Those Desert Days

I believe that something all followers of Christ go through at times is something I call desert days. I go through times when I feel as dry as the desert inside and God feels distant. It’s as if something has doused the passion that’s supposed to be burning within me and it’s left me feeling empty and lonely inside. It feels like I’m not growing or moving forward spiritually, though I yearn to. And I long to be filled with a burning passion for God and to feel closer to Him, but instead I’m like a desert inside. Is it just me, or do you also go through times like these? They come and go, and then God feels so close again, like a refreshing rain. I’m just being honest about something that most Christians, including me, are rather reluctant to talk about.  

I wonder why we experience those empty and dry feelings. I know that on His side, Jesus’ heart yearns to be closer to us and to have a stronger relationship with us. Maybe it’s because we get so caught up in our own lives that we lose something in the process. Maybe we stop fixing our eyes fully on the author and perfecter of our faith. If we don’t spend enough time with our friends, we sever our connection with them. And it’s the same with God. We need to spend quality time with Him and focus on Him during that time. I really struggle with this as my mind flies from one thing to the next with the speed of light. I think another thing is that we need to keep God at the top of our list of priorities; another, but worthwhile challenge.

So if there are any others out there who go through times of what I call drought, you’re not alone. During times such as these, I feel like clinging onto God even more, as if I can keep Him from moving away from me, when in reality I know that He’ll never leave me. I cry out to Him to full me up again with His spirit. Maybe these feelings are normal. Maybe as followers of Christ, the devil tries to cut our connection with Jesus, so as to distance us from Him. But we can’t let the enemy win. God is right there, as close as the air that surrounds us; He’s always faithful, always loving and always true. And in His timing, He’ll send a cleansing rain that stirs and revives us once again.

P.S So sorry I haven't posted in a long time. My life has been hectic with studying and exams! :)

The Final Year

The last year of school is something that inevitably sneaks up on all of us. When we were in primary school, we couldn’t wait for the day when we were finally finished with our twelve or so years of school. I remember counting down the years in anticipation when I was younger. But now I’m in the middle of my last year of school and it’s not as happy and “grown up” as I thought it would be.

Maybe I’m just different, but I’m sad that I’m finishing school. Not only are final exams looming scarily ahead, but it feels almost as if my childhood is about to end. Even though I will go to University, it’s time to go fully out into the world. Not only is that an exciting thought, but also a scary one. I’m just being honest; part of me feels like Peter Pan who never wanted to grow up. I don’t want to grow up and become old; I want to be forever young. And then again, I think that is possible. We can all be forever young in the inside. I guess I just love being the school girl and don’t want to let her go just yet.

But besides that fact, the future is exciting, if somewhat uncertain. I know that God has amazing plans for my life, as He does for yours. He knows exactly what the future holds and He will be with us every step of the way. I think it’s really comforting to have such a faithful and caring God leading us, don’t you? I know that, though my childhood may be ending and it’s my last year of being a school girl, God has an amazing future planned for me. I will follow the path He placed before me and follow where it leads. Who knows what God has in store for me? 

Heartbeat

Poem written by Jess Leigh

Unwanted they come, unwanted they go,

Their tiny heartbeats are not treasured

Nor their precious lives cherished; no

Instead they are seen as a problem

That needs to be destroyed, although

The heart of God is forever breaking

They grow in a dark and unseen place

That is meant to be safe, but instead

Is a hole of coming pain and un-grace.

Unloved, they leave the leave the world with hardly

A catch of light nor a glimpse of another’s face,

Their cries unheard and their tears unseen.

The ending of their heart’s tiny beat

Is accepted and justified as right by many,

Who feel not the fear nor the complete

Pain of the unseen ones who suffer in silence,

Their heartbeats ignored and their lives discreet

By the choice of those who carry them.

In this world, there is no resting place; none

At all for those who shall never have

The chance to live, laugh nor run

Nor to love, sing, speak or behold beauty,

But shall pass on as an unwanted one,

Their hearts stopped before their lungs’ first breath.

There is One who loves them still,

Whose heart is breaking in two over each stilled life.

He shall gather them to His Kingdom’s hill,

And cherish and love and delight in them there;

With all of His Fatherly heart, He will

Protect each heartbeat that others had cast aside.


I’m sure be the time you have finished reading this poem you will have guessed what the theme is: abortion. 150 thousand babies are aborted every day. Every form of abortion is painful and Violent, yet it is a legal form of murder. These babies need a voice, will you give them one?

Be Strong and Courageous-Part 2

The call to be strong and courageous is a challenging one. Sometimes we just don’t feel like it. We feel weak, tired and scared. It’s so much easier to sit on our backsides than it is to get up and go to war. And what’s the use anyway, our reasoning tells us, it’ll make no difference to our situation; there’s no way we can win. Sometimes, though, reasoning is just a big, fat liar and we need to listen to the call of Faith.

The battles going on in our minds at moments like that are sometimes even fiercer than the one we can choose to face and fight. Taking the first step is always the hardest part. But doing something is better than doing nothing. If you know you have to do something that’s hard but choose to be overcome by fear and do nothing, you’ll find yourself stuck in the same place for a very long time, wondering why you aren’t moving forward in your life or circumstances. We can’t sit around moaning about the hole we’re in; we have to start the long, climb out, with God as our strength and courage.

