The month of September has been amazing in that there has been a real acceleration with the new songs that He has downloaded to me. I'm also getting used to playing around with GarageBand, recording my own stuff at home, which is quite time-consuming, but also loads of fun. I've uploaded 3 songs so far, although they need some tweaking (a couple of things I'm not happy with), but at least I'm able to share them with you.
I've got 3 more songs to record and upload when I get the opportunity, so hopefully you'll be able to hear these soon? This recording takes a while, as I'm having to play each instrument individually to gradually build each track up from scratch (making loads of mistakes in the process)!
I'm praying about the next few months, but at the moment I'm feeling that I may possibly be going into the recording studio in the New Year to do the songs properly. I'm very excited about this, and am looking forward to what God has in store for me over the coming months.
I look forward to sharing more stuff with you.
Leighton

It's been a difficult few months, but through it all I've really felt God doing some amazing things in my life. My songwriting has been something that has really only gained momentum in the last year or so, which has been very exciting but also a bit awe-inspiring!
I first became a Christian in May 2002, and within a week of making a commitment God gave me a new song. I was very excited about this, and so straight away I wrote it down. I played it to a few people, and most liked it, although I feel a made a big mistake by focusing on those who weren't that keen on it. It knocked my confidence a lot, and as a result I locked away the gift God gave me into a box, which wasn't going to be opened again until 2014. Obviously God has a purpose for everything, and I believe those 12 years were used for other reasons to prepare me for the season we're entering into now. Certainly the time between 2002 and 2014 was incredibly exciting, but also scary and emotional, and I totally believe it has shaped me into a stronger person.
I wrote my second song (Your name is higher) in early 2014, after being inspired by a member of my worship team who is such a gifted and amazing worship leader. Strangely enough I once again focused on the smallest particle of negativity from people, rather than the encouraging comments, and did nothing further for another 6 months. It was finally towards the end of 2014 that I finally heard God saying to me 'How many times are you going to focus on people rather than me? What is your purpose for writing these songs - are they for me or are they for people's affirmation?' Of course, the burden of doubt was lifted off me and I was able to focus on God's purpose for my music - to glorify Him.
What happened next was very exciting indeed, and water had a very important part to play in all this! Psalm 42:7 says: Deep calls to deep at the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your waves have gone over me. By the day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I started getting more songs, and virtually all the time the sound of water was present. Incredibly, one day whilst having a shower, a song that I'd never heard before came into my head and I started singing it. I realised I needed to stop everything and get it written down before it went away again - and so the song 'A child of Yours' was born. Exactly the same thing happened 2 weeks ago when (with wet hair) I wrote 'You are good'. Funnily enough it's amazing how many people sing in the shower, and I believe this is one of the times when God really has our attention, and we feel free to just open our hearts to Him (often without even realising it).
I am thankful to live by the coast, as it means I'm constantly surrounded by water and the sound of it, which proves to be a great inspiration and comfort. Be encouraged that God will use any situation to talk to you, no matter how bizarre you think it might be.
Thanks for reading.
Leighton