AWAKE OUR HEARTS

As we come into your Presence

Sensing guilt and shameful pride

Melt our cold, unyielding spirits

Burn the dross we feel inside.

We desire heart-felt worship

Offering praise to You alone

So these worldly cares that bind us

Can be freed before Your throne.

Lord, to You we lift our praises

Once again awake our hearts

By the Fire of true devotion

Fill the Church through all its parts.

One in Body, soul and spirit

We lift holy hands in praise

Offering You our love in worship

Jesus Lord, our voices raise.

B. Pent

CHRIST OR ANTI-CHRIST

The New Year stands before us

The signs speak loud and clear

The end-time is upon us

The choice you make is here.

The prophets tell of trouble

Of Nations in distress

With war and famines growing

Of death and loneliness.

Ten Nations, Daniel tells us

Will form a single head

And one will try to charm us

By rising from the dead.

The Beast will form a treaty

With Jew and Arabs, too

And all the world will wonder

“Can lasting peace be true?”

Then from the Temple throne

The antichrist will speak

As Armageddon forces

Around Jerusalem meet.

The sun will then grow dimmer

The moon will hide its face

As angels pour out judgment

Upon the human race.

A choice demands an answer

You cannot neutral be

Its either Christ or Satan

That marks your destiny.

B. Pent

THE INN KEEPER

The Keeper missed it all!

It was a busy time, you know

With weary travelers needing rest

The Inn was full, he did his best.

The knock seemed out of place

“No vacancy” was clear to all

There was no room left anywhere

For Nazareth folk for him to share.

A noise was heard next door!

The lowing sheep and cattle stall

Was found to be the only place

For God's dear Son to find a space.

The Virgin soon gave birth

Upon a dirty stable floor

The Baby's cry was heard that night

While angels bathed the earth in light.

The Keeper missed it all!

The promised King had come to earth!

Had he but known, would he have shared

Some little space? Would he have cared?

Yet Christmas comes again

And yuletide music fills the air

Stop long enough to hear His voice

He knocks and waits! Make Him your choice.

B. Pent

BETHLEHEM'S CRY

It took nine months before that cry was heard!

The strangers could not find a room that night

Yet labor pains had forced them from the Inn

To find a stable bed to birth a King.

The Virgin Mary wiped His tears away

While Joseph cleaned the stable cave that day

The Baby's cry once heard on Christmas morn

Foreshadowed days His heart for man was torn.

One day beside the tomb of His dear friend

The Savior wept because of sin's dread curse

He later cried when Judah turned from grace

By spewing hate upon His thorn crowned face.

On Calvary's hill a painful cry was heard

“Oh! why have You forsaken Me, My God?”

Another cry soon echoed through the night

“Tetelestai! then Satan fled from sight.

One final cry will shake the world again

The Lord Himself from heav'n to earth descend

The Church in White will rise to meet the Groom

His promise to return is very soon.

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

MYSTERY MOMENTS

Mystery moments are the gemstones

That are found by searching hearts

Digging deep within the mine shafts

Of God's Word in all its parts.

Genesis through Revelation

Holds the key each wonder shares

From the mystery of creation

To God's call from earthly cares.

Eden's mystery tells the story

Of the chasm caused by sin

And the promise of a Savior

That would offer peace within.

Priest and prophets shared their vision

Of Messiah's virgin birth

Of His death and resurrection

His return again to earth.

Yet the story most intriguing

Is the mystery of the Church

His indwelling holy Presence

With its waiting Bride on earth.

Heaven's Bridegroom is the Savior

Who laid down His life for you

You can have a mystery moment

If you trust the Savior too.

B. Pent