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.
Read MoreI know first hand, the injustice of human trafficking and sexual exploitation impacts us all whether we know it or not. If you are led to see this movie, I do pray it will encourage your heart to grow in courage to stand up to the face of evil with hope and determination regardless the dark issues we face in this world. This is not an “entertaining movie” per say, but to me though, it’s a must see 🙏. It’s a beautifully depicted film that “exposes the worthless deeds of evil”…
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreKintsugi: A beautiful art form to help demonstrate that beauty can be found through or in spite of the broken things in life. “(金継ぎ, "golden joinery"), also known as kintsukuroi (金繕い, "golden repair"), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted gold…., it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.”-WP “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
I had the joy of attending a women’s retreat as a way to cap off my week in Kauai after teaching at the new Anchor House, One Year School of the Bible with Kauai Christian Fellowship (KCF) …As women shared their stories, I witnessed beautiful golden threads of faith woven amidst the hardships of life. Cheering for all the epiphany moments of grace.
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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreWhenever 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
Read MoreI believe Canada has a destiny. One way to walk in the direction of our destiny is to contend for the hope, healing and restoration of others. Although Human Trafficking isn’t the ONLY aspect of injustice in our midst, it certainly has captured my attention over the years. Awareness is key as it leads to action. Canada didn’t always have “a formal DAY” for Human Trafficking awareness. January 21st though was the date that the USA instituted it in 2010. Canada observed that date in a minor way until a few years later, and some provinces adopted Feb 22 over the last decade. It wasn’t until 2021, that it became a nationally recognized date! Today, I want to bring awareness to this issue- both locally, nationally and internationally.
Read MoreWhen 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.
Read MoreAll of us have struggled in some way shape or form of identity. If you haven’t noticed, our culture has an identity crisis- big time. We are continually bombarded with internal messages that seek to distort our true identity.
Read MoreSince taking the class "Life in the Mess: Theology of Forgiveness and Reconciliation" 10+ years ago I have been processing the difference between the terms Restoration and Reconciliation. The two are inextricably linked. It goes deep unto deep within our own hearts, with our personal relationships, and to the larger context of humanity.
Read MoreI’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.
Read MoreLament 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…
Read MoreHaving gratitude is said to be one of the most powerful attributes to living a life of joy, peace, and contentment. I’ve found it’s also a spiritual weapon to help one find strength through the difficult times of life.
Read MoreIt was an honour to join the team at the Manitoba Women's Retreat at the beautiful Elkhorn Resort and Spa this past spring. I enjoy sharing my story, speaking hope and casting a vision of restoration by giving permission to others to dream, grow in faith, hope and love. Retreats are a wonderful way to spend some unhurried time together with newfound friends sharing authentically from my heart to theirs.
Read MoreAs a follow up to my recent blog post "Are You My Mother", I wrote about the gift of honouring motherhood and all those who "mother" us throughout our journey of faith. There is much to be happy about on the topic of motherhood. At the same time, it is important to pause and reflect on the angst Mother's Day brings forth for many: both spiritually and relationally. If we can learn how to mourn with those who mourn and help each other be more authentic with the pains of life, we'd realize we all walk with a limp. Especially as mothers.
Read MoreIn my own journey of faith, Mothers Day often brought deep sorrow more often than not because I spent many Mothers Days apart from my own mother (& mother in law) as I lived long-distance from them. As a young momma myself, I struggled with the what ifs and the "woulda-shoulda-coulda" thoughts as my idealistic tendencies were crippling my ability to fully embrace Mothers Day. By focusing on what I didn't have (family supports who live in my own city) and the imperfections in me and earthly mothering expectations, I let myself down. I struggled with fully embracing my motherhood for many years as a result. Condemnation, guilt and oh, right: comparison- the thief of joy.
Read MoreAmidst the pain of life's mysteries, we can have "Whispers of hope". Be it the death of a dream, the death of a loved one or any of the challenges we face, we can have eternal hope arise within us to give strength for today as we know Who holds tomorrow.
Read MoreI've lived in Canada since crossing the border in 1990 after our whirlwind honeymoon, but it took me 20 years to take the step to be an official Canadian Citizen. After marrying my Canadian beau, I was perfectly content to be a visitor- landed immigrant, then permanent resident. Growing up in Minnesota, I was raised to pledge my allegiance to the USA, salute the flag and "Live by the Girl Scout Law". Needless to say, my American Pride was deeply embedded within. Even after I had a miraculous brush with heaven in 1996 and truly understood that my eternal citizenship is in heaven, (Philippians 3:19-21), I was in no rush to become a Canadian Citizen.
But God had other plans...
Read MoreIn all my years launching and leading Women's Journey of Faith, and now launching Hope Restored Canada, I have come across hundreds of speaker names, suggested books, studies, retreats and conferences. I am grateful for each life that has crossed my path as their stories of faith, courage and perseverance has intersected with my own story. We are created for story.
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