Ann Voskamp's Blog, page 10
March 1, 2025
I’ve Failed. This is the Only way Forward
I’ve failed.
Your main identity isn’t mainly a function of your activity. Your ultimate identity is that you are ultimately loved unconditionally.
I got a text last week from my husband where he tenderly and gently shared how I had failed him during a conversation, and he wasn’t wrong.
And my stomach dropped and my heart cracked and I immediately texted him back that he was very right, and I was very, very sorry.
I’ve botched all kinds of things and I’ve hurt people over the years; I’ve wounded unintentionally and I’ve fallen miserably. I wish it wasn’t true, but I’ve failed people I love, and, in all kinds of ways, done what I shouldn’t have done, and haven’t done what I should have done, and knowing that you aren’t always the way you hoped, and you haven’t loved always the way you’ve wanted, can leave you right flat-out undone.
Honestly? In the midst of all my daily failures and painful falling short, there’s only one guy in all the world I really want to be: the guy in the Good Book who identifies himself as “the one whom Jesus loves.”
There’s genuinely no greater relief in all this striving, stumbling world:
Your main identity isn’t mainly a function of your activity.
You are human – and you are still the one that, ultimately, Jesus loves unconditionally.
Your ultimate identity is that you are ultimately loved unconditionally.
You fail – and still, you are not ultimately a failure.
You get it wrong – and still, you are not primarily wrong.
You make a mess of things — and still, you are not mainly a mess.
You are human – and you are still the one that, ultimately, Jesus loves unconditionally.
Because when you follow the One who says, “I am the Bread of Life” – you can fail to always nourish others in countless ways, and you still get to say: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says, “I am the Light of the World” – you can be struggling with dark thoughts and be wrestling with the shadows and fail to light up every room, and you still get to fully feel the unwavering reality that: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says,”I am the Good Shepherd” – you can wander off and get lost and fail to take the shortest, straightest way, and you still get to be embraced with the assurance of knowing: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says,”I am the Good Shepherd” – you can wander off and get lost and fail to take the shortest, straightest way, and you still get to be embraced with the assurance of knowing: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says, “I am the Door” – you can feel boxed in by everyone and run yourself into a thousand dead ends and slam hard against a million brick walls, and you still get to experience the deep comfort of saying: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says, “I am the resurrection and the Life” – you can feel numbed to all kinds of pain and deadened with grief for all kinds of heartache, and you still get the real, embodied relief of saying: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says, “I am the true vine” — you don’t have to force any fruit production to earn anyone’s accolades, you don’t have to perform, pretend or perfect any impressive productivity, and you still get to completely rest in knowing: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
When you follow the One who says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” – you don’t have to know the way, you don’t have to find the way, you don’t have to forge your way, you simply get to be with the One who is the Way, the One who gives you His life, so you can say what is always the truth: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
It’s only when you know your identity as beloved — that you actually begin to LIVE!
It’s only when you know your identity as beloved — that you actually begin to LIVE!
Identity, it literally means “the state of being the same”— coming from the Latin root word “identitatem” meaning “sameness.” Which means that one’s true identity, regardless of changing circumstances, wavering emotions, or different situations, your core identity is unchangeable, stable, and always forever the same.
No criticism can change it. And no failing can’t shake it.
Lists – accomplished or not – can’t determine it. And no mark – checkmarks or smudge marks – can define it.
No adversity ever has permission to be your identity, and no activity – good or bad – ever gets to be the ultimate framework to shape your identity. You aren’t ever just a sum of your yesterdays, and you are far more than any of your messes tomorrow, and because of the infinite heart of the one who is the great I AM – you get to ultimately say that your identity is: “I am the one who Jesus loves.”
No adversity ever has permission to be your identity, and no activity – good or bad – ever gets to be the ultimate framework to shape your identity.
When your identity is on the Rock Himself, your identity is rock-solid — and as long as your identity is hidden in Christ, it doesn’t matter what mountain rises ahead of you: You are brave enough for today, because He is. You are strong enough for what’s coming, because He is. And, when He is in you, moving through you, you will have more than enough for all that is, because He always is more than enough.
I’ve failed. And somedays, miserably.
And my kind man still reaches for my hand and I lace fingers through his and, in all kinds of ways, grace is always coming to meet us.
And when I lay my head on the pillow at the end of the day, that is the softest place in the world to finally land, the only place where the soul can surely, deeply rest:
“You are still the one who Jesus loves.”
Free Identity in Christ Cards: Our Thank-You for Pre-Ordering “Loved to Life”
It’s one of the reasons why I wrote the book, “Loved to Life”, following Jesus through every chapter in the book of John – because John is the one who refers to himself over and over and over again, at least 5 times, as, quite strikingly ,“‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
That was John’s ultimate identity – and it’s meant to be ours.
That when we look in the mirror first thing every morning, when we fail, when we mess up, when we put our head down on our pillow at the end of the day – more than any title, more than any position, more than any work – that we can know, in the very marrow of our bones, our truest identity:
“I am the one who Jesus loves.”
If you too long to be more grounded in your truest identity as always deeply beloved – then this is your personal invitation to pre-order “Loved to Life” and join us for the 40-Day with Jesus, through the book of John — and, as our sincerest thanks for joining us on this 40-Day pilgrimage to knowing our truest identity as always beloved – please accept this pack of FREE IDENTITY IN CHRIST CARDS
Pre-Order & Claim Your Free Gifts! Did you already pre-order loved to life?Thank you! I cannot wait to take this journey with you. Make sure you’ve filled out the free gift request form, and these printables — along with so many more free gifts! — will be emailed to you in the coming days!
Only the Good Stuff: Multivitamins For Your Weekend [03.01.2025]
Happy, happy, happy weekend!
Let yourself smile, be crazy inspired, laugh, love & really live the gift of this life
just a little bit more this weekend…
Smile a mile wide & believe like crazy in a Good God redeeming everything —
and that there’s love everywhere & for ((you))!
Serving up only the Good Stuff for you & your people right here:
Inspiration for you this week: What you need to know about Wikipedia
You don’t want to miss thishow can we just live with an open door?WATCH HEREBaptized with Spirit and Fire: Jesus’ Burning Call
READ HEREHow to Make Your Love for the Word ContagiousLISTEN HEREHere’s something for your soul this weekWhat does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?
READ HEREThis Nurse is showing the love of Jesus!
READ HEREResources for you this weekA LENT WITH LOVE
JOIN US!Secret Church with David Platt
LEARN MORE HEREHow we’ve seen God’s Glory this week: And it only happens in February ^^ just this time of year!Crazy Beautiful!! Something to Make you smile this week: CRAZY TALENTED WOW!! You need to watch this: Thoughts to ponder this weekHOW TO PRAY THE PSALMSLifeway Women- Michelle Hicks
READ HEREBlessed InconvenienceLearning to Delight in God’s Detours
[image error]
READ HEREPutting a STOP to Your Negative Self-Talk LISTEN HEREA Simple Shift That Changed My Prayer Life
READ HEREWhat we’re Listening to this week“In Jesus Name”‘If We’re Honest”Post of the Week From Around These Parts:“If You Want a Growth Season: A Doable Game Plan to Defeat Bad Habits & Win the Ultimate You“
You may always make mistakes—but that is very different than always making excuses. And the good news is: Every mistake, offers the courageous grace to make a course-correction. And Jesus, the One living in you, knows the right course, because He is The Way.
