Flourish in Your Calling-The Gift in You!

     Only one week away until our 15th annual conference "Flourish" with keynote speaker Dr. Caroline Leaf! There is much excitement in the air with emails flying in asking tons of questions about the schedule, what to expect and prayer requests from near and far. God uses gifted speakers/ teachers like Dr. Leaf to impart wisdom and knowledge to embark on the "journey of restoration", our vision here at WJOF.

     2 Peter is a book in the Bible where the apostle Peter wrote to the believers to encourage them to  stay in the truth and not be swayed by deception. The Word of God transcends time, and what was applicable in the first century to those on the journey to restoration is applicable now in 2014. As Peter warned against false teachers and emphasized staying in the truth and knowledge of God, we too are given leaders, pastors and teachers of the Word like Dr. Leaf who has been given a gift to impart incredible truths today. In order for us to flourish, we can rely on the simple but profound truth that through a relationship with Jesus Christ, He gives us "... everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

    WJOF's recommended study this year is "The Gift in You". Dr. Leaf writes: "No matter what you have been told, what tests you may have taken, or what you believe about yourself- you have a unique gift, different from anyone else's, to fulfill your purpose in this world."
 -Dr. Caroline Leaf Author of "The Gift in You" and "Switch on Your Brain" among other best selling titles being featured at this year's Flourish Conference.

Visit her website  and watch a 40 minute message on "The Gift in You". http://bit.ly/JEt2l1   That outlines the 7 pillars of thought and she helps us to identify the unique gift in how we have been wired to deliver our gift(s) to serve a world in need.

You can purchase her book, workbook and DVD curriculum through her website.  Although her study isn't focusing on spiritual gifts as outlined in scripture, she addresses the gift of how the mind is wired to function in our gifts.

(If you haven't taken personality/strengths tests like DISC, Myers Briggs or you haven't taken a spiritual gift test before, there are numerous resources out there to purchase or incredible classes to take. WJOF has a free pdf download on our website if you can take 15 minutes of your time to read and fill out the questions. If you haven't done so, we encourage you to Click Here to download and print off! Sharing the results with a trusted friend and pastor of a Bible believing church will help sharpen your call and focus for serving.)

If you have any questions about the study (or want to connect with a study group or a church in the Saskatoon area) feel free to contact us at WJOF by emailing admin@wjof.com as we'd love to encourage you on your journey of faith!

"Each of you should use whatever gift he (or she) has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God's grace in it's various forms" 1 Peter 4:10

WJOF and CCS are partnering to bring in Dr. Leaf to Saskatoon for two incredible events this year! Dr. Leaf will be speaking at the CCS event on Thursday November 6th at the Willows in Saskatoon, SK Canada. Visit CCS's website for details and registration. Women's Journey of Faith's 15th annual conference Flourish is on Friday November 7th from 7pm-9:30pm and continuing through Saturday November 8th from 9am-5pm with Dr. Caroline Leaf speaking 4 time's throughout the Flourish event along with music by Dustin Smith and the Faith Alive Band. Lorie Hartshorn (author of Finding Freedom), will be acting as Emcee for Flourish alongside the host of the conference Jodi Kozan, President and Founder of WJOF alongside her team. For more information and to register, visit WJOF's website!

Flourish in Relationships: Man vs Woman by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Relating with members of the opposite sex can be frustrating and difficult, but it doesn't have to be! Successful relationships begin in the mind (which seeks understanding), and, through the choices we make, will end in the Spirit (which knows truth). In my book, "Who Switched Off Your Brain? The Mystery of He Said, She Said", I know the three C's of relationships:

• We are designed to complete each other and not compete with each other.
• We are compatible.
• We are complimentary.

Men and women have been created to complement one another through their own unique strengths; we are exponentially better together! This goes for husband- wife, father-daughter, mother-son, personal and professional relationships. It doesn't take a PhD to know men and women are not the same- we don't think the same, talk the same or act the same. These differences aren't a result of our environments and our upbringing, they're built in by design, God's design. As it says in Genesis 1:27, "He made male and female in His image."

Watch this video clip from a series Dr. Leaf did at Victory church in Atlanta Georgia. She highlights some of the points featured in the book "Who Switched off Your Brain." It's more than a marriage series, it is filled with key insights that will help you better understand the often mysterious behaviour of the opposite sex, and practical tips that will quickly improve your relationships! All of her books will be available at the Flourish conference on November 7-8 2014 at TCU Place Convention centre and also available on her website as a digital download.

