Home
Rabbitry
Homestead
Homeschool
- Reviews
  - Books
  - Curriculum
  - Discipleship
  - Films
Journal
- Bible Study
- Book Nook
Podcast
- Know By Heart
- Sojourner Storycast
Shop

Faithstead

The Shroud and the Savior

3 Mins read

April 3, 2026

Untitled design

A powerful reflection on the Shroud of Turin and how it points to the real suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus—and the incredible love behind it all.

Continue Reading

Shares

Man in medieval suit holding sword. Action. Close-up of man's hand in medieval suit holding sword hilt on background of sunlight. Epic view of medieval hero

War and Peace

April 2, 2026

More Than A Story

Discipleship Homeschool Reviews

Devotional Highlight: More Than A Story

April 1, 2026

Storycast Promo Images

Podcast Sojourner Storycast

Mary Magdalene – The First Witness in the Garden (A Holy Week Easter Special)

March 30, 2026

Storycast Promo Images

Podcast Sojourner Storycast

Peter: Fisher of Men – Jesus Never Lets Go

March 23, 2026

Cutting the Gordian Knot

Bible Study Journal

Is Truth Objective or Subjective?

March 21, 2026

Windows on the World

Discipleship Homeschool Reviews

Devotional Highlight: Window on the World

March 21, 2026

Untitled design

Discipleship Homeschool Reviews

Bible Study Highlight: The Bible Recap

March 17, 2026

Storycast Promo Images

Podcast Sojourner Storycast

Patricius: The Life and Legacy of St. Patrick

March 16, 2026

Previous
1
2
3
4
…
7
Load More

Welcome

Heidi Chou

Hello there

I'm a Christian mama of two, on a quest to love God, homeschool, and homestead. Faithstead is where I share the journey, hoping to inspire and connect with families who want to live humbly, learn deeply, and love fully for His glory.

Revelation Reloaded – Week 3 (Revelation 4:1 – 5:14)

Revelation Reloaded – Week 2 (Revelation 1:4 – 3:22)

Revelation Reloaded – Week 1 (Revelation 1:1–3)

Podcast

Reflections on Charlie Kirk

envato-labs-image-edit-26

Is Our Turning Point Still Missing the Point?

envato-labs-image-edit-30

Advent Special: The Tale of the Three Trees

Storycast Promo Images

Have a lovely day

John 14:2 is such a comforting verse because Jesus

John 14:2 is such a comforting verse because Jesus spoke these words to disciples whose hearts were troubled. They didn’t fully understand what was about to happen, but Jesus wanted them to know that His leaving was not abandonment — it was preparation. “In My Father’s house are many rooms” reminds us that heaven is not uncertain or distant to Him. Jesus speaks of it like home. A prepared place means we are deeply wanted, expected, and loved by God.

What stands out is that Jesus doesn’t just promise a place — He promises His presence. Just a few verses later He says He will come again and take us to be with Him. Our hope as believers isn’t simply about escaping this world someday; it’s about being with Christ forever. When life feels unstable, lonely, or temporary, this verse reminds us that our true home is secure in Him.

For the Christian, death and His coming are always connected to hope, not hopelessness. Jesus did not speak about eternity as something fearful for those who belong to Him, but as a home being prepared by a loving Savior. Because of Christ, death is no longer the end of the story — it becomes the doorway into the presence of God. Every promise Jesus makes in John 14 points us toward the certainty that we are not forgotten, abandoned, or without a future. Our hearts can rest because the One preparing the place is also the One who gave His life for us.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#John142 #ScriptureMemory #BibleMemory #MemorizeScripture #HideGodsWordInYourHeart

Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Jo

Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize John 14:2 together—“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

These words were spoken by Jesus in the same upper room where the disciples were feeling fear, confusion, and grief. He had just told them that He was going away, and their world felt like it was unraveling. Yet in the middle of that uncertainty, Jesus does not only comfort their present fear—He anchors them with a promise about their future.

