Links to Messiah Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode is a personal one. After much prayer and time with the Lord, I’m sharing why this will be the final episode of the Links to Messiah podcast. Over the past months, I’ve sensed the Lord inviting me into a quieter season. There are places in my heart shaped by grief, especially the loss of my son David, that I need to sit with Him more intentionally. I want to follow...

Send us Fan Mail What does Passover have to do with Easter? In this episode, Rachel Kushner sits down with children’s author Rene Annette Wallace to talk about helping kids understand the beautiful connection between the biblical celebration of Passover and the story of Jesus. Rene’s book, Zoe Discovers Passover at Easter , invites children into the story through curiosity, discovery, and family c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner retells the story of Esther through the lens of covenant and promise. The book of Esther never mentions the name of God, yet His faithfulness is woven through every chapter. When Haman plots to destroy the Jewish people in Persia, it looks like the end of the story. But behind palace doors and sleepless nights, God is quietly preserving His covenant...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner reflects on how David’s faith was formed in quiet places, how he trusted God in both victory and failure, and why Scripture calls him a man after God’s own heart. David’s story reminds us that faith is not about perfection. It is about returning to God again and again. Rachel also shares tenderly about her own son, David, and how the meaning of his...

Send us Fan Mail IIn this episode, we continue our new series on the Heroes of the Faith with a woman whose name tells us so much about her story. Deborah, or Devorah in Hebrew, means bee . Small, focused, hardworking, and protective, a bee is a perfect picture of how God used Deborah to lead His people with courage and wisdom. Listen in as Rachel Kushner retells the story of Judges chapters 4 and...

Send us Fan Mail We’re kicking off a brand-new series on the podcast called Heroes of the Faith. This month, we’re learning about real people in the Bible who trusted God even when waiting was hard, faith felt messy, and the promise seemed impossible. In this first episode, we begin with Sarah, a woman who waited about 25 years for God’s promise to come true. Sarah’s story reminds us that faith do...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when God’s promises feel slow or hard to see? In this episode, we gather at the Shabbat table to learn from Moses and discover how God proves Himself faithful again and again. Rachel Kushner shares the story of God calling Moses, standing strong against Pharaoh, and leading His people to freedom. Families will be reminded that God never forgets His promises, even wh...

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to trust God when you have to wait? In this episode, we gather around the Shabbat table to talk about Abraham and the promises God made to him. We explore what it looks like to trust God without knowing all the details, why waiting is often part of faith, and how God’s promise to Abraham connects directly to Jesus. This episode is encouraged for kids, but it is m...

Send us Fan Mail Rachel Kushner introduces the theme God is a Promise Keeper, beginning with the biblical story of Noah and the Ark. Families are invited into the idea of covenant, explained in kid-friendly language as a special promise God makes and always keeps. Through Noah’s obedience, the waiting on the ark, and the sign of the rainbow, listeners are reminded of God’s faithfulness and care fo...

Send us Fan Mail In a world that never slows down, how do we build faith at home that actually lasts? In this episode, I share why rest, Shabbat, and the Jewish roots of the Bible are at the heart of creating meaningful family connections and lasting legacy.  Join me as I take a moment to look back with gratitude on the past year, while also being honest about stepping into 2026 feeling a little t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner invites families to slow down and rediscover the deeper meaning of Hanukkah. Using the simple yet powerful symbols on the dreidel, she retells the Hanukkah story through the themes of miracle, courage, and dedication. From the faithfulness of the Maccabees to the light that refused to go out, listeners are guided through the story that has shaped Je...

Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Rachel Kushner uncovers the deeper meaning of Hanukkah for Christian families by exploring how Jesus stepped into the story of the Festival of Dedication and illuminated its purpose. She explains how the festival commemorates the Maccabees’ revolt and God’s ongoing provision, and how Jesus celebrated Hanukkah while teaching about his identity.  Rachel highlig...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a joyful milestone episode of the Links to Messiah podcast. Today we are celebrating 100 episodes together. Rachel Kushner looks back on the incredible journey this community has taken and highlights the beautiful legacy God has been weaving through family stories, meaningful conversations and the growing global audience of parents who love Jesus and want to keep the Je...

