Compel Them To Come In (Poem)

 

Compel Them To Come In

(Luke 14:16-23)

All things are now ready, sinner, come in from the cold,
Come in from the streets and lanes, enter into His fold.
Calling for the blind, when your sins have blocked your view.
Calling for the lame, when your sins have crippled you.

Calling for the poor, there is great treasure still in sight;
Come in from the darkness, come into the light.
There is yet room in Heaven for whosoever will,
Come into the Father's house, and walk on Zion's hill.

Turn away from your sins, the Lord is calling still.
Compel others to come in that My house may be filled.
Go out into the highways and the hedges, and compel them to come in.
Go into all the world and tell others about Him.

Tell them all about the Saviour who died to make men free,
Tell them all about Jesus and His love for you and me.
Go out into the highways and the hedges, and compel them to come in.
Shine the light of the Gospel into a soul dark and dim.

Witness of the Lamb of God who paid sin's dreadful price,
And tell everyone you meet about His great sacrifice.

January 27th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

And the servant said,
Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded,
and yet there is room.
And the Lord said unto the servant,
Go out into the highways and hedges,
and compel them to come in,
that My house may be filled.
Luke 14:22-23

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev. 22:17

The Greatest Story Ever Told (Poem)

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Awestruck and wonder-filled, we slowly gaze around;
Feel the light patter of the snow gently falling down.
Cheerful children laughing and playing without a care,
While smells of Christmas waft upon the wintery air.
Songs of the season sound serenely throughout the night,
All of these sensations touch our souls with joy and delight.

Feel the warmth of the crackling fire as you come in from the cold;
Sense the wonder and the thrill of The Greatest Story Ever Told.
Sit back and listen while your hearts fill with utter joy;
Hear the Gospel writers tell of the birth of a little Boy.
Not just any boy, mind you - listen, and let your imagination unfurl;
In Bethlehem was born the Son destined to change the world.

Picture the scene in your mind of God coming down to earth -
Not in majesty or splendour, but by a lowly birth;
Surrounded by rustling animals in a manger filled with hay;
No room for them in the inn, from its shelter they were turned away.
Feel the nip in the air, and hear the silence broken by a cry -
The cry of the Baby born, the Baby born to die.

"For unto you is born this day…
…a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

He came to fulfill the prophecies all the prophets had foretold;
From the foundation of the world, His suffering was planned of old;
From the first couple in the garden to the last soul ever born,
The Messiah would bear their sins and sorrows, with cruelty and scorn.
On the wooden cross He shed His blood, by Him the wrath of God was borne;
Till another cry broke through the silence, and the temple veil was torn.

“…and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people from their sins.”

“It is finished,” cried out Jesus, and died that very hour -
But three days later, the Son of God arose again in power.
“It is finished” - the tomb is empty, go to the brethren and tell:
“He is not here: for He is risen” - He shook the very gates of Hell.
Jesus Christ died for all our sins - that is the Gospel story;
Go tell it boldly to the world - the Saviour arose again in glory.

“It is finished!”

December 3rd, 2025
Jerry Bouey

Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

As The Lily Among Thorns (Poems)

 

As The Lily Among Thorns

Jesus is the Lily of the Valleys,
Our Saviour is the fairest of delight.
In the darkness of this world,
He’s the bright and shining light.

As the Lily among thorns,
So are His people in this life;
Transplanted spots of beauty,
In the midst of harm and strife.

In His eyes, so spotless, pure, and lovely,
Regal, transformed, and undefiled;
Like the precious flowers of the field,
Clothed with splendour is God’s child.

Living in the midst of thorns -
So tragic is their plight:
While they scorn and harm the lilies,
They dwell in the darkest night.

But sometimes a seed is planted
Among the thorns; yes, tis true;
As the Gospel seed is watered,
We may find a surprising view.

The wonder of the Saviour’s love,
Touching hearts and souls His way -
Can a forgotten thorn become a lily,
Changed and transformed in a day?

