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Welcome to Fierce Calling, where your host Doris Swift dives into heartfelt conversations and explores meaningful stories. We’re talking with guests who take action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. In this episode, we welcome back Donna Amidon, a wife, mom, speaker, author, musician, and graduate of Southern Evangelical Seminary. Donna shares insights from her inspiring book, Tracing His Promise: Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us, which delves into the beauty of biblical genealogies and Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.

How does the Jesse Tree tradition help families understand the significance of biblical stories and prophecies? We’ll discuss her experiences with the Jesse Tree tradition, what it’s all about, and how it shaped her family’s celebrations. Hear how this tradition spread like wildfire through her church and has become a beloved way for us to share the bigger-picture story of Jesus at Christmastime.

Listen as Donna elaborates on her mission to make the Bible accessible to all, offering her book as a treasured resource for spiritual growth. Plus, discover how her collaboration with her artist daughter has added a special touch to this family-centered project.

Join us for an enriching conversation as we affirm the transforming power of the Bible and encourage listeners to embrace its truths. Don’t miss this episode filled with joy, inspiration, and a shared passion for living a life centered on Jesus.

Key Topics and Takeaways …

Donna Amidon’s Book: “Tracing His Promise”

• Overview of the book’s content on Old Testament connections to Jesus.
• Aim to appeal to readers of varying familiarity with the Bible.
• Emphasis on using the Bible for spiritual growth.
• Writing process and original plans for the book’s title.
• Importance of the Jesse Tree tradition in the family context.

Jesse Tree Tradition

• Explanation of the Jesse Tree’s purpose and historical background.
• Modernization and its role in teaching children about biblical stories.

Biblical Connections and Genealogies

• Discussion on the significance of biblical genealogies.
• Examples of prophecies in the Bible relating to Jesus.
• Mention of key figures like David, Abraham, and Ruth.

Book Features and Resources

• Description of the 25 stories and corresponding Christmas ornaments.
• Information on craft exchange and printable ornaments.
• Inclusion of ornaments and stories in personal, church, or educational settings.

Artwork and Contributions

• Donna’s daughter as the illustrator and her role in the project.
• Details on her daughter’s professional work as an artist.

Check out my previous episode with Donna as mentioned in the show:

Living Surrendered to God’s Plan

Connect with Donna!

A graduate of Southern Evangelical Seminary, Donna is a wife, mom, speaker, author, musician, and lover of all things Bible.  Since college, Donna has dedicated herself to engaging women in the rich truths of Scripture while weaving its application into daily life.  With a passion for the local church, Donna has served as a Bible teacher, worship leader, radio broadcaster, small groups director, and pastor’s wife.  

Currently, Donna is an active speaker for Stonecroft Ministries and women’s events. In addition to speaking, Donna works for Back to the Bible as a Spiritual Fitness Coach, hosting short video programs to encourage Christians in their spiritual journey. She is excited about the release of her first book, Tracing His Promise.  ​

Donna and Ryan live in Virginia, where they enjoy raising their two teenage children and maltipoo, Roxy.

Connect with Doris!

Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com

Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.

What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?

Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/

Let’s Stay Connected!

Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!

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Thanks for Listening!

I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You’ll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.

If you’re looking for a speaker for your next women’s conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift

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Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.

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I hope you’ll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect …

Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I’ll talk to you soon.

With love and joy,

Doris

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Transcript

Surrender the Joy Stealers Bible Study …

What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job, so many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I’m Doris Swift, author of the award winning 6 week bible study, Surrender the Joystealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives. Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others.

Doris Swift00:02:40 – 00:03:09

You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It’s available on all the online retailers. It’s time to take your joy back.

Doris Swift00:03:09 – 00:03:46

Welcome back to Fierce Calling. Today, I’m excited to welcome back a wonderful friend of mine, and she is just an amazing woman of god, and she wrote a book we’re gonna talk about. Donna Amidon, she was on before, and I will put the link in the show notes for our previous episode. It was one of the most listened to episodes, so you don’t wanna miss that one. And this one’s gonna be fantastic. She is a wife, a mom, a speaker. She is an author as we said. She’s a musician also, which is amazing, and she is a graduate of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, and she loves all things Bible. So this is amazing, and this is what we’re gonna be talking about. And with, you know, the holidays coming up with Christmas and advent and all of that, we’re gonna get into that.

