New Day

Photo by Adam

 Today is a new day, one for me.

Not to look back but to walk forward with Thee.

I look to You, you are my stay,
You are my fortress, each and every day.

Praise to Your name, You are my King and my Lord,
Something to forget I can never afford.

None are like You from beginning to end.
By You alone is the Great Plan pre-arranged.

Today is a new day, one in which You are beside.
Healing, leading and guiding through all that is prescribed.
I rejoice in You, I lift up a song of praise.
It is by You alone that I am raised.

Title: New Day
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com
by: seedsower deb

Left to Myself

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." Psalm 32:8

Left to myself, I would surely die. Slow destruction with a final cry.

I'm learning, life firm in Jesus is the only way. To live life to its fullest without a destructive sway.

I can see myself when I am alone... There are times when I am not looking to and depending on You .

I know Who is before me... And yet, at times, I still tend to wander down the wrong track.

God, I am full of things that squeeze You out. Empty me so I can be fully filled by You.

Guide and lead me, show me the way. Alone with myself, not acknowledging You, surely is an unsafe place.

Come, Holy Spirit, lead and direct me to that narrow way. I need You every second of every day.

How great Your love and forgiveness: That's who You are and Your full intent.

Left to myself... I shudder to think where my journey would end. Grateful that You are here to instruct and teach and lead me toward the right bend.


Title: Left to Myself
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com
by: seed sower deb

Choices Made

Choices made today,

Effect our tomorrows.

No going back.

Firmly I sit,

Knowing I am,

Securly in,

The middle of His hand.

Eternally grateful.

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Title: Choices Made
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com
by: seedsower deb

Serving Thee

The longer I live,
I realize how little I know.

Over the years, I've faced small things here and there.
But nothing to compare to the "great cloud of witnesses,"
whose lives You ensured were penned in Your Book.

No mouths of lions have I had to face,
Or bears which I've had to chase and tear,
No fiery furnace have I had to enter,
No stake on which to be tied, for the purpose of being burned alive,
Nor have I faced being sawn asunder.

The things I do face,
Minuscule as they be,
I take comfort in You,
You are there for me.

One thing I have learned and gratefully know,
Never will You leave me, never will You go.

Always with me...

comforting,

supporting,

providing,

leading,

guiding, and

even carrying.

You call me friend; You say I am precious, your beloved; You call me your child.
Oh for a heart that fears Your name.

For no one can serve two masters.
A man can be devoted to only one.
To the other he will despise and display horrid contempt.

...for it is written and it is known.

Thee I will serve...

...whether I am healed or not,
...whether I master this or that,
...whether I fail or succeed,
...whether my finances improve or stay their lot.

You are my stay, You make the way,
You are my life, my light, my song.

I bow before you,
You hold the key,
To my moments, my days,
For all eternity.

Faithful to the call,
Doing whatever You desire...
...Great or small,
...Known by others, or not.

To find myself kneeling...
Before You on that Blessed day,
Will be more glorious than any words can convey.

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Title: Serving Thee
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com/
by: seedsower deb

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Seeing the Unseen

I arise today and do the next thing.

My duty is clear...
Honor the King.

Many things I desire,
Those things though are known...
By the One Who sits upon the Great Throne.

Things hoped for, not yet seen;
If they were, there'd be no reason to hope.
For why hope for something already gleaned?

But I see the unseen, as if it were at my door.
Patienty, I know it will arrive, at the appointed time.
Not one minute late or before.

He knows my needs before I ask.
I will gratefully go about my day;
Do the next thing... and bask.

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Title: Seeing the Unseen
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com/
by: seedsower deb

Hope

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God...(1a)

No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame. (2)

"No one" - ah, this must surely include "me," as my hope is in God alone.

After many of years of hiding, cowering, internalizing, losing sight of my very being, I now know that it is only He who can and will provide for me, keep me, protect me.

What is it that I have "hope" of?... Oh, so very, very much:

- Resurrection
- Eternal life
- His mercy
- His grace
- Everlasting love
- His great and absolute power
- His soverignty
- His ability to turn a situation around
- His providental care

My "hope" is not one of "oh, I wish this would happen," or "I wish this would come true."

No, resolutely, it is a simple "knowing." He is with me.

