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Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God

Faithstead

Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
Podcast Sojourner Storycast

Keys to the Kingdom Part 1: The Beautiful Gate

8 Mins read
May 6, 2026
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In this Sojourner Storycast episode, we see that Jesus is the One who brings people from the outside in. At the Beautiful Gate, a man sat broken and unable to enter—but through the name of Jesus, he was restored and welcomed in. This is not the work of human strength, but of divine power. God sent His Son not only to heal bodies, but to forgive sins and make sinners whole. And through believing on the name of Jesus, He opens the way for people to enter His kingdom, bringing the broken near and making them part of His people.

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When Heaven Came Down: The Reversal of Babel at Pentecost

April 29, 2026
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Podcast Sojourner Storycast

Matthias: The Twelfth Apostle 

April 22, 2026
Equipped Bible Study Highlight
Discipleship Homeschool Reviews

Bible Study Highlight: Equipped

April 14, 2026
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Podcast Sojourner Storycast

A Tale of Two Covenants: From Sinai to Pentecost

April 13, 2026
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Cleopas: The Road to Emmaus (A Resurrection Special)

April 6, 2026
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The Shroud and the Savior

April 3, 2026
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War and Peace

April 2, 2026
More Than A Story
Discipleship Homeschool Reviews

Devotional Highlight: More Than A Story

April 1, 2026
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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.

Commonplace Notes – The Cost of Discipleship

The Thorn-Shaped Seed of Love

Heeding Hebrews – Week 3: Better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-4:13)

Podcast

Revelation Reloaded – Week 5: The Seven Trumpets (Revelation 8:2-11:19)

ChatGPT Image Jun 26, 2026 at 01_20_10 PM

Advent Special: The Tale of the Three Trees

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Reflections on Charlie Kirk

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Have a lovely day
Have you ever carried something so heavy that you Have you ever carried something so heavy that you wished you could simply escape from it?

That is where we find David in Psalm 55.

He is frightened. His heart is in anguish. He wants to fly away and find somewhere safe to rest. But what makes his pain even deeper is that the person who has wounded him is not a stranger. It is someone he once considered a close friend and companion.

David is carrying fear, grief, betrayal, and injustice—and yet, in the middle of it all, he says:

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.”

Today, we have something David could only look forward to. We have seen just how far God was willing to go to bear our burdens. God did not remain distant from our weakness. He came near.

Jesus entered our world and experienced hunger, exhaustion, grief, rejection, and sorrow. He knew the pain of being misunderstood and abandoned. And He knew the particular wound David describes in this psalm—the wound of betrayal by someone close to Him.

So when Scripture tells us to cast our burdens on the LORD, we are not bringing them to a God who stands far away and tells us to be strong.

We are bringing them to a Savior who entered into our broken world and carried our greatest burden of all—our sin.

Listen to the whole episode. 🔗 in bio.

#Psalm5522 #BibleVerseMemorization #CastYourBurdens #ChristianEncouragement #HopeInChrist
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Ps Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Psalm 55:22 together.

Psalm 55 gives us a glimpse into David’s own distress. He is overwhelmed with fear, longing to escape, and deeply wounded by the betrayal of someone who had been a close friend and companion.

And then, in the middle of all that turmoil, David says:
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

God doesn’t tell us that our burdens aren’t heavy. He tells us where to take them. 

Today we have an even fuller picture of this promise because we know Jesus. He came near and entered into our weakness. He knew grief, rejection, and betrayal, and at the cross He bore the greatest burden we could never carry ourselves. So whatever you are carrying today, cast it on the LORD. He will sustain you. And though this present life may shake us, it cannot move us from the secure hope we have in Christ.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#Psalm5522 #BibleVerseMemorization #CastYourBurdens #ChristianEncouragement #HopeInChrist
Sharing a few excerpts from The Cost of Disciplesh Sharing a few excerpts from The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 📖

Isn’t it beautiful that the Beatitudes are not a checklist of spiritual virtues we must cultivate to earn God’s favor, but a description of a people shaped by His grace and marked by the cross?