Doris Swift00:03:46 – 00:03:58

And I saw I know sometimes families need a little help in that area to know how to navigate that with their families. So welcome to the show, Donna. Welcome back. It’s so great to have you on again.

Donna Amidon00:03:58 – 00:04:01

Hey, Doris. It is just a joy to be with you. Thank you.

Doris Swift00:04:01 – 00:04:32

Thank you. Yeah. It’s just, amazing. Your book, Tracing His Promise, Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us. And that is just like a perfect title for this book. I know it originally had a different title, and I loved that one too, but this really is something that connects us into the bigger picture story and shows Jesus all through how Jesus has always been there. And I was, blessed to endorse this book. It was my honor to do so.

Doris Swift00:04:32 – 00:04:46

So I would love, Donna, if you would get into a little bit of your story and then how you are taking action, where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect in all things bible that you love so much.

Donna Amidon00:04:47 – 00:05:07

Yeah. Thank you. Well, I mean, I think you said that very well. My my joy and my passion is all things Bible, and that really is the passion that I live by. I’ve been setting it for years. I’m no me by means an expert, but yet it never gets old. I mean, it never gets old. There’s always something else to discover.

Donna Amidon00:05:07 – 00:05:59

Not that we’re going searching for meaning and trying to, like, either listen to those teachers who just kind of make up things like, wait, that’s not in there. But because it’s not. It’s it’s about just unpacking all the jewels and all the treasures that are in the Bible. And that is truly my passion. My compassion is for people to understand the Bible. I think of Romans 22, it says, do you not be conformed to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind? And I think the NLT says simply let the Bible change the way you think. When I wrote this book, it was it has a lot of information in it, but it wasn’t just about information. It was about changing the way the reader thinks, the way they think about God, the way they think about themselves, the way they understand their salvation.

Donna Amidon00:05:59 – 00:06:41

So that is my compassion for people just to understand the truth and let that truth change the way they think. And then my conviction is that, there’s nothing else to live for but the kingdom of God. And while the world has all of its allurements and all the things that we can be chasing after, Only the Bible satisfies our mind. It is the way we are to live. His spirit is the one that fills us. His presence is the one that gives us comfort. There is nothing else that we should be chasing after. Easier said than done, but, but there is true joy and freedom and just laying everything down and saying, god, I want to live for you in whatever place you put me in.

Donna Amidon00:06:42 – 00:06:50

Not comparing, but just simply with a face like a flint toward Jesus. That’s kind of a nutshell Yes. Of that answer.

Doris Swift00:06:50 – 00:08:14

That’s that was amazing and perfect and lovely. And I I just really do love how your passion comes out about the word of God and how exciting it can be. And I think what happens too is it gets other people excited and wanna know more, like, what is it about the bible that gets Donna, like, so passionate and wanting others to learn more about it? And and so what you did when you wrote this book was pull people in and just kind of in in just such a beautiful way that it was written goes through all the different ways that we see Jesus Messiah throughout forever, you know, throughout the bible. And, and just because I know some want to love the bible, that want to study, that want to really wanna hunger. And I know we can pray for God to give us that hunger for the word, but then, and we might have that. But then maybe someone might open the bible and go, oh, where do I even start? And I I don’t get this or, you know, anything like that. So I I feel like your book really helps, and the bible is ultimately our authority. You know, the Bible is God’s word, and so there’s no substitute for it.

Doris Swift00:08:14 – 00:09:10

But all throughout your book, you are quoting scripture. You are bringing the reader in, and it’s just it’s just a powerful message about tracing his promise. So, yeah, if you could talk a little bit about that. I know in the last episode when we were together, you were talking about how you you and your husband and family were gonna thought you were gonna move somewhere, and then God changed everything around. So if you are listening to this episode, be sure to go back and listen to that one because that was an amazing testimony of, you know, what God did in your life. So so from that point now, where did this all begin with the bible? Because or with the book because originally, your your title was the Jessie tree. Right? Was that, like, the original? Because I remember being very excited about that. And so tell us more about that.