Your heart needs to read this!on the book stack at the farm
In Redeemer, a six-week Bible study, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young invites us to view the book of Ruth as more than a Hallmark-tinted story, but rather as a story that proclaims God’s heart for the vulnerable, including widows, orphans, immigrants, refugees, and the poor. As Ruth’s story unfolds, we discover that God is the main character and that he is the true Redeemer, for Ruth and for us today.
This year I am excited to pray God’s Word using a new prayer journal: Every Woman’s Prayer Journal. This beautiful full-color journal is divided into four sections with 25 prayer sessions in each. The Every Woman’s Prayer Journal features 100 encouraging Scriptures organized by topics from the Every Woman’s Bible, making this a great journal to use alongside the Bible.
In her latest latest 7-session video-based study, Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight, Jennifer explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She separates what’s true about Heaven from what’s based on legend, media depictions, and hopeful guesses. As you walk through the study, you’ll not only gain a deeper understanding of what God has prepared for His children, but also learn how to live with confidence today as you look forward to the glorious unending that awaits.
So we Had a Conversation at the Historic Village Table church & This Conversation Jenn & I had together was Just So Soul-Edifying!
so this happened!Oh…wow. How hopeful is it for a book about Jesus in the Gospel of John to be on the shelves at Target?! Is it at your Target? Pray with us that people are truly loved to real LIFE in Life Himself! Find it in the “Refreshing Reads” section!
Check Your Target! (And Let Us Know?!)More than Anything else: Believe You are Unconditionally Loved!
what others are saying about loved to life:
Pick up Loved to Life: A 40-Day VISUAL Pilgrimage with Jesus, that will:
give you enlightening insights to calm your real worriesground your identity in who you really are, regardless of failuresspeak to your deepest doubts in a profoundly steading wayand walk you in fresh, intimate ways with Jesus, Love Himself, that will grow your soul into real LIFEBonus THANK YOU gifts for your Support:
This bonus free 40-day habit tracker is an invitation to cultivate rhythms of prayer and presence. Each day,
as you engage in your chosen sacred rhythm, you’ll fill in a quilt square — stitching together a beautiful life woven together with Christ’s love…
“40 Ways to Abide in Jesus” comes in TWO DIFFERENT, BOTH Bonus FREE, PRINTABLES (one as original beautiful art prints by my beloved daughter-in-law, Aurora (!!), to place around your home, or as one stunning cross-centered compass to frame and hang) —
24 “Who I am in Christ” cards with original woodcut illustrations 40 illustrated ornaments from the life of Jesus, for your own Easter tree —40-Day Bible Reading PlanPocket Prayers for your PilgrimageA Complete “Loved to Life” Community Pilgrimage Guide With the 7 I AM Statements of Jesus — to do a Lent Pilgrimage with your people 40 Days of Seeing Yourself in Jesus’ Story: Captivating artwork paired with prompts to help you personally – and very powerfully – step into the very scenes of Scripture, immersing your life in Jesus’ storyand so many (truly incredible!!!!) more deeply spiritually formative, profoundly helpful tools coming that will help grow us in connection to each other and the Vine of Life Himself…
My heartfelt thanks for your support of ordering “Loved to Life” here, where you can also claim all the deeply formative and soul-nourishing THANK YOU gifts… from my heart to yours, connecting us all to His.
ORDER LOVED TO LIFE & CLAIM ALL YOUR BONUS THANK YOU GIFTS And YOU REally DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS:Can you even believe it?!Nope, we can’t either! And none of us want to miss out on all these beloved leaders who are joining us live during Lent!
This has never happened quite like this before! A fresh, new live way to interact, where these beloved leaders will jump in with us weekly, as Companions during our 40-Day Pilgrimage with Jesus during Lent, & you’ll get to lean in in real-time, ask questions, face-to-face, & we’ll all fall more in love with Jesus together, as Jesus changes us, & Loves us to Life! It’s about Jesus… and You…and Love. Every single week of Lent, right up to the empty tomb & Resurrection Sunday & living the fullest life!
Weekly livestream conversations! Incredible companions on this 40-Day Pilgrimage! We’ll be face- to- face so you can join us, ask questions, and journey through Lent in real community! Grab a friend, the book, and let’s do this together!
JOIN US!Slow Down & Feel Loved this weekend:That’s all for this weekend, friends.
Go slow. Be God-struck. Grant grace. Live Truth.
Give Thanks. Love well. Re – joy, re- joy, ‘re- joys’ again
Share Whatever Is Good.
February 28, 2025
Experience the Joy and Life-Changing Power of Praying Scripture
Mindy Ferguson knows the value and benefit of praying Scripture, and today we’ll get a glimpse into the dimly lit storage closet where she gathered with treasured sisters-in-Christ and first learned to pray using God’s Word. If you’ve never prayed using God’s own Word, let this be your invitation — it might just change the way you pray forever. It’s a joy to welcome Mindy to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Mindy Ferguson
Early in my ministry journey, I team-taught a women’s Sunday school class.
One of the women on our teaching team was gifted at what I considered to be an elusive art form called prayer.
She offered to lead the teaching team in a weekly prayer time before church on Sunday mornings. Desperate for a deeper connection with God, I agreed.
“We praised God using words from Scripture and transformed verse after verse into requests and expressions of heartfelt thanks.“
The four of us met in a small, dimly lit storage closet located in a rarely used area of our church’s fellowship hall. Pushing aside rows of unfolded chairs and multiple stacks of communion supply boxes, we made a small open space in the middle of the tile floor, set up four metal chairs, and then closed the heavy double doors of that tiny, stuffy storeroom.
My now treasured friend and long-time prayer partner opened her well-worn Bible. I silently admired the pages filled with scribbled notes in the margins and lines of Bible text that were emphasized by colorful highlighting. She laid her Bible across her lap as she began to lead us in Scripture-based prayer. That morning a bond of sisterhood started between the four of us. We praised God using words from Scripture and transformed verse after verse into requests and expressions of heartfelt thanks.
My prayer life was forever changed.
I gathered with those three women in that little storage closet on Sunday mornings, week after week, for several years. That storeroom became for us a throne room of sorts where four wives, mothers, teachers, and God-followers turned the ancient words of Scripture into beautiful, powerful prayers that seemed to speak to our every modern-day need.
There is power in praying God’s Word.
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT). Praying Scripture enables us to cut through the flowery facades that often veil our innermost desires, not only exposing our motives but transforming them so that we pray in agreement with God’s will. And when women pray God’s Word over each other, a sense of community forms. We begin to believe that God will indeed move in those women’s lives. We watch expectantly for evidence of his active presence at work answering our prayers. Amazing transformations of perspectives and hearts (and lives!) take place when women pray for women.
Today, praying Scripture is part of my regular Bible-reading routine. For example, this morning I was reading Jeremiah chapter 17 in the New Living Translation and these verses caught my attention:
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (verses 7-8).
“Scripture-based prayers change my perspective, focus my attention on God’s unchanging character, and remind me that his purposes are so much better than my plans.“
I paused my reading and immediately began to pray, “Lord, help me remember that, even when I feel discouraged or inadequate, you are the source of my hope and my confidence. I so want to be fruitful in my work and thrive every day like a tree that is planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Lord, give me the incredible blessing of bearing fruit that glorifies you in every season and in every setting.”
Praying Scripture, especially out loud, enables me to feel a greater connection with the one who inspired those words. That connection helps me pry my fingers loose from my own plans and more openly seek God’s will as I trust him to work and move in my everyday, ordinary circumstances.
