God Is So Good (Poem)

 

God Is So Good

God is so good,
But this life is so tough.
The days seem so long,
The road is so rough.

Sometimes I get bogged down
With the things that I find.
The pressures seem too much,
The world's lies claw at my mind.

When I begin to feel trapped,
Locked within this rat race,
I know that there's real truth,
And it's only found one place:
The answers to my search for life
Do not lie within.
Inside is a rebellious heart,
Marred and scarred with sin.

When I need true peace
That takes away the fear,
The doubts that come
Lord, I know they're here,
When I need hope
That overcomes the pain,
A will to live,
And grace to start again
I look to Jesus -
Oh He loves me I know;
I can feel His mercy and strength
Beginning to flow.

January 4th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
John 17:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received,
and heard, and seen in me, do:
and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9

Northern Lights (Poem)

 

Northern Lights

We saw the Northern Lights tonight, glittering up in the sky.
In rapture, we beheld the sight, and my how the time passed by -
In worshipping and praising the Lord who made all these things.
In amazement and wonder, our souls began to sing.

We talked about God's love tonight, and sang songs from His Word;
About how Jesus died to give us life - so glad that we had heard.
Awestruck at all the colours, bright green and white and red.
Praising Christ for Calvary, and for the blood that He had shed.

Night grew a little bit colder, but now we were warmed within.
We thanked Jesus for having saved us and forgiving all our sin.
Remembering God's past mercies, and sharing them again,
And all through this time of worship, our hearts drew closer to Him.

Thank you, Lord, for your awesome gift of creation,
and for making us new creatures in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

October 4th, 2000
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to the Trenholms,
from whose backyard we got to see this wonder together.)

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,
the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him?
and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psalm 8:3-4

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Esther's Prayer (Poem)

 

Esther's Prayer

I have a prayer for when I go.
It may be soon, I just don't know.
There is a bit of fear I guess.
I have some worries I must confess.
When the doubts come and the fear,
Help me remember, Lord, You're near.

What will happen when I'm gone?
Who will help my loved ones carry on?
Who will comfort them and ease their pain?
Who will provide their needs and explain
That I've gone on to a better place,
To gaze upon my Saviour's face?

Let me learn from the sparrows, Lord.
And teach me from Your Holy Word,
That You watch over each and every one,
And You decide when their time has come,
Then gently remind me that You are in control,
And I can still trust You, Lord, with my soul.

If You can preserve Your Word forever,
Then surely I need not doubt, no never,
That You know what's best for me and mine,
And that I can trust You when it's time,
To give them solace in their pain,
And bring them rainbows in the rain.

I thank You, Lord Jesus, for taking my fear,
And Heavenly Father, for drawing near,
And Holy Spirit, for Your comfort and peace,
For letting the doubts and worries cease.
I thank You again for peace in my soul,
And reminding me, You are in control.

August 20th, 2000
By your friend,
Jerry Bouey

My times are in Thy hand…
Psalm 31:15

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

John 14:16, 26 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever; But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Following (Poem)

 

Following

Following in Abraham's footsteps,
You are going like never before.
Though uncertain of the outcome,
In faith you will trust the Lord.

While you wait upon God's guidance,
Unsure of where to start,
Like Moses of so long ago,
Waiting for that Sea to part.

Like the Israelites in the wilderness,
Receiving Manna from the skies,
You will follow God's own leading,
As His path opens before your eyes.

For we know Jesus has great plans for you,
A future that's laid up in store;
A path of peace and holiness,
With Christ's blessings forevermore.

It's in Him we live and move and have our being,
Trust in His Word - it's worth believing.
As you seek wisdom and leading from the Lord above,
You'll find what you need through His mercy and love.

Persevere in the race and stand firmly too.
As you are transformed by His grace
Let His love shine through.

April 7th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

I am the light of the world, he that followeth Me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:12

My sheep hear My voice,
and I know them, and they follow Me.
John 10:27

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

First Steps (Poem)

 

First Steps

As I learn to walk with You, Lord,
I'll take each step, however small.
Though I may stumble from time to time,
I know with You I'll never fall.

I'll hold onto Your hand, Father,
As You lovingly guide the way,
Knowing that wherever You lead me,
On Your path I will always stay.

Through dismal tunnels dark,
Into bright passages of light,
I'll walk forward with You, Lord,
Bravely facing the night.

When I falter in Your footsteps, Jesus,
I know You will gently lift me up.
When my feet are tired and worn,
You'll let me drink from Your loving cup.

Each new fresh morning is another walk;
Oh, there's so much more I have to do,
But I'll take each welcome step, dear Lord,
Because it will bring me closer home to You.

August 28th, 1993
Jerry Bouey

For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.
1 Peter 2:21

He that saith he abideth in Him (Jesus)
ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
1 John 2:6

Will You Be A Jonathan? (Poem)

 

Will You Be A Jonathan?

When I feel like David and I am weighed down,
When I need encouragement from you,
When I don't feel so brave and my heart is frail,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

When I lose the vision and my eyes are dim,
When I can't see God's blessed view,
When I need reminders of God's perfect love,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

Will you make a covenant to stand by me,
In tough times will you help me through,
When I stumble and falter in my walk with God,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

Will you think of me before yourself,
Demonstrating what a servant should do,
Will you show me how to live before the Lord,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

Will you love me as you love yourself,
Will you delight yourself in me too,
Will you speak well of me to my enemies,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

Will you risk your life for me to show your love,
Will you do your best to be true,
Will you encourage me in God, and strengthen my heart,
Will you be a Jonathan too?

Thank you for your friendship, and for all your love,
I feel like I've been renewed;
Now that my faith is strengthened and my heart has healed,
I can feel the Lord's love flowing through.