Donna Amidon00:09:11 – 00:09:40

Oh, well, it is it has been quite the journey. I will try to be as concise as possible. But, let’s see. I guess 7 years ago, I was having a conversation with my daughter. And she always loved when I asked her questions about what her life would be like when she was older. And she’d say, mom, ask me questions about my husband and about my kids. And so I would say, okay, Charity, what kind of car are you gonna have? What kind of animals and all the things. So I’m always racking my head for what to ask her.

Donna Amidon00:09:40 – 00:10:12

And it just hit me one day. I said, Charity, do you think that when you’re older, will you do the Jessie tree with your kids? And her little eyes lit up. And she said, mom, I’m gonna do the Jessie tree with my kids. And at that moment, I thought, wow. This Jesse Tree that we are doing is powerful. So much so that my daughter dreams of doing it with her kids. Mhmm. And so that makes people wonder, what even is a Jesse Tree? And I can go ahead and explain that now if you’d like.

Donna Amidon00:10:12 – 00:11:09

But a Jessie tree is basically when you have a tree or a decorative branch or something in your home during the Advent season, and you add one ornament to the tree every day of December, beginning December 1st, and then going up through December 25th. So you will have put 25 different ornaments on the tree. Now these ornaments aren’t Santa Claus or the Grinch or doctor Seuss or whatever Mhmm. Can prune your tree. Mhmm. But these are ornaments that correspond to Old Testament stories that tell about the coming Jesus or that, talk about a foreshadow of the coming Jesus. So, for example, you might have a lamb ornament represents the Passover lamb or a sheaf of wheat that represents Ruth and Boaz and the the kinsman redeemer. You might have a little crown that for David because he was the one who was prophesied to be, the one who would bear the Messiah in 2nd Samuel 7.

Donna Amidon00:11:09 – 00:12:10

And so you have these ornaments and you put them on your tree every year. And so the neat part about it is this becomes a time when you can teach your children or your grandchildren about the promise of Christ in the Old Testament in a very conversational way. You can sit down and tell the story, or you can just have the ornaments on your tree and take advantage of those teachable moments. As you know, kids can be very inquisitive, and you’ll say, what is this ornament? And you can explain, well, this is the the lamb. This is the Passover lamb, and just use those teachable moments riding on your kid’s inquiry. But, that is the Jessie tree. And so back to that conversation with my daughter on the in the kitchen, once she said that that was something that really, really, was something she wanted to do, I thought this is such a gift, and I started dreaming about what it’ll be like for women and friends at my home church to do this too. So I bought a devotional or I bought a, like, a little thing that we could go through together.

Donna Amidon00:12:11 – 00:12:51

And I looked at it, and I thought, this is great. Like, they had the 25 stories, but I thought this does not even begin to capture the depth and the richness of the promise of Jesus Christ. And so that fall, I literally just wrote down a Bible study so quickly, but it just kind of came very quickly. Not all things, as you know, come quickly in your writing. But, thankfully, that first draft, not subsequent drafts, but that first draft came very quickly. And I gave it to the ladies at the bible study. And if you’ve ever led bible studies, Doris, you know that sometimes the or most often, the the tenants kind of wanes toward the end because people get busy. But this experience, the exact opposite.

Donna Amidon00:12:51 – 00:13:40

And by god’s grace, this started growing, and people were inviting their friends and, moms and sisters. And within about 3 years, we had 100 ladies at my home church do this study because they loved what it was all about. And after I saw the fruit of this firsthand in my friends’ lives and their kids’ lives, I thought, well, this is a gift, not only to my local church, but this is a gift for the body of Christ. And so I set on out on that journey that you know well of publishing, long journey and not for the faint of heart. But, thankfully, after 7 years from that conversation with my daughter, Tricia’s Promise is now a book that I pray blesses so many families and moms and grandkids.

