WHAT DEFINES LOVE?

Love is more than a feeling you feel
When emotions get out of control
Or a rush of adrenalin mix
When one's passions take hold of the soul.

Love is more than a word that is thought
When a touch or a look is supplied
Or a warm fuzzy feeling that beckons
To build up your ego with pride.

Love does not grow in a vacuum
Its nature gives all without price.
Not like this world's selfish offer
That demands in return its own prize.

Love is a verb wrapped up as a Gift
It's a message of infinite worth
No one can selfishly hoard it away
It's the seed of God's priceless New Birth

So give it away to all who have need
Its a balm for the wounded in heart
Then like a spring in a desert you'll find
Rivers of Love that will never depart.
--B. Pent

BLOSSOMS AND SUMMER FRUIT

Years before Disney World invaded Orlando, our family took a spring vacation to Florida. I will never forget the delicate smell of orange blossoms filtering through our van as we drove past miles of orchards. They appeared as beautiful flower gardens with nature's promise that soon summer fruit would appear.

Paul reminds us that "we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Cor.2:15). One of the dangers during blossom time is the intrusion of blight. The promise of delicious fruit is painted in the delicate spring flowers. But sometimes a sudden frost, a strong east wind or some insect mars the blossoms that affect its fruit. Marred fruit is always second best!

In the parable of the vine and the branches, Jesus reveals the secret of good fruit: "no branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine" (John 15:4). Sap cannot flow through branches that are not connected and sin in the Christian will mar the quality of our testimony. The key to fruit bearing is daily communion with God through His Word, prayer and confession (I John 1:7-9). When the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal.5:22-23), flows through our lives, "the aroma of Christ" will become evident as we bear "much fruit" (John 15:5,7). What kind of fruit are you bearing for Him? After all, your decision will affect your testimony and may be the one link to someone coming to Christ.
--B. Pent

LONGING TO FLY

As I was walking through the forest green
By chance I came across the strangest scene
Two caterpillars talked of taking flight
But absent wings brought only fear in sight.

Twas then I saw them climb a large oak tree
Two leaves became their hope for liberty.
They fanned the leaves to soar the azure sky
But gravitation almost bid them die.

Just then by chance they saw a butterfly
Who said that just like him they too could fly
But they must choose the path that leads to death
For freedom's birth comes only through a chrysalis.

At first the cost was far too much to bear
The path from death to life did not seem fair
But crawling on the ground was not the way
And so they yielded to its call that day.

In time, their tomb revealed a miracle
The caterpillar's crypt gave way to wings
And there above the trees I saw them fly
While lifting praise to Him Who dwells on high.

But then God's voice spoke clearly to my heart
"True freedom comes to those He sets apart."
So when my yielded will was lost in Him
His metamorphic work freed me from sin.

Now grace bids me to fly and gives me wings
So I can soar above the lure of earthly things
And share the News from Him Who reigns above
That those enslaved by sin can find God's love.
--B. Pent

FEELING UNLOVED

I saw you walk away one day
It seemed so subtle at the start
But I could see that in your eyes
A phantom dream tugged at your heart.

While spring was young and innocent
We danced together in the rain
Time had so little meaning then
Did not that phantom call in vain?

But love built castles in the sand
No wave could wipe its memory clean
Except that through the setting sun
The phantom's shadow could be seen.

The winter's breeze began to blow
Its blazing embers once so bright
Refused the warmth of its embrace
And chose the phantom's foolish flight.

But dreams are never true to life
And phantoms only follow dreams
So lets wake up to life's new day
And drink from Love's eternal springs.
--B. Pent

FEELING PAIN

The scent of roses filled the air
It bid me come its fragrance smell
Yet there were thorns that spoke of pain
While taking hold its jagged main.

Twas then I thought of my distress
Of broken dreams and loneliness
The heavy cross I had to bear
With little hope someone would care.

I didn't know why this crushing blow
Became my special guest below
This cup of grief I did not ask
As God's appointment for my task.

But then, a crown of thorns appeared
With visions of His pain to show
That by the crushing on His cross
His stripes and wounds would heal the lost.

So then I bowed in grateful praise
That through my crucible of pain
The sweet aroma from above
Can help those hurting find God's love.
--B. Pent

FEELING LOST

There are times life has no meaning
Like a ship that's tempest tossed
Without sail or sturdy rudder
In the darkness can be lost.

What seemed once a sunny future
With a vision bright and clear
Suddenly turns to disappointment
Leading down the path of fear.

Broken dreams can break the spirit
When all hope seems torn away
And the soul cries out in anguish
For some light along the way.

Then a voice speaks through the darkness
As the Captain calms the storm
Bringing back the broken vessel
Till she lands safe on the shore.

Now I find when trouble threatens
To destroy my trust in Him
I just call out to my Captain
To control my life within.
--B. Pent