When I am fearful, God’s Word reminds me that he ultimately “rules over everything” (Psalm 103:19, NLT).
When I need wisdom, I “ask our generous God” and thank him for the assurance that he will give me the wisdom I seek (James 1:5, NLT).
When I feel anxious and struggle to be at peace, God’s Word reminds me to pray with gratitude for all that God has done, and when I do, I “experience God’s peace” that protects my heart (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT).
Scripture-based prayers change my perspective, focus my attention on God’s unchanging character, and remind me that his purposes are so much better than my plans.
“Praying Scripture has deepened my relationship with God and infused my prayers with a hopeful sense of expectation that God will work in my circumstances and accomplish his good purposes through my life.“
I am thankful that I had the opportunity so many years ago to practice praying Scripture with dear friends as we served and did life together. More than twenty years later, I still feel a special bond with those three women. We are all still serving God, although now in different roles and seasons of life. Through text messages, emails, and phone calls, the four of us have prayed for one another through heart-rending losses, health scares, geographical moves and difficult transitions, concerns for our children, and the joyous births of grandchildren. Two of us are now living in different cities and we all attend different churches, but the sisterhood formed by praying God’s Word together is still as strong as the day we first cleared a space for prayer in the middle of that dimly lit storage closet.
You may already have a rich and meaningful connection with God. Or, like I was that Sunday morning as I first met with friends to pray in the storage closet turned throne room, you may be desperate for a deeper connection with him. Either way, incorporating God’s Word into your heartfelt prayers for yourself and others will add depth to your prayers and cause you to internalize the meaning of those God-inspired words. Like me, your prayer life just may be forever changed.
Praying Scripture has deepened my relationship with God and infused my prayers with a hopeful sense of expectation that God will work in my circumstances and accomplish his good purposes through my life.
Mindy Ferguson is the Senior Acquisitions Editor for Bibles at Tyndale House Ministries. She is passionate about creating meaningful resources that engage God’s people in the Scriptures and Mindy finds great joy in serving God with fellow believers at Tyndale as well as at her local church.
This year I am excited to pray God’s Word using a new prayer journal: Every Woman’s Prayer Journal. This beautiful full-color journal is divided into four sections with 25 prayer sessions in each. These sections reflect the process I go through when I pray Scripture: Connect, Trust, Reflect, and Become. The journal guides you through a focused time of Scripture-inspired prayer to add depth and intentionality to your prayer time. Each day’s prayer journaling session includes space for writing out praises, confessions, thanksgiving, and requests. The Every Woman’s Prayer Journal features 100 encouraging Scriptures organized by topics from the Every Woman’s Bible, making this a great journal to use alongside the Bible. Learn more at EveryWomansBible.com.
{Our humble thanks to Tyndale Bibles for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
February 24, 2025
God Redeems a Shattered Heart and Broken Future: Lessons from the Book of Ruth
God sees us—all of our joys and every heartache. He cares for each of us and provides for us. Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young was reminded of these truths in the book of Ruth during a time when her life took an unexpected, painful turn. A remarried widow and mother of three, Dorina is passionate about helping others navigate life’s unexpected trails and flourish in their God-given callings. She is a retreat leader, bible teacher, and author of numerous books, including Redeemer: God’s Lovingkindness in the Book of Ruth. It’s my joy to welcome Dorina to the farm’s table today…
Guest post by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
From the red couch in our living room, I had a view of the Japanese maple tree in the front yard.
“This was a living, breathing story of God’s heart for vulnerable women like Ruth and like me.“
The ruby red, emerald green and glowing gold leaves danced a slow waltz before me. Those leaves finally floated to the ground, and in the days to come frost covered the trunk. Some days fog and rain swirled through the branches.
After a swift battle with cancer, my husband soared to heaven that September, leaving me with three young daughters and a shattered heart.
Just a few months after his funeral, I attended a Bible study at my church where they were studying the book of Ruth. God helped me find him anew through the pages of this book. Suddenly, Ruth was no longer a fairy tale to me. This was a living, breathing story of God’s heart for vulnerable women like Ruth and like me.
My heart was captivated in the first chapter when we were introduced to three widows—one older and two younger. I felt the gravity of their situation in a new way.
I wept with these women. Their sorrow was my sorrow. I understood the bond between them in a much greater way because of what I had lost and endured. I learned to navigate grief alongside these women.
One of the hardest parts on my journey was stepping into a new relationship and trusting again. After my husband’s death, my heart felt like a shattered glass that couldn’t ever be repaired. It was hard to hold on to hope and imagine a redeemed future.
Maybe some of you can relate. Maybe you have been betrayed or you are navigating a broken relationship. Maybe you are widowed, divorced, or single and feeling uncertain about the future. Maybe you’ve walked through some kind of loss, abuse, or trauma. When your heart has been shattered, it’s hard to step out in trust and hold on to hope.
“When your heart has been shattered, it’s hard to step out in trust and hold on to hope.“
I struggled to believe God could redeem my story. I worried that pursuing a relationship with Shawn would mean more heartbreak for my girls and me. At the core of it, I was afraid to risk loving someone again.
Then one surprising day, tiny green shoots appeared on the branches of the maple outside my window. New leaves, new life emerged and covered the tree.
On that particular morning, I was journaling my prayers. I cried out to God to give me peace and clarity about dating Shawn. I remember looking up and seeing my late husband Ericlee sitting next to me on the couch. He told me gently, “It’s okay. This is what I would have chosen. I know my friend Shawn will care for you and the girls. I trust him.”
Just as quickly as he appeared, he was gone. God used that vision to steady my heart and give me confidence to step forward in a relationship with Shawn. We might not always have a vision in tough situations and uncertainty, but the Lord faithfully provides guidance in many ways.
In Ruth 3:10, Boaz blesses Ruth and calls her “daughter.” In the past, Ruth has often been referred to as a Moabite or as a woman. She has been held at arm’s length, stereotyped, and put into a category by everyone except Naomi. Boaz speaks to her with tenderness and familiarity, calling her “daughter” just as Naomi does. Some commentaries say this indicates the age difference between Boaz and Ruth. The text doesn’t give us all the details, but we know that “daughter” is a term of endearment.
In Mark 5:34, Jesus uses this same term of endearment to address a woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years. “He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’”
This woman was an adult, but Jesus intentionally calls her “daughter”—the same word that Boaz uses for Ruth.
“Words have the power to pierce our hearts or empower us.“
The old adage says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Words have the power to pierce our hearts or empower us.
The woman who reached out to touch Jesus’ garment feared humiliation and shame. She didn’t push to meet Jesus or talk to him because she didn’t want to draw attention. She believed he could heal her and reached out. And she is the only person in the New Testament to be called “daughter” by Jesus. This word “daughter” honors and empowers the woman who bled for twelve years just as it honored Ruth.
The Message version of Ruth 3:10 invites us into the emotion of the moment: “He said, ‘God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don’t you worry about a thing; I’ll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are—a real prize!’”
Boaz doesn’t just reluctantly agree to this assignment. Ruth didn’t work hard to persuade him. He eagerly stood up as the redeemer. In Ruth 3:11, Boaz encouraged Ruth by saying, “Do not fear” (ESV) or “Don’t you worry about a thing” (MSG).
His words were filled with kindness and promise. We can imagine that these are rungs on the ladder of trust for Ruth.
God showed me his abundant kindness on the gritty trail of my life. Through wild “just-so-happened” circumstances, God brought me through by his goodness and grace, and I’m living out the details of that next chapter today.
