profile

9 Lumens & Illuminate

I tell the stories of women and Scripture. I hold space for the kind of thinking that changes perspective and direction. I work where understanding and change overlap.

I’m a coach and educator exploring faith, Scripture, and personal development. Through two newsletters (9 Lumens & Illuminate), I tell the stories of women and Scripture and hold space for the kind of thinking that leads to meaningful change for women, pastors, and leaders.

PostsLinks
Illuminate by 9 Lumens
Featured Post

How many of these are women?

September 2026 Phoebe, Prisca, Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodian, Narcissus, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Rufus's mother, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, Nereus's sister, Olympas. That's the full list of names Paul greets in Romans 16. Unless you can read ancient Greek, I'd guess it would be hard to tell how many are women. The answer is ten. That's almost one-third. And of...

about 3 hours ago • 3 min read

September 2026 Hi [First Name], I'm writing this feeling raw, and the need to be honest with you. I went to bed exhausted and almost crying last night. I probably should have just let myself, but this Enneagram 3, for some reason, finds tears a bit too much to bear. The irony of trying to share with you about the incredible love of God, our Heavenly Father, whom we can trust with His timing...and going to bed feeling disappointed in myself and my brain telling me I'm a failure...was literally...

5 days ago • 3 min read

September 2026 Insights Insights from the work: what clients are navigating, what I’m learning, and ways to keep growing. Reader, What you'll find in this email: A job I didn't know I was finishing Transition is different than change What a September New Year could look like for you An online catalog of 9 lumens offerings is always here Our youngest graduated from high school in June. And perhaps it's my Enneagram 3 language here, but considering I was pregnant with our oldest when we moved...

17 days ago • 3 min read

August 2026 Hi [First Name], Tomorrow, an email goes out to the broader Illuminate community. But you’re hearing it from me first, as you’re part of the Living Room. What’s in this email: 1. The October Immersion (Oct 16–17) 2. September sessions and events The October Immersion Twice this year, I planned Illuminate events that I had to cancel due to low or no registrations. While disappointing to cancel both times, it turned out God was clearing the way for something else. One of those times...

20 days ago • 2 min read

August 2026 Reader, Prayer. What comes to mind when you hear that word? What was prayer like for you as a child? Did you have women in mind when you thought about it? I ask because I could put those same questions to women around the world, any age, any stage, any season, and I'm sure no two answers would be the same. This email is a bit different. It's an invitation to join Lectio 365's Global Week of Prayer, but first, a few thoughts on women and prayer. This month marks the 10th...

27 days ago • 3 min read

August 2026 Women of Exodus Hi [First Name], I do wish I hadn't turned off "record" last night — but I've noticed that some of you don't say much when the recording is on. So honestly, I don't know if we would have had the rich conversation we did afterward even if I'd kept recording. But the way Amy summed up Zipporah — brave, courageous, decisive — and then pointed out how the world wants to diminish obedience. Gasp. Which led me to thinking about a coaching question I was given early in my...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

May 2026 Insights Insights from the work: what clients are navigating, what I’m learning, and ways to keep growing. Reader, Trying to talk about 27 years of Type 3 & Type 1 marriage in a 40-minute podcast felt like skipping rocks across the surface of a very deep pond. Six years ago, when Neil walked in the door angry, I spiraled into performance. Not anymore. He's done his work with anger, I've done mine with performance, and daily inner work is what has left us both more grounded —...

about 1 month ago • 2 min read

August 2026 Reader, To be honest, I have a hard time saying the word "preaching" out loud when it comes to me. I grew up where women weren't allowed to. Even now, at nearly fifty-five years old, "I preached on Sunday" feels like I'm saying something that isn't mine to use. Maybe it's because I feel the title of "preacher" doesn't fit. If I'm preaching, does that make me a preacher? What if I'm teaching, but not technically a teacher? I do have a theology degree; does that make me a...

about 2 months ago • 3 min read

April 2025 Reader. Consider this your invitation to immerse yourself in the waters of Miryam, from bitter to strong, on August 22nd. Keep reading, and I'll tell you more. All the way back in May (which feels like a lifetime ago already, anyone else?), I wrote about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the different seasons of her life I kept recognizing in my own: Yes Mary Training Wheels Mary Wedding at Cana Mary At the Cross Mary Upper Room Mary If you missed that one, you can read it here What I...

2 months ago • 3 min read
9 Lumens Image

May 2026 Insights Insights from the work: what clients are navigating, what I’m learning, and ways to keep growing. Reader, We pour so much energy into January 1st. New year, new intentions, fresh start. I can feel the energy and exhaustion even now just writing about it. But July 2nd, the ACTUAL halfway point of the year, is unnoticeable. Not without good reason — trapped between Canada Day and the Fourth of July, plans for the summer...AND it's not like there is a national holiday around...

3 months ago • 2 min read