In this life, a mystery to imagine,
But now a splendour to behold.
Once, reckless and abandoned,
A new sheep welcomed to the fold.

Live your life for Jesus’ glory;
Be as your Saviour in this world -
Sow the seeds of the Gospel,
And watch as new life unfurls.

March 17th, 2025
Jerry Bouey

Song of Songs 2:1-2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Matthew 6:28-30 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Matthew 9:36-38 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Acts 9:4-6 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Stand Fast (Poem)

 

Stand Fast

We look around at a world
That is changing day by day.
A little here, a little there,
Truth and Justice fade away.

We can't condone these changes.
The churches must shine a while more.
We must learn to love the sinners
While our hearts are torn by war.

A battle between God's Spirit
And the lawlessness of man.
While the Lord still extends His mercy,
The end must come as planned.

We must keep walking in the Spirit,
Holding forth the Word of Life,
And pray that they will hear it
Amidst the emptiness and strife.

Petitioning our Father
For the souls that come our way.
With our hearts in one accord,
Waiting for that coming Day.

As brethren in Christ Jesus,
We must firmly hold our ground.
Watching for our Lord's return,
Praying a faithful remnant will be found.

Pleading for the Righteous Judge
To establish Justice once again,
Waiting for the Prince of Peace
To begin His endless reign.

June 23rd, 1996
Jerry Bouey

2 Peter 3:9-13 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. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Psalm 85:9-12 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

For the sake of clarity and striving for the truth, I have removed the original second verse.

It is so easy to react,
To point our fingers and to judge,
But we must learn to forgive.
It only hurts us to hold a grudge.

In 1996, I meant something entirely different about not judging than the "Christian" world means today. We are not The Judge, but the Lord God has commanded all of us to judge all that we see around us, including teachings and actions, by the Word of God. This is how we learn to discern between truth and error, between the people of God and the lost, between true Bible preachers and teachers and false teachers and false brethren whose ultimate goal is to lead us astray from God and His Word.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Hebrews 5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Nothing But His Love (Poem)

 

Nothing But His Love

Like Peter and John, I have nothing,
I don’t even have silver or gold;
But indeed I offer you something
That's worth more than treasures untold.

It's the joy in my heart - I give it to you;
The hope stored within - I’ll share it with you.

I may not have much to give.
I tell you, friend, it's true;
But what God's Spirit has given me,
I freely give to you.

Look inside my heart - look deep within.
Look past those spots, once stained with sin.

Look at the river of living water,
Flowing so powerfully, yet gently, from His Spirit.

Listen to the beating rhythm of His love;
Sometimes it may seem faint -
But I pray, can you hear it?

November 7th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

See Acts 3 for the Biblical story and some of the ideas behind this poem.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

John 7:37-39a In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive…

My Heart's Desire (Poem)

 

My Heart's Desire

Lord, let my love go to Your people;
Let my heart break for the lost;
Let me give my life in service,
For the message of the cross.

Let me go to all the nations,
Or let me serve You here at home -
For wherever You will lead me,
Let me kneel before Your throne.

Let me see others as You see them;
Let me love them as You do;
Let my heart be burdened greatly,
To bring lost children home to You.

Let me pour my heart out to You;
Let me petition You each day;
Let Your love flow right through me,
Bowing before You as I pray.

Let me carry Your Word to others,
As You guide me by Your hand;
Let me boldly speak Your wonders -
Lord, open hearts to understand.

Give me wisdom, give me courage;
Let me be part of Your plan;
Let me always persevere
In this grace in which I stand.

Lord, as You go before me,
Let my feet so gladly follow.
Let me always share Your mercies
To a world lost and hollow.

Let me carry forth this Good News,
Lord, and set the captives free;
Let me serve You with my whole heart,
As I give myself to Thee.

November 4th, 1996
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

When I Stop Praying (Poem)

 

When I Stop Praying

When I stop praying - my whole life falls apart,
No joy thrills my soul, no peace fills my heart,
My compassion soon dies and my desires are not met,
The future seems uncertain, and there's no end of debt.

