Save the date! Women’s Journey of Faith celebrates 25 years in ministry with keynote speaker Lisa Bevere! The “By Design” conference is one you will not want to miss! As Founder of WJOF, I couldn’t be more thrilled that the team has chosen this theme and this powerhouse speaker I have great respect for.
“Your FAITH STORY is unique and powerful, and we believe that your story has the potential to inspire and encourage others. By sharing your God encounters, you have the opportunity to spread hope and faith to those around you…Let's come together as a community to lift each other up and celebrate the ways in which God has worked in our lives.Your story is important and deserves to be heard.”- WJOF
Join me on Monday,May 27th at 7pm as Women’s Journey of Faith and Grove Women hosts Lorrie Hartshorn on the Saskatoon stop of her speaker tour!
“Let's come together as a community to lift each other up and celebrate the ways in which God has worked in our lives.Your story is important and deserves to be heard.”- WJOF
“Let's come together as a community to lift each other up and celebrate the ways in which God has worked in our lives.Your story is important and deserves to be heard.”- WJOF
Save the date! My home church is hosting a prayer and worship night on Sunday April 30th at 7pm We invite all people of faith to come and join us! We will be leading in prayer for the church of Saskatchewan to be unified in faith, hope and love as we come together in worship and prayer.This is in support of other city wide initiatives to unify the body of Christ across our province and together, share the good news of Jesus Christ through our prayers, words and actions. More information to come.
I invite all women to join me at the Women’s Journey of Faith conference. This year the event is being held at Circle Drive Alliance Church in Saskatoon.
(If you don’t have a church home and would like to join my group, my home church is gathering a group of women to attend at a group discounted rate. Forest Grove Community Church Family Ministries Pastor Maureen Brown is organizing a group to attend). Contact me or the church for details!
If you know Jesus, you have a story to tell! I am assisting in hosting a training event at my home church on Wednesday April 26th 6-9pm. This is a 3 hour training hosted at Forest Grove Community Church with E3 ministry leader Sean Cruickshank.
Sharing on the topic “Releasing Perfection” to Grove Moms which is one of 10 Tuesday mornings at my local church. (Other topics include Embracing the Mess, Taking Care of You, Making a Difference, among other themes engaging various women’s voices.
Part 1: I will share my own personal journey of faith alongside a key verse: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.”( Psalm 89:14) and sharing a personal cry for people of faith to "Guard our Heart for it is the wellspring of life" Proverbs 4:23. As when we do, we can truly have an undivided heart in this polarized world as Jesus leads us, guides us, strengthens us along the way.
Part 2:In this second half, we will unpack key words within Psalm 89:14 such as Righteousness, Justice (His Throne), Unfailing Love and Truth to encourage the audience to capture a vision of the call for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus in this ever so polarized world.
*I have recently shared this theme in a module format so this will be a shortened version focusing on testimony and key take-aways for attendees and I will welcome discussion, and Q and A’S
A passionate deep dive into God’s purposeful design of His testimony in & through you!
Spending 9 hours over three days with the students at THRIVE Discipleship Program . My topic? God’s Story, Your Story. Looking forward to this topic as I used to lead and oversee this with our faith stories team with Women’s Journey of Faith when I was in leadership there the first 16 years of it’s org formation. I have since expanded it to include other texts, resources etc for this purpose and other teaching opportunities.. Click here to learn more about THRIVE
There is a public event on the Thursday night at a local church as organized by Thrive.
“You are invited for a special Christmas evening on Dec 19th from 7-9 p.m. in the lounge at FGCC Attridge. Come meet someone new, share in some apple cider, as well as hear from a panel of 4 women of various generations as they reflect on a few questions related to their faith journeys."…”
I have the joy of speaking at the beautiful annual Christmas Brunch at the south campus location of Kauai Christian Fellowship. I attended last year while on the Island with my family and and am honoured to be asked to share my story and a devotional message to the women for this special event. A gorgeous brunch, amazing decor and creative elements throughout this fabulous event for women.
Part 1: I will share my own personal journey of faith alongside a key verse: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.”( Psalm 89:14) and sharing a personal cry for people of faith to "Guard our Heart for it is the wellspring of life" Proverbs 4:23. As when we do, we can truly have an undivided heart in this polarized world as Jesus leads us, guides us, strengthens us along the way.
Part 2:In this second half, we will unpack key words within Psalm 89:14 such as Righteousness, Justice (His Throne), Unfailing Love and Truth to encourage the audience to capture a vision of the call for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus in this ever so polarized world.
