Donna Amidon, one of our spiritual fitness coaches, has always made herself available to follow the promises of God. So, getting to know her through the years has meant watching her grow
as a dedicated wife, mom, musician, women’s Bible study teacher, Christian speaker, and now the author of an inspiring new book, Tracing His Promise!
Donna, your life and family are a testament to the enduring promises of God. Please tell us a little about them.
My husband, Ryan, and I live in Virginia, with our two teenage children, Charity and Isaiah. Charity graduated high school last year, and Isaiah is currently in high school. My days are filled with homeschooling Isaiah and driving him to co-ops and soccer, which means much of my writing happens in the front seat of our minivan! :) With Ryan's work from home and homeschooling, we are blessed as a family to have a lot of time together.
As one of our spiritual fitness coaches, you are known for your excellent teaching and
encouragement. How did you come to know, live, and teach God’s Word?
Since I was little, I always loved learning about the Bible and was full of curiosity, asking my Sunday school teachers a lot of questions. When I was a teenager, I attended a weekly
Bible study with my mom and her friends. The leader of that study saw my passion for Scripture and gave me my first opportunity to teach. From that point, I knew teaching
would be a big part of my life. I loved preparing messages, digging deeper into the text, experiencing personal transformation, and then seeing that same transformation in the women. Those morning Bible studies became the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion—sharing God and His Word with others.
So, how did your new book, Tracing His Promise, come about?
I'd been leading a local Bible study at our church, and one fall, I was praying about what study to teach but really struggled to decide. Then one morning, I had a conversation with my daughter about how much she loved our tradition of going through the Old Testament stories each year during Advent, using the Jesse Tree.
As she shared her excitement, I knew that was the study I needed to teach. I started dreaming of what it would be like for the women of my church to understand the promise of Christ in the Old Testament and for families to use these ornaments with their kids. That fall, I wrote the Bible study very quickly, and it was received with excitement. Seeing the fruit of this study firsthand, I knew it needed to extend beyond the walls of my church. About three years later, I began the road to publication.
What did God reveal to you as you worked on this book?
There are so many things I’ve discovered, and that’s why I was so excited to write it. If I had to sum it up, I’ve learned (and continue to learn) that God is truly worthy of our full trust—despite the hills and valleys of life.
As I say in the book, “God never intended us to live under the constant weight of confusion, fear, and discouragement. He never intended us to chase after the world’s empty idols,
always seeking but never satisfied. He desires us to know the fullness of who he is, the liberating power of his truth, and a life of freedom and joy. It’s not an instant fix. It’s a lifetime of learning and living by truth and trust.”
What kind of responses have you seen as people learn to trace the promises of God’s Son?
I've received a lot of wonderful feedback, and what people seem to love about Tracing His Promise is how it helps them understand the Old Testament in a new way. It shows the promise of Christ’s birth throughout its pages, and the profound connections between the Old and New Testaments. People have also said they appreciate that it's conversational, relatable, and humous at times, too!
I love that this feedback has come from people in all seasons and stages of life and faith—from pastors' wives and ministry directors and pastors to new converts and teenagers.
What do you pray people will experience as they read and study this book?
I know there are so many different types of people in different stages of life, so I have been asking God to simply reveal Himself to them as they read. My prayer is that their hearts will be encouraged, and faith will be strengthened.
A small, but important, aside here is your daughter Charity is a very gifted young artist. How is she involved with your book?
Charity has added so much beauty to Tracing His Promise! The book covers twenty-five Old Testament stories, and Charity created illustrations for each story throughout the book that become a printable set of twenty fullcolor ornaments that are perfect for the Advent season.
***In Tracing His Promise, Donna Amidon invites you on a transformative journey through twenty-five key stories, unraveling the intricate tapestry of God's redemptive plan. Through her gentle guidance, you'll witness how Jesus is not confined to the Gospels alone but weaves his presence throughout the entire Bible, even in the most unexpected corners of the Old Testament.
Amidon blends rich theology, heartwarming anecdotes, and practical wisdom that will not only deepen your faith but also illuminate the interconnectedness of Scripture. With each turn of the page, you'll find yourself drawn closer to the heart of God's story, finding renewed peace and hope for today. But the journey doesn't end there. With engaging discussion questions, captivating artwork, and printable ornaments for an enriching Advent activity known as the Jesse Tree, you'll be equipped to foster meaningful family traditions, ensuring that the story of Jesus is passed down from generation to generation—a precious heirloom of faith.***
As a token of our appreciation, when you donate $35 or more, you’ll receive a copy of the just released Tracing His Promise by Donna Amidon, one of our Spiritual Fitness Coaches. Click here to order your copy today!
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