<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[In the Vine]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amber Thiessen]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 22:40:45 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.amberthiessen.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Living Faithfully With Our Bodies | A Book Review of The Body Teaches the Soul]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the more surprising moments in counselling happens when I ask about physical health. Sleep, exercise, diet. There’s often a pause, sometimes even confusion. What does that have to do with anxiety? But over time, it becomes clear that how we care for our bodies shapes far more than we tend to admit. Many of us have been taught to think of the Christian life as something that happens primarily in the heart and mind. We focus on beliefs, and spiritual disciplines, while the body becomes...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/living-faithfully-with-our-bodies-a-book-review-of-the-body-teaches-the-soul</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dfce28fe6e9d8715cdb110</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:00:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_3126db00fbdf48e4ab47f561ad9a9845~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Apr 24)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Happy are you O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help and the sword of your triumph (Deut 33:29). The nation of Israel stood at last at the Jordan. A new generation looked across the river toward the Promised Land on the other side. They’d waited, wandered, and wondered for forty years. Now, the time had finally come. Moses blessed the people with his final words, ending in praise to God who had kept them and provided for them again and again. Because...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-apr-24</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ea2b57ab5395dde608c8b7</guid><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:20:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_188d45aee9d24f39ba1a29e66d9b45fd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Apr 3)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27) Enjoying a meal together, reclining at the table as Passover begins, Jesus once again alludes to His leaving. Bewildered and discouraged, the disciples try to understand where He would go and why He would leave. Distress begins to rise, and He reassures them with reminders of His identity, His promises, and His instructions. But...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-apr-3</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ce5afa535e7bcd2697b901</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:45:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_4b3290ad411c4e3189ea37f8d39a91bf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Mar 27)]]></title><description><![CDATA[I remember the first time I said goodbye to her. Now she’s saying goodbye to me. We were inching along through Dar es Salaam traffic in our Toyota Land Cruiser, the windows cracked just enough for air since the A/C wasn’t working. Our firstborn sat in her car seat, maybe eight or nine months old, while a missionary friend joined us for the ride. My husband was dropping us off for to attend a women’s retreat. I’d been so looking forward to that weekend. Longing for a time for spiritual...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-mar-27</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69c53bf6653657f03d5fb2e2</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:04:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_a90394d6763a4cf5963ece29cd8af02b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[13 Christian Books About Joy That Will Inspire Gospel-Centered Delight in Your Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[We all want joy. Not just the fleeting kind that comes and goes with a good day, but something deeper, more steady. And yet, for many of us, joy can feel just out of reach. We read the call in Scripture to “rejoice always,” and wonder why it doesn’t seem to come naturally. Life is full. Responsibilities press in. We carry the weight of family, work, ministry, and responsibilities no one else sees. There are still many good moments, to be sure. A shared laugh, a beautiful sunset, and a warm...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/13-christian-books-about-joy-that-will-inspire-gospel-centered-delight-in-your-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69baeb5323f9a3655ef0c9d2</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:00:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_00bd7861c8d74447905d8d7ecea00fdc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Mar 20)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15). There are a handful of moments in my life where I’ve tasted, in a very small way, what it might feel like to be a celebrity. On our wedding day, we went through town taking pictures and celebrating with our friends on one of the most significant days of our lives. We rode in a limo, followed by a photographer, no less. Not quite celebrities, but it felt extravagant. When we returned home from the mission...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-mar-20</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b95900a240abd0682e7939</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:54:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_fc0324cb5bdf444ca19bc03d41ed01c3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Learning to Rest in Christ | A Book Review of The Pursuit of Holy Leisure  by Cara Ray]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a pressure many of us carry in our walk with God—the sense that we should be doing more. Reading more, praying more, showing up more consistently. We often measure our faithfulness by what we accomplish, often with the best of intentions.  But what if spiritual growth doesn’t begin with striving, but with rest?  