When I stop praying - it is obvious, the Lord I have not sought,
I have not seen Him work in my life and heart as I ought,
The things that I loathe about myself are still there,
And the plans that I am making are castles built on the air.

When I stop praying - I have let reign fear and doubt,
I have taken the reins of my life and left the Master out;
To other Christians and the world, I have let it be known
That I am prideful and think I can do it all on my own.

When I stop praying - it's obvious to the Lord that I fell
From my own steadfastness while others are on their way to Hell,
I am not standing in the gap, nor caring for the lost,
I am not plucking brands from the fire, nor counting the cost.

When I start praying again - the reverse is quite true,
I have moved my eyes off of myself and put them back upon You,
Claiming God's promises, seeing hearts and lives truly changed,
With a burden for souls, my priorities are rearranged.

When I start praying - answered prayers are only part of the story,
Now my mind is transformed, and I am living for God's glory,
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the word on my lips,
And my soul is grieved when I let an opportunity slip.

When I start praying - Jesus is precious to my soul,
My heart is no longer broken, but perfectly whole,
Fellowship with my Lord is wonderfully sweet
As my life is filled with victory instead of defeat.

When I start praying - there are riches that are waiting to be found,
Joy fills my heart, and the peace of God does abound,
The Word of God opens up like a bounteous treasure chest;
As the burdens are lifted, I am secure in my haven of rest.

December 24th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

Prayer moves the arm that moves the world.
Charles Spurgeon

Fervency is the fire on the altar of your heart
that burns the incense of prayer
and sends the sweet-smelling savour up to God.
Jerry Bouey

I was not looking at the little in hand, but at the fullness of God.
George Mueller, when his needs were great and the supply small

I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all;
but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.
Martin Luther

Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.
William Carey

All God’s giants have been weak men, who did great things for God
because they reckoned on His being with them.
Hudson Taylor

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Jude 22-23 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.

1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Tell The World About Jesus (Song)

 

Tell The World About Jesus

The light is shining in the darkness,
but can this lost world see?
Can they see the glorious light
of Jesus Christ shining through me?
We are the light of this dark world,
but is our light still glowing bright,
Are we separated from the darkness,
do we stand out in the night?

(Chorus)
Let's tell them all about Jesus
and His love for their precious souls;
Let's tell them how He died,
and how through faith they can be made whole;
Let's tell them He arose in triumph,
victorious over the grave;
Let's tell them all about the Saviour,
for the debt's already been paid.

Are we the salt of this world,
do we create a thirst for Him?
Do we still offer the solution
to the souls scarred from sin?
Can they really see the difference
that Jesus Christ has made in me?
Have you told others about the Saviour
who died to make them free?

Let's tell the world about Jesus,
let's tell them the Gospel story;
Let's bring this message to the lost,
let's tell them for our Father's glory;
Let's love our neighbours sincerely,
and love the Lord with all our heart;
Let's love others by sharing the Gospel -
that's the only place to start!

May 19th, 2003
Jerry Bouey

And He said unto them,
Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2

The Road - A Story In Four Parts (Poem)

Here is one of my earlier Christian poems told in the form of a story or allegory. Perhaps it will cause someone else to think about what road they are on in life: the Broad Way or the Narrow Way. If you are not sure you what road you are on, please make sure you are on the Narrow Road by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

The Road - Part One
The Rearview Mirror

There's a little Narrow Road that leads to life.
You drive on past and say, "This is nice.
This wide eight-laned Highway is just great!"
Shifting gears, you speed on past the Narrow Gate.

You head off into the distance,
Down this winding Highway;
On the roadside a sign is posted -
What does it say?

"Destruction Ahead."
Boy, you think, someone can't spell.
This road is paved much too smoothly
To lead anyone to Hell.

You glance quickly into your rearview mirror,
But the Narrow Road can no longer be seen.
With your foot on the gas pedal,
You pour on the power to this pleasure machine.

