Returning To Joy

Returning To Joy Leading People to Cultivate Joy through Transformative Connection.

It took me a long time to write this one.Joy, grief, anger, hope—all at once.But here’s a reflection on learning to spea...
02/14/2026

It took me a long time to write this one.
Joy, grief, anger, hope—all at once.
But here’s a reflection on learning to speak honestly before God. You can read the whole thing on substack.

If your definition of prayer is keeping you from prioritizing it, it might be time to reconsider that definition. Many t...
06/18/2025

If your definition of prayer is keeping you from prioritizing it, it might be time to reconsider that definition.

Many think of prayer as a separate task they need to find time for. But what would it look like to incorporate prayer into your natural rhythms—while washing the dishes, driving to work, visiting a friend, walking through the neighborhood, or even reading the news?

Prayer is an ongoing, two-way conversation with God where we bring our whole selves and listen as much as we speak, allo...
06/16/2025

Prayer is an ongoing, two-way conversation with God where we bring our whole selves and listen as much as we speak, allowing Jesus to shape us and guide us in His presence.

Is God ever really silent? No matter how long we've been walking with Jesus, there are times when God seems unresponsive...
06/12/2025

Is God ever really silent?

No matter how long we've been walking with Jesus, there are times when God seems unresponsive. But God is patient, and as you spend time in His presence, you will begin to mirror His patience, security, and rest.

Have you ever wrestled with God's silence? Share your wisdom in the comments - what helped you trust Him in those moments?

"Prayer is an ongoing, two-way dialogue with God. When we pray, we're first acknowledging Christ and creating space to r...
04/24/2025

"Prayer is an ongoing, two-way dialogue with God. When we pray, we're first acknowledging Christ and creating space to recognize His acknowledgment of us. In this space, we bring our whole selves into the conversation. Speaking, listening, and acting with faith and trust that Jesus' active presence is shaping the people we will become."

“In our Western, individualistic culture, we’re trained to think of goodness as the desirable qualities of an object or ...
03/14/2025

“In our Western, individualistic culture, we’re trained to think of goodness as the desirable qualities of an object or as moral correctness. But in Hebrew thought, tov is relational. When God looked at His creation and called it good, He wasn’t just commenting on the individual characteristics of each thing created; He was affirming the interconnected relationships between them…”

Our latest blog post dives into the false peace we can fall into, and God’s vision for wholeness and shalom. Read more at www.returningtojoy.com/blog or comment “shalom” to receive a direct link!

Jesus has a way of asking questions that help us understand ourselves and lead us forward by opening our eyes to the rea...
03/05/2025

Jesus has a way of asking questions that help us understand ourselves and lead us forward by opening our eyes to the realities of God’s Kingdom. Take some time to ask yourself one of these questions and pray through what the Holy Spirit might be saying.

We have an extensive list of questions Jesus asks us and much more in our new Hearing God course - which you can get for 65% off NOW through March 15th as a welcome gift! Comment 'course' to learn more.

If movement was your only way to speak with God today...What would your body language say?Despair slumps our shoulders. ...
02/28/2025

If movement was your only way to speak with God today...
What would your body language say?

Despair slumps our shoulders.
Anxiety knots our stomach.
Shame makes us shrink.
Fear keeps us silent.
A counselor once told me, “Our body speaks body language.”

Our body holds and expresses what words often cannot—pain, longing, hope, and joy. Every tension, every breath, every impulse is a silent script of what we carry inside.

The Psalms, the ancient prayerbook of the Bible, show us that every emotion can be an honest dialogue with God. They give language to grief, despair, loneliness, fear, anger, gratitude, and joy. But what about our bodies? If prayer—both spoken and unspoken—can metabolize pain in the presence of God and root our faith in Jesus alongside the generations of saints who have called on His name, then what role does movement play? How can it allow us to express what is often trapped inside?

What if today was the first time you brought your whole body before God? Expressing rage, resistance, grief, or joy—not just with words, but with movement? Let your body become a prayer. Then pause... and listen.

Inspired by God’s voice…what movements surface?

This is my favorite resource in the Hearing God course! A practical deep dive into 15 instruments of God’s voice. God is...
02/24/2025

This is my favorite resource in the Hearing God course! A practical deep dive into 15 instruments of God’s voice. God is communicating in diverse ways, we just need space and guidance to slow down listen, and discern.

Four years and counting!I started Returning to Joy as a podcast in January 2020. A year later, it became a ministry—born...
02/13/2025

Four years and counting!

I started Returning to Joy as a podcast in January 2020. A year later, it became a ministry—born out of the needs I saw and the growing desire in my soul to share my story and offer more support.

Why? Because every day, we experience disruptions—lost relationships, economic hardship, anxiety, racism, trauma, fear, abuse—the list goes on.

There’s a reason Jesus told His disciples to remain in Him and let His words remain in them. In a world that is broken, noisy, and distracting, remaining isn’t easy. That’s why we need spiritual practices, teaching, rhythms, and real-life examples to help us stay connected—to God, to ourselves, and to one another.

Living from that place—rooted in truth—builds a sustainable joy we can carry with us.

I didn’t start this ministry with a plan, just a simple desire: to help people experience a deeper, more integrated life with Jesus. And I’m grateful to keep going, learning, and walking this path alongside you.

Side note: Hug anyone in your life that encourages you to keep living.

Drum roll, please! On January 1, 2025, I’m pre-launching my first online course called Hearing God. In the coming weeks,...
10/17/2024

Drum roll, please! On January 1, 2025, I’m pre-launching my first online course called Hearing God. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more details, but here’s what I want to say for now:

Fear has overstayed its welcome. The voice of fear is out in full force, trying to offer its version of wisdom and solutions to social ills, pain, and suffering. If you’re tired of listening to fear or being stopped in your tracks by its assault, I think you’ll find this course really helpful. It’s filled with inspiring teaching and practical tools from various contributors to help you walk in alignment with the creative work God is doing, not the destructive work of fear.

I haven’t set up any fancy links yet (lol), so if you want to be notified when the course launches, just comment or shoot me a DM—I’m compiling a list! And if you’ve already offered to help me with this launch, I’ll be sending you an email in a couple of weeks. 😊


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4411 Walzem Road
San Antonio, TX
78218

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