Until recent years, I hadn’t dared to challenge many of our widely accepted and deeply entrenched ideas about what it means to know God, and about what it is that actually produces spirituality. But I’ve discovered incredible freedom in allowing my spiritual feathers to get ruffled, forcing me to dig more deeply into what it is I actually […]
The Wonder of Watercolor | My Supply List
Dear watercolor paint. I’m all in. Hook, line and sinker, baby, you’ve got me. You have my artsy heart…all 27 crimson shades of it. I don’t know what took me so long to realize it, but you and I, we’re a good fit. You’re fluid and forgiving, vibrant and subtle all in one sweep. You move and […]
Shake, Reshape & Fuel : My Favorite Books of 2015
Hello, my name is Joy…and I’m an input junkie. It’s true. I am somewhat obsessed with gathering information, gleaning nuggets of wisdom, and putting into action what I learn, in my personal, professional or spiritual life. I read several books at the same time (although have a bad habit of not finishing them all), listen to […]
When Going Means Staying
We begged and pleaded with Papa to allow us to go. For years we took classes in missiology and theology and how-to-do-this-life-well-ology, sold our home, gave away our things, found an army of loved ones to partner with us and circled this vision of reaching the lost in constant prayer. We knew Papa had called […]
3 Things Bravery in Business Have Taught Me About Bravery In Life
The past year has been one for the books when it comes to growth, both professionally and on a more personal level. Sometimes this growth has shown up externally, in exciting displays of color and action, branching out and budding new life on already existing limbs. Visible to the public eye, this growth quickly gets noticed and celebrated. As a ‘words […]
The Comparison Game {and Why it’s So Overrated}
I spent most of my adolescent years aching to be someone else. Any body else. And while I can say that I’ve finally learned to embrace the quirky, awkwardly transparent, people-loving introvert I’ve grown into, I still occasionally stumble into that place of longing for the ability to behave or perform or create like another. […]
Guest Post: Is Exhaustion Robbing You of Sex in Your Marriage?
If you know much about my story and the broken road I’ve walked, you’ll know that I have a fire in my bones when it comes to the subject of sexual intimacy and marriage. So people like Julie Sibert thrill me to pieces. She’s made it her mission to candidly and graciously tackle this subject […]
Why Knowing Who You Are Matters in the Bigger Picture
Something stirred deep in my belly as I stared at those notes… Authenticity. Vulnerability. Community. 3 simple words that carry so much life and freedom. And fear. We fear exposure and rejection so fiercely, we’re willing to avoid it altogether. What does it actually mean to be authentic? Why do we struggle so desperately with allowing ourselves to be seen? […]
But She Is Also Brave
Tears sprang to my eyes without warning. I stood at the door wringing my hands like “those other” nervous moms do. My not yet 6 year old was leaving with her Daddy and our dear “Uncle” to give blankets to the cold, shoes to the shoeless and umbrellas to the roofless. Our oldest […]
Revisiting the Ramblings of a Sappy Mom
I stumbled upon a post from 4 years ago that stopped me in my tracks. The days are indeed long, but the year are short. God continues to refine, mold and reshape my heart through this crazy motherhood thing, and through the life and love of this little Bean right here, now eight years old… Maybe […]