This is so perfect - this life, you think,
Giving no thought to Him,
So many roadside attractions
Catering to your every whim...

The Road - Part Two
The Crash

So many drug-filled days
And pleasure-filled nights,
You're so blinded by the darkness,
You can't even see the Light.

You've been on this Highway so long,
But the days are all the same,
You sample more perverse pursuits
To try to deaden the pain.

Suddenly, on the side of the road
You see an awful flash.
One of those pleasure mobiles
Has started to crash.

A terrible ball of fire,
An intense wave of heat,
Then a bright vehicle pulls over -
So shiny and sleek.

A heavenly being slowly steps out;
He seems to be glowing from within.
He pulls open the door of the wreckage,
And takes the shaking driver with him.

For a second, you glimpse the driver's face,
But you can't understand the awful look of fright.
The heavenly being was so beautiful -
Who could ever be afraid of an Angel of Light?

You hear a hoarse scream
As they drive out of sight,
Disappearing forever
Into the darkest night.

The Road - Part Three
The Stranger

Somehow, this life doesn't fill you -
It leaves you hungry and cold;
Thirsting for something more,
Yet feeling empty and old.

You've tried everything life has to offer,
But nothing really satisfies;
Vanity of vanities,
This whole world is filled with lies!

Without hope, you drive slower...
It's hard to steer with these tears in your eyes.

Ahead, you see a Man standing by the roadside,
Shouting, "Come, buy and eat. Living Water for sale."
Your mind screams to drive on by,
But the aching hunger prevails.

When you approach The Stranger, He says,
"What I offer is free." In His hand is a glass.
But before you can sip the cool liquid,
He has something to ask.

"Are you willing to come to Me,
And from evil refrain?
If you drink this cup that I give you,
You need never thirst again."

"For this Water of Life
Someone had to die.
It was bought with a price -
That price was I."

"If you take My yoke upon you,
You'll find that My burden is light.
You must depart from your sinful ways,
And turn away from the night."

In your mind's eye you can see
Three crosses standing on a hill;
And hear the middle Man shouting,
"It is finished!" and then all is still.

Three dark days later,
In the early morning gloom,
You see that the stone is rolled away
From Jesus' empty tomb.

"He is not here... He is risen,"
A voice suddenly cries;
You then turn to meet The Stranger
With a startled look of surprise.

The Road - Part Four
The Narrow Gate

You accept The Stranger's offer,
Trusting in His sacrifice by faith;
Believing He alone is the Saviour,
And that He died in your place.

His blood has cleansed you forever,
And wiped all your sin away;
Out of gratitude and love,
You start down the Narrow Way.

You leave the Broad Highway -
Now it no longer beckons to you.
As you walk through the Narrow Gate,
You see a wonderful view:

Not a Road strewn with roses;
Instead, it's filled with trials and pain,
But there's hope in the midst of it all,
Peace and joy again.

You look for the Lord Jesus,
And see He is walking there beside you.
You grasp His nail-scarred hands,
And whisper, "Thank you."

August 31, 1995
Jerry Bouey

Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Isaiah 55:1-3 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 

God Is In Control (Poem)

 

God Is In Control

God is in control;
Sometimes it’s hard to see.
It’s time we faced His reality.
God is supreme
In His sovereignty;
He is in control of eternity.

We reach for Him,
We try to grasp His hand;
He has made a way
Just like He planned.
His Son died for the sins of man;
He is our only sacrificial Lamb.

He paid the price;
He bore all our shame.
He gives life to those who
Believe on His name.
Take the free gift of God,
It’s yours to claim.
He will change your heart;
You will never be the same.

May 2nd, 1994
Jerry Bouey

Isaiah prophesying about the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 53:1-6
Who hath believed our report?
and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,
and as a root out of a dry ground:
he hath no form nor comeliness;
and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him;
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows:
yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
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.

Acts 17:26-28a And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being…

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Contend For The Faith (Poem)

 

Contend For The Faith

When this lost world wants to bring you down,
When the error of the wicked everywhere abounds,
Hold fast what you have, that no man take your crown.
Contend for the faith - you're standing on holy ground.

