THE SOUL SET FREE!

As I knelt before His presence

Wrapped in garments stained by sin

I could not look up to heaven

For the shame revealed within.

Then the Lamb of God Incarnate

Stood in robes of dazzling white

As His holy justice vanquished

Every pretense from His sight.

Tears of anguish broke upon me

Waves of guilt exposed my soul

As repentance ceased my wanderings

I became as white as snow.

Then His words of love came flowing

From above the Mercy Seat

Where the nail prints of His justice

Offered grace for my defeat.

Shouts of praise began to fill me

Freedom's song began to flow

As the honor and the glory

Rose to Christ who loved me so.

Ben Pent

A NATION'S SHAME

The winds of change are moving in

Like oozing spills of toxic waste

Our virgin shores destroy its prey

Polluting lands where children play.

The courts have now become like gods

Whose laws no longer stand for truth

Where innocence is bathed in shame

And those who murder feel no blame.

The bitter cries of those unborn

Are ripped apart and left to die

And then we wonder what is wrong

Our Nation is no longer strong?

Just look around both far and near

Our streets are full of drugs and fear

With guns in school with sex and crime

And no one lives with peace of mind?

The prophet sounds a red alert

That judgment lies within our gates!

But hardened hearts respond in scorn

Still looking for Utopian's morn.

So weep and wail the time has come

God’s Bowls of wrath are soon to flow

But only those who fear His name

Will find escape from judgment’s blame.

Ben 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.

Ben Pent

MEMORIAL TEARS!

I grieve for me beside your grave

I want to give one last farewell

There are so many little things

That I just long to tell.

So if from heaven's portal gate

You're given one more fleeting glance

To look upon my lonely heart

Please give me one more chance.

Remember when we pledged our troth

When virgin love burst forth in bloom?

Our hearts began to beat as one

Each evening, morning, noon.

Then hand-in-hand we walked life's road

We built our castle strong and true

Where happy children learned to grow

And trust our blessed Savior, too.

Then time began to speed its course

The nest was empty once again

We used our gifts to serve the Lord

For He had promised great reward.

But since you left my aching heart

Your touch of love is felt no more

So I must tread life all alone

Until we meet on yonder Shore.

So tell me dearest, if you can

Since there's a mansion just for you

Could I stop by your open door

For just a glance or two?

Life's comfort would sustain me then

While you wait there for me

And when death's angel calls me Home

We'll share eternity.

B. Pent

THE SOLDIER'S PLEDGE

The Soldier stood before the Captain of the Guard 
His comrades fought and died to keep our Nation free
The battlefield was marked by stains of blood from war 
Now only memories follow those still left on shore! 

Their graves are marked with epitaphs on marbled stone 
And every year the tears still fall in silent groans 
The Purple Heart was theirs, not ours to hold with pride 
They are the heroes in the grave who fought and died! 

The Captain of the Guard then spoke in accent clear: 
“Where did you go when bugle called to face the foe?” 
The soldier, trembling answered, that he ran away 
He was afraid of fatal wounds or scars that day. 

Just then there flashed across the Eastern sky, a Cross! 
The scars of battle could be seen on hands and side 
The Captain bore those wounds in love for you and me 
So through His death enslaved mankind could be set free.

We are the soldiers that are called to fight the Foe 
It is for each to use the Sword while here below 
The question that disturbs and moves my heart by far 
Is what we'll tell Him if we have no wound or scar
Ben Pent

HARD TO LET GO

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 ABOVE EARTH’S 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.

BUT TIME SO QUICKLY PASSED AWAY
I FAILED TO NOTE THE YEARS GONE BY
SO WHEN YOUR FLIGHT FROM EARTH 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
BUT WHEN WE MEET ON HEAVEN’S SHORE
TOGETHER WE WILL PART NO MORE.

BEN PENT

LONELY VALLEYS

Lonely the valley where sorrows reside

Emptiness lingers with darkness inside

Light that once shone from the heaven's above

Leave only phantoms once flowing with love.

Where is the joy that once brightened my day

Who is the thief that has painted life gray?

Silence and sadness have torn it apart 

No one can fathom the grief in my heart!

Distractions in time are so often a pain

Vacations and parties are transient and vain 

The promise is given and vict'ry is won

 When faith reaches up to the God three in One

.

Jesus has borne all our grief and its loss

There is no burden His love cannot cross

Take up His yoke that is easy to bear

Resting in Him will remove all your care.
B. Pent