Dr. Leaf shares "You are You! And you express your uniqueness through your maleness and your femaleness and you will be interacting with the opposite sex daily whether you like it or not! So in order to not get toxic in our minds, we need to understand each other and target that struggle! In doing so, we increase our intelligence, health and longevity! Why is this important? Here is a sobering thought: research shows that couples that have especially sarcastic and argumentative discussions heal 40% slower than those who don’t. And we all want to be healthy!"- Dr Caroline Leaf

WJOF is excited to host Dr. Leaf to our 15th annual conference "Flourish" on November 7th-8th at TCU Place Convention Centre in Saskatoon!  With 1400 women registered thus far, we have room for hundreds more, so don't delay and get your tickets through TCU Tickets or online- for registration information, contact numbers visit www.wjof.com/2014 to purchase your tickets and to learn more about our exciting event. You don't want to miss it! Questions about the conference or the ministry of Women's Journey of Faith? Our website is a great place to learn more- or you can email us at admin@wjof.com   

We'd love to hear from you! In what ways are you flourishing in (or not experiencing) the truths of the three C's of relationships? Feel free to comment below or connect with a WJOF leader through our WJOF mentor Centre! 

Flourish & Renew Your Mind!

"Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

   God has given us this beautiful gift of free will, the ability to choose. Sadly, many of us are held back from living our best life by the battle that is in our own minds to choose rightly! Romans 12:2 reminds us that we are called to renew our minds by allowing God to radically yet gently transform and restore us!  I am keenly aware that we are living in an age where the world is offering a 'counterfeit restoration' on many fronts. The battle is fierce both in the church and in the world for our attention, devotion and are preoccupation with thoughts that are not worthy of taking up real estate in our God given think-tank.  Toxic thoughts, believing lies, and distorted media messaging can mess with our minds on so many levels, we need to heed the warning the Apostle Paul is giving us:" "Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world."...  Or for many in the Church, we often hear the phrase: "Be in the world, but not of  the world'. We know we are called to be "set apart", but in reality...our church pews are filled with many double minded devotees, not able to recognize God's voice or discern His will. Black and white becomes grey, depression, anxiety, apathy, pessimism becomes the norm for so, so many. We must ask ourselves: do we have a desire for the world's "behaviours and customs" more than the hunger for the Word of God and to be in His presence? Have we allowed any of this to creep into our lives, our minds, our journey?

 I say it's time to 'switch on our brains'  so we can truly flourish as we were created to!

    Early on in my walk with Jesus, I was introduced to the ministry "Freedom in Christ" with founder Neil. T Anderson. Although I was raised in a Christian home, attended church regularly, I didn't learn or retain too much in my formative years about the Holy Spirit, the reality of spiritual warfare (and how to combat it), my identity in Jesus Christ or the importance of announcing truth and renouncing lies. It wasn't until I was a married woman with two small children at home where I experienced a profound life changing moment with the Living God who delivered me, set me free and truly spoke deeply and intimately to my spirit of who I am and how He views me as His daughter. Soon after that encounter, Freedom in Christ's resources became some of my early discipleship tools/ resources that I devoured and recommended to others like "Bondage Breaker", "Victory over the Darkness" and the "Steps to Freedom." Their ministry comes to mind as we prepare for our upcoming conference "FLOURISH" as they focus so much on having a truth encounter with the Word of God.  Practical teaching to equip the reader to take control of our thoughts through the help of the Holy Spirit at work within, renounce lies and to announce truth as a regular discipline in our journey of faith. Truly a bootcamp for the soul!

http://www.jodikozan.com/resources.php

    The 7 steps to freedom are not the be all end all resource out there, but I can personally vouch for the fact that it is truly one of the best there is to identify all the various areas where we loose our focus, become tripped up in the world of sin and how to confess, repent and renounce anything that comes in the way of living our best lives. I loved this resource so much, that when it came out in a free pdf online e-book, I highlighted it as a recommended resource on my personal website. If you haven't gone through the process before, or have access to that book- He has simplified the 7 steps in his book "Restored!" Click here to view the ebook, intro video and to download and print a copy of "Who am I in Christ." I encourage you to memorize those truth statements so it becomes a practical tool on your journey to flourish! If you do, let us know here at WJOF so that we can cheer you on, encourage you and give prayer support. You can email us anytime or click here to visit our online WJOF Mentor Center and we can partner you with an online-mentor!
- Your friend on the Journey, Jodi Kozan (Founder, President of WJOF)