“…our good and great God sees us, knows us, and is in the business of redeeming the pain and brokenness in our lives.“
Of course, all our stories are different, and our journeys are unique. So Ruth’s story isn’t an instruction book telling us how to navigate challenges and hardships. Instead, Ruth teaches us that our good and great God sees us, knows us, and is in the business of redeeming the pain and brokenness in our lives.
Pray with me:
God, thank you that you continue to work behind the scenes, gently guiding me toward redemption and trust in you. Ruth and Boaz lived this out in courageous ways; oh, give me some of what they had and lead me to trust in your providence. Amen.
*Adapted from Redeemer by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. ©2025 by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press. www.ivpress.com.*
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young (MFA, Hollins) is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and journalist. As the author of several Bible studies and devotionals including her newest devotional Redeemer, Create in Me a Heart of Mercy and Breathing Through Grief, Dorina frequently speaks at churches and retreats. She is also the author of several children’s books, including Cora Cooks Pancit and Chasing God’s Glory. A self-described foodie and an avid runner, Dorina lives in Central California with her husband Shawn and three daughters. Connect with Dorina at www.DorinaGilmore.com.
In Redeemer, a six-week Bible study, Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young invites us to view the book of Ruth as more than a Hallmark-tinted story, but rather as a story that proclaims God’s heart for the vulnerable, including widows, orphans, immigrants, refugees, and the poor. As Ruth’s story unfolds, we discover that God is the main character and that he is the true Redeemer, for Ruth and for us today.
{Our humble thanks to InterVarsity Press for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
February 22, 2025
Only the Good Stuff: Multivitamins For Your Weekend [02.22.2025]
Happy, happy, happy weekend!
Let yourself smile, be crazy inspired, laugh, love & really live the gift of this life
just a little bit more this weekend…
Smile a mile wide & believe like crazy in a Good God redeeming everything —
and that there’s love everywhere & for ((you))!
Serving up only the Good Stuff for you & your people right here:
no ones captures our world quite like she does
Inspiration for you this week: Does your family need some new traditions to start?
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THESE LIFE-GIVING IDEASJesus Stops Anxiety- He’s got power!View this post on InstagramOn repeat over here on the Farm:Here’s something for your soul this week: How to Honor Christ as Holy in ApologeticsA post shared by Monique Gonzales (@monique.marlene.g)
You don’t want to miss this: This is a must listen! I think we all need a reminder of who we serve. Priscilla Shirer- “Who’s Your Daddy”
This is Beautiful!View this post on InstagramReckless LoveResources for you this week: Do you want to walk through lent together?A post shared by HawkMotivation (@hawkmotivationig)
View this post on InstagramSecret Church with David PlattA post shared by Ann Voskamp (@annvoskamp)
This has meant so much to our family year after year!
View this post on InstagramClick here to learn more about Secret Church For the Love of Jesus! the whole body of christ Around the World Gathering? Join Gather25!A post shared by David Platt (@plattdavid_)
I’ll be joining in, Lord willing, from Cluj, Romania, one of the global gatherings! Are you in for this historic gathering?
The Word became Flesh and Dwelt Among us — and people are hungry for more of the Word! How we’ve seen God’s Glory this week: 94-year-old recalls ‘hand of God’ in saving baby from 1961 drowning
READ HERE:CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
You don’t want to miss this: “Oh my Soul”MAMA SUE’S SOUTHERN KITCHEN
God will use your little loaves and fishes! Something to Make you smile this week: View this post on InstagramMaybe we all could use a house cow?A post shared by Nicole Alexander Lee (@nicolealee21)
View this post on InstagramThoughts to ponder this week: “Worship Where You Are” [image error] You don’t want to miss this! “Only one life”A post shared by Malachi (@grasspuppies.farm)
View this post on InstagramSuch a good listen! Post of the Week From Around These Parts:“If You Want a Growth Season: A Doable Game Plan to Defeat Bad Habits & Win the Ultimate You“A post shared by Melissa Young (@coachyoung33)
You may always make mistakes—but that is very different than always making excuses. And the good news is: Every mistake, offers the courageous grace to make a course-correction. And Jesus, the One living in you, knows the right course, because He is The Way.
Your heart needs to read this!
The DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms was created with busy moms like you in mind―real moms with real-life joys and challenges. You’ll be encouraged with daily reminders that God sees you, loves you, delights in you, and is with you always.
Created in partnership with Jews for Jesus, this full-color Bible has thousands of notes, articles, maps, and other resources to help connect the Christian faith to its Jewish roots. Using the accurate and accessible New Living Translation, it includes every word of the 66 books of the Bible but arranges them in timeline order instead of by book.
In her latest latest 7-session video-based study, Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight, Jennifer explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She separates what’s true about Heaven from what’s based on legend, media depictions, and hopeful guesses. As you walk through the study, you’ll not only gain a deeper understanding of what God has prepared for His children, but also learn how to live with confidence today as you look forward to the glorious unending that awaits.
So we Had a Conversation at the Historic Village Table church & This Conversation Jenn & I had together was Just So Soul-Edifying!
so this happened!Oh…wow. How hopeful is it for a book about Jesus in the Gospel of John to be on the shelves at Target?! Is it at your Target? Pray with us that people are truly loved to real LIFE in Life Himself! Find it in the “Refreshing Reads” section!
Check Your Target! (And Let Us Know?!)More than Anything else: Believe You are Unconditionally Loved!
what others are saying about loved to life:
Pick up Loved to Life: A 40-Day VISUAL Pilgrimage with Jesus, that will:
give you enlightening insights to calm your real worriesground your identity in who you really are, regardless of failuresspeak to your deepest doubts in a profoundly steading wayand walk you in fresh, intimate ways with Jesus, Love Himself, that will grow your soul into real LIFEBonus THANK YOU gifts for your Support:
This bonus free 40-day habit tracker is an invitation to cultivate rhythms of prayer and presence. Each day,
as you engage in your chosen sacred rhythm, you’ll fill in a quilt square — stitching together a beautiful life woven together with Christ’s love…
“40 Ways to Abide in Jesus” comes in TWO DIFFERENT, BOTH Bonus FREE, PRINTABLES (one as original beautiful art prints by my beloved daughter-in-law, Aurora (!!), to place around your home, or as one stunning cross-centered compass to frame and hang) —
24 “Who I am in Christ” cards with original woodcut illustrations 40 illustrated ornaments from the life of Jesus, for your own Easter tree —40-Day Bible Reading PlanPocket Prayers for your PilgrimageA Complete “Loved to Life” Community Pilgrimage Guide With the 7 I AM Statements of Jesus — to do a Lent Pilgrimage with your people 40 Days of Seeing Yourself in Jesus’ Story: Captivating artwork paired with prompts to help you personally – and very powerfully – step into the very scenes of Scripture, immersing your life in Jesus’ storyand so many (truly incredible!!!!) more deeply spiritually formative, profoundly helpful tools coming that will help grow us in connection to each other and the Vine of Life Himself…
My heartfelt thanks for your support of ordering “Loved to Life” here, where you can also claim all the deeply formative and soul-nourishing THANK YOU gifts… from my heart to yours, connecting us all to His.
ORDER LOVED TO LIFE & CLAIM ALL YOUR BONUS THANK YOU GIFTS And YOU REally DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS:Can you even believe it?!Nope, we can’t either! And none of us want to miss out on all these beloved leaders who are joining us live during Lent!
Weekly livestream conversations! Incredible companions on this 40-Day Pilgrimage! We’ll be face- to- face so you can join us, ask questions, and journey through Lent in real community! Grab a friend, the book, and let’s do this together!
