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" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts F inding home often begins with feeling lost. For years, I was driven—accomplished, capable, and determined to succeed. I checked all the boxes, earned the accolades, and appeared to thrive. But inside, there was a quiet ache. Something was missing. I didn’t know what, but the emptiness whispered that there had to be more—more meaning, more joy, more t

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts "Intentional Preparation" There are seasons that feel cold, still, and unproductive. Nothing seems to be moving. Nothing looks like it’s growing. And if you’re honest, it can feel like everything has paused. But what if the stillness isn’t empty? What if something is happening beneath the surface? Like a winter field, life often holds unseen preparation.

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts "Heavenly Community" There are seasons when strength feels thin and the road feels longer than you expected. You try to carry it well. You try to carry it quietly. But God never designed you to carry it alone. Community is not weakness it is wisdom. Behind every brave smile, there is a story. Behind every steady voice, there may be a silent battle. And

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts "Beautiful Smile" There are people who have mastered the art of the smile. Light on the outside. Warm. Kind. Composed. But behind eyes that sparkle, entire storms can be held in silence. Strength and sorrow often live in the same vessel. Sometimes what looks like calm is actually courage. What looks like brightness is bravery. Because behind those eyes ma

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts "The Hidden Place of Remembering” She had a secret passage — a place no one else could see. When life grew loud, confusing, or heavy, she would go there. A quiet wood. A gentle brook. A still lake that reflected more than trees — it reflected truth. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary place. But the path was lined with reminders — moments God had

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts There are seasons when your heart feels tired in ways words cannot explain. You carry responsibilities, expectations, and silent worries, and without noticing, you begin to move through life braced instead of held. But God’s invitation is not complicated. It is tender. It is close. He calls you back, not as a servant striving, but as a child coming home.

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts Watch how you build! Is your foundation sure? Can it stand the test of time or will it crumble under pressure taking you along with it? I’m reminded of a story I wrote about a young lady whose faith was built on things which wouldn’t last; money, family legacy ,education, her own long held beliefs rooted in self, just to name a few. When tragedy struck h

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts In moments of fear, we are presented with the opportunity to discover what trust truly looks like. Whether faced with unexpected tragedy or placed suddenly on the spot, we reveal what lives deep within us. Will we respond with prayer or panic? I am reminded of a simple, sincere prayer spoken by a young believer when her mother was rushed to the hospital:

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts Love, what is it, really? Is it a tender whisper in the middle of the night, a warm embrace, or a moment of deep connection? Is it a sigh of relief after a long struggle, or the sacred pause of forgiveness extended and received? So often, we wrestle with the idea that love must be earned. That we must reach a certain standard before we are worthy of it.

" Finding Peace . Reclaiming Joy . Hearing His Voice. A soul-centered newsletter " "Where He leads Joy Follows" -Joy Butts Gazing out our living room window I am at rest as I watch the birds fly to and fro between the trees. A smile graces my face as the word hidden in my heart bursts forth from within, "...they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26 ESV. Today I am reminded of t