A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

O God of Love, we stand amazed
That One so pure in radiant Light
Should stoop to offer saving grace
To our rebellious human race.

O Lamb of God how can it be
That flesh should clothe Your Deity
And birth from Mary's womb, a Plan
Your Blood, the Gift, for sinful man!

O Breath of God, Whose Spirit fills
The barrenness of our human heart
Remove all dross, ignite the flame
That we might glorify Your Name!

O Church of God, the hour's near
The Bridegroom soon will call us Home!
Proclaim His Word, we soon shall meet
To cast our crowns at Jesus' feet!
B. Pent

QUESTIONS OF THE MIND

Questions often plague the mind
Babies born completely blind
Accidents that kill a teen
Tragedies around unseen!

Life and death bring joy and pain
Everything at times seems vain
Money earned for things that rust
Soon to see them turn to dust!

Scripture calls it meaningless
Trying to hide from loneliness
Christ alone can fill the heart
When He's Lord of every part.

God provides for every need
When through prayer we intercede
Worship flows in joyful praise
When we seek Him all our days.
B.Pent

LONELINESS

Loneliness met me this morning
Depression then knocked at the door
Pressures of life soon had bound me
Leaving me helpless once more.

Life has its fears and deep sorrow
No one escapes from its grip
Everyone carries some burden
Thinking they'll fall in a pit.

You're not alone in this battle
History reminds us each day
Trials and troubles surround us
Only what's left is to pray.

So in the face of each trial
Give God the burden you bear
He knows each rut in the pathway
Cast on the Lord all your care.
--B. Pent

MY QUIET TIME

I'm overwhelmed this quiet time

I find it hard to comprehend

That He Who formed the universe

Should stoop to be my special Friend

The angels round His throne may sing

Proclaiming glory to the King

But when redemption's work was done

He claimed me as His blood-bought son.

The message of this love proclaims:

“The door of Grace is open wide!”

All those who come in Jesus' name

Are called to be His chosen Bride.

But why should He have chosen me

A hopeless slave of sin and shame

I cannot understand such grace

But praise and magnify His name.

So while I'm sitting here alone

I bow in worship and in praise

To Him who sits in heaven's throne

Both now and through eternal days.

--B. Pent

MY HEART'S PRAYER

"Is there a thing beneath the sun
That strives with Thee my heart to share?
O tear it thence, and reign alone
The Lord of every motion there.
Then shall my heart from earth be free
When it has found repose in Thee!"

"YESTERDAY,
I BUNDLED UP MY PROBLEMS
WRAPPED THEM
TIED THEM WITH TWINE
AND HANDED THEM TO YOU, LORD!

THEN I TRIPPED
OVER THE STRING
I WAS STILL CLUTCHING.

TODAY,
YOU CAN SEE
THERE ARE NO STRINGS
ATTACHED!"
(authors unknown)

WHY NOT PRAY?

I knocked at your door this morning

"Could We meet together in prayer?"
I knew the pressures you're facing
Were needing the touch of My care.

I stood there waiting beside you

But you were too busy to ask

Thinking the choice you were making

Was the easiest part of the task.

Decisions resulted in conflict

Confusion filled most of your day
While quietly I tried to whisper:

“My peace would have pointed the way!”

So now that your day is soon over
Disrupted by strain and despair
I would like once again to ask you:
"Could we meet together in prayer?”

--B. Pent

PROCLAMATION OF THE KING - part 2

                    Matthew 6

THE MESSAGE THAT JESUS CONTINUED TO TEACH
BEGINS WITH A WARNING TO LIVE WHAT WE PREACH
IF SERVICE TO GOD IS NOT DONE FROM THE HEART
IT PROVES THAT OUR MOTIVES ARE WRONG FROM THE START.

THE FIRST STEP TO SERVICE IS LEARNING TO PRAY
HEEDING HIS WORD THAT APPLIES TO EACH DAY
THE HYPOCRITE WANTS TO IMPRESS WITH MERE WORDS
BUT PRAYER DONE IN SECRET RECEIVES ITS REWARDS.

