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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
O' That I Would Love You
"Unite my heart to fear Thy name." (Psalm 86:11b)
O' that I would love You.
You Who are in me and I am in You.
Your Word says this is so.
But my life tells a different woe.
Lord, let my journey begin,
To turn,
Before it is time to end.
The path and fields have become too much.
The constant contention, raging are too much.
My very own actions are killing me.
I do not know how to flee.
I've heard it said,
'when the glory of the Lord fills a place there is no room for anything else'
O' Father that Your glory would show on my face.
I sit at your feet knowing I can do nothing to earn Your love.
Help me to Obey You in order to walk in Your way.
Help me Lord,
I must stop blaming my nasty "be" attitudes on someone else,
I must believe You in all things and for all things,
And stop the doubting, and complaining,
Talking about, thinking about how things should be done and blaming.
I say I am the only one who walks and lives like this...
But, now You remind me of others in a previous place in time....
As with the Israelites, my thinking is keeping me stuck in the wilderness of my own demise.
I come to You now, seeking You.
"Unite my heart to fear Thy name" (Psalm 86:11b)
O that I would love You,
You Who are in me and I am in You.
By Grace and Power Can I Live
Help me today of my life to give.
So that this vessel which I fill
Is empty of me
and filled with You
Who lives.
Help me today to surrender all
Surrender all I say
All to Jesus this very day.
Full surrender to You
Total abandonment
And trust in you
It must be you.
Help me to see Thee
Only Thee
Balance me.
Help me to fear Thy name
which is "...the beginning of wisdom and the
knoweldge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)
Thy will be done
Full surrender
And trust in You.
Only by Your power and grace can I live
Help me today of my life to give.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Free to Be Me?
Hmmm, thought I, "Can this be true?"
On he continued...
"You see, your brain was configured by God,
So we can think on Him and live life in peace and harmony.
In the Garden of Eden, at the beginning of time,
There was no pain, no dissension, only unity and joy divine."
Train the brain still I thought? Hmmm, does this hold the key... along with the Spirit who now dwells within me?
The key for me to be united, disciplined, and sync'd with He?
Will this let me be the me He intended when He created me?
Regardless of the pain, grief, and heartaches that tend to...come my way.
Sure, with His Word at hand, a quiet heart, and my mind turned toward Him, it is then I can hear his voice;
Through all of this, He ensures my mind will be transformed,
To the conformity of His Son.
Okay, I say, a brain can be trained, with both sides working in unison.
I immerse my thoughts deep in Him, The Word,
Trusting, believing, my mind begins to conform... Toward a mind like His.
My heart and soul by Him was won.
Redeemed.
Bought with His blood.
His plan all along.
My brain truly was designed to think on Him,
Having the potential to believe, have faith, and be disciplined;
To love Him above all others, love one another, and have peace and joy within.
So yes, I say my brain can be trained.
So I can be free to be me and united with Thee.
To have the mind of Christ.
For it is freedom Christ came, and whom the Son sets free is indeed free.
Free to be the me that person He intended me to be.
I am exiting now from the widened road that keeps me so distracted and traveling so
fast.
I can now begin to travel the narrow path which moment by moment will lead me so Him. Training the brain to be in sync with Him.
What a journey... free to be me which He intended all along.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Freedom and Glory
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com/
by: seedsower deb
Written at sunset on a beach in Tampa, Florida , USA
I am amazed at the vastness of God's Glory reflected by the setting sun on the water's surface and the freedom illustrated by birds soaring and diving through the air without a care.
"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name will be praised."
For me setting suns and soaring freedom do not always find my door; rather it is continual conveyors of threshing wheat, spinning clay on the Potter's wheel, and thrusting into fiery furnaces that I see.
I love the Lord through all of these things. For I know there is a time for everything under the sun... as it is written.
I accept postponement and the apparent temporary contradiction of promises...
...though they be nigh at my door. And the high place and the glory which peek from around the corner, they are just a matter of time. (As the Promiser is not a man that He can lie.)
Whether it be threshed wheat in a bin, clay on the wheel, or burning heat in a fire, by His grace I will go. As for certain, as I am penning these words, He has a divine plan for me:
- wheat separated for His glory,
- clay molded into the vessel fit for His purpose,
- burning heat removing all the dross.