My life is right with God,
I can see His glory now,
And I am no longer blue;
But when I see your pain,
That you are struggling again,
I know I can be a Jonathan for you.

November 3rd, 1996
Jerry Bouey

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

And Jonathan Saul's son arose,
and went to David into the wood,
and strengthened his hand in God.
1 Samuel 23:16

See also 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-2, 4; Chapter 20

Friends Forever (Poem)

Friends Forever

Birds of a feather, that's what we are,
Friends forever, whether near or far,
A friend will stand by you and never depart,
We're friends together, touched by the heart.

Whether you are in sickness, sorrow, or pain,
Even when it seems there is nothing to gain,
Life could get bitter, sweet, or tart,
We're friends however, sometimes torn by the heart.

We'll stick close together when the going gets tough,
We'll journey this road, no matter how rough,
Companions eternal, whether we're apart,
Through Jesus we're living, joined by the heart.

September 8th, 1993
Jerry Bouey

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 

Our Little One (Poem by Angela Trenholm)

This poem is dedicated to “Our Little One”, who went to be with Jesus on May 21, 1997, after being in Momma’s belly for 15 or so weeks. In October, 1997, I (Angela) found out I was pregnant again, and gave birth to Abigail, June 1998, then Melissa, June 2001, and Carolyn Ann-Marie in October 2004.

It is my hope and prayer that many find solace in the confident hope that their precious “little one” is with the Lord.

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 2 Samuel 12:23 (King David speaking)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

God is gracious!

Our Little One

Didn’t know if you were a boy or girl.
Would your hair be straight, or would it curl?
Would you be dark like your Daddy,
or would you be fair skinned like me?

Would you love to run and play outside,
or be a homebody by Momma’s side?
Would your mind in the clouds often wander,
or would engineering feats, be what you ponder?

The Lord never let us know these things,
but he knew the joy you’d bring.
Even carrying you for such a short time,
making me yearn for a new Little One in His time.

Your time with us was, oh so brief.
Your loss, brought us so much grief.
Yet through it all, I learned to see,
how My Lord, He walks with me.

I could not wish you back with us,
for surely, I have learned to trust,
and know you are safer with the Lord,
and am glad for the short time He could afford.

For surely, He must love you so,
to take you from us, and this I know,
that one day up in glory, when my Jesus I shall see,
there’ll be another Special Little One, waiting up there for me!

Angela Trenholm
September 26, 2000

Wings (Song)

 

Wings

I'm flying with the wings of an eagle
Soaring up above in the sky
My thoughts are on the things of Heaven
I'll worship my Creator on high.

I'm swiftly running - somehow I'm not weary
I won't give up, there's a race to be won
I'll keep my eyes on the Author, Finisher of faith
There's a new song of praise to be sung.

I'm walking while the going is easy
I won't tremble though the road gets hard
The Son of God is a mighty fortress
He's my Rock, my shelter, my guard.

Though Satan desires I should stumble
As he sets each trap, to my protector I fly
When it seems I can't win, and the snare closes in
On wings my Father will bear me up high.

Though thousands around me should perish
I won't fear for my redemption draws nigh
While lightning flashes across the heavens
On wings of rapture I'll meet my Lord in the sky.

December 10th, 1994
Jerry Bouey

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in Him will I trust.
He shall cover thee with His feathers,
and under His wings shalt thou trust:
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalms 91:1-2, 4

Prayer For Perfect Peace (Song)

 

Prayer For Perfect Peace

(To the tune of "Great Is Thy Faithfulness")

I need Your peace, dear Lord, oh how I dearly cry,
Fill me with strength and grace before I die!
I'm at the end of hope, help me to cling and cope,
Hold me in Your arms and bear me up high.

Help me to look to You and cling to You daily,
Help me to trust in faith, and cast fears away,
Grant me your perfect peace, please fill my mind with ease,
Comfort and strengthen my heart, Lord, I pray.

Father, I'm trembling, and troubled, and worried;
I give these cares to you, oh take them away!
Help me to lean on you, I'm wearied with struggling,
Fill my aching heart with Your peace today.

June 3rd, 2001
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Mama Pat)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee.
Isaiah 26:3

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

True Love (Poem)

 

True Love

A love so true, someone who is always there,
You love me, Lord, and I know that you care.
Though others disappoint and are always changing,
I know that You never will.
When life is turbulent and the road is twisting,
You say to my heart, "Be still."

I must rest solely in Your tender arms,
Guarded by the strength You convey;
All others will fail time and again,
But You, my God, will always stay.

When my heart is aching inside,
no matter the reasons why,
You touch the wounds, heal the hurts,
and dry these tears I cry.

When something is missing in my life,
And my heart yearns for something more,
You teach me of Your covenant love,
And the hope that is laid up in store.

When I'm lonely inside, Your arms are open wide,
Sheltering and protecting, so strong, yet mild.
Your Spirit stirs within my heart, fixing every broken part,
Reminding me that I'm Your child.

Though some things in life are unsure,
And at times I feel left all alone,
You touch my heart and I am content,
Your love surrounds me - I feel right at home.

August 13th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...
Deuteronomy 33:27a

Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:10

When I'm Lonely (Poem)

 

When I'm Lonely

When I'm feeling lonely,
Lord, I know You are here.
When I need someone to talk to:
Remind me that You are near.

When I need a friend for comfort,
When I need a helping hand,
When I need someone that loves me:
Lord, I know You understand.

When I need a shelter from life's storms,
When I need a tender heart that's warm,
When I need to feel Your peace of mind:
Send my way someone that's kind.

Whenever I need a touch of Your love,
When it's You I need to be reminded of,
My Father, who cares for each little sparrow:
Remind me, it's You who holds all my tomorrows.

Lord, I know You care for me,
And I believe You reign from above,
Whenever I'm lonely and need a friend:
Send someone my way to share Your love.

