Journal of a Journey

Disconnected…Yet Connected

Have you ever felt so disconnected from yourself that you’re not even aware of what you’re feeling?

I think that’s where I am in life right now. It probably started happening slowly over time, but this overwhelming feeling of detachment feels like it came out of nowhere.

It could be my fear of leaving the job that continues to drain me. Or it could be that my patience is running low while waiting for my community in Christ.

Or possibly the fear of my dog having to have another surgery.

Or could it be the grief I’ve suppressed as I watch my young mother fight the hardest health battle yet? Dementia is a heartbreaking disease.

Life hits all at once sometimes.

But that’s okay, because despite feeling things I can’t quite explain, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come and how far God has brought me.

Although I feel disconnected from myself, I don’t feel disconnected from Him. I have faith that when I’m ready to make the move, God will put me in a position to continue being successful as He always has. I truly believe that in His time, He will bless me with a community in Christ that is beyond what I could have imagined. I know that I am blessed to have the means to get my dog the help she needs and that she will recover and continue to live a full and happy life. And I am grateful that after having cancer 4 times, strokes, and seizures, I still have my mother here with me. I can still call her. I can still hug her. And although things are different now, I can still share laughs and memories with her.

That’s the crazy thing about having a relationship with God and recognizing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. No matter what I’m going through, I automatically think about the good. I find the blessing in everything and question how He’s using my circumstances to help me grow.

I’m learning that experiencing emotional numbness does not mean that I’m failing spiritually.

Faith and exhaustion can coexist.

I’m still human. And right now, I’m dealing with the very human feeling of having faith yet being tired and just not knowing what to do next.

So, I find myself here. Writing. Releasing. With no real intention behind this post.

Just a young Christian trying to figure out life and letting strangers read my journal.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Poetry

Let the Fire Burn Forever

To put it simply, I give You my life, oh God!

“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver” – Malachi 3:2-3


Refined by Holy Fire

This fire within me burns intensely,
like dry grass catching flame during a drought.
But unlike the flames that scorch the ground,
I pray this fire never burns out.

This fire is proof of His presence,
confirming that His Spirit lives within.
It provides direction and correction,
fueling me to turn away from sin.

These flames serve as my protection
when the infernos of this world arise.
For if God is a consuming fire,
every worldly blaze will meet its demise.

I surrender myself to holy flames,
letting them purify and refine.
They’ll burn off anything not of Him,
giving way for His light to shine.

Journal of a Journey

The Disobedient Void

For someone who considers themselves old school, I’ve sure acted like pen and paper don’t exist. All it took was a broken laptop to give me an excuse to disobey God and not write. Clearly, a choice.

My last full post spoke about not ignoring the nudge to write. And within days of writing it, the screen on my laptop went out, and ignoring the nudge is exactly what I’ve done for the past four to five months. Not sure if it was a test from God, one that I clearly failed, or if it was the enemy’s attempt to stand in the way of what God called me to do.

If it were a test from God, the results of my failure are heavily felt. It could have been an opportunity for me to show true discipline and growth. Instead, I gave up easily when challenged. This failure just shows that I am human and I am still being refined.

If it was indeed the enemy’s attempt to distance me from God, well, “shame on me”, because I know better. I question why we as humans so easily cooperate with what’s meant to stop us? For me, this is a lesson to reflect a bit more on what’s happening in any given situation.

Either way, I haven’t been writing. I haven’t been creating. And overall, my disobedience has left me feeling empty.

Life isn’t bad. I still live my life for Christ and feel His presence around me day to day. I’m blessed beyond measure, and I am grateful for every aspect of my life. But when I choose not to use the gift that God has given me, a part of me remains empty.

I am honestly not sure what I’ll be writing. It might just continue to be a journal of my journey. One where I share poetry and talk about my life with Christ.

As I’ve continued to grow in Christ, I’ve still wanted to share His word with the world. But being as shy as I am, I haven’t been able to do so verbally just yet. I see so many sharing the love of God, and I’ve wondered, “Where do I fit into all of that?”

This question has lingered in my mind for months.

And then today, despite not having posted anything in months, I get an email that states someone liked a blog post and subscribed.

