Called (Poem)

Called

You were washed in the blood of the precious Lamb.
You were sanctified by the great I Am.
You were justified in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
You were cleansed inside by His sacred Word.

You were purchased by the Holy Spirit in you.
You were called forth from the world - now you,
Whom Jesus Christ loved, died for, rescued and saved,
So in the Book of Life your name would be engraved -

Run in such a way as to earn the prize:
Play to win.
In the race for eternity, dear friend,
Let the games begin.

September 16th, 1993
Jerry Bouey

1 Corinthians 6:11, 20 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God... For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Also 1 Peter 1:2 and 1 Thessalonians 2:10-13

Lift Up Their Hands (Poem)

 

Lift Up Their Hands

Lift up the hands that have fallen down,
Oh, my brethren, strengthen the feeble knees…
But what if it’s your hands that have grown weaker,
What if it’s you that falters in times like these?

What if your hands are feeling too heavy for you,
What if the burdens you carry seem too much to bear,
What if your soul is overwhelmed by your own struggles,
Where are those dear friends to lift you up in prayer?

Lord Jesus, bring an Aaron alongside their path,
To walk beside them and lift up their hands.
They’re faltering and weary and feel so weak -
They need a comforter to help them to stand.

A friend who can stand in the gap for Your people,
To lift up their spirits when they wander from home,
A brother to bring them before the throne of God;
To help them remember where their true strength comes from.

Let me be that servant that will petition for them,
Who will hold up their hands through the long dark night,
Let me be the warrior that comes alongside,
To help them to win in these battles they fight.

Let me stand in the gap for my friends,
To lift up those hands that hang down.

Use me, Lord, to lift up their hands.

October 26, 2023
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to all my friends in the Lord. Let me be an Aaron to lift up their hands in prayer when they struggle.)

Job 4:3-6 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Hebrews 12:12-13 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Exodus 17:8-13 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Set My Soul Afire (Hymn)

 I had forgotten how challenging this hymn was until we sang it in church on Sunday.

Set My Soul Afire
(Hymn by Gene Bartlett)

Set my soul afire, Lord, for Thy holy Word,
Burn it deep within me, let your voice be heard;
Millions grope in darkness, in this day and hour,
I will be Your witness, fill me with Thy pow’r.

Chorus:
Set my soul afire, Lord, set my soul afire,
Make my life a witness of Thy saving pow’r.
Millions grope in darkness, waiting for Thy Word,
Set my soul afire, Lord, Set my soul afire.

Set my soul afire, Lord, for the lost in sin,
Give to me a passion as I seek to win;
Help me not to falter, never let me fail,
Fill me with Thy Spirit, let Thy will prevail.

Set my soul afire, Lord, in my daily life,
Far too long I’ve wondered in this day of strife;
Nothing else will matter but to live for Thee.
I will be Your witness as You live in me.

1 Timothy 2:3-6  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 Peter 4:7-8  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Jude 20-23  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Forgiveness (Poem)

Forgiveness

Forgiveness – it’s a blessing;
When a heart that once was stone,
Stops exalting its own self,
And lets Christ reign from His throne.

Forgiveness – it’s a blessing;
When all bitterness departs,
When the water of the Word
Purifies a broken heart.

Forgiveness – it’s a blessing;
Though sometimes walking by sight,
Now reaching for God’s promises,
By faith, grasping them tight.

Forgiveness – it’s a blessing;
Though blackest sins barred the way,
With rivers of mercy flowing,
Christ can wash them all away.

Forgiveness – it’s a blessing;
Eternal life by God’s grace,
With joy, looking to Heaven,
And beholding our Saviour’s face.

November 2nd, 1999
Jerry Bouey

Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Hebrews 8:10-12 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

There Were None Like These (Poem)

There Were None Like These

In the time of the kings of Israel,
Way back in the olden days,
There were kings who made a difference,
With their righteous or wicked ways.
There are lessons we can glean from,
Oh, listen to me now, if you please -
In a Book filled with true examples,
Good or bad - there were none like these.

From the northern tribes, we had king Ahab,
From the southern, king Manasseh,
These two kings tore apart their kingdoms,
Filled them with their unrighteous ways.
With all the evil that they pursued, 
And all their abominable idolatries,
For utter destruction to their kingdoms -
No remedy was left - there were none like these!

