I will sing a new song unto thee, O God

Every Day is Valentine's

2012-02-14T05:25:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
February 2, 2012

Romans 14:5
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with having a special day for two people to express their love for one another, experience can prove that unrealistic expectations, selfish motives, and an unhealthy competitiveness can do more harm than good. Not to say that we are perfect and are not in any need of growth or that any of God’s children would ever have a problem with any of these things, I’m just saying…

I know that we’re a little strange, but in this we hold firm,
That every day is Valentines, by love we do confirm
Our hearts and lives to one another reflecting God’s pure grace;
For Christ doth love His blood bought church, and we, His glorious face.

And though there may be those who make one day above the rest,
Be careful not to make that day, a day by which you test
Authentic love which comes from God, for God indeed is Love
And proved it when He sent His Son to earth from heaven above.
And when He came, no greater love was e’er displayed than this,
As He laid down His life for sin that we might know true bliss.

And now He bids us follow with all purity of mind,
With love for Him above all else, for in Him love we find,
Upholding us with patience as a pattern to project
The love of Him who loved us with a love that is perfect!

Read in the Writings

2012-02-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 20, 2012

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

What an amazing mercy it is to have our eyes opened up to see that when we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, then the life we are given to live by grace through faith in Him while here on earth and its influence is not bound by time or the earthly circumstances God the Father has by His sovereignty placed us in. Being made to see that it is “not I but, Christ living in me” is that which frees us to know that, “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. As living letters of the grace of God by the Holy Spirit, we are indeed read by those with which we interact with from day to day, and we are either a fragrance of life unto life or death unto death. Thus while the Spirit of grace and glory rests upon us, let us be faithful to sow beside all waters, entrusting the Lord of the harvest to bring forth fruit for His glory.

These are the type of thoughts which encourage me to continue writing, with the understanding that my presence on earth is not necessary for God to use me for His glory. For though the things I write are but as crumbs from the Masters table, it is the Master which breaks us, and then blesses us that He may use us as vessels of mercy, to feed those within the realm of influence He has appointed.

If you read in the writings and follow the path
You’ll find that Christ Jesus did pay for God’s wrath.
For He by His Spirit can show you alone
That He for our sins with His blood did atone
For every transgression you find rising up
Within your own soul and was placed in the cup
Of which His own Father did give Him to drink
On the cross and for joy, He did not from it shrink,
But drank to the full and consumed every drop,
Producing by death the most glorious crop
Of wheat that will stand when the harvest is made
At the end of the age as the angels are bade
To go forth and gather to separate sheep
From the goats on the left, He, Himself did not keep
And “Come”, He will say, “who are blessed by my Father,
Inherit the kingdom”, you sons, every daughter
Of which was prepared, as the remnant of nations
In consummate glory, as God’s new creations
Will praise Him forever in infinite songs,
The King of all glory to whom all belongs

My Dear Wifey

2012-02-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 18, 2012

On November 17th 2008, by the providence of God, Dianna and I first met. Many a precious moment was spent together in the fellowship of the Spirit of Christ, though separated by three thousand miles. On May 18th 2010 we were blessed to be joined as one to the praise of His glorious grace and to begin our life together by making our earthly home in Northern California. Over the last few days as we are brought near to celebrating two years of marriage, we have spoken of how easy it is to slip into a sense of taking each other for granted, and yet our Father continually surprises us with gratitude first and foremost for Christ and then for each other in the manner in which He is pleased to use us for His glory.

While Dianna was at home for lunch today she spent most of her time completing some details for a guest post on a blog from Connecticut with the potential to be read by thousands of people around the world. I smiled with delight as earlier in the day she read the material that is to be posted, knowing that Christ is exalted! As she was heading back to work she apologized for not spending more time with me during her break, and the following came to mind of which I called and left on her answering machine. And by the way, C.H. Spurgeon used to call his wife “wifey”, and I have picked up the habit as of late.

Your love for Christ is my one great concern
And is that of which you should know and discern
Which makes you more precious than all to my eye
By Him who did willingly for us both die.

Not simply that we might have total forgiveness
But much more so as to walk in His presence
To trust and enjoy the unspeakable Spring
Of His Spirit to praise Him with song as we sing.

Fear not my dear wifey for you I do love
Much more than before as you are my sweet dove
With which I can fly and be constant in song
Until we see Jesus, for whom we do long!

His Harvest of Righteousness

2012-02-04T10:35:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 13, 2012

2nd Corinthians 12:9,10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Romans 7:4
Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Romans 8:2¬-4
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

As we grow older we become more acutely aware of the infirmities of our earthly bodies, and as we live in this fallen world fighting the fight of faith we also become increasingly aware of how utterly inept we are to do anything of eternal value apart from living and walking in the Spirit of Christ. But thanks be to God which gives us the victory and causes us to triumph through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who abundantly supplies more than we can ask or think.

Of my infirmities now I will boast,
For I am indwelt by the sweet Holy Ghost.
Under His influence now made to dwell,
As Christ has delivered from sin and from hell.

But not only this; God has caused me to walk
In the life that I live, and it will for me talk,
As Christ was not sent just to cover my shame,
But forever to live and His glory proclaim.

Bound then for glory with a taste of it now
In Jesus my hands are now fit for the plough
Which turns up the dirt as He breaks every clod
To make me like Him with His staff and His rod.

For fruit unto God He has called me to bear
Which comes from the Root of His glory to share,
Designed by His will in eternity past
And springs from Christ Jesus from first unto last.

So thus by this vessel God made from the dust
And breathed in new life by His Spirit to trust,
His glory to shine as His will is fulfilled
As His harvest of righteousness only will yield.

A Prayer for Sanctification

2012-01-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 24, 2011

Hebrews 10:7-14

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end. Through the sacrifice of Christ, all that are appointed unto salvation are justified from all things of which they could not be justified by the law, and the work of sanctification is set into motion by the same Spirit of Christ (which is the Holy Spirit) the moment we are birthed into the kingdom, resulting in a life of repentance and belief in the everlasting gospel of Christ. Sanctification is both definitive as well as progressive, as He which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Christ. We have been appointed to glory and are now the children of God. Though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we know that we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He Is. Thus we have been set free from the dominion of sin and are led forth by the Spirit of truth to glorify God throughout the course of our life here on earth as we are transformed into the likeness of our lovely Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, from glory to glory.

Remove from me the blinders that I see more my offense
That I may rejoice the more in Christ my recompense-
For as I see my weakness of which I am now ashamed
I glory more within the cross of Calvary proclaimed.

For as I hear the sweetness of the voice that raised me up
And called me to Himself that I may with Him dine and sup
Of such delights beyond a simple taste of things to come,
The fullness and the glory of my God who is the One
Of whom I trust with all my life to do as He will do
Till all that’s left of who I am will honor only You!

A Preparatory Prayer

2012-01-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 12, 2012

Prior to looking to the written Word of God in preparation for this coming Lord’s day message at Atria, the following thoughts came in part yesterday in the first person form. Upon being awakened around 5:00a.m. this morning, additional verses came to mind along with the understanding that this prayer would be better suited for the corporate prayer of the body rather than the simple desire of an individual.

Here we have Your Word before us.
Show us what to think and feel,
That to others, Jesus only
By Your Spirit would be real!

For these moments pass so quickly,
Turning fast to days and years
And the Conqueror must conquer
All the present doubts and fears.

Christ alone, our only hope is
How we dwell secure and ask
That Your presence would be with us,
Precious Father in this task.

What we speak will only matter
If You do attend with power,
And conviction by Your Spirit
Must be present for each hour.

True affection is our heart cry
As You save from self and sin
Through the blood of Jesus only
By Your Spirit godless men.

And the body now You buildeth
By the Word You speak through grace
Till in heaven all assembled
Bow before Your smiling face.

So we cast our care upon You
That the focus of all praise
May be only to Your glory
As true hearts to You we raise.

Now to the Lord married

2012-01-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 11, 2012

Romans 7:4-6

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 8:1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Over the last couple of weeks I have found my self immersed in the exposition of Romans chapter 7 and the beginning of chapter 8 through the commentary given by D.M. Lloyd-Jones. As I awoke around four-thirty this morning, the following words with music came to mind. (I smile as I think of how Dianna said, “You’re making butterflies this morning.”) As we danced to the melody in the privacy of our home, our minds were enraptured by the beauty of the Lord and the freedom that we have in Him through the blood of His cross.

What an amazing thing, that He can take us from our worm-like state, conceal us in His death and raise us up together with Him, to be transformed by the power of His resurrection; to behold His glory, and to be made like Him in that glorious estate which surpasses knowledge!

My soul lie despondent and with every breath
A slave to my sin I pursued in my death
Then Jesus said, “Come, I have carried them all
Into the sea to redeem from the fall.”

Into the sea to redeem from the fall,
The blood of my Savior has covered them all.
My ears He did open to answer His call
To rest now assured He is Lord overall.

Not bound by the law, but now to my Lord married.
Rejoicing in Jesus, who has my soul carried
From death unto life by His transcendent love
Into His kingdom, who reigns from above.

Into His kingdom, who reigns from above,
Translated from darkness to light now in love,
Led by His Spirit who came like a dove,
Till with Him in glory, this world then free of.

Now no condemnation and never shall be,
The law of the Spirit has set my soul free.
For God has now done what the law could not do
By sending His own Son to give life anew.

By sending His own Son to give life anew,
The righteous requirement fulfilled all for you
Who live by the Spirit who raised us up to
Be free to give glory to God that is due.

Remember He Remembers (Part Two)

2012-01-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 10, 2012

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17

While one of the purposes to which we are called into one body is to teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, let us ever be mindful that our focus and praise is toward God out of thankful hearts. As you read the writings of the apostle Paul you will often find that in the course of his teaching, he suddenly erupts by the Spirit into ejaculatory praise toward God.

As one of the more recent songs the Lord has given me was brought to mind, I went back to review and to sing praise to Him in personal worship. Upon reading the passage once again from which the song was derived the following came to mind as a closing verse.

Oh Father lead us by Your Spirit on our journey home,
While trusting only in the blood of Christ who did atone.
Now walking in His beauty as we stand by Him in awe,
Fulfilling all the purpose unto which You did us call.
We praise You as Your chosen ones, as long as we shall live,
Delighting in Your mercy and to You the glory give!

And thus the entire song is as follows:

Remember all the wondrous works the LORD our God has done.
Remember, He remembers what He spoke unto His Son.
The everlasting covenant, He made with Abraham
Was promised first before the world in Him, Who Is, I Am!
Oh praise Him all ye chosen ones, as long as you shall live,
Delighting in His mercy, and to Him the glory give!

For as you view with eyes made new our God in history,
The Holy Spirit will in truth unfold the mystery
Unto all those of which He bids to seek with joyful hearts
The Lord who is our strength and by His pleasure He imparts
The knowledge of His presence, loosing lips to make them sing,
All glory, praise, and honor to our Lord, and God, and King!

For Jesus has indeed fulfilled the promised covenant,
And sealed it by His blood and speaks as heaven’s supplicant
For all the Father gave Him, He secured with not one lost.
He lived and died for sinful men, and paid the awful cost.
Oh praise Him all ye chosen ones, as long as you shall live,
Delighting in His mercy, and to Him the glory give!

Oh Father lead us by Your Spirit on our journey home,
While trusting only in the blood of Christ who did atone.
Now walking in His beauty as we stand by Him in awe,
Fulfilling all the purpose unto which You did us call.
We praise You as Your chosen ones, as long as we shall live,
Delighting in Your mercy and to You the glory give!