With joy, come what may, all is accepted. As in acceptance lieth joy. Though things can appear dimly, there is always that glimmer of hope from time-to-time and realization of the final hour when all will be clear and the temporary will pass into the eternal.
Oh my Rock and my Fortress in You do I trust... for it is You who is my Stronghold.
No more pain, no more tears, no more shrinking back. Only glory and freedom... basking in the actual presence of God, shining as the sun's rays flickering on the water's surface and the birds soaring freely in the air.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Days Seen through Haze
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com
by: seedsower deb
Oh I love the days,
Even those seen through haze.
So much gained,
In the aftermath learned;
Even when pained,
As with any discipline.
How great He is,
Always on time;
To meet the day's bumps and grind.
I know to stay...
Below the cliff,
Under His wing,
Pressed hard to His bosom,
And at His feet.
It is here...
Him I meet.
His Word in my hand,
My mind and heart set on Thee;
He gives me grace,
He smiles on me,
To clearly see...
Him through all of the haze.
Oh how could I not,
Love such days....
brought to you by Seed Sower Series. If you wish to be removed from the Seedsowersseries blog publication listing, please email Seedsowerdeb and your name will be removed from the distribution list as soon as possible. Blessings.
Friday, December 5, 2008
To The Wall
"To the wall," quoted the preacher, "did the king turn."*
Once high,
brought low,
All due to his pride.
Forgetting...
From where here he came,
And Who he represent.
It all came tumbling down,
Only then the cry of repent.
"Have mercy on me,"
Toward the wall he cried.
Knowing all too well,
The depths he'd reached.
That he was just one breath away...
From the condition in which he lay.
Not a human soul could save him
Nor change his circumstance, not a chance.
No human arm could hoist him
From that pit's length or depth.
Only God above whose unheavy ear could hear,
The cry of the broken and contrite man.
His ear never too heavy to the hear anguished cries,
Of men who for so long turned their ear from...
the Word preached;
Only then to find themselves in the pit of deep despair.
The Almighty's arm never too short to reach down, No matter the span,
To rescue the hearts of those led into such depths. Who finally cry out, "Have Mercy on Me."
Have mercy on me,
My own soul cries.
It's toward the wall I turn,
Knowing it is there I find Your mercy, compassion, and
grace.
For, my time here flies,
And, I too realize, my life is but one short breath away.
_______________________________
2Kings 20:1-5
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wall Broken Down
The Word says "He is our peace, who hath...broken down the middle wall of partition...." (Colossians). That wall is the wall of hostility that for so long was erected between God and man. A "wall" that prevented man from coming to God.
In the natural realm, before Christ, there was an actual veil, which acted as a wall, that separated a typical man from coming into the Holy of Holies to get help and forgiveness by offering a sacrifice for sin. In the spiritual realm, since the death and resurrection of Christ, the wall is an actual division between God and the heart of man.
It is only because that wall was torn down when Christ hung on the cross and gave His life for ours and shed His blood that we can now come to the Throne room, the Holy of Holies, and cast all our cares on Him.
Because of this possibility of reconciliation we are "no more strangers and foreigners with God...," we can now come freely and with confidence to the "throne of God that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:6)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Grace
Grace fills my days.
Complete and utter amazement
of His ways.
Joy lifted high,
the lower my pride.
Peace so real,
It's something I feel.
Even when trials thread their way,
Into my day.
They only lead me back to Grace,
It's so sufficient.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Crimson Red for Me Shed
for me was shed.
Alone to atone, for sin bred,
In all men born.
Though my sins be as scarlet
they will be white as snow*1
Said He,
through eternity,
for all along, His plan.
At that moment,
the curtain torn,
between God and man.To give access to
The Throne room
so grand.
To allow mercy
to help find
grace in time of need.*2
From Abba, Father,
who alone,
can take the lead;
In lives torn and shaken,
Hearts broken and tired,
To reborn the person, or
Restore him anew.
It is all by the crimson red,
shed for me and you.
*1 Isaiah 1:18
Also http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/thoyours.htm (words to song written by Fanny Crosby in 1817)
*2 Hebrews 4:16
________________________________________________________________________________
"Crimson Red for me Shed" dss - 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Your Spirit Who Gives Life
brought to you by Seed Sower Series: http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com/
O' Lord it is Your Spirit Who gives life,
Not human words so passionately expressed during strife.