Let this verse remind you that Jesus is not absent in your waiting, and He is not idle in your uncertainty. While you walk through seasons that feel unstable, He is actively preparing a place for you. Your life is not moving toward emptiness or loss, but toward a promised home secured by Christ Himself. You can trust Him not only with today, but with eternity.

💛 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share, so you never miss a verse.

From seed to supper. 🌱 #GardenHarvest #Homegrown

From seed to supper. 🌱

#GardenHarvest #HomegrownFood #BackyardGardening #GrowWhatYouEat #SimpleLivingLife

This parable reveals a steady picture of God’s cha

This parable reveals a steady picture of God’s character—He is both patient and purposeful, merciful and honest.

The owner of the vineyard does not rush to destroy the fig tree. He looks for fruit, finds none, and still extends time and care. That patience reflects God’s long-suffering nature. He does not deal quickly or lightly with what is barren; He gives real opportunity for response.

But God’s patience is never indifferent. The tree is not ignored—it is tended. The digging and fertilizing show intentional care, the kind of attention that aims at restoration, not abandonment. God’s mercy is active, not passive. He works on what is unfruitful, not because He is unaware, but because He is gracious.

At the same time, this passage shows that God is truthful about reality. He does not redefine barrenness as fruitfulness. He does not ignore what is unchanged. His patience has direction—it moves toward genuine transformation.

So we see God’s character held together here: patient enough to wait, loving enough to tend, and honest enough to expect real fruit. He is not easily frustrated, but He is not indifferent either.

And that brings both comfort and clarity. Comfort, because God does not give up quickly. Clarity, because His patience is not meant to leave us unchanged, but to lead us into real life.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#GodsCharacter #BibleDevotion #Luke13 #GodIsPatient #FaithReflection

Revelation isn’t a mystery to fear—it’s a message

Revelation isn’t a mystery to fear—it’s a message to understand.

The word revelation in Greek is apokalypsis, which means “unveiling” or “revealing.” Right from the beginning, we learn that this book is not trying to hide truth from its readers. The purpose of Revelation is actually the opposite—it is one unified revelation meant to ultimately reveal Jesus Christ more clearly to us.

Another interesting detail is the phrase “made it known” in Revelation 1:1. The Greek word used here is sēmainō, which can mean to signify, signal, or communicate through signs and symbols. That matters because it helps set the tone for how we should approach the entire book.

So when Revelation describes beasts, dragons, lampstands, or strange heavenly scenes, the first question usually is not, “What literal creature is this?” but rather, “What does this image represent?”
Another important concept I’m learning about Revelation is something called recapitulation.

Recapitulation means Revelation often revisits the same time periods or spiritual realities multiple times, but from different angles and with different imagery—almost like replaying the same event from different camera perspectives.

For example, the seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls all end with scenes involving judgment, cosmic shaking, thunder, lightning, and the defeat of evil. Rather than describing three completely separate endings of the world, many interpreters understand them as different portrayals of God’s judgment and Christ’s victory viewed from different perspectives.

That realization becomes foundational for understanding the rest of Revelation. The symbols and visions communicate real truth, but often indirectly through imagery, patterns, and symbolism.

The book is not trying to confuse us—it’s inviting us to slow down and pay attention to what the images are meant to reveal.

And honestly, that realization has made Revelation feel far less intimidating and infinitely more beautiful.

Read the full article on the blog. 🔗 in bio.

#BookOfRevelation #BibleStudy #JesusRevealed #BiblicalTruth #ChristianFaith

Jesus tells a simple story about a guy who shows u

Jesus tells a simple story about a guy who shows up at his friend’s house in the middle of the night asking for bread. It’s inconvenient, awkward, and honestly kind of bold. Everyone is already in bed, the house is dark, and the last thing the friend wants is to get up and deal with a request.

But Jesus uses this moment to teach us about prayer—about what it looks like to keep coming to God with our needs, even when it feels late, messy, or like we should probably stop asking.

Tim Keller once said, “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 AM for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”

That picture changes everything. Prayer isn’t you trying to convince a tired God to care—it’s you coming to a Father who actually gave you permission to come anytime. Even at 3am. Even when it’s small. Even when you feel like you’ve already asked too many times.