THE DARKNESS OF MY IGNORANCE

2012-01-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 30, 2011

The Law and Sin - Romans 7:6-8
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

While reading through a series of messages by Lloyd-Jones, in his commentary on Romans chapter 7, I was absolutely amazed at how well it seemed that this man knew me. The following, with the help of my precious wife, it is now being used as a tract to convey my own personal experience of the grace of God which has been so lavishly poured upon me through the merit of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ unto the praise of His power and His glory.

The darkness of my ignorance
Had bound me by my pride,
And hopelessness was that which
Made me wish that I had died.

Impure imaginations
Were driven to partake
Of things within my conscience
That I knew I should forsake.

But powerless was I within
To keep from going there,
And everything I tried
Just drove me deeper to despair.

Twelve Steps could only change
The outside for a while
But, when the props were pulled away
I found myself more vile!

The Bible, I was taught,
Could help me in this task;
But, my heart was like a stone
Not knowing what to ask.

The fulcrum of the Law
Stirred up desires within;
The power of my nature,
I have come to know as sin.

Then smitten to the dust
And thinking all was lost—
God’s Spirit came revealing
Christ had paid the awful cost.

His voice is what I heard—
Through the vessel of a man,
To show the grace and mercy of
My Father’s saving plan.

My sin upon Himself, He bore
On Calvary’s lonely tree;
The sinless Son of God consumed
The wrath that was due me.

The justice I deserved
His blood for sin atoned;
And in His righteousness before
The throne of God I’m owned.

My guilt and shame removed;
To know and love and serve
The only one who was and is
And coming—doth deserve.

All glory, praise, and honor
As the God of all creation
Will reveal Himself beyond
All hope’s imagination!

None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
1 Corinthians 2:8-10

God Doth Feed His Own

2012-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
January 3, 2012

And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. Luke 4:24-26

Jesus tells us that a disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 Thus it should be no great surprise to us when we are not recognized by the world but rather are rejected when we stand for the truth of who Christ is and walk in the precepts of His words and His calling upon our individual lives as they are spoken to us by His Spirit. To take up our cross and follow Him, includes bearing the reproach of Him who suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood.

As Elijah was a representative and a type of Christ, God provided for him in a peculiar way while a great famine came over the land. And though we live in a day where there is a great famine of hearing the Word of God, let us therefore rejoice in the great privilege that we have been afforded to be His; to have ears to hear and eyes to see and feed upon the Bread which came down out of heaven unto the praise of His glorious grace.

In times of famine God doth feed
His own; though made of clay,
We find ourselves rejoicing in
God’s bounty new each day.
The finest wheat, a touch of honey;
True Bread that feeds the soul;
For Jesus is the means by which
We live and are made whole.
For every word of which He speaks
Is that which brings delight,
Conveyed to us by His own blood,
So precious in God’s sight.

And of His fullness and His grace
Each one may now receive
As by His Spirit we are made
To taste and truly see
All for our good and His own glory
His Sovereign hand doth move,
Perfecting holiness within
Our hearts that we may prove
Before the eyes of men what is
That good and perfect will
Of God Himself to whom belongeth
All the glory still!

O Shepherd of The One True Flock

2012-01-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 24, 2011

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:7-16

While in the process of preparing for the last message to be preached at Atria in 2011, I was looking back through my files of poems from the preceding year for something to include in the message. The text from the week before was in reference to the birth of Christ in His coming as the Shepherd King, with the understanding that He came to save His people from their sins. Most of the following was written as a poem while closing out the year 2010. While reading through, the music to “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night” came to mind, a closing verse was written, and thus this can be easily sung to the arrangement made famous by George F. Handel (1685-1759), in Weyman’s Melodia Sacra 1815.

O Shepherd, of the one true flock,
How sweet Your voice we hear.
For when the thief comes forth to steal,
Tis only You we fear.
Tis only You we fear.

As life abundant now You give
And lead us by Your hand,
That murderer can only do
Exactly what You planned.
Exactly what You planned.

For You have called us all by name,
And lead us forth with joy,
And though the devil take all things,
Our soul he’ll not destroy.
Our soul he’ll not destroy.

With pastures rich You now provide
For us with nothing lost.
For all we need, we find in You,
Who paid with blood, the cost!
Who paid with blood, the cost!

O Shepherd, You laid down Your life
For all Your Own, Your sheep,
That we may know, we are Your Own,
And all Your Own, You keep!
And all Your Own, You keep!

And thus our Father’s providence
In love for us ordained,
All things in life that He may bring
Forth faith, that is unfeigned.
True faith, that is unfeigned.

And for Your glory we proclaim
As those once lost in sin
All things that happen, only serve
The gospel without end.
The gospel without end.

Contemplations From Psalm 24

2012-01-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 21, 2011

Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
Psalm 24:3-6, 10

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift whereby we are enabled by the Spirit of Christ to seek His face; to truly know Him and, to be transformed from glory to glory. While He has called us to responsibility, it is He that is continually working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is the perfections of Christ, our King of glory in all His attributes, which were manifested by the cross of Calvary; and, it is He the anchor of hope which stirs our desire to be like Him; to love what He loves and to hate what He hates. To God alone be the glory!

Not aught of what I think or do
But all of grace and all of You,
Shall I be clean and pure within
By precious blood which paid for sin.

By nothing can I compensate
For any sin of which I hate
And even that has come from You,
O Christ to whom all glory’s due.

So help me daily cleanse my hands
While now You draw me by the bands
Of love which helps me to confess.
You are my all, my righteousness.

Your Name alone, Oh help me bless
By walking in Your holiness
Of which You’ve given as a gift
As by Your Spirit You uplift
My heart to ever seek Your face,
The King of glory; God of grace!

While contemplating the words of this poem, two days later a tune came to mind; and, thus the following was recorded as a song.

Not aught of what I think or do
But all of grace and all of You,
Shall I be clean and pure within
By precious blood which paid for sin.

(Chorus)
Your Name alone, O help me bless
By walking in Your righteousness.
My heart will ever seek Your face,
The King of Glory, God of grace.

By nothing can I compensate
For any sin of which I hate
And even that has come from You,
O Christ to whom all glory’s due.

(Chorus)

So help me daily cleanse my hands
While now You draw me by the bands
Of love which helps me to confess.
You are my all, my righteousness.

(Chorus)

Your Name alone, Oh help me bless
By walking in Your holiness
Of which You’ve given as a gift
As by Your Spirit You uplift
My heart to ever seek Your face,
The King of glory; God of grace!

As We View the Leaves of Fall

2012-01-06T11:36:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 21, 2011

We are reminded by the apostle Paul to set our minds on things above and not on things of the earth, for we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God.

Thanks be to God that the words spoken by and through the apostle are relevant for us today. How often do we look at things from the narrow prospective of ourselves; what we want or what we think, or how we think things should be, and not in the light of eternity? Yet God as a Father is so patient and merciful to us because of our acceptance and union with Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By the voice of His Spirit within, He brings His word to bear both to humble us and to comfort us even in the smallest of details in our lives to cause us to look to Him above all our earthly good.

While standing on our balcony during the last few days of Fall and observing how the little gusts of wind would blow the leaves off the trees which would in turn float to the ground signifying the end of their life cycle the following words came to mind.

As we view the leaves of Fall
Float to the ground by gravity
We are reminded earthy joys
Shall end by our depravity.
And thus our hearts must be transfixed
Upon the gospel with faith mixed
To know that we shall enter rest
And made to profit by Him that’s blest.
Then as the winds against us blow
Our faith is strengthened, made to grow
To boldly go to Him that knows
The feeling of our infirmities.

How precious then is God’s design
By disappointment to refine
Our faith that we may grow in grace
Obtaining mercy as we face
Our weakness in our time of need
And look to Christ to whom we plead
As He in heaven is our Priest
By whom alone we are increased
To look beyond our selfish self
To know He is our saving health;
Our One True Source and all our Wealth
To overcome all our adversities.

My Conscience Stands

2012-01-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 19, 2011

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

What a glorious liberty is ours through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! And what a wonderful thing it is to know the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free. Richard Sibbes in his work now entitled, “Glorious Freedom”*, which was published four years after his death continues to speak with thought provoking accolades of this freedom of which we have been granted as children of the living God by the Spirit of Christ.

“Now where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, that is, a freedom not to enslave our judgments, much less conscience, to any man….

Therefore, where the Spirit of Christ is, there is a liberty of independence. A man is not dependant upon any other man, beyond what agrees with the rules of religion. He is dependent only upon God and upon divine principles and grounds. The apostle Paul says, ‘The spiritual man judgeth all things, but is judged of none.’(1st Cor.2:15)….

Therefore Christians should know, and take notice of, their excellency. ‘Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty’ to judge all things as far as they come within their reach and calling, and to judge them rightly. We should know how to maintain the credit of a Christian, the liberty independent of all but God and independent of other things as far as it agrees with conscience and religion….

A true Christian is the greatest servant and the greatest free man in the world. He has a spirit that will yield to none. In things spiritual he reserves a liberty for his judgment, yet for outward conformity of life he is a servant to all, to do them good. Love makes him a servant.”

An amazing thing happened as I was typing this up. Two young “Mormon Missionaries” knocked on the door and I had the opportunity to speak to them the truth of the gospel and read this poem to them.

In Christ alone, my conscience stands
As He for freedom set me free,
For on the cross He loosed the bands
Of sin’s dominion over me.
For by His blood He paid the cost;
The double cure, for all was lost.
To Him alone, all glory be,
Who is my strength and liberty.

Though men may seek to steal my joy,
Christ is the One who is my head.
No plots or schemes they may employ
Can loose from Him who once was dead.
For with Him, I was made to rise,
And He my everlasting prize
Shall keep me as He lives above
And answers all things by His love.

Though in this world we often groan
By what remains within, without,
We are assured Christ did atone
And will end all these with a shout.
The final trump will then be blown
And all will know as they are known,
And every man will bow the knee,
As all in truth shall worship Thee!

And by the way, this can also be sung to the Lord by the tune of “In Christ Alone”.

* Puritan Paperback by The Banner of Truth Trust.

Those Who Follow in His Train

2011-12-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 13, 2011

While serving as Pastoral Care Provider at Atria El Camino Gardens, and having a desire to know the spiritual pulse as it were of those with whom I have been given the responsibility to lead in corporate worship, I have had the privilege of passing on a short devotional of which I receive weekly from one of my former Pastors via internet called IMPACT (I Must Persistently Acknowledge Christ Today). The following is a brief conversation that took place and contains the poetic thoughts of my heart both during the dialogue and afterwards. Click HERE for the link by which you may read the devotionals for yourself.
Hey Pastor Latour,

Just thought you might be encouraged to know that we have been taking the liberty of making copies of the IMPACT series over the last few weeks and handing them out to those that attend the services with us at Atria El Camino Gardens. Usually I ask someone else to hand them out as the residents are leaving, but took the opportunity to do it myself this past week as our attendance was down, and was blessed by the fact that several of them were truly delighted to receive them.

Thank you for your faithfulness in persistently acknowledging Christ today!
Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael

Amen, Michael! I am so thankful that these devotionals have blessed some of the folks that you serve. It is one of those ministries to which we just try to stay faithful and ask God to use them as He wishes. Please pray that He will graciously use them in the lives of my unsaved relatives and students.

