Heaven on My Mind- Heaven in my Heart

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Heaven on My Mind- Heaven in my Heart

I have pondered lots about heaven since I was a little girl. Been reading and reflecting on it more so this past decade. No doubt we experience a little bit of heaven on earth now as well as witness or experience a little bit of "hell" too. It's fascinating learning what various cultural or religious perspectives are on this topic throughout the ages. For me? Christ Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. I have experienced too many "resurrection stories" of the soul to believe otherwise.

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The Unfinished Church

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The Unfinished Church

I visited the “Unfinished Church” when in Bermuda last month. 🇧🇲 I felt a deep connection to both the history and symbolism represented in this space. This includes the unfinished me, and the imperfect church which are both a work in progress. Reflecting on Jesus’ words when He said “It is Finished”, It takes courage and humility to receive that by faith knowing full well the restoration of all things is yet to come.

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Releasing Perfectionism

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Releasing Perfectionism

I was invited to speak on the topic of “Releasing Perfectionism” at my local church moms group this week. It challenged me to dig deeper into the topic and I have grown in clarity as a result. In finding my identity as a daughter of God, I realized that God is perfecting me through Christ, not my own striving.

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God's Tabernacle- Past, Present, Future

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God's Tabernacle- Past, Present, Future

When you hear the word Tabernacle, what comes to mind? Do you think of a zealous choir in the USA? A strange religious word? Or perhaps you have some Biblical knowledge of the first Tabernacle God instructed Moses and the Israelites to build a tabernacle in the wilderness leading to other forms of the tabernacle throughout history? For me? It is truly the most fascinating study one can engage in. After visiting a life size Moses Tabernacle here in my home province of Saskatchewan, I felt led to write here on this topic of God’s Tabernacle: Past- Present- Future.

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Having an Undivided Heart in a Polarized World

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Having an Undivided Heart in a Polarized World

How can we live Undivided in our devotion to God when there is often so much division in our world, our communities? The Bible says in Proverbs to “Guard our heart for it is the wellspring of life”. So how do we practically do that in this world with so many opinions and arguments? Which mirror are we looking at for answers to what our soul aches for? Social Media? Government? Religions of this world? Or do we look to the Word of God, Jesus Himself and the empowering presence of God’s Holy Spirit? To keep our heart undivided in this ongoing chaos, we look to the “founder and perfecter of our faith.

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Rest

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Rest

In our hyperdrive, information overloaded world- intentional REST is a sacred position to take for our whole being. I am getting better at rest, as I’ve witnessed its benefits for me personally but also for my relationships and calling. Believe you me, I know burnout. I know what it is like to strive. Believe you me, I know burnout. I know what it is like to “strive”. I value rest and guard it much better so I can have better boundaries in my life- spiritual, emotional, relational, physical boundaries foster better rest for our soul.

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A "Flourishing Tree"

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A "Flourishing Tree"

Whenever I see creation flourishing in spring/ early summer, I am reminded of my need to also “Bear Fruit”. It’s good to ask ourselves, am I flourishing?….Tim and I were asked to be Godparents to our niece Brynn Grace Anderson born this past month. We drove down to Woodbury, MN to visit my Brother and sister in law to celebrate with them but also to hold this little princess. I think I could sit and hold babies all day. The cherry blossom decal tree they hung in Brynns nursery reminds me of this verse: “A God shaped life is a flourishing tree”. - Proverbs 11:28

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Pray for Canada

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Pray for Canada

Lots to pray for here in Canada- polarizing politics, the current Emergencies Act invoked by Trudeau and all the controversies looming about. If you’ve been following the Canadian news this week/this month in all its forms (not just mainstream media), there is a plethora of emotions swirling about. Apathy, Outrage, Shock and everything in between. What gives me peace is stepping out in faith to pray- be it alone, with my husband or with groups. Casting heavy burdens to God in prayer not only lifts the weight off our shoulders, but connects us with the source of all hope:)

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Shining Light in the Darkness

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Shining Light in the Darkness

The Light of the World?

