MY BOUQUET OF THANKS

I'm walking today through my garden of praise
Picking fresh flowers to brighten my dayS
Thinking of all that the Lord has bestowed
Counting each blessing to lighten my load.

Cutting the stem of a beautiful rose
Fragrance and beauty each peddle disclose
Thorns of anxiety led me astray
Calvary's love gently blew it away.

Lilies of peace that are gathered in tears
Precious reminder God's freedom from fears
Christ's blood-bought family are part of His plan
Bright'ning His Table with gifts from His hand.

Think of your flowers this Thanksgiving Day
Gath'ring bouques as a tribute of praise
Bring them as gifts to the Father above
Jesus the Source of all blessings and love.
Ben Pent

BEYOND THE VEIL

How quick life's journey finds its end
As shadows press inside the gate
The clock winds down almost unheard
What's left to gain is now too late!

Youth was so vibrant at the start
The future filled with busy dreams
There was no time to fret or sigh
Were not the toys of life to glean?

How soon the Reaper passes by
The scent of dust is felt around
And mourners hear the silent groans
While teardrops fall without a sound.

The spirit rises through the mist
And dazzling lights come into view
A voice then beckons all to come
The righteous path is for the few.

Familiar faces can be seen
Of friends and family coming near
The welcome party rise in song
The end of suffering, death and fear!

The Gates of heaven open wide
The King is seated on His Throne
The voices of ten billion saints
Lift praise to Jesus Christ alone!

And then in wonder glory shines
As we behold His Paradise
Fulfilled in love through streams of Grace
Eternal life, His gift: the prize!
Ben Pent

HIDE ME, LORD!

HIDE ME IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS, DEAR LORD
THE WAVES OF DARKNESS BLOW ACROSS MY PATH
I FEEL THE NIGHT OF EVIL GAINING GROUND
"O MASTER OF LIFE'S STORMS, CAN PEACE BE FOUND?"

THE WORLD'S ELIXIR THAT ONCE OFFERED JOY
IS BUT AN EMPTY GLASS, A BROKEN TOY!
YET FROM A LONELY HEART A VOICE IS HEARD:
"O GOD! CAN HEAVEN SEND ONE CALMING WORD?"

THE TORCH OF TRUTH THAT  BURNED SO BRIGHT & CLEAR
THAT OFFERED HOPE AGAINST THIS MONSTER:"FEAR"
WE'RE ANXIOUS MOMENTS BUILT ON SINKING SAND
FOR IN MY SEARCH I FELT NO HELPING HAND!

YET IN THE NOISE AND CLAMOR OF UNREST
THE SPIRIT'S GENTLE VOICE ASSURED ME "REST!"
AND FROM GOD'S WORD I HEARED THE MASTER SAY:
"COME UNTO ME, YOU'LL FIND REAL PEACE TODAY!"

NOW FROM THE FOUNT OF GRACE I FREELY DRINK
THE COOL, REFRESHING STREAM OF PEACE I SEEK
AND WITH UPLIFTED HEART IN PRAISE I SING
ALL GLORY TO THE RISEN CHRIST, MY KING!
ben pent

MY BROKEN PAST

The wounds are deep that trouble me
At times seem more than I can bear
The broken pieces of my past
Still haunt & tempt me to despair!

Why did the Light that marked my path
So quickly change to gripping fears?
Why does God's peace that gave me rest
Now fill my eyes with blinding tears?

The trap that caught me by surprise
Had blinded my own reasoning
And helplessly I tried in vain
Yet guilt kept me on sinning.

But then I took the Warrior's Sword
And in the Power of Jesus' Name
I stood upon the Rock of Faith
As Satan slithered out in shame!

So now I stand in Christ alone
His blood has freed me from all sin
The Victor's banner from the Cross
Waves high in praise to Christ my King!
B. Pent

THE WEB OF DECEPTION

Deceptive thoughts that trick the mind

Like flies caught in a spider’s web

Try hard to shake its silken grip

And soon its venom leaves you dead!

How troublesome this rude disguise

Intriguing lures that bate it's prey

The Serpent robs all hope of joy

And leaves the heart too weak to pray.

Yet in this net of hopelessness

While groping for the Light

The One Who calmed the raging storm

Stands with the warrior in the fight!

God is the Way through blinding storms

His Truth will set the captive free

Stand in the power of Jesus Name

And claim by faith the Victory!

Ben Pent

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