*I have recently shared this theme in a module format so this will be a shortened version focusing on testimony and key take-aways for attendees and I will welcome discussion, and Q and A’S
A passionate deep dive into God’s purposeful design of His testimony in & through you!
Spending 9 hours over three days with the students at THRIVE Discipleship Program . My topic? God’s Story, Your Story. Looking forward to this topic as I used to lead and oversee this with our faith stories team with Women’s Journey of Faith when I was in leadership there the first 16 years of it’s org formation. I have since expanded it to include other texts, resources etc for this purpose and other teaching opportunities.. Click here to learn more about THRIVE
There is a public event on the Thursday night at a local church as organized by Thrive.
I am excited to be one of the guest lecturers for the inaugural opening of Anchor House in Kauai, Hawaii. “From September to May, The Anchor House runs a one-year Bible school designed for those 18 and older.
"You have a story, we want to help you tell it. Discover the intrinsic value of your voice and the golden threads that make it so."
When: February 4-6th 2022 (NEW VENUE CHANGE and UPDATED REGISTRATION INFO!)
Your Love Story-Understanding God’s desire for us to love and be loved by addressing our own personal stories on our journey of restoration.
This Galentine’s day, treat your heart to some focused retreat time. A great excuse to pull away with other women online to celebrate your uniqueness as a woman and the importance of women mentors, and friendship in our lives. We will be celebrating online this year as we acknowledge the importance of restoration by embracing Love's story in our own hearts this February known as the “LOVE” month. This is the foundation of all healthy relationships!
A retreat to reflect and practice the many biblical principles of holistic health for our spirit, soul, and body. A time out for us to regain confidence and clarity and strengthening our personal convictions with matters of health. The greatest commandment is of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. Taking care of ourselves is not selfish, it’s an act of worship to live more wholeheartedly knowing every aspect of our lives matters to God.
Feeling a bit cooped up? Is your soul needing some space to breathe, find inspiration, experience peace? Groups of 2-4 can join me for a unique glamping retreat focused on the theme of personal restoration. "It is Well (with my soul), a Glamping Retreat" specifically designed for women. A time to get away in quiet surroundings in the Land of the Living Skies. Included in the retreat, you'll receive an opportunity for nature walks, a morning stretch by the river, healthy food, prayer/meditation opportunities, campfire stories as well as guided journaling reflections on themes like identity, story, etc. For those who would like additional connection post-retreat, additional mentorship, trusted resources and referrals can be accessed.
Join me for my first ever webinar: "Castle Story"
(This is a free webinar online to share teaching, resources (PDF)'s and interaction through ZOOM on Monday, June 1, and Monday, June 8th from 4 pm-5 pm. I see this as a pilot to encourage others but also to receive feedback after the second session!) go to my public Facebook page to sign up. The Zoom link will be posted there the week/ day prior.
(Retreat Cancelled/ Postponed- due to Corona Virus)- Details TBA for potential rescheduling in 2021
When we acknowledge the complexities of our personal life stories and it’s a current or potential influence in our families, friendship circles and spheres of influence, we gain a greater sense of grounding. When we embrace our true identity by walking in God's truth and getting into the practice of rebuking lies about ourselves and others, we are on the journey to restoration. In these sessions, we will unpack the stories we tell ourselves/ past, present/ future to have a greater sense of identity and likewise equip you with the tools to help others.
As invited by Briercrest College’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, I’ll be speaking to the staff and students of the College on the topic of Reconciliation. Themes and Topics include: What does the Bible say about steps towards reconciliation, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission- Calls to Action, “Ethical Space”, Vision examples: (Reconciliation Saskatoon experience), Loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Restoring Hope begins with our own restoration journey. Restoration begins in the heart, extends to the family which seeks to engage the world. I’ll be sharing a 3 part message which includes a bit of my life journey which led me to start a non profit based out of Saskatoon in 2015 called Hope Restored Canada, a bit of education on the topic of sexual exploitation and how we can bring hope to others.
Dreams, Desires, and Decisions: A dream keeps coming to mind. A desire continues to well up in your heart. Your conversations steer in similar directions, your friends or family may say you tend to be like a broken record. Ultimately we need to make decisions to let our "Yes" be "Yes" and our "No", be "No". Is our decision based on fear or faith? How do you really know if it’s from God? Life is filled with all kinds of decisions. Not just the simply mundane decisions, but bigger life decisions that hold more weight in the ramifications of our yes, no's or fence-sitting attitudes we have sometimes. Deep down inside we long for peace and confidence. So how do dreams, desires, and decisions drive us to find that place of balance? We can become so overwhelmed with decisions that we tend to go to one extreme or another, zoning out or getting overwhelmed. Sound like you sometimes? You are not alone.
