Eagle's Wings Ministries

POEMS

It’s Only After

Roses are so beautiful that we forget that thorns cause pain, We often forget that rainbows only come after the rain. Sometimes the sun is hidden when storm clouds are in view, It’s only after the rose is picked that it will bring great joy to you. It’s only after the storm subsides that peace comes to calm the seas, It’s only when the light turns on that the shadow suddenly flees. Sometimes we only learn, to appreciate the light, After walking through the darkness, in what seems like blackest night. It’s often only when you miss someone that their worth is realized, For iron sharpening iron, is a blessing in disguise. You may lose your dearest friend, yet there will always be another, Still, Jesus is the best of friends that sticks closer than a brother. It’s only when you see you’re lost, that you truly can be found, It’s when you admit your poverty that Christ’s riches can abound. It’s only in losing yourself that you find life’s joy at last, And sometime in the future, the Lord will heal the past. It’s only after you pray in faith, that the peace of God transcends, And only after your faith is proved, does the trial come to an end. It’s only in surrender to the Lord that brings end to inward strife, It’s only after dying that we rise to endless life. It’s only after travailing that comes the joy of a child’s birth, Only after the tribulation comes the new heaven and new earth. Only after a seemingly endless night, comes the dawning of the day, It’s only in eternity that the former things are passed away. It’s only after the sorrow ceases that comes the soothing of the pain, And just before the darkness passes that the Morning Star shines again. After the tests and trials are done, the Father wipes all our tears away, And we’ll live with Christ, our Saviour, in eternity’s endless day.

August 29, 2000. Gerald Bouey.

The Day My Saviour Died

I wonder, what were you doing, on the day my Saviour died? Were you standing afar off, as He hung there crucified? Were you cheering with the crowd, as they scorned and mocked at Him? Or were you kneeling at Jesus’ feet, mourning for your sin? I wonder, what were you doing, when they whipped and beat my Lord, When they led Him to the cross, where in death His soul was poured? When the blood that He was shedding pooled down around your feet, I wonder, weren’t you curious when He didn’t bow in defeat? I wonder, what were you doing, when they laid Christ in the tomb? Were you grieved that His life was over, that it ended all too soon? Were you overwhelmed and anguished, when they rolled the stone in place, Or was there a bright spark of hope, a stirring of simple faith? I wonder, what were you doing, on the day my Saviour rose? Were you trusting Him or doubting Him? I guess God only knows. As you recalled God’s promises, and saw His tomb opening, Was your soul moved in awe when out came the King of Kings? I know what I was doing, I was jeering with the crowd, I was standing with the Pharisees, self-righteous and proud. Then I heard the Gospel, how it was for my sins that Jesus died, Then stricken and convicted, I turned to the Crucified. I wonder, what was your response, when you heard Christ died for you? Did you reject the good news, and close blinded eyes to this view? Or did you worship Him, when you beheld His pierced hands and side? I wonder, what were you doing, on the day my Saviour died? 

August 28, 2000. Gerald Bouey.  

A Man Named Soul 

There once was a man named Soul who was walking in a garden. He was whistling a real sweet tune for he was saved and had the joy of the Lord, but he was a baby Christian. 

As Soul was walking a beautiful and seductive woman came out from behind a tree. Soul was very startled. He said, "Hello, I'm Soul, what is your name?" She replied, "I am Temptation, I have what you want."   "What do I want?"  replied Soul.   "You want to do all things which are of the flesh," said Temptation. Soul replied, "O.K., lead me." So he and Temptation went off and fulfilled the desires of the flesh. 

When Soul returned to the garden, he met a man named Condemnation. Condemnation said, "Hey, I see you have met my friend, Temptation." Soul said, "Yes, who are you?" "I am Condemnation, I come after Temptation, we work hand-in- hand." Then Condemnation jumped on Soul's back and began to beat him. He hit him in the face and kicked him when he was down. This went on for several days. 

On about the third day a man named Mercy came running and said, "I command you Condemnation to stop beating Soul." Condemnation snickered, "Make me." So Mercy unsheathed his sword and cut Condemnation in two. As Soul watched in astonished pain, he was overtaken by the power of, Mercy. Mercy walked up to Soul and said, "I have dealt with Condemnation before. He should not show up around you anymore." Soul replied, "How can I ever thank you?" "Well," replied Mercy, "I was sent here by God and He told me to introduce you to a dear friend of mine. 

His name is Redemption." Redemption walked up and said, "Hello Soul, I see that you are not doing well." Soul replied, "Not until Mercy came along. It is a pleasure to meet you Redemption." "Well", said Redemption, "I am glad to meet you, are you ready to accept me?" "What do you mean?" asked Soul. Redemption said, "Well, when you accepted Jesus Christ and decided to walk with Him then you chose to accept the things of Him and His love. I am a part of Jesus' love. I help you feel forgiven. You will never have to deal with Condemnation again. Temptation may come around, but I have someone I would like for you to meet that can help you with that. His name is Grace." 

Grace walked up to Soul and said, "Hello Soul, I have been waiting for you. As a matter of fact all three of us have been waiting to meet you. I will help you take the way out of Temptation that God gives you as it comes up. 

The last person we want you to meet is Faith." "Hi Soul, I am Faith, and I will help you stay strong and keep your beliefs strong," said Faith. Soul began to cry. When he began to cry Redemption said, "This is what we were here for. Jesus redeemed you, saved you by Grace through Faith and gives you his Mercy. Jesus loves you Soul." Soul said, "I love you Jesus." 

"The Greatest Story" 

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." 

Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." 

Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me...

" After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "this looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to a shipyard."

The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. 

One of the woodsman said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one" and he cut it down. 

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. 

The second tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. 

The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by and the trees forgot about their dreams. 

Then one day, a man and women came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. 

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew it had carried the king of kings in it's boat. 

Finally someone came and got the third tree. It was carried throughout the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. 

The moral of this story is when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, Just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.