To Pastor LaTour:
While pondering your request for prayer the following came to mind, and while wrestling with my own pride on whether to send this or not, I trust that our God is pleased to hear and to perfect that which pertains to our unbelief, as He is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all that we can think or ask.

Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael

Oh Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come
Committing all into Thy care, while here the race we run.
Oh hear the cry of faithful hearts committed to Thy cause,
Through Christ, Your Spirit thus imparts beyond our mortal flaws,
The truth of who You Are, to those we know; are made to feel
That none that breathe have gone too far, to know that You Are Real.
Be pleased O LORD to give new life to members that are dead,
Deliver them from sin and strife through our Anointed Head.
Oh show that You are Just and justified through Christ alone.
That believing is a must and crucified He did atone
For transgressions from the fall and require repentance,
Given as a gift to all who bow in their submissions
By the faith of grace extended from Your throne above
Be pleased to show Your face; transcended mercy now in love.
And as we stand before You, all the praise be Yours alone
Oh Shepherd of the sheep who gave His life for all His own.

Father we thank You that it is of Your mercies that we are not consumed, and that You are well pleased with the sacrifice of Your Son, by which we boldly come to lay our requests before You. We ask that You would be pleased to hear the cries of your humble servants who are in absolute dependence upon You for the deliverance of our family members and students that You have been pleased to open an opportunity to faithfully proclaim by life and by word the gospel of Your glorious grace. As we commit all into Your Sovereign care, we trust that You will be glorified in the salvation of souls and the edification of the body of Christ unto the praise of Your glory. In the matchless Name of Jesus we ask. Amen!

From Pastor LaTour:
Amen. Thank you brother Michael.

The following was written in response to Pastor Latour's reply; but, never sent:

Our efforts here are never in vain as we for glory press
To make the Name of Christ be known who is our righteousness.
For as our thoughts are purged and we before Him bold approach,
We trust God’s mercy that He hears and gives without reproach
The wisdom that in Him alone we shall not be denied,
That He will give what He deems best to show He’s glorified
By redemption freely given to those who will believe,
As mercy flows to melt our hearts; to Him alone to cleave.

Oh not to us but You alone, may all the glory be
O Christ who died for sinful men, our curse upon the tree.
And though You need not anything of which that we might offer
We thank You that You’re pleased to hear, and we by You now proffer,
As kings and priests rejoicing in the offering up of prayer
While resting in the promise You receive the glory there.
Oh help us walk with diligence while clad with glories light,
The sweet perfume of which You give to show Your glorious might.

And with our battles over when in heaven You will prove
That before we called, it was our hearts that You did move
To before You bring that which Your Spirit would address
To show You are our God who answers all in holiness
Which was given from the cross and to our hearts applied
By the Lamb who led us forth, as death He has denied
By His blood presented on the altar not of hands
Perfecting those who follow in His train and glory stands.

Forget the Benefits?

2011-12-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 26, 2011

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases... Psalm 103:1-3

How amazing is our God and Father! The Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us the written words wherein He speaks to us as the Living Word by His mighty Spirit to remind us of those things that we possess in Him. As He calls us to responsibility, He also enables us to live by faith in the midst of the infirmities and corruptions of our flesh which includes the weakness of our mortal minds to grasp instantaneously with our redeemed imagination glimpses of His glory and beyond the present realities of the not yet.

I must confess that there are times
My grasp may often fail
To hold on to the words You speak
And show within the veil
Of Your very presence
As my soul clings to the dust
And often I forget the benefits
You now entrust,

To every single child of which
You purchased as Your own,
As through the blood of Christ
You grant forgiveness and atone
For every imperfection
By Your mercy and Your grace,
That we may look to You alone
And see Your smiling face;

Not only in the providence
Of which You send our way,
But more within the very words
You speak through lips of clay.
For as Your Mighty Spirit
Stirs our souls to see the good
By which You satisfy our need
Far more than understood.

We thus with thankful hearts
Will look to praise You more and more
For steadfast love and faithfulness
You give from heavens shore.

In Quiet Contemplation

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 22, 2011

A Prayer

In quiet contemplations
You now speak unto my soul
Reminding me tis grace by
Which You came and made me whole.

This grace is but a foretaste
Of the fullness You impart
With every step of faith we take
With courage and true heart
Of which You gave: The Precious Gift
To worship only You,
Transfixed upon Your glory
Unto which You called us to.

Oh, be to us the wisdom
That You promised by Your blood,
You shed at Calvary to
Overcome the coming flood
Of wrath with which this world
Shall be consumed with Holy fire,
Displaying the great truth of which
You speak, and will transpire,
At the time appointed and
Have spoken by Your Word,
As God incarnate, You shall come,
Your voice be clearly heard.

And none with disappointment
Will then meet You on that day
That You have washed and clothed
With righteousness to then display,
The awesome majesty of
Who You Are in holiness,
That we may in perfection
Worship You; all glorious!

The Gift of God Receive

2011-12-25T22:51:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood

Original Writing was on 7/12/11

with Christmas in Mind

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15, 16

While listening to a message being preached by Gregory N. Barkman entitled, “Why Jesus is the firstborn”, the quaint little saying that is used around the time of year that we celebrate His birth came to mind. “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

While I am thankful this phrase is used to draw attention to the fact of our Savior’s birth, it bothers me tremendously that in many ways I fear this phrase is actually used to reduce the significance of who Jesus Is! The Son of God in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily is the reason all created things have their existence including time itself.

Sam Storms in his Commentary on the book of Colossians put it this way, “He that is Jesus is the reason, the goal, the aim, the intent, the point, the purpose, the end, the terminus, the consummation, and culmination of every molecule that moves.”

The reason, more majestic

Spans beyond imaginations.

The Alpha and Omega, Yeah

The purpose of creations

Beginning and its end

Has only one just thing in view,

That all things will reflect

And give the glory that is due

To Him who was before all time

And spoke into existence

This season which is now called time

And proves His pre-existence

And in the end it will not matter

What we accumulate

But only that we’re known and know

The blessed Potentate,

Who as a babe in Bethlehem

And of a virgin born

Was also Him who all creation,

His glory did adorn.

And as He did not come as one

Of whom we would desire,

He yet in His humility

Took on the sin entire

Of all who by His grace through faith

Would trust Him and believe,

Borne of the Holy Spirit

And the gift of God receive.

Much more than just the reason

For the season; Jesus Is,

God incarnate glorified

And everything is His!

The Lamb whose blood, Your work has done!

2011-12-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 7, 2011

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. Hebrews 12:22-25

Having been blessed of the Lord to read a number of messages concerning the precious blood of Christ preached by C. H. Spurgeon from the late 1800’s over the last several days, a number joyous thoughts stand out in my mind conveyed from our mighty God through that man.

One thing in particular was this, “Preach the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God and then sing of it.” C. H. Spurgeon February 28, 1886

Though the following can in no way convey the breadth, the length, the depth and the height of the communion of the eternal Spirit of Christ as He has offered His precious blood as an atonement for our sins, may the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD our strength and our Redeemer!

Preach the atoning sacrifice
Of Jesus Christ the Lamb
And sing of it ye children
Of our God, The Great “I Am”.

The sprinkling of His blood that day
Is that which keeps me in the way
Of righteousness and peace within
By Christ’s atonement for my sin.

Oh, when we see our self as weak
The precious blood of Christ doth speak
And answers to the Father’s throne,
“These children I have made my own.
For when I drank the bitter cup
Of wrath in full when lifted up
Upon the cross on Calvary’s hill
It was for them, my blood did spill.
For You were just and justified
When My eternal Spirit cried
Out ‘Forgive’; and godly made
Sinners by My blood and bade
Them bold approach as satisfied
And You My Father glorified
Discharged the dept as fully paid
As I my blood before You laid
The only sacrifice accepted
With every member thus connected
In My body, Your blessed Son,
The Lamb whose blood, Your work has done!"

Remember He Remembers

2011-12-22T06:24:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
December 2, 2011

Psalm 104:33-34
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

Psalm 105:1-11
Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying,” To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.

While meditating on the passages above, these words came in a joyous frame to mind.

Remember all the wondrous works the LORD our God has done.
Remember, He remembers what He spoke unto His Son.
The everlasting covenant, He made with Abraham
Was promised first before the world in Him, Who Is, I Am!
Oh praise Him all ye chosen ones, as long as you shall live,
Delighting in His mercy, and to Him the glory give!

For as you view with eyes made new our God in history,
The Holy Spirit will in truth unfold the mystery
Unto all those of which He bids to seek with joyful hearts
The Lord who is our strength and by His pleasure He imparts
The knowledge of His presence, loosing lips to make them sing,
All glory, praise, and honor to our Lord, and God, and King!

For Jesus has indeed fulfilled the promised covenant,
And sealed it by His blood and speaks as heaven’s supplicant
For all the Father gave Him, He secured with not one lost.
He lived and died for sinful men, and paid the awful cost.
Oh praise Him all ye chosen ones, as long as you shall live,
Delighting in His mercy, and to Him the glory give!

While reading back through this poem the following day, which was a Saturday morning, a Celtic type tune came to mind and thus the original poem took on a slight alteration and became a new song which was recorded and sung prior to preaching the following day at Atria El Camino Gardens.

Supplies From Heaven’s Throne

2011-12-17T20:37:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood

December 1, 2011

I must confess that I grow weary

In this world of sin,

But Praise His Name, God uses this

To help me and depend

On Him alone, who Is my strength

And bids me seek His face

To know Him better by the power

Of His Spirit’s grace,

Of which He promised and provides

Through Christ who did atone

For all my sins by precious blood

To make me all His own.

What more then could I ask for

But to make His glory known

And trust Him for the grace that He

Supplies from heaven’s throne.

For though I witness daily the

Great darkness of the lost,

Oh help me Father to uphold

The matchless, glorious cost

Of which You did determine

By the counsel of Your will

To redeem a remnant for

Your praise and shall fulfill.

And though You need not anything

Of which we can supply,

It is of Your good pleasure while

We breathe, that we might cry

Out as trumpets, as Your voice

Is heard in every land,

Rejoicing in the victory

You have wrought by Your right hand.

And when the day is ended

All the ransomed will then bless

Our God and Father, Jesus Christ

Who is our righteousness!

Our Great Shalom

2011-12-14T05:44:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 28, 2011

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18

So often we are tempted to
Now trust in things we know,
When in truth, tis only Christ
By which we learn and grow.

The turning by God’s pleasure
Of our hearts which once were veiled
Continues to bring great delight
In Christ who has prevailed
O’er hardened hearts and minds
Which could not see beyond the law
And worship Him in truth,
As He indeed is LORD of all.

For by His Holy Spirit
We can look now to His face
In every word transcribed
To see the glory of His grace.

And thus the more we see Him,
More like Him we want to be,
Who called us and transforms us;
For this freedom, we’re made free!

And more abundance He shall give
As in Him we delight,
From glory unto glory
Till we stand in perfect light,
Rejoicing in His presence
As in awe, we’ll be at home,
To glorify the One who was
And is our Great Shalom!