The cross reveals the cost of discipleship, but we do not bear that cost in our own strength. We follow the One who first bore the suffering of the world on the cross. And it is His grace that sustains us as we follow Him.

Have you read The Cost of Discipleship? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

#DietrichBonhoeffer #TheCostOfDiscipleship #TheBeatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #ChristianLiving
We all face temptation. Perhaps it’s the temptatio We all face temptation. Perhaps it’s the temptation to lie to avoid getting into trouble, to lose our temper when things don’t go our way, to envy what someone else has, or to compromise our convictions because we want to fit in.

Sometimes we might even think that our particular struggle is too difficult, or that nobody else understands what we’re going through.

But Paul reminds us that no temptation is unique to us. Others have faced similar struggles, and more importantly, God is faithful.

Notice that Paul doesn’t tell us to try harder. He directs our attention to God’s faithfulness. God knows our weaknesses, He sets limits on our temptations, and He provides a way for us to endure them.

That way of escape doesn’t always mean the temptation immediately disappears. Sometimes it means walking away from a situation, confessing our struggles to someone we trust, remembering God’s Word, or choosing obedience even when our desires pull us in another direction.

And sometimes, as Paul tells the Corinthians just a few verses later, it means fleeing altogether from something that threatens to draw our hearts away from God.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#KnowByHeart #BibleMemory #MemorizeScripture #ScriptureMemory #BibleVerse
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Ps Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Psalm 55:22 together.

Psalm 55 gives us a glimpse into David’s own distress. He is overwhelmed with fear, longing to escape, and deeply wounded by the betrayal of someone who had been a close friend and companion.

And then, in the middle of all that turmoil, David says:
“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

God doesn’t tell us that our burdens aren’t heavy. He tells us where to take them. 

Today we have an even fuller picture of this promise because we know Jesus. He came near and entered into our weakness. He knew grief, rejection, and betrayal, and at the cross He bore the greatest burden we could never carry ourselves. So whatever you are carrying today, cast it on the LORD. He will sustain you. And though this present life may shake us, it cannot move us from the secure hope we have in Christ.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#KnowByHeart #BibleMemory #MemorizeScripture #ScriptureMemory #BibleVerse
Have you ever noticed the surprising similarities Have you ever noticed the surprising similarities between Philemon and the story of the prodigal son?

A runaway.
A debt.
A return home.
A mediator.
And an unexpected welcome.

Philemon is only 25 verses, but it gives us a beautiful picture of grace, forgiveness, reconciliation—and the gospel.

The gospel doesn’t just cancel the debt. It brings us home.

Read the full post, “Philemon and the Prodigal Slave” in the blog. 🔗 in bio.

#Philemon #BibleStudy #Grace #Forgiveness #Reconciliation
“In all your ways acknowledge him.” Not just in t “In all your ways acknowledge him.”

Not just in the big decisions. Not just when we’re facing a crisis. In all your ways.

Our families. Our work. Our plans. Our relationships. Our ordinary, seemingly insignificant choices.

To acknowledge God is to recognize that He is Lord over all of it—and to invite His Word to shape the way we walk.

We don’t simply ask, “Lord, bless the path I’ve chosen.”
We ask, “Lord, show me the path You would have me take.”

And then comes this beautiful promise: “He will make straight your paths.”

That doesn’t mean the road will always be easy. Sometimes God’s straight path leads through suffering, waiting, or places we never would have chosen.

The path may wind through valleys, but it is never outside His sovereign care. Even when we cannot understand the road before us, we can trust that He is leading us somewhere good—toward greater faithfulness, deeper dependence, and ultimately toward Himself.

Listen to the entire episode. Podcast 🔗 in bio.

#Proverbs36 #ScriptureMemory #TrustInTheLord #WalkByFaith #KnowByHeart
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Pr Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Proverbs 3:6 together.

We often think of trusting God when life gets difficult, but this verse calls us to something even broader: “In all your ways acknowledge him.”

