Joy is an emotion of happiness and there are many words, thoughts and actions that can invoke joy in any number of situations. I have had the opportunity over the last few years to get to know Jamie primarily through our many contacts before and after Sunday worship services.

It is always enjoyable to talk with Jamie because he smiles, jokes around and has an upbeat personality. Over this time, I have also come to learn and understand Jamie’s deep faith in God.

The collection of poems in this book reflects the importance of faith in Jamie’s life. As in any journey, a guide or a compass helps to keep you pointed in the right direction.

Jamie’s compass is his unwavering belief in knowing Jesus is always with him, that he is not alone, that he has a purpose, that his friends and family are with him, and that he is important in the eyes of God. This is a clear and constant message throughout this book.

Jamie’s poems provide the opportunity to reflect on our own lives and to think about our own relationship with God. We see the importance of God in Jamie’s life, but what about ours? As many of these poems illustrate, God is always there and His presence reveals itself in many different ways and in unexpected moments.

The type of joy Jamie shares with us in this book, is to take a moment and know that Jesus is always there. Thank you Jamie for sharing your gift of writing, for sharing the joys and struggles you have encountered, and most of all for sharing the importance of faith in God and each other.

Don NewmanBelow are 2 poems from the book. JOYI can feel joy through and throughIt's nothing anyone did or can doNor can it be measuredIn this world's broken treasureIt is within meAn ascending, slow processA prayer that transcends basic understandingThe undeserving gift of forgivenessA whole new world is just beginning.

YOU ARE ENOUGHYou are enoughYou were created in the image of the CreatorYou are enoughYou were woven and knitted together from the depths of the earthYou are enoughEach of us were chosen to do good worksYou are enoughThrough our weakness, His grace is sufficientYou are enoughDo not persecute yourselfWe have all fallen short of GloryYou are enoughNothing, nothing will separate you from God's loveYou are enoughNo matter the scars, He is with youYou are enoughOh, how great and lavishing is His loveWe are all children of GodWe can no longer be afraidThe dawn chases away the darkWe are enoughWe are enough. .