In Solitude God Doth Provide

2011-12-10T19:14:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 10, 2011

In solitude God doth provide
The things that we have need of
And teaches us to look to Him
Whose bounty from above
Doth feed our souls with fatness
Which is found in Christ alone;
The marrow of His gladness
Which doth strengthen every bone
Of which cannot be broken
As we reap the benefit
Of the death that Jesus died
To make us every wit,
The children of His promise
As He guards each step toward home
Though now on earth we find within
Our spirit that we groan
To be swallowed up of life;
The burden of this tent,
Secured and guaranteed to us;
His Spirit He has sent
To take good courage as we walk
By faith and not by sight.
We make our aim to please Him
By the power of His might!

Christ Doth Reign From Heaven Above

2011-12-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

Michael Wood
November 7, 2011

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
Psalms 105:5, 6

As God is gracious as a Father and knows what things we have need of, He may at times choose to withdraw a portion of His sensible presence to prove His faithfulness amidst the infirmities of our flesh. Oh how easily we are distracted at times by the things we hear, the things we see, and the things we feel, not to mention the fact that when we are called to take a new step of faith in the declaration of His Word by the life we live and the words we say, you can absolutely count on the fact that we will draw enemy fire both from within and without. Some times we may even draw what could be called friendly fire from those who judge according to fleshly observations based on preconceived ideology taught by the traditions of men rather than after the working of the manifold grace of God; Who gives to each of us according to the good pleasure of His will. Well did the song writer say, “Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be, Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee!”

Thus it behooves us to take Him at His Word, and remember the wondrous works that He has done. For He that hath begun a good work in you shall perform it till the day of Christ! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

In times when You withdraw from me,
I feel my need more keen
To look into Your Holy Book
To see what I have seen
Of all the goodness You have shown
Throughout the course of time,
By miracles and wondrous works
Confirming all of Thine.

For You have uttered judgments
For the offspring and the seed
Of Abraham, Your chosen ones
In whom You are well pleased;
As only in the righteousness
Of Christ are we adorned
To come before the throne of grace
For mercy as those born
To proclaim Your glory
As Your praises we shall sing
Throughout eternity by Him
Who Is our Offering!

So in the early morning
And throughout the passing day
Oh strengthen us to see Your hand
At work in every way
Of which You choose to show
Through us the miracle of love,
That all may see that You, O Christ
Doth reign from heaven above.

Your Covenant Secures

2011-12-04T21:47:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 1, 2011

He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, Psalm 105:8, 9

While God as a Father calls us to be responsible and to remember the mighty works that He has done throughout human history as well as within our hearts by His Spirit, He likewise knows the infirmity of our flesh which often includes a short memory span. I am so thankful that we live in a day in which we are privileged to have the written Word of God in its entirety at our disposal here in America, whereby we are enabled to stir up the gift of God that is within us by way of remembrance. But even more thankful am I that He is not dependant upon our memory to fulfill His covenant promises through the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank You that Your memory
Is better than my own
And that Your covenant secures
Sure mercies from Your throne
For when my heart condemns me
For the sins that I have sinned,
My confidence comes from Your Word
And Spirit now within.

And You are so much greater
Than my heart or anything
That would seek to separate me
From the loving Spring
Of which You are and showed to us
When Christ; His life laid down
That we may stand alone in Him
Who Is the solid ground,
And stabilizes every step
As we follow in His train,
By grace through faith as He
Our Master over us doth reign.

To Serve Before Your Throne

2011-12-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
November 1, 2011

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:9-13.

When the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines within our hearts, the true grace that is given is not perceived by those which are in the world and the depths of that work is not always discerned immediately by others whom God has called unto Himself. Thus a part of the working out of our salvation may often mean undergoing a type of rejection or “waiting period” from God’s own people. Even the apostle Paul as noted in the scriptures was given the task to defend the authority that had been given him by God to the saints as well as the other apostles. To be well known and yet unknown for the glory of God is the task we are often called to, and thus in humble submission to the will of Him that does all things well, “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD!

He came unto His own and His own received Him not.
They did not know the work of God that by Him would wrought.
And blind as they are we, until we humbly bow the knee,
And subject ourselves unto the King at Calvary.

And this we could not do apart from sovereign grace
Which shined within our hearts to see the light of Jesus face.

Should we then be surprised, if against us should then rise
The same contending spirits who did witness with their eyes
That God as One had come to us. The person of His Son,
Incarnate in the flesh, and on the cross our vict’ry won.

He sent to us His Holy Spirit and though the battle rage,
The Captain of our souls doth by His Word teach us to wage
The warfare here on earth that will render honor due
To God alone and glorify our Savior Jesus too!

Oh help us then to know the things You teach about our self,
That we may know the healing balm and glory of Thy wealth,
Of which You freely give, as we to You, our Father cry
For grace with full assurance of Your mercies as we fly
With wings like eagles as we mount upon Your strength alone,
Renewed in faith as those who wait to serve before Your throne.

The Man You’d Have Me Be

2011-11-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood

October 30, 2011

A Prayer

Oh by Thy grace help me to be

The man You’d have me be

And live by faith through Your pure Word

To honor only Thee.

For it is You, O Christ my King

Who captivates our hearts

And changes them to build Your church

With all its body parts

Set in order by Your Holy Spirit pleasing You

Unto Your praise through endless day

And for Your glory too!

Most of My Heroes are Eighty Years Old

2011-11-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
October 24, 2011

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. Psalm 145:3, 4

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1st Peter 2:9

(See also the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

In the place that God has designed for my personal growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am often afforded some time each week to listen to sermons online as I go about the doing of chores around the house. On one of these occasions I was blessed in the message received through the voice of one who is a godly example of that which he preaches. While in the process of preaching from 2nd Chronicles 34 on the subject of, “Excellence: The Pursuit that Honors God”, Pastor Bob Latour used the word “heroes” in reference to many of the members of Beacon Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. With great affection my mind was stirred with appreciation for many of these faithful members of the body of Christ, whom God has used as expressions of His love loyalty and faithfulness through the years. And thus the word hero is defined by the context in which it is used.

Likewise, Dianna and I have been given the privilege to minister the word of His grace to a number of God’s people at Atria El Camino Gardens, of which some of them are eighty years old and more. While not only having the opportunity to preach the gospel of the kingdom of our Lord we also are in the beginning stages of seeing the blessings of the relationships He is building through this ministry to the praise of His glory.

Over the first few weeks of preaching we have found ourselves focusing on the texts from Revelation 12:11 and Revelation 1:9. From these texts we can easily see the relationship which is formed in the body of Christ both locally and universally throughout all of time as those who were written in the Lambs book of life before the foundation of the world. In the Lamb who was slain we are united as one unto the praise of His glorious grace and are sown by Him in this world to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Thus, most of my heroes are eighty years old and more.

Most of my heroes are eighty years old
Or more if you count from the grave,
For though days on earth may have ended in time
They speak of One mighty to save.
With lives full of faithfulness as the great mark
Of grace which was on them outpoured
They shine as the stars from the heavens above
And shout things which can’t be ignored.

They tell of the Savior of which they had met
Whose mercy and power subdued
All of their sins by the blood of His cross
And even through death He has proved
The life that He gives is eternal in value
And kept now in store by His Name
Till all who believe shall be gathered as one
Forever proclaiming His fame.

For this is the purpose for which we were born;
As seeds sown in each generation
Will show forth the glory of Jesus our Lord,
The Lamb slain before the foundation
Of this present world before it was formed
Or spoken by Him to existence,
As He The Almighty with one single word
Will overcome all the resistance
Now present as vanities of nations rage
Continually sinking in mire.
This age will then end by His Word as decreed:
Our God; a consuming fire.

Oh, where will you be, and what will you see
And feel at the end of your course?
Will you enter with joy the presence of God
And know Him through Jesus the source
Of life from the dead, our covenant head,
Rejoice in the great consummation,
Or forever be doomed as the flames will consume
All hope, in eternal damnation?
Now is the time and today is the day
If you by His grace hear His voice
And answer the call as before Him you fall,
Rejoice that He made you His choice.

Oh Spirit of God, please come and breathe through
The words of Your infinite heart,
And help us more clearly, the love of our Savior
To see, though now but in part.
And know the assurance that like Him we’ll be,
Beholding His glorious face,
Fulfilled by the promise You speak by Your Word
To enter Your glory by grace.

Upon completion of this poem, the thought came to mind that this might make for a good Southern Gospel song, and thus music came to mind and it has been recorded as such.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2011-11-23T16:43:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
11/18/11

Have you ever gone out to find a birthday card for a loved one which simply resulted in frustration? The world offers everything from twisted perversions, unrealistic ideologies, or the thoughts which sprang forth from another heart which doesn’t quite meet the criteria you have in mind. And then of course there are those cards of which you think in your own mind, that if you were on the receiving end, you would rather that they would have sent the money in a plain envelope rather than to have spent it on a card. Alas many will settle for something close to what they have in mind or on an unusual occasion may actually find something befitting. I could not, and thus with the help of my beloved wife the following was enclosed in an artistically appealing home made card for my mom.

I looked and looked
And looked and looked
And looked to find a card.
You’d think that
Something simple
Wouldn’t be so very hard.
But when I read
The words that
Others wrote by their design,
I could not
Find a single one
Expressing every line,
Of which I knew
In truth would be
Exactly from my heart
And so I wrote
This simple rhyme
By which I could impart
The knowledge of
My love and
Happy Birthday wishes too,
For there is
Not another
Single one on earth like you.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hear My Cry, O God

2011-11-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
October 12, 2011

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:5

While undergoing a recent time of testing, I came to Psalm 61 which is the basis for the bulk of the new song that was given during that time. Intermixed with the theme of that Psalm is New Testament understanding of that which we have been granted by the grace of God as those whose names were written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:8

Thus with music, the following was recorded.

Hear my cry, O God,
Listen to my prayer;
From the end of the earth I call to Thee.
When my heart is faint
To the rock lead me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
For when arrows fly
I will run to You
And I’ll stand by faith
For Your glory too.
You alone are God
And my refuge been
And through Christ You covered all my sin.

You have given me
The heritage
Of all those who fear Your Name.
For the blood of Christ
Removes my shame
That Your glory may be all my aim.
For the King enthroned
Now before Your face
Has redeemed by
Such amazing grace
That my heart cannot
Help but sing to You
And forever give all the praises due.

All Your promises
Are fulfilled O God,
In Christ we now can freely worship Thee.
He, the curse for us
When upon the tree
As He paid sins debt to set the captives free
That were written in
Your eternal book
As the Lamb was slain;
You forever look
With a smile upon
All in Him as one
Who will reign forever in the kingdom come.

Oh Help Us to Measure

2011-11-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood

October 19, 2011

… comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18, 19

To truly know the love of Christ we must know ourselves, and the more we know of ourselves the more we may know the immeasurable love of Christ.

“Know thy self, what a vile, horrible, abominable sinner thou art: For thou canst not know the love of Christ, before thou knowest the badness of thy nature. ‘O wretched man that I am’ (Rom. 7:24), must be, before a man can perceive the nature of the love of Christ. He that sees himself but little, will hardly know much of the love of Christ: he that sees himself nothing at all, will hardly ever see anything of the love of Christ. But he that sees most of what an abominable wretch he is, he is like to see most of what is the love of Christ.” John Bunyan*

Sometimes I’m amazed by that which remains

Of sin in it’s most wicked form,

But God tests our hearts to know every part

For which Christ came and was borne

By Him on the tree to know we must flee

Continually counting the cost;

For in Him alone, God’s glory is shown

To reconcile that which was lost.

With mercy so great, let’s not hesitate

To boldly approach to His throne,

For He is the first and He is the last,

And none of His own He’ll disown.

