And They Shall Run (Song)

 

And They Shall Run

In this world of pain and woe,
You may stumble and falter.
Grab the hand that reaches down
From your Heavenly Father.

He will lift you up high,
So that you may rise above;
And He will hold you there
By the power of His love.
And you shall run...

They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength,
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
And they shall run...

The battles are often fierce
In this dark world we live in.
You may find your soul is weak,
And you feel ready to give in.

But don't give up, just press ahead,
Keep reaching for that high prize.
Keep on looking unto Jesus -
As your strength begins to rise...
And you shall run...

And they shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
And they shall run...
They shall be more than conquerors.
And they shall run...

There are voices crying out -
To break your will and compromise.
But stand fast, and hold your ground;
Mount up on wings, towards the skies...
And you shall run...

They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength.
And they shall run...

They shall be My sons and daughters.
And they shall run...
And they shall run...

November 30th, 2005
Jerry Bouey

Isaiah 40:31 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.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

A Friend When You Need One (Poem)

 

A Friend When You Need One

It's so easy to get discouraged,
To be downcast or in despair.
When you feel all alone in your wilderness,
And it seems that no one cares.

That's when temptation hits the hardest,
Where the battle is nearly lost - or won.
When you stumble through dark valleys
And gloomy shadows hide the Son.

In your loneliness and your struggles,
Here's a solution that may seem odd -
Don't look around to man for comfort,
Instead, with hope, look up to God.

Jesus will provide the grace you require
And His Word will light the way.
All you need is faith to claim His promises,
And your night will turn to day.

The Lord knows your each and every need -
He knows, before you even ask in prayer.
Just keep on being faithful to Him,
And, in time, His answer will be there.

So instead of giving up in disgrace,
Do the work that must be done;
You will find that as you run the race,
God will bring a friend when you most need one.

December 8th, 2001
Jerry Bouey

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

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

A Friend Loveth At All Times (Poem)

 

A Friend Loveth At All Times

A friend loveth at all times -
You've been so faithful and true.
A friend loveth at all times -
I know I've been loved by you.

You've been there through all the joy and pain,
In fact, you've stuck like glue.
When I needed someone, you stood by me,
And your words brought comfort too.

You shared God's Word to cheer my heart,
You cared so much for my soul.
You brought me before the throne of grace,
So in Jesus I would be whole.

You are my friend in Jesus Christ,
My Heavenly Father is your Father too.
When the trials came to test my faith,
I know my Lord sent you.

A friend loveth at all times -
I've learned so much from you.
You shared your joy in the Lord;
Now His joy is my strength too.

A friend loveth at all times -
God's promise stands sure and true!
A friend loveth at all times -
I know I have found a friend in you.

July 25th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to Kat Aulin, my friend)

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

In Your Grief (Poem)

 

In Your Grief

In your grief, what comfort can I give?
I have nothing but Christ to offer you.
You are not left alone to grieve,
Jesus, Himself, can pull you through.

In your grief, though loss overwhelms you,
Don't let the pain within tear you apart.
I know the only place of safe refuge,
Is when Jesus is living inside your heart.

I know you are hurting and I offer you hope.
Even in the midst of your aching sorrow,
There is a peace that can help you cope.
Don't let your grief steal away your tomorrows.

In your grief, I can offer you life,
Though someone so dear to you has died.
I can offer you all that the Lord has to give,
If you will turn to Jesus, the Crucified.

Believing in Him doesn't mean there's no sorrow,
Because I know there is tremendous pain,
But if you will give your life to Christ, the Saviour,
In your broken heart there will be joy again.

September 8th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Which Is Better? (Poem)

 

Which Is Better?

Which is better:
To play loud music for the masses,
Or to sing softly for the Holy One?
To soar among the heavens,
Or to walk beside God's Son?

Which is better:
To touch the lives of others
Who only touch your own?
Or to reach toward another
Who feels left out and alone?

Which is better:
To climb the highest mountain,
And to swim the raging sea,
Or to worship Him who made them both,
And who also created me?

Which is better:
A life filled with rose-strewn pathways,
A life of ease and luxury,
Or a life that has its pain and suffering,
And a God who cares for me?

Sometimes I want the easy way,
A way that doesn't test my faith,
But then the hard times come along,
And my dreams vanish away like wraiths.

