Always

(Written sometime between March and May, 1990.
This poem reflects a search for meaning, a desire to know God,
a longing to find Him - instead He found me.)

I sat and thought about my life to date,
For I had no real reason to celebrate.
All my flowers had wilted and blown away,
As all my colours slowly faded to gray.

My life had taken a drastic turn for the worse,
If I didn't cheer up soon, I'd need a hearse.
I often wondered how different everyone's life would be,
If they had to do it over again, all without me.

Would they really miss me after all?
Would my life be simpler if I took the fall?
Would all my problems quickly fly away,
Or sink into a black hole where they'd stay?

I needed the answers to all these questions, and more;
I had to know if my life would improve for the better.
Maybe if I tried hard enough and hoped long enough,
My troubled life wouldn't seem all that tough.

Maybe if You came into my life everything would improve,
And all the bad points in my dreary existence would move,
To a distant point on another far-away sun,
Where they couldn't possibly bother anyone.

Maybe the important changes all begin at home,
Where all the pure and evil thoughts tend to roam,
Maybe if I gave all the horrible thoughts a kick,
Everything holding my life together would click.

I think I'll give existing an honest try,
Punch Death's evil facade right in the eye,
And say, "Nice knowing you, but now that you're gone,
There's no way I'll miss you, 'cause my life will go on."

So now I'll start the real living,
And since life begins with giving,
I'm going to give everything I've got and more,
Because now You're in my life, I want to live for sure.

Even though on life's path I may stray,
Gently pull me back on the right and true way,
Thank You for coming and stopping for tea,
And if You never leave, I will be oh so happy.

Thanks for loving and guiding me too.
I pray I will always love You.
No matter what comes and no matter what stays,
I know that You will truly love me... Always!

By Jerry Bouey

I never knew God the Father or Jesus Christ until Friday, November 13th, 1992.

I didn't know how to come to Him. There were times when my thoughts turned to Him and in those days I was actually happy, but then I would go my own way once again, as Isaiah 53:6 says:

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.

As long as I can remember I believed in God - though not according to knowledge - and the only verse I ever memorized as a child, other than the Lord's prayer and Psalm 23, was John 3:16:

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.

I knew I was a guilty sinner on my way to Hell because of my sins against the Lord. God loved me, Jesus died for my sins, and I knew that my sins condemned me, but somehow I never knew how to connect the two together - I didn't even know I could.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

As Catholicism was part of my background, I thought that if I could change my life, in other words, obey the Ten Commandments, God would accept me. I stopped lying, stealing, and sometimes swearing, because I feared God's wrath. But there were other secret sins and I knew God could see into my heart. What a dilemma. How could I ever be reconciled to God?

And then God called me one Friday night... I realized I was in need of a Saviour when I was questioned by the College and Career Bible study leader about my salvation, and I didn't have an adequate answer. When asked if I was a Christian, I said, "I guess so." He then told me if I was a Christian I would know. "What's a Christian?" He next proceeded to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and fit the missing pieces of the puzzle in place for me.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 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; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 1:16-17 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.

How Jesus took my sins upon Him and died in my place; how His one sacrifice forever saves those who come to Him in faith; and how His death, burial, and resurrection prove He is the Messiah that was promised in the Old Testament, God manifest in the flesh. (See 1 Timothy 3:16.) And how through repentance (that's turning from sin in your heart - which will result in a change in outward conduct - and turning toward God, ie. stop going my way, and go His way) and faith in (that's Bible-based belief, confidence in, trust, reliance upon) Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I could be have the free gift of eternal life, have my sins forgiven, and have a home in Heaven when I die.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now John 3:16 really made sense to me. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour that night.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:

It was a new beginning for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Lord Jesus Christ is standing and kncoking at your heart's door now.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Will you let Him in?

If you have never received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, please read God's Simple Plan Of Salvation, which clearly explains what the Bible (God's Word) teaches us about how to get to Heaven. If after reading this Gospel tract, you receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, I would love to hear about it and rejoice with you. God bless you.