His covenant’s great by which we forsake

Our sins as He makes them so clear

In love to conform: for which we were born

By His blood and His Spirit so dear;

To His visage above, who answers in love

To all accusations now found,

As to His cross nailed, He justly prevailed,

That grace upon grace may abound.

For that which He finished

Shall not be diminished

By this world, or the flesh, or the devil.

His infinite story;

The light of His glory

Forever we shall in then revel.

Oh then in pleasure,

Oh help us to measure;

Though infinite and without end--

The breadth and the length,

And the depth and the height

That God in love through Christ did send.

For His infinite features

Beyond all His creatures;

Creation together combined

Cannot be proclaimed,

Though infinitely aimed,

Though in Him, who in us has shined.

*Excerpt from, “All Loves Excelling”, by John Bunyan

Puritan Paperbacks

My Sin Which Keeps Me Humble

2011-11-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
October 17, 2011

“When the godly man beholds his fate in the glass of scripture, and sees the spots of infidelity and hypocrisy, this makes the plumes of pride fall; they are humbling spots. It is good use that may be even of our sins when they occasion low thoughts of ourselves. Better is that sin which humbles me, than that duty which makes me proud.” Thomas Watson, “All Things For Good”

Help me focus on the glory
That is found in You
And my sin which keeps me humble
In Your presence too.
For I know that Christ accomplished
All by Your design
That the praises of Your glory
Would be wholly Thine.

By Your mercy, there’s forgiveness
And true faith is found
In the grace You freely give
Wherein we may abound,
For the purpose You created
That all men may know
You our Father are the God
In Christ through whom You show
Your majesty and excellence
To cause men to repent
By the power of Your Spirit
And to earth was sent
To comfort all You have appointed
Through expanse of time
Till in resurrection You will show
That we are Thine!

Written by The Great I Am!

2011-11-09T05:37:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
October 17, 2011

Revelation 1:9 begins with the words, “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus”. In these words we are given some of the characteristics that are common among all of those included among those who will be found to have conquered the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

There is a brotherhood and partnership among all of God’s children through the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because of our relationship with and in Jesus we are given strength as each day requires to patiently endure tribulation as subjects of His kingdom which shall be revealed in heaven.

This salvation that was sealed
With the blood of Christ the Lamb
Will in heaven be revealed,
Written by the Great I AM-
And His promise is not altered
By the things not understood
But will fully show the glory
Of our God in brotherhood-
As His patience in the kingdom
Will endure eternity
Showing forth the love of Jesus
For the Father from the tree.

Your Presence Ever Dwelling

2011-11-07T06:06:00.000-08:00

Michael E. Wood
October 17, 2011

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Psalm 105:1-4

While being awakened a little after midnight on my 56th birthday, I found myself meditating on Psalm 105:1-4, of which I trust to commit to memory and the following words came to mind.

In the stillness of the night
It is You for whom we fight,
But this honor none shall take
Save those alone You show the light
Of Your Presence ever dwelling
By the strength of Your Dear Son.
In His Name we’ll ever glory,
Jesus Christ all Glorious One!

Love Him with a Faithful Heart

2011-11-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
October 13, 2011

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1st John 2:15-17

The things of this world are not of necessity, things we can hold in our hands. Though the things we can hold in our hands is understood we must also include the things we hold in our hearts or our minds, which in and of themselves can become idols when held above the pursuit, the excellence, and the surpassing worth which is found in knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us therefore count all things as rubbish, in order that we may gain Christ and be found in Him; not having a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. Philippians 3:8, 9 (emphasis mine)

Approbation, affirmation,
These are things we need not of
From the world, as they are fleeting
And will hinder works of love,
If we take the time to revel
And in them to take delight,
But their passing fancy fadeth
When exposed by God’s pure light.
And from them we are delivered
By the merit of God’s Son
Who our victory obtaineth
As the risen living One
Who forever intercedeth
Till in full we shall obtain,
He the prize for which we striveth
As His truth is not in vain.
For it is the means by which
He sanctifieth every part
That we may in full assurance
Love Him with a faithful heart.

His Work in Our Home

2011-11-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
October 11, 2011

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. Proverbs 31:10, 11

Of the gifts that God has given me the greatest of these is Himself by the power of His Spirit through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Second only to Him is the wife, He has been pleased to fitly give to me; my helpmate, my lover, and best friend, Dianna Lynne Wood. Her wisdom and understanding in some things which exceeds my own capacity causes me not only to delight in her, but much more in God who gave her to me, that as one, we might more accurately reflect the glory of His grace and proceed therein. Thus, in times that we may not have an equal or exact understanding in decisions to be made, it behooves me to listen and consider well her council before a final decision is made. God has promised by His Word that He will lead us forth in peace, and thus we look to Him as our loving Father to fulfill all He has planned unto His Most Excellent Glory! Amen!

My first obligation is to my Dear Lord
Who delivers me from sin and strife.
My second is to the woman He gave
In wisdom to be my dear wife.

Though we at times may not understand
All things that our God has in view,
As one we will look continually up
To Him as He makes all things new.

In peace He doth lead, as on Him we feed
And joyfully gives us the cup
Of His intercession, our One great possession;
His fullness of which we will sup.

Though now our service may not be apparent
And obvious for men to see,
We’ll cling to the cross of our Savior alone,
Whose blood cleansed and made us both free.

For He changes not and His work in our home
Doth guide us in love by the aim,
With pureness of heart and a conscience that’s good,
True faith will show forth all His fame!

All Things For Good

2011-10-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
October 10, 2011

And we know that for those that love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

One of the great promises of God of which His people cling to is found in this verse of Holy Scripture. We love Him because He first loved us and manifests His love to us by the power of the Holy Spirit through the merit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As He continually works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure to purify unto Himself a people for the praise of His glorious grace, we as finite creatures find ourselves without perfect understanding concerning some of the particulars that He has designed for our good and for His glory.

“To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that ALL things which fall out shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over.” Thomas Watson, “All Things For Good”*

All things for good and not disillusion
Our God works together and brings to conclusion
For all He has called and with love that’s sincere
For Him as He is as He holds us so dear
That even our sins and afflictions will prove
That He is our Sovereign and Savior to move
In the midst of our struggles; through Christ He will raise
The infinite glory of His wondrous praise!

Our thanks and our praise will continue to grow
As the fire of His love ever draws us to know
More of His nature by utter dependence
On Him who alone is beyond all transcendence;
Of minds He has gifted beyond all our thought
To show us more clearly by Whom we were bought.

O teach us dear Father what we should then tell
That the praise of Your glory in Jesus may swell
Beyond mortal thoughts and imaginative minds
As the love of Your Spirit continually binds
Our hearts ever near You to leave in the dust
All things that offend and remain of our lust
For earthly attainments; Oh help us eschew,
And discern only that which brings glory to You.

*An extract from the preface of the Puritan Paperback, The Banner Of Truth Trust.

The Message that I Preach (A Prayer)

2011-10-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
October 7, 2011

The Lord having opened a door for the Word at Atria El Camino Gardens! The privilege of preaching the glories of His grace on a regular basis has been established. While in preparation for the second Sunday service, the following thoughts came to my heart and mind.

O may the message that I preach
Come straight Lord, from Your heart
As You reveal Your presence
By Your Spirit to impart
The truth of who You Are
In all Your holiness and awe
As You delight in mercy
And through Christ to us You call.

O may Your words like arrows
Pierce the darkness of the minds
Of those You have appointed
To the Shepherd who still finds
The sheep of Your true pasture
That has wandered from the fold
And gathers them rejoicing
As Your glory You unfold
To all that You have chosen
As You cause us to delight
In Jesus Christ our Advocate
Who dwells in Your pure light.

And for the children gathered
May You feed us with the bread
Of Him who overcame our sin
And raised us from the dead.
O help us by the power
Of the blood that washed us clean
And by Your Holy Spirit
Praise Your Name in every scene
Of life through which we pass
From day to day You have in store
Until we see You face-to-face
On Heaven’s golden shore.

How Beautiful You Are

2011-10-24T20:09:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 25, 2011

The following came to mind as my beloved Dianna read to me the introduction to “The Art of Prophesying” by William Perkins

How beautiful You are
In all Your attributes to me
Though now I view You
Through the lens of my impurity.

Oh open wider now my eyes
More clearly as I view
All the wonders of Your grace
And mysteries anew.

Not for myself alone but
All of whom You did appoint
To know You through this vessel
Whom Your Spirit did anoint

To proclaim the excellencies
Of Yourself, my King;
Lord Jesus as You are The Christ
To Whom my heart shall sing

With joy though now imperfectly
And yet with holy awe,
Awaiting that pure perfect day
As You are Lord of all!

When I Forget

2011-10-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 29, 2011

When I forget that You alone
Are my satisfaction
It grieves me then to know
That I have yielded to distraction
Of this world, or of my flesh
Or even Satan’s schemes
Which veils Your lovely face, O Christ
And all Your radiant beams
Of glory which continually
Is shining forth within
For You have purchased me with blood
And cleanse me from my sin.

Forgive me for my thoughtlessness
And failure in Your sight
And cause me to rejoice in this;
The power of Your might!
For as You in Your faithfulness
Give strength to pray and toil
I shall rejoice in You alone
As one that found great spoil.
And though You have now blessed
On earth with more than I imagined
These pale in their comparison
Of all that You have fashioned
By Your Spirit and the promise
Of Your Word You give
That we by faith may love You more
And to Your glory give.

What Have I Now Obtained

2011-10-20T05:15:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 25, 2011

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ 2nd Peter 1:1

Oh what elevation we have received as a gift of the grace of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the righteousness of Christ that has set us apart by the power of His Spirit to be made partakers of the divine nature. This faith we have received is of equal standing with all that have gone before us, and now dwell in the presence of Him that dwells in inapproachable light.

What have I now obtained,
But that which I received
When God in mercy changed my heart
And by Him I believed.

The truth of Christ prevailed;
His righteousness alone
Has lifted me by grace through faith
To own me as His Own.

Tis faith of equal standing
With all now gone before
And built upon the truth of Him
Of Whom we now adore.

Not just a lovely song
But more than life to me
And He to whom my soul shall look
And cast my every plea

For mercy new each day
And grace for every need
Of which I trust He will supply
As He my soul doth feed

With more of His abundance
Which spans eternity
And causes me to hold to Him
Who held me on the tree.

Christ Jesus Alone!

2011-10-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 16, 2011

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

During the month of August, having fully recovered from my back injury, I sat out to once again seek some type of part time employment. By virtue of searching via internet various possibilities, I came across a position posted by the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility just a few miles down the road from us. Thus with the thought that I might not only land a job but find an open door for the gospel and the ministry of the Word, I went there. To make a long story short, this was not what my Father had in mind, but I being in the way He led me.

While heading back toward our little apartment I noticed the Atria El Camino Gardens Assisted Living Facility to my right and kept on driving. After a few blocks I turned around without any expectation but to be faithful to honor the Lord in seeking every opportunity to make Him known. Upon entering the facility I met the young receptionist whose name is Joy, and I said, “I love that name.” With a smile on her face she asked how she might be of assistance to me, and I said something to the effect, that “I am a songwriter, singer, a poet, a preacher, and I am looking to see if this is a place I might be used.” She said, ‘It may be that your timing is perfect, as the man who was the Pastor here recently passed away. Staci Weisz, our Engage Life Director was very close to him and has not yet found a replacement.” I left a couple of my poetry gospel tracts and continued to our apartment. Over the course of the next few days I called back twice, without receiving any inclination of interest, and had just about determined that this situation would be like so many I had looked into before.