JOIN US!Love Who is “The Truth”Slow Down & Feel Loved this weekend:That’s all for this weekend, friends.
Go slow. Be God-struck. Grant grace. Live Truth.
Give Thanks. Love well. Re – joy, re- joy, ‘re- joys’ again
Share Whatever Is Good.
February 21, 2025
When You Need Grace Enough: for the Most Exhausted of Mothers
I first met Anna E. Rendell years ago when she was a young mom and fellow writer for (in)courage, DaySpring’s online community. She is now a seasoned mother of four, runs on grace and caffeine, and works full-time for DaySpring, where she helps run the (in)courage community and other marketing initiatives. The DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms was created for moms just like you―realmoms with real life joys and challenges. Be encouraged with daily reminders that God sees you, God loves you, delights in you, and is with you―always! You are not alone! It’s joy to welcome Anna to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Anna E. Rendell
After a long wait, two losses, and much heartache, I had three kids in four years.
“Meeting with God clears the clutter in my soul.“
Then we lived through “unprecedented times,” and right in the middle of it all, I had a fourth child. We call him our caboose baby, and he’s the joy we all needed during dark days.
Our house is never quiet and rarely clean. The calendar is full, and so is the dining room table. From art supplies to last night’s water pitcher, the mess can feel palpable in both my hands and my heart.
Meeting with God clears the clutter in my soul.
But as a mother, covered in babies and crumbs and toys and schedules, how exactly do you carve out time to do just that?
For a long time, the embarrassing honest answer was that I just didn’t.
Everywhere I looked for inspiration on how to meet with the Lord—when I didn’t have a moment left in my day—I was told I needed an hour before the kids awoke, in the quiet calm, with a lit candle. Soft worship music needed to be playing. It would be most helpful if the kitchen counter was clean, or even better if I had a dedicated cozy chair with a table beside it that held inspirational books and Bibles with covers worn thin from use, a fresh notebook, and a sturdy pen. I could have a cup of hot tea and spend time gazing out the window and voicing my prayers to God.
“God truly can meet us anywhere. That is deeply and thankfully true. He promises new mercy and grace enough to cover all, and that includes when you’re so deep in the throes of mothering that there is simply not enough of you to stretch anywhere else.“
Oh, how I wished I could have this scene! But the moments my very real life held were nowhere close to that. They were stickier, shorter, more in motion. Lots of time slinging diaper bags and snacks, scrubbing hands and plates, fitting work into the cracks of the day between naps and bathtime. It was a miracle if the kids slept through the night, and waking up before they did was a lofty goal.
So if that’s what my actual life looked like, when and where exactly was I supposed to meet with God for a restorative quiet time?
And this, friends, is why I just didn’t. For a long time, I didn’t make the time to crack open my Bible. I whisper-screamed prayers for my baby to sleep, ached in silent prayer for my children’s safety and my peace at daycare drop-off, and snuck in just enough worship music so little voices in the back seat of the minivan could sing along.
For a while, it held. God truly can meet us anywhere. That is deeply and thankfully true. He promises new mercy and grace enough to cover all, and that includes when you’re so deep in the throes of mothering that there is simply not enough of you to stretch anywhere else.
But God also doesn’t leave us alone. He doesn’t stay silent.
God nudges our hearts and creates space and opportunities to meet Him, gently sharing reminders of His love with even the most frazzled of mom hearts.
And eventually, the three kids under four years old of mine grew up, even a little bit. Independence grew right along with them, as did chances to pick up my Bible more often—and read with and to those kids. Sunday school lessons turned into questions asked in the minivan ride home, and some days they were picking up their own Bibles without being told to do so.
By the time we added that fourth and final child to our home, there was more of a rhythm, more of an ebb and flow to our days that made parts of it all more manageable. While the dishes never let up and sometimes the mess swallowed us whole, I began to claw my way out of survival mode and back to time in the Word.
“God has grace enough for even the most exhausted of mothers.“
The sharp slices of time I’d had to carve out for so long were now softer, more moldable.
And even though I’d put our meetings on the back burner, God had time and space and words waiting for me. Making space is a little easier when you’re sleeping all night, and God has grace enough for even the most exhausted of mothers.
They’re still little, these four children of mine. There are still constant interruptions and to-dos to accomplish. I have still never achieved being in a cozy corner before dawn to meet with God. The kitchen counter is still crumb covered, the calendar is still teeming, and my heart still stretches near too thin from time to time. But these days, I do meet with Him, bit by bit, sometimes on my own and sometimes with my kids in tow.
I can show up on my own and I can come to Him together with my kids, and what a gift it is that He will meet us in either place.
Anna E. Rendell is a writer for (in)courage, DaySpring’s online community. She is a seasoned mother of four, runs on grace and caffeine, and works full-time for DaySpring, where she helps run the (in)courage community and other marketing initiatives.
For solo moments of bite-sized, consistent, truthful encouragement, the new DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms is just what moms are looking for. This clear and accurate NLT Bible includes 365 encouraging devotions created specifically for moms, 31 profiles of biblical women to encourage you, daily prayer prompts to remind you of God’s presence, wide margins for journaling and reflection, and a full-color interior design to enjoy as you read the Bible. The DaySpring Daily Devotional Bible for Moms was created with busy moms like you in mind―real moms with real-life joys and challenges. You’ll be encouraged with daily reminders that God sees you, loves you, delights in you, and is with you always. Learn more at BibleforMoms.com.
{Our humble thanks to DaySpring and Tyndale Bibles for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
February 20, 2025
If You Want a Growth Season: A Doable Game Plan to Defeat Bad Habits & Win the Ultimate You
Watching them plant hope, and bulbs, and possibility, in the early morning light, it’s pretty clear that it’s true…
And it’s true for the tired guy procrastinating, and the brave woman struggling to change old habits, and every parent, and every teenager, and every single one of us going through hard things:
“You may always make mistakes—but that is very different than always making excuses. And the good news is: Every mistake, offers the courageous grace to make a course-correction. And Jesus, the One living in you, knows the right course, because He is The Way. “
It feels like there’s only one of you. The you right now. The one who Feels All The Things.
But believe the impossible things, because it’s true: There are two of you, really.
The Short-Term You — and the Long-Term You. The Now-You — and The Becoming You.
The Immediate You. And the Ultimate You.
And if you only loved the right now Immediate You — and let The Immediate You come and go and do whatever she wanted, whatever made her Feel. All. The. Good. Things., whatever made her happiest right now—- you wouldn’t be loving the Ultimate You.
It’s true personally, and it’s true in parenting, and it’s true in leadership, especially leadership of self:
There isn’t one fibre in any pulsing heart that likes seeing the Short-Term Immediate You Hurt.
But you’ve got to love the Long-Term Ultimate You wider and deeper and longer — the You that can ultimately be — so you’re willing to take the resistance of your Immediate Self right now.
“Change is a marathon won by a million baby steps. Every choice is another step on your pilgrimage toward the person you’re choosing to be.“
Love the Ultimate You. Love the Ultimate Person enough to raise the bar for the Short-term Person.
Be deeply committed to the Ultimate You, and don’t flippantly sell out the long-term Ultimate You.
Sometimes the short-term Immediate You cannot have what she wants — so that the long-term Ultimate You can be who she ultimately wants to be.
Sometimes the short-term Immediate You won’t feel loved —- because this is about ultimately loving the long-term Ultimate You.