THE PATTERN OF PRAYER OUTLINED FROM THE START
INCLUDES SEVERAL AREAS HE LONGED TO IMPART
NOT TO BE RITUALLY UTTERED BY ROTE
BUT TO INCLUDE THEM, WERE REASONS HE SPOKE.

PRAYER TO THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF HIS SON
DRAWS ALL OUR FOCUS ON THE GODHEAD AS ONE
THEN HOLINESS LEADS US TO SEEKING HIS WILL
SO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN US HE'LL FULFILL.

THE BREAD THAT WE ASK FOR HE'LL DAILY PROVIDE
AND WITH HONEST CONFESSION HIS PEACE WILL ABIDE
THUS PROVIDENCE GUIDES US FROM SIN'S EVIL WAYS
WITH VICTORY ASSURED TO THE END OF OUR DAYS.

IF YOUR PRAYER IS A BURDEN BECAUSE OF LIFE'S CARE
OR YOU'RE SEEKING RELEASE FROM A SIN YOU CAN'T SHARE
THE PRACTICE OF FASTING IF DONE FROM THE HEART
WILL LEAD TO DELIVERANCE AND CLEANSING IMPART.

THE SEASONED DISCIPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD
WILL CAREFULLY FOLLOW THE MASTER'S CLEAR WORD
EARTH'S TREASURES NO LONGER ARE HIS TO CONTROL
SINCE GOD HAS POSSESSION OF BODY AND SOUL.

IF HIS KINGDOM IS FIRST IN OUR THOUGHTS EVERY DAY
THE TEMPTATION TO WORRY WILL SOON FADE AWAY
FOR THE GOD OF THE SPARROW AND FLOWERS THAT GROW
WILL PROVIDE EVERY NEED WITH RICH BLESSINGS BELOW.
--B. Pent

DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN

                         DANIEL 6

WHEN CYRUS TOOK THE PERSIAN THRONE
HE GAVE TO DARIUS BABYLON'S RULE
WHILE HE CONTINUED TO EXPAND
HIS ROLE AS KING IN EVERY LAND.

SO DARIUS PARCELLED INTO SHARES
ONE HUNDRED TWENTY RULING PARTS
AND OVER THEM HE PLACED THREE MEN
ON WHOM THE KINGDOM COULD DEPEND.

SOON JEALOUSY BEGAN TO SPREAD
TOWARDS DANIEL, AS THEIR RULING HEAD
SO PLOTS WERE MADE TO BRING HIM DOWN
INCURRING WRATH FROM THOSE AROUND.

SOME TOP OFFICIALS SET A TRAP
WRITING A LAW THAT WOULD DECLARE
"DARIUS THE KING, FOR THIRTY DAYS
THE ONLY GOD TO WHOM MAN PRAYS!"

THEN DARIUS SIGNED THE NEW DECREE
WHICH NO ONE LIVING COULD RESCIND
AND ANY WHO WOULD DISOBEY
WERE FED TO LIONS THAT SAME DAY.

NOW DANIEL KNEW THAT GOD ALONE
IS SOVEREIGN LORD UPON HIS THRONE
DEMANDING WORSHIP EVERY DAY
BY CALLING EVERY MAN TO PRAY.

SO WHEN THE SPIES STAKED OUT HIS HOME
AND FOUND HE PRAYED THREE TIMES A DAY
THEY SHOWED THE KING HIS EVIL DEED
WHICH MEDO-PERSIAN'S LAW DECREED.

AS DANIEL STOOD BEFORE THE KING
TO HEAR THE VERDICT OF HIS FATE
THE HUNGRY LIONS PROWLED AROUND
AWAITING FOOD TO HIT THE GROUND.

WHEN THEY THREW DANIEL IN THE DEN
THE SEAL OF DEATH WAS STAMPED IN PLACE
BUT LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT DAY
HOW SHORT A TIME WOULD BE HIS STAY.