Doris Swift00:13:40 – 00:14:20

Yeah. Wow. It’s such a beautiful book. How it made such a big impact on the women that you took them through this Jesse Tree and all of that. And you could just see the excitement and how God showed you. Like, this is this is something that is going to transform families, you know, and where they can do these things together. And and grandparents can do it with their with their grandkids too. And just, you know, I love, like you said, you know, teachable moments and how your daughter was dreaming about what her life was going to be.

Doris Swift00:14:21 – 00:14:58

And when you asked her about the Jesse tree, because because it sounds okay. So, like, you were doing this with your family. Right? And then you thought, wow, that’s so exciting that even my daughter is excited about this to to it’s like a legacy. It’s like something that can be passed on for generations in these ornaments. Because I know we’ll talk a little bit about that too because you you have a way that ladies can get those, and families can use those. And, they can yeah. Just precious keepsakes that can go on for years years or until Jesus comes back for how many years.

Donna Amidon00:14:58 – 00:14:59

That’s right.

Doris Swift00:14:59 – 00:15:14

Yeah. So so that’s really great. So if you could also go into a little bit about Jesse and where that Sure. Comes from because that that would be good too to kind of flush that out for the listener.

Donna Amidon00:15:14 – 00:15:52

Yeah. A lot of people a lot of people ask a Jesse tree, and then the kids end up calling it a Jesus tree, which is totally fine with me. Yeah. I have no qualms with that. But it’s, the Jesse tree originates from a verse in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1, and it is a prophecy about Jesus. It says that from the stump of Jesse, a branch would come. And and just a quick little background to what that even means, Jesse was the father of David. And so it’s this prophecy, it’s this picture that God gives to Isaiah that that though Israel and Judah are getting wiped out by the foreign nations and all hope is lost.

Donna Amidon00:15:53 – 00:16:37

There is hope to come, and that hope and that branch is Jesus. And so that’s where it comes from. This is nothing I made up by any stretch of imagination. This is actually something that’s been around since medieval times, and the Jesse tree was something you would see in stained glass images. And you can Google it and and find it, but, basically and you can picture this in your mind. It’s Jesse lying on a side on the bottom of this stained glass window, and then going up from him as a tree. And then on this tree are various symbols and descendants that would ultimately lead to Christ. And so this Jesse tree was originally created for the illiterate, for the people who couldn’t read so they could visually see this picture of Christ.

Donna Amidon00:16:37 – 00:17:16

And so I think that’s so neat because our kids may be reading, but maybe not well, but yet they can visually see in one glance all of these pictures of Christ, the kinsman redeemer, the ladder of Jacob, the the ram Abraham sacrificed, the Passover lamb. All these things they can see in all of these are pictures of Messiah and our foreshadows and prophecies of Messiah to come. So it is a really rich tradition, and I love that we’ve modernized it without taking away the power of it. And it’s something that we can use as a tool to teach our kids and our grandkids and expose them to this bigger story of Jesus in the old testament.

Doris Swift00:17:17 – 00:17:53

Yeah. So what would you say to someone who’s listening right now who would love to know more about how that all connects and how it’s not, like, just all separate books of the bible that are kind of, you know, like separate. You know, it’s all one big continuous story or there some, favorite prophecies that stand out to you. You covered so many in the book, and it’s just, you know, people could just, like, really truly understand Jesus is undeniably the Messiah. So tell us a little bit about that.

Donna Amidon00:17:53 – 00:18:36

Yeah. There are so many, and that question just makes my mind just just light up. I’m thinking, what am I gonna even share? Because I could go on and on. And that’s really one of the reasons I wrote the book because these connections are so brilliant and so beautiful. One that comes to mind well, the first one is in the it is in Genesis, and you just have to get the book to read it. But it is when God tells the serpent that the seed of the woman would bear a son who would one day crush his head. So that is that is just this first little kind of sniff and glimpse of a messiah to come, but I think the one that I would maybe mention more formally is in Genesis 12 and 15. God promises Abraham a seed.

