"A life-changing new year's resolution"

A new year is upon us and it is time for fresh beginnings and resolutions. Above all of the fitness and diet resolutions, it is important to make room for spiritual growth. Surrounded by a world full of fear and the unknown, it is imperative that we become a people who live by faith! 

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." Hebrews 11:1

Faith is putting our full confidence and trust in God. This can be easy when everything in our lives is going well and we are comfortable and happy. But what happens when things go sideways, when all we see is darkness?

When it comes to trust, we naturally trust someone we know compared to a stranger. The closer the friend, the more we trust them and put our confidence in them. The same applies to our faith in God. The more we know Him, through an intimate relationship, the greater we trust Him.  It is through our relationship with our Heavenly Father that our faith grows strong and deep. When the winds of fear and darkness blow we will not be shaken for we are secure in the God of our Salvation!

This year let us dive deeper into God; through prayer, Bible study and worship, let us truly become intimately acquainted with our Father. Our safety and security are found in Him and it is in Him that our faith will become unshakable.

Joyelle Gagnon was powerfully touched by the presence of God in 2006.  At that 

moment she made the decision to pursue the Kingdom of God.  Since experiencing 

God’s transforming power, she has a passion to see others set free in every area of 

life. Joyelle longs to see the Church of God rise up and impact our communities, 

cities and nations. Whether it is writing, speaking or teaching, Joyelle loves to 

convey biblical principles in a practical manner that will equip and call to action the 

people of God. Joyelle with her husband Paul and daughter Sophie live in Hanley 


Saskatchewan and attend Faith Alive Family Church.  

"Learning to be compliant clay"

Donna Carter reveals insight on becoming soft and yielded, as clay to the potter. May this blog help you on your journey with our Father, the potter, and launch you into an amazing new year! (She will be one of our featured speakers at our upcoming Sharing the Journey seminar on April 4-5th in Saskatoon).

Learning to be Compliant Clay

Nelson Mandela has long been a hero of mine. On a flight to South Africa five years ago, I read Mandela’s lengthy auto-biography, Long Walk to Freedom. The context the book provided made my speaking tour there fascinating. I recognized the street and building names as comrades and prison mates of the great man.

Recently, as I have been reading everything I can get my hands on about his redemptive life, I can’t help but think of parallels with the life of Joseph. Both began as young, arrogant men with big dreams. Both suffered hardship as the result of convictions they couldn’t deny. Both spent years in the crucible of prison and both emerged with a 24 carat character and the moral authority to lead. There is one other thing they share: Joseph and Mandela chose forgiveness and reconciliation over vengeance once power was in their hands. They allowed the hardships of prison to bring out the best in them, harnessing passion into self-discipline and distilling frustration into patience. But most importantly, refining anger into love.

As a result, Joseph saved a nation and his own family from starvation. Mandela saved his nation from bloodshed. Both left a legacy of grace.

When we enter a new year, we tend to do it with optimism and hope. We plan to lose weight and save money, have a regular quiet time and work out, then eat sensibly and travel. It’s going to be better than last year. 

We should set goals to accomplish noble things. But in many cases, we have no control over our health or wealth. We can’t avert economic recessions or corporate restructuring any more than we can prevent a tragic accident or diagnosis. We can’t control the infidelity of a spouse or the betrayal of friends. 

What we can do is allow even the huge injustices of life to make us compliant clay in the Potter’s hands. We can determine that whatever comes our way in 2014, we will humbly submit to our Father’s leadership in our lives and allow him to use all things to mould us into the likeness of Jesus. He does this for the good of our family, our church, our nation and our world. He is still in the business of restoration. He still tenaciously twists every cruel plan of the enemy into a redemptive outcome. God will never waste our pain or our tears. If we will let him, He will use them to lead us to our place of highest influence and fulfillment. 

Lay your hopes and plans for 2014 at the feet of your Father. Consciously submit to his will in all your relationships and endeavours. And claim his promise: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

~Romans 8:28 NLT

 Donna Carter has a unique ability to synthesize life experience into digestible life lessons. She is sought after as a speaker internationally because of her passion, humor and the light-bulb moments she triggers for people seeking help on their spiritual journeys. Nothing excites her more than participating in the restoration of women’s hearts, and their relationships with God and others. Author of 10 SMART THINGS WOMEN CAN DO TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE (2007) and FRIEND ME Turning Faces into Lasting Friendships, along with the accompanying DVDs and conversation guide, was released February 2013. They live in Calgary, a thriving city in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies. www.wjof.com/speakers-ministry.php

Website: http://donnacarter.org   Facebook:Donna Carter

A Year in Review- Celebrating the Journey!

   A lot happens in a year... In our world, our nation, our city, our communities, our homes, our hearts… It's incredible to reflect on all that transpires in a calendar year. For Women's Journey of Faith, we are pumped with all that transpired:

• March- Our tour to Israel was incredible!
• April- Our Sharing the Journey seminar was engaging!
• Summer- Our online Bible study on True Woman 101 was transformational!
• August- Our Faith Stories seminar was inspiring!
• September- Our emerging team brought added strength to our vision!
• Fall- Launching our speakers ministry with women across Canada was thrilling!
• October- Our prayer and worship night with the Faith Alive band was powerful!
• November- Our 14th annual conference "Wisdom" with Keynote speaker Mary Kassian and musical guests Point of Grace was life changing! Over 1450 in attendance and almost 100 children sponsored through our partnership with Compassion!
• November- Our partnership with Athletes in Action for their Single Mom's Dessert Night nurtured us all and led us into launching our mentoring sisterhood program!
• December- Our team Christmas party was special- so much to celebrate together!

2013- a year to remember with deep gratitude for all that He has done in and through us! Thank you God for the many lives changed, the new friendships made, the partnerships formed, the gifted and diverse team members, the inspirational speakers and worship leaders and all those who have added to the vision of WJOF!

  As we remember 2013, may you also reflect on the people who impacted you, the places you've been and the engaging things you've done. To end the year with gratitude by reflecting on the gifts God has given you, positions us to enter 2014 with a heart open for an increase in restoration, His revelations to be poured out once again for us all.

  Here is a simple downloadable doc for you to print and use to reflect on this past year!

Jot down those words, thoughts, prayers, scriptures that come to mind and post on your fridge or tuck in your Bible as a keepsake! 

Happy New Year everyone from all of us at Women's Journey of Faith!