Not just in the big decisions. Not just when we need help. In all your ways. Our plans, our relationships, our work, our families, our ordinary moments, and even the things we think we already understand.

To acknowledge God is to recognize that He is Lord over every part of our lives and to seek His wisdom rather than simply asking Him to bless the path we’ve already chosen.

And then comes the promise: “He will make straight your paths.”

That doesn’t mean the road will always be easy. Sometimes His path leads through suffering, waiting, and circumstances we never would have chosen. But we can rest in knowing that God is faithfully directing our steps and working all things together for our good.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#Proverbs36 #ScriptureMemory #TrustInTheLord #WalkByFaith #KnowByHeart
Elizabeth Elliot once told a story about watching Elizabeth Elliot once told a story about watching a shepherd treat his sheep by dunking them in medicine. The sheep resisted because they didn’t understand what the shepherd was doing. From the sheep’s perspective, it probably seemed frightening and completely unnecessary.

But the shepherd knew something the sheep didn’t.
And perhaps that’s part of what it means to trust God with all our heart.

God doesn’t promise that we will always understand what He is doing. In fact, there will be times when His ways make no sense to us.

But we don’t have to understand everything God is doing in order to trust Him.

We may not always know the why, but we can always know the Who.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#Proverbs35 #BibleMemorization #ChristianEncouragement #TrustInGod #BiblicalTruth
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Pr Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Proverbs 3:5 together.

This is such a familiar verse, but its meaning is deep enough to take a lifetime to understand. What does it really mean to trust in the Lord with all your heart?

When life doesn’t make sense, we naturally ask, Why? And there is nothing wrong with bringing our questions to God. But sometimes, without realizing it, we can begin to doubt God’s goodness simply because we don’t understand His ways.

We see so little. God sees everything. Nothing surprises Him, nothing is outside His control, and He is perfectly wise and completely good. If we truly believe that, then we can trust Him even when we don’t understand what He is doing.

We may not always understand the why, but we can know the Who.

So as you memorize this verse, remember: faith isn’t having every answer. Faith is trusting the One who does.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#Proverbs35 #BibleMemorization #ChristianEncouragement #TrustInGod #BiblicalTruth
I began this study wanting to understand Revelatio I began this study wanting to understand Revelation better. I finished realizing that Revelation was teaching me how to see everything else better.

Revelation means unveiling. And what it unveils is not merely a timeline of future events, but reality itself—the reality behind the curtain.

The kingdoms of this world are temporary. Evil does not have the final word. Death is not ultimate. Creation is not disposable. And Jesus Christ is not merely a figure in history—He is the King toward whom history is moving.

Perhaps that is what I needed most from Revelation: not simply a clearer picture of the end, but a clearer picture of the present.

Because when we see the world as God has revealed it, it changes what we worship, what we fear, what we pursue, and what we are willing to remain faithful to.

We are not wandering toward an unknown future.
We are moving toward the day when the King returns, the curse is gone, and all things are made new.

“Surely I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

This was my first deep dive into Revelation, and I hope it won’t be my last. ❤️

Read about the whole Revelation Reloaded study on the blog. 🔗 in bio.

#Revelation #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #BiblicalWorldview #ComeLordJesus
When we put our faith in Christ, His sacrifice cov When we put our faith in Christ, His sacrifice covers all our sin. We don’t lose our salvation every time we sin. Jesus paid for our sin once and for all. Our standing before God rests on Christ—not on how well we perform.

However, Christians still sin, and when we do, God calls us to bring that sin into the light—to confess it, turn from it. This is how God works in us.

Confession doesn’t earn forgiveness. It is the response of someone who has already been forgiven. We confess not because Jesus needs to die for our sin again, but because we don’t want to hide from God. We want to walk honestly with Him.

And look at who John says God is: “Faithful and just.”
He is faithful to forgive us because Christ has paid the price. And He is faithful to cleanse us as He continues to transform us.

