Wednesday, November 26, 2014

I’m Thankful for My Wife

Michael E. Wood
November 26, 2014

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.  Proverbs 31:29-31

Any true minister of the gospel desires above all else to see God glorified through the transformation of souls to the praise of His glory. We long to see Christ formed by the power of the Spirit in the hearts of those whom we have the privilege to preach to on a regular basis. Over the course of time we find that we rejoice when we see what appears to be fruit formed from the Vine and yet we grieve when we see what appears to be something less than good fruit.

In recent days Dianna and I have had the opportunity to rejoice in some situations while becoming very concerned about another. While praying and searching the scriptures as how to respond to this particular circumstance, Dianna was able to give insight into an area which had not come to my mind and thus provided wisdom with which to go forward in a manner we believe to be pleasing to the Lord. With all the things I have to be thankful for during this season of life the Lord has given me, I am so very thankful for my wife.

I’m thankful for the wisdom
God has given you, my wife,
Which helps to keep me humble
As we journey through this life,
Together for the cause of Christ
That we might make Him known,
With steadfast love and faithfulness
That He to us has shown.

Oh, help us love with patience,
Holy Father, God, and Friend
In such a way that Christ may be
Exalted to this end
That others come to know You
By the Spirit which You gave
To birth them into life as
Christ’s own blood for us was paid
To save us from our sin that
Your own glory may be known
Which raised us to behold
All of Your beauty as Your own. 

Monday, November 3, 2014

Gifts to His Eternal Praise

Michael E. Wood
November 3, 2014

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

While some may judge the contemplation of the incarnation of Christ to be observed only at certain seasons, methinks that those who think that way may not truly contemplate the incarnation at all but rather have a view likened unto, “What’s in it for me?” As we search the scriptures we find that our salvation is NOT primarily about us. Yes, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Likewise, all that the Father gave to the Son shall come to Him, and He shall in nowise cast us out. Therefore, as believers and followers of Christ, we are gifts from the Father, to the Son, by the Spirit, to the praise of His glory.

This lowly babe though born a King
Did live His life; an offering.
The spotless Son of God and man
Was given by the Father’s plan
To show such love amidst the tide
Of human sin and fallen pride
And none could fathom on their own
But God the Spirit, He has shone
Into the hearts of those prepared
By grace to see the glory shared
Through death with Him; the crucified
And live with Him as justified
As sons and daughters He did raise,
As gifts to His eternal praise.