Luci Simiyu

While we tend to seek healing for our physical bodies, most of us are in need of healing for our spirits. Years of pain, anger, disappointment, betrayal, loss, anguish, sorrow, fear, anxiety, abandonment, rejection, etc. have left deep wounds in our spirits. Try as we may to cover up with great makeup to have the perfect look, great careers, ‘happy’ family lives, controlled lives, aggressive and ‘bullyish’ attitudes, alcohol, drugs, sex, food, a rigorous ex ercise regime, many or no friends, numerous academic qualifications, etc. the wounds don’t go away. We lie to ourselves daily that we are okay, that we are just fine; yet deep in our hearts and in our spirits, we are hurting deeply. We are afraid to look at the wounds. We are afraid to confront what gnaws at us from within. We are afraid to know the truth about that gnawing and as a result, while we look, seem and behave okay, we really are breaking and crushing on the inside. The healing of our spirits propels us on t...

When our hearts are scarred Tears run freely down our cheeks We weep in the dead of the night Hoping no one will hear the silent sobbing. When our hearts are scarred All we see is an endless dark tunnel Smiles fade in the darkness of our pain All we hear is the dark sound of endless pain. When our hearts are scarred Our thoughts are as a whirlwind As we ask ourselves, why, oh why? Why does it seem like the pain we feel is ravaging the very core of who we are? When our hearts are scarred We know not what to do We know not what to say All we know is that the pain and the tears are there. When our hearts are scarred We curl up in our inner selves Hiding our hearts from further hurt As we seek to mend our broken hearts. When our hearts are scarred Is it possible to cry out, "Abba Father, help me!" Is it possible to hear the still small voice? Is it possible to cast our eyes onto Him? When our hearts are scarred When we weep our eyes dr...

Seated in a salon and there’s a little girl (looks 7) whose hair is being straightened. The woman handling the blow-drier has no “child-centered hair straightening skills”. She is rough and is unconcerned as the little girl’s neck is bent over, sideways, following the direction of her aggressive combing. The little girl is either brave or got a warning from the nanny who accompanied her about crying. As I wrote this I noticed the salon owner is blow-drying the little girl’s o lder sis (about 8 or 9) and there’s such a great difference. I think she should blow-dry all the little girls’ hair in her salon. She’s quite gentle. Sometimes I think it’s best to blow-dry one’s own child’s hair (that’s a mouthful) - she might kick and scream but there’s nothing as calming as mummy’s gentle hands on a child’s head. Plus mummy won’t pull and tug at the little one’s hair as if every strand of hair must be straightened. Who cares? They are children. Last time I was here I advised t...

God is love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Faith. Hope. Love. The greatest is love.

On this Father’s Day I celebrate and honor the men who have laid down their lives for others not biologically their own, raising them as their own sons and daughters. It takes courage to do so in a world that is inward looking, a world that emphasizes “me and my own.” May God’s grace abound towards you - there’s a greater reward for you in the Father in Whom there’s no shadow of turning. "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15

My focus this morning was drawn to the words, “the ministry of reconciliation” in 2 Corinthians 5:18 during my Bible study.   Those words jumped at me and my mind went far back to my time in Nyeri when I had just graduated from university.  I had a little office (room) in a clinic run by a lovely God-fearing woman called Dorcas who was excited to have me work alongside her. However, this was more than pursuing a career path; it was ministry and God was keen on me partnering with Him to reach out to the youth in Nyeri. One day, a 17-year old girl who had just completed high school was brought to the clinic by her mother and Dorcas referred her to me. We had a hearty conversation before I told her, “By the way, I’m thinking of starting a youth group. Would you like to be part of it?” Truth be said, I had not thought about a youth group until we were midway in our conversation. I just sort of splattered those words. Immediately, her eyes lit up and she sat up straight in he...