Sound of Freedom- My Take Away

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Sound of Freedom- My Take Away

I 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”…

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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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Canada's Human Trafficking Awareness

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Canada's Human Trafficking Awareness

I 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.

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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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Reconciliation - Bringing Broken Relationships into Harmony

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Reconciliation - Bringing Broken Relationships into Harmony

Reconciliation is a massive concept. With the current TRC conversation in Canada, (let alone the many relational conflicts in our own personal lives and community wide or global conflicts), it’s important to learn, relearn or remember that there are different types of reconciliation:〰Relational 〰Personal 〰Financial 〰Spiritual. Prior to graduating from Briercrest Seminary in 2020, I focused my internship on the theme of reconciliation as I was serving a local non profit here in Saskatoon. I could have chosen a number of incredible agencies, churches or organizations to serve or focus on other themes, but the topic of reconciliation was calling me. Little did I know how deep the Holy Spirit was calling me into this topic right before the pandemic hit the globe let alone racial tensions arising with a cry for justice on many fronts….

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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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Silent No More, the Unplanned Debate

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Silent No More, the Unplanned Debate

What is it about the abortion topic that stirs such anger or passion on the various sides of this debate? Personal experience-political agendas-religious convictions-faith perspectives-etc? We need healthy dialogues on topics pertaining to human rights and issues of morality to truly get anywhere of lasting value. As difficult of a topic it is to face (and the various perspectives surrounding it), I chose to watch it on the opening day with a friend who works in the health field and we spent some time in healthy dialogue after to debrief….

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We are Persons

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We are Persons

October 18th was “Persons day” in Canada. This marked the day in 1929 where a historic decision was handed down by Canada’s highest court of appeal. The decision included women in the legal definition of “persons”. This gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women's participation in more spheres of influence.

Below is a pic of me and our youngest three daughters posing in front of the “famous five” statues in Calgary back in 2013. Their first visit there, my second. The first time I stumbled across these statues with a group of women of faith- I was awestruck. Literally.

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Prayer Walking

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Prayer Walking

The purpose of prayer-walking is to seek God’s guidance, mercy, and transforming power—both for the  individuals and regions we pray for, but also  for ourselves. Prayer-walking helps us become more spiritually minded in what we are observing all around as we walk and pray. It’s a time where we allow ourselves to breathe in revival and speak forth revival, taking authority in Christ on the land in which we are given. 

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Betrayal and Beauty (Out of the Ashes)

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Betrayal and Beauty (Out of the Ashes)

Good Friday this year, I participated in the “way of the cross” walk with hundreds of men, women, and children with 14 stations of the cross. Our own version of the Via Dolorosa of Jerusalem in the downtown core of Saskatoon as scripture is shared, prayers offered and reflections on what the cross of Jesus meant or should mean for us today with Justice issues, the call for reconciliation, ecology, race relations, dignity of life, the health of the family etc

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A Walk of Faith, Courage and Hope- MMIWG

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A Walk of Faith, Courage and Hope- MMIWG

Over the years, I've walked to stand up against the evils of sexual abuse, human trafficking and most recently, the walk to support families who are counted among the hundreds of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (MMIWG).  It takes much effort to gather, to stand in solidarity, to be united in a cause with diverse individuals you may or may not ever see again.

Why I show up?.... I

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Our Canada, My Story

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Our Canada, My Story

I'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...

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Redeemed- The Power of Story!

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Redeemed- The Power of Story!

    In 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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Faith through the Mountaintops and Valleys→

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Faith through the Mountaintops and Valleys

Life is full of ups and downs, mountaintop experiences and valley meanderings too. Do you ever find yourself living in "la la land" though wanting to stay on the mountain top with all it's thrills, pats on the back, high fives and that feeling of accomplishment? I know I do! No wonder the movie musical La La Land was so popular!  If I look back on my life and look to people I admire most, we have all experienced some minor or major set backs, heartbreak, and pain. It sucked big time going through it, and many instances I wouldn't wish it on my closest friends.

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