BROKEN JARS

IN THE QUIET OF MY SPIRIT

THERE'S A WRESTLING DEEP INSIDE

BROKEN PIECES FROM THIS VESSEL

SHATTERED DREAMS AND WOUNDED PRIDE.

IN THE NIGHT OF MY CONFUSION

CHOICES MADE I DID NOT SEE

LED ME PAST THAT SWEET COMMUNION

WHERE GOD WANTED ME TO BE.

WAVES OF DOUBT THEN BLURRED MY VISION

WORLDLY CARES SOON DULLED MY SIGHT

SUDDENLY ITS WEB ENSLAVED ME

AS I TRIED TO TAKE MY FLIGHT.

THEN THE POTTER CALLED ME TO HIM

WITH MY BROKEN-SHATTERED PAST

TOOK THE VESSEL THAT HAD WANDERED

PROMISED FREEDOM THAT WOULD LAST!

FROM A HEART OF TRUE REPENTANCE

HEALING BATHED ME IN HIS BLOOD

LIVING WATERS FROM HIS FULLNESS

POURED THROUGH ME REDEEMING LOVE.

NOW IN JOYFUL, GLAD SURRENDER

LIFTING HOLY HANDS IN PRAISE

ALL I WANT AND HAVE IN JESUS

IS HIS PRESENCE ALL MY DAYS.

Ben Pent

HE'S ALIVE!

The nights were cold and bare
Cayotes darting here and there
Weeping friends in silent-sorrow
With no hope for joy tomorrow.

Gloom and doom-like torrents came
Death had filled their hearts with pain
He has gone and won't return
Kingdom visions failed and burned!

Mary with a few brave friends
Wandered down to death's dark Den
The rock-hewn stone had rolled away
The Tomb lay empty dark and gray.

Someone stole their battered King
Lost all hope of seeing Him!
Sore-distressed, the Gardner came
So they asked who was to blame.

If you know where Jesus lies
Grateful tears would flood our eyes?
"I am He!" was His reply
Tell your friends "I am Alive!"

Mary rushed to tell His friends
Grief and sorrow will now end
"I have seen the Risen Lord
As He promised by His word!"

Shout and sing Hosanah's praise
Christ has conquered death, the grave!
Heaven and earth: "Rejoice! Proclaim!
Praise and magnify His name."
Ben Pent

THE CROWN OF THORNS

Heaven's glory crowned the Garden
Flowing rivers, crystal-clean
Eden's flowers spread their fragrance
All its grandeur could be seen.

Paradise in all its splendor
Never ceased to overflow
Violets danced among the roses
Not one thorn allowed to grow.

Oh, what sweet communion followed
God with man each glorious day
Without fear of one tomorrow
Promised joys would always stay.

Then a slithering Snake intruded
Speaking subtle-tempting lies
"Just one taste" he often chided
"and, like God, you would be wise!"

Sin soon birthed life's thorns and thistles
Jagged stems their vines were seen
Death and hell brought fear and horror
By this Madman's devilish schemes.

But the Man-of Sorrows entered
God-in-flesh His plan was set
Took the thorns of sin that bound us
Formed a crown! Full payment met!

Hallelujah! What a Savior
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain
Hearts and hands in holy worship
With one voice proclaim His name!
Ben Pent

LIVING WATERS

The well was dry and empty
Life was full of grief & pain
She was longing for fulfillment
But her searching was in vain.

Tears and heartaches followed closely
Friends and lovers new her shame
Like a well that had no water
Each day's search was just the same.

In the desert of her longing
Walked a Stranger offering hope
Living Waters flowing freely
 From her longing heart awoke!

Jesus full of love and mercy
By the springs of Sychar's well
Gave this sin-bound broken woman
Life and Freedom from her hell.

From the chains that once enslaved her  
Flowed such Joy without compare
When Samaria heard the Message
Hearts found Jesus everywhere!
Ben Pent

WRAPPED IN LOVE

You wrapped your love around my heart
As I stood in the cold
You filled my life with happiness
And brought me to the Fold
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.

You wrapped Your love around my heart
And loosed the chains of sin
You freed me from all emptiness
Sweet peace now dwells within
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.

You wrap Your love around my heart
Each moment of the day
You go before the path I take
You know the narrow way
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.
Ben Pent

JOY vs HAPPINESS

JOY met HAPPINESS one day
Along the rock-strewn path of life
The answer they both sought to find
Was how to gain real peace of mind.

Each one was given time to choose
Through trials that would test their faith
The daily strength that JOY embraced
Was trusting God's unfailing grace!

But verdant fields drew HAPPINESS
Where earthly toys and pleasures lay
The search for gain and earthly store
Became the quest for wanting more.

 But time began to test the soul
And pressures forced the heart to choose   
Between a life of trust and faith
Or seek one's joy another place.

JOY early learned to trust God's Word
Whose promise He would always keep
If heaven's kingdom became first
He then would quench all earthly thirst!

By chance they met another day.
The searching heart of HAPPINESS
Expressed a need to find a way
To fill that void that leads astray.

God's simple plan was then revealed
For earthly things that weigh the soul.
JOY fills the vacuum of each heart
When Christ becomes the central part.
Ben Pent

WHAT DEFINES LOVE?

Love is more than a feeling you feel
When emotions get out of control
Or a rush of adrenaline mix
When one's passions take hold of the soul.

Love is more than a word that is thought
When a touch or a look is supplied
Or a warm fuzzy feeling that beckons
To build up your ego with pride.

Love does not grow in a vacuum
Its nature gives all without price
Not like this world's selfish offer
That demands in return its own prize.

Love is a verb wrapped up as a Gift
It's a message of infinite worth
No one can selfishly hoard it away
It's the seed of God's priceless New Birth.

So give it away to all who have need
Its a balm for the wounded in heart
Then like a spring in a desert you'll find
Rivers of Love that will never depart.
Ben Pent