This is the (Joy)Cap, where I share a weekly reflection or lesson and a roundup of links, recommendations, and everything that’s bringing me joy, inviting you to do the same. Think of this as a weekly coffee date with my close friends. ☕️💕🫶🏾 Join me on a weekly joy hunt and start receiving the (Joy)Cap by subscribing today! ✨
In this age of the internet and social media, we all need to have a healthy dose of reality when it comes to the content we are consuming. While it’s inspiring to see aesthetically pleasing content, I think I have always wondered, “Is this for real?” “Does this person always have it this easy?” Sometimes it stems from a place of comparison, but sometimes it comes from a place of curiosity, because these online spaces always provide a snapshot or a snippet rather than the full picture. I think that’s why I have unintentionally made it my mission to show up as vulnerably as possible, documenting both my highs and lows, even when the lows seem to dominate my life more than I’d like.
One of the reasons I migrated my blog to Substack a few years ago was because I wanted a space where I could authentically share my journey — my calling journey, yes, but also my spiritual journey, my life journey. And it hasn’t been an easy one. There have been many times when I have doubted my purpose and calling. When I have doubted what I offered or brought to the table was valuable. When I have questioned whether I have what it takes, or whether I should even keep showing up in this space. But I’m still here, even if sometimes my life feels as shaky as the performance our dear sister Tisha gave in this song 🥴😅.
Yesterday, I was listening to a podcast with Ruth Chou Simons, and she discussed how so much of this calling is equal parts vulnerability and obedience. As you step out in faith, presenting your work as an offering to the Lord, you pray that it will be well-received by others. That resonated with me deeply, especially as the Lord has been leading and challenging me to stretch myself to share more on other platforms.
Obedience doesn’t guarantee a clear outcome, but it does guarantee intimacy with the One who calls us. I’m learning that faithfulness isn’t measured by reach or recognition but by our willingness to keep saying yes despite what feels like delay, fear, or rejection. Even when the path feels uncertain, I can trust that God is working everything together for my good through daily acts of faith and obedience.
The Joy List ✨
The fall weather finally activating. This week, the temps dropped down into the mid to high 70s, finally making it feel somewhat fall(ish) here in southeast coastal Georgia.
Family Facetime calls. A few of my. family members have been out of town for the last few weeks, throwing off our normal communication cadence. I was thankful that this week they were back, and we could finally catch up.
Attending the pumpkin patch with the kids. If you listened to my fall reset podcast episode, you’d know that attending a pumpkin patch was on the top of my fall bucket list this year. We finally got a chance to go to one at a church on St Simons. It was okay, but I’m hoping to find one that has more activities for the kids next year.
Currently Reading 📖
Mockingbird Court1 by Juneau Black. This series has become a comfort read to me, so I was super excited when the latest book came out days before my birthday. This one is set in the fall, which I believe Juneau Black always does a fantastic job at capturing in these woodland mystery stories.
Mindset by Carol Dweck. I shared in my fall reset episode that one of the areas that I was resetting this fall is my mind. This book has been on my TBR forever now, and I couldn’t be reading it at a more perfect time.
Recent Listens 🎧
“Life is hard. Life is really hard and these circumstances might challenge us to feel like we cannot experience freedom or belovedness or resiliency, but we really can if we turn to God’s Word.”
This conversation with Ruth Chou Simons encouraged and challenged us to choose worship over worry as we navigate life’s challenges and build resiliency.
This conversation between the Perrys and Dallas and Amanda Jenkins, the creators of The Chosen, will leave you convicted and challenged to faithfully steward your gifts, even through your failures.
A Nourishing Note ☕️
Fall Into Your Fresh Start 🍂
Every season offers an opportunity to start again. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or out of rhythm, the Reset, Refresh, Renew Lifestyle Guide will help you slow down, realign, and ground yourself in what matters most. Inside, you’ll find guided reflections, practical exercises, and seasonal prompts to help you create space for peace and purpose in your daily life.
✨ You don’t have to wait for a new year to start fresh. Begin your reset today.
Starting November 1st, we’re kicking off the Get After Grateful Gratitude Challenge — a 30-day journey to help you cultivate gratitude, deepen your faith, and notice God’s goodness in the everyday.
Each day, I’ll share a short reflection and invitation in our Substack Chat. Together, we’ll create a rhythm of gratitude that transforms how we see and experience our lives.
🧡 Come join us — let’s get after grateful, together.
Obedience doesn’t always make the path clear, but it does deepen your faith and trust. As you move through the rest of this week, may you find peace in trusting that God is guiding your every step, even when you can’t yet see where it’s leading.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”| Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
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