On August 31, Dianna was working on one of her theology art projects in the “control room” as we call it while I was reading at the dining room table enabling us to converse with each other face to face from time to time. About an hour before time to leave for Wednesday night prayer meeting the phone rang and we let it go to the answering machine. Upon hearing that it was Mrs.Weisz from Atria, I picked up the phone and she began to do a quick interview over the phone. During the process of the interview, she let it be known that they were looking for someone who would be preaching the Word in an expository manner, not what people wanted to hear but what they needed to hear. She asked if Dianna and I would be able to meet her for breakfast at Atria the next morning, of which we did. That night I mentioned this opportunity to the body of believers gathered for prayer, and to our amazement a wonderful door has been opened to proclaim the glories of the grace of our God in Christ.

The following was written in light of that first introduction at Atria and of that which we trust our gracious Father will do for His glory.

I am,
A songwriter, singer, a poet, a preacher,
A tool in the hand of my Father the Teacher.
This grace He did give in Christ Jesus the man
Who came down from heaven, revealing God’s plan
To save of all people a remnant from loss
As He paid for our sins by the blood of His cross.

He calls from the dead giving life; a new race
Is formed for His glory to look on His face.
The gift of His Spirit He gave us to raise
Through infinite mercy His glorious praise.
Tis Jesus we follow, embraced by His love;
The light and the way to our Father above.

So with me now come if by faith you have seen
That He is our treasure on Whom we can lean,
And trust in Him wholly Who’s kingdom has come
Till with Him in glory, fulfilled as the sum
Of infinite wisdom and power is shown
By the grace of our Savior, Christ Jesus alone!

Your Face in Every Book

2011-10-11T19:40:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 22, 2011

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare you mighty acts. Psalm 145:3, 4

One of the seasonal features of the local body of which Dianna and I have become members of is to be partakers of a nurture group on Wednesday nights in addition to the regular prayer meeting. The format includes making a choice of one of three classes offered and requires reading an extra biblical book for discussion. With all the books we already have at our disposal, knowing that our time is limited and that we will probably not be able to read them all in what remains of our life time, we were not overly excited about purchasing one that we didn’t already have.

I must confess that while reveling in the weightiness of the glory of God as presented by so many writers from the past, I can find myself being overly critical of our modern day writers, and on some occasions I find myself humbled in the dust by the beauty of Christ proclaimed in simplicity by His people in our generation. This was one of those occasions. As I read, “God’s Big Picture – Tracing the storyline of the Bible”, by Vaughn Roberts, I not only grew in appreciation of this dear brother as I was nearly brought to tears by the end of the book, but grew in appreciation of our God and Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be all the glory and praise and honor. Amen!

Your face in every book and
Letter You now grant to see
By faith and love which flows
Within because of Calvary.
Your Holy Spirit gives delight
And lightens every part
Of Your eternal Word
Which is the joy of every heart
Oh which You have transported
And in mercy You have changed
To be made like Your Own
As by Your grace You rearranged
Our minds that we may be renewed
Though plagued by sin on earth,
Transcending every thought to know
Your majesty and worth!

We thank You that in every
Generation You have kept
A remnant that Your glory
In perfection may project
Your steadfast love and faithfulness
Through all expanse of time
Till with You all Your saints
Are in Your presence then sublime.
Lord Jesus come! Oh come
As all creation sings Your praise,
Eternal Hallelujahs,
Without end, forever raised!

Our Feet in Glory Stands

2011-10-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

September 12, 2011

O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrong doings. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! Psalm 99:8, 9

While knowledge tends to puff us up, the pursuit thereof for the glory of God in Christ should never be abandoned. To know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to serve Him, even in the midst of bearing the consequences of former sins. Thanks be to God for those whom He has given to His body on earth to aid in our growth and understanding of the grace that has been brought to us through our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His Spirit unto the praise of His glory. One such man is Ralph Venning (1621-74). The following is an excerpt from his book, “Learning in Christ’s School”.*

“Remember that though God has taken vengeance on some men’s sins, he has forgiven them (Psalm 99:8). And he may deal so with you, and not turn you into hell nor deal with you as your iniquity deserves, though he causes you to know so much sorrow and pain. Consider, too, that perhaps your humiliation has until now been only legal and selfish, that you have been more concerned that God was displeased with you than that he was displeased by you; that your tears have been more for your own shame and pain than for sin against God. If so be humbled for this also, and in due time he will exalt you to a better condition, or save you at last in spite of it.”

Is our concern for sins effect or how it makes us feel,

Or do we know in truth that our offense toward God is real?

Be careful how you answer this, for God sees through the mind

Into the heart, revealing darkest secrets to refine,

A people for Himself who will be humble and confess

Their sins against His character; against His holiness.

While some by nature shrink away with faith-like shifting sand,

Our Father in His faithfulness through Christ makes us to stand

Upon the promises conferred through Jesus Christ alone.

For all of whom He purchased when for sin He did atone.

And thus by Him, we’re raised in Him to face the mighty conflict

And bear the cross of sins remains which yet doth us afflict,

And though we be yet grieved at times, we must remember this;

True confession is the fruit of Christ our Righteousness.

In this we will now honor Him and trust His cleansing blood,

Rejoicing in the mercies of our Father like a flood

Which washes us continually by Christ our Intercessor;

Our Advocate in Whom we’re known, to God our Great Possessor!

We thank You, Father that Your glory is the one desire

That You place within each child through Christ to look much higher

Than any earthly gains that we may feel or hold in hands,

Till with Christ with bodies new, our feet in glory stands.

___________________

*This book is one of many Puritan Paperbacks which can be purchased through

THE BANNER OF TRUTH TRUST

3 Murrayfield Road, Edinburg EH12 6EL

P. O. Box 621, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 17013, USA

God Is Light! (A New Song)

2011-10-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 31-September 9, 2011

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1st John 1:5

Having been blessed with the opportunity to teach through a portion of 1st John over a period of several months with a gentleman named Eric Davis, the following came to mind with music over a ten day period of time.

God is light,
And In Him there is no darkness at all.
By His might,
We have been ransomed by Christ from the fall,
So that with joy,
By faith we sit now with Him at His feet.
For by His cross
His Holy Spirit will make us complete.
God is light,
And in Him there is no darkness at all.

God is here,
And He has spoken to us by His Son.
In the fear,
Of our great LORD we are now made to come
Unto His throne
From which flows freely His mercy and grace,
And we delight
In the glory of our Saviors face.
God is here,
And He has spoken to us through His Son.

God is just!
His vindication in Jesus is found.
And we trust
By grace through faith in Him we shall abound.
He overcame
All of our sins to His glorious praise.
His blood atoned,
And by His power alone we are raised.
God is just!
His vindication in Jesus is found.

God is love,
And He transcends every thought we can think.
From above
Christ will return faster than eye can blink.
We shall be changed
And in His likeness we ever shall be.
And we shall see
The awesome glory of His majesty.
God is love,
And He transcends every thought we can think.

The Priority of the Man of God

2011-09-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
September 2, 2011

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6:4

With church growth comes the necessity for many temporal needs to be met, and God has ordained that His children should love Him supremely and have the same love for one another as they have for themselves. Whatever and wherever these needs abound, God’s grace does much more abound through those whom He has prepared as an expression of His glory to meet those needs. The calling of God upon some, regardless of the pressures without, is that they might give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.

The priority of the man of God
Is the Word of God and prayer,
That he be strong to wield the sword
Of the Spirit through every layer
Of soul and spirit, dividing asunder,
Discerning intents of the heart,
As God in truth reveals now Himself
Through Jesus and yet but in part.

For now we see as in a poor mirror
Things so imperfectly,
But then everything we shall see
With all perfect clarity.

Oh who has known the mind of the Lord?
For His ways are past finding out,
Or knows enough to be His advisor,
For no one has that kind of clout.

How great are His riches and wisdom
And knowledge to lead His dear children along
To show forth His glory, our purpose forever
In Jesus to whom we belong.

By Christ’s’ sacrifice we are raised up
To be about our Father’s business,
Recounting the cost; His blood on the cross,
The glory of His faithful witness!

With Him Then Purified

2011-09-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 30, 2011

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

The free grace of God is that which brings about the salvation of our souls through the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Countless numbers of those who have been made to see their need of eternal salvation from sin enter into an aggressive mode of transforming the external nature of their being by complying with the things that belong to the nature of their darkened understanding resulting in earthly temporal changes. In many cases, the Bible is used as a model of that which is perceived to be acceptable to God and outward conformity to its guidelines is made with human approval as the test of accuracy. Self aggrandizement becomes the goal rather than the glory of God, and the individual remains blinded to the Person and the purpose of Christ through the gospel.

Hear the words of God through the prophet Ezekiel, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

Salvation is of the LORD from beginning to end and our approval is found in Christ alone to the praise of His glory!

As long as I can hear, “Well Done”,
From God, my blessed Savior,
I’ll look to Him alone who changes
Me and my behavior.
For though the transformation
May be painful in my times,
I trust He will be glorified,
Give reason for the rhymes,
Of which I can not answer now,
But knowing He is just,
And hope in Him who takes
His children from this earthly dust
To which our bodies shall return
Until our coming King
Will glorify Himself
In our new bodies as we sing
Eternal Hallelujahs
To the One who justified
And gave the grace by which
We stand with Him then purified.

Point to The Table

2011-09-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 29, 2011

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:15-17

As Paul was making application to the fact that the Jewish people could not see Christ for who he was because of the veil of sin over their hearts, so likewise the same is true in our day in reference to the fact that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Though we have the complete canon of scripture the veil of sin blinds the natural eyes of men from seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But once this veil has been lifted by the Sovereign work of the Holy Spirit through the merit of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, an appetite is likewise given as a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. Thus as those that are naturally hungry need little instruction as to what to do when a feast is laid before them, let those of us who have been given responsibility to feed the lambs and sheep of God be all the more careful, dependant upon His Spirit, that it is Christ that we set before them.

It is enough to point to the table
If you have but an appetite,
For Christ himself, is meat indeed
And drink for those who find delight
In Him who’s light has broken through
Pervading all the darkest hues
Of sin which once had veiled the face
Of God Himself in Christ, by grace.

The Apple of His Eye!

2011-09-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 18, 2011

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5, 6

While continuing to be somewhat perplexed in the attempt of finding some kind of part time employment to supplement our income, and at the same time holding true to our calling and priorities to make Christ known, there are a number of realities we have had to face. There are the limitations which go with being fifty-five years old and the understanding that there are things of which I can no longer do physically which eliminates some opportunities. With the high cost of living, and cut backs in personnel for many companies, there are not as many opportunities, as those who have jobs are compelled to do whatever is necessary to hold on to them. Many companies which are driven solely by the love of money also require an open availability which includes working on Sundays. One glorious note is that through this process a number of opportunities to share the glories of Christ in one way or another have opened in places I would not have been if I were already employed. Thankfully, there is no such thing as unemployment in the work of the kingdom of God. Thus we trust that God will bring glory to Himself through the gospel of Christ in ways that we shall not know until we are with Him in glory, as our times and the seasons of our lives are in His hands.

