The Pathway Of Pain
Helen Steiner Rice
These are poems and hymns to edify and strengthen others, to be a witness of the love of God, to exhort others to trust in the Lord more. The name is based on Job 35:10; Psalms 42:8 and 77:6. Only the Lord can give songs in the night - only He can give peace and joy to His children in the midst of their trials and sorrows. It is only through Him that songs can spring up out of troubled hearts - and it is those same songs that truly can touch and minister to the hearts of others.
Helen Steiner Rice
He Restoreth My Soul
Torn Between Two Desires
I am waiting daily for the shout -
Your Word says it, there's no doubt.
I am waiting eagerly for the trumpet to blow,
But deep in my heart, there's a voice I know.
Saying, "Come to Me, My people. Go and tell others too.
Come freely take the Water of Life - it is flowing for you.
One day I am coming from Heaven to take you home;
To those who are willing to listen, I bid you come."
I know You are coming quickly,
That day can't be too far away.
I want the world to know Your love,
I want others to be able to say:
"Come, Lord Jesus - we long someday to see Your face,
Come, Lord Jesus - of night, there will no longer be a trace,
Come, Lord Jesus, oh do quickly come,
Come soon, Jesus, and take us home."
I am thirsty for the Living Water,
And I know others are thirsting too.
I want to see everyone come to You, Lord,
But oh how I want to see You!
Come, Lord Jesus.
September 1st, 1995
Jerry Bouey
Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 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.
O Taste And See
There is an emptiness in all our hearts;
A longing only the Lord can fill.
There's turmoil inside, a restlessness,
Only the peace of God can still.
O taste and see.
The burden of sin weighs heavily -
A burden that is too much to bear.
You can cast them all upon Jesus Christ,
He died for your sins because He cares.
O taste and see.
There's a new beginning - a blank page -
Waiting to be written for you.
Turn to the Saviour; He can cleanse each stain.
He alone makes all things new.
O taste and see.
O taste and see that the Lord is good,
He loves you so much, that's true!
O taste and see that the Lord is gracious,
See how much He cares for you!
O taste and see.
O taste and see that the Lord is good,
The Shepherd is seeking and calling you.
The price was paid for all who will come.
Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you.
O taste and see!
December 2nd, 2002
Jerry Bouey
O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.
Psalm 34:8
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1 Peter 2:2-3
Casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7
My Servant, Israel
(Isaiah 43)
Fear not for I have redeemed you
Fear not - I have called you by name
And you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters
Fear not - I will be with you all the time.
Through rivers you will pass
But they will not overflow
Through the fire you will walk
As the flames and embers glow
But you will not even be scorched
Nor shall you suffer a burn
For the Lord, the Holy One is your Saviour
Oh Israel, won't you learn?
You are precious in My sight
I have honoured and I will love you
Though you blindly walk in night
My glory will shine above you
I, the Lord, have formed you
Behold, I have called you by My name
I will exchange your life for others
And ransom you with the same.
Fear not, My children
I will gather you to Me
Though you have ears and you have eyes
You are deaf and cannot see
I have made you to be My witnesses
Oh My servant, hear My voice
There are no other gods, but Me
I Am your only choice.
It is I who have declared
I have proclaimed and I will save
I will rescue from captivity
All of Mine who are enslaved
I Am from eternity
All I have created I hold within My hand
Is there any other who can deliver?
Tell Me now if you can.
Remember not your past, oh Israel
Though it was for you I parted the Red Sea
I did this for My people
So you would praise and glorify Me
Behold, now I will do something new
Something that has never before been done
I will wipe out all your sins for My sake
If you will just call upon My Son.
March 23rd, 1995
Jerry Bouey
"For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him,
should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16
Meaningless?
Life is meaningless
As Solomon said, "All is vanity."
Nothing is worth living for
Except God
Nothing is worth everything
Except God.
He is my only reason for living
He is in my heart
Always on my mind
The possessor of my soul
He is the great "I Am"
His throne is established from of old.
Jesus is my Lord, my Saviour
My Shepherd
I am a sheep of His pasture
I know Him
And that knowledge alone is worth eternity.
The fellowship, the lovingkindness
And mercy He showers upon me
I could never give up
He is the only Way
He is ultimate Truth
He is my Life.
He is the only God
I worship only Him
I will never turn away
Or give Him up for anything.
Life is utterly meaningless
Vanity of vanities
From beginning to end
Without the Alpha and Omega
The First and the Last
Who is, who was, and who is to come
He that liveth, and was dead, and is alive forevermore
The Almighty,
My Saviour, My God,
Jesus.
August 3rd, 1994
Jerry Bouey
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher,
vanity of vanities; all is vanity...
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
...The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no new thing under the sun...
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun;
and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit...
Ecclesiastes Chapter One,
written by King Solomon,
the richest, wisest man who ever lived.
Without the Lord Jesus Christ, everything life could possibly offer is only Vanity of Vanities. As Alexander Grosse said so meaningfully in 1632, "Where Christ reveals Himself there is satisfaction in the slenderest portion, and without Christ there is emptiness in the greatest fulness."
