Amber Thiessen's Blog

As a woman who loves the Lord and genuinely delights in serving His people, I often find myself longing for clarity about how my gifts fit within the life of the church. A Place For You: Reframing Christian Womanhood by Kendra Dahl was a welcome encouragement. Her thoughtful, biblically grounded reflections helped me see my place—and the places of the women around me—with fresh gratitude and courage. So, let's dig into the details! What Is Biblical Womanhood? A Review of A Place for You by...

One of our Christmas traditions is reading an Advent devotional—often Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift  or a Jesse Tree guide—and hanging the corresponding ornaments on the tree. The Jesse Tree traces the story of Scripture, showing how, from the very beginning, God was making a way for us. A way for His Son to come. A way for the Savior to arrive. “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Is. 11:1). Before Isaiah speaks of a shoot, he shows us a forest leveled by judgment:...

It’s a joy to share a handful of my favourite books from this past year—stories and studies that shaped my thinking, deepened my faith, and sparked fresh wonder. Whether you’re a steady reader or someone who picks up a book whenever life allows, I hope you’ll discover something here that encourages you. For Those Looking for the Beauty of the Church Despite Her Imperfections *Broken But Beautiful: Reflections on the Blessings of the Local Church Last year, Gospel-Centered Discipleship ran a...

I already feel late to Christmas. My sister put her tree up right after Canadian Thanksgiving. Holiday ads flood Sunday football. Gift wrap, Christmas sweaters, and advent calendars line the first hundred feet of Superstore. Our workplace held its Christmas banquet last week. A trip tucked into the last month likely distracted me from all the buildup. But now, arriving home—trading African sands for a dusting of snow—I realize the first week of Advent has arrived, and I feel behind. The...

"What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. "(Jam. 4:14) A fog hovers over the still waters of the lake. Rays of light peek quietly over the horizon, illuminating the haze. As the sunbeams brighten, warmth breathes into the blanket of mist and it dissipates like a sigh. The verse pulls me back to summer mornings watching this transformation take place. Then, the stark bite of humility settles in. Our lives rise and vanish just as quickly—here for a......

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (Jam. 5:7). Driving an open highway feels free and easy. The rhythm is simple, even relaxing, as prairie fields stretch across the horizon on repeat. Without noticing, we can adopt this picture as our expectation for life. We don’t anticipate conflict, disruption, or detours; we crave the smooth, effortless path. I remember in my very young, very green missionary days assuming that God wouldn’t let things get that  hard—not after......

Happy Friday! This week I went back to the basics—right to the “beginner” recipes. No kneading. An overnight rise. A simple dough that didn’t require technique so much as willingness. I made two loaves by hand and one in the bread machine. A small spark of motivation, that’s all it took. Three loaves later, we’ve been eating fresh bread all week. Other than the unexpectedly dark crust on one of them, there were no complaints. Only the quiet delight of something homemade, something I had been...

The front door swings open. She drops her backpack with a discouraged huff. I step toward her, smiling, words gentle enough to steady her frustration. “She says she won’t be my friend anymore if I’m friends with the new girl.” Tears and hugs follow. I exhale my own quiet frustration. Childhood power struggles at their finest. You raise your kids to see the outsider, to notice the lonely, to comfort the hurting—yet when kindness prevails, adversity often follows. Soothing her hurt with words...

The quiet fall vibes, leaves already dropped From the dining room window, I watch the kids cut across our yard into the neighbor’s. The morning air bites, crisp and sharp, as temperatures dip below zero. Each step disrupts the grey, sparkling shimmer of frost, leaving a trail of footprints behind. Days later, the prints still remain—a patchwork of dead grass marking their path. Boot tracks, bike tire lines, each one etching the shortcut into the yard. Their chatter drifts through the...

Discover God’s faithfulness in the story of Ruth. A Bible study review on finding grace, hope, and redemption in life’s unexpected seasons.