Thank you for Your calming array,
Which clothes me completely today.
I could feel Strife trying to rise from within my being,
"Stand up for yourself, you're so in this alone,
"You know you are the only one who does anything worthwhile in this home.
"Come on, let it be known, say it out loud,
"Otherwise you'll be conceived as a clown."
Nudging, prodding "are you going to stand for such taunting?"
"Say something back, say it now,
"Else you will be considered a coward,
I closed the door to the room I call 'safe,'
catching a quick reflection of my face.
In the quiet I bowed my head for a moment,
My thoughts immediately turned to calm from torment.
It was in that quiet place I could hear,"O' Lord, You are my righteousness," it rose slightly from within,"I am your worshipper," the Voice ever so thin.
Closer I became unified with that Voice,
The Strife which had risen earlier, had to back away, no choice.
The song of praise rose higher inside,
I then thought of my Lord, my Jesus who died.
Died did He, but then rose again,
To give me freedom from previous, current, and future sin.
Sin of contention, which Strife wanted so much,
To stir into action so it could disrupt,
The peace and joy that are promised to me,
From God, my Father, Lord of Eternity.
A Voice larger than life arose deep from within,
"It is the Lord who is the deliverer from all sin.
"Human words of defense have no power to fend,
"The Lord is your helper, let Him defend."
Ah, alone I am not, what Strife said is a lie.
You Lord are here; and I remain under your watchful eye,
It is You alone Who saves and keeps.
Thank You so much for chasing Strife way,
By Your holy presence, that grim fearful day.
O' Lord, it is Your Spirit Who gives me life.
Not human words so passionately expressed during strife.
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Walk By Faith - Alone
The above words were penned by Hannah Whittal Smith in circa 1800. This is a woman whose husband, once a fiery evangelist, preaching the gospel to thousands, turned away from "the call" for something other than being obedient to the Holy One, even to the point of taking up a mistress in the years before his earthly death.
Mrs. Smith gave birth to three children during her marriage, one of whom died at an early age. She watched her other two children, once devoted to "The Way," grow up and walk away from God and the faith that she herself walked in her entire life.
It could only have been God and the Holy Spirit within her that allowed her to pen such words and to walk by faith without her family, seemingly alone. But I know, she knew what lie ahead, she could see the celestial city beyond the hill....
As I continue to travel the narrow path to that city, oh for eyes to see Him, a heart filled with only Him, and ears closed to everything but the voice of the Holy One.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Breakthrough
BREAKTHROUGH
A seed is planted.
Rich soil and moisture cause the seed to break open under the ground. Roots begin reaching downward. Life within the seed stirs causing it to stretch upward. The seed begins its journey upward toward being a thriving plant.
After a little time of struggling and stretching; it finally breaks through the soil. Its new and tender shoot stretches upward toward the sun. External elements keep it alive: sun, water, soil nutrients.
My life is like that seed.
To grow, thrive, and ultimately breakthrough those things determined to hold me back or keep me down, I must continually depend on the external elements which God provides for me.
The Son I must continually reach toward.
His Word I must soak in.
And the Holy Spirit, full of fruit and giftings, who I must let flow through me.
To cast these "elements" aside and try to grow, thrive, and live without them means the same for me as it would that little seed...
...a stunted life form for a short while; and then the inevitable, death.
(written in March 2003 - dss)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Safe In the ARK
This picture of Noah and family floating makes me think of our position today with others and with Christ.
Like Noah, Christians have entered into the ark of safety – that is Jesus Christ. Prior to coming into the ark, we did not know Christ. A wall (sin) separated us from God. Some of us lived good lives, others lived "riotous/wonton" (Bible talk for wild, crazy, unrestrained, and totally self absorbed) lives.
But when we entered into the ark, the wall came down, sins were forgiven, and God shut the door for us to be in a place of safety, sealing us with the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Even though we are in the ark of safety now, rains fall around us daily – we float atop of issues, assaults, insults, persecutions, our own temptations, and false doctrine which try and tear at our bowls so to sink us.
However, grace keeping us afloat; God who shut us in the ark of safety will not let us sink.
