
Happy Friday!
Winter mornings have a rhythm all their own, don’t they? The forecast loomed over Thursday evening—blizzard warnings, freezing rain, canceled plans swirling in my mind. Would the snow arrive as promised? Could I squeeze in a gym session? And what about school? Meetings?
5:00am - The world outside was eerily still, the wind howling as if rehearsing for the storm ahead. Coffee in hand, I opened my Bible to Genesis 19, struck by the sobering reality of Sodom and Gomorrah—God’s judgment raining down not as soft snowflakes but fire and sulfur. It’s humbling to pause and reflect on justice that’s both holy and terrifying.
6:00am - The gym called. Morning BJJ class, and I’m in my element. There’s something grounding about grappling—technique, focus, camaraderie. A few friends wandered in for strength training, and we exchanged early-morning smiles. (Yes, I’m that early bird 🦜 who enjoys the stillness of life before dawn.)
7:00am - Snowflakes began their quiet descent as I walked out of the gym, breath visible in the crisp air. Then came the text: school’s canceled. The day I’d planned? Out the window. But there’s something beautiful about flexibility, isn’t there?
9:15am - Neighbor friends, still in their pajamas, brave the blustery conditions across the bay to come and play. 🤷🏻♀️ Gotta love a pajama day.
And so here I am, bundled up indoors, sending you this note, unable to see my neighbors house because of the blizzard conditions. Whether your day started with a storm or sunshine, I hope you’ll find pockets of joy in the unexpected and time to savor God’s presence.
Grace & Peace,
Amber
Content: This Week…
Something Exciting
In Articles (curated content just for you)
Something Super Exciting!
Last year, Gospel-Centered Discipleship ran a blog series on the blessing of the local church. This month, they’re publishing a collection of those essays in a book titled Broken But Beautiful: Reflections on the Blessing of the Local Church.
I’m both humbled and thrilled to share that my essay is included in this book! 🙌🏼 It’s an incredible honor to sit alongside writers I deeply admire. I’d be so grateful for your support in purchasing a copy. The book is filled with inspiring testimonies of how God has used the local church to bring encouragement and transformation to people’s lives. My hope is that it will not only encourage you but also challenge all of us to live faithfully as part of our own church communities.
(It officially comes out January 28th, but you can preorder a copy on Amazon.)
On the Blog
In Articles
How Do I Know I'm not Working in My Own Strength? | Jacob Crouch
This is a question I return to often because I want to approach my goals and plans with intention, placing them before the Lord. I don’t want to shrink back when faithfulness calls for perseverance and grit. As a reminder he writes, "Don’t hyperspiritualize the work of God in you. He supernaturally fills you with the power needed for all the good works He has ordained for you. So press forward in faith."
Bible Study Tips for Beginners | Jana Carlson
My friend Jana shares how to use cross-references as you're studying your bible. She reminds us the richness they add to our study, reminding us of the unity of God's Word and his faithfulness.
Hell Begins With A Grumbling Mood | Scott Sauls
Drawing from C.S. Lewis' words in The Great Divorce, he reminds us, "it’s not that life doesn’t give us legitimate reasons to feel frustrated or discouraged. Life is full of disappointments, losses, and unmet expectations. But when we nurse those frustrations, when we let them take up real estate in our hearts and minds, they begin to shape how we see the world—and how we see God. The slow drift happens quietly."
It Could Have Been Me | Amy Medina
Reflecting on her close encounter with the wildfires in Southern California, she grapples with the question: why was she spared while others suffered? Her reflections struck a chord with me as I think about my littlest one and the healing God provided, even as we mourned the loss of other precious little ones in our family and community. She shares this humbling truth, "It could have been me who lost everything. But even then, I would only have lost that which I can't hold onto anyway. What is eternal is already mine."
Awe with Audacity: The Spirit of Christian Prayer | David Mathis (Desiring God)
"Knowing our lowliness and Christ's worthiness, we neither grovel nor saunter into the presence of God. And we do not go home flippant or weeping. In Christ, we will receive what we ask or what we should have asked. Thank you, Holy Spirit."
Previously on Mosaic

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