Donna Amidon00:18:37 – 00:19:12

Now typically, we think of the seed as Isaac and the Jewish nation who follows. But if we go to Galatians chapter 3 verse 16 in the New Testament, the apostle Paul says that that seed that God promised Abraham was Christ. And so we see that that seed was not just, Isaac. It was actually Christ. And in fact, Paul says it wasn’t seeds. He didn’t say plural seeds or plural offsprings. It was one seed, and that one seed is Christ. So we see that the fulfillment of that promise to Abraham is in Jesus.

Donna Amidon00:19:12 – 00:19:52

Now take it one step further too, if you don’t mind. In 2nd Samuel 7, as I mentioned earlier, God promises David that from his seed, the Messiah would come as well, and and so they’re just following along the lines. So when you turn to Matthew chapter 1 verse 1, the hinge verse from the Old Testament to the New Testament, what does it say? It says the genealogy of Jesus, son of Abraham, son of David. So he’s son of Abraham fulfilling that Abrahamic covenant from this, Genesis 12 and 15. And then he is the son of David fulfilling the covenant of second Samuel 7. It’s all right there. It’s all connected, and it is so, so beautiful.

Doris Swift00:19:52 – 00:20:20

Yeah. And I love that you bring that out for someone reading the bible who would normally, like, maybe because I know, like, when we first start reading the Bible, sometimes we glaze over something or skip over things because it’s like, and so so and so begot so and so, and so and so begot so and so. And it’s like, wait a second. What? I’m confused. Never mind. Skip that. Like, different people that were all part of the lineage of Jesus. Yes.

Doris Swift00:20:20 – 00:20:22

Most unlikely people. Right? So

Donna Amidon00:20:23 – 00:20:47

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. You look at Ruth, and over and over in the first chapter of Ruth, you see wrote Ruth the Moabitist. Ruth the Moabitist. So it’s clear the author wants us to know that Ruth is not Jewish. She is a pagan gal from Moab, but yet she is the one who is part of the lineage of Jesus, a woman, a a non Jew. It just shows that, that the invitation is for all.

Donna Amidon00:20:47 – 00:21:20

And in fact, going back to, Abraham, Jesus or excuse me. God told Abraham and you, all the world will be blessed. And the reason all the world will be blessed, Jew and non Jew, is because through Abraham, the messiah would come. So you see all these connections, and they just make your faith just grow and stir. And you think, wow. We serve an incredible god, and the word is so rich. And it just refreshes us, and it renews our minds, and it gives us a new way to think about ourselves and who God is.

Doris Swift00:21:20 – 00:22:11

Yeah. And the thing about your book too is that it’s kind of a guide and a tool and almost like I’m I like to think of it as a springboard, like a springboard that people can go through and then probably go through it again, but then also helps them to see, then their eyes will be open to other things to make other connections. Although all the connections in the book that you make are really profound. And I think I said that in my, maybe I’ll read my endorsement. Okay. So I’m gonna read the endorsement that I did because this is what I gleaned from it. This is really like how the the book hit me. I said, tracing his promise is a powerful, biblically grounded study that reveals profound connections between old testament scripture and the messiah who was born in Bethlehem and is undeniably Jesus.

Doris Swift00:22:11 – 00:22:58

Through the study, Amidon illuminates for the reader the significance of events, prophecies, and people of old testament times. Not only how they relate directly to Jesus’s birth, but also how Jesus was present from the beginning of it all through thought provoking questions, impactful illustrations, and deep insight. She invites families to incorporate the Jessie tree into their Christmas traditions and provides creative ideas and printable ornaments. Amidon’s passion is evident at every turn of the page while she helps her readers make golden nugget connections hidden in plain sight. This study is unique and impactful. Don’t miss it. So I’ll yeah. That the whole thing about that you help the readers make golden nugget connections hidden in plain sight.

Doris Swift00:22:58 – 00:23:23

Like, you were just talking about that, looking at the seed, you know, and and people may not even have thought about it. They just kind of read over it and just these connections are so powerful. And it’s it’s fun. It’s exciting. I know I always love to, like, dig deep and uncover things. But like you were saying earlier, you you called it treasures. Right? Yes. Yeah.