What if abiding in Christ is less about keeping pace and more about staying rooted? What would change if we believed our spiritual growth wasn’t personal improvement, but...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/learning-to-rest-in-christ-a-book-review-of-the-pursuit-of-holy-leisure-by-cara-ray</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b3f2dcf587723d97f8c15f</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:07:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_6d68da96b7174f0bb47005a0af7d0c80~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Trading the Pursuit of Happiness for the Gift of Joy]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a children’s Sunday School song about joy that echoes in my memory. It’s a catchy tune with a playful call and response that keeps the kids engaged.  “I’ve got joy joy joy joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay. And I’m so happy, so very happy. I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart….” When I picture a room full of young voices singing about joy, it makes my heart smile....]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/trading-the-pursuit-of-happiness-for-the-gift-of-joy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ac378c95f89686635a5a06</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 19:29:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_ed10046e776d4c6499fe52622eee7696~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Mar 13)]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s nothing more frustrating for my pre-teen son than when I remind him of things. “Don’t forget to…” “Mom, I know, I will, you already told me.” “Did you… ” “Yeah Mom, I told you I did.” “What about (x), did you do that?” (sigh/groan) ”Yes I did.’ His adolescent desire for maturity, to know all the things, and be capable and responsible is pretty heavy. And, to be fair, I’ve likely already reminded him two or three times, which might be the source of his annoyance. But, (to justify my...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-mar-13</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b2e35860bf8f6bb4efe0b9</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:51:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_df6cd5573dbf486ca6093466fe9fcbf9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Married For God: Making Your Marriage the Best it Can Be | Book Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[We all want the best marriage we can have, right? In Married For God: Making Your Marriage the Best it Can Be ,  Christopher Ash reminds us of the purpose of marriage, and contrary to what the world or our emotions tell us, it's not for our satisfaction. Not something you'll common hear. But laying the foundation on the goals and purposes of God, will lead us toward joy and hope filled relationships. Married For God: Making Your Marriage the Best it Can Be | Book Review Content 	 Purpose of...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/married-for-god-making-your-marriage-the-best-it-can-be-book-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b02704a547e1dd3d7cee39</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:04:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_6ea3d485e41a47da9cf11c9e48182669~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (March 6)]]></title><description><![CDATA["You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  (Psalm 16:11) I’ve always thought of myself as a happy person, enjoying time with friends, sports, and learning. At work, a psychiatrist or two has even commented cheekily that I’m too cheerful to be working in mental health. So far, I have gratefully avoided the jaded nurse persona. And yet I know my inner life ebbs and flows. I resonate deeply with weariness,...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-march-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a70cb3686f0e042b4f19ce</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:00:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_694c713d9dc64bbda719f1e38d88d025~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Loved by God, Loving Others: 10 Christian Books to Grow in Biblical Love]]></title><description><![CDATA[There are moments when I’ve wondered whether I’m just a little too much—or a little too different—for the people around me. Whether it’s the things I love, the way I think, or how I process the world, I’ve felt the fear of being misunderstood. But what if being fully known didn’t lead to rejection, but to love? Tim Keller captures this tension beautifully: “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/10-christian-books-on-love-to-help-you-love-god-and-others-well</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a356289d34acb7c4374941</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:17:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_b65cfaa45d044b378072ed27ae65d6c0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Feb 27)]]></title><description><![CDATA[When our kids join new teams and meet new friends, I always feel a sense of curiosity as I get to know the families around us. Especially on club teams, where competition naturally raises the intensity. I’ve noticed something else, too. When the coach is watching, or when parents fill the stands, something in us rises to the occasion—we want to be seen doing well. But in settings when the spotlight fades, that same intensity doesn’t always follow. We often give our best where approval feels...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-feb-27</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699ddadbe9360bd69c33e590</guid><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:35:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_4f83c20037c44110a18cac11df1231fc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stop Loving the World | Book Review]]></title><description><![CDATA["A man who loves the world grows, little by little, to be a stranger to God and Christ. We cannot simultaneously have our eyes on both heaven and earth. Suppose we are between two men or two mountains; the nearer we draw to one, the further we go from the other." On a trip to Zambia, to see the majestic Victoria Falls, we also had the opportunity to visit the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Leaving from Livinstone by bus, we traveled across the Kazungula bridge to enter Botswana. What's...