For the unsaved that God places in your path each day -
For the prodigal sons that have wandered astray -
Put on your Gospel Armour and enter the fray.
Contend for the faith - and fervently pray.

For the lost in a world that is reaching its end - contend!
For the precious souls of your loved ones and friends - contend!
Against a society that doesn't dare to "offend" - contend!
For the Truths on which eternal life depends - contend!

June 19th, 2002
Jerry Bouey

Jude 3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude 17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

2 Peter 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Have Compassion, Making A Difference (Song)

 

Have Compassion, Making A Difference

I thought I was a good Christian, I thought I loved the lost;
I believed I was a giving soul - willing to count the cost.
But there was something that was missing, and it truly came clear to me:
If I wanted to make a difference, having compassion was the key.

Chorus:
Have compassion, making a difference,
Share the truth that will make them free -
From a heart stirred by the love of God,
Making a difference - eternally!

I thought I was so satisfied, serving from day to day;
But somehow I made no difference on the lost who came my way.
"Search my heart, oh God!" I cried, "Make me a vessel fit for Your use.
'Give me souls, or I die.' It's Your will alone that I choose."

Chorus

I see the lost stumbling by, blindly on their way to Hell;
They need to know the Saviour - oh, who will go to them and tell?
Tell them of Jesus who died, so they can live eternally;
Moved with compassion, my heart's cry, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"

Chorus

Have compassion, making a difference,
Rescue souls that are bound by sin.
The Father's House is waiting,
For us to bring the prodigals in.

Chorus

Have compassion, making a difference...

January 8th, 2006
Jerry Bouey

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.
Jude 1:22-23

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,
Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Isaiah 6:8

"Give me souls or I die." - John Hyde, known as Praying Hyde.

The story is told about an old man, walking the beach at dawn, who noticed a young man ahead of him picking up starfish and flinging them into the sea. Catching up with the youth, he asked what he was doing. The answer was that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.

"But the beach goes on for miles and miles, and there are millions of starfish," countered the man. "How can your effort make any difference?"

The young man looked at the starfish in his hand, and then threw it into the waves.

"It makes a difference to this one," he said.

The same goes for each effort put forth to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It may seem like a never-ending task, but it does make a difference in the lives of those who hear it and believe.

- Taken from a church bulletin.

Full Assurance (Song)

 

Full Assurance

(To the tune of So Little Time)

Full assurance - we pray - of understanding
Is yours in Christ - you are complete in Him.
Riches above, are stored in Heaven waiting.
Rejoice, my friend, you're a child of the King.

Chorus:
Today we serve, with fullness of understanding,
Assurance of hope, through eyes of faith;
So let us love our dear Lord supremely.
Let us be faithful, as we run this race.

Full assurance, stand fast in this your hope now.
Be diligent, be faithful to the end.
A crown of life, rewards for those who serve Christ -
Jesus remembers all that's done for Him.

Full assurance - steadfast is the eye of faith.
Approach God's throne, with boldness, plead for souls.
Let us draw near, give all our cares to Jesus;
Behold the prize - press on towards the goal.

2nd Chorus:
Today we serve, with fullness of understanding,
Assurance of hope, through eyes of faith;
So let us love our Saviour supremely.
Brethren, be faithful, as you run this race.

January 22nd, 2004
Jerry Bouey

That their hearts might be comforted,
being knit together in love,
and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding,
to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God,
and of the Father, and of Christ;
Colossians 2:2

And we desire that every one of you
do shew the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Hebrews 6:11

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22

A Lasting Impression (Poem)

 

A Lasting Impression

For I delivered to you as of first importance
that which I also believed,
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
that which also you received:

In the truths of the Scriptures
you took your stand -
Holding fast to the salvation
which our God has planned;

Christ died for our sins, was buried,
and was raised on the third day,
According the Scriptures;
testifying that this is the way.