“Dear friends, judge of everything in this way – whether it will help you on in the journey or no. In choosing a profession, or trade, choose it with regard to this – will it advance or hinder your heavenward journey? Will it lead you into sore temptations, or into wicked company? Oh! Take heed. What is the use of living, but to get on in our journey to heaven?” R. M. McCheyne (Numbers 10:29)

Hold on to Christ; He is our life, The Giver of all gifts.
And for His praise He doth bestow all things as grace uplifts
Our eyes of faith to see beyond what we can not behold
For the purpose that His glory shall increase; unfold
Both now in time through persevering faithfulness displayed
In and by all those He bought by blood when He was slayed,
Atoning for and proving that our God was justified
When to the cross He sent His Son and for our sins, He died.

Those things that seemed to be such tests and loomed so large to us
Will in the end prove Him to be Almighty, Glorious!
And thus with courage, look to Him Who hears our deepest cry
And watches over us through Christ, the Apple of His eye!

Oh, if you have as yet not learned sufficiency in Him
Is all we need within our hearts to praise in psalm and hymn
Our God and Father as the Sovereign Ruler over all,
On Him we cast our every care and humbly to Him call.

Then look to Him and rest upon His Word that does not change
And He will grow you as your thoughts By Him He doth arrange
To behold Him as He Is and worship in the Spirit,
God alone, Whose voice in Christ has made our ears to hear it!

The Ark We Build

2011-09-07T11:14:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

August 26, 2011

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. Hebrews 11:6, 7

As blood bought children of God we are given the grace to desire Him, to seek Him, and praise His precious Name, to find Him! Through Christ, He has translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, and enabled us by faith to please Him. As the ark is a type of Christ, so likewise, Noah in constructing the ark was a type of Christ building His church of which the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. As He, that is Christ, is in all who are His, we find ourselves embraced in the great privilege of being co- laborers together with Christ, and thus we build…..

The ark we build, we build by faith

And pray God will impress

Upon the hearts of mortal men

His holy righteousness

Which cometh not by sacrifice

Or anything we do

But only by the blood of Christ

Whose will imposed on you

By His Mighty Spirit written

On your heart and mind

Will give you such a conscience that

In Him you will then find

The peace that passes understanding

Coming from above

That caused you to be born again

Out of the Father’s love.

For not of human passion or

Through best laid plans of men

Will you ever know that God

Is love or comprehend

The truth about yourself and

Even more the awful cost

That Jesus paid, redeeming all

His own who were so lost

That nothing of this world

Could ever fully satisfy

The justice of a perfect God,

Except the He should die.

And so from wrath, He has delivered

All who look and live

By faith in Jesus only and

To Him the glory give!

Dustin Benge

2011-09-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

Dustin W. Benge is Pastor-teacher of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Kentucky and author of the “Ordinary Pastors” blog. I posted the following message to him on his blog on August 23, 2011

Hi Dustin,

I am so thankful to find that God continues to raise up young men as you, with a passion for His glory, and the zeal to make Him known! Being much encouraged as to how our Omnipotent God and Savior knits His body together in our generation through our Lord Jesus Christ with those who have gone before as well as those who are now in the world, I trust that He will be pleased to use me to be an encouragement to you.

In recent days, having been introduced to Derek Prime through listening to a series of messages preached via CD from the "Basics Conference 2005" with Alistair Begg, I decided to investigate a little more thoroughly which brought me to the article you posted on Pastoral Advice from Derek Prime.

Having made a copy from your sight and using it as a help to formulate my thoughts in relation to the passage found in 1st John 2:1,2, and at the same time seeking the wisdom of God in discerning His will in certain areas of my life, my eyes became focused on the "Quote of the Week" by Susannah Spurgeon, "It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our blest blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." With that in mind the following was written:

I will rejoice in what You give; much more in Who You are!
You set the boundaries of the seas and hold each shining star,
In such a way that every one that looks to You for guidance
Will find You holding in Your hand the wisdom of compliance
Unto Your will as You make known, though slow we are to learn,
And yet You give more grace each day and through it we discern,
Your mercy is unfathomable and slow You are to chide,
For Jesus Christ; His sake alone, in whom we now abide.

We thank You for Your faithfulness as You communicate
Your love Oh Father to each child of whom You'll not forsake,
And for Your Holy Spirit, who enlightens our mind's eye
To focus on the truth perfected by Your great supply
Of everything that we have need to show the honor due
To Christ alone, who gave Himself, now glorified with You!

Thank you for your faithfulness to our great God and King!
Rejoicing with you in Jesus,
Michael

Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

A Means of Grace

2011-08-31T06:08:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

August 20-24, 2011

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1^st Thessalonians 5:16-18

In our modern day culture we often use the term “means of grace” to refer to things such as Bible reading and prayer, church attendance, the preaching of God’s Word, and partaking of the Lord’s Table. While it is true that God, by grace through faith, does indeed reveal Himself by His Mighty Spirit to His children in these ways; He is the God of all grace and thus He reveals Himself and His will through the circumstances of our lives by His providence as well. In contrast to much of today’s evangelical teaching, consider the following statements from the book, “Created to Praise”, by Derek Prime.

“Testing is one of the means by which God carries forward His savoring purposes.”

“Samuel Rutherford came to recognize that, ‘the Lord Jesus, in His mercy, makes room for Himself in our lives by our losses.’”

A means of grace that is not well known

Is that which lifts us up to the throne

Of Him Who in the midst of our trials

Makes more room for Himself as He smiles

Upon His children in whom He creates

A heart of praise which ever awaits

With hope that He in all expectation

Will be glorified through our tribulation.

As well we know from the promise we heard

From God Himself through His living Word

That as our Father and Sovereign of all,

He works all things for the humble that call

And trust in Him as Christ we make known,

Good shall come as His glory is shown

Amidst the things we don’t understand

As we commit all to His loving hand.

Free grace does not come by that which we do

And You order our lives to be centered in You.

For even our trials is Your sovereign appointment

That You use as our eyes are applied with the ointment

Of sight to see more clearly Oh Father

Your glory our end, as a son or a daughter.

So help us with patience, pursue then with joy

Your praise as our purpose of which You employ!

Thank You Father for reminding; all our need is Jesus

For His life for sin atoned and by His grace You seized us

As a brand plucked from the fire and raised with Him to own

No other pleasure than to praise Your glory on the throne!

You Are Our "New Song"

2011-08-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

August 17, 2011

While reading “Created to Praise”, by Derek Prime, Dianna and I found ourselves in tears a number of times. In fact, it seemed with every chapter our hearts were moved with a greater desire for worship and praise of our Magnificent Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Being likewise encouraged to continue in the path chosen for me of the Father by the following words from that book:

“In our individual times of worship and of prayer, we may find ourselves expressing praise of God both in spoken word and in song. Sometimes hymns and songs which are already well known to us will exactly suit our situation. But the Holy Spirit has not exhausted the human language and all the hymns and songs which can be written in praise of God have not yet been written!”

“The Lord Himself is the believer’s song’ (Isa. 12:2) Just as the preoccupation of praise is with God, so too psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are preoccupied with God Himself.”

and being reminded that God Himself in the person of Christ is our New Song, the music of “You are my Sunshine’ came to mind, and the following words were written to be sung to that familiar tune.

Oh God our Father

To Whom belongeth

All of our worship

So that in truth

All men will know that

You’re ever present

And by Your power You show forth the proof!

Chorus

You are our Savior.

You are our New Song!

You make our hearts glad.

For You we long,

Because You loved us,

Christ died to save us.

And by Your Spirit we follow You home!

Jesus, Your grace gives

More than I can tell.

You light my way and

True wisdom give,

That we may know You;

Show forth Your praises

And in Your glory we ever shall live!

(Chorus)

Sweet Holy Spirit

We ask You make us

More like our Savior

In every way.

To Jesus only

Be all the glory

As like Him, we shall be on that glad day!

(Chorus)

Mere Outward Forms

2011-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

August 9, 2011

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those that seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1^st Timothy 6:12

Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

The following are experts from “Keeping the Heart”, by John Flavel.

“The heart of man is his worst part before it is regenerate, and it is his best part afterwards. It is the seat of principles and the fountain of actions. The eye of God is, and the eye of the Christian ought to be, principally fixed upon it. The greatest difficulty in conversion is to win the heart to God, and the greatest difficulty after conversion is to keep the heart with God.”

“It is not the cleansing of the hand that makes the Christian (for many a hypocrite can show as fair a hand as he), but the purifying, watching, and right ordering of the heart.”

“God rejects all duties (however glorious in other aspects) offered Him without a heart. He who performs duty without a heart – that is, heedlessly – is no more accepted with God than he who performs it with a double heart – that is, hypocritically.”

Mere outward forms are not the means, by which our God is pleased,

But heartfelt, grace filled, humbled hearts is where our God is seized.

For it is He who raised us up to bombard His heavenly throne

With petitions demonstrating in His sight alone

That He is ours and we are His with joy as sweet perfume,

In Christ our supplications rise as with Him we commune.

Of this abundance we partake, not one can take away

As all serve only to remind us, He is our all each day.

And though our greatest conflicts lie, hid deep within our breast,

His presence makes us strong to fight with fear in each new test,

He brings to show the magnitude of faithfulness and love

He is within Himself and shows to us through Christ above.

Oh Father help us know and love You more with every breath

You give until You bring us home in Christ through mortal death

And as we wake with You where there shall be no more alarms

We’ll praise You then perfected in Your everlasting arms!

Carried By Your Grace

2011-08-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 2, 2011

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside very weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1, 2

As followers of Christ, as we consider the fact that we are in the world but are not of the world, it behooves us to consider those things which we have been given as liberties. These would be things which are not overtly sinful in and of themselves nor bring dishonor to our Lord, yet invariably may either cause our weaker brother to stumble or serve as weights upon the legs of progress in our growth in grace and the advancement of the gospel and the kingdom of Christ for the glory of God. Let each one be fully persuaded in his own mind with a conscience captivated by the Word of God, dependant upon and taught by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. God is the One true Judge to Whom we will give an account. His goodness and mercy follows us all the days of our life and we shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Hallelujah!

Deliver me from liberties, of which I now partake,
If they veil Your face to some that You for Your own sake
Would reveal the glory of Your grace to mortal men
And through their conscience prick their heart to own up to their sin
Of judging You as blind men do and know not their own weakness;
Yeah, as dead who heareth not the Man who in his meekness
Came to earth and suffered on a cruel Roman cross
That Your glory would display our purchase by His loss.

For in truth I know not anyone as vile as I
When confronted by my sin and to it daily die.
Oh help me by Your Spirit and Your holiness proclaim
That You alone are all my strength. Your glory is my aim!
And though I fail so miserably it pleases me to know
That You alone O Christ my King in faithfulness will show
Your smile through mercies daily gifts of love that I might praise
You more and more while carried by Your grace through all my days.

Heaven's Shore

2011-08-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2011

1st John 1:8-10 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.

How often as men do we try to dictate what true confession and repentance from sin looks like. A mere change in outward actions can be learned and implemented by the ungodly for self-centered, self-satisfying reasons without a thought toward the glory of God. It is God who makes the heart new, and it is God who breaks the heart and causes it to cry out to Him alone for mercy in the midst of wretchedness and depravity. It is God Who sees! It is God Who hears! It is God alone Who comforts and wipes away the tears.
The first stanza of this poem was written upon hearing a message by Reddit Andrews September 12, 2010 and then after reading a message aloud to my beloved Dianna by C.H. Spurgeon nearly a year later, entitled “Honest Dealing With God”, the following came to mind after she had fallen asleep.