Donna Amidon00:23:23 – 00:23:28

Jewels and treasures that are that are waiting there for us to uncover. It’s it’s beautiful.

Doris Swift00:23:28 – 00:23:31

Yeah. So tell us about the ornaments.

Donna Amidon00:23:32 – 00:24:06

Sure. So in the book, like I mentioned, we go through 25 different stories. And the great thing about it is each of those stories has a corresponding Christmas ornament that goes with it. And that is the ornament that you put on your tree December first through 25th. So you might be thinking, okay, that’s wonderful, but where in the world do I get these ornaments? Mhmm. We have a couple different options. If you’re super crafty, you can gather some friends and do something like a cookie exchange. But instead of cookies, do ornaments.

Donna Amidon00:24:06 – 00:24:45

And so maybe someone will make Noah’s Ark, and someone will make Jacob’s ladder. And then you come together with the ornaments that you have made, and then you exchange ornaments so that everyone walks away with a full set of 25 ornaments. And that’s one option Mhmm. If you’re super crafty. But what we’ve also done as a special bonus in this book, which is just an incredible value, is that we have in the appendix a QR code where you can go and download a free set of printable ornaments. They are absolutely stunning. My daughter is the illustrator, and, she’s not 5 years old. She’s 19, and she’s a professional artist.

Donna Amidon00:24:45 – 00:25:13

She does a fantastic job. They will make your jaw drop. They are beautiful. And so they’re, like, 2 and a half inch circles. So you can just cut them out and then do you laminate them or modge podge them on another circle ornament. That’s something you can do with your kids or your grandkids, as a activity. Maybe they’re coming over for the holidays. You can do that and put them on your tree, and just let them ask the questions or something that you can just use to personally reflect.

Donna Amidon00:25:13 – 00:25:39

I know women who are empty nesters that maybe their kids aren’t in the area. They still they have the ornaments. They use the ornaments. They use the just or they use, tracing his promise as a devotional during the Advent season just to reset our mind on the savior. Because as you know, Christmas gets crazy. We all kind of go bonkers, but we don’t have to, when we reset ourselves on the real true beautiful reason for the season.

Doris Swift00:25:39 – 00:26:35

Yeah. I love that so much. And I think they should download the ornaments and then do the cookie exchange with those. And or, you know, also, there are Sunday school classes that, you know, teachers are always looking for crafts and things to do with the students, or they can do it as, like, one big kind of, all the, you know, all the classes together can come together and do it. So I think that’s really fun. And, yes, your daughter’s art, she is so talented, so beautiful, and just like she does the pet portraits, which actually she had done, a treat I think for, your book launch team. Somebody somebody won that, and it was like, wow, that is such a value because she is so talented. But if you check it out because she has a website too, right, where you can

Donna Amidon00:26:36 – 00:26:55

Yes. Her yeah. Her website is lucky dog art. And, yeah, she she got the URL for that. We bought it from somebody that hadn’t, so it was a real treat to get it. So lucky dog art. She’s also on Instagram and Facebook, probably more Instagram than Facebook these days, but you can see her art. She’s about to go off to college here in a couple months.

Donna Amidon00:26:56 – 00:27:09

So that’s exciting and sad at the same time, but, it’s she’s she’s ready, and she’s gonna do a fantastic job. Wow. So but thank you for the kind words. Yeah. She’s very gifted, and it’s so funny. God’s timing in this all adores. I wanted this to be published 5 years ago. Mhmm.

Donna Amidon00:27:09 – 00:27:29

But if it would have been published 5 years ago, my daughter wouldn’t have been the artist and illustrator for the book. So, it’s just sweet to see it, and I will comment that the that we have the downloadable ornaments. But as you have noticed that those pictures are also throughout the book. Yes. So you get to experience her artwork as you read, and that just kinda solidifies the stories even more.

Doris Swift00:27:29 – 00:27:56

Yeah. It is just really beautiful. And, yeah, like you said, God’s timing because it’s so precious that this was a family thing that you got to do with your daughter. And, yeah. It wouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t if it wasn’t for her. So it’s more meaningful, for you all too and for us. So that’s that’s incredible. And then and then your son, what, he he was, roasting coffee from how old?

