waiting on the Holy Spirit
Waiting is not an easy task for me. I’ve been known to drive miles out of the way to avoid being delayed by a train. I’ve been caught sneaking food from the dish before it was placed on the table. I’ve evaluated the check-out lanes at Wal-Mart in order to choose the...
Pentecost: What Does This Mean?
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a...
Prayer
Keep Knocking
What do you do when you don’t just want something, but you genuinely need it? You find a way to get it, don’t you? You keep pushing for it, and you don’t back down. You know that no one is going to give you what you need. You have to make it happen on your own.
Praying in Difficulty When Words are Few!
It was about 9:30 pm on a brisk fall evening in Detroit that my life would change forever. I had worked all day in a trauma orthopedic unit. Afterward, I had gone to class and was physically and mentally exhausted as I made my way home. The streetlights lit each corner of the quiet neighborhood as I was driving down the street to my home. When I pulled into my driveway, I didn’t notice the car pulling up behind me. Thinking it was the guy delivering my paper, which usually came at night, I didn’t think anything about it.
How to Pray for Healing
How should we engage healing prayer? Approaching any type of prayer involves recognizing the comforting reality that Jesus is already interceding on our behalf. This revelation alleviates the pressure of our prayers, our role is similar to a child assisting parents with household chores. What’s truly remarkable is that our imperfect prayers are joined with Jesus’s flawless ones. This connection is rooted in the joy of the gospel, where we exist in Him, and He resides in us, eliminating the need to impress or convince God. Rather than proving ourselves, we align our minds, hearts, and wills with Jesus, who is actively interceding with the Father. It’s a reminder that the Spirit of Christ dwells within us, supporting us as we embark on the journey of prayer.
Press Releases
JourneyWise Network Announces Partnership with Museum of the Bible and its ‘New Testament Experience’
MEMPHIS, TN — The Moore-West Center of Applied Theology and the JourneyWise Network has partnered with Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. as they are set to open the “New Testament Experience”. The “New Testament Experience” is a three-part immersive experience...
JourneyWise Launches New Book
JourneyWise, a multimedia network dedicated to helping people “Love Jesus and Love Like Jesus,” will launch its first two books this fall with publishing partner Whitaker House.
DR. REV. CYNTHIA DAVIS NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
In the Center for Applied Theology, Davis will be overseeing the existing relationships with its partners including United Theological Seminary, Asbury Seminary, and World Methodist Evangelism.