When I light a candle, I am reminded that amidst the darkness, we can reach out to THE Light of the world…. When it comes to the Light our soul longs for, it is also key to know which “light” we are following or exposed to.

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Rejoice with those who Rejoice

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Rejoice with those who Rejoice

I love any reason to celebrate. I am wired to plan a party, join a party, (and in my party girl years, I was the “life of the party” in the 80’s)… now in my 50’s, I have grown to understand more deeply what it means to “rejoice”. It’s to give joy to, or to gladden or show delight.- when my heart is heavy, I’m reminded by the Spirit of the living God to meditate on His promises, Pray. Rejoice in the Lord!I look back on the formation of Hope Restored Canada in 2015 and Joeline (founding vice chair- now ED) suggested a good way to build empathy is to share one high of the week and one low as a check in.

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Identity- Part 2 (It began in the garden)

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Identity- Part 2 (It began in the garden)

Doors and gates speak to me quite often. When it is "open", it beckons you to enter. Or when it is closed, we have a decision to open it. It takes faith to believe that what is behind the gate can be trusted. When I toured Butchart Gardens, I came across a gate. I sensed the Holy Spirit remind me of the truths of Psalm 24 where King David’s praise to God is an invitation each and every day for us to seek to know God and be known by Him. When we "Rest" in the garden of God’s heart for us and allow Christ to come into our lives by opening the gateway of our souls to Him, THEN we find the greatest weapon in the battle for our very lives, our identity, our faith and REST in Him the “ageless doors of destiny.”

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Identity - Part 1 (The good news of peace)

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Identity - Part 1 (The good news of peace)

I recently made a trip to the International Peace Garden that is located on the border of North Dakota and Manitoba within the Turtle Mountain region- the geographic center of North America. It was so serene there- peaceful and lots of space to ponder, pray, and reflect on my life thus far. I’ve crossed this border a multitude of times- the joys of an 11 plus hour road trip to see family. Because of my story and the many border crossings throughout my life, I often ponder our longings of the soul or deeper meanings of home”, “family”,” citizenship”, “identity”. Our ethnicity, culture, our family of origin, people we’ve encountered, places we’ve lived, and all the positive or negative experiences in our life don’t define us, but they can refine us if we let it. What I am learning thus far about Identity, is God longs for us to see our identity as being that we are all created in the image of God as referenced in Genisis 1;26-27.

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Holistic Restoration?

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Holistic Restoration?

I’ve been determined to learn more about the mind-body connection, or spirit- soul- body connection when I first encountered excruciating pain in my back in 1999. Although back pain hasn’t been the only health issue I’ve encountered in my life, it has been one of the more prevailing ones through the last 20+ years. The pain has come and gone and within my quest for wellness I’ve found great relief with learning more how to destress, meditate, practice deep breathing, prayer, self-acceptance, walking, and more recently Pilates.

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Learning to Lament

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Learning to Lament

Lament has been a spiritual discipline that has often been misunderstood or avoided altogether by many. Jesus said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” among other profound promises found in the Beatitudes on his famous Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. I used to think mourning was a topic reserved only for those who are experiencing the death of a loved one. I didn’t understand then when Jesus said that we’d be ‘blessed’ if we mourn? What? It just didn’t make sense to me…

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Covid 19 Spreads Quickly, So Shall Prayer

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Covid 19 Spreads Quickly, So Shall Prayer

Prayer is a mysterious gift to all of humanity.

In dire times like this, when the globe is facing its share of the fall out of Covid-19, prayer is desperately needed. With all the fears, anxiety, ambiguity all around, millions are being nudged to pray, some may be curious about prayer but hesitate, and yes there are scoffers who mock pray at a time like this. Ultimately my Spirit knows deeply, we are being called to pray.

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