      Save the Date! Biblical Scientific expert on the mind Dr. Caroline Leaf will be our keynote speaker for our 15th annual conference "Flourish" on November 7-8th in Saskatoon, SK Canada.   www.wjof.com/2014  We encourage you to visit her website, pick up one of her books, watch her videos online or consider downloading her 21 day Brain Detox program. Better yet, pick up your tickets NOW and join us for our 15th annual conference in November. This is a rare opportunity to meet Dr. Leaf in person as it is her life calling to equip others with practical tools through her teaching and resources to renew our minds! "We control our brains, our brains don't control us. ...I love to share with people that you are you are literally your own best 'brain surgeon'! What I mean by that is is that you are designed with your mind to change your thoughts..., you can wire them out. "- Dr. Caroline Leaf 

Watch Dr. Leaf's  episode "Pop Those Toxic Thoughts and Renew Your Mind"

Join us at Sharing the Journey!

April 4th, 5th, 2014

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Hosted at Forest Grove Community Church www.forestgrovecommunitychurch.com

Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ! Restoring women by calling leaders, speakers, and women with a passion to serve! We invite you to come along with us on a faith adventure!

 

Registration | Speakers | Friday Schedule | Saturday Schedule

 

Registration

$40 Saturday Main Event (9:00am - 4:30pm)

$50 Friday Leaders/Speakers Intensive Workshop (9:00am - 4:30pm)

$80 for Both Friday & Saturday Events

Includes lunch and a binder with notes from all sessions! Speakers include our WJOF  recommended speakers from across Canada, plus members of our ministry team! The Saturday event is open to all women of faith who want to join us on the journey of restoration! We all have gifts to share, a destiny to discover and an adventure to embark on with Jesus. OurSharing the Journey seminar is designed to equip you in your call to take the next step on your journey of faith to make a greater impact in your home, church, community and world! (The optional Friday intensive seminar is in addition to ourSharing the Journey weekend, offering sessions for speaker development, testimony training and leadership development.) Limited registration for both events - we will post online when we have reached capacity and have closed the registration. *Tickets are also available at Scott's Parable in Saskatoon!

Speakers include:

Jodi Kozan Visit Website Read Bio >	Maureen Brown Visit Website Read Bio >	Wilna Van Beek Visit Website Read Bio >
Malynda Zacharias Visit Website Read Bio >	Donna Carter Visit Website Read Bio >	Donna Mitchell Visit Website Read Bio >
Lorie Hartshorn Visit Website Read Bio >	Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson Visit Website Read Bio >	Yvonne StGermaine Visit Website Read Bio >

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4:11

Schedule:

Friday, April 4th 2014 Intensive Speaker Seminar

8:30am	Registration & Coffee
9:00am	-Welcome: "The Call" - Jodi Kozan -WJOF Speaker Introductions -Speaking/Leading out of a Place of Rest -Putting Together Your Message: Panel discussion -Break
11:00am	-Mess/Message, Test/Testimony -Homiletics 101
12:30pm	Lunch
1:30pm	-Non-verbal communication -Rapport/Connecting With Your Audience -Vocal Variety -*Small Groups: 3-5 minute devotionals -Extending an Offer, Too Good to Refuse -Group feedback Q&A
4:30pm	Closing

 

Saturday, April 5th 2014 Sharing the Journey Seminar

8:30am	Registration; Coffee
9:00am	Welcome; Worship by the Faith Alive band
9:15am	Sharing the Journey- Meet the Speakers!
9:45am	Keynote: LOGOS...Restored to Flourish
10:20am	Break
10:45am	Breakout Session 1 -Jodi Kozan: Launching your Ministry Dream -Yvonne St Germaine: Reaching Out -Donna Carter: Beyond Facebook: Creating the 'Profile' of a True Friend -Laura Lynn: Publish His works! -Malynda Z: My Family, My First Ministry -Donna Mitchell: Discovering the Upside Down Elements of Kingdom Leadership
11:40am	Keynote address: Lorie Hartshorn
12:45pm	LUNCH (a lunch will be provided along with "Lunch & Learn" opportunities)
1:30pm	Breakout Session 2 -Donna Carter: Outreach Coaching -Maureen Brown: Life Coaching -Lorie Hartshorn: Leadership coaching #1 Way to Kill Your Leadership -Wilna Van Beek: Spiritual Disciplines- Abiding in the Vine -Malynda Zacharias: Tribal Stories - passing our faith to the next generation -Yvonne St. Germaine: TBA -TBA
2:30pm	Breakout Session 3 -Lorie Hartshorn: Life Giving Mentorship -Maureen Brown: Restoring Balance -Donna Mitchell: Isaiah 58 Following Jesus in a hurting World -Joyelle Gagnon: WJOF Faith Stories -Donna Mithchell: Reaching Post-Modern Ryan and Rachel -Lisa Braun: Compassion Child Sponsorship/Tours -Wilna Van Beek: Dressed for Success: Full armor of God -TBA
3:15pm	BREAK
3:30pm	Closing Keynote: Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson
4:30-5pm	Seminar Close

Loving One Another: A Journey Through 1 John 4:7-21

Loving One Another: A  Prayerful Journey Through 1 John 4: 7-21

 "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

          Dear Heavenly Father, bring on the love...

