Catherine Toon

What does flowing in Prophetic Fullness look like? Jackie Ekstrom shares this and her amazing testimony and her encounters with the Lord on episode 76 of the podcast live now! God kept Jackie concealed from the world for many years to prepare her for her ministry. As hard as her isolation was, Jackie remained obedient to God. She was fortified with His “new wine” as He prepared her for what was to...

Can you be steady in unpredictable times, when things look shaky all around you? Today I’m sharing that you can be “Steady in tumultuous times!” Every generation experiences some sort of upheaval. Whether it is war, natural disasters, medical perplexities, political fallout, social tumult, spiritual crises, or economic setbacks, each time there is an invitation to ground oneself in an eternal pers...

Can you walk in peace and still have questions?! “Peace in Unanswered Questions” is my message today. Episode 74 is live! There are many questions in all of our lives that remain unanswered. When these unanswered questions make God look as if He is not present, does not care, is neglectful or powerless we remain adrift and tormented. When unanswered questions cause us to feel that there is somethi...

Upset is a part of life. We step out of relationship with Love and into a lack of peace. Today I’m sharing my heart on “Get your peace back!” Fear and anxiety are very human experiences. Jesus said that tribulation level trouble will come. But He also said that we could cheer up because He has overcome the world. He would have been unjust if He commanded us to do something without empowering it. W...

God is continually wooing our hearts to trust Him. But how do we trust him in difficult times when we are struggling? Today I’m digging into “Trusting God when it’s hard!” Trust is related to belief and faith, but is more visceral versus intellectual. I may believe that God will provide for me, but, unless I truly trust Him, I will not step out and put my weight on Him according to that belief. If...

Paul Young, author of the phenomenally successful “The Shack”, and other best selling books, candidly shares his newest joys and challenges and how to trust God and remain joyful in the midst! Today we are discussing “Perspectives: Trusting God!” Trusting God is a simple mandate. But in the midst of hurts, disappointments, setbacks, tragedy, threats, and whatever you’ve got going on it can feel im...

STRIFE! STRIVING! TOIL! It’s all a condition of torment. Whether we are striving to do better, have better or be better, striving is symptomatic of a functional disconnect with the God we are one with. Today I’m talking about “How to get out of striving!” A heart that believes it is orphaned feels alone, toils to do/be/ or have, and can never rest. We were created to perform as a byproduct or our...

Are you struggling in ministry? Pastors and Pastors’ spouses have unique demands upon their time and resources. Pastor Janelle Montgomery brings her perspective as we unpack these important dynamics! Today I’m talking with Pastor Janelle as she shares “Insights for Pastors & their spouses!” Expectations of others can create false guilt, performance, and burnout. One has to be clear about what one...

Do you have limitations? The human condition is fraught with limitations of which we are all too aware. We all have them! Today I’m sharing my perspective on “God’s limitlessness in our limitations”! Our limitations produce a sense of inadequacy and all kinds of fear. But God is masterful. He truly is limitless, even as He limits Himself to relate to us where we are at. But sometimes we have a har...

Have you done anything ugly in your life? We all have done ugly things and have ugly areas in ourselves that God will eventually confront and uproot. Today I’m discussing how to “face the ugly areas without hating yourself!” We are hypocritical, self-justifying, selfish, judging, condemning, twisted, whiny, brutal, indifferent to the suffering of others… We clearly have a ways to go being conforme...

Ladies! Do you need someone to champion you? Are you in need of direction and mentorship? Today I’m with the wonderful Megan Sjuts discussing ‘Championing creative women’! Unveiling who we are and what we are called to do is not something that happens in a vacuum. We need others to champion and mentor us. Megan’s master mission is to bring out the creative BEST in others. Megan Sjuts is an online...

Feeling burned out? Today I share my perspective on ‘Guarding Your Resources!’ How do we guard our resources? When is yes appropriate and when is no appropriate? As a human being you are created to contribute to others, serving out of the overflow of your relationship with God. You do not have limitless resources in and of yourself, but are a beautiful and powerful conduit of resources as you rele...