My beloved brethren, be unmoveable,
diligent and always steadfast;
Knowing that if you persevere in the Lord,
your labour will surely last.

September 19th, 1995
Jerry Bouey

1 Corinthians 15:1-3 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;

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

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.

How Shall They Call? (Poem)

How Shall They Call?

In a world that is blinded by darkness,

Men’s souls that are shadowed by night,

We shine out among those around us -

To the lost and perishing, we are the light.

How shall they call unless they hear the truth.

How shall they respond unless they know;

How shall they ever hear the Gospel,

Unless someone here tells them so.

Jesus Christ paid the price that was needed

To redeem mankind back from their sin;

The Holy Spirit came to this world,

So that lost man could be born again.

But how shall they call unless they hear Him;

How shall they respond unless they know

How shall the lost world hear of Jesus,

Unless someone saved is willing to go?

We need to see the lost souls around us;

Hear their cries, let them touch our hearts;

We’ve been sent out by our Father -

Let us be faithful and each do our part.

How shall they call unless they hear Jesus;

How shall they respond unless they know;

How shall they ever believe the Gospel,

Unless someone here is willing to go?

November 12, 2023

Jerry Bouey

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Philippians 2:15-16 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

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.

Because You Passed My Way (Poem)

Because You Passed My Way

My load's a little lighter now,
Because you passed my way -
The sun's a little brighter
And the clouds have passed away.

I've found my Saviour nearer,
And each day He grows still dearer
And I'm on my way to Glory,
Because you passed my way.

I was lost and no one seemed to care
Until you passed my way,
You saw me, and led me to Christ
Oh, what a happy day,

Now I'm living all for Jesus,
And with Him I'll be some day,
For I found a new beginning,
Because you passed my way.

And when in realms of glory,
I see His precious face,
And hear the angel voices
Within that heavenly place,

I'll remember that sinner,
Who once had gone astray,
Might not be there in Glory,
Had you not passed my way.

- Eleanor Taylor Rhodes, in Gospel Herald

2 Corinthians 5:14-21  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 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.

Jude 22-23  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.

I Sleep, But My Heart Waketh (Poem)

 I Sleep, But My Heart Waketh

I sleep, but my heart waketh - my Shepherd is near -
The voice of my Beloved is knocking;
I’ve grown so comfortable here in my room -
Outside, in the cold, I hear Him talking.

“Arise, and come away with Me, My love,”
He tenderly calls to me, but I waver.
Though due to my sin, He withdraws Himself;
Yet, in the night air, I still smell His savour.

Slowly, I rise, but can’t feel His presence:
The dark street seems so desolate and empty;
I cannot find where my Beloved has gone -
My own lukewarmness made Him depart from me.

The watchmen of the city wounded me sore,
They tore my veil away and left me senseless;
Stripped of my covering, there was nowhere to hide;
My own compromise had left me defenseless.

My heart leaped in anguish and I cried out in fear;
Repentant, I sought Him whom my soul loveth;
No longer desiring to be left on my own,
Quickened again, I called out for my Beloved.

“What is thy Beloved more than another beloved?”
The daughters of Jerusalem wondered,
“Where has He gone, that we may seek Him with you?”
And then, within my heart, the answer thundered:

“My Beloved is gone down into His garden,”
Feeding among His children, He meets with them there -
I am still my Beloved’s, and He is still mine!
Rejoicing, restored, I seek Him now in prayer.

May 9th, 2022
Jerry Bouey

In the Song of Solomon, Solomon, the Shepherd, is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ and the woman in the song, the Shulamite, represents the believer. This poem is based mostly on Song of Solomon chapter five, with some references to other verses within that book. That chapter covers a time of backsliding in the believer’s life until she gets her focus back upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and is restored to her Shepherd and Saviour.

For a study based on this theme/chapter, please read: Is Your Armour On?