January 12th, 1996
Jerry Bouey

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.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

A Faithful Man (Poem)

 

A Faithful Man

A faithful man - Oh who can find?
But you are of that faithful kind!
It's been a great blessing, that's for sure,
Learning from you how to persevere.

Sharing the treasures you've found in God's Word,
Drawing us closer to Jesus our Lord.

A faithful witness, a beloved Pastor,
A trusted guide, and a good friend.
Exhorting us with Godly wisdom,
On which the Christ-filled life depends.

A true testimony to all
of God's amazing grace;
A blessed example to us
of how to run in this race.

For being our Pastor,
We, the sheep of your flock,
Wanted to say,
"We love you with all our hearts!
And thank you for being so faithful..."

Written Christmas 2001
by Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to our Pastor, Claude Madle
People's Baptist Church, Kelowna, BC)

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17

Remember them which have the rule over you,
who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Hebrews 13:7

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:
for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account,
that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Hebrews 13:17

A Brand New Start (Poem)

 

A Brand New Start

I can feel my God moving
in my heart and in my soul.
It's a beauty beyond description
when I let Him take control.

I know without a doubt
I can't live this life alone.
The burden was so heavy,
but He rolled away the stone.

In my time of searching,
Jesus came and rescued me.
He completely turned my life around;
His Spirit set me free.

I believe my Saviour died and rose;
I've made a brand new start.
He didn't change my world,
He just purified my heart.

Inside, His grace is overflowing,
My Lord - He reigns supreme.
Of all the motives I could choose,
I want real love to be the theme.

I know I'm still imperfect, Father,
of that I'm very much aware,
But I thank You, Lord, for Your forgiveness,
for Your mercy and Your care.

August 26th, 1994
Jerry Bouey

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
2nd Corinthians 5:17

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1

Jesus In You (Poem)

Jesus In You

Day by day, and throughout all the years,
You taught us by faith what was right and true;
You modelled our Saviour in word and in deed -
We learned so much about Jesus through you.

Faithfully trusting and serving our Saviour;
We are amazed by all that our God can do
Through those who follow in the footsteps of faith -
We know we can see Jesus living in you.

Through the years, I’m sure you’ve entertained angels;
By your example, we know our hearts grew too;
You showed compassion in your care for us all -
We see Jesus loving others through you.

You showed us this life’s not the end of the story,
You modelled for us the eternal view,
In this world with all of its fading glory,
In the way you live, we see Jesus in you.

December 10, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to my Pastor, Randy Hoxie, and his wife, Ruth,
with love from your church family at Faith Baptist Church.
Christmas Project 2023)

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

My Prayer For Sanctuary (Song)

My Prayer For Sanctuary

I need a quiet place, Lord, where I can get away;
Where I can seek Your face, as I kneel to pray;
Somewhere there’s a refuge, away from the world outside,
Where I can be at peace, Lord, as I’m walking by Your side.

I need a Sanctuary, my own hiding place,
Somewhere I can get away and daily seek your grace;
A place of peace and solitude, a place to call my own -
Where I can focus on my Saviour, and spend time with Him alone.

A place I can put my worries away up on a shelf;
A place of joy and comfort, where I can be myself.
A solace and a refuge, Lord, a haven in Your sight;
A shelter from this world - my own harbour of delight.

Somewhere life does not intrude and Your peace is in my heart.
Seeking You in spirit and truth is the only place to start.
You and You alone are all that my soul wants to view,
When this world comes knocking, they’ll know I spent much time with You.

A place of calm refreshing, of soothing healing in Your arms, 
Where I can lay my burdens down, and take shelter from the storm;
You’re my Prince of Peace, my Rock, and my high tower,
My own Sanctuary - oh, how I need You every hour!

Lead me day by day, Lord, make all my pathways straight and true,
Gently speak to my heart - remind me my Haven of Rest is You!

November 17th, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Ryan and Jen Hoxie - Christmas Project 2023)

Isaiah 8:14a And he shall be for a sanctuary…

Isaiah 4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Isaiah 32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalms 107:29-30 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psalms 18:1-2 I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Our Little Miracle (Poem)

Our Little Miracle

You were so small, our tiny little baby;
The doctors said that you couldn’t survive,
But in our hearts, we knew you were special;
Our wondrous miracle - the Lord kept you alive.

God knew you before He ever made you.
In the womb, you were formed by His hand.
In His love, all your moments were written,
All designed according to His plan.

“Fear not, thou worm Jacob…
I will help thee, saith the LORD,”
God whispered these words to me,
And I knew I could trust in His Word.

Though “the mountains depart, and the hills be removed,”
We believed our Heavenly Father was in control;
We could leave you safely in His tender care,
Knowing He watched over your body and soul.

I will gently lead you beside Me,
Guide your steps as you carry this son,
And one day your worries will be over,
In your own arms, you’ll bear this little one -
Zachery, your own little miracle son.

November 12, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to the Schultz Family - Christmas Project 2023)

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 41:10, 13-14 Fear thou not; for I am with thee:be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness… For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Psalms 139:13-16 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The Gift Of Myrrh (Poem)

The Gift Of Myrrh

The wise men came to Bethlehem,
Came to worship the young Child;
They brought their gifts to offer Him -
Jesus, the Saviour, so meek and mild.

Each of the treasures the wise men gave
Told of great riches they had in store;
Though worth much to this poor family,
What they symbolized was so much more.

The wise men brought to Him their gold -
Oh what a precious offering.
A fitting tribute for this Child
Who was born the King of kings.

They also gave Him frankincense -
These wise men from the East;
For many Scriptures testified:
The Son of God would be our High Priest.

The greatest gift they gave to Jesus,
More important than all the rest,
Was the gift of myrrh they offered Him,
Signifying His coming death.

