Love Broke Through (Song)

Love Broke Through

I left my shelter, wandered out into harm;
My faith grew so weak in the path of the storm.
A trial of my choosing; no one else to blame;
But His love broke through when I called on His name.

Chorus:
Love broke through the clouds, Love scattered the rain;
God’s love brought healing in the midst of my pain.
When the wind and the waves were all I could view,
Jesus calmed the storm, and His love broke through.

The wind rose so sudden, the thunder now roared;
I was all but sinking; my faith came unmoored.
A trial to test me – how could I survive?
Love broke through and showed me, “My Saviour’s alive!”

When loved ones were drowning; all seemed nearly lost,
I wanted to save them, whatever the cost;
But my strength was useless – oh, what could I do?
I called on the Saviour, and His love broke through.

When the wind and the waves were all I could view,
Jesus calmed my storm, and His love broke through.

December 24th, 2010
Jerry Bouey

Matthew 8:23-27 And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?

Matthew 14:24-33 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.

P.S. Poem edited slightly on January 2nd, 2011, due to the input of two friends. Thanks for helping me make this song even better! ;)

Everything's Changed (Poem)

Everything's Changed

I once was blind, but now I see -
Oh praise the Lord who died for me.
He opened my eyes to see my sin;
I opened my heart to let Him in.

I once was deaf, but now I hear -
Immanuel – my God – came near.
I heard of how Jesus died for me –
His blood – from my sin, has made me free.

I once was dumb, mouth closed by sin -
Wicked words and thoughts dwelt within;
My own heart, the source of all this woe –
There’s nowhere else but Jesus to go.

I once was lame, but now I’m healed –
My evil deeds have been revealed.
My heart’s been cleansed from every stain;
My footsteps turned to walk right again.

I once was blind, deaf, dumb, and lame,
Lost, alone, heart shattered by pain;
Then I trusted in the Saviour’s name –
Since I believed everything’s changed.

I once was blind, deaf, dumb, and lame,
But praise the Lord that Jesus came!

December 21/2010
Jerry Bouey

Isaiah 29:18  And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Isaiah 35:5-6  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Matthew 11:4-5  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

O Holy Night (Hymn)

This is probably my most favourite Christmas hymn - at least the first stanza. I first remember hearing it as a young teenager (or possibly pre-teens) when an actor sang it on a popular TV show (Robert Guillaume sang it in a Christmas episode of Benson - at least I was told it was actually the actor singing it and not just putting on a performance). I in no way endorse that show, and honestly don't remember much of it anyway - but that song stuck with me. (Click here to hear it on Youtube.) It was so emotional; perhaps part of the impact was the fact that here was a black man singing about the slave being our brother (ie. our fellow man - according to the Bible, all of mankind is of one blood and we are all related physically through Adam and Eve; though, we are only brothers and sisters spiritually through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ). After I trusted Christ for salvation, I later came across the lyrics of this song and memorized the first stanza, now knowing the meaning of the hope and purpose that salvation in Christ gives to the weary soul. It still touches me today. I think some versions have "the weary world rejoices," but this version from Nethymnal (which should be true to the original) has "the weary soul rejoices." That makes more sense. The whole world is not rejoicing in the Saviour, but the soul that has the burdens of sin and oppression lifted will rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a hymn of hope - which is what the Lord seems to be emphasizing to me in all the messages I have been preparing and preaching for Christmas.

O Holy Night
(Lyrics: Placide Cappeau)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

Ephesians 2:12-13 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Christmas Without Christ (Poem)

Note: I am not for nativity scenes, as I am against pictures/images of Jesus Christ. I wrote this poem as a fairly young Christian - but the point still applies today: If we let the world remove all traces of the reason for the season (ie. the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of His free gift of salvation - whether in sermons or songs) at "Christmas" (when we are professing to worship the Lord and celebrate His birth - which was essential in His coming and dying for our sins on the cross), then what do we have left?

Christmas Without Christ

If we take Christ out of Christmas
What's there left to do?
We have all the tinsel and the presents -
But we don't have You-know-who.

If we ban all the Christmas songs
That, to some, may slightly offend,
Then we'd have to remove the Nativity scene...
Tell me - where would it end?

If we couldn't worship Christ this Christmas,
What's there left to celebrate?
All we have left is Santa Claus.
We've sold out - is it too late?