I was nominated by the Saskatoon Soroptomist Community as a “HomeTown HERo” for my work in founding Hope Restored Canada. This yearly event recognizes 5 HERoes, women who have achieved a dream that helps our community.
Join us as we hear from speakers, leaders, and experts on the topic of trafficking and sexual exploitation in Canada.
When you think of human trafficking, do you think some far-off country? Do you think of it as an issue of the past? What if it's an issue that's current and closer to home than you think, impacting people in this country, this city, this community?
I’l be sharing my story and a message of HOPE!
Speaking on the topic of Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking to the Association of SK Home Economists- Private event Contact Hope Restored Canada for details.
Private event for JOY Participants*: The J.O.Y. (Justice & Outreach Year) of Formation is an experiential learning program that links Catholic Social Teaching with the real-life challenges experienced by people living on the margins. I'll be presenting a 2-hour session on what Hope Restored Canada is doing in response to the injustice of sexual exploitation and trafficking here in Canada, and in particular in Saskatoon.
Journey to Restoration is the personal website for Jodi Kozan where she shares recommended resources, speaker information, blogging and contact information.
Latest Blog Posts
2024 came and went. I am choosing to hold onto hope as the year brought many blessings and also a heaping dose of pain and grief as well. How about you? It seems to be how life goes, heh? Some years, there is more joy to be found If we could plan out life perfectly on our own terms, we would naturally go for less pain and suffering, right? But we can’t. If you struggle with any ounce of perfectionism tendencies (which I admit, I do), we can be thrown for a loop when life doesn’t go as we had first hoped. Through it all, I am remembering to count my blessings. I pray you can too.
Grateful a sister in Christ reached out yesterday and asked if I was going (to the WJOF Conference), and a half hour before the event started, I said yes. I texted back asking if I could sit by her and she greeted me at the door and introduced me to her group. One of the women said “I hear you were her mentor for a time, how long have you been a mentor”?... It was a joy to see my former mentee thriving in her relationships, stepping out in faith in leadership and embarking on a faith adventure that is in line with her unique calling. I recognize the hand of God on her life and I consider it such an honour to have played one small part in fanning the flame in her heart to press into God’s plan for her life.
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.
Seeking to be in His presence more and more has helped me maneuver some pretty life altering situations. Grateful for the imagery we find in nature to point us to the truths we find in God’s word. The Ocean speaks to this. It “mirrors God’s love- deep and endless.”
Only by the grace of God can I say with full confidence: “My story is His story”. One that reflects His story of Creation, the Fall, and focusing on His Redemption story in my life and the ongoing work of Restoration in Jesus name. This year, I am pumped to link arms with Women’s Journey of Faith to offer the Faith Stories workshop!: Since the organization officially began with our first conference in September 2000, my most rewarding times in leadership has been sharing testimony myself, hearing testimonies from our speakers, our team and the women in our community.
No wonder I’m drawn to palm trees! It’s not just the vacay vibe my Minnesota/ Saskatchewan prairie girl craves, it’s much deeper than that. In my faith tradition, palm leaves symbolize victory (along with peace/ wholeness & eternal life.) I waved them in Sunday school on Palm Sunday as a little girl without knowing fully what it meant- but it was fun to jump around and have fun!
2024? Like it or not, we are here. I say, out with the old and in with the new! What do I mean by that? It’s not just new years resolutions that we more often than not fail to keep . No. I am digging more into the root meaning of the scripture found in Isaiah 43:19.
They say art is both objective and subjective. Objectively, you can look at a piece of art and state the facts: The objects in it, the colours, texture or medium used to create the art. Subjectively, one can read into an art piece given the emotions it evokes or in my case, the prophetic insight it conveys deep within.
The war in Isreal is heartbreaking.🇮🇱🙏 With all that’s going on in the world, the pain, the suffering, the wars, divisions…There is a verse in the Bible that has stood out to me these past few years as a reminder of the gift of lament.
“. . . Teach your daughters how to wail; teach one another a lament.” — Jeremiah 9:20
If I hadn’t learned the biblical gift of lament yet, my soul would be tormented by the devastation. The images. The what ifs. The cognitive dissonance with what should be to what is.
It is with heavy hearts, my family announces the passing of my dad Richard. Known to my kids and grandkids as “Boppa”, “Bop”, or “Boppy”, we both grieve and believe by faith we will be reunited once more. Who knew but God that when I sat down to help write my dad’s memoir with him 4 years ago during the pandemic, I’d be helping our family plan his funeral this week?