Send us Fan Mail In this final episode of our Back to the Basics series, we explore one of the most meaningful themes in all of Scripture: legacy. From Abraham to David to Jesus to the early believers, God has always worked through families and generations to carry His story forward. Together, we trace how the Old and New Testaments reveal a God who keeps His promises and invites us to join His ge...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner invites us to slow down and rediscover God’s rhythm for our lives. Not musical rhythm, but the sacred pattern of rest woven into creation itself. Many of us are running at a pace God never designed, filling our days with good things and meaningful commitments, yet becoming exhausted in the process. Rachel shares how this constant busyness quietly sh...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner discusses the importance of following Jesus as a Jewish rabbi and how this can be integrated into family life. She emphasizes that discipleship is not just about knowing doctrines but about living out the teachings of Jesus. The conversation includes practical activities for families to engage with their faith, such as choosing a teaching of Jesus f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner invites listeners to slow down, pause the noise, and go back to the basics: rediscovering the Jewish roots of our faith in Jesus.  Rachel shares her heart for exploring what Scripture really says about loving God and following Jesus as our ultimate Teacher. This episode kicks off a brand-new series designed to help families reconnect with the founda...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner shares how to create a Christ centered home where Jesus the Messiah is visible in everyday life. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6, the Shema, Rachel explores why surrounding our families with reminders of God’s Word helps shape our children’s faith and family culture. You will learn the meaning of the mezuzah, a beautiful tradition found in Jewish homes,...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming episode, Rachel Kushner dives into the power of mealtime prayers and Shabbat traditions to help families slow down, reconnect, and grow closer to God. You’ll discover how something as simple as lighting candles or saying blessings over dinner can turn an ordinary meal into a sacred moment.  No fancy table settings required, just hungry hearts and maybe a napki...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode Rachel Kushner dives into the meaning of Shabbat (the Sabbath), a rhythm of rest established by God, embraced by Jesus, and still life-giving for families today. She explores what Shabbat looks like in modern Jewish culture, how it was celebrated in the time of Jesus, and why the command to “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” still matters in 2025. Di...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, Rachel Kushner unpacks the spiritual significance of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, one of God’s appointed biblical feasts. She explains the rich Jewish traditions behind building a temporary shelter called a sukkah , remembering the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness, and celebrating God’s faithful provision. Rachel also shows how Sukkot points to Jes...

Send us Fan Mail Ever tried explaining atonement to an 8-year-old while making lunch? Not easy. In this episode, Rachel Kushner takes the deep and holy themes of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement,  and makes them simple, meaningful, and even a little fun for the whole family. You’ll learn how this powerful Jewish tradition points straight to Jesus as our ultimate sacrifice and scapegoat (yes, we’ll...

Send us Fan Mail Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year or the Feast of Trumpets, is a time of reflection, repentance, and remembering God’s goodness. In this episode, Rachel shares the deeper meaning of the shofar, the ram’s horn, that calls God’s people to wake up and turn back to Him. Through personal reflections of grief and hope, Rachel opens her heart about the loss of her son, Dav...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rachel Kushner explores the beauty and significance of the Aaronic Benediction, one of the most powerful blessings in Scripture. Rooted in the book of Numbers, this ancient prayer reveals God’s heart for His people to be seen, loved, and kept in His care. Rachel unpacks the historical background of the blessing, shows how every line points directly to Jesus as our...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with my friend Stacie Loughrin, a homeschooling mom of six, who has such a heart for helping families grow in their faith. Stacie shares her journey of discovering the biblical feasts during a hard season in 2020, and how those rhythms completely transformed her family traditions and spiritual life. We talk about what it looks like to practice Christian...