Oh help me be not ambiguous when I confess my sin
But show me more particular that I be clean within
For all my heart belongs to You and pure it is to be
That all my ways may magnify the glory all in Thee!

This coldness that I feel within of which I do detest
And hinders me from seeking only Christ who gives true rest,
And even worse with pride expecting accolades outpoured,
Oh show me my deceptive heart which cannot be ignored.

For only in confession of the truth can I be free
And cast my every care upon the One who died for me.
Deliver me from every grain of false humility
As a son You’ve purchased by the blood of Calvary!

Oh help me see more clearly my true wretchedness as poor
And yet delight in mercy by Christ Jesus as the Door
By which I find acceptance then to rise on eagles wings
And give You all the glory with the heart You made that sings,
Eternal praises even now unto Your Name and more,
When on that day through Christ alone, I stand on heaven’s shore!

Imagine There’s a Place

2011-08-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
August 2, 2011

Psalm 6:1-3

A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.
O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding Your power and glory. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

So often we look to the Psalms for personal comfort in the light of our own particular situations without a thought of seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ in them. Yet he who bore our grief’s can be readily seen in the midst of them. David was a type of Christ in the wilderness.

Having already lived for thirty years on this earth as a man and having been baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Every moment He was in this world, the sinless Son of God breathed the sin corrupted air with His eyes firmly fixed on the glory of God which was the primary purpose for which He came. After forty days of fasting, He was tempted of the devil and overcame with the confidence that the steadfast love of the Father is better than life itself.

Imagine there’s a place with putrid rotten smell
With corruptive flesh awaiting fires of burning hell.
And yet this is the place where Jesus entered in
When He came to earth to redeem us from our sin.

Imagine there’s a place where stone immoral hearts
Were constantly projecting at you poison, fiery darts.
And yet this is the place God chose to come and hide
His glory in a veil of flesh, in Jesus to abide.

Imagine there’s a place all filled with sin and pride
And yet that is the heart of everyone for whom Christ died.
Oh the bane; corruptive hearts all filled with such resistance
To the One who walked alone amidst such vile persistence.

Oh can you not now see, the clear reality,
That this is you and this is me, who nailed Him to the tree?
But Oh what glorious wonder that He would live so long
Upon this earth; fulfill the law for those to Him belong.

For we can not imagine the price He did fulfill
That in Himself alone He did place on Zion’s hill
A remnant by the covenant He sealed with His Own blood,
Exhausting all the wrath of God which will then like a flood
O’erwhelm all those whose house is built; deceptive sinking sand.
For none but those in Christ alone, will in the judgment stand.

Oh trust not in mere feelings, but in God’s truth abide,
For He sees us as we are, in Jesus as we hide.
In Him alone our only hope who spanned the great divide,
And through the cross He guides us by His Spirit to confide,
With confidence that only He can to our conscience give,
As we by Him now seek His face and for His glory live.

Oh praise Him for His faithfulness, Who in His love is just
To forgive our sins and cleanse us from our every lust.
For only by His jealousy for righteousness revealed
In Christ alone do we have hope and in Him are concealed,
Until that day that He with joy, as faultless shall present
Us to Himself as His chaste bride for whom to earth was sent
By God the Father, Who in Him as One proclaims His Name,
Jehovah Is the great “I Am”, forevermore the same!

Give Glory to Your Name

2011-08-14T22:24:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 13-29, 2011

Matthew 6:9: Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.

While sitting on our balcony, and contemplating the first request of our Lord’s model for prayer, the following chorus came to mind.

“Give glory to Your Name.
Give glory to Your Name.
We take delight
As You give glory to Your Precious Name.
Give glory to Your Name,
Delight as we proclaim,
For You alone are worthy of all praise.”

As I sang this little chorus to my beloved Dianna, she offered some suggestions which helped to form the final version.
Interestingly enough, I also happened to be reading in Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Thus with the help of my wife as we continue by strength of the same Holy Spirit that Christ be exalted, we offer this song of praise to our Blessed Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise we rejoice in our union with Him and the confidence of the promise of His Word as members of His body, and for His glory we will be made fit for Him.

The final verse was written after again sitting out on the balcony and watching how the light was reflecting from the sun onto a plaque Dianna had made with the scripture reference 2nd Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness”, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And though we shine as lights in this dark and dying world, our gospel is yet hidden to those that are lost in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of those that believe not. His lovely face is veiled and yet we are encouraged by His Spirit to continue to pursue Him through the knowledge we are given day by day, from faith to faith in the sufficiency of His written word unto the praise of His glorious grace.

Give Glory to Your Name

The Lamb of God enthroned above
Was slain before all time.
Your sovereign choice; expression of
Your great eternal mind.
And from the cross Your love displayed
Your holy righteousness
And for Your sake, our Father God,
His glory we confess.

(Chorus)

Give glory to Your Name!
Give glory to Your Name!
And You delight
As we give glory to Your Precious Name!
Give glory to Your Name!
We’ll never be the same,
As with our hearts we glorify Your Name!

Your Precious Name, as it alone
Is worthy of all praise,
And by the power of Your blood,
We stand, forgiven, raised,
Rejoicing in the privilege;
The called and justified
As grace through faith You give to live
Till with You glorified.

(Chorus)

Oh when we fail to notice
As our memory is so weak,
We trust in You that every step
From slipping You will keep.
As all for Your great honor Lord,
Oh help us to be true.
And by Your Holy Spirit’s power,
O Christ give glory to!

(Chorus)

As lights reflecting but as veiled,
The glory of our God
In the face of Jesus Christ
As homeward now we trod,
In this dark and dying world,
While day to day renewed
In the knowledge of the One
Forevermore pursue

(Chorus)

By the way, remember the poem that I posted a while back where Dianna had commented, "This sounds like it could be a song"? Well, this is the song!

It's Your Power You Exalt

2011-08-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

July 28, 2011

Upon listening to a message by Alistair Begg entitled, The Power of Weakness, preached from 2^nd Chronicles 20, I was reminded not only of my own weakness, but of the power of God by the Son of His love which shines brilliantly into my own heart penetrating through every thought to manifest the obedience of Christ unto His glory and praise. By His Spirit we are given the grace to see through the natural events of this life the beauty of Christ, and are empowered to look to Him through His Word as through a glass darkly now, but one day face to face, we shall see Him as He is, and Hallelujah, we shall be like Him!

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:4-11

Oh Father, in our weakness, it’s Your power You exalt,

As You alone thus penetrate by light our cloudy thought

Of strength of which we think we have, when none but Yours exist,

And under Your Almighty hand, the devil we resist.

For You O God, oppose the proud and grace give to the humble

As we cast our cares on You, o’er which at times we stumble.

And as You are the giver of all grace through Christ we find,

You care for us and give the faith to be of sober mind.

To be on watch for him that prowls like a roaring lion,

Seeking someone to devour, the adversary of Zion.

Oh help us be not puffed up in what we have just imagined,

But be encouraged by the brotherhood that You have fashioned.

And by experience when we have suffered for a while

We trust You will restore, confirm, and strengthen by Your smile.

And by the promise of Your Word and Holy Ghost establish

All in Your dominion by the grace of which You lavish

On us now so richly till the time that He appears;

Jesus, the Chief-Shepherd, who transcends all of our years.

As from Him the unfading crown of glory we receive

We’ll know that through His cross alone and mercy we believe,

Forever and forever with Jesus we shall spend

Eternity unto His praise, whose praise shall never end!

Our Joy Will Be Complete

2011-08-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 22, 2011

1st John 1: 4-9

What a joy it is to know that God Is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. And though we are humbled by remaining sin which dwells within and sin as darkness veils the lustrous glory of our Savior’s face, we delight in the mercies He shows us from day to day to know that He is God the Son. His blood cleanses us from all sin enabling us to walk in the light, as He is in the light, and we have fellowship one with another unto the praise of God’s glorious grace. Through Christ alone we can say, “It is well with my soul”, and rejoice in the fact that He who hath begun a good work in us will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body! Hallelujah! To God be the glory!

The darkness is our own and for it You give grace,
Through Christ alone we overcome and valiant, it we face.
While in this body, unbelief as clouds within shall rise
But You have given faith whereby we may receive the Prize.

For though we stumble now, assured of victory,
Your Holy Spirit stirs afresh the songs of Calvary.
Though humbled as we are, Your honor Father seek
We in the death that Jesus died, the One who saves the meek.

We praise You for the light You give with each new morn,
While here on earth we follow with the cross that Christ has borne.
Your glory now we seek though haughty, hesitant;
And praise You LORD for glorious grace through Christ that You have sent.

And with Your Word fulfilled, our joy will be complete,
As You our God are light and love; in Christ there’s no defeat!
And when enthroned with Him, whose vict’ry has been won,
We’ll praise You as the church triumphant; God the three in One!

Hidden in the Smallest Things

2011-08-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 8-10, 2011

My beloved Dianna is a very gifted artist. Some of her work can be viewed by clicking on to the link in the upper left corner of this blog under the heading, “Giving Theology the Boot”.

Recently she had also discovered some pretty amazing computer tools she could use to enhance pictures taken of “dead things”, that is, dead plant life. There is a whole world of art work and pictures and stories that can be found in God’s creation, for truly, every stalk is a quill proclaiming the glories of His grace!

As she was working on a particular piece, and finding much joy in the process, I happened to notice how the sun was reflecting its light and framing in what was a beautiful picture to me and thus I went outside and took a picture. She did not account for the fact that we were having Internet connection problems at the time. Thus the following tells the story of what happened.

The sun is going down.
My wife is in her gown.
She’s painting with computer skills
That will you just astound.

We find that all around
God’s beauty can be found.
Hidden in the smallest things
God’s glory doth abound!

But then there was a glitch.
Computers have a hitch.
For when the Internet goes down
It’s like a turn-off switch.

And that which she had done,
Was like it had off run,
Erasing everything that she
Had only just begun.

Now thankful for her trial.
We laughed for just awhile.
And glory in the beauty
Of our God and Father’s smile.

For every stalk’s a quill,
Proclaiming that God will
All His purpose for His glory
Surely will fulfill!

The art print below was cropped from an original photo of a dead "mum" on Grandma’s porch back in North Carolina. There was one small green sprout in the bottom of the pot which I had the camera focused on. When the picture was snapped, the shadows from the sun streaming into the pot revealed the presence of these little creatures. Adding color to the grey images produced this final Master piece.

But Blessed is He

2011-08-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

July 9, 2011

Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mingled. (Proverbs 9:5 KJV)

On one occasion, Jesus spoke to those who professed to be the chosen people of God, by saying, “Search the scriptures, for in them, you think that you have eternal life and they are they which testify of me.” His reference was to the Old Testament scriptures. How many are there, that read the Old Testament without seeing by faith the Christ of all scripture? How many are there that hear not the voice of His Spirit speaking with clarity concerning Him and do not partake of Him who is The Bread of Life or of His blood which cleanses us from all sin?

If you do not have

The kind of faith that rises up

To partake of Him

Who Is our bread and mingled cup,

Then you better check

The kind of faith you think you have.

For it may be only

That which is deceptive salve,

For a conscience

That may prove to be so full of scorn

That it will not

Listen to reproof in wisdom borne

By the man

Who Is likewise the Savior and the Lord.

As only faith

In Christ alone can peace with God afford.

But blessed is he,

Who free partakes of