"God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

 Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins- Woo Hoo! What love, what sacrifice...

 "Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us."

   For many who profess Your name , we have a long way to go to truly walk this out fully in our homes, marriages, parenting, in ministries, at work, our own backyard, across the nations... Thank you for your patience God. You took care of the 'sin issue' at the cross Jesus, help us to walk out your grace in every way- every day. Help us to learn to BE the church not simply go to one!

"And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love."

 Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am"? (Mathew 16:15).  I know that you are real as I've hid Your word in my heart, and profoundly experienced Your presence in my life...Jesus is the Son of God! Bring on the testimonies!

"God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world."

Thank you God for teaching me what it means to be "in Christ". Profound! The challenge for us is to stay firmly in Him on our journey and not stray! Be my strength, be my guide!

"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  We love each other because he loved us first."

It's all about his love. God's radical, life transforming grace giving sacrificial love found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Incredible- Fear vs Faith? I choose Faith in JC! I've come to know that perfect love and continually come back to that 'first love' to guide me:)

 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters."  1 John 4:7-21 AMEN!  

Now this is where we are tested hey friends? This is where my heart beats to the sound of a my Heavenly Father's heartbeat for his children to walk in love, unity and honour. I ache for the church, the body of Christ to truly get into alignment and stop the ridiculous sibling rivalry game and behave, serve, radiate and impart God's love as the family of believers was created to be! Sure- we see pockets of beautiful unity all around, but I declare we were created for so much MORE!  As a non-denominational ministry to all women, that's one of our passions here at Women's Journey of Faith- One of our 'key principles' to restoration- our vision... It starts and ends in love Our God has given us the ministry of Reconciliation!

  This Valentine's, let's put more focus on the love of God and HIS perfect unfailing love. Romantic love is lovely, but God's redeeming life giving love is relentless.  We all need to get over ourselves and  confess our pride in order to fill and refill ourselves up with Christ's abounding love-truth and grace. Then, only then- can we love others as He first loved us.

Jodi Kozan is the founder, President of Women's Journey of Faith. She is the momma to four daughters, married to Tim since 1990 and has been leading WJOF since it's inception in 1999.  Passionate about their vision "The Restoration of Women", she has come to know deeply that restoration begins in the heart, extends to the family which seeks to infiltrate the world! To express this passion, she enjoys how the ministry has expanded in various forms over the years to include our annual conference (This year's "Flourish" event is Nov 7-8) and our spring Sharing the Journey seminar is coming up on April 4-5 in Saskatoon, SK Canada. Visit our website to learn more about WJOF and other awesome opportunities to engage like our tour to Israel in March 2015, reading women's faith stories and other aspects of encouragement for your journey:)  To read more about Jodi's story, her testimony and speaking topics, visit her blog "Jodi's Journey" or on her personal website.

"Wisdom in the Wait"- by guest blogger Donna Mitchell

   Sharing God's Wisdom for the journey!  We'd like to introduce you to Donna Mitchell, one of WJOF's recommended speakers!  Love what she writes this week on needing "Wisdom in the Wait"...

     Today, we live in a fast paced society that is losing patience with any prospect of waiting.  This phenomenon began with the McDonald’s drive-through and our expectation of receiving our meal in less than three minutes.  Subsequently, we demanded increasingly fast Internet, and now, our emails are not traveling fast enough – we utilize instant messaging!

     The Lord does not conform to society’s expectations or demands.  He works in profound and mysterious ways and often, He uses time to accomplish His purposes – He is the Sovereign One.  It took time for me to walk into freedom and healing as the Lord set me free from the fears that threatened to keep me in bondage. Along the way, He taught me lessons that I would not have discovered, and my faith would not have been strengthened and developed if I received instant healing.

     In the midst of our life circumstances, the Lord works on multiple plots simultaneously:  restoring relationships, repairing damage, prompting repentance, and relinquishing strongholds.  He is patient with us, even when we resist His promptings and insist on holding on to the issues He is asking us to release.  His patience is profound.