Less people must read and study the Song of Solomon than I previously thought. Instead of digging in deeply to this poetic allegory that presents an awesome picture of our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, they neglect this book completely or quickly read through it without attempting to understand it - which is sad and frankly discouraging. If we can study and trace out the symbolism of the book of Revelation through the rest of the Bible, surely we can do the same with this book. It is a blessing to understand the picture and how it fits our walk with the Lord, our struggles, and our victories, ending with the longing for our Beloved Bridegroom to take us home to be with Himself - just as the final book of the Bible ends with (Revelation 22:20).

I challenge you to compare what is said in this poem with chapter five of the Song of Solomon. Do not be afraid to dig in deeper or make others (like me) seem to be out to lunch because you personally haven’t bothered to take the time to see what this book of the Bible says for itself and have only the wacky words or comments of some carnal or unsaved preacher to go by who tries to make this book about sex. The believer in the book is not even married to the Shepherd yet (see Song of Solomon 3:11 and Matthew 1:18). The whole Bible warns against fornication and adultery (and the New Testament word for fornication is porneia - which we are commanded to flee from in 1 Corinthians 6:18), and we are commanded to be pure and holy in our walks with the Lord; therefore God is not going to write a pornographic sexual song for His people. If you have that viewpoint and this book makes you uncomfortable because you are bringing sin and your carnal thoughts into it, then the problem is with you - not with this devotional or the Song of Songs, which many sound believers of the past have referred to as the Holy of Holies of the books of the Bible.

I know I am standing on good ground in my interpretation of this book because I have taken the effort to trace out much of its symbolism through the rest of the Bible (as I do with any symbol or type found in its pages - which I might add is always consistent through the whole Bible), and I have studied out some of the great preachers of the past on this book - Charles Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, Hudson Taylor, and some others - and have found them standing in the exact same place as I am - or to put it better, I have found I am standing in the exact same place as they are. Don’t take my word for it, check out their writings, their commentaries and books that touch upon this poetic book, and see for yourself. Don’t neglect this wonderful book because you don’t understand it yet. All Scripture is holy, pure, and written for the benefit and blessing of all God’s children, from the youngest believer to the oldest saint (therefore God would never allow or put anything impure or unholy in it), and it all teaches about our Saviour (see 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 3:14-16; Luke 24:25-27; Psalm 40:7 and Revelation 19:10).

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

To hear my presentation of this poem in church, please visit this page:
I Sleep, But My Heart Waketh

Take A Second Look At Calvary (Poem)

 

Take A Second Look At Calvary

When I went through times of loneliness, I thought, “Lord, where were You?
Don’t You know, Lord, can’t You see all this pain I’m going through?”
Then in the midst of my devotions, I was thunderstruck one day
When I realized: in my Saviour’s darkest hours all His friends had turned away.

When I struggled through depression, I cried, “Lord, where were You?
Can’t You take these doubts and fears away; help me somehow make it through?”
But I knelt in sweet submission, surrendered all and my heart was still,
As I remembered my blessed Saviour praying, “Not Mine, but Your will.”

When my heart ached in bitter anguish, grief-struck and broken too,
I cried through tears of agony, “Oh my Lord, where were You?
I can’t fight this battle anymore, I can’t overcome this gloom.”
Then in my self-pity, I recalled, that Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb.

When I think that I’m forsaken, bitter, anguished and alone,
I remember that my Saviour made all my pain His own.
He tasted death, He suffered much, He was tempted, tried, beset,
And in all His trials and afflictions, Jesus loved me yet.

A man of sorrows - He knew our grief, He bore our sin and shame,
He was forsaken by God above that we may never be again.
He was wounded for our transgressions - as the Bible has revealed -
But most of all, Jesus shed His blood and by His stripes we are healed.

So when you are feeling lonely, depressed, and are haunted by your grief,
Here’s a solution that, through eyes of faith, will surely bring relief:
When you are wondering if the Lord cares and if He is watching from above
Take a second look at Calvary – and there behold God’s wondrous love!

March 12th, 2001
Jerry Bouey

But God commendeth His love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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)

Take A Second Look At Calvary