If we couldn't have the Prince of Peace,
Then our peace would vanish soon.
All our fondest dreams would lie in ashes
While we all sing empty tunes.

If we had nothing left to offer
But a jolly fat man in red,
Then Christmas couldn't be called Christmas,
And our hope would soon be dead.

If we take Christ out of Christmas,
Then what would there be?
A world in need of a Saviour
But they've left Him no place to be.

December 13th, 1994
Jerry Bouey

Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him,
and given Him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11

What Child Is This? (Hymn)

What Child Is This?

(William C. Dix)

What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

(Chorus)
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud -
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear - for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh -
Come, rich and poor, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings -
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

God's Gift (Poem)

God's Gift

Come now all you troubled people,
I've got a message for you to hear:
God is giving out His grace this Christmas -
Free for all who dare to draw near.

In a world filled with gloomy night,
Here's a Gift that is full of Light.

A Gift of forgiveness, mercy too,
A Gift of hope from Christ to you.

A reason for living wrapped up in Love,
An Ever-Present Saviour who came from above.

The Gift is truly priceless,
And inside, you will be made new,
But you must accept His Gift
For it to belong to you.

If you stop to think about the miracle
of the birth of Christ this year,
Remember His precious Gift of Life -
He offers peace to all who will draw near.

December 14th, 1994
Jerry Bouey

God so loved...
that He gave...
John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

But as many as received Him,
to them gave He power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name:
John 1:12

O Save Us Now (Song)

O Save Us Now

Before God made the world, redemption was planned;

In the fullness of time, God became a man.

From Heaven, God's Son came; was in a manger laid;

The Christ had arrived - soon our sin debt would be paid.

Simeon in the Temple, and Anna nearby,

The shepherds in the field, knew the Saviour was nigh.

The wise men saw the star as it shone from the sky;

They followed it far to the King from on High.

To a world darkened by sin

The light of hope is shining in,

The Promised Son has appeared,

The Saviour is now here -

O save us now!

Years have passed by; this child has grown into a man;

Now it was time to fulfill God's wondrous plan.

On the cross, for our sins, His precious blood was shed,

Three days later, our Saviour arose from the dead.

To those searching for truth, the time has come at last;

Salvation has been purchased; sin's darkness has passed.

The morning has dawned, the night is now gone;

To souls filled with sin, the Redeemer has come.

The Messiah was foretold,

His origins are from old,

We've been waiting for so long,

But Jesus has now come -

O save us now!

The Promised Son has drawn nigh.

This Saviour was born to die.

"It is finished," was His shout -

His blood can blot your sin debt out.

He will save you now!

December 13th, 2003

Jerry Bouey

Hosanna means "O save us now."

And the multitudes that went before,

and that followed, cried, saying,

Hosanna [save us now] to the Son of David:

Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord;

Hosanna in the highest.

Matthew 21:9

Save now, I beseech Thee, O LORD:

O LORD, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.
 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD:
we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Psalms 118:25-26

Isaiah 9:1-2 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 9:6-7 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. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

‘Twas The Night Before Jesus Came (Poem)

While the theology of this poem is off somewhat on the events of the Lord's second coming/return, it makes an excellent point: Are you ready for the Lord's return?

‘Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there. 

The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter.
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! 

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. 

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said “it’s not here” my head hung in shame. 

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound.
While all the rest were left standing around. 

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight. 

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!

Author Unknown

Christmas Without Jesus (Poem by Angela Trenholm)

Christmas Without Jesus?

Christmas without Jesus, And all that the Saviour has wrought;
Can you begin to comprehend, why I just cannot bear the thought?
Christmas without Jesus, means more than an empty manger,
Or a wasted trip for wise men, on a road of untold danger.

Christmas without Jesus, means more than a tree with no gifts;
More than no holiday fixings, or no extra-overtime shifts.
Christmas without Jesus - What does it all really mean?
What impact does it have for me, my life, my hopes and my dreams?

Christmas without Jesus, means my sin debt, by me, still is borne.
It still has never been paid for, for His body had never been torn.
Christmas without Jesus, means Heaven cannot be attained;
We've all sinned; there's no remedy. Our good works are useless and vain.

Christmas without Jesus, means an eternity of pain;
No hope for all mankind was brought. without Christ's loss, we have no gain.
Christmas without Jesus! Oh no! It simply cannot be!
But praise the Lord! I know it's not! He came to die for you and me!