For not the blood of bulls and goats,
Nor our righteous works could ever wash away
The stain of sin of fallen man -
Forgiveness couldn’t come that way.

The King of kings came from on high,
The Priest who would be our Sacrifice;
The Son of Man which came to die,
Only He could bear that costly price.

Jesus is that spotless Lamb of God
Who fulfilled all of the Laws demands;
Only He could pay redemption’s price,
And bring salvation down to man.

December 17, 2023
Jerry Bouey

Though there are various aspects to the “Christmas story”, and this poem is based on the meaning behind the gifts of the wise men (their story is told in Matthew 2:1-13), here is the message about the coming Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, as told to the shepherds on the night He was born as a Baby in a manger. Sometime around the age of two years old, the wise men came to the Child in the house where He as living in Bethlehem. As the account of His life unfolded, He lived and grew up in Nazareth until He became a Man. He was thirty years old when He began His public ministry. But to be our Saviour, the Son of God not only had to be one of us and grow up among us, Jesus Christ had to shed His blood and die upon the cross one day for our sins. He did that, fulfilling by Himself all that was needed to save us, and then He arose again three days later and ascended up to Heaven, where He is now the believer's High Priest, petitioning the Father on our behalf until the day He takes true believers home to Heaven to be with Him forever. That is the story of Christmas, and the story of the Bible!

Luke 2:8-14 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Be Strong And Of A Good Courage (Poem)

Be Strong And Of A Good Courage

“Be strong and of a good courage,” My child,
“Fear not, nor be afraid,” saith the Lord.
May your life be filled to the brim with His promises,
Overflowing with hope and wisdom gleaned from God’s Word.

Jesus is your Shepherd who will lead and guide you;
He will walk beside you every step of the way;
He will lift you up and carry you there in His arms,
Bring you back close beside Him whenever you stray.

There is so much the Lord wants to do for you,
So much your Heavenly Father has in store;
Just when you think that you can’t be more blessed,
God surprises your life with even more.

In His Word, you have His promise to be with you,
Through all the sunny days, and even the bad.
He will work out all things together for your good;
There are so many reasons to “rejoice and be glad.”

As a pilgrim and a stranger on this journey,
May all of your days be filled with Heaven’s best.
As you look back over your life in reflection,
May you find that you have been truly blessed.

December 3, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Debbie Wark - Christmas Project 2023)

The phrase, “be strong and of a good courage” (or a slightly different wording of it) occurs seven times in the two chapters wherein Moses and the Lord (and Joshua) are giving instructions to the nation of Israel before they enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1):

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

Deuteronomy 31:23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

It also appears in the following verses:

Joshua 10:25
1 Chronicles 22:13; 28:20

He will not fail/leave thee, nor forsake thee is used seven times in the Bible:

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Kings 8:57 The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:

1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Psalms 27:9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In light of the promise in Hebrews 13:5,

Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Open My Eyes That I May See (Hymn)

Open My Eyes That I May See
(Hymn by Clara H. Scott)

1 Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2 Open my ears that I may hear
Voice of truth Thou sendest clear,
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Ev’rything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

3 Open my mouth and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my mouth, illumine me, Spirit divine!

4 Open my mind that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed.
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my mind, illumine me, Spirit divine!

5 Open my way that I may bring
Trophies of grace to Christ, my King;
Echoed in love Thy word shall out-ring,
Sweet as the note that angels sing.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my way, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of thy law.
Psalms 119:18

Walking on the Water With Jesus (Poem)

Walking on the Water With Jesus

Walking boldly on the water with Jesus,
Knowing the waves are under His full control;
Having sure footing in the midst of the storm,
Oh, the joy and wonder that thrills my soul.

Stepping out in faith is so amazing,
Though this situation seems almost unreal;
I’m the only one brave enough to stand on the waves,
Imagine what all these fishermen must feel.

But looking out upon the deep is very daunting -
The wind is scattering the clouds across the sky;
Slowly, I’m beginning to sink in the water;
Faltering, “Lord, save me” is all I can cry.

Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught me,
He held me up safely though the storm raged about;
Soon we were in the ship and the waves stopped their roaring;
He said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Whether in the ship or out upon the water,
The Master of the waves controls the windswept sea.
It’s not the storm or calm without the ship that matters -
But the peace within my heart that my Lord gives me.

If all you can do is cry out to your Saviour
When the wind and the waves flood your soul,
Remember the Shepherd shelters you in His arms -
Jesus holds you close and will never let you go.

November 27, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to a friend who feels she is sinking in the waves)

Matthew 14:22-33 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 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.

Standing On The Promises (Hymn)

 Standing On The Promises
(Hymn by R. Kelso Carter)

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

For a devotional study that builds on this theme:
Resting On The Promises

Faith To Face (Poem)

 

Faith To Face

Looking through a glass darkly,
I find many things hard to explain,
But as I steadfastly gaze within God's Word,
The Lord makes all things plain.

Faith to faith is what I'm living.
Day by day, I learn to see,
In a life that's so uncertain,
I know that Jesus still walks with me.

Faith means I learn to trust Him
And forget walking by sight.
As I'm filled with His peace and wisdom,
God's Word lights up the night.

Faith to face, it's a tiring journey,
Walking through this pilgrim land.
Though I cannot see around every corner,
I'm clinging tightly to my Saviour's hand.

He's preparing me for service,
Enabling me to walk through open doors;
I fight the battles that Christ gives me,
Knowing that He's already won the war.

Face to face, the day of His return is coming,
Until then, there are mountains to climb.
I will keep looking for that blessed hope -
Someday soon - It's just a matter of time.

Faith to face, I look forward to seeing Jesus -
What a glorious day that will be.
It will no longer be by faith,
Because, face to face, my Lord I will see.

Faith to face.

