THE BABY

When Joseph took Mary, gossip spread round:
"Adulterous behavior degrades our small town!"
Explaining the wonder the prophet's foretold
"Was nothing but banter, deceitful and bold!"

But Two types of blood combined in her womb
So every lost sinner be rescued from doom
The embryo carried God's unblemished Seed
While Mary's blood carried the curse of sin's deed.

A Bethlehem stable was Jesus' first home
The animal crib was the seat of His throne
Amazement was felt as they looked on His face
His eyes full of love glowed with mercy and grace.

The shepherds who saw Him gave glory to God
The Wise Men, in worship, gave honor and laud
This Christmas, in honor of Jesus your King
Receive His Salvation, redemption from sin.
Ben Pent

THE CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

A LITLE SEED WAY BACK IN TIME
BEFORE THE WORLD WAS FLUNG IN SPACE
BECAME THE SUBJECT OF GOD'S PLAN
FOR RESCUING THE HUMAN RACE.

OMNISCIENCE SAW THE FALL OF MAN

WITH ALL THE CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
THERE WAS NO HOPE OF ANY KIND
BECAUSE OF DEATH THAT REIGNED WITHIN.

SO GOD DEVISED A METHOD RARE

AND HAD THE PROPHETS WRITE IT DOWN
A VIRGIN WOULD CONCEIVE A CHILD
IN BETHLEHEM'S SMALL JUDAH TOWN.

THE SEED IN MYSTERY WAS REVEALED

THE HOLY SPIRIT, THREE-IN-ONE
COMBINED IN FLESH THE LIVING WORD
AND PLACED IN MARY'S WOMB, A SON.

HOW STRANGE THE VIRGIN MUST HAVE FELT

ON HEARING GABRIEL SHARE THE NEWS
BUT JOSEPH'S DOUBTS WERE NOT AS CLEAR
SINCE IN HIS HEART WERE OTHER VIEWS.

WHEN GOD'S PREDESTINED MOMENT CAME

ETERNITY WAS PRESSED IN TIME
THE SEED BECAME AN EMBREO
AND HEAVEN'S STAR BEGAN TO SHINE.

WHAT MUSIC MUST HAVE FILLED THE SKY

AS ANGEL CHOIRS ANNOUNCED HIS BIRTH
SO WHEN THE SHEPHERDS SAW HIM THERE
PROCLAIMED HIS COMING TO THE EARTH.

THIS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY ONCE CONCEALED

IS OFFERED AS GOD'S GIFT TO ALL
SO EVERY PEOPLE-GROUP ON EARTH
CAN KNOW THE SAVIOR WHEN THEY CALL.
--B. Pent

THE GIFT

A thousand gifts may come your way

To bring you joy this Christmas day

With brilliant lights around the tree

For every boy and girl to see.

Yet if you miss the One who came

There is no joy that will remain.

Sweet carols fill the ethereal sky

Like angel choirs once sang on high

Of peace on earth to every man

While Christmas memories fill the land.

But fear can tear the life apart

If Christ no longer rules the heart.

As busy shoppers seek to find

The perfect gift with love in mind

A voice breaks through life’s empty space

“Give Christ a chance to fill its place!”

For if you fail to crown Him King

There is no lasting peace within.

God’s greatest Gift came down to earth

So we can have redemption’s birth

He is enough, so please take heed

Receive His Son, that’s all you need.

Then you will find fulfilled in Him

Life’s deepest joy without, within

--B. Pent

THE STAR APPEARED

The star appeared! The eastern sky

Burst from its lair as if to shout:

“A Light has dawned! The Day is come!

Prepare the way to birth a Son!”

Before the ages came to be

Eternal plans were set in place

The prophets had foretold His Birth

God's special Gift to men on earth.

The Virgin Mary then was told

That Deity would fill her womb

The Word in flesh became a Son

Emanuel, the promised One!

The shepherds heard the angels sing

That Jesus was that new born King

Then wise men later saw the star

And came to worship from afar.

“Behold the Lamb of God!” claimed John

Whose blood took on the sinner's curse

Is now the offer of His grace

To every child of Adam's race.

The Star of David is that Light

Who is the Source of truth and life

“Come unto Me” He calls today

He'll walk beside you all the way.

B. Pent

THE EMPTY THRONE

The trumpet alerted the angels to come

To gather together before the White Throne

The Father announced a miraculous plan

That Jesus would take on the flesh of a man.

Amazement and wonder were seen in their eyes

A virgin would birth heaven's infinite Prize

The ones who were chosen to break the Good News

Appeared to some shepherds, the lowliest of Jews.

“All Glory to God!” was the theme of their song

Lasting peace, was the Gift awaited so long

Emanuel’s coming to Bethlehem's stall

Was God's only Son with salvation for all.

The shepherds and magi who worshiped this King

Saw Him as Messiah; their freedom He'd bring

The path from the stable was marked by a cross

They did not see then, how much it would cost!

While angels rejoiced at the birth of God's Son

Redemption for man through His death would be won

Each sinner partaking the Savior's new birth

Brings praise from the angels in heaven and earth.

B. Pent

I WONDER AS I WANDER!

