This Friday, I’m reflecting on the whirlwind of the past week. It’s been a mix of gathering school supplies, prepping for our upcoming trip, and cooking freezer meals—all squeezed between work shifts, life group, and basement renovations. Life has been a blend of what needs to be done and what I want to do.
Given my natural tendency to stay busy, I often pause to reflect on my motivations and intentions. I take time to sit before the Lord, seeking His voice and discernment. Balancing life isn’t something I’ve perfected; I find myself constantly in need of God's grace to lead and guide me.
Ruth Chou Simmons beautifully captures this struggle when she writes, “Self-righteous striving is more hopeless than you want to believe, but grace is more life-transforming than you realize.” I find deep comfort in this truth—His grace is greater than I can fathom, and I need it more than I often acknowledge.
As I navigate this season of busyness and reflect on the balance between doing and being, I’m reminded of the transformative power of grace in my life. It’s a journey of learning to rely less on my own efforts and more on God’s abundant grace.
What areas of your life might be more about striving than surrender, and how could embracing grace transform your approach?
Grace & Peace,
Amber
Content: This Week…
In Articles (curated content just for you)
On the Blog
Check out the top books on my shelf this month and what's worth adding to your reading list!
On My Shelf
I read Laura Frantz's new novel A Matter of Honor, about a tragic accident that kills his fiance's brother, resulting in her disappearance from society. What happened all those years, and what will happen now when she's forced to re-enter society again.
I finished Pause, a really encouraging reflection on entering the middle years of life with Christ.
In Articles
Do You Decorate Your Fridge? | Brianna Lambert
I hardly have time to decorate my house, never mind just trying to keep my fridge clean. So, here's a thing new to me, fridgescaping. You gotta read this article which insightfully draws us into a lesson on beauty. (And if you're a visual person and needed to see exactly what this looks like, here's the hobbit fridge)
Strong Families are Always a Miracle (and Never an Accident) | Phylicia Masonheimer
The Instagram world definitely makes the lives of others seem flawless, picture-perfect, effortless even. So I appreciated these words in Phylicia's newsletter as she reflects on vacation with her family, recognizing that "luck had nothing to do with our family" but "faith-filled obedience to God's heart." It's real simple to compare ourselves to others, or to wish things were different in our own families, but the one task remains for me: to follow hard after the Lord. This means working through my stuff, and responding in obedience. Don't get me wrong, it's hard work. And I think that's the point.
The Bible's Answer to an Imperfect Past: Forgiveness | Cheryl Balcom
While God forgives our sins through Christ, we often struggle to let go of our mistakes and accept grace. We might feel inadequate or resist embracing this gift. Cheryl reminds us of Christ's work and provides reflection questions to help us delve deeper into our understanding.
How Churches Can Support Christian Teachers in Public Schools | Andrea Matthews (TGC)
I've always felt my work as a nurse is a calling and a ministry. For my schoolteacher friends it's the same. I've seen the difference that believing teachers make in the lives of my kids and the dynamics of school leadership. This is an encouraging call to continue to support our brothers and sisters in Christ who serve in schools and care for our kids.
Regrets may be a natural part of parenting, when we can look back and see our sin or failures there are things we'd obviously want to change. Dave reminds us that our hope is in Christ who gives us strength even in—especially in—our weaknesses.
Previously on Mosaic
What piece of content did you enjoy? Share in the comments or let me know!
Comments