SURPRISED BY JOY!

JOY met HAPPINESS one day

Along the rock-strewn path of life

The answer they both sought to find

Was how to gain real peace of mind.

Each one was given time to choose

In trials that would test their faith

The daily strength that JOY embraced

Was trusting God's fulfilling grace.

But verdant fields drew HAPPINESS

Where earthly toys and pleasures lay

The search for gain and earthly store

Became the quest for wanting more.

When time began to test the soul

While facing pressures all around

Their choice revealed if trust and faith

Was found in God's abundant grace.

JOY early learned to trust God's Word

Whose promise He would always keep

If heaven's kingdom became first

He then would quench all earthly thirst.

By chance they met another day.

The searching heart of HAPPINESS

Expressed a need to find a way

To fill that void that leads astray.

God's simple plan was then revealed

For earthly things that weigh the soul.

JOY fills the vacuum of each heart

Where Christ becomes a living part.

--B. Pent

HE'LL CARRY YOU!

Today you walk life's path alone

And sorrow tempts your heart to fear

Your shattered dreams drive faith from sight

While in the dark you seek for light.

God feels your pain! He sees your tears!

It is the cross He chose for you

He'll help you bear the strain and stress

While passing through this wilderness.

He is the Rock on which to stand

His Word, the Light that marks the way

His promised peace will rule your heart

As faithfully you do your part.

So ask Him now to light your path

Your night will yield a brighter day

He'll carry you with gentle hand

As you fulfill His perfect plan.

--B. Pent

POETRY DEFINED

"Poetry is when emotion has found its thought and the    thought has found its words" (Robert Frost)

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks" 
 (Plutarc)


"Poetry is an echo asking a shadow to dance" 
 (Carl Sandberg)


"Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words"
(Edger Alan Poe)

ONE SCARY NIGHT !

       (Daniel 2 & 7)

Were you ever asleep

and awoke with a start

by a dream that seemed real

with some monster at your heel?

With a sudden surprise

as I opened my eyes

some giant-like screen

dropped down from the skies.

I sat there amazed

like a vision ablaze

there were beasts coming near

and I shuddered with fear.

there were lions and bears

with a leopard around

yet no one to rescue

no help to be found.

Then a monster-like Beast

indescribably cruel

with ten horns on it head

arose to its feet

and like Rome with its iron

in league with the clay

it was weakened in strength

and began to decay.

Looking closer I found

in the midst of its horns

a master-deceiver

proclaimed as the Christ

arose from this vision

like a demon from hell

and with wondrous signs

began to foretell

The world was amazed

that this leader from Rome

could so quickly arise

to Europe's gold throne

but a treaty of peace

was signed with the Jews

and the Temple was built

with deception it's ruse.

Then a Dragon was seen

with its fury unleashed

with destruction and death

causing pain and distress

knowing soon his demise

would reveal his disguise

with the kingdoms of earth

giving way to new birth.

Then a Stone could be seen

rolling down from a cliff

making scum of this Frame

bringing Nations to shame

for the word of His mouth

will make dust of this clod

and the earth will give birth

to the kingdom of God.

Then the heavens rejoiced

as the King took His throne

with the Bride at His side

who in Christ did atone

for a thousand year reign

the rule of His peace

will spread through the earth

and all wars will then cease.

--B. Pent

THE MOON WILL TURN TO BLOOD!

       In Luke 21:24-28, Jesus gives us one of the clearest indicators we are near the end of the world: “there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.” Earlier, Joel foretells a time when God will “show wonders in the heavens and on earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke; the sun would be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Joel 2:30-31). The prophet Isaiah foretelling this same event warns: “the day of the Lord is coming with wrath and fierce anger...the stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light...the moon will not give its light” (Isaiah 13:9-10). Jeremiah calls it: “the time of Jacob's trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7). Then on the Isle of Patmos, the Apostle John writes down what the angel heard was under the 6^th seal: “the sun turned black like sackcloth, the whole moon turned blood red” (Revelation 6:12).

       Blood Moons take place when the moon appears red during to a lunar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the earth comes between the sun and the moon resulting in darkness. But when the earth comes between the sun and the moon, the dusty air surrounding our Earth reddens and its reflection gives the moon a blood red appearance.

      Blood Moons have taken place throughout history but when four consecutive lunar eclipses occur, falling on Jewish Holy days, termed Blood Moon Tetrads, some significant event relating to the Jewish people seems imminent. NASA has identified four Blood Moons occurring in 2014 and 2015. The first will take place on April 15, 2014 which falls on the Jewish Passover Feast; the second falls on October 8^{, 2014}on the Feast of Tabernacles/Harvest; the third will appear on April 4, 2015 on the Jewish Passover; and the fourth takes place September 28, 2015 during their Feast of Tabernacles/Harvest. There will not be any other Blood Moon Tetrads until after the end of this Millennium which is some 985 years away! In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus made it clear that when history's end time signs converge on a generation with Israel at the center of worldwide anti-Semitic conflict, the final drama on the stage of human history has begun its final count-down.

      Some interesting question naturally come to mind: Why these four Tetrads in such succession? Why do they fall on Jewish Holidays? If prophecy puts Israel on center stage in the end times, what significance do these possible converging signs indicate and how shall we then live?

     As we begin this New Year, we need to refocus on our mission in view of the end times! Jesus is coming soon! In fact, He Himself tells us that when all these things begin to take place: “lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

The “night is coming when no man can work!” Lets keep running well until we hear Him say: “well done, good and faithful servant!”