November 23rd, 2002
Jerry Bouey

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:
as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 1:16-17

For now we see through a glass, darkly;
but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:4

The Alabaster Box (Poem)

 

The Alabaster Box

(Mark 14:1-9)

She did it; she broke it, there was no turning back.
It was all or nothing; now the box was forever cracked.

The ointment was poured forth, diffused throughout the room.
Jesus' body had been anointed, prepared for burial in the tomb.

It was an offering of love and devotion to her Lord,
But He remembered it forever, recorded in His Word.

It wasn't broken for show, only Jesus knew her heart.
But as the spikenard flowed out, the aroma filled every part.

The good work has been done, but there's a lesson to learn:
In all of life's opportunities, now it's my turn.

The alabaster box of my heart was broken one day.
On the altar of service, there the precious ointment lay.

Dedicated to my Lord - fervent and sincere.
I gave it all to Him, and the cost was dear.

The sacrifice was offered, well-pleasing to God.
I presented it with tears, and a soul that was awed.

Thank You, Lord, for Your plan that includes even me.
And in reasonable service, my life is broken for Thee.

July 23rd, 2002
Jerry Bouey

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1

Mark 14:1-9 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Dedicated to Bob Garner and Chris Gallegos, whose two messages preached at People's Baptist Church (June 9/2002 and June 26/2002 respectively) were influential in me submitting to the Lord's call of preaching on my life.

"Mark 14:1-9

Yes, she has done what she could.

The alabaster box was broken, the ointment poured forth, in service and honour of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Saviour.

I give myself to You, to do what I can for Your glory and the sake of Your kingdom, The box of my life has been broken. I pour forth my heart and will at your feet, in service to You, my Lord.

I surrender all to You, Jesus.

June 26/2002"

Message written in the front of my Bible.

Count It All Joy (Poem)

 

Count It All Joy

Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials in this race.
Count it all joy, my brethren, as you seek the Saviour's face.
Jesus is with you through every trial.
He will stand by you all the while.
Count it all joy.

Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials that you've seen.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for nothing can come between,
And separate you from the Lord.
Just cling to Jesus and His Word.
Count it all joy.

Count it all joy, my brethren, this trial is but for a season.
Count it all joy, my brethren, the Lord has planned it for a reason.
He is working out all things for your good,
As only our Heavenly Father could.
Count it all joy.

Count it all joy, my brethren, for the trials that you go through.
Count it all joy, my brethren, for the fires that purify you.
As He molds this vessel to perfection,
Someday Jesus will behold His reflection.
Count it all joy.

March 12th, 2002
Jerry Bouey

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4

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.
For whom He did foreknow,
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:28-29

The Prodigal Has Come Home (Poem)

 

The Prodigal Has Come Home

For years he has wandered in the far country
Far away from the Father's house to roam,
But something happened there that left him destitute -
Now at wits end, the prodigal has come home...

He has squandered all his living in Vanity Fair -
Soon he was left with nothing - so hungry and alone;
But somehow a precious promise stirred his soul -
Oh wonder of wonders, the prodigal has come home...

The swine husks could never truly satisfy,
And oh how soon the wine became tasteless foam;
Coming to his senses, as if waking from a dream,
With purpose of heart, the prodigal has come home...

Realizing that he had sinned sorely against Heaven,
He turned in faith to the Saviour on His throne,
Repented and asked the Lord for forgiveness -
With tears of joy, the prodigal has come home...

Our Heavenly Father is pleading with compassion and love:
The Lamb has been slain, His blood shed, and our sins now atoned;
The invitation is given, the mansion prepared, Jesus awaits your response -
Oh prodigal, prodigal... won't you come home?

Are you a prodigal? Jesus is calling... Come Home!

December 27th, 2000
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Alex - my brother)

Luke 15:11-24 And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

God's Precious Promises (Poem)

 

God's Precious Promises

God's precious promises are tried,
In the furnace of life - they are purified.
Every single promise of the Lord is true;
Test them yourself and watch Him come through.

For these precious promises there are conditions;
For this treasure, not everyone can stake a claim.
God's precious promises are only for His children -
For whosoever has called upon the Saviour's name.

For Noah's family, there was the rainbow,
For Abraham, there was his greatly beloved son,
For every child of God, there's perfect peace of mind,
blessings innumerable, and victories to be won.

In Jesus Christ, all these promises abound;
In the pages of His holy Word they are found.
They have been purified in this furnace of earth,
Test them yourself and discover their worth!

April 8th, 2002
Jerry Bouey

The words of the LORD are pure words:
as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 12:6

As for God, His way is perfect:
the word of the LORD is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
Psalm 18:30

For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are yea,
and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 1:20

According as His divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:3-4

Have you claimed any precious promises lately?

Footsteps Of Faith (Poem)

 

Footsteps Of Faith

Order my footsteps in Your Word -
Teach me where You'd have me to go.
Make me willing to walk in Your ways -
Lead me onward in this path below.

Enlarge my footsteps, let not my feet slip -
Help me to walk in Your ways with care.
Guide me through the straits of this world -
"Let me not falter", is my earnest prayer.

Number my footsteps, and count them all -
Show me the path my spirit has trod.
Open my eyes and cleanse my heart -
Lead me onward in the ways of God.

Direct me in my Saviour's footsteps -
Teach me with patience to run this race.
Let me learn from the example of Jesus -
Let me follow in the footsteps of faith.

May 16th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
1 Peter 2:21

He that saith he abideth in Him
ought himself also so to walk,
even as He walked.
1 John 2:6

Proverbs 4:10-13 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. 

A Silent Prayer (Poem)

 

A Silent Prayer

When I lose sight of the goal
And take my eyes off of the prize,
When all I can see are the mountains
That rise before my eyes,
When all I can feel are the waves
That come breaking over my soul,
Precious Jesus, I need Your touch
To heal me and make me whole.