With his kingdom in utter turmoil,
When faced with the Assyrian horde,
Hezekiah was a king like no other,
Despite all obstacles, trusting in the Lord.
He clung to the Lord with his whole heart,
Even in the midst of his greatest weakness;
Believing that God alone could heal -
For moving mountains - there was none like this!

We see Solomon with all his wisdom,
And David, a man after God’s own heart,
Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his might;
Good or bad, each king played their part.
But all of them needed a Redeemer,
All were bound by their iniquities -
No, a Saviour couldn’t come
from sinful men such as these!

From Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden,
To the last soul born on this earth,
All mankind has fallen short of God’s glory,
All are in need of a second birth.
From the best and worse among us,
All are filled with our iniquities;
Is there any who can deliver?
No, not from among ones such as these!

Till one day a righteous King was born,
Who was both God and Man in one -
The prophesied Messiah sent from Heaven,
Who was God’s only Begotten Son.
Only Jesus Christ alone was worthy,
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, can’t you see?
For none other had fulfilled God’s Law -
From our sins, none other could set us free!

Is there any other person who has paid all of mankind’s debt -
Who has borne all of our sins, and wherein mercy and truth have met?
There is only one Redeemer wherein righteousness and peace have kissed;
Jesus Christ is the Saviour with no equal - oh, there is none like this!

October 9, 2023
Jerry Bouey

King Ahab - 1 Kings 21:25-26 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

King Manasseh - 2 Chronicles 33:9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

King David - Acts 13:22-23 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

King Solomon - 1 Kings 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

King Hezekiah - 2 Kings 18:5-7a He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth.

King Josiah - 2 Kings 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

Psalm 85:10  Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

For the study that prompted this poem, please read Kingly Lessons - None Like These

Thou God Seest Me (Poem)

To hear this poem presented in church with an introduction and devotional challenge, please click on the title below:

Thou God Seest Me

Thou God seest me –
You are the very God who sees
The beginning and the end;
Through all the trials I face in life,
Jesus, You are my greatest Friend.

Thou God seest me –
You don’t just see all my situations,
You truly know what’s in my heart;
And despite all life’s complications,
In wisdom, You know just where to start:

Thou God seest me –
You know my needs before I ask them;
You strengthen me when I am weak;
In my deepest times of sorrow,
You provide the comfort that I seek.

Thou God seest me –
I need never fear for my future –
You are already preparing the way;
As a Shepherd, You are guiding,
And my path shines bright as day.

Thou God seest me –
You loved me before I knew You;
You died for my sins and took my shame;
You became my Lord and Saviour,
When, in faith, I called upon Your name.

In my brightest or darkest situations,
From the beginning to the end You see –
You understand all I am going through,
Because Thou God seest me!

April 22nd, 2022
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Carly Fitzpatrick – Even now, He sees you, my friend!)

Genesis 16:13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:31-32 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Psalm 139:1-6 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

In The Presence Of The Lord (Poem)

To hear this poem presented in church with an introduction and devotional challenge, please click on the title of this poem:

In The Presence Of The Lord

In the presence of the Lord
Is where I long to be.
Living each moment in His tender care,
My God communing with me.

Teaching me wonders from His law,
Filling my life with His love,
Finding delight in serving Him,
Jehovah who reigns above.

Living each day before Christ,
Fearfully aware of each move that I make.
Did I glorify God, were my motives pure,
Is upholding His Truth the risk that I take?

Is my life a living and holy sacrifice,
Or has my focus faded again?
I won’t be conformed to this world,
I pray my Father restores me to Him.

I want to obey when I hear my Lord speak,
As His Spirit and His Word command me.
But sometimes, inside, I feel so weak,
Still Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

Sometimes this life can seem so hard,
It’s only with eyes of faith that I can see.
I know it’s in the presence of the Lord,
That I, His beloved child, long to be.

August 25th, 1994
Jerry Bouey

Romans 12:1-2 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

John 14:21-23 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 15:14-15 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Jeremiah 23:18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

The word secret in the above verse means, “close, intimate counsel,” like you would share with a true friend.

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.