Sometimes we stop praying not because we don’t believe God can answer, but because we start thinking we’re being annoying. Jesus is correcting that. You’re not a burden knocking on a locked door—you’re a child coming into a home where you belong.

So keep asking. Keep knocking. Not because God is slow, but because you’re learning who He really is.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#Luke11 #PrayerLife #FaithInGod #GodIsFather #KeepKnocking

A steak sandwich done right hits that perfect bala

A steak sandwich done right hits that perfect balance—savory, fresh, and a little unexpected.

Tender steak piled onto toasted ciabatta, layered with sweet caramelized onions, crisp cucumbers, and juicy tomatoes, then finished with a bright cilantro garlic ginger sauce that ties it all together.

It’s hearty, messy in the best way, and honestly hard to stop thinking about after the last bite.

#SteakSandwich #CiabattaBread #HomemadeEats #FoodieFavorites #SandwichLovers

Grew up watching the Left Behind series? Check. Gr

Grew up watching the Left Behind series? Check.
Grew up fearing the end times? Check.
Grew up thinking Revelation was all about the Great Tribulation? Check.

Like a lot of people who grew up during the Left Behind era—and survived Y2K and the panic over the end of the Mayan calendar—my view of the end times was always wrapped in fear and dread.

Am I ready?
Will I be left behind?
What’s my game plan during the tribulation?
Will I end up hiding in a bunker and get hungry enough to eat my own sneakers?

Yep. I spent a good portion of my youth worrying, planning, and then worrying some more.

I even had a friend who volunteered to martyr us if we were left behind so we wouldn’t have to suffer through all the plagues to come.

Yes, I was a slightly morbid child.

I came out of a church culture that constantly studied the “signs of the times” and connected current events to the imagery in Revelation. We always seemed to live on the edge of the tipping point, waiting for everything to unravel at any moment.

Because of that, Revelation was never a book I understood—or honestly thought I could understand. So it took me a long time to finally gather the courage to study it for myself. But with some encouragement and support from friends, I’m finally diving in.

And I’m loving every second of it.

My first big takeaway is this: Revelation is actually good news for those who are in Christ.

It was written to encourage churches facing persecution and suffering in the first century. It is ultimately a book of hope because Jesus Christ is King.

And according to Revelation 1:3, those who read it, hear it, and keep what is written in it are blessed! Basically…this book is a blessing, not a threat if you are in Christ. Wow!

How did I never see that before?

If that perspective feels new to you—or excites you the way it excites me—I hope you’ll journey through Revelation with me too. I’ll be working through @jenwilkin Revelation Bible Study for the next 10 weeks and posting my thoughts here.

Check out my blog to see the resources I’m using. 🔗 in bio.

#RevelationStudy #EndTimesHope #JesusIsKing #LeftBehindGeneration #BibleStudyJourney

A lamp is not lit so it can be hidden. Its purpose

A lamp is not lit so it can be hidden. Its purpose is to shine. In the same way, Jesus did not come to remain concealed. He came to reveal the truth about God, His Kingdom, and the way of salvation. The question is not whether the light is shining, but whether we are paying attention to it.

Jesus warns, “Pay attention to what you hear.” Spiritual growth is not merely about gaining information; it is about responding to God’s Word with faith and obedience. Those who receive His truth and act on it will find their understanding deepening. But those who ignore or neglect what they have heard will gradually lose even the little understanding they possess.

The Kingdom of God works this way: revelation brings responsibility. Every time we open Scripture, hear a sermon, or sense the Spirit’s conviction, we are invited to respond. As we do, God’s light shines more brightly in our lives and through our lives to others. 💡

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#Mark4 #BibleStudy #KingdomOfGod #GodsWord
#LetYourLightShine

Treasure the simple life 🌿 #SimpleLifeMoments #Tr

Treasure the simple life 🌿

#SimpleLifeMoments #TreasureTheSimpleLife #FaithAndFamily #NatureWithKids #HomeschoolLife

The parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl o

The parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is not something people stumble into lightly—it is something they recognize as worth everything. When the merchant finds the pearl, he doesn’t hesitate or negotiate; he responds with total surrender because he understands its unmatched worth.