So when you sin, don’t hide in shame. Come into the light. Confess it. Turn from it. And keep walking with Jesus. Your forgiveness is secure in Christ. And His work of cleansing you isn’t finished yet.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#1John19 #GospelGrace #JustificationByFaith #ChristianDiscipleship #WalkingWithJesus
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize 1 Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize 1 John 1:9 together.

This verse reminds us that when we sin, God doesn’t ask us to hide or pretend it didn’t happen. He invites us to confess our sins—to bring them honestly into the light.

And what a beautiful promise: “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When we put our faith in Christ, His sacrifice covers all our sin—past, present, and future. So our daily confession isn’t about earning forgiveness or keeping ourselves saved. Christ has already paid for our sin.

Instead, confession is part of learning to walk with Him. We acknowledge our sin, turn from it, and allow God to continue cleansing and changing us.

So don’t live in fear, wondering if you’ve confessed every sin perfectly. But don’t use God’s grace as an excuse to cling to sin either. We can rest in Christ’s complete forgiveness while remaining tender and willing to repent.

He is faithful to forgive, and faithful to keep cleansing us.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#BibleMemory #1John19 #BibleVerses #ChristianEncouragement #KnowByHeart
Seven Last Sights of Revelation 👀 As Revelation d Seven Last Sights of Revelation 👀

As Revelation draws to a close, John is shown one final scene after another:

The King returns.
The nations gather.
The beast is defeated.
The saints reign with Christ.
And the story is moving toward the day when God makes all things new.

Revelation isn’t meant to leave us terrified about the future. It reminds us who sits on the throne, who wins the battle, and where history is headed.

Christ reigns. Evil will be judged. And His people will reign with Him.

“Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection!” — Revelation 20:6

Read the full post of the blog. 🔗 in bio.

#Revelation #BookOfRevelation #RevelationStudy #BibleStudy #newheavennewearth
There is an old story attributed to evangelist Cha There is an old story attributed to evangelist Charles Finney that beautifully illustrates this verse. 

I should mention that while the story has been widely circulated under Finney’s name, I haven’t found enough historical evidence to verify every detail, so it’s best understood as a story traditionally attributed to him.

The story goes that after Finney preached in Detroit, a stranger approached him and asked him to come to his home because he wanted to talk about his soul. Friends warned Finney not to go, but he followed the man down a side street, through an alley, and into the back of a building.

Once they were alone, the man pulled a revolver from his pocket and then asked, “You see this gun? It has killed four people. Is there any hope for a man like me?”

Finney simply answered with the words from his sermon: “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

The man then began telling him about his life. He owned a saloon where he had sold alcohol to all kinds of people, and behind it was a rigged gambling operation that had ruined men financially and driven some to commit suicide. He confessed that he had also been unfaithful to his wife and abusive toward his family. 

Each time he asked, “Is there any hope for a man like me?” 

Finney gave him the same answer: “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

Finally, Finney took the man by the shoulders and said, in effect, “You certainly have a dark story to tell. But God says that the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

According to the story, the man and his family came to hear Finney preach the following night and gave themselves to Christ.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#KnowByHeart #1John17 #BloodOfJesus #GospelOfGrace #JesusCleanses
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize 1 Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize 1 John 1:7 together.

This verse reminds us that the Christian life isn’t about pretending we don’t sin. Walking in the light means bringing our sin into the light—honestly confessing it rather than hiding it.

And what a beautiful promise: “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The gospel doesn’t minimize the seriousness of our sin. It gives us hope because Christ’s sacrifice is greater than our sin. We don’t have to hide from God when we fail. We can come into the light, confess our sin, and trust that Jesus is faithful to cleanse us.

His blood is sufficient—not for some of our sin, but for all of it.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#KnowByHeart #ScriptureMemory #1John17 #WalkInTheLight #GospelCentered
What if the greatest danger in studying prophecy i What if the greatest danger in studying prophecy isn’t misunderstanding the symbols—but missing Christ?

John had just witnessed things beyond imagination: the fall of Babylon, the victory of the Lamb, and the glorious wedding feast. He was so overwhelmed that he fell at the feet of the angel to worship.