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You. (3)

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. (4)

Now shameless and protected, praising my Savior and my God... I raise my heart to the heavens:

Why so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? (1)

Nay, I put my hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior (1) and I can for sure say, it does bring one an unexplainable, yet definate hope.

1. Psalm 42:5/6a; 42:11; 43:5
2. Psalm 25:3
3. Psalm 25:21
4. Psalm 62:5
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Hope
http://seedsowersseries.blogspot.com
by: seedsower deb

Lamp Put Aside

I got off track, simply put, because I put the Lamp aside.

It is "Thy Word which is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

But I simply put it aside... why would I? I ask myself...

One day due to hurry, another day because of chaos, another because of this, another because of that.

Duly, my sight grew dim... it's as if darkness has enveloped me.

But God knows this.

"Why was this man born blind? did he or his parents sin? Neither.

...this happended so that the work of God would be shown in his life."

I would not dare compare my situation with that of being born blind,

As my "blindness" has come by my own hand, or lack thereof.

I can say, however, the work of God will be shown in my life.

I know He has a plan for me, one that is to prosper me, not harm me.
Plans to give me hope and a future.

I have physical eyes with which to see things around me,

But the eyes to the things of the spirit are dimmed,

Oh to see again.

He who is mighty can restore that sight.

His desire is for me to glorify Him.

Oh, I hear Him passing by...

Jesus, I rise with a cry, have mercy on me...

"What do you want Me to do for you?" He says...

Lord, I want to see again.

As to the blind man, to me, He mercifully replies "Receive your sight, your faith has healed you."

Today I Choose

Today I choose to be happy, content, and full of song.
This is the only way to combat those things which are wrong.

God is with me, that is all I need.
I will go along happily, as I am His seed.

He lifts me up when I am down.
He keeps me afloat so I won't drown.
He hovers over me with tender care
How can anyone not be sustained with such fare.

Today I choose to live with Him.
To me I die.
For me that's life.
What riches and joy,

Greater than any gem.

It is Time to Turn My Eyes

I say, “I cannot do this,”
He says “but, you can.”
He actually says you can do all things
through Christ who strengthens you.

I turn my eyes toward Him and

His Word for I know He has a plan.

It’s not one I can see right now,
But I know it’s in the works.
Because His Word says it is,
I believe His Word.

He actually says His Word was written to
“Teach, rebuke, correct, and train”
So that I may be “thoroughly equipped for
every good work.”

So, when I say “I cannot do this,”
And He says “but, you can,”
It is time for me to turn my eyes

Away from me and toward Him.

Hurts

pain of lonliness hurts
pain of having no vision hurts
pain of doing nothing ever hurts
pain of having no desire hurts
pain of being alone hurts
pain of not having friends to go eat with and laugh with hurts
pain of being by myself hurts
pain of not having anyone to go anywhere with hurts
pain of having a family but not doing anything together hurts
pain hurts
hurts pain
hurts hurt
I hurt

Till Death Do I Part...

I know my God is always near,
Truely I have nothing to fear.

No matter what is seen,
or may be nigh,
He's really no further than my side.

I will keep my eyes set on Him,
Not on the besetting troubles outside or within;
Or the unknowns of what tomorrows may bring.

Confusion trying to pry its way in.
No, bent toward Him is where I'll stay;
Only then can I really see,
His glory.

And to those things which try and keep me spent,
So I will walk dazed and be discontent;
Only to build resentment...
are those things sent,

To stuff down hurts, pain, and distress,
Hoping I will walk a "life of death."

These things I know are only lies,
To keep my eyes from gazing on the Prize,
To them I say goodbye.

I know He is with me, mighty and sure,
This is the truth that rings within
and causes me to endure.

To keep from the lies, I will come often to Him,
Stretching, reaching, with every thread within,

The truth of His presence, which is always near,
rings deep, deep in my heart,
This is the truth on which I will stand till "death do I part.",

What are You Waiting For? Get Up and Walk!

For too many years I have been…
sitting, laying, waiting;

Exactly for what, I know not.
Thinking maybe tomorrow my dream will arrive.
Feeling, if I had only hoped, trusted, believed more. Had more faith.
Maybe if I had behaved better, been different, smiled more, did more.
I told myself, things then might have been better.
So much disappointment, frustration, and strife.

Looking back I'm sure it was me having hope in hope alone...
Nothing really to do with...