Sometimes the short-term Immediate You can’t have immediate gratification — so you can give the long-term Ultimate You what is ultimately best.
Do the hard and holy things for the Ultimate You, and tell yourself:
You may always make mistakes—but that is very different than always making excuses. Every mistake offers the courageous grace to make a course-correction. And Jesus, the One living in you, knows the right course, because He is The Way.
“The things you really want most — are found in the road you’re really avoiding the most.“
Be a tender guide to your soul:
Expect mistakes— but accept no excuses. Mistakes happen—but berating ourselves doesn’t have to happen.
Every day: expect it to be hard. Every day: Expect it to be worth it.
Change is a marathon won by a million baby steps. Every choice is another step on your pilgrimage toward the person you’re choosing to be.
Slip ups aren’t downfalls if you rise again.
Focusing on what is going right — and on the Perfect, Right One Himself, who smiles grace over you — is the only way to keep going.
Back up plans keep you from giving up goals.
Today’s failure successfully gives you information on how to succeed tomorrow.
And honestly? The things you really want most — are found in the road you’re really avoiding the most.
Just keep saying it over and over again:
“And Jesus is your road — so your road conditions always give you enough grace to do exactly what you don’t feel enough for.“
You’re meant to do hard & holy things because they are the next thing — to get to the best thing.
There are two of you — the Immediate You. And the Ultimate You. Who are you going to ultimately focus on?
All of us have things in front of us that are hard and they hurt. And you have to keep whispering it to your soul like a compass: The things you really want most — are found in the road you’re really avoiding the most. And Jesus is your road — so your road conditions always give you enough grace to do exactly what you don’t feel enough for.
And we all have a Father, and it literally killed Him to see us hurting through the hard — but the reality is:
When our own Short-Term Immediate Self is hurting, our Father’s hurting with us — to grow us into more. To grow us more like Him.
When they are finished planting the last of the bulbs, they water them slowly, trusting miracles happen, that hope can unfurl one day at a time, that things can profoundly change.
I set pots in all this light, and I believe.
If You’re Longing for a Season of Soul Growth, Then This One’s for you
what others are saying about loved to life:
Pick up Loved to Life: A 40-Day VISUAL Pilgrimage with Jesus, through the book of John, that will:
give you enlightening insights to calm your real worriesground your identity in who you really are, regardless of failuresspeak to your deepest doubts in a profoundly steading wayand walk you in fresh, intimate ways with Jesus, Love Himself, that will grow your soul into real LIFEAnd Pick up all the Bonus THANK YOU gifts for you:
and so many (truly incredible!!!!) more deeply spiritually formative, profoundly helpful tools coming that will help grow us in connection to each other and the Vine of Life Himself…
My heartfelt thanks for your support of ordering “Loved to Life” here, where you can also claim all the deeply formative and soul-nourishing THANK YOU gifts… from my heart to yours, connecting us all to His.
ORDER LOVED TO LIFE & CLAIM ALL THESE BONUS THANK YOU GIFTS FOR THE MOST POWERFUL LENT And YOU Don’T WANT TO MISS This Community & We don’t want to Miss Meeting YOU!An Interactive, Weekly Lenten Experience With These Wise Pilgrimage Companions! To Grow Your Soul!
Join us for daily Scripture read by Ann, devotionals, immersive prayers, and weekly livestream conversations with the most incredible companions! We’ll be face-to-face so you can join us, ask questions, and journey through Lent in real community! Grab a friend and let’s do this together!
You Belong: Come find all the details to Join this 40-Day Pilgrimage that we are doing IN COMMUNITY!February 18, 2025
When You’re So ready for Your Faith To Become Sight
Pull up your chair and lean in today with a trusted friend who will take us on a fragrant walk … in the dark. She is my dearest, dearest friend, the beloved Bible teacher, Jennifer Rothschild, and she’s has one incredible new video-based Bible study on Heaven — and wait for it — included below is a video of a face-to-face absolutely delightful, deeply edifying conversation that Jenn and I shared, what we’ve been so excited to share with you… about, yes, Heaven, our Father’s House, the place where one day, our faith will become sight. You’re about to experience such a heart full of encouragement for today as you think about “that day” and begin to breathe in the fragrance of Heaven. It’s is my utter joy to welcome Jennifer to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Jennifer Rothschild
I’ve walked many miles in the dark, yet my eyes are drawn to the place where there is no more night, no darkness at all.
Since becoming blind at age fifteen, I’ve held the arms of friends, family, and strangers to navigate my unending darkness. I’ve held tight to my faith and been held by God’s grace through every dark day. And I’ve also held a white cane. I have definitely walked by faith and not by sight—in a very literal sense.
I’ll never forget how Mike, my mobility instructor, finished up my first lesson of learning to walk in the dark.
I was seventeen years old when I got my first white cane, and with it I got Mike, the amazing guy who taught me how to use it. During that first lesson, he showed me how to navigate safely and helped me gain some independence. He walked me around my neighborhood, pointing out how to hold the cane, how to tap it, and how to anticipate all the rough places I would encounter.
Sweaty from the Miami heat, and probably from the stress I felt, we turned the last corner toward my home. He paused and asked, “Do you smell it?”
“The fragrance of Heaven is wafting along the path you walk even if you haven’t noticed it yet.“
I stopped and breathed in my surroundings. I did smell it. A lush bush of blooming hibiscus was right there on the corner near my home.
“When you smell the flowers,” Mike said, “you know you’re almost home.”
So, my friend, I ask you what Mike asked me… “Do you smell it?”
Pause and breathe in your surroundings.
The fragrance of Heaven is wafting along the path you walk even if you haven’t noticed it yet.
It is your reminder that your home, your Father’s House, Heaven, is not far away. In fact, it is just around the corner—one breath, one heartbeat away. Even if it’s decades, millions of heartbeats away from being experienced physically, it is still our eternal home. By faith, Heaven is our unseen reality that makes all we see here beam with shimmering and unshakeable hope.
On this side of eternity, we each walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But there will be a day when the fragrance of those flowers is so strong that we will know, we will know we are almost home. Yet that scent of eternity is drawing us even now to the beauty, the hope, and assurance of our ultimate home: Heaven.
“Yet, Heaven is not just a “not yet, won’t it be nice, hold on until then” reality. The reality of our future home in Heaven gives us present light, right now hope, current peace, real time security, timeless beauty, and a forever promise.“
Heaven is when our faith becomes sight. Heaven is our glorious unending. Heaven is what Jesus calls His “Father’s house” (John 14:1-3). Jesus even told His disciples about Heaven so their hearts would not be troubled. I love that!
Jesus knows that as we walk by faith, we face trouble and feel the stress of the journey. He assures us of Heaven so we can travel with untroubled hearts.
Yet, Heaven is not just a “not yet, won’t it be nice, hold on until then” reality. The reality of our future home in Heaven gives us present light, right now hope, current peace, real time security, timeless beauty, and a forever promise.
Heaven is hope that tiptoes into hospital rooms whispering peace that is louder than the voice of despair.
Heaven is light that pushes into the dark corners of our deepest fears, casting out the shadows of dread and replacing them with bright hope.
Heaven is an anchor, grounding us with a far greater weight of glory when our souls are in tumult.
And, for these blind eyes, Heaven is beauty that never fails to filter into the ordinary sepia tone of my shadowy world, making every seemingly dull or uninteresting moment burst with living color that even I can experience.
