Eternity - Freeverse Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

This is one of two poems that offer a comforting look back (to the day a loved one went home to Heaven) and forward to spending eternity with the Lord ourselves. The first one is: Since Yesterday.

Eternity

I stood with God on the edge of the world, and my hand was in His hand. I looked down the road of the past, as it stretched away in the dim distance, till it was shrouded in the mists of time. And I knew it had no beginning, and a little chill wind of fear blew about my head.

God asked, "Are you afraid?"

And I said, "Yes, because I cannot understand how there can be no beginning."

So God said, "Let us turn and face the other way."

And I looked into glory, and my heart rejoiced with joy unspeakable. And then my mind went ahead, a billion, billion years, and I knew there would be no end, and again that little chill wind of fear began to blow.

And God asked me again, "Are you afraid?"

And I answered, "A little, because I cannot understand how there can be no end."

So God asked me tenderly, "Are you afraid now, today, with your hand in mine?"

And I looked up at Him and smiled and replied, "O my Father, NO!"

And God said, "Every day in eternity will be today."

~Martha Snell Nicholson~

Prayer For Comfort (Poem)

This is a poem written by a friend to comfort me, just hours before my Mom went home to be with the Lord, around 2 am on September 22nd/2005. I edited a couple of the words in it (and removed my name), so as to post a poem that could be a source of comfort to others and not just myself. I am not able to contact Theresa, so I hope she will not mind these few words changes. The original version (as well as words of comfort from her email) can be found on this page: God's Grace In Our Trials.

I am printing up a second edition of my poetry book, The Seasons Of Your Pilgrimage, and this is one of the poems I will be adding to the 2nd edition, as a testimony to the comfort these words offered me and my sister at the time of our Mom's graduation to Heaven. I hope it is a blessing to you.

Prayer For Comfort

Father, bless my friend today, as he trusts You in his pain,
This one who's leaving him, he knows, will surely live again.
He loves You, Lord, and he is holding to Your loving Hand.
And someday he will join her in Your great Glory Land.

There will be tears of pain and, yes, there'll be many sorrows.
He needs You, Lord, today and will need You for the tomorrows.
I know this, Lord, because I've walked this long, long, painful road...
Hold him close and comfort him as he bears this heavy load.

Thank You, Father, for my friend and the blessing that he has been.
Thank You for Your mercy, Lord, and for forgiveness of our sin.
There are many, including me, that are blessed by his love for You.
Help us to glorify Your Precious Name in all we say and do.

We lift our hands and hearts to You, our Father and our God;
For we see Your Love in all creation as in this land we trod.
Even in our suffering, we still feel Your Holy Presence here.
Thank You, thank You, O Lord, our God, for always being near.

Theresa Wood

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 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. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

The End Of The Fight (Song)

Please let me know what you think about this poem - click on the title to go to a page on Home Of The Real McCoy I made for it today. I wanted to encourage one of my friends at the Mission who has been getting tired of the struggle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil - and I wanted him to look beyond that to the rapture (when we will no longer struggle with our sinful human nature), and then to the changes that will happen in eternity.

The End Of The Fight
(Dedicated to my friend, Tim Groom
- one day the fight will be over!)

This world is getting darker;
The saints are in disarray;
The trials seem almost endless,
And we long for the break of day -
A time of no more struggles,
No more warring with this world,
No more wrestling with the darkness -
Into Hell, Satan will be hurled.

Chorus:
Oh, Jesus is coming again
To judge the children of men;
Then our Saviour will reign -
The King of kings from Jerusalem.
There'll be no more reason to fight;
No more need to lead to higher ground.
That's the end of the night;
The final division of lost and found.
Faith will be turned into sight,
And we can lay our armour down;
All the wrongs will be made right,
When God's people dwell safe and sound.

One day we will see that lightning flash,
Shining from the east to the west;
The trumpet will sound at last,
And weary Christians will be at rest;
We'll be caught up to meet our Lord
At that time - whether night or noon.
Keep looking up to the skies -
Our Redeemer is coming soon!

Chorus

Evil will be no longer;
All tears will be wiped away;
God will dwell among His people
On that bright and glorious day;
Eternity is approaching
Fast on the wings of the wind;
Jesus Christ is returning -
Are you ready to meet with Him?