I've fought the good fight, at times it seemed rough,
I've kept the faith, even when it was tough,
I wish I could finish my course with ease,
But sometimes I waver in times like these.

My heart is weighed down and burdened with care,
Lord, I lift up to you this silent prayer.
Don't let me falter - let me be steadfast,
Give me a hope that will be sure to last -
A confident expectation that all will work out for good -
Even when it seems there's no way that it possibly could.

When my own strength begins to fail,
Anchor my faith within the veil,
Where Jesus is.

October 17th, 2001
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Lori Tremblay, my sis)

... That we might have a strong consolation,
who have fled for refuge
to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and stedfast,
and which entereth into that within the veil;
Whither the forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus...
Hebrews 6:18-20

The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage (Poem)

 

The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage

In the springtime of your pilgrimage,
There's a new beginning, a fresh view.
There's a quickening of the spirit,
As you find the Saviour walks with you.

In the fervency of your First Love,
There's a freedom and peace to be found.
The burden of sin has been lifted
And the joy of salvation abounds.

In the summer of your pilgrimage,
The burning sun waxes fierce and strong.
Yet amidst all the trials and sorrows,
Jesus still fills your heart with a song.

Jagged mountains block the horizons
But above them your spirit has soared.
You receive more strength to be a victor,
As you patiently wait on the Lord.

In the Autumn of your pilgrimage,
Wisdom tempers your walk with the Lord.
With earthly treasures all left behind,
You find He is worth all these and more!

You're learning to be a conqueror,
Fighting the good fight with help from above.
You're serving Him faithfully with joy,
So amazed and awed at His love!

In the wintertime of your pilgrimage
Your physical strength is fading fast,
But the joys of Heaven seem so near
And you long for your Home that will last.

Now after a lifetime in His service,
Rejoicing, you lift up your heart to sing.
As you step through His door to open arms,
With tears of gladness, you behold your King!

In the springtime of Heaven's glory,
Awed by all the wonders that you can see,
You're filled with His love, as you behold Jesus -
In Heaven, it's springtime eternally.

November 25th, 2002
Jerry Bouey

Jacob's (Israel's) Testimony Of His Pilgrimage With The Lord:

Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Genesis 28:20-21 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

Genesis 48:15-16a And he (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.

Psalms 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The Pilgrim Wrestling With The Lord

Genesis 32:25 And when He saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him.

Our greatest victories are wrought out through pain, and purchased at the cost of the humbling of the flesh. Jacob learned that the secret of prevailing with God and man was not in the strength, but in the weakness and suffering of the flesh. It must ever be so. The victor Lamb bears still the scars of Calvary, and appears as one who had been slain.

Had Laban met Jacob that morning, he would have pointed to that limp as an indication of God's wrath and displeasure; but if he had looked into his face, he would have seen all its hardness and cunning gone, and would have been arrested by the unwonted tenderness in his voice.

The shrunken sinew counteracts pride. - So high a spiritual achievement as to prevail with God might have tempted Jacob to arrogance and self-esteem. But God anticipated the possible temptation by this physical infirmity, which was constantly present to Jacob's consciousness.

The shrunken sinew was the secret of victory. - Had it not been shrivelled by the angel's touch, Jacob would have continued to resist in the pride of his strength, and would never have clung convulsively to the angel, crying, "I will not let Thee go." (Genesis 32:26) It was only in that act that he became Israel, the Prince.

The shrunken sinew makes us think little of this world and much of the next. - From this moment Jacob takes up more of the pilgrim attitude. He finds that for him, at least, the pace will have to be slower; but it is well, for he relaxes his hold on the seen to entwine more tenaciously about the unseen. "The days of the years of my pilgrimage" (Genesis 47:9) - such is his epitome of his life.

(Taken from Our Daily Homily by F.B. Meyer)

The Shadows Flee Away (Song)

 

The Shadows Flee Away

I am waiting, hoping, praying, for the coming of that day
When the Lord shall come from Heaven, and the shadows flee away.

There is darkness looming around me, and the fears and doubts dismay
But the Morning Star lights up the gloom, and the shadows flee away.

When I feel I cannot go on, and my prayers fade away,
The Lord lifts me from my despair, and the shadows flee away.

Walking through the fire and the flood, the Lord holds the night at bay
My hope is renewed, my Saviour comes, and the shadows flee away.

God's promises light up my heart, and I find strength for this day,
Comfort comes from my Beloved, and the shadows flee away.

Even when I am faithless, and I don't have the courage to pray,
Jesus comes, like I knew He would, and my shadows flee away.

December 30th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved,
and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
Song of Solomon 2:17

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away,
I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Song of Solomon 4:6

Hold The Fort (Hymn by P.P. Bliss)

This is my nephew's favourite hymn. I remembered the story I had read and wanted to post it with the hymn.

Taken from The Gospel Awakening Sermons Of D. L. Moody, from the chapters on D. W. Whittle and Philip Paul Bliss.

"Maj. Whittle," as his old army friends love to call him, has for many years been a well-known business man of Chicago, where his integrity, activity, and efficiency, earned for him a high regard in the consideration of his business associates... He is, perhaps, better known throughout the country as the companion of the "sweet singer" and author - Philip Paul Bliss. His first effort in connection with Mr. Bliss was made five years ago, in a small town near Chicago. It was on this occasion that he told the story, "Hold The Fort," which Mr. Bliss has rendered immortal.