“… the reality of Heaven fortifies us in the face of uncertainty, anchors us in deep spiritual serenity, and grounds us in eternity. “
Oh, my friend, Heaven’s promise reverberates through every tear you ever have and ever will shed, making each quake with the dawning realization that their time is limited.
There will come a day when the very last tear will be wiped away from your cheek, from my cheek, from humanity’s cheek (Revelation 21:4). So, “let not your heart be troubled.”
When we slow down, notice and tune into eternity, we begin to breathe in the fragrance of Heaven. And, when we do, the reality of Heaven fortifies us in the face of uncertainty, anchors us in deep spiritual serenity, and grounds us in eternity.
So, as we navigate bright and dark days here, we hold on to our faith and we are held by God’s grace. The shadows we may face and feel here—sickness, uncertainty, stress, sorrow—all will eventually lift when we are captivated by that sweet aroma that ushers us into the presence of the One whose face we will clearly see—when our faith becomes sight!
But until then, there’s such joy in knowing —
Earth is short and Heaven is long.
So we Had a Conversation at the Historic Village Table church & This Conversation Jenn & I had together was Just So Soul-Edifying!
Jennifer Rothschild is a beloved author, speaker, and Bible teacher who has written 20 books and Bible studies. Known for her substance, signature wit, and down-to-earth style, she’s also the founder of Fresh Grounded Faith women’s events and hosts the 4:13 Podcast, offering practical encouragement and biblical wisdom to help others live the “I can” life of Philippians 4:13.
Jennifer has been blind since age 15 and says the greatest lesson she’s learned in the dark is that it doesn’t have to be well with your circumstances to be well with your soul. She’s an obsessive audiobook listener, a C.S. Lewis junkie, and a dark chocolate lover, and she lives in Springfield, Missouri with her very own Dr. Phil.
In her latest 7-session video-based study, Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight, Jennifer explores the subject of Heaven from a biblical perspective. She separates what’s true about Heaven from what’s based on legend, media depictions, and hopeful guesses. As you walk through the study, you’ll not only gain a deeper understanding of what God has prepared for His children, but also learn how to live with confidence today as you look forward to the glorious unending that awaits.
It’s 5 star! Don’t just wonder about Heaven—embrace it with a faith that turns anticipation into excitement and peace.
February 17, 2025
A Life-Changing Way to Read the Bible: Seeing the Bible with Ancient Eyes
Dr. Rich Robinson was raised in a Jewish home that was more cultural than religious. His family celebrated Passover and Hanukkah at their home in Brooklyn, and they went to the temple on the High Holy Days. He even attended Hebrew school several afternoons a week. But God was only on the periphery of his life. It wasn’t until college that the idea of Jesus really started to consume his thoughts. When he gave his life to Christ, he also discovered a new connection to his Jewish heritage. That has put him on a lifelong mission to help others—Jews and non-Jews—understand the importance of the gospel in its Jewish context. It’s a joy to welcome Dr. Rich Robinson to the farm’s table today…
Guest Post by Dr. Rich Robinson
The irony was palpable.
I was involved in an evangelism campaign with Jews for Jesus in the midst of a sweltering New York City summer. A man walked up to me in the subway and said something I had heard often before, a line designed more to keep the gospel at a distance than to understand anything: “The reason you are Jewish and believe in Jesus is because you’re young and impressionable.”
I looked at him and asked his age. “Thirty-eight,” he responded.
I looked at him again and said, “Well, I’m forty-two.”
I was grieved to consider how my brother’s heart was so hardened. Like him, I, too, had drawn a line between the Jewish and Christian faiths. My childhood and young adult life had been all about my Jewish heritage, not the God who had created me. I didn’t understand a God who was active in the world, let alone one who wanted a personal relationship with me. I was far from alone in this.
As humans, we tend to want to create boundaries or division, even dividing the Bible into what’s important and what’s not. I’ve heard it said that the Old Testament is only for Jews or that Christians only need to focus on the New Testament. But what if people understood the connections between the Testaments? What if there was a Bible that could help readers explore the Jewish context in which the Bible was written and better understand many of the people who originally read it?
It was with these questions in our heads and a passion for people to see the Bible with fresh eyes that my colleagues and I set out to update the Chronological Life Application Study Bible. With the excellent work that was already in place, we embarked on a journey to write additional study notes focusing on ancient Jewish culture and context, to create new features highlighting important Bible people, and to craft articles unpacking ancient traditions such as the Jewish calendar. We wanted to reveal how the Bible is a unified story with Jewish roots—a story for both Jews and non-Jews.
“We wanted to reveal how the Bible is a unified story with Jewish roots—a story for both Jews and non-Jews.“
Why is this important? Because it helps us understand the Bible in its context. How different the conversation with my Jewish acquaintance in New York might have been if he had understood the significance of Jesus celebrating Jewish holidays!
For instance, reading John 7 with the understanding that it takes place during a Jewish festival called Sukkot—the Hebrew term for the Feast of Shelters or Tabernacles—is eye-opening. When Jesus spoke “on the last day, the climax of the festival” (John 7:37), a big water show was taking place at the Temple. Jesus described “living water” flowing from the hearts of the spiritually thirsty, and his audience would have connected this imagery with what was happening around them.
In John 8:12, Jesus proclaimed himself “the light of the world” when lights from special candelabras were burning during the holiday week. Throughout Jerusalem, these shining lights would have been visible to anyone looking at the Temple Mount.
These passages show how Jesus spoke and taught by listening to what those around him were interested in, what they were thinking about, and then segueing into the spiritual answers that God provides. We can follow Jesus’ example in our conversations with others, bringing his truth into their world.
See how John 7 comes to life when we have a more robust understanding of Sukkot? For Jewish people who still celebrate these festivals today, can you imagine how exciting it would be to connect Jesus’ teaching to a holiday they have known all their lives?
It’s extremely important for us to understand the history and ancient culture of the Bible, but Bible engagement is more than just lessons on Jewish traditions. We need to bring the truth of the Bible into the context of our lives today. How can God use what you are learning to bring his hope to so many who live in despair and fear?
As part of the Jewish community, it is frightening for me to see the dramatic increase of anti-Semitism in North America and Europe. I hear from many Jewish people in cities and on campuses who feel threatened and unsafe. Some are convinced that the gospel and the New Testament are the root of this evil.
“Christ’s Kingdom bridges the gap between Jews and non-Jews. We need each other to understand the fullness of the gospel message! “
For many Christians, the answer is “of course not!” But for people with Jewish heritage—a heritage marked by atrocities like the Crusades, resettlements, and the Holocaust—grief and fear may feel like perfectly justified responses to Christianity.
How do we counter the idea that the New Testament is anti-Semitic?
In the Chronological Life Application Study Bible, we walk through the six most common passages used to support this claim and explore how we can refute them.
Making sense of these passages in our modern day can be difficult. Sadly, many believers have been guilty of anti-Semitism, and at times, they still are. This “Christian anti-Semitism” is often the result of people using the institution of the church for their own selfish gain. We must grieve the atrocities that have been done in the name of Jesus, but we do not need to diminish our confidence in the words of the New Testament as a result. We need to understand the plight of our Jewish brothers and sisters, help them defeat the hate, and be a voice for change. Here are three things you can do right now:
1. Learn about the Jewish people.Read a book like Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl. Watch a film like Exodus. Visit a Jewish museum. Or better yet, invite Jewish friends to share a meal and get to know them.
2. Identify anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism takes many forms, but there are some telltale signs of its presence. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for: (1) claims that Jewish people control systems of finance, media, or politics; (2) portrayals of Jewish people with exaggerated features; and (3) suggestions that Jewish people are the cause of social ills.