• "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done"
• “To gain your life you must lose it.”
• “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
• "The just shall live by faith."
• “Count it all joy my brethren when you fall into divers temptations.”
• “In acceptance lieth joy.”

No, I lived with my mind and heart filled with I hope...

• this will get better...,
• tomorrow will bring change...,
• I hope things will be different.
• Surely they will, they must.

Yet, always awaking to a similar day.

Then one morning, in my way,
came the story about a man who lay
By the sheep market pool ("Bethesda" that is, in the Hebrew tongue).

There he lay, waiting for an angel to stir the waters,
so he could make his way into the pool….
The first one in the pool, you see, would be made whole,
healed from all their infirmaties.

The man there laid for thirty-eight long years,
...Waiting, hoping, believing that things would be better, in time.
Laying there hoping someone would put him in,
Thinking, tomorrow will bring a change, or
Things will be different, surely they will, they must. . .

The Great Physician, the Healer of all mankind
Stopped before the man one day,
He simply asked the man who laid,
the hoping man, the desirous man…

Do you want to be made whole? "Yes," the man said.
Now, I do not know if it was a quiet, “Yes, only if I could,”
or a loud “YES! man, of course. Can't you see I hurt!"

But none the less, excuses were made... looking up he said, “no one cares;” “no one will help me, they just go about their business as if I were not even here;” “they really don’t care, how could they care?;” “if they did, they would help me get in those waters."

Nothing said by the man phased the Healer...
He just looked him square in the eye and said to the man... GET UP and WALK...

Immediately, the man rose... and walk he did.
and after laying by the waters all those years he found
the waters had nothing to do with his becoming whole and free from his
pain, his sickness, his despair.
It was because of him doing "nothing" that put him in this way.... not looking to the One who knew him before he was formed in his mother's womb and had filled his lungs with the very breath of life.
Nope, it was just him having hope in hope that someday something would change.

My time for waiting,
...Thinking tomorrow my dream might arrive.
...Hoping someone would come along and make everything alright.
...Feeling, if I had only hoped, trusted, believed, more.
...Maybe if I had behaved better, been different, smiled more, did more,
has come to an end.

I have now have heard the words... GET UP, WALK...

So doing the next thing is what I plan to do.
I will depend on "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." For without Him, I know I can do nothing.

I will take one step today, my hand in His; forget yesterday; and let tomorrow stay in its place.

My hope and trust will be in God alone. I will walk by faith, and know that my situation is under His watchful providential power and care. I cannot walk by sight of what I currently see, the situations before me.

My dreams are all filled with Him… His imminent return, His power at work in me, and His protection, guidance, and deliverance.

In Him alone do I put my hope and trust.

The disappointment, frustration, and strife I have faced,
Now dissipates with knowing I make my plans, yet God directs my steps.
It is Him alone who will keep my pace and help me face
…all that comes my way.

But the best part is I will be walking along in my journey and not stuck waiting, lying beside the sheep market pool... disappointed, hopeless, frustrated, and filled with pain and strife.

Patience Having Her Perfect Work

Patience must have her perfect work in me,

In order for me to be mature, complete, and totally free.

It is the crown of life that is promised to them,

Those who endure through trials... And who love Him... ...to the end.

When All Is Said and Done

When all is said and done

A person stands alone.

At the end of time

there s/he'll be,

standing still

in front of Thee.

Choices made,

Days since laid,

No going back,

No retract.

Let me "do" today

unto You.

I know it all comes down to

me and You.

Live my life to revere Your name.

Frequently quicken me,

My ear turned to Thee,

My heart tied to...

Your desire.

When all is said and done,

It comes down to me before Thee...

An "Audience of One,"

Oh Lord, that I will have glorified the Son.

Prisoner By Choice

I am tired of pain,
The emotional kind.
My heart feels empty,
Spite clouds my mind.

Wishing for happy,
Fun-filled days.
I only go about in a fog-filled haze.

I am tired of hurting,
the emotional kind.

I see nothing genuine,
I feel only painful grinds.

I have an enemy who hates me.
Never a kind word to spare.
The accuser of the brethren.
For sure it's only what's in it for him.
That's his only care.

But what about me?
Whose heart do I seek?
To be kind to others, despite all, stay meek?
Do I seek the One's who died for me?
Or try and comfort my own heart?
Tis the latter.

Why do I stay in this state,
Why won't I go?
I really can't answer
I'm too numb to know.
Too caught up.