There'll be no more reason to fight;
No more need to lead to higher ground.
That's the end of the night,
The final division of lost and found;
Faith will be turned into sight,
And we can lay our armour down;
All the wrongs will be made right,
When God's people dwell safe and sound.

September 21st/08
Jerry Bouey

Matthew 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Luke 21:27-28 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 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.

Revelation 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

The Father Of The Fatherless (Poem)

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

The Father Of The Fatherless

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

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

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

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

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

June 8th/08
Jerry Bouey

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Father Of The Fatherless

"No Accidents" (Poem)

One of my best friends is my Pastor's (Claude Madle's) brother in law, Bill Smith. Just before Christmas this past year, he and his family (including six children) were travelling in their truck, and hit an icy patch. They went off the road, and Bill's wife, Reesa, was thrown through the windshield and died. Everything they had with them was destroyed with the truck, though the rest of the family was fine. One of the older girls had injured her ankle, but nothing serious. When they picked up Reesa, they found her Bible - the only remaining object from the truck - underneath her. No doubt it was a legacy to her children, and a reminder that even in the hardest times, the Lord is still in control, and still with them.

This poem was passed on to me tonight by my pastor's daughter, Reesa's niece, in the hopes that I would use it and pass it on - perhaps placing it in my next poetry book (Lord willing). It was written by a close friend of Reesa's and put in the funeral bulletin. This summer, when my pastor's daughter does to their yearly Youth Retreat at Oklahoma Bible College (the college my pastor and his wife, as well as Bill and Reesa Smith went to), she will try to personally contact the author for any contact information, which she does not have now.

"No Accidents"

There are no accidents in the life of a Christian:
Our God has an ultimate plan.
Although troubles and trials may come,
He is present even when we don't understand.

Each new day is a part of His creation,
Perfect and absent of any mistakes;
And when life seems to take a turn for the worse,
We can trust Him for His sufficient grace.

When life's tragedies seem to close in upon us,
And its pressures are just more than we can bear,
We can remember His comforting promises,
And know for His saints, He is always right there.

God is not the author of confusion;
He is in complete and utter control.
His ways may not always be our ways,
But He gives peace and comfort to our aching soul.

Yes, there are no accidents in the life of a Christian,
And there will be times when we do not understand His plan.
But, yet one thing will remain for certain:
He is holding us in the middle of His Almighty hand.

We can know His will and His way is always best,
Even when His timing and dealings are not our own.
Our God is sovereign and merciful to His children,
And His love to us will always be shown.

We do not need to doubt Him.
We do not have to fear.
He will give grace and comfort,
And He will hear every prayer.

His Word is a source of comfort and strength.
We can stand on His promises within.
His unknowing plan will be accomplished,
As souls turns their hearts from sin.

"Remember, there are no accidents, my child,"
He will whisper softly in our heart's ear.
"Please continue to fight the good fight of faith and trust me.
For you, I will always be right here."

So when you feel like you cannot possibly go on,
And the strength you once had is no longer there,
Please remember, there are no accidents in the life of a Christian,
And you are always in His omnipotent care.

~Felicia Doss~
A college friend of Reesa Smith (Nov. 7, 1968-Dec. 20, 2006)
(Used With Permission)

To hear this poem presented in church, click here:
"No Accidents" - by Felicia Doss 

Day By Day (Hymn)

Day By Day
(Words: Karolina W. Sandell-Berg; Music: Oskar Ahnfelt.)

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

For a song written by me, based on the tune of this hymn, please visit this page:
In His Time

Lent By The Lord (Poem)

Poem for Sunday

I met a family last spring. They were one of the customers at the Hotel where I work at. They had an adopted son who was handicapped - he had to come to Kelowna for some treatment. I learned that the parents, and even this son, were believers. I shared some poetry with them, and talked a little with them about some things regarding their son's situation. Last October, when I came back from my Mom's memorial, I found out that this family was staying at the hotel again, so I looked them up. It turns out that their son had passed away during the summer. There were some complications with his death (it was believed that he was given the wrong medication by the hospital staff) - so the father was struggling with anger, not only over the loss but the possibility that it should never have happened humanly speaking). I did my best to remind them from the Bible that God was still in control, and sought to comfort them by sharing the comfort the Lord had given me over the loss of my Mom. Then that night I wrote this poem, as an attempt to remind them to focus on where their son now is - and how he is, what he will be like the next time they see him. In Heaven, all his problems are gone, all his disabilities are removed forever.