Meanwhile we rest in Jesus, we sit and wait, each taking care of day-to-day activities. Surely Noah had a lot to do in overseeing the day-to-day activities on the ark:
- ensuring all those animals stored on the boat were fed,
- ensuring they were cleaned,
- the stalls washed out, and
- assuring his family continually that God is faithful, and for them to trust in Him because He would return for them one day.
- share our faith with others (Noah must have shared the story of God speaking to him about the ark with his wife and children),
- anticipate the blessed appearance of our Lord (Noah sent the birds in anticipation of land),
- wait patiently for our Lord's return (patiently Noah sat in a boat floating, floating, floating, waiting, not knowing the day or the hour), and
- dealing with day-to-day issues that life has a way of throwing our way.
We eagerly await the day when God will open the door of heaven for us and usher us in to His eternal kingdom. I am sure once we arrive there, the magnificence of our surroundings will far surpass that of the rainbow that Noah was shown.
Lord help us to be still in you, be close to you, be patent in you, be content in you, be active in you – until the day of the Great Promise arrives.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The WUD Factor
Feel free to use it as a Wall paper for your PC or print it out to post on your bullentin board (sorry if it appears grainy). If the entire graphic does not show in the frame on your screen, click on the graphic to see the full version.
Blessings, Seedsower deb.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Drawn from Deep Waters... Drifting
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Many thanks
I thank you for showing me
mercy when it shouldn't be.
You extend your love when most would shun;
Always forgiving when I fail
Thank you that You'll not leave me undone.
If it were I "working on me,"
I would have stopped long ago, thrown in the towl, and gotten up from the potter's wheel.
But you are faithful, working always Your perfect plan;
shaping and conforming me to the image of your beloved son.
Thank you that you will never quit;
What an honor, what an end it will be to the
...beginning.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Laugh or Cry
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Being and Doing the Next Thing
to defy
the peace and joy that are mine
by design?
Given to me to live life in harmony.
I know this state is possible,
as it is decreed,
By the Ancient of Days
Who came to set captives free.
Free am I? To be me and stand tall above all?
Yes, it is so... who says?
I know. For it has been said from the beginning of time
we are...
Free to stand by the power of Grace Divine
So to circumstances surrounding, I denounce with set face.
Surrender will I only to Thee, setting my heart to unite
to honor Thy name and be the me You intended.
Having done all to stand, I will continue this Way,
being me as designed, and doing the next thing..
totally understood it's by Thy power alone
...with peace from above and a joyful heart,
Regardless of what opposes, or come what may.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
The Way
Blooming or Fading?
I am grateful for a nice job, a good boss, a great family, and a good home. But lately, I do not feel if what I do is valuable or has meaning. I feel like I am fading. Productivity, knowing what you do has meaning and value, is quite important.
Maybe all of this is that what I am doing is not the work the Father has intended for me? And, somehow, I have gotten into situations that are not included in His plan for me? Is this factual? Or is it something I am rationalizing because today I do not 'feel' productive? Surely, all humans have slump days?
Today I am in the Garden alone... I want to hear the voice of the Master. If this is a time for me to simply be content with where I am, and surrender my will "to be productive" give me peace in that. If I have managed to get myself off track because of my own doing, please move me to where You want me to be.
It is very noisy here on earth. Help me to get quiet, to hear Your voice and to grow in Your grace and knowledge, and more importantly to be about the Father's business; whether it be busy about things or sitting at Your feet. Forever Yours, in productive times and in times of lull.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Faith, Righteousness, and Wine (or Whine)
As I conversed "with" God it became clear that the "unsettling news" was growing into a battle of frustration and anger in my mind. Yet, this news was nothing over which I had control. It was not something I could fix myself with my own flesh and blood.
So I began to picture myself putting on the “Whole Armor of God,” (Ephesians).
The helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, my loins girded with truth, and my feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
But then I could see myself slowly lowering the shield of faith toward the ground. I said to God, “This shield is too heavy for me to carry.”
As I tried to walk, the shield further lowered to the ground. I struggled to put one foot in front of the other as I walked. I said out loud, “God, I am so tired of being a grape, when is all of this going to end?" He only said to me "My grace is sufficient for you." To which I replied, "Then surely I will become a fine bottle of wine by the time my life on earth is over."
