Saturday, June 21, 2008

A Beautiful Symphony (Poem)

A Beautiful Symphony

A musician needs all the keys
To play a symphony;
If he only used the white ones,
What beauty would there be?

The black keys make the music
Melodic to the ear;
If the pianist never used them,
What a different song we'd hear.

And just like that piano,
So it is with life;
It takes both light and dark to make
The music flow just right.

God uses trials and sorrows
Like the pianist uses keys;
He combines the light and dark to make
Life's music sound so sweet.

The song of life sounds better
When He uses all the keys;
For then He can turn a simple tune
Into a beautiful symphony.

Copyright ©1995 by Jan McIntosh
Used With Permission
(originally titled "Life's Music)

And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Friday, June 20, 2008

Searching For Truth (Poem)

Searching For Truth

I’m searching for answers from a heart that’s distraught,
Wondering at the truth of all I have been taught;
Does it line up with God’s Word – is it right after all?
So afraid of confusion and the danger I’ll fall.

Praying for wisdom, for perfect peace in my mind;
Tangled up by these threads, wanting them to unwind;
Desiring to do Your will, determined in my heart –
From Your Word, I can tell that’s the only place to start.

In the fear of the Lord, I have examined my way;
Vowing to seek Your wisdom at the start of each day;
Faced with all these choices, knowing I am but a youth;
I’m set apart for Your glory – I WILL buy the truth!

Walking in Jesus’ footsteps, clinging wholly to Your Word;
I want to be drawn ever closer to You, my Lord.
Searching the Scriptures daily, taking what applies to me;
Knowing that I have Your promise: the truth will make me free.

From my heart, I lift this earnest prayer up to You, Lord:
Grant me Your wisdom, that we may both be in one accord.
Open up Your Word to me – oh, help me to understand;
Enlighten me to the truth, and guide me by Your hand.

June 20th/08
Jerry Bouey

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

1 Kings 3:7-9 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Sunday, June 08, 2008

The Father Of The Fatherless (Poem)

In light of Father's Day coming up, and several friends who lost their parents, I wanted to share this with you. The verses listed below show the passages where some of the phrases and names of God came from. This poem is dedicated to my friends and previous coworkers, Bill Hall and George Probek. I believe these Scriptural reminders of how God is our Heavenly Father would be a tremendous comfort to you, as they were to me.

The Father Of The Fatherless

In the Bible, God’s many names are there to be found:
He’s the God of all grace, and His grace abounds;
He’s the Father of mercies – I found mercy there;
He’s the Father of spirits - I rest in His care.

My Father is with me; He will never depart.
His names offer comfort - they reveal His heart.
One name can give me hope in my loneliness:
My Father is “the Father of the fatherless.”

Every good and perfect gift comes down from above;
In my grief and sorrow, I’m surrounded by Your love.
I know I’m not an orphan – I’m precious in Your sight,
Held securely in Your tender arms, Father of lights.

From everlasting to everlasting,
My Heavenly Father’s love stays the same;
Comforting me within His very presence,
Abba Father – Daddy - is more than a name.

You bind up my wounds and bring healing when the tears start.
You give me peace within that restores my broken heart.
You're the soothing comfort I need in my distress;
My Father, “the Father of the fatherless.”

June 8th/08
Jerry Bouey

Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

Psalms 68:5-6 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Hosea 14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Ephesians 1:15-19 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This was my first poem written in about two years - the last one was A Song In The Night written in June 2006. I hope it is a blessing to you.

For those who are interested: I entered this poem in a poetry contest, and they are now publishing it in a book this fall, entitled Immortal Verses. Of course, I don't care much for books of poetry put together by the lost, but at least others would have more opportunity to see it and read it.

If you are interested, please visit the link below to hear this poem presented in church:
(The audio recording is at the top of the page)