Jesus is showing us that real discipleship is not about adding Him to an already full life, but about discovering that He is worth reshaping everything around. What once felt valuable begins to lose its hold when compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and belonging to His kingdom.

Yet this parable also gently exposes our hearts. We often treat many things as “valuable pearls” alongside Jesus—comfort, success, control, approval. But the kingdom calls us to a deeper clarity: there is only one treasure that is truly worth everything.

Today, the invitation is not pressure but vision—asking God to open our eyes to see Christ clearly enough that we would gladly release lesser things, not out of loss, but out of joy.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#PearlOfGreatPrice #KingdomOfHeaven #FollowingJesus #FaithAndSurrender #BibleDevotional

Holland Lop Bunny Ready for a Forever Home Housto

Holland Lop Bunny
Ready for a Forever Home

Houston, Texas Area

#HoustonBunnies #HoustonPets #HollandLopHouston #HoustonRabbit #TexasBunnyLove

Oh goodness… 🥸 #HomeschoolLife #HomeschoolMomLife

Oh goodness… 🥸

#HomeschoolLife #HomeschoolMomLife #lifelearning #homewithkids #lifegoeson

Little joys in life! 💕 In watching butterflies, I

Little joys in life! 💕

In watching butterflies, I’m reminded that transformation is both patient and beautiful.

#HomeschoolNatureStudy #ButterflyWatching #ScienceInCreation #WonderAndWorship #CottagecoreLearning

It’s time to release the butterflies! 🦋 Tiny win

It’s time to release the butterflies! 🦋

Tiny wings, warm sun, and a garden full of reminders that God makes beautiful things slowly.

#ButterfliesInTheGarden #GodsCreation #NatureBeauty #GardenMoments #QuietWonder

The parable of the leaven reminds us that God ofte

The parable of the leaven reminds us that God often works in ways that feel small, hidden, and slow. A tiny amount of leaven doesn’t seem impressive at first, but over time it changes the entire batch of dough from the inside out. In the same way, the kingdom of God may not always look dramatic or powerful by the world’s standards, yet its influence is real and unstoppable.

Sometimes we become discouraged because we don’t see immediate growth in ourselves, our families, or the people we are praying for. We want visible results and quick transformation. But Jesus teaches that kingdom work is often quiet before it is visible. God is still working beneath the surface, shaping hearts, renewing minds, and transforming lives little by little.

Today, may we trust the hidden work of God. Small acts of obedience, faithful prayer, a quiet word of encouragement, or time spent in Scripture may seem insignificant, but in God’s hands they can become part of a transformation far bigger than we can see.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#KingdomOfHeaven #ParablesOfJesus #FaithfulInSmallThings #HiddenWorkOfGod #BibleStudyCommunity

I’ve been studying a lot of parables recently so I

I’ve been studying a lot of parables recently so I decided to write one 🤔

The Parable of the Poppy

I sowed a poppy in hope and waited for it to grow.

For a long time, nothing seemed to happen. I wondered if it had failed altogether.

Then something finally sprouted—but I couldn’t tell if it was a weed or the flower I had planted. So I decided to give it time. Maybe with more growth, I would know.

More waiting followed. Even with a few more leaves, it still didn’t look like much. I had to turn to Google Lens just to identify it. It confirmed: it was a flower—but it still looked scraggly, unimpressive, and easy to overlook.

So I left it.

Unnoticed. Forgotten.

Until today.

It bloomed.

What I thought was wasted time turned out to be quiet preparation for something beautiful.

It was far more beautiful than I ever expected and totally worth it 🥰

#ThePoppyParable #BeautyInWaiting #GrowthInTime #TrustTheProcess #QuietBlooms

The parable of the wheat and the weeds reminds us

The parable of the wheat and the weeds reminds us that God’s kingdom often grows quietly in a messy world. The servants wanted to pull the weeds immediately, but the master told them to wait because uprooting the weeds too soon could damage the wheat too. That’s hard for us because we want quick justice, quick answers, and clear separation between good and evil. But God is patient. He sees what we cannot see, and He knows the right time for judgment and harvest.