Donna Amidon00:27:57 – 00:28:26

Oh my goodness. Wow. That coffee business has been going it’s finally kind of not finally, but it is winding down. Mhmm. But we he had a coffee roasting business for years, and we’ve had 100 literally, 100 of pounds of coffee roasted on our back porch. The the smell spreads literally, like, 100, like, at least a 100 yards down the down the road. And it sounds glamorous, but it’s kinda messy and it’s kinda smelly. But, before that, I really didn’t drink a lot of coffee.

Donna Amidon00:28:26 – 00:28:51

But, you know, like a good mom, you gotta support your son. So we were the we were the top customer, but it was a lot of fun. Yeah. I mean, he still does it time to time Mhmm. For us, but that was a real joy to have him do that. And he, made that a an offering in the, launch team as well. So it was great to have him do that. But he’s growing into a young man who just loves Jesus, and so that’s, very, very precious to me.

Donna Amidon00:28:51 – 00:28:53

So I’m thankful Yeah. Our sweet relationship.

Doris Swift00:28:54 – 00:29:32

It is good coffee too because I because I had some. Yeah. It was very good. So you have such a beautiful family, and and I just love your heart for wanting to help others. Like you said earlier, your your compassion, you want others to read the word, love the word, and just love all things bible and, you know, dig deep. And and this book really, really will help, them to do it, but I think it’s just so exciting because you’re so excited in the book. You can just tell, you know, like, when you invite us to think with you and, you know, just like, look at this, like, hello. Wow.

Doris Swift00:29:32 – 00:30:23

This is this is amazing. You know, not necessarily those words. I’m paraphrasing maybe, but that’s pretty close. It’s not gonna have it comes out because you were very excited to share these golden nuggets, these these treasures, you know, that are uncovered in plain sight there. So, so I love it so much. And so, Donna, if someone is listening right now and they really they’re a little intimidated by bible study or what that even means or how to go about it or how to start, maybe, maybe it’s difficult. Maybe they, love to go to church on Sunday and hear the word of God, but during the week, kind of struggle with opening the word on their own to try to read. So could you give a little, like, maybe some tips or encouragement in that area of how they can get started with that?

Donna Amidon00:30:23 – 00:31:01

Sure. Well, I think, tracing his promise is a wonderful way to do that. It’s neat. I have seen, Doris, people who are not churched at all, pick it up and literally understand it. I have a couple of neighbors that have that I’ve given it to. And they said, Donna, this is I love it because it’s so easy to understand. And at the same time, I’ve had women who have been in church for years, missionary kids, pastors, wives, and and they’re and they say, I’ve never knew the old testament was this rich, and it just makes them come alive. So I would encourage readers, obviously, to find some resource.

Donna Amidon00:31:01 – 00:31:44

It doesn’t have to be tracing his promise, but find some resource that you can sit down with and just learn about the Bible. It is I mean, I get it. It’s hard it can be hard to understand. It can be overwhelming. Where do I even begin? And yet at the same time, this is God’s heart for us. This is God’s word for us. And even when we see the enemy come against Jesus in, the wilderness, God or Jesus in the, God in the flesh, but Jesus used the word of God to come against every stronghold, everything that came against him. And I think for you and me, the the tactics of the enemy are still there, and the weapon has not changed.

Donna Amidon00:31:44 – 00:32:35

It is the word of God. And so I think when we can really learn to harness our hearts and our thoughts to the truth of God’s word and not all the lies that the world tells us, not all the things that the enemy wants to tell us, then we can really live a life of victory. We don’t have to walk around scratching our heads, wondering if God’s there, questioning his love. We can live a victorious Christian life, and it really starts with, opening ourselves up to God’s word. And so my prayer for the reader and for these people who open the book is this is a place where God will meet you right where it’s at. I have not written it over your head. It is you are gonna understand that there’s some teenage girls that are going through it in our church now, and they’re like, god, I love your I love your stories, and I love your book. So it is really for, anyone.