My thoughts move once again to this incomprehensible mystery! I follow the shepherds from Bethlehem's hillside after hearing the announcement by angels of Christ's birth. I try to comprehend a virgin birth as I look at Mary's new born son: deity and humanity interwoven. He had no halo or visible marks of divinity I am aware of. Just a normal baby who cried, drank mother's milk, burped and needed wiping several times a day. Yet, He was God incarnate who pre-existed from eternity past: spoke the universe into being; created the world and everything in it; and even pre-arranged His visit to planet earth.

The pungent smell of an animal shelter disturbs my thoughts. I would resent spending even one night there! Where was the eastern culture of hospitality for traveling strangers? Was there no righteous family in Bethlehem available? Yet, even more disturbing is that God was coming to visit earth and all we offer Him is a dung infested stable.

It's Christmas time again and its mystery still boggles reason. Why is our King in rags? What is this covering of flesh? What was God thinking when He sent Jesus into this sin-cursed world? I sure wouldn't have risked it! Would you?

I guess the wonder of it all is that He did come. Wrapped in this indescribable Gift Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 9:15 is the one thing every person seeks: LOVE. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son" (John 3:16).

So I find myself once again metaphorically picturing God coming into this sinfully dung-infested heart of mine, cleaning it up, and living in it forever. Jesus stands at every heart's door and continually knocks (Rev.3:20) waiting for our response: "There is room in my heart for Thee!"

Why He chose me is a question I can't answer. That is what makes Christmas so mysterious to me. I am lost in the wonder of His grace as I continually rejoice in His great salvation. So should you be!

THE HEBREW NAMES FOR GOD

Jehovah-m'kaddesh the thrice-Holy One
With glory surrounding His throne
All heaven and earth in oneness proclaim
His majesty reigneth alone.

Jehovah-tsidkenu the sole righteous One
In dazzling Glory revealed
The guilt of a world in its bondage to sin
Man's judgment forever is sealed.

Jehovah-jireh is the God who provides
A Lamb without blemish or stain
The proof of His love and His grace to atone
Are for those who call on His name.

Jehovah-rapha by whose stripes we are healed
From the sins of our bitter past
Bids us drink from the water that never runs dry
Then its sweetness forever will last.

Jehovah-nissi by His banner proclaims
The victory on Calvary's cross
Giving us power to face all our foes
In Jesus count all things but loss.

Jehovah-rohi the good Shepherd will lead
Through life's deepest valley below
In verdant green pastures of peace we may rest
His grace all-sufficient to know.

Jehovah-shalom is the giver of peace
Though wars and destruction appear
The prophets foretell at the end of the age
The coming of Jesus is near.

Jehovah-shammah will always be there
And will never forsake His own
In the power and strength of His Spirit each day
We shall conquer until we reach Home.
(Lev.19:2;Jer.23:5-6;Gen.22:14;Ex.15:22-26;)
( Ex.17:15; Ps.23:1;Judg.6:23-24;Ezek.48:35)
--B. Pent

WHY IS OUR KING IN RAGS

The throne was empty in heaven
Legions of angels attend
As Gabriel announces His birthday
The questioning Seraphs exclaim:

(refrain)
Why is our King in rags
What is this covering of flesh
Coming from heaven to man?
Its Jesus, God's free Gift of love.

Prophets foretold of His coming
Wondrous miracle birth
Bringing man hope and salvation
Loudly this message proclaim:
(refrain)

Hushed were the voices around them
Shepherds kept vigil by night
Suddenly angels re-echoed
"Emanuel, Savior is born!"
(refrain)

Mary and Joseph in wonder
Look at the Word made in flesh
Glory and honor and blessing
Flooding their spirits with praise.

(refrain)
Why is our King in rags
What is this covering of flesh
Coming from heaven to man?
Its Jesus, God's free Gift of love.
--B. Pent

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!

Some of the Christmas story is wrapped in mystery and some in tradition. While I try to stick to the facts of Scripture, I am intrigued by some details left unwritten or left to the imagination. Some questions actually plague my mind:
* Did the Magi follow the star for almost 2 years? or did it take that long to figure it out?
* If they started out from Persia, were they influenced by the Book of Daniel or Ezekiel?
* How did their encounter with Jesus impact their lives after they returned home?
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!

But then, the appearing of angels to a group of rag-tag shepherds torments me:
* The testimony of shepherds was totally inadmissible in a court of law
* There must have been other, more reliable witnesses, longing and looking for the
Messiah He could have chosen, rather than these shepherds
* So who stayed to care for all those frightened sheep after the angels left? I sure wouldn't
have volunteered, would you? I would want to be the first to see Jesus!
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!

However, the story of Joseph and Mary completely blows me away!
* If a young teen told you her pregnancy was not by a man, wouldn't you give
some thought to her possible insanity?
* How long do you think Joseph struggled when she told him this seeming impossible
ferry tale?
* How did Mary's parents or future in-laws think or react to Mary's explanation?
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!

One thing is NOT left to the imagination:
* Mary's virgin birth was God's supernatural, miraculous plan
* God chose to use the most uncommon witnesses to proclaim the birth of Jesus
* The Star did appear in the East and the Magi followed it until they met Jesus
* Jesus was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment to biblical prophecy
* "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life."
And that is one fact that will change your life! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! And, the future He is preparing for us is out of this world too. His plan for us is mind-boggling:
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!