Blog

It’s been a hard couple of weeks. First, it was the 32-year-old wife and mother who lost her battle with cancer. Then the tiny baby girl who could no longer fight after being born too soon. And then, the 19-year-old daughter whose life came to a tragic end. As a mother with children and grandchildren of my own, these losses have hit close to home. As I've thought about and prayed for the grieving families, these words have echoed in my head: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves ... Read More about The God Who Comes Near: Experiencing God’s Presence in Our Brokenness

On Thanksgiving weekend, we prepared our outdoor space for the colder weather. This meant emptying the many flower pots (some are still blooming!), gathering up the garden decor, and storing the patio furniture. As I put things away in the backyard shed, I noticed a couple of projects I never got to over the summer - a bench that needs painting, some items that need to be tossed - and I silently thought, "until next year." Raggedy benches and unused items are pretty insignificant in the grand ... Read More about Redeeming the Time: Finding Eternal Purpose in Everyday Moments

Thanksgiving in Canada happens at the most spectacular time of year. Mornings are crisp, but afternoons are warm. Autumn trees put on a brilliant glow as falling leaves carpet the ground. Warm fires and golden sunsets make the season almost magical. It should be easy to be grateful when the world wraps us in its beauty and warmth. Yet I recall Thanksgivings when gratitude seemed hard, even when the view outside my window was glorious. There was more than one Thanksgiving when the future ... Read More about Thankful in Suffering: Finding Gratitude When Life is Hard

Every few months, I hold a zoom call for Women's Ministry Directors within our affiliate churches. It's a time to provide updates, share resources, and pray for one another. However, last week, the turn out on the call was much smaller than usual. I even prepared some words of encouragement for the leaders, but abandoned the plans at the last minute. Although some had previously indicated to me that they were unable to attend due to other commitments, admittedly, I was disappointed. We've all ... Read More about Small Still Matters: How God Works in Our Faithfulness

I took care of my granddaughters over the weekend. We played. We went to the park. We visited their cousins. We read books and snuggled before bed. But as always, it didn't take long for me to realize why we raise our children while we are young. As much as I love our time together, I can't deny these little ones can easily wear me out. As we waved goodbye and they drove away, I took my weary body and spent a few moments on the couch before I went on with my day. A weary body is not unusual ... Read More about Finding Rest for a Weary Soul

This fall, I am entering my tenth ministry season as Women's Ministry Director at Redemption Bible Chapel. In my early 20s, I felt God's quiet nudge to pursue vocational ministry. At the time, I didn't know what that looked like. A few years later, I was married and working in student ministry at Heritage College, a door God graciously opened in answer to my prayers. So when I became divorced at the age of forty-one, I not only grieved the loss of my family, but also the opportunities ... Read More about While We Wait: Learning to Trust in the Pause