Lent By The Lord

Lent by the Lord - for such a little time -
This heritage to treasure, this beloved child of mine.

You brought us love, you touched our hearts,
You gave us joy in so many parts;
In so many reasons, and in so many ways,
We miss you now and will always.

You left us so suddenly - but the Lord was in control,
Though your departure from us leaves us with an empty hole:
In our hearts and our lives, in our home - in every space,
But by faith we know that you are now in a better place.

Though we are grieving and our hearts are wounded and bare,
There is coming a day when we will meet you in the air;
A time of reunion that nothing on earth could sever -
When you will be with us, and with Jesus, forever.

As we imagine that day and think of you with tears,
And we face the future with its unknown fears,
We will rejoice in the fact that you are now made whole -
Running and laughing in Heaven, rejoicing in your soul.

We look forward to that day - when no sorrow will remain -
Oh Lord, come again, and heal our hearts of this pain!
And remind us of Heaven, where we will see our loved one there -
Walking and talking with Jesus with no more worries or care.

Oh Lord, haste the day!

October 7th/05
Jerry Bouey

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:
and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Psalm 127:3

Mother's Day In Heaven (Poem)

Because of my commitment to Christ, my Mom and I had been estranged for years. She was somewhat religious, but did not know Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour, until about two or three years before she died. As a result, there were many Mother's Days that went by without regular contact (or anything special done) - but last year, now that we were reconciled and she had become a believer, I wanted to do something really special for her. She had moved back up to Canada, so I was able to purchase an expensive flower arrangement for her and have it delivered to her - I had never done anything like that before, but it meant a whole lot to my Mom. A couple of months later, I was able to see my Mom for a couple of days and spend my Mom's and stepdad's 21st wedding anniversary with them (and my sister and her children - Lori had come up to help our Mom with her progressively failing health) - the last time I had seen My Mom was for a couple of weeks in 2000, and the time prior to that was about 10 years before that because of her moving down to the States, and then later because of our estrangement.

Due to her bad health (cancer - which had since been healed, but then failed kidneys and liver due to all the treatments, etc.), she had gone gone into a short coma and was hospitalized for about a month (she had spent about half of the year prior to this in the hospital too), but she was released the week that I came down, and for the three or four days I got to see her she was doing okay. But the day after I came back home, she went back in the hospital. That visit on her anniversary was the last time I was able to see her on earth.

In light of my Dad's death at the end of March, when Mother's Day came around this year, I was thinking a lot about where my Mom was, and though I desired so much to do something special for her again, I knew I could not. This poem was a result of the mixed emotions and thoughts at that time: gladness because she was in Heaven with her Saviour, pain free; and sadness because I would not see her until I got home to Heaven somewhere further down the road.

Mother's Day In Heaven
(Dedicated to my Mom -
I miss you, and look forward to seeing you again!)

It’s your first Mother’s Day in Heaven –
I'm so thankful that you're not alone;
As you behold the face of our Saviour,
And are blessed to worship at His throne.

Mom, I would love to send you flowers,
Though their fading glory could not compare
To the beautiful sights and sounds of Heaven,
And your very own mansion over there.

I never thought so much about Heaven,
As I have since you’ve gone home to that place –
Oh Mom, I miss you so very much,
And I long to see your precious face.

You see, this earthly home now seems more empty –
Its glitter and glamour can no more impress;
For Heaven is the place of God’s truest riches –
Where our Father only keeps the best!

Since you turned and trusted in the Saviour,
An amazing change has taken place;
Dwelling in the presence of Jesus now,
In Heaven - only because of His grace.

It’s your first Mother’s Day in Heaven –
With everlasting joy and peace up there.
Oh Mom, I miss you so much now,
But I know our reunion will be beyond compare.