Sometimes we become discouraged when evil seems to grow alongside what is good. Other times, we are tempted to play the role of judge ourselves. But Jesus calls us instead to remain faithful and fruitful where He has planted us. The existence of weeds does not mean the farmer has lost control of the field. The harvest is still coming.

Today, instead of focusing on the weeds around us, may we ask God to make us fruitful wheat in His kingdom — rooted deeply, growing faithfully, and trusting Him with the final harvest.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#WheatAndWeeds #ParablesOfJesus #KingdomOfHeaven #TrustGodsTiming #FaithInTheProcess

A landowner plants a vineyard, takes care of it, a

A landowner plants a vineyard, takes care of it, and trusts tenants to look after it. When harvest time comes, he sends servants to collect what’s his—but they’re rejected, hurt, even killed. Then he sends his son, thinking they’ll respect him. Instead, they kill him too.

Jesus is showing what’s been happening all along: God has been patient with His people, sending prophets, speaking again and again—but they were ignored or rejected. And now, the leaders are doing the same thing to Jesus Himself. The shocking part is that they actually realize He’s talking about them, but instead of changing, they double down.

It’s easy to read this and think, “I would never do that,” but the uncomfortable question is whether I sometimes do the same thing in smaller ways. God speaks, convicts, nudges—and I can ignore it, delay it, or explain it away while still looking “fine” on the outside.

The vineyard is really about responsibility. God gives life, opportunities, relationships, truth—and He looks for fruit from it. Not perfection, but real change: humility, obedience, love that shows up in actions.

And even though this is a warning, it’s also a reminder that God’s kingdom doesn’t stop when people reject Him. He keeps building it with people who are willing to listen and respond.

So the question for me today is pretty simple: am I actually responding to what God is saying, or just hearing it and moving on like nothing needs to change?

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#ParableOfTheTenants #Matthew21 #BibleDevotional #FaithAndFruitfulness #ListenAndRespond

John 14:1 carries so much weight when you remember

John 14:1 carries so much weight when you remember what had just happened. Jesus wasn’t speaking these words in a peaceful moment. He had just told His disciples that He was leaving, that betrayal was already unfolding, and that Peter himself would deny Him. The room must have felt heavy with confusion, fear, and grief. And into that tension Jesus speaks:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”

What makes this statement so remarkable is that Jesus places faith in Himself alongside faith in God. For a Jewish audience that believed only God was worthy of ultimate trust, this was no small claim. Jesus was revealing His divine identity. He was not merely a teacher pointing people toward God—He is God the Son, worthy of the same trust, worship, and confidence as the Father.

That truth matters deeply because troubled hearts are vulnerable hearts. Fear can make people desperate for someone visible to cling to, someone who claims to speak for God with absolute authority. But in John 14, Jesus never redirects faith toward another earthly mediator, institution, or future leader. He points directly to Himself. Their peace would not come from trusting a man, but from trusting Christ.

The beauty of this verse is that it meets us in real-life distress. These words were spoken on the eve of the cross, in a hostile city, under the shadow of suffering. Yet Jesus offers peace before circumstances improve. He reminds us that faith is not the absence of trouble—it is confidence in who He is in the middle of it.
So when life feels unstable, confusing, or even spiritually disorienting, John 14:1 calls us back to the safest place: trust in God, and trust in Jesus Christ, because Jesus is not a replacement for God—He is God the Son, faithful and worthy of our complete trust.

Episode 🔗 in bio.

#John141 #MemorizeScripture #TrustInChrist #FaithOverFear #BibleVerseMemorization

Follow on Instagram

© 2026 Faithstead

Home
Rabbitry
Homestead
Homeschool
- Reviews
  - Books
  - Curriculum
  - Discipleship
  - Films
Journal
- Bible Study
- Book Nook
Podcast
- Know By Heart
- Sojourner Storycast
Shop

Podcast

Our site uses cookies. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy

I accept use of cookies