Christmas with Jesus - My Saviour's alive forevermore!
He arose victorious from the grave, and He has opened Heaven's door.
Christmas without Jesus - A fairy tale, an empty show.
For Christ came to pay for our sin - It's real! I want the world to know!

Angela Trenholm
December 13th, 2003
(Used With Permission)

Christmas Without Jesus (Poem by Theresa Wood)

Christmas Without Jesus?

Christmas without Jesus, How can this really be?
And yet for many years it was this way for me.
I hung the lights and wrapped the many, many toys
For all my little ones, my precious girls and boys.

I gave them all that I possessed of worldly gifts and things,
But I did not have the greatest gift that only Jesus brings.
Though I gave them all I had right from the very start,
I could not give them Jesus for He wasn't in my heart.

Then, Praise the precious Lamb of God, one day He came,
He spoke to my empty heart and called me by my name.
Now I have more to give my children than gifts on earth.
I give them Jesus, God’s Firstborn Son, whose lowly birth
Prepared the way for all mankind to look to Him and see,
Christmas without Jesus, this really cannot be.

December 9th, 2002
Theresa Wood
(Used With Permission)

Born To Die (Song)

Born To Die

I heard about the Saviour,
Heard about His lowly birth.
How He laid aside His glory,
And came down to live on earth.
Still I could never fathom why,
He left Heaven – born to die.

There’s a reason for the season -
Sin had slithered into Paradise.
There was only one solution -
Someone sinless had to pay the price.
Jesus was born in a manger one day,
Born to give His life away.

Born in a manger, born in poverty,
Born from a virgin, sinless was He.
God sent His Son from Heaven above,
Jesus left His throne to prove His love.
The Lamb of God, the Saviour came,
Born to die – Oh, praise His name!

The Bible says He died for me,
Was crucified on Calvary,
Shed His blood to pay for my sin;
I opened my heart and let Him in.
He arose from the grave in victory,
Oh, praise God, He was born to die for me!

Something else – still amazing, yet so true,
He was also born to die for you.
His sinless blood can wash your sins away,
Come to the Saviour, receive Him today.
This Good News is the Truth and is no lie,
The Son of God was born to die.

Chorus:
Born to die on Calvary,
Born to die for you and for me.
Born to die – that’s why He came.
Born to die – Oh, praise His name!
Jesus left His home above,
Born to die because of His love.

December 10th, 2001
Jerry Bouey

For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

The Hope Of Christmas (Poem)

Lindsay was a friend to many at the Gospel Mission where I work. She trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation about two years ago, and was making many wise choices to separate from harmful influences in her life and from friends that would only drag her down spiritually and by tempting her back into her addictions. Unfortunately, her house became an unsafe place for her, and Lindsay was truly seeking to find new housing where she would not be exposed to those addictions. She cleaned up, she spent many hours volunteering at the mission, and was such a help and a blessing. She met regularly with the chaplain at the Mission to work on overcoming those addictions and learn more from God's Word.

We only know part of what happened on November 28th. Tragically, she overdosed through the influence of one of those bad "friends." Even though we are saddened by her sudden loss - her story ends in glory. Her hope this Christmas was the Saviour that came to give her life - that same Saviour that took her home, away from all her struggles and fears - to be with Him.

This poem is an attempt to see things from Lindsay's perspective. The title of the poem is a line that I had going through my mind all afternoon before writing this poem.

The Hope Of Christmas
(Dedicated to Lindsay Guenther)

In the midst of my sorrows, troubles and tears,
I sought the Lord and He saved me from my fears.
In this time when you are overwhelmed by loss,
Remember the Saviour who died on the cross -
That's my hope this Christmas.

Struggling to overcome my dark addictions,
And learning to make some braver decisions;
You broke through all those chains that held me so tight,
You scattered my darkness because You're my Light -
That's my hope this Christmas.

This Christmas, I know you're not celebrating,
But our reunion's worth anticipating.
My struggling heart's not the end of the story;
Eternity awaits in realms of glory -
That's my hope this Christmas.

Jesus came to this earth to show us the way;
He paid for sin's debt - one we could never pay.
Salvation's His gift offered to us by grace,
Receiving eternal life with Him by faith -
That's the hope of Christmas.

December 3rd, 2010
Jerry Bouey

Psalm 34:4-6 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.