May 8th/06
Jerry Bouey

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

Mother's Day In Heaven

Through This Valley (Poem)

Poem for Thursday

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

Through This Valley
(Dedicated to my Mom, with love)

There's a shadow looming over me, and the pain is often near;
There's a storm cloud on the horizon, and the thunder causes fear;
But in the midst of this uncertainty, MY LORD IS ALWAYS HERE!

Through this Valley, with these tears, walking onward I go,
Not running in a hurry, nor lagging behind too slow;
For there's a peace within my heart - MY LORD IS HERE - I KNOW!

The journey can't be much longer - oh, this body aches and moans;
Though just around another corner, ahead is my eternal home;
And I know within THIS Valley, I AM NOT WALKING ALONE!

There's a hand that I am holding,
though the path is rough and steep;
There's a promise that I can cling to,
that I know my Lord will keep -
FOR THE LORD IS STILL MY SHEPHERD,
AND I AM STILL HIS SHEEP!

Oh, what is that on the horizon? A glimpse of golden streets...
My heart's so filled with wonder - as face to face we meet -
Now with joy I can see Jesus - and I worship at His feet;
THROUGH THIS VALLEY, TO THE SAVIOUR,
and my journey is complete.

September 19th/05
Jerry Bouey

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23:6

Written about 2 days before my Mom went home to be with the Lord - this was written just before I left for work (for my graveyard shift) on the 19th of September, and my Mom passed away early in the morning on the 22nd.

Since Yesterday by Martha Snell Nicholson (Poem)

Perhaps this week could be set aside to post poems about Heaven or our pilgrimage there. This poem is one that had an impact on me last year, and was a tremendous source of comfort. A friend, who was influential in my starting to preach at the Gospel Mission over 2 1/2 years ago, went home to be with the Lord at the beginning of 2005 - then later, my Mom also went home to be with the Lord. This poem is a testimony of where they are now:

Since Yesterday

Along the golden streets
A stranger walks tonight
With wonder in his heart --
Faith blossomed into sight.

He walks and stops and stares,
And walks and stares again
At vistas of loveliness
Beyond the dreams of men.

He who was feeble, weak,
And shackled to a bed
Now climbs eternal hills
With light and easy tread.

He has escaped at last
The cruel clutch of pain;
His lips shall never taste
Her bitter cup again.

Oh never call him dead,
This bouyant one and free,
Whose daily portion is
Delight and ecstacy!

He bows in speechless joy
Before the feet of Him
Whom, seeing not, he loved
While yet his sight was dim.

Along the golden streets
No stranger walks today,
But one who, long homesick,
Is home at last, to stay!

~Martha Snell Nicholson~

Please also read this poem by the same author: Eternity

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

In His Time (Song)

This note was written the same time the poem was, last August. The following poem was written by way of encouragement to those dealing with difficult decisions and issues in their lives, who desire to do right, but are uncertain of the way the Lord would have them go right now. It was written to the tune of Day By Day - a hymn that has truly had an impact on my life these last few months. The first line of my poem came into my mind to that tune and I couldn't get it back out again - so I started praying for the Lord to give me the words to make a song out of it. He brought some passages to mind, and here is the result. I hope it is a blessing to you.

One thing that blessed my heart about the song I wrote: a friend sang it in her church in Australia as a special on the Sunday after it was written.

In His Time

In His time, He makes all things beautiful -
With tear-dimmed eyes, we may not see how.
Keep on trusting in your Father's wisdom,
Do not fear - you're in His hands right now.
Jesus Christ, your Saviour and Redeemer,
Loves you so - of that you need not doubt.
He has a plan - thoughts of peace, for your good -
His plan, that He is working out.

In His time, He makes all things beautiful -
Working all according to His plan;
He has a purpose He set in motion -
Even though we may not understand.
Father, perfect that which concerneth me -
Help me, Lord, to lay these burdens down.
Grant me peace, to know I am in Your will;
Strengthen me, with joy surround.

In His time, He makes all things beautiful -
He heals the soul, binds up the broken heart.
He comforts with a grace beyond all measure -
Hope in Him, and let Him do His part.
He knows your needs before you even ask Him.
Give Him your cares - whether great or small.
Just trust the Lord - He knows the best time
To make all things beautiful!

August 24th/05
Jerry Bouey

(Dedicated to my Sis, Lori)

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Romans 8:28 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.