Faithful from Beginning to End

I've become much more comfortable with myself and my work in the past several years.

I've come a long way from that first song I wrote on the way back from choir practice almost a year and a half ago.

I've grown a lot since I found I was unable to stop writing less than six months ago.

Each day has been a chance to learn, a chance to continue to change,

And each day has been a tribute to God's unending faithfulness.

I wish I could find the words to more fully describe what an incredible experience this has been for me,

But, as I cannot, I would like to offer a bit of an example instead,

The lyrics to the first song I scratched down in my old, used composition book that Tuesday night nearly a year and a half ago

And the lyrics to the one hundred fiftieth song I wrote down in a "new" composition book (that's so beat up the words are worn off and it's being held together by duct tape) just one week ago,

A tribute to God's faithfulness.

My Prayer (Your Arms) - #1

Lord, when I stand in the valley
And cannot remember what it is like up on that hill,
Give me the strength to make it through these trials,
Give me the strength to always do Your will.

And, Lord, when I think that You aren't speaking,
Help me to hear and answer Your call.
Help me to further Your cause,
Help me to give You my all.

Lord, help me fight
To do what is right
And when I think I cannot win,
Help me to find strength resting in Your arms again.

Lord, I keep following this pattern:
I eat, I sleep, I think, and I pray.
Help me to quiet down and listen,
Help me to hear what You say.

Lord, help me fight
To do what is right
And when I think I cannot win,
Help me to find strength resting in Your arms again.

Lord, I want my faith to be real.
Give me the power to listen to what I feel.
Break me of my will and replace it with Your own.
Carve a masterpiece out of this harsh, uneven stone.
Help me to live for You alone.

Lord, help me fight
To do what is right
And when I believe I cannot win,
Help me to find strength resting in Your arms again.
Help me to find strength resting in Your arms again.

Lead - #150

I'm not sure where this path will go,
I'm not sure I can walk this road,
I'm not sure I can bear this load,
But I'm sure I can't let it go.

I'm not sure where this gift will lead,
I'm not sure of Your plans for me,
I'm not sure because I can't see,
But my heart wants to follow Your lead.

Will You lead me?
Father, lead me.
Will You lead me, please?
I need You to lead.

I'm not sure what will come next,
I'm not sure what I think is best,
I'm not sure that I can do this,
But I'm sure it's all in Your hands.

I'm not sure where this gift will lead,
I'm not sure of Your plans for me,
I'm not sure because I can't see,
But I'm going to follow Your lead,

So please lead me,
Father, lead me.
Will You lead me?
Father, lead.
Will You lead me, please?
I need You to lead.

You've been faithful before,
You will be faithful now.
Your footsteps are sure,
You are my solid ground.

I'm ready to take
Another big step,
You have all my faith,
Let me reach for Your hand.

I'm not sure where this gift will lead,
I'm not sure of Your plans for me,
I'm not sure because I can't see,
But my heart will follow Your lead.

Will You lead me?
Will You lead me?
Will You lead me?
Will You lead?
Father,
Father,
Daddy,
Please
Will You lead?

No, they're not perfect,

Maybe not even good,

But I can look at these two songs and see that God has been so faithful.

He has been so incredibly faithful,

And He continues to be faithful,

For the most recent song I've written is not number one hundred fifty,

It is number one hundred fifty-one.

The bold, italicized words are the lyrics to two songs by Mary Schieferstein - "My Prayer (Your Arms)", ©2010 Mary Schieferstein, and "Lead", ©2011 Mary Schieferstein. 

This post is the sixth in a multi-part series.  The other posts can be read via the links below.
     Part 1 - #150
     Part 2 - When I Was Little . . .
     Part 3 - Favorite Artists and Favorite Instruments
     Part 4 - . . . And Then it Happened
     Part 5 - The Way I Was Made
     Part 6 - Faithful from Beginning to End