I don't want to stumble blindly in darkness,
I would rather pierce the night,
But I will gladly give away all my candles,
And let Jesus be my guiding light.

I won't let my emotions play upon my faith,
As if it were a jungle gym,
I will let life's situations be the pressures,
That ever draw me close to Him.

October 15th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 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 Faltering Heart (Poem)

 

My Faltering Heart

There are times when it seems my courage is so frail and small.
I look within my own life and I see how I fail and fall.
I know in myself I falter and I am nothing at all.
But how do I follow You, Lord Jesus, when I hear Your loving call?

Sometimes my emotions deceive me and my heart isn't fully Yours.
So many things distract me and I find I am led off course.
And I realize again, somehow, my love has grown dim.
Yet how do I repent and now have my heart stayed on Him?

I lose my devotion so easily, yet nothing stands in my way.
What is it within my own heart that pulls me further away?
How did my joy dry up? Why doesn't it ever stay?
How does my desire wane? Restore me, Oh Lord, I pray!

I see within myself that I have nothing to offer you.
My vision seems so faded - Lord, grant me another view.
I don't know why my heart wanders or why it so often roams.
Why can't I follow You fully, and seek Your face alone?

Take my fragile heart - I offer it to You again.
Do Your will in my life, Lord, and help me to say, Amen!
Change my heart, transform my mind, and help me return to You.
Be my everything, dear Lord. Restore, remake, renew!

January 26th, 1997
Jerry Bouey

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

If Jesus Came To Your House (Poem)

If Jesus Came To Your House

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you served to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the book you read?
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you.

By Lois Blanchard Eades

1 Peter 1:14-16  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

From Broken To Beautiful (Poem)

From Broken To Beautiful

From broken to beautiful;
Made with the Potter’s own hands,
Transformed into gold and silver -
Part of God’s wondrous plan.

Vessels of the Lord’s mercy,
Of His forgiveness and His grace;
From a past of brokenness
To true beauty in its place.

Once separated from God’s family,
Now adopted as a child of the King;
Precious treasure in earthen vessels -
To the Lord, worth more than anything.

Vessels of honour, fit for the Master,
Sanctified, forgiven, and set free;
From forsaken to accepted in His sight -
Beloved, and transformed for eternity.

From broken to beautiful,
Given a new purpose for His glory,
Renewed, and made righteous in Jesus Christ -
That is salvation’s story.

April 15th, 2024
Jerry Bouey

The Lord can take the broken pieces of our lives, the broken or cracked pottery, and remake it in such a way that it brings glory to Him. Like Mary broke the box of spikenard and the savour of it diffused throughout the room when she anointed the feet of Jesus, so may our lives bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and may His savour touch every area of our hearts and lives, affecting all that we come in contact with day by day.

John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Song of Solomon 1:3  Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Song of Songs 1:10-11 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Duct-Taped Smiles (Poem)

 

Duct-Taped Smiles
(A Mother’s Day Poem)

As a mother, you reminisce over the many winding roads you’ve travelled;
Filled with wonder and with joy, though at times your threads seem a little frayed and tangled;
But the Lord has paved your path with love over each and every weary mile -
The cracked pottery of your life is covered with bandaged elbows and duct-taped smiles.

Each day of motherhood is like a book, with the pages a little tattered, a little torn;
By gleaning God’s wisdom through the years, those rough edges have softened and become a little worn;
The cover is more faded now, and you see some new creases here and there,
But the joy of being a mother is a blessing - naught else could ever compare.

Along the journey of their childhood, the memories of each precious loved one flood your heart.
To see them grow, following in your footsteps - so many wondrous miracles, oh where to start?
Showing them the Saviour and how He brought you through all those fiery trials,
Brings a tear or two sometimes, but also lasting joy, and even more duct-taped smiles.

The Lord uses motherhood to teach us lessons we may not at first understand,
But through the hard days, and through the growing years, you catch glimpses of His perfect plan.
When you see your children all grown up, remembering each little hand you used to hold,
It is then you realize, this broken pottery has been transformed into a treasure of purest gold.

March 30th, 2024
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to my friend, Deborah Cox, who helped me iron out the words of this poem. Thank you for being a blessing to me.)

Psalms 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.