Donna Amidon00:32:35 – 00:33:11

I have some friends who are discipling using that book. They wanna step into mentoring younger people, and they’re going to use, tracing his promise as, like, that book that they walk through because it really gives this big, beautiful overview of the Old Testament. So I would encourage, you know, the listeners to find what you can, and I would love, for it to be tracing this promise, but find something. And if you do, please reach out to me. I have a website. You can let me know if you are reading it. I have some friends that are even using it to disciple younger believers or new believers or even seekers. So it really can appeal to a lot of different ages.

Donna Amidon00:33:11 – 00:33:24

So I would just encourage that listener to however you can to get in the word to do it because it is truly life to our soul and renews our minds, and it is really a lifeline. So that’s how I’d encourage.

Doris Swift00:33:24 – 00:34:12

Yeah. Thank you. That’s beautiful. And and I do love that it’s for all different age groups. Teens are going through it and, you know, and even if you’re, like you said, like, seasoned, you know, walking with the Lord for years, Christians, you know, or just newer believers. It’s something for everyone and, you know, there there might be things that we thought we knew and didn’t realize or, you know, it just it’s very eye opening. But I also love that it helps to for maybe someone in your family who questions, is there even a god or, you know, doesn’t really believe the bible is true. Jesus fulfilled all of these prophecies, all of the prophecies, and I think I’ve heard I don’t remember the statistic.

Doris Swift00:34:13 – 00:34:49

Maybe you know it. But even for someone to be able to fulfill, like, 2 of them or impossible or you know? So for him to fulfill all of those, and you go through so many in such a beautiful way. And like you said, it’s very easy to read. You take us through it. You tell stories and keep us engaged. And you, you know, help help it come alive because the bible is living is the living word, you know. So, so I’m excited about that, Donna. So tell us about where is the website, you know, how they can connect with you, and, you know, that’s where they can get the ornaments and everything.

Donna Amidon00:34:49 – 00:35:02

Well, thank you, Doris. My, website is donnamadondot com. They can go there. There’s a place. There’s a contact form. Don’t be intimidated by that. Just send it, and I will get it. It’ll land right in my computer, and I will write you back.

Donna Amidon00:35:02 – 00:35:26

I promise. And that’s one way. I’m on Facebook and Instagram a little bit. As far as getting the book, it is available at the booksellers that you love, Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. So just encouraged, go check out some of the reviews, check it out, see if it’s a good fit for you or even a bible study coming up. 2 for a new year bible study with your friends and your girlfriends. It’s cool there. And then as I said before, those ornaments are available.

Donna Amidon00:35:27 – 00:35:31

All you have to do is get the book, and in the back, there’s a QR code to link you to that.

Doris Swift00:35:31 – 00:36:17

Yes. And I highly recommend the book. But, I mean, like I said earlier, I endorsed it, and it just it is just it is a powerful, powerful book. And I just I really love it so much. And so, thank you, Donna, for being on the show again. It was so great to have you back on, and I hope to have you on again whenever, you know, God, God leads us to do that. And so if you’re listening today, just know that it’s not by any accident and that God wants to have that personal relationship with you. And so this this book is something that is a beautiful tool and resource that is filled chock full of his truth and his word and point you to the bible.

Doris Swift00:36:17 – 00:36:40

And so, so it’s it’s amazing. So thank you so much again, Donna. And, this will be this will be out so that families can can enjoy it for the advent season, but also jump into it for a bible study in the new year. And what a great way to start off the year in God’s word. So thank you again, Donna.

Donna Amidon00:36:40 – 00:36:53

Exclude

Well, thank you, Doris. I love what you’re doing. I love your ministry. I love your heart. So God bless you and all the things you continue doing and encouraging women. It’s just it’s a gift. You are a gift to the body of Christ. So god bless you and your ministry.

Doris Swift00:36:53 – 00:37:09

Thank you so much. That is such a blessing, and god bless you and your family and your ministry and what god is doing already and what he will continue to do in and through you and this beautiful book. So thank you so much, friend, and we will talk soon.

Donna Amidon00:37:09 – 00:37:10

01:38 – 37:11

Okay. Take care.