The Developing Stage Towards Armageddon

ONE LAST FAREWELL

THE TIME HAS COME TO BID FAREWELL
TO SAY ONCE MORE, "I MISS YOU SO!"
IT IS NOT EASY THROUGH THESE TEARS
TO SHAKE THE THOUGHTS OF BYGONE YEARS.

IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY
WE WALKED AND TALKED ALONG LIFE'S PATH
BUT LIKE A CLOUDY MIST THAT FORMS
SOON SPIRITS FLY BEYOND EARTH STORMS.

WHY DOES THIS STING OF DEATH CAUSE PAIN
WHILE BROKEN HEARTS SEEK JOY IN VAIN?
IT IS THE CURSE WHERE SIN TOOK PLACE
WHICH CALVARY'S BLOOD CAN NOW ERASE.

WHEN TIME SO QUICKLY PASSED AWAY
I FAILED TO NOTE THE YEARS GO BY
SO WHEN I HEARD YOUR FLIGHT TOOK PLACE
I LONGED TO SHARE ONE LAST EMBRACE.

NOW MEMRY'S ALL I HAVE TO HOLD
IT IS THE LIGHT THAT MARKS MY PATH
SO WHEN WE MEET ON HEAVEN'S SHORE
TOGETHER WE WILL PART NO MORE.

I WEEP ONCE MORE ABOVE YOUR GRAVE
THE TENT IS ALL YOU'VE LEFT BEHIND
THE GROOM SENT DOWN HIS CHARIOT FLEET
TO JOIN THE BRIDE AT JESUS' FEET.

THE MANSION CHOSEN FOR OUR HOME
CANNOT DESCRIBE THIS AWESOME GIFT
THAT HE'S PREPARED IN GLORY THERE
FOR HIS VICTORIOUS CHURCH TO SHARE.
--B. Pent

PAST DREAMS OF A GIRL

SHE CAME TONIGHT AS I SAT ALONE...
THE GIRL I USED TO BE.
AND SHE GAZED AT ME WITH HER EARNEST EYE
AND QUESTIONED REPROACHFULLY:

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE MANY PLANS
AND HOPES I HAD FOR YOU?
THE GREAT CAREER, THE SPLENDID FAME,
ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO?

WHERE IS THE MANSION OF STATELY HEIGHT
WITH ALL ITS GARDENS RARE?
THE SILKEN ROBES THAT I DREAMED FOR YOU
AND THE JEWELS IN YOUR HAIR?

AND AS SHE SPOKE, I WAS VERY SAD
FOR I WANTED HER PLEASED WITH ME...
THIS SLENDER GIRL FROM THE SHADOWY PAST
THE GIRL THAT I USED TO BE.

SO GENTLY RISING, I TOOK HER HAND
AND GUIDED HER UP THE STAIRS
WHERE PEACEFULLY SLEEPING, MY BABIES LAY
INNOCENT, SWEET, AND FAIR.

AND I TOLD HER THAT THESE ARE MY ONLY GEMS,
AND PRECIOUS THEY ARE TO ME;
THAT SILKEN ROBES IN MY MOTHERHOOD
OF COASTLY SIMPLICITY.

AND MY MANSIONS OF STATELY HEIGHT IS LOVE,
AND THE ONLY CAREER I KNOW
IS SERVING EACH DAY IN THESE SHELTERED WALLS
FOR THE DEAR ONES WHO COME AND GO.

AND AS I SPOKE TO MY SHADOWY GUEST,
SHE SMILED THROUGH HER TEARS AT ME.
AND I SAW THE WOMAN THAT I AM NOW
PLEASED THE GIRL I USED TO BE.
--Author unknown

The Warrior's Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Your warrior prepares for battle.
Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God!

I put on the Girdle of Truth!
May I stand firm in the truth of your Word
so I will not be a victim of Satan
and his demons' lies.

I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness!
May it guard my heart from evil
so I will remain pure and holy,
protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.

I put on the Shoes of Peace!
May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel
so Your peace will shine through me
and be a light to all I encounter.

I take the Shield of Faith!
May I be ready for Satan's fiery darts of
doubt, denial and deceit
so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

I put on the Helmet of Salvation!
May I keep my mind focused on You
so Satan will not have a stronghold on my
thoughts.

I take the Sword of the Spirit!
May the two edged sword of Your Word
be ready in my hands
so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.

By faith your warrior has put on
the whole armor of God!

I am prepared to live this day, in spiritual victory!
In His most Holy Name!

Amen
(copied)

WHEN FIRST I SAW YOU!

WHEN FIRST I SAW YOU PASS MY WAY
I COULD NOT HELP A SECOND LOOK
A SUDDEN FLUSH OF RUBY RED
FILLED EVERY CELL FROM NECK TO HEAD.

ANOTHER DAY BY CHANCE I FELT
WHEN YOU BRUSHED BY ME UNAWARE
MY HEARTBEAT THEN BEGAN TO RACE
LIKE FALLING STARS TOO FAST TO TRACE.

ONE DAY THE WIND BLEW THROUGH YOUR HAIR
DID YOU NOT SENSE MY CASUAL STARE?
OR WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON NOBLER THINGS
NOT NEAR TO WHERE MY JOY BEGINS?

THEN ONE DAY WHEN I MET YOUR EYES
THE BREATH OF LOVE SWEPT OVER ME
I TRIED TO GIVE A FAINT HELLO
BUT WORDS WOULD NOT ALLOW IT SO.

THEN PROVIDENCE BROUGHT YOU MY WAY
IT WAS LIKE COMING HOME TO STAY
I FELT YOUR TENDER TOUCH OF LOVE
LIKE SPRINGTIME COOING OF A DOVE.

WHEN CUPID'S ARROW FOUND IT'S MARK
I SOON BEGAN TO FALL APART
THIS WAS NO DREAM I KNEW THAT DAY
YOU WERE THE PRIZE GOD SENT MY WAY.

NOW LIKE A HARVEST FIELD OF GRAIN
WE DANCE LIKE LOVERS IN THE RAIN
FOR JOY THAT BINDS TWO HEARTS AS ONE
CAN NEVER STOP A RACE THAT'S WON!
--B. PENT

CALVARY’S GUT-WRENCHING CRY!

MY GOD! MY GOD!
WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?
WE WALKED SO CLOSE TOGETHER
BUT NOW YOU’RE FACE IN DARKNESS HIDES
MY BROKEN HEART I LIFT TO YOU.

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 YOU.

MY GOD! MY GOD!
THIS CUP OF DEATH POURED OUT FOR YOU
HAS DRAINED MY STRENGTH BEYOND COMPARE
BUT IF YOU’RE WRATH FOR SIN IS QUELLED
MY PRECIOUS BLOOD I OFFER NOW.

MY GOD! MY GOD!
I LAY ME IN THE DUST OF DEATH
THE WEIGHT OF SIN HAS BOUND ME
BUT AS THE SERPENT’S HEAD IS CRUSHED
A RANSOMED THRONG WILL PRAISE YOU.

--B. PENT

HALLELUJAH! HE IS RISEN!

Night had settled in Judea
Death had claimed the crucified
But the stone rent from its mooring
Where the Son of God was held.

Soldiers kept a careful vigil
Pilate's seal could not be torn
But the power of God descended
On that early Easter morn.

Jesus rose the mighty victor
Death no longer held its prey
Captive souls once held in bondage
Were released on Easter day.

Saints and angels join the chorus
Christ has risen from the dead
Heaven echoes back the story
He has risen as He said.

Chorus
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Christ is risen from the dead
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
He has risen as He said.
--B. Pent