3. Speak upRemember the response of Martin Niemöller, a German pastor during the Second World War, to those who asked, “How could it happen?” He said, “First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
We all can benefit from understanding the Jewish contexts of Jesus’ life and the New Testament writings. When we realize that the New Testament is not anti-Semitic but instead affirms the Jewish origins of the gospel message, we break down those divides and better understand God and those made in his image. Knowing the Jewishness of the gospel can be a life-changing experience for Jews and non-Jews alike.
I’m convinced that as more and more Christians get to know the Jewish contexts of Jesus and the New Testament, they will be in a better place to reach their Jewish friends with the gospel and to enhance their own worship experience. And though I’m Jewish myself and came to faith in Jesus as a college student, I’m still learning Jewish aspects of the Bible that are new to me.
Christ’s Kingdom bridges the gap between Jews and non-Jews. We need each other to understand the fullness of the gospel message!
So instead of allowing these categories to separate us, there’s a way to keep learning together.
Rich Robinson, PhD, currently serves in San Francisco as senior researcher for Jews for Jesus, where he works on writing, editing, and researching the Bible, Jesus, and Jewish culture.
He is one of the scholars who worked on the Chronological Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition — a Bible I’m personally studying with this year, one of the best Bibles I’ve ever learned from.
Created in partnership with Jews for Jesus, this full-color Bible has thousands of notes, articles, maps, and other resources to help connect the Christian faith to its Jewish roots. Using the accurate and accessible New Living Translation, it includes every word of the 66 books of the Bible but arranges them in timeline order instead of by book.
See Scripture through the lens of ancient culture, and experience how it is woven together to display God’s amazing story!
{ Our humble thanks to Tyndale for their partnership in today’s devotional.}
February 15, 2025
Valentine’s Edition: Only the Good Stuff: Multivitamins For Your Weekend [02.15.2025]
Happy, happy, happy weekend!
Let yourself smile, be crazy inspired, laugh, love & really live the gift of this life
just a little bit more this weekend…
Smile a mile wide & believe like crazy in a Good God redeeming everything —
and that there’s love everywhere & for ((you))!
Serving up only the Good Stuff for you & your people right here:
no ones captures our world quite like she does
There’s Love singing Over you “Everyday”And the World is making such a melody of Love! And we need more Love like this!A stranger’s note of love left this dad in tears
Click here to readHe & His Wife Been Married 51 years & then He lost His Wedding Ring in Sea: ‘Miraculous’ recovery! CRAZY! 
ScreenshotWow! He hadn’t taken it off in 51 years & friends on the beach help him find it! This story is crazy!!The Love of God For Us all! In Central Park By A man in a BlizzardView this post on Instagram6 Love Stories Found in The BibleA post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny)
View this post on InstagramA Must Listen this week:A post shared by Janell Garwood (@gatheringhoney)
What Does It Mean to Give up EVERYTHING to Follow God?
For the Love of Jesus! the whole body of christ Around the World Gathering? Join Gather25!I’ll be joining in, Lord willing, from Cluj, Romania, one of the global gatherings! Are you in for this historic gathering?
The Word became Flesh and Dwelt Among us — and people are hungry for more of the Word! DO NOT MISS THIS! : “How Love Can Make You Win The Battle of Your Life“
And, in the midst of failing? These FREE 24 “I AM” Identity in Christ Cards HAVE BEEN LIFE-CHANGINGSmall Stories of a Big God“Lay It Down“
Click here if you want an “only God can” storySo Funny and Kinda adorable! View this post on InstagramThe Love of Grandparents! Sweetest thing!A post shared by Rochelle Vella (@rochelle.vella)
View this post on InstagramWhen there’s Loss: How A Community’s Love Brings in the HarvestA post shared by Stanley F Gauss III (@sfgauss)
View this post on InstagramWhen Love Heals us: Her JOURNEY OF HEALINGA post shared by Fiat Films (@fiatfilms)
Read how this young girls’ life was radically changedThe Love Of Us All being community Together!Couch Conversations- with Lisa Harper & Christine Caine
“God So Loves You, He Wants You to Be a Burden”
Powerful read Sit with the Love of God’s Presence
Such a good read! You don’t want to miss it!
His Holy Love meets Us All Right now: beautifulPost of the Week From Around These Parts:This is soul Healing: “God’s Valentine for you“
The love we long for isn’t found in someone giving us roses — but in the only One who gave us Himself, the only One who has ever loved us to death, and then rose so we could forever keep rising too.
Your heart needs to read this!More than Anything else: Believe You are Unconditionally Loved!
what others are saying about loved to life:And Finding Deals for you! 
Amazon Shocked:
And Target has 40% off one PLUS GET THE SECOND BOOK HALF OFF!
Shop Local!
And Get a Free, Personalized, Signed Bookplate, Great Gift to Surprise Someone With! Click Here For Yours
Pick up Loved to Life: A 40-Day VISUAL Pilgrimage with Jesus, that will:
give you enlightening insights to calm your real worriesground your identity in who you really are, regardless of failuresspeak to your deepest doubts in a profoundly steading wayand walk you in fresh, intimate ways with Jesus, Love Himself, that will grow your soul into real LIFEBonus THANK YOU gifts for your Support:
This bonus free 40-day habit tracker is an invitation to cultivate rhythms of prayer and presence. Each day,
as you engage in your chosen sacred rhythm, you’ll fill in a quilt square — stitching together a beautiful life woven together with Christ’s love…
“40 Ways to Abide in Jesus” comes in TWO DIFFERENT, BOTH Bonus FREE, PRINTABLES (one as original beautiful art prints by my beloved daughter-in-law, Aurora (!!), to place around your home, or as one stunning cross-centered compass to frame and hang) —
24 “Who I am in Christ” cards with original woodcut illustrations 40 illustrated ornaments from the life of Jesus, for your own Easter tree —40-Day Bible Reading PlanPocket Prayers for your PilgrimageA Complete “Loved to Life” Community Pilgrimage Guide With the 7 I AM Statements of Jesus — to do a Lent Pilgrimage with your people 40 Days of Seeing Yourself in Jesus’ Story: Captivating artwork paired with prompts to help you personally – and very powerfully – step into the very scenes of Scripture, immersing your life in Jesus’ storyand so many (truly incredible!!!!) more deeply spiritually formative, profoundly helpful tools coming that will help grow us in connection to each other and the Vine of Life Himself…
My heartfelt thanks for your support of ordering “Loved to Life” here, where you can also claim all the deeply formative and soul-nourishing THANK YOU gifts… from my heart to yours, connecting us all to His.
ORDER LOVED TO LIFE & CLAIM ALL YOUR BONUS THANK YOU GIFTS And YOU REally DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS:Can you even believe it?!Nope, we can’t either! And none of us want to miss out on all these beloved leaders who are joining us live during Lent!
Weekly livestream conversations! Incredible companions on this 40-Day Pilgrimage! We’ll be face- to- face so you can join us, ask questions, and journey through Lent in real community! Grab a friend, the book, and let’s do this together!
JOIN US!Love Who is “The Truth”Slow Down & Feel Loved this weekend:That’s all for this weekend, friends.
Go slow. Be God-struck. Grant grace. Live Truth.
Give Thanks. Love well. Re – joy, re- joy, ‘re- joys’ again
Share Whatever Is Good.
Ann Voskamp's Blog
- Ann Voskamp's profile
- 1368 followers