“Hold the Fort” was founded on an incident of the late war, which has been thus graphically described by Mr. Moody: “I am told that when General Sherman went through Atlanta towards the sea — through the Southern States — he left in the fort on the Kenesaw Mountain a little handful of men to guard some rations that he brought there. And General Hood got into the outer rear and attacked the fort, drove the men in from the outer works into the inner works, and for a long time the battle raged fearfully. Half of the men were either killed or wounded; the general who was in command was wounded seven different times; and when they were about ready to run up the white flag and surrender the fort, Sherman got within fifteen miles, and through the signal corps on the mountain he sent the message: ‘Hold the fort; I am coming. W. T. Sherman.’ That message fired up their hearts, and they held the fort till reinforcements came, and the fort did not go into the hands of their enemies.” It was first narrated in public by Major Whittle in 1870, and was at once popularized by his companion. Six years later these yoke-fellows visited Kenesaw Mountain, where they read the promises of the Lord’s second coming, knelt in prayer, and then united in singing this battle-hymn of the Christian.

Hold The Fort
(Philip Paul Bliss)

1. Ho, my comrades, see the signal, waving in the sky!
Reinforcements now appearing, victory is nigh.

Refrain:
“Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to heaven, “By Thy grace we will.”

2. See the mighty host advancing, Satan leading on,
Mighty ones around us falling, courage almost gone!

3. See the glorious banner waving, Hear the trumpet blow!
In our Leader’s Name we triumph over every foe.

4. Fierce and long the battle rages, but our help is near,
Onward comes our great Commander, cheer, my comrades, cheer!

The Fulness Of Jesus (Poem)

Last year, I had sent out another hymn by this same author, Quietness And Confidence. This one is definitely one of the best in his book of poems/hymns.

The Fulness Of Jesus

Lord Jesus! when I ponder o’er

Thy grace and love to me,

My heart is nigh to overflow

With praise and thanks to Thee.

My wisdom and my righteousness,

My peace, my all, Thou art;

I long to know full blessedness,

And yield Thee all my heart.

Oh! make my heart a Bethany,

A dwelling-place of Thine;

For nothing else can satisfy

This longing heart of mine.

Thus filled with Thee, my fount of life,

My ever blessed Lord,

I joyously can testify

The fulness of Thy word.

And of the Godhead bodily,

All fulness dwells in Thee;

This mystery of mysteries

In glory I shall see.

Thy fulness is my heritage,

Thou givest grace for grace;

Till in a bright Eternity

I see Thee face to face.

What though I can but understand

In part, while here below?

Soon all that yet is unrevealed

In fulness I shall know.

And even now, the portion, Lord,

That Thou dost give to me,

Is this, that through Thy tenderness,

I full of joy may be.

The longing soul is satisfied,

The hungry soul is fed,

My manna in the wilderness

Art Thou, the living Bread.

Thou givest through my pilgrimage

The finest of the wheat;

I find the Marah waters changed

From bitter unto sweet.

At Thy right hand, my King of grace,

Unworthy though I be,

Thou hast reserved for evermore

Fulness of joy for me.

An undefiled inheritance,

That fadeth not away;

A glory incorruptible

Through Thee, the Living Way.

E. J. Carr
From Hand In Hand With Jesus, And Other Poems
Published 1877

Only In Jesus (Poem)

 

Only In Jesus

The eternal God is your refuge,
Holding you up, keeping you close.
There’s a comfort in His presence
Only the child of faith truly knows.

Peace that passeth all understanding,
Guarding your spirit and your mind;
Assurance from the heart of God,
That only the trusting soul can find.

Underneath are His everlasting arms;
Lifting you up from the miry clay,
Covering you with His sheltering wings,
Giving you the strength you need each day.

Only in Jesus is that perfect peace,
Only in Jesus can you find that rest,
That yoke, walking side by side with Him -
In the hands of the Saviour you are blessed.

Only in Jesus.

April 10th, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to my friend, Julie. May the Lord hold you close in His everlasting arms during this trying time.)

Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:

Deuteronomy 33:25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

Psalms 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Just As I Was (Song)

I really do love the hymn, Just As I Am, that tells about salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing we need to bring to Him to save us - just repentance of our sins (ie. a change of mind about our sins that we see them as wicked in His sight and we no longer desire them the way we did before - we want the Saviour instead) and faith in His shed blood and finished work upon the cross of Calvary. Unfortunately, to many in the religious world, Just As I Am becomes a creed to justify staying as we are - no change, no repentance, nothing different - but somehow still saved and Heaven bound! When we sang this song as our closing hymn in church yesterday, I was thinking about the difference true salvation does make - and that difference is eternal. The Lord God changes us, cleanses us, adopts us as His children, gives us eternal life, regenerates us and makes us new creatures in Him, and so much more. I came to the Lord just as I was - but praise the Lord, I did not stay that way!

(My friend, Angela, really helped me iron this poem out and turn it into a song.)

Just As I Was

Just as I was, I came to You;
You took my heart and made it new;
Transformed by Your grace - Lord, I love You.
Oh Jesus, my Saviour, I’m Yours, I’m Yours.

Not as I was - my sins are all gone;
I’m now adopted as Your son;
For on the cross, it all was done.
Oh Heavenly Father, I’m saved, I’m saved.

Not as I was - in darkest night;
You opened my eyes and gave me sight;
Washed by Your blood, and changed by Your might.
Oh Lamb of God, I’m cleansed, I’m cleansed.

Now as I am - You’ve shown me Your way;
For when I bowed my head to pray,
You gave me new life that very day.
Lord, by Your Spirit, I’m changed, I’m changed.

November 19, 2023
Jerry Bouey and Angela Trenholm

Jeremiah 31:33-34 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Tempest Of The Lord - Psalm 107 (Poem)

 

The Tempest Of The Lord

(Psalm 107:23-32)

The tempest rages sudden,
Cruel winds prevail strong,
Though jagged lightning spears the sky,
The night seems dark and long.

The storm crashes down upon them,
Pounding waves overflow,
All thoughts of mercy fade away
To fear, and anguish below.

Mounting high to heaven then
To the depths, plunging down,
Troubled souls melting, at wits end,
No refuge to be found.

