Mosaic (Sept 12)

This week didn’t go how I expected.

I suppose it never really does—especially when we can't foresee what's only in the Lord's hands.

My mom-in-law had a lovely day: lunch with her daughter, tidying up the house, and making plans with Dad for an evening bike ride followed by poutine for supper. But later, feeling lightheaded, she went to lie down—and passed away quietly on the way in Dad’s arms.

We’re still reeling. It’s been such a shock.

Grief over these last few days has felt like labor in reverse: it squeezes hard, then eases for a moment before contracting again. The ache is constant, even as it hasn’t fully sunk in.

It shows up in the small things—mom not there to remind the kids to use a plate when grabbing cookies brought by caring friends, to greet us at the door when we arrive, or to flit around the house looking for something she misplaced. She’s not settling into one of her many cushions or calling out for Dad’s help with a task. The house isn’t silent—there’s been so much love and support coming through the door—but it feels a bit aimless without her presence.

Her favorite passage was John 14:1-6. Just the day before she passed, she had been talking with Dad about the comfort she found in Christ’s promise that He has prepared a place for her. And in these days of deep sorrow, I’m so grateful for the hope we have in Him.

We thank you for your prayers. You can find her obituary here.

On the Blog

In Articles

Respectable Sins in Ministry | Jen Oshman

Drawing from Jerry Bridges’ Respectable Sins, Jen explores the subtle sins we often overlook while serving in the church. (If you haven’t read the book before, you can check out my review for more background).

Praying for Holiness: 20 Prayers to Fight the Sins We Often Ignore | Marci Ferrell

Also reflecting on Respectable Sins, Marci asks why we so often request prayer for our circumstances—but rarely for our holiness. She shares Scriptures we can use to ask others to pray for our growth in godliness.

The Window of Your Heart: How You Approach God's Word | Cara Ray

My friend Cara is writing a book about The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places. Of course, I'm super excited to get my hands on this book and tell you all about it!! 👏 Here's her article sharing with us how to read the bible as holy leisure, in restful joy rather than duty. (And don't miss out on taking her short quiz to figure out your bible reading personality!)

One-Word Prayers: Asking God to Act | Cheryl Balcom

I think my one-word prayers this week have been "comfort," "peace," and "help." Cheryl looks at the prayer of Daniel in chapter 9 and how one word pleas focus on our need for God.

Parents, We're Doing Too Much Again | Melissa Edgington

Melissa reminds us when we do too much for our kids, we're also teaching them to rely on us rather than on God. I think the application varies from littles to teens, but I felt it a good reminder to be intentional with discipleship.