WHEN DARIUS COULD NOT SLEEP THAT NIGHT
HE KNEW THAT DANIEL'S GOD WAS RIGHT
YET WAS NOT SURE HE WOULD SURVIVE
UNTIL HE FOUND HIM STILL ALIVE.

THE KING THEN ASKED HOW THAT COULD BE
WITH HUNGRY LIONS ALL AROUND?
"THE ANGEL OF THE LORD TOOK FLIGHT
AND SHUT THE LIONS  MOUTHS ALL NIGHT.

SO DANIEL WAS RELEASED THAT DAY
AND THOSE WHO PLOTED HIS DEMISE
WERE ORDERED TO BE THROWN INSTEAD
AS LION FOOD, TILL THEY WERE DEAD.

THEN DARIUS MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT DANIEL'S GOD WAS LORD OF ALL
WHO MUST BE WORHSIPPED AND ADORED
AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
--B.Pent

LIVE YOUR PRAYERS

I KNELT TO PRAY WHEN DAY WAS DONE
AND PRAYED, "O LORD, BLESS EVERYONE
LIFT FROM EACH SADDENED HEART THE PAIN
AND LET THE SICK BE WELL AGAIN."

AND THEN I WOKE ANOTHER DAY
AND CARELESSLY WENT ON MY WAY
THE WHOLE DAY LONG I DID NOT TRY
TO WIPE A TEAR FROM ANY EYE.

I DID NOT TRY TO SHARE THE LOAD
OF ANY BROTHER ON THE ROAD
I DID NOT EVEN GO TO SEE
THE SICK MAN JUST NEXT DOOR TO ME.

YET ONCE AGAIN WHEN DAY WAS DONE
I PRAYED, "O LORD, BLESS EVERYONE"
BUT AS I PRAYED, INTO MY EAR
THERE CAME A VOICE THAT WHISPERED CLEAR,

"PAUSE NOW, MY CHILD, BEFORE YOU PRAY
WHOM HAVE YOU TRIED TO BLESS TODAY?
GOD'S SWEETEST BLESSINGS ALWAYS GO
BY HANDS THAT SERVE ME HERE BELOW."

AND THEN I HID MY FACE AND CRIED,
"FORGIVE ME, GOD, I HAVE NOT TRIED
BUT LET ME LIVE ANOTHER DAY
AND I WILL LIVE THE WAY I PRAY."
--AUTHOR UNKNOWN

JESUS' CRY TO THE FATHER

My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken Me
I walked so close before Thee
But now Thy face in darkness hides
My broken heart I lift to Thee.

My God! My God! The agony of death is near
The mocking throngs surround Me
I am a worm, the Man of sorrows
My nail-pierced hands I raise to Thee.

My God! My God! This cup of death I offer Thee
My strength is drained within
But if Thy wrath for sin be quelled
My precious blood I offer Thee.

My God! My God! I lay Me in the dust of death
The weight of sin has bound Me
But if the Serpent's head be crushed
A ransom throng will come to Thee
--B. Pent

ARE YOU LISTENING?

I knocked at your door this morning
"Could We meet together in prayer?"
I knew that the pressures you're facing
Needed the touch of My care.

I stood there waiting beside you
Longing to meet all your needs
Knowing the storm clouds you're facing
Would trouble you on the rough seas.

The cares of the day pressed harder
The urgent demanded you're time
While quietly I tried to whisper
"The peace that you're needing is Mine."

So now that your day is soon over
Exhausted by strain and despair
I would like once again to ask you.
"Can We meet together in prayer?"
--B. Pent

I PRAYED FOR YOU

I thought of you today
As I knelt down to pray.
I thought I saw your tears
Your struggle through the years
As you got up again
From life's inflicting pain.

The cross you're called to bear
Is one each saint must share
To show the world in sin
That Christ gives grace to win.
The battle is not yours alone
We join our hearts before His Throne.

So in the quiet of your soul
Allow Him full, complete control.
Then rest in His embrace
And keep a steady pace.
"Well done!" is your reward
For Jesus Christ is Lord!
--B. Pent