But the angel immediately corrected him:

“Don’t do that! … Worship God!”
— Revelation 19:10

Then comes one of the most important statements in the book:

“For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”

The angel understood something we can easily forget: he was only the messenger. The revelation wasn’t about him. It wasn’t even ultimately about the events John was seeing.

It was about Jesus.

The Old Testament points forward to Him.
The Gospels reveal Him.
Revelation unveils His final victory and eternal reign.

So prophecy was never given simply to make us better at predicting the future or decoding every symbol. It was given to “bear witness to Christ”.

And when we truly see Christ, the right response isn’t merely fascination.

It’s worship.

We can become so consumed with the beasts, timelines, numbers, kingdoms, and judgments that we miss the Lamb standing at the center of it all.

The goal of Revelation isn’t that we become experts in prophecy.

It’s that we become faithful worshipers of Jesus.

The true spirit of prophecy always leads us to the same place:

“Worship God.” 🙏

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

#Revelation #JesusChrist #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #BiblicalProphecy
Jeremiah 29:11 is often found on wall plaques, cof Jeremiah 29:11 is often found on wall plaques, coffee mugs, and beautiful prints. We can easily read it as a promise that God has wonderful things planned for my life—that the difficult season will soon turn around and everything will work out the way I hope. But its original context is far more sobering—and far more hopeful.

These words were written to Israelites who had been carried away from their homes into exile in Babylon. Their suffering was not random. Judah had sinned against God repeatedly, and their sin had real consequences. Other prophets were promising a quick deliverance, but Jeremiah told them the exile would last seventy years.

Seventy years.

We often want a quick fix. We want to hear, “Everything is going to be okay. This will be over soon.” But sometimes the truth hurts, and sometimes the consequences of our sin should not be removed quickly.

God could have immediately brought Israel home. Instead, He told them to settle down, build houses, plant gardens, and live faithfully in Babylon. His discipline was going to take time.

But that discipline was not evidence that God had stopped loving them. Instead, it was one of the ways He was loving them.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

#Jeremiah2911 #BibleMemorization #BiblicalEncouragement #GodsFaithfulness #ChristianDiscipline
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Je Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Jeremiah 29:11 together.

This verse is often quoted as a promise that God will make everything work out quickly and according to our plans. But Jeremiah 29:11 was spoken to people experiencing the consequences of their sin—and their restoration would take seventy years.

God’s mercy doesn’t always mean immediate rescue. Sometimes He allows us to bear the consequences of our sin because He is doing a deeper work in us, using discipline to turn our hearts back to Him and make us more like Christ.

So when the road is long and the truth hurts, we can remember that God’s discipline is not His rejection. He is not working to destroy us, but to restore us. His plans are still for a future and a hope.

Listen to the podcast. 🔗 in bio.

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

#Jeremiah2911 #BibleMemorization #BiblicalEncouragement #GodsFaithfulness #ChristianDiscipline
We’re drawing closer to the end of Revelation. Re We’re drawing closer to the end of Revelation.

Revelation 17–19 gives us a sobering picture of Babylon—and seven words of woe over the kingdom of this world.

Babylon looks powerful, beautiful, wealthy, and secure. But God pulls back the curtain and shows us what it really is: a system opposed to Him, intoxicated by power, pleasure, wealth, and self-glory.

And then, in an instant, it falls.

What struck me most is the contrast in these chapters. The kings mourn. The merchants mourn. Those who became wealthy through Babylon mourn. The whole world seems to cry, “Woe! Woe!”

But heaven cries, “Hallelujah!”

Why? Because God’s judgment is true and righteous.

Revelation isn’t merely telling us to figure out who Babylon is. It’s asking us “which kingdom we’re living for.”

And while Babylon’s people mourn the loss of what they loved, Christ’s Bride is being prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

So Revelation gives us a choice—not merely between two destinations, but between two kingdoms, two loves, and two ways of life.

What kingdom are you living for?

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

#RevelationStudy #BookOfRevelation #BiblicalTruth #ChristOurKing #ChristianEncouragement
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Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
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