More Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 25, 2012

^"... including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,"Cross references: Romans 1:6 Rev. 17:14; [ch. 8:28, 30]Romans 1:6

Though the following thoughts may be somewhat simplistic and childlike, my heart rejoices in the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a man: the helpless babe in Bethlehem was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, and I am called to belong to Him.

Because of Gods great love for me,

I am His and He is mine.

Chosen, called; eternally,

I am His and He is mine.

Separate from the world to be,

I am His and He is mine.

Unto His glory, I now see

I am His and He is mine.

All praise to Christ, who set me free

I am His and He is mine.

And through His name I worship Thee;

I am His and He is mine.

I praise Thee Father as Your own;

I am His and He is mine.

As Christ for me, did sin atone;

I am His and He is mine.

Flesh of flesh and bone of bone;

I am His and He is mine.

A member of His body sown;

I am His and He is mine.

In this world till fully grown;

I am His and He is mine.

As raised with Him before Thy throne;

I am His and He is mine.

So help me walk now more holy;

I am His and He is mine.

To show Thy glories guarantee;

I am His and He is mine.

Empowered by Thy Spirits plea;

I am His and He is mine.

Till perfect in eternity;

I am His and He is mine.

Beholding all Thy majesty;

I am Yours and You are mine

Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 13, 2012

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:1- 4

As helpless babe you came to earth,

The seed of David made by birth,

But in that resurrection hour;

Declared the Son of God in pow’r!

November 20, 2012

O help me love Thee as I ought

With every thought and deed,

Well ordered by Thy Spirit

And the word before decreed,

That Thou alone be glorified

By holiness of heart

Of which, O Christ, you purchased

To the full and not in part.

For when You rose victorious

O’er my sin and conquered grave,

You raised me with Yourself

To be Your child and loving slave,

Now free from all the judgment

Which Your righteousness imputes

And shields me in my conscience

When my foes come with rebukes,

For as I take my stand I trust

Your armor as my own

And raise the shield of faith

You gave by grace through You alone.

A Savior is Born

Michael E. Wood

December 15-16, 2012

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:9-14

Some two thousand years have passed since that day

When an angel appeared to the shepherds to say

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be

For all the people” and this you will see

In the city of David a Savior is born,

Who is Christ the Lord; you will find him adorned

In swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

This babe to so many is still yet a stranger.

For hidden is he to the blind natures eye

Till the Father above gives a heart made to cry

Out by the Spirit, convicting of sin,

And judgment meets mercy when Christ enters in,

To show himself glorious to the praise of his grace;

The fullness of the Godhead to seek then His face.

How good and how gentle you’ll find him to be,

The Shepherd who paid with his blood on the tree.

So if you now see him by faith; take a stand

And spread the good news just as far as you can.

For that little babe is our soon coming King

And the glory of God will then fill every thing

As the heavens and earth will be made all anew

Fulfilling the purpose of our God who is True!

Suffering What You Deem Best

Michael E. Wood

September 27, 2012

 ... and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:17

While listening online to Pastor Michael Karns from Beacon Baptist Church preach on the subject of “Suffering: The Pathway to Glory”, some of those from our congregation at Immanuel Baptist came to mind as they are undergoing a season of suffering.

Having undergone certain seasons of suffering in my own life, at the age of fifty-six, I have no expectations that they will be the last. So as much as I trust the Lord may use the following to be an encouragement to others, I likewise commit all into our Fathers hands to uphold me by His steadfast love and faithfulness when called upon to look to Him with joy while enduring that which He deems best for His infinite glory.

Oh Father help me see this as a gift from Your sure hands

Which draws me close to comprehend Your presence by the bands

Of love beyond all measure and affixed by Your design

To know that I am Yours and through Christ Jesus, You are mine!

Oh help me then embrace that, which You’ve chosen for my good,

In suffering what You deem best and by You understood

To be that which will make me more like Jesus in this time;

To taste and see that You are good till with You then sublime,

Exulting in Your glory when all truth will then unfold

The wonders of Your grace which were much greater than were told.

Psalm 27- Sparks of Praise

Michael E. Wood

 While the study of Psalm 27 has been quite fruitful in relation to preparation for preaching its content over the course of several weeks at Atria, it has likewise been a source through which praise has been lifted from my own heart as well.

November 25, 2012

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Psalm 27:6

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  John 17:20

The truth that we perpetuate

Was given for Thy own Names sake.

For You did ask and we believe

That You for us did leave and cleave

As the husband of the bride

You gave Yourself and we abide

By all You are O Christ alone,

Exalted on Thy glory’s throne,

Restored unto the Fathers place

Oh high, the head of Adams race

Till all is new and all are one;

You purchased as the Fathers Son.

November 30, 2012

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Psalm 27:8

We may not always know on earth

What God may have in mind

But certainly we know that

In His glory we will find

That He knew exactly

What to do in every case

To bring about humility

As sin He would abase

To demonstrate the power

Of His own transforming grace

To perfect our praise

By turning us unto His face.

November 2012

Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! Psalm 27:9

You carry me from birth to death

And grant to me my every breath

That with the life that You now give

I may unto Your glory live.

You are the song that I now sing,

The source and the Almighty Spring

By which refreshing water flows

To quench the thirst for grace that grows

With every glimpse You give to view

Your beauty and Your glory too!

November 3, 2012

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  Psalm 27:14

Be of good courage, O yes be it mine,

All for Thy glory, O Father divine.

That is the word You now speak to my heart

And seal by Your Spirit to never depart!

New Sparks of Praise!

Michael E. Wood 

Normally when poetic lines come to mind, I reach for a notebook in which the majority of the poems and songs that I am given are written down with the date. On some occasions, I simply reach for the closest sheet of paper that is available with the intent of transferring the thoughts over at a later date. While in preparation and study for a message from Romans 1:16-17 the following “Sparks” came to mind in either late September or the first week of October 2012.

Oh how my love doth wax and wane

And oft doth keep from speaking plain

The truths You’ve given by Your Word

And by Your Holy Spirit heard

To see by faith with open eyes,

Our Lord and Savior as the prize

For which all heaven and earth proclaims

The splendor of Your Precious Name!

Forgive me for the way at times

I draw attention to myself,

And help me by Your power

To reflect the One who is our health!

October 2, 2012

Sometimes I do forget that Christ is all my righteousness,

But then in faith God leads me to again my sins confess.

He makes me see anew, as He my Shield; Defender Is,

My God and Savior, Lord and King, and He has made me His!

No hope have I apart from Him, who sealed me in His love,

Who causes me afresh to hear the sound and joy of

His voice so sweetly singing while rejoicing in His praise.

He is the Lord our Righteousness, and shall be all our days!