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Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God

Faithstead

Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
Journal

Parable of the Pine and Bear 

5 Mins read
November 22, 2025
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Inspired by the short film Forevergreen, this reflection explores sin, temptation, and God’s steadfast love, showing how surrender and gratitude lead us back to Him.

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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.

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

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Is Our Turning Point Still Missing the Point?

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Advent Special: The Tale of the Three Trees

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Have a lovely day
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
Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize Jo Press play, repeat after me, and let’s memorize John 14:1 together—“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”

These words were spoken by Jesus during a deeply troubling moment. The disciples had just learned that Jesus was leaving them, betrayal was unfolding, and suffering was near. Fear and confusion filled the room. Yet in the middle of that uncertainty, Jesus spoke peace to their troubled hearts.

This verse reminds us that peace is not found in controlling our circumstances, understanding every detail of the future, or placing our trust in people. Peace is found in a Person—Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus calls His disciples to believe in Him just as they believe in God. Jesus is not merely pointing the way to God; He is God the Son, worthy of our full trust, faith, and confidence.

Notice also how tenderly Jesus speaks to fearful hearts. He does not shame His disciples for being troubled. Instead, He invites them to rest in Him. In moments of uncertainty, grief, fear, or spiritual confusion, Christ Himself becomes the anchor for His people.

If we belong to Christ, we do not have to live enslaved to fear or anxiety about the future. Our security does not rest in our ability to hold everything together, but in the faithfulness of the One who holds us. Jesus remains trustworthy even when life feels unstable.

As you memorize this verse, picture yourself resting securely in Christ, bringing every troubled thought and anxious fear to Him. Not striving to create peace on your own, not placing ultimate trust in human leaders or earthly systems, but abiding in the Son of God who alone is worthy of your complete trust.

Let this verse remind you that Jesus is faithful in every storm. When your heart is troubled, you can look to Him with confidence and say: I believe in God, and I believe also in Christ.

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

Episode 🔗 in bio.

#John141 #MemorizeScripture #TrustInChrist #FaithOverFear #BibleVerseMemorization
It’s possible to live with everything looking “ble It’s possible to live with everything looking “blessed” on the outside while slowly becoming blind to what matters most. In this parable Jesus confronts this quiet danger—not through obvious evil, but through indifference.

The rich man isn’t condemned for being rich, but for failing to notice the suffering right at his gate. Lazarus is not ignored because he is far away, but because he is close enough to see yet easy to overlook. Over time, comfort can numb compassion.

What makes this story so sobering is that eternity reveals what daily life can hide. The question underneath the parable is not just “What did you have?” but “Who did you see?”

This passage invites us to re-examine what we’ve grown used to walking past. The kingdom of God forms hearts that notice, respond, and refuse to let comfort cancel compassion.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#Luke16 #RichManAndLazarus #KingdomOfGod #FaithInAction #BiblicalDevotion
Deep dish done right—golden, buttery crust on the Deep dish done right—golden, buttery crust on the outside, molten cheese and rich sauce on the inside. It’s no wonder Chicago-style pizza is legendary. 🍕

#ChicagoDeepDish #DeepDishPizza #PizzaLovers #FoodieFavorites #ChicagoEats
It’s easy to think faith is mostly about big spiri It’s easy to think faith is mostly about big spiritual moments, but in this parable Jesus points to ordinary acts of mercy. A meal shared, a visit made, a stranger welcomed, a hurting person noticed—these are the moments where the heart of the kingdom shows up. The sheep were not trying to impress God; compassion had simply become part of who they were.

What makes this passage so convicting is that Jesus takes our treatment of others personally. The people we overlook, avoid, or rush past still matter deeply to Him. This challenges us to slow down and ask: does my faith only live in my words, or does it show up in the way I love people every day?

The good news is that small acts of faithfulness are never unseen by God. Every act of mercy reflects the heart of the King.

Following the @simply_bible book club.

#SheepAndGoats #Matthew25 #FaithInAction #KingdomLiving #LoveTheLeast
There is no time like Spring, When life’s alive in There is no time like Spring,
When life’s alive in everything,
Before new nestlings sing,
Before cleft swallows speed their journey back
Along the trackless track, —
God guides their wing,
He spreads their table that they nothing lack,
Before the daisy grows a common flower,
Before the sun has power
To scorch the world up in his noontide hour.

Spring
by Christina Rossetti

#SpringRenewal #PoetryLovers #NatureAndFaith #ChristinaRossetti #BeautyInCreation
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Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
Live, Love, Learn to the Glory of God
  • Home
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