     It is no coincidence that following James 1:2-4, the author prompts us to ask for wisdom in James 1:5…

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you.  He will not rebuke you for asking.  But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.  Do not waver…”

     If the Lord requires you to wait – thank Him – in the midst of delay, the Lord provides many profound gifts and necessary lessons to those who are willing to wait for Him.

Donna serves as the National Director for Connecting Streams’ Ministry, a ministry division of Power to Change. She encourages believers to rediscover a relevant, thriving faith that authentically and completely reflects Jesus; as a result, restoring believers and those discovering faith in Jesus to the abundant life that God intended (Isaiah 58). As a national ministry leader, Donna eloquently expresses her passion as a compelling influential speaker at regional and national conferences, outreach events, church retreats and leadership workshops to encourage, empower, and equip believers to step out from behind church walls to reach out to a hurting world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Website: http://www.donnamitchell.ca   

www.wjof.com/speakers-ministry.php 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/connectingstreamsministry  

"Do You Know What You Need?"- Guest blogger: Lorie Hartshorn

Sharing God's Wisdom for the journey!  We'd like to introduce you to Lorie Hartshorn, one of WJOF's recommended speakers!  Love what she writes this week of being truly honest with ourselves digging deep for what we really need! -Jodi Kozan Founder/ Pres. Women's Journey of Faith

Lorie writes:

     I came down with a summer cold this week – ugh!  No one likes to have a cold but to get one in the summer is simply unfair!  The week prior to getting my cold I knew that I should have been taking my regular vitamins D and C…the cold fighters!  But, I had stopped taking them because I didn’t realize that I needed them!  I had lulled myself into believing that I was getting enough sunshine and eating fresh fruits and veggies, so why bother with the extra dose of vitamins….I mean, I felt fine and was unaware of what I really needed and what was coming.

     We can lull ourselves into thinking that we are not in need of anything including restoration.  We can dismiss signs of weakness or vulnerability and carry on in our lives not asking for true healing and health in our relationship with God and with others. 

I was struck by the truth that Restoration is only possible when we acknowledge our need of it when I was reading Psalm 130 recently. It tells us that restoration is available to us.  See v.7 “with Him is full redemption (or restoration)”

    But we must first recognize our need of it!  We must desire it, cry out for it, ask for it!  Listen to verses 1 and 2 – “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” This person is in desperation for redemption, for restoration, for help and healing from God – so they cry out!  They realize their need for restoration!

    I had to ask myself.  Do I realize my desperate need for restoration from God, both in my relationship to Him as well as my relationship with others?  And to be honest, at times – NO.  I allow myself to get lulled into thinking that I can carry on in my own strength, that I am healthy and that I don’t need God’s ‘vitamin’s/work’ in my life to continually give me what I really need. Verse 3 lets us in on the secret to realizing our need of restoration,  “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins.  Lord, who could stand?”

   Restoration will only come when we recognize the reality and power of sin in our lives.  Feminism says:  Men are the problem!  The Gospel says:  Sin is the problem

Women will find their true identity when they acknowledge the power of sin in their own lives and the need for forgiveness which brings restoration. Verse 4 gives us the answer!  “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” 

When we cry out to God – recognizing our desperate need of Him – He gives us forgiveness, enabling us to serve him (freely!). The passage goes onto to say, “I wait for the Lord, more than the watchman wait for the morning”… there is great anticipation in that kind of waiting…knowing that the morning is coming…waiting with expectancy!  And then we are told in v. 7 “Israel (put your name in there) _____ put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption!"

   

 There it is!  FULL RESTORATION when we realize we need it and we cry out for it for we have a God that forgives and is full of unfailing love toward us! 

Want Restoration in your life?  Take your vitamins! - by keeping short accounts of your sins before a forgiving God.  Cry out for mercy.  Wait on God who is full of mercy and unfailing love – for ‘with Him is FULL REDEMPTION’. 

   -Lorie Hartshorn loves to encourage and equip others with the truth of God’s Word. Her authenticity, humour and deep love for people comes through. She is not simply a communicator – but a connector! She loves to share what God is teaching her on her own journey of faith and to provide insight and encouragement to others to live out the life that God has called them to. She released her first DVD study book "Finding Freedom"  this past year which is proving to be a fantastic Bible study tool and guide for men, women and children alike to seek out God's wisdom and Light for the Journey! You can connect more with Lorie at upcoming WJOF events, through her website or other social media sites! 

Website:  www.loriehartshorn.com   www.wjof.com/speakers-ministry.php 

Twitter:  @loriehartshorn
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lorieshart 
U-tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/loriehartshorn