And as I read the email, I realized that my gift is how I shall serve the body of Christ, just as God designed.

But this time, I pray that I can remain consistent.

So far, I’ve spent 2026 focusing on stewardship. Stewardship of my body, of my home, of my job, of my finances, of my family, etc.

It’s time I truly take on stewarding the gift that God has given me once and for all. An unused gift isn’t just wasted; it leaves a void. Not just in me, but within the body of Christ.

And it’s a void I pray to fill.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Songs For the Soul

♫Saturday Lyric for the Soul♫

Ever heard a song and the lyrics just fill every bit of your heart and soul? Each week, I’ll share the one that poured into me the most.

💛 “I wanna talk to you
And ask you for Your guidance
Especially today
When my life is a little bit cloudy
Lord, You can guide me through
That’s why I open up, I open up my heart, my heart, my heart, my heart (open up my heart)
All I need to do
Is just hear a single word from you
Ooh, I open, I open, open up my heart (open up my heart)
Just one word could make a difference in what I do, Lord
Lord, guide me until I’m sure”💛

✝ This week’s song holds a lot of importance in my life. It has always been my go-to whenever things feel cloudy and I’m unsure of my next step. As my job continues to be a draining source in my life, I find myself questioning if it’s truly where God wants me. But I don’t want to make a move without His guidance. I don’t want to make a decision that disappoints Him.

This song is powerful. It feels like a prayer set to music, and it captures exactly where I am emotionally and spiritually. I encourage you to listen to it today and really take in the lyrics. If you’re like me and let gospel music comfort and steady you, this is the song to play.

Sit with God. Let Him meet you in the moment. And just enjoy ✝

Journal of a Journey

The Nudge I Stopped Ignoring

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything other than a Saturday Lyric for the Soul post.

I have been so consumed with being obedient in every other aspect of my life. I am praying, praising, serving, giving, reading His Word daily, tithing, trying to radiate joy, and whatever else you can think of.

Despite all of that, I knew there was something that I was ignoring. This constant nudge to write a poem, or a blog post, or something.

I’ve sat down to try a few times, but honestly, I wasn’t giving it my full attention, so I struggled. Eventually, that led me to believe I didn’t have anything to say. I’ve treated it like something I’ll “get back to” when life slows down, instead of recognizing it as part of the assignment He’s given me.

Without realizing it, ignoring God’s nudge to write was me being disobedient. And that disobedience opened the door to the enemy.

Soon, I started to doubt if anything I had to write would be good enough anyway. I let the enemy cause me to doubt myself.

I needed clarity. I needed to hear from Him without distractions. So, in another act of obedience, I chose to fast.

I just completed a 3-day water-only fast. During this fast, God continued to show me that obedience is where it all begins.

It was the morning of day two of my fast when I heard the song “We Must Praise.” A song that’s been out for years, and I had never heard it before.

The second line of the song goes “If I were a writer, I would use my pencil.” And after feeling this constant nudge from God, I immediately felt convicted.

God is intentional. If He put writing in me, it’s because He wants me to use it. It’s time I stop running from that and start honoring Him with the gift that He trusted me with.

I sat down and wrote three poems that day!

One thing I’ve realized is that it doesn’t really matter how my writing affects anyone else.

Writing is my release. It’s a way for me to be true to myself. Most importantly, it’s one of the ways I give praise and honor to God.

So, God, here I am. On the path to obedience once again. With my life and with my words, I will give you all the praise.

If He’s nudging you too, I pray you choose obedience.

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.” – Psalm 143:10

Songs For the Soul

♫Saturday Lyric for the Soul♫

Ever heard a song and the lyrics just fill every bit of your heart and soul? Each week, I’ll share the one that poured into me the most.

💛 “If I were a drummer, I would use my cymbal.
If I were a writer, I would use a pencil.
I would use my voice if I were a singer.
No matter who or what we are, we must praise”💛

You’ll be seeing much more of me soon. I once wrote about being faithful with my pen, yet I haven’t been living that out. I’ve been so focused on being obedient in every other area that I’ve been ignoring the very thing I know He’s been nudging me to do. This song didn’t just speak to my soul; it convicted me. It’s time for me to pick up my pen again and honor Him with the gift He placed in me.