But then out from distressed hearts,
Comes a wretched, ragged cry,
The storm calms down, the waves are still,
The Lord of hosts draws nigh.

Chastening, then conviction,
Turning away from sin,
Praying and seeking forgiveness,
Restored to God again.

Peace floods the trembling soul,
The haven is in sight,
A rainbow pierces through the clouds,
And scatters darkest night.

Bless the Lord for His goodness,
Exalt Him for His grace,
Give Him thanks ye children of men,
Oh give Him love and praise.

August 11th, 2000
Jerry Bouey

Matthew 8:23-27 And when He 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 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!

Read also Jonah 1-2

Prayer For Faith/Heaven (Poem)

Prayer For Faith -

A Cancer Victim

I don't know you yet, but for you I do pray,
I can't wait until we gather in Heaven someday,
Where we will meet, face to face,
with our Father Divine,
We're one big Christian family,
Oh sister of mine.

One day we will see the bright Morning Star,
For now, He can reach us, wherever we are.
In the Kingdom, He will wash away all our tears,
There will be no more worries, sorrows, or fears.

We will live in love eternally, too,
Each precious moment will be something new.
Away with these bodies, mortal and frail,
God's promises to us will never fail.
The hope in our hearts will come true that day,
When Jesus is revealed, forever our joy will stay!

September 8th, 1993
Jerry Bouey

Heaven

Heaven is such a beautiful place,
We will be free from all our fears,
When we've finished running the race,
Our problems will finally disappear,
Of sadness, there will be no more trace,
He will wash away all our tears,
When we meet Jesus, face to face,
Words of love will fill our ears.

September 1993
Jerry Bouey

Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when He shall appear,
we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
1 John 3:2

Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body,
according to the working whereby
He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
Philippians 3:21

Always (Poem)

 

Always

(Written sometime between March and May, 1990.
This poem reflects a search for meaning, a desire to know God,
a longing to find Him - instead He found me.)

I sat and thought about my life to date,
For I had no real reason to celebrate.
All my flowers had wilted and blown away,
As all my colours slowly faded to gray.

My life had taken a drastic turn for the worse,
If I didn't cheer up soon, I'd need a hearse.
I often wondered how different everyone's life would be,
If they had to do it over again, all without me.

Would they really miss me after all?
Would my life be simpler if I took the fall?
Would all my problems quickly fly away,
Or sink into a black hole where they'd stay?

I needed the answers to all these questions, and more;
I had to know if my life would improve for the better.
Maybe if I tried hard enough and hoped long enough,
My troubled life wouldn't seem all that tough.

Maybe if You came into my life everything would improve,
And all the bad points in my dreary existence would move,
To a distant point on another far-away sun,
Where they couldn't possibly bother anyone.

Maybe the important changes all begin at home,
Where all the pure and evil thoughts tend to roam,
Maybe if I gave all the horrible thoughts a kick,
Everything holding my life together would click.

I think I'll give existing an honest try,
Punch Death's evil facade right in the eye,
And say, "Nice knowing you, but now that you're gone,
There's no way I'll miss you, 'cause my life will go on."

So now I'll start the real living,
And since life begins with giving,
I'm going to give everything I've got and more,
Because now You're in my life, I want to live for sure.

Even though on life's path I may stray,
Gently pull me back on the right and true way,
Thank You for coming and stopping for tea,
And if You never leave, I will be oh so happy.

Thanks for loving and guiding me too.
I pray I will always love You.
No matter what comes and no matter what stays,
I know that You will truly love me... Always!

By Jerry Bouey

I never knew God the Father or Jesus Christ until Friday, November 13th, 1992.

I didn't know how to come to Him. There were times when my thoughts turned to Him and in those days I was actually happy, but then I would go my own way once again, as

Isaiah 53:6 says:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

As long as I can remember I believed in God - though not according to knowledge - and the only verse I ever memorized as a child, other than the Lord's prayer and Psalm 23, was John 3:16:

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.

I knew I was a guilty sinner on my way to Hell because of my sins against the Lord. God loved me, Jesus died for my sins, and I knew that my sins condemned me, but somehow I never knew how to connect the two together - I didn't even know I could.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

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

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

As Catholicism was part of my background, I thought that if I could change my life, in other words, obey the Ten Commandments, God would accept me. I stopped lying, stealing, and sometimes swearing, because I feared God's wrath. But there were other secret sins and I knew God could see into my heart. What a dilemma. How could I ever be reconciled to God?

And then God called me one Friday night... I realized I was in need of a Saviour when I was questioned by the College and Career Bible study leader about my salvation, and I didn't have an adequate answer. When asked if I was a Christian, I said, "I guess so."

He then told me if I was a Christian I would know. "What's a Christian?" He next proceeded to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and fit the missing pieces of the puzzle in place for me.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

How Jesus took my sins upon Him and died in my place; how His one sacrifice forever saves those who come to Him in faith; and how His death, burial, and resurrection prove He is the Messiah that was promised in the Old Testament, God manifest in the flesh. (See 1 Timothy 3:16.) And how through repentance (that's turning from sin in your heart - which will result in a change in outward conduct - and turning toward God, ie. stop going my way, and go His way) and faith in (that's Bible-based belief, confidence in, trust, reliance upon) Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I could have the free gift of eternal life, have my sins forgiven, and have a home in Heaven when I die.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now John 3:16 really made sense to me. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour that night.

John 1:12 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:

It was a new beginning for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Lord Jesus Christ is standing and knocking at your heart's door now.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Will you let Him in?

If you have never received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, please read God's Simple Plan Of Salvation, which clearly explains what the Bible (God's Word) teaches us about how to get to Heaven. If after reading this Gospel tract, you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, I would love to hear about it and rejoice with you. God bless you.