What are you doing under the sun? Why don't you set your heart on the things of Heaven. Look above this sin-cursed world with its gaudy trinkets and worthless baubles. Look above the sun, to the Son! Set your heart on Jesus! And find life's true meaning in Him.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth...
(Colossians 3:1-2)
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(Matthew 6:19-21)
Listen To My Voice
Trust in Me, I'm calling you.
Hear My voice speak inside of you.
My love is so great - if you only knew.
My grace is so real - I died for you.
(John 3:16)
I have a mansion that is being made.
It is prepared for you, the foundation is laid.
It was purchased already, the price was paid;
Furnished with love and glory that will not fade.
(John 14:1-6)
There is only one thing, that I ask of you:
That you give Me your heart, and your future too.
I have great plans, if you only knew.
A life of hope; still, I'm calling you.
(Jeremiah 31:3 and 29:11-13)
Behold, I stand at the door, with joy and peace forevermore,
But there is something, that keeps Me from you:
I Am holy, as Isaiah knew,
Your sinfulness separates Me from you,
A distance so far between us two.
(Isaiah 6:1-8; 59:2; 64:6; Romans 3:9-26; Revelation 3:20)
All I desire is that you open your heart,
And give Me your life - each and every part.
Believe fully in My sacred Word;
Accept Me and I will be your Lord.
I Am the sacrifice, the atonement for sin,
I paid the price, I died and rose again.
I offer you life everlasting -
But there is one final thing.
(Isaiah 53; 1 John 5:10-13)
You must believe in Me, and trust in My love;
Believe that I care, and that I reign from above;
Turn from your ways, and turn towards Me;
I Am God alone, there is none beside Me.
I Am the only one that can ever save.
I Am the first to resurrect from the grave.
I Am Jesus Christ and I give you this choice:
Today in your heart, listen to My voice.
(Acts 4:12; Isaiah 43:10-11; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 4:7)
Believe in Me and I will heal your soul;
Turn to Me and I will make you whole;
Accept My grace - It is a gift of hope -
A new life within, a reason to cope;
I will renew you, restore you, if in Me you confide.
My love is unending, so deep and so wide.
The life I offer is not without cost,
But it is the only way.
I look forward to your answer.
Will it be: "I accept your love today?"
(Matthew 11:28-30; Ephesians 3:14-21; Romans 10:9-17; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 40:29-31 and 41:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:28-39)
May 5th, 1995
Jerry Bouey
The Place Where Jesus Lives
Have you been to the place where Jesus lives?
That little church by the side of the road;
Where God's children meet in fellowship sweet,
And where the Gospel of Christ is told.
Have you been to the place where Jesus lives?
That peace-filled home along the way;
Where a loving family meets in fellowship sweet,
With joy and thanksgiving, they pray.
Have you been to the place where Jesus lives?
That contrite heart that has turned from sin and shame;
Where a humble soul meets with their Lord so sweet,
And rejoices to know the Saviour's name.
October 22nd, 2000
Jerry Bouey
Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
On My Knees
On my knees I will worship
the King of heaven and earth.
Lord of all creation,
You alone are worth
More than a million diamonds,
or pearls from the sea,
For they will pass away, my Lord,
but You will always be.
When troubles come, my God,
I know You will conquer all.
You will heal my heart and rescue me
every time I fall.
In the darkest night of despair,
my Jesus, You'll pull me through.
There is no other Saviour, Lord,
there is only You.
When my heart is tempted away, Lord,
I know You will pull me back.
When riches start to sway me,
remind me there's no lack
Of Your glorious blessings.
I have no use for greed.
You are love eternal;
that is all I really need.
When the world grabs at my attention
don't let me be lured away.
All the money I can dream of
is not worth one single day
Of being without You,
my Lord, my God, my King.
You alone are worth forever,
You're worth everything!
May 18th, 1994
Jerry Bouey
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious... Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious... 1 Peter 2:3-4, 7
Take My Life
Take my life, Lord, take every part,
Look deep within and reveal my heart.
Show me the areas
where I need to change.
Take my life - it's yours to rearrange.
Take my life, Lord, take it all.
Please pick me up each time I fall.
Grant me to know
what you love and hate.
Help me to enter through the narrow gate.
Wash my sins, Lord, wash them away.
Cleanse my heart, help me to obey.
Teach me self-control
and make me pure.
Grant me your strength, help me to endure.
July 12th, 1995
Jerry Bouey
True worship is humbling yourself before Jesus Christ for salvation, and committing yourself to following Him and obeying Him according to His Word. All else is just being religious, which doesn't please God and won't get you into Heaven. There's a reason Jesus Christ is called both Lord and Saviour. When both titles are put together in Scripture, it is always Lord and Saviour, never the other way around. You can only truly receive Christ as Saviour when you accept His Lordship in your life, then as His disciple you follow Him by seeking guidance from His Word.
But as many as received him (Jesus),
to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13.