Songs For the Soul

♫Saturday Lyric for the Soul♫

Ever heard a song and the lyrics just fill every bit of your heart and soul? Each week, I’ll share the one that poured into me the most.

💛 “If you worship, He will manifest Himself
If you call Him, He will manifest Himself
If you seek Him, He will manifest Himself

Yahweh will manifest Himself
Jireh will manifest Himself
Rapha will manifest Himself”💛

✝ It’s the 1st of November. God has blessed us to see the beginning of yet another month. Take a moment to thank Him, praise Him, and give Him all of the glory.

I pray that your desire for Him is stronger than your desires for the things of this world. I pray that you seek Him in everything that you do. I pray that you worship Him without fear.

By doing so, you will welcome Him in, and you will feel His presence. ✝

Songs For the Soul

♫Saturday Lyric for the Soul♫

Ever heard a song and the lyrics just fill every bit of your heart and soul? Each week, I’ll share the one that poured into me the most.

💛 “Shake, shake, shake (shake, shake, shake)
Shake him off (shake the devil off)
You don’t need him around you (shake, shake, shake)
Shake him off (shake the devil off)
In the name of Jesus (in the name of Jesus)
I’m gonna shake (shake the devil off)”💛

✝ There were a few times this week that my patience was tried and my confidence lacked. It just felt like the enemy was trying hard to make me doubt myself. The more you seek a relationship with God, the more the devil has to work to keep you from it. As I walked my dog and talked to God, a song I used to sing in my childhood choir came to mind. I began singing the lyrics out loud, and they served as an instant reminder and reset. ✝

Daily Prompt

Unfulfilled Soul

Daily writing prompt
What would your life be like without music?

Music has played such a big role in my life for as long as I can remember. A life without it would be a setup for constantly feeling incomplete.

Music is a source of joy, peace, therapy, expression, and so much more for me. Most importantly, it’s one of the main ways I worship our Lord and Savior.

Too many worship services and/or gospel songs have produced some of my most powerful encounters with God. I couldn’t imagine never having those moments again.

There is a reason I use this platform to share the songs that speak to my soul every Saturday. Music truly is a vital part of my world.

Life without it = a soul unfulfilled.

Journal of a Journey

He Called, I Answered

Let me tell you about our God.

He is truly faithful and He will always make His presence known.

It’s up to us to pay attention.

For example, the Friday before last, I was on another solo trip to Carolina Beach, North Carolina. It was past 10pm and I was taking a walk on the beach. As I walked, I passed couples, groups of friends, and families enjoying themselves together. For the first time during this trip I thought to myself, “I guess it would be nice to be here with someone else.”

I quickly checked my thought process, continued my walk and took in the view of the moon reflecting off of the water.

As I made my way back to the access point near my hotel, I pulled out my phone to record myself and the water. Within 30 seconds of the video I heard a song start playing.

Now the beach was steps from the boardwalk, where music from restaurants and bars was common.

However, the song playing was Reckless Love and that was quite unexpected. (If you haven’t heard it, go do so)

To my right was an access point to the boardwalk, so I left the beach to listen. Right off the access point, a live performer was playing his guitar and singing on a rooftop. (I later found out it was American Idol contestant Matthew Sexton.)

Within seconds others began gathering near me and recording. It was beautiful to see people come together to worship our God.

Matthew sang one more worship song and ended his performance.

One of the people who gathered near me was a 24 year old videographer, named Zach. Zach had lived in the area for the past 8 years and was shocked to hear worship on the boardwalk, something he said was a rare occurrence.

Seeing so many people stop everything for worship had both of us beyond excited. We were on fire and spent the next hour talking about our love for the Lord, what He’s brought us through, and our prayers for the world around us.

After realizing the time, we went our separate ways. As I walked back to my hotel, it dawned on me how quickly God can act.


Within 10 minutes, I went from thinking it would be nice to be there with someone, to reminding myself I’m never alone with Him, to Him making His presence known and bringing community to me.

That song playing was Him calling me. All I had to do was answer.

I cried tears of gratitude all the way back to my room.

Let me tell you about our God…He WILL show up. He WILL supply ALL your needs. Every time.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19