Joy

Written By Jess Leigh

Joy are the beautiful things

In life that are happy and carefree.

Joy springs from within us with airy wings,

Soaring over a deep blue sea.

Joy is in a startling sunset;

Breathtaking, sunny and bright.

It’s light streaming through clouds without a threat,

And it flies in the sky like a kite.

Joy is in the gentle rain,

Bringing life and healing

To a world and people full of pain.

Joy is so full of life it sends you kneeling.

Joy is a forest and a field of flowers,

Full of colour, peace and magnificence.

It’s in a room full of love, and it showers

Down from above with gentle assurance.

Joy is in a rainbow;

It’s a promise and a hymn,

It’s a gift from God that is there to show

Us a glimpse of a coming Kingdom

Abide in Him

            Photo taken by Jess Leigh

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

When you are overwhelmed by circumstances and don’t know what to do, when your world is falling apart and the ache inside is too much to handle, abide in the Lord. Wherever you are, whatever you are going through, He’s the One you should go to. Jesus won’t let you down. He’ll pick you up in His loving embrace and carry you when you can’t take another step. Abide in His arms and He’ll heal your heart.

I know this from experience. I find that when I’m at my weakest and lowest moments, that’s usually where God reveals Himself to me the most profoundly. I love that verse above. It reveals some of God’s heart to us. When we’re going through hard times, He’s there with us; He’s there to save us. When we’re full of questions and just don’t know why something’s happening, He quietens us with his love. I believe He’s singing over us until our hearts begin to heal. He’s the loving Father who takes great delight in His children who are walking in the light.

To abide means to “to remain or dwell in a place”. We need to abide in Jesus and trust Him to get us through whatever comes our way. Even when we don’t know why bad things happen, God has a plan and He promises to be our Comforter as we choose to abide in Him. His arms are the safest and best place to be. And Jesus will be there for us, no matter what. Sometimes I wonder how God puts up with me and why He sticks around someone like me. But the only answer I can come up with is that His mercy is so great and that He is Love! So I choose to abide in the Lover of my heart no matter what happens!

The Golden Kingdom

   Photo taken by Jess Leigh

After this life, after death has taken me

Awaits a Kingdom by the crystal-blue sea;

There I shall meet the Saviour of my life

But first I have to go through the trials and strife

Oh, the beautiful Kingdom by the shore

Where only love and joy forth-pour

There I shall never cry or feel pain,

There I shall see my Lord and King reign

Before Him every knee will bow and

And every tongue confess that He is Lord. In that great land

Shall we glorify the King of kings;

To the Lord of lords all creation sings

The Golden Kingdom full of beauty and grace

Will meet me at the end of life's race

There I will live forever more

With my Saviour by the glorious shore.

Rain Drops Falling On My Head

I love walking outside after a heavy rainfall. The air feels cool and fresher, as if the earth has been washed clean. Somehow, a peaceful atmosphere is left behind. Quiet reigns and a gentle beauty fills the air. The sky looks soft and happy, as if she knows she’s performed a good work. Sun rays shine through the clouds joyfully. The moments after the rain has stopped falling are ones to enjoy and soak up. They make me feel happy and peaceful.

Another thing I love, which may sound unusual, is walking in the rain, especially when it’s a gentle but constant and slightly heavy drizzle. The feeling of sloshing through the mud and wet grass with the rain falling on me from above is invigorating. I love the fresh, clean smell of rain, as it falls down and brings plants back to life.  After one of these exploits, I often come back inside with muddy jeans and sopping wet hair. Walking in the rain, with raindrops falling on my head, gives me a care free sensation, and I think in those moments I recover some of the child within me that doesn’t want to die. Nor do I think it will ever fully die.

Next time the rain is falling gently from the sky, take a nice long walk in it and inhale the fresh, clean smell of rain. You might worry about dirtying your jeans or getting frizzy hair, but in my opinion, it’s worth it. Rain drops will fall on your head, stirring something within, something  that doesn’t really want to die inside any of us.