Within a millisecond I saw in my mind's eye that though the shield of faith, which was still in my hand, but resting on the ground, was not held where it could protect me from an enemy.
Yet, the breastplate of righteousness was still in place: it was there, sealed by the Holy Spirit, protecting me. My prayers to the Almighty, with supplication in the Spirit, kept me safe in God and His great peace fell upon me; my heart and mind turned to Christ Jesus. The unsettling news was no longer at the forefront of my mind, stirring my emotions causing distress.
How faithful He remains when I am not.
Now, I was thinking about the Lord who faced much more than unsettling news in His life. He walked on this earth and was trampled upon by mankind -- stepped on, smashed; faced mockery; beatings; and died the cruelest of all deaths.
He did all of it by choice for mankind - no whining, he just became wine. Even though He knew the condition of man, rather their "depravity" or "nobility," He still came and He died so that we could be reconciled to and have a relationship with God.
I am glad God was with me that morning while driving to work...and listened to me whine. Without that talk, my day would have been consumed with something I, humanly, could do nothing about.
With my thoughts set on Him, my loins girded with truth, and my feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace -- and my emotion contained -- I approached the person who I felt "caused" the unsettling news with love later in the day.
Whoever, whatever, the "cause," of the unsettling news, the experience allowed me to know the beauty of not feeling like a loose grape rolling around aimlessly, with whining emotions out of control; rather, I experienced safety and security, found in His presence (as wine would be within the confines of its bottle).
Blessings, Grace, Peace, and Love… Seed Sower Deb
Monday, September 15, 2008
Unless a Grain of Wheat is Buried...
I would not let myself believe Ronnie was going to die. But, he did. It was unexpected. Cancer showed itself on July 5, 2008 and on September 8, 2008 his memorial service was held. Never has anyone in my family who I was close to at the time died. I miss Ronnie.
It was not until after he died did I realize my feelings about Ronnie.
Ronnie was always kind to me, always. Whenever I walked into a room where he was, Ronnie always smiled at me, always. In all of the seventeen years I have known Ronnie, he never said one thing to me that was unkind, never. Rather, he always had something nice to say to me, always. He prayed for me, when I was in his presence and when I was not. He loved my husband's and my little boy, he loved our older children, he loved us as well.
Why is it that we do not think about these things, realize them, until after a loved one, close friend, or co-worker is gone? Self absorption? Closed eyes to that which is real life, to that which is most important - people, relationships, losing self, giving versus getting.
I was reminded this morning of the scripture from John 12:24-25 (the following is from The Message translation):
"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal."
It took Ronnie to die for me to realize his kindness toward me over the years and his love for me and my family. I am sorry I did not realize these things before he was taken to his eternal heavenily home. I am not sure he knew I loved him as an uncle- father-figure. I never told him.
Oh for opened eyes and a heart that is reckless in love toward others, that does not hold on to this world for self-absorbed pleasure. Let me see the value in others each and every day, and tell them as much. Not when they are no longer here with me on earth, when nothing then can be said.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A Garden to Grow and Cherish
A garden not only to sit in and enjoy the cool of the day or evening, but a place where birds can come to eat and drink and swoop and play.
At night, solar-powered lights show reflections of ceramic birds and frogs positioned in various places with ceramic angels watching over every petal, leaf, and stem.
A wood-burning pot belly stove when used gives off warm heat from its glowing embers. Growing around the perimeter of this garden are a variety of fruit and vegetables plants: tomatoes, okra, figs, and blueberries.
It is amazing what one can do with a little seed, water, sun, and effort. What a beauty....
And here is the woman who made it happen, my sister-in-law Patty.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Safety In Midst of a Storm
I have been walking with the Lord through several very hard things... His hovering wing is so great... it is like walking in a fierce rainstorm under the raincoat of a very tall and strong person.
I see myself under the raincoat on the right side of this person, safely tucked under His arm, face hidden toward His chest, my right hand is clinching onto His coat, my left hand and arm are tightly wrapped around His waist.
As we make our way down a dark and rain-soaked path, I peek out from between Him and His raincoat. I see nothing but pouring rain. I then hide my face toward His chest again, I am totally dependant upon His lead as we walk because only He can see where it is we are going.
"He guided them safely, so they were unafraid..." Psalm 78:53; "You are my hiding place; you will protect me..." Psalm 32:7