The thing we have to keep reminding ourselves, myself included, when faced with any difficult situation is that complaining in our La-Z-Boys isn’t going to help make the situation get any better; it won’t get any better. In fact, it’ll only make it worse. It’ll be swept into a corner, growing steadily and waiting to suddenly pounce. We have to get up and do something. Actions speak louder than words; we can’t complain about something we’re not bothering to even fix.

 I know that, at times, we just don’t have the strength to fight; we don’t have the strength to face things. We are tired, and afraid of what might happen if we decide to take a stand. But we can’t let that stop us. Why? Because the God I serve is bigger than anything we’ll ever go through. When we try to rely on our own strength, we’ll hit a big pothole. When we hand over our situation and anxieties to the Lord, He promises to lighten our load. It may not happen immediately, however. We still have a battle to fight. The battle may be long and terrible, but it’ll be better than having done nothing. Because from those battles we fight, we gain experience and the knowledge that in the end God gives victory to those who earnestly follow Him. He will be with us, and will never ever leave us. He has a bigger plan in mind. So be strong and courageous.

Be Strong and Courageous-Part 1

Four times in Joshua 1, God says, “Be strong and courageous!”. Joshua was preparing to go into the Promised Land and he knew there were many battles ahead. And he had to lead the stubborn people of Israel into the midst of war. I’m sure fear was creeping into his heart. But God tells Joshua that He will be with him, and that he must have strength and courage.

 Now whenever God says something, He has a reason for it. To say the same thing over and over again in one chapter must mean it’s pretty important. He’s telling us to be strong and courageous, no matter what we face. We have no idea what God’s plan is for us when we face mountains too high for us or battles too fierce. What we are called to do, however, in any tough situation is to trust Him. He will win our battles for us. That doesn’t mean we can sit back and watch. No, we have to go with Him and fight too; we’ll have to be strong, to stand our ground and let Him lead us, but He’s the One who will give us the victory.

The Israelites were often small in numbers and weak compared to their enemy, so that in the eyes of the world, there was no way they could win the battle. But I love how God would come into the picture and defy any human reasoning. He told them to have courage, to trust in Him and to go to war; God on their side made all the difference.  And the Lord would go before them and they’d win!  In their own strength, they could do nothing. But as they chose to go out in faith, God came to their rescue.

I love the times in the Bible where God uses the underdogs to do great things. Time and time again, God would choose, not the highly ranked and strong or the powerful and rich, but the small, insignificant people no one really thought of as great. But God took a hold of these people and turned them into mighty men and women for Him. It’s amazing how He uses the least of us all to do great things.

Just like the Israelites, God will fight for us. We just need to choose to take that step of faith, to be strong and courageous- not giving up, and holding onto Jesus- and great things could happen. We too often put God into our box of “possible”. God isn’t bound by who we are or where we are; He can take you as you are and use you, if you make the choice to let Him. You just need the strength and courage it takes to be a mighty man or woman of God.

The Feel of Autumn

Autumn is finally here, saving me from the heat of summer. I’m not a summer person. My favourite seasons are spring and autumn, where the air is cool and refreshing. There’s something about the feel of autumn that I love. Maybe it’s that soft cool breeze or the fresh smell wafting in the air. Maybe it’s the colours of gold and brown that adorn the trees or the gentle sun. Whatever it is, I absolutely love autumn. 

To me, autumn is a cosy time where light jerseys, jeans and scarves begin reappearing, hot drinks are in want and cuddling under a duvet again begins, though it’s not unbearably freezing cold.  Though autumn here is short and quickly jumps into a cold winter, the beauty of autumn still sprinkles all around me and the feel of it falls within me. Sometimes, I just want to stand outside and breathe it in. For those of you living in the Southern Hemisphere, have a great autumn!

The Greatest Day in History

          Photo taken by Jess Leigh

Something occurred a long, long time ago that changed the world forever; something that changed countless lives, mine included. A Man, but so much more than a man, hung dying on a cross made of wood. Nails pierced His hands and feet, a crown of thorns was twisted on His head and His clothes were divided amongst His enemies. Blood poured from His body and His loving heart was breaking. Crying out to God, He gave up His spirit. The perfect Son of God had died for the sins of the world.

Jesus did this for you and me, so that we may have life. His amazing sacrifice involved so much pain and heartache, but because He loves us He died in our stead so that all who choose to follow Him will be forgiven. This act of love changed my life forever. If it hadn’t been for Jesus, I would still be dead in my sin and I wouldn’t have the amazing, relationship I know have with Him. I don’t know how I would get through each day without my Saviour leading and loving me.

Today, I want us to remember His sacrifice.  And not just today, but everyday our hearts should be filled with awe and thanksgiving over what Jesus did for us. He gave us the way to the Father and saved our lives as well.  Just think about it, the Son of GOD died for you and me! That day was the greatest in all of history! And not only did He die for us, but He also rose again, death having no power over Him! Jesus is not some dead god made of wood and stone, but He’s alive and living within those who follow Him. We all have the choice to give our hearts to Him. And that choice will change your life forever.