Christianity is experiencing a mixed bag of criticism, deconstruction, defensiveness, and purification. Today I’m talking about ‘Compelled by what you are for!’ Happily, in the midst of where we are culpable and need, even massive, correction, Christ is wild and inclusive about His bride. There is no place in humanity that we do not need conformity to the image of Christ/Love. As human beings, we...

Join Karen Welton and myself as she shares her powerful, gritty, but joyful transformation in herself and her marriage. We are discussing Healing & Restoration, Narcissism, Codependency, & the Church! Wow! Narcissism, codependency, and spiritual abuse are huge issues in and out of the church. The church traditionally has not had much expertise with mental health issues. The most damaged of us caus...

Humanity has been so conditioned with guilt and condemnation, feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and fear that, if we are honest, it is hard to really believe that, not only does God love us, but that He is passionately for us. Religion, either institutional or individual legalism, has oppressed and haunted humanity with fear, condemnation, and bondage. But God is after every trace of anything...

Have you ever worried that you don’t have enough faith? It is a tormenting thought, because there always feels like there is a loophole to things working out. This would be true if things depended upon you. Happily, everything is not only finished, but manifests because of the mastery of Christ, not you! Christ is the Author and Finisher of faith. He is the One Who fills in the gaps. You can rest!...

The Scriptures are an essential aspect of the Christian faith. But we have often equated them with the living Word Himself, even elevating them above the One to whom they point. In doing so, we have distorted their central message—and our view of God. Tragically, this has caused multitudes of people unnecessary doubt, confusion, and pain in their encounters with the Scriptures. Many people underst...

We were made for relationship. That is why we are in the most pain when relationships go south. Our rights matter, but a culture where demanding our rights seems to be the only thing that is right, asserting our rights can trample others’ rights and relationships can be devastated. We divide and feel justified in our division, and we end up embittered and alone. Boundaries are helpful here, but we...

If I hear one cry repeatedly is the cry to experience God’s love. The need to be loved is universal and so foundational that we allow people to “love us” in toxic ways, if healthy ways are not present. It is one thing to talk about God’s love, write about God’s love, and preach about God’s love. It is quite another to genuinely experience God’s love. When we do, it is impossible to leave the encou...

God loves honest questions. Sometimes those questions can come out as accusations toward God in the places that God doesn’t look like a God of Love. Often the times of greatest trial are the times that can be turned into the greatest upgrades. Beauty for ashes is real, but during the ash phase, the hopelessness of ashes can be all you see. How do we hold onto our faith, while it is being rocked? W...

When God created the seen realm and His Kids to benevolently reign over it, He delighted in every aspect. It was good, it was good, they were VERY good. He delighted and delights in the sons and daughters of humanity. God values humanity so much that He became one, while not relinquishing HIs divinity. The delight of God is a testimony to His goodness that knows no bounds. In this revelation it is...

Jesus prayed that we would be one, even as He and the Father are one. Jesus also gave us the commandment to love as He loves. However, human beings, and unfortunately especially the church, have a track record of gathering around doctrine instead of the Person of Christ, Who is other-giving Love. Doctrines tend to separate and divide us, especially when they cause us to judge and withhold love. We...

A robust experience of faith can only be accomplished through grappling with honest questions. William (Bill) Thrasher is a uniquely ordinary guy; a life-taught academic and a warrior who is at peace. Through experience, study, and prayer, Bill has found an amazing outlook on life and its ultimate purpose. He has a burning desire to share his story and its life-changing insight with everyone. Join...

Perfectionism is a taskmaster that is never satisfied. This is worse when it is paired with the legalism of religion. Our perspective of God is warped. He is either angry, never satisfied, or disappointed. Somehow we have not done enough or not done well enough. Excellence is not perfection. The illusion of perfectionism is that it is attainable and even desirable as something we are to do. It is...

God is relentless in upgrading the church at large and all His kids individually. He addresses different issues, traditions of men, religiosity, false humility, pride, insecurities, judgement, and a myriad of issues. As different parts of the body, we major on different revelation. One group’s or person’s revelation will vary from another’s. All of it matters. How we handle conflict where we have...