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/stop-loving-the-world-book-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699c762c0ce516214dc33a9d</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:09:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_c7e3d21886af41279526f314c6fb406d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Feb 20)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you’” (2 Ki. 2:2). A farmer teaches his son to drive the tractor, scout the fields, fix equipment, and network with agronomists, dealers, and other farmers. I got to be the daughter who tagged along for some of this in my younger years, but I knew farming wasn’t going to be my future. Carrying on the family farm wasn’t my calling or my desired profession — as gratifying as it was to plow fields, feel the soil...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-feb-20</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6995c339f797687350e568cc</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:02:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_dfc610d68a9a4a93a866213893af1075~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Feb 13)]]></title><description><![CDATA[“And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). God’s loudest moments are often followed by quiet ones. In a small African village, three new believers are baptized in a concrete water well. Celebration gives way to opposition—family pressure, community rejection, fractures within a fledgling church. A baby and her mother are prayed over. A life is preserved after an attempted abortion. The mother acknowledges answered prayer in the name of Jesus. And yet surrender remains...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-feb-13</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698b65d05ce248ef4486a239</guid><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:46:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_06e926fe02af4f4b8045c074e1c913d1~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Making as Coram Deo]]></title><description><![CDATA[In pondering faithful, God-honouring creativity, we’ve spent time at the beginning—seeing God as Creator, and ourselves as image‑bearers who are made to make in dependence on Him. We saw that creativity is not reserved for the talented few, but is part of our shared human calling. And we saw, in Bezalel and Oholiab, that faithful creativity is not a distraction from obedience—it is  obedience, shaped by God’s word and empowered by His Spirit. Now, we move a step further—not just asking what...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/making-as-coram-deo</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69751dbb16ee2e05645d75b4</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_25d2b66852a8482cad524410a69bf2b7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mosaic (Feb 6)]]></title><description><![CDATA[My daughter has a Polaroid camera. The fun is holding the photo in your  hand. Her friends come over, get busy doing their thing and afterward there’s often a new picture pinned to her bulletin board. I walk into her room, noticing the new photo and ask what was going on in that moment— the picture telling a story of something funny or goofy. It’s only a snippet of their fun, but it makes me smile and helps me know them all a little better. These moments captured don’t tell the whole story,...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/mosaic-feb-6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698375541e55646770008c15</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:45:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_035bbeee6ade4c00bf20539e96394e23~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made | A Book Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[I’m always on the lookout for solid Bible study resources. Whether I’m teaching my kids, writing for the blog, or leading a Bible study, understanding the context of a passage—its audience, themes, and place within the book—is essential. The right resources make it possible to grasp God’s Word fully so we can apply it faithfully to our lives. Too often, though, we study in a rush or in isolation, which can leave us feeling stuck. When I find something genuinely helpful, I love sharing it and...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/the-message-of-the-old-testament-promises-made-a-book-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6977d1496b7a080e43d70837</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:03:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_3318618d1cf440039f7df53238db4f13~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[God Dwells in Our Making]]></title><description><![CDATA[Check out the first post on creativity here : The Sacred Ordinary of Making Many of us carry quiet assumptions about creativity. That it belongs to other people. That it’s extra. That it needs justification. We might enjoy making things, but we’re not always sure what to do with that enjoyment—especially when life is full and responsibilities press in. During our hobby retreat, as women gathered simply to make and rest, I found myself asking again: What does faithful creativity actually look...]]></description><link>https://www.amberthiessen.com/post/god-dwells-in-our-making</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697517c0e389f5384b71dd3e</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:00:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/672138_381890bd4342492aad2dbd3ebe526fb8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amber Thiessen</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>