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!
Journey to Restoration is the personal website for Jodi Kozan where she shares recommended resources, speaker information, blogging and contact information.
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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.”
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.
Ever since I walked down the aisle to say my vows to Tim before family and friends in 1990, I have wondered why we do the things we do in weddings? I knew some had a deeper meaning, and some are simply fun traditions or cultural preferences. So in light of the recent weddings in our household the last few years, attending some and now officiating weddings, I was inspired to do a bit of research on the topic!
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.
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.