Mosaic (May 15)
- Amber Thiessen
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Happy Friday!
With the change of season, there's been a shifting rhythm in our home. Less time to write, more time outdoors, and a few travels to arrange.
Our kids each had their provincial volleyball championship weekend (placing 4th and 22nd). Brent's been in Missouri for dealer meetings. I attended a leadership summit in Canmore with our mission, praying and discerning about how to continue the work of bringing the gospel to the unreached through our Canadian office. My son is in flag football, my daughter is taking her bronze cross lifesaving course, and my husband's helping plan the VBS program for summer.
I've been praying for wisdom in discerning the direction of missions in and through Canada, for my kids in their relationships, choices and growth in faith, for my husband and his opportunities to proclaim the gospel in the marketplace, for missionary friends who lost their adult son unexpectedly. For family, for my patients, for more workers sent to the harvest.
The angst builds, overwhelm wants to creep in as the burden for prayer grows, especially when we're juggling difficulties or uncertainty in our different roles and responsibilities.
"On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased" (Ps. 138:3).
We carry our angst, our troubles, our complexities, even our joys and celebrations to the Lord in prayer. Making requests to our Saviour who holds and sustains us, then both answers and strengths us. In prayer I'm reminded of my limits, my lack of control, my human-ness, and my need for God's grace with every breath.
Because I also know "the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands" (Ps. 138:8).
We aren't abandoned. We're not left on our own. The love of God is unmoving, it's faithful and enduring. Pondering this love gives comfort. His plans and purposes will stand. He is good. In His providence the world turns, the sun rises and it sets. The Lord is trustworthy with our joys and sorrows, our comfort and chaos.
As we seek the Lord in our concerns for this day, this season we're in, may it be in faith and may we receive comfort in His steadfast love.
📚 On My Shelf
This month's reading is centered on the theme of patience and reflecting on a vision of faithful perseverance in the Christian life. I'm in the midst of a few books: A God-Sized Vision: Revival Stories that Stretch and Stir by Colin Hanson, Saved to Sin No More by Brad Wetherell and The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
🏷️ Book Deals
I’ve read many of these and found them both encouraging and challenging in the best ways. A few are still on my own list or come highly recommended. I hope you’ll find something here that meets you where you are.
🌟New Bible Study Resource
What if you've never learned how to study the Bible?
Maybe you don't know how to move from reading the bible to really digging in. Check out this helpful resource from Amy Gannett, The Bible Study Fieldguide: How to Move From Reading Your Bible to Studying Scripture.
Written for:
The faithful Bible reader who wants to grow
The small group leader who longs to teach more clearly
The mom discipling her children
The woman who has loved Scripture for years but wants fresh depth
🗞️ In Articles
"God is a writing a story in each of our children’s lives — or perhaps allowing a story to be written — that, ultimately, we have less control over than we’d like to believe. As much as I want to be the author who writes an amazing script for each of my children’s stories, I am their mother, not their author."
I found these humbling words for us moms. Our attempts to parent faithfully and intentionally - as our own stewardship with what He's entrusted to us - while trusting the providence of God for their journey. It's tough, for sure. But always for His glory as we learn to rely and depend wholly on Him.
A neatly crafted letter, drawn heavily from 1 & 2 Timothy and Paul's encouragement and advice to Timothy on those who had fallen away. In light of hearing again of a leader, someone trusted to shepherd his flock, live in deceit, it's just painful. But it also makes me reflect on the reality none of us escape the lure of temptation and can just as easily become entangled in sin. May we guard our hearts with fervor, donning our spiritual armour, courageously seeking out accountability and faithfully tethering ourselves to prayer and the Word.
Earlier I shared about the desire to parent faithfully and intentionally, and one of those ways is through reading Scripture as a family. I've found that each of my kids reads and digests Scripture in different ways, with different challenges, especially if they don't love reading on their own. I'm looking forward to my copy of the Good News Devotional to arrive!
Sometimes, it's really good to sit and reflect on the basics of the Christian life. None of it simple. All of it evidence of God's grace. Maybe take some time to reflect on the truths packed here.
What does it mean that I'm a Christian?
How do repentance, justification, and sanctification shape my day-to-day, my roles and responsibilities?
What does 'working out' salvation look like this week?
Where am I tempted to expect comfort instead of Christ-like growth?
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