I see others living, loving,
Laughing.
Why can't I?
Nothing to laugh about.
Much though to cry.

I want to be free
I want to have fun
I want to have a purpose
Living as promised by the Son.

I don't.
It's my choice.
Misery, oppression, obsession.
Confession.
That's where I'm at.

God help me to be free,
I do not know how;

I am full of anger, hurt, pity, unforgiveness.
Because of this... prisoner by choice.

Yes, freely You give, freely I can receive... but I've got to forgive first, and then...

"...to break free from this, in my anguish cry to the the LORD, for He will answer me by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 118:5-6 (NIV)

Ah, I am my own worst enemy,
Held as prisoner, by choice.

So What About Tomorrow?

"

"So What About Tomorrow" was co-written by Seedsower Deb and Marlene Hoenig.

Today, I shall not worry about tomorrow,
As it is not promised to me.

God's Grace is sufficient for today,
And there is no Grace set aside,
from which I can borrow.

"No, we aren't promised tomorrow, But know that we are loved TODAY and forever, in spite of what this world throws our way."1

He asks that I be anxious for nothing, rather with thanksgiving,
I'm to watch and I pray.

His peace, all understanding passes,
Keeps my mind on Him,
And my heart in certain array.

For as today is,
So shall my strength be.
And I know for sure,
He will supply my need.


1. quote pulled from writings of Marlene Hoenig, Director of Eye of the Storm Ministries

Faith Shields by God's Power

Through faith I am shielded by God's mighty power,
From now until that final hour.

That final hour when Christ is revealed,
Revealed to us us all, no longer concealed.

Regardless of nation, race, sex, or gender,
All will witness His glorious splendor.

Doubt will vanish and scepticism will flee,
As all will bow before Him on bended knee.

It will be at that time the Mighty will say,
To those whose trust is in the blood of He,

It is time my child,
Come enter into My presence for eternity.

What I am is Plain to God

What I am is plain to God (2 Cor 5:11b NIV)

I can only trust my Lord for today.
For tomorrow is not yet promised,
And, yesterday, is a memory, but past.

Today, I sense an emptiness, an unkowing, an uncertainty.

Oh may I not be pulled about by doubt and fear,
I must stand my ground,
Trust my God,
I know He's near.

Flee emptiness - for greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world,
Be gone unknowingness - for though I make my plans, God directs my steps.
Crawl away uncertainty - for He who began a good work in me will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Depending on His strength, peace, and wisdom coming down from above,
I'm told to be "therefore wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove." (Matthew 10:16).

This shall I be by His power and grace.
Searching my heart to surrender all...

...that brings Him disgrace.

For what I am is plain to God.
Though I groan with a longing to be clothed with my heavenly dwelling,
I know while here, I have His Spirit as a heavenly deposit.

May I live by faith and not by sight...

...for what I am is plain to God.

Strengthened by Grace

It started as I walked in the door...

Why did you do this, why didn't you do that?

I tried to defend, but the voice wouldn't hear,
I initially shrunk back, not recognizing fear.

Alone in my 'safe' room, atop of my bed,
I buried my face toward the wall and I said:

O' God, please help me see You in this fire;
Grant me grace to rise from this mire.

More important, give me strength to keep my mouth closed ,
As I know I can do nothing without You.

It's only through You I can do all things,
As you are the Vine and I the branch.

Strengthened by grace, I went about the night,
Going about my evening, not looking for a fight.

As I truly desire no argument, no contention,
For I am an Ambassador for Christ within.

Help me to display Christ, to stand firm
Not to rely on myself, but on Him.

Help me to always stand, for You have delivered me, You deliver me, and You will continue to deliver me.

Lord help me to live for You Who died for me (2 Cor 5:15), help me to not regard anyone from a worldly view (2 Cor 5:16),
But to always stand and believe solidly in You.
Firm in your arms as You see me through.

Train My Brain?

Train my brain? How is that so?
By "sync'ing" with Him,
Who'll ensure it will grow.

Stretching, reaching, I emerse my thoughts deep in Him...
Trusting, believing and my mind begins to bend;

To the conformity...
...of His Son.

My heart and soul by Him was won,
Bought by Him with His shed blood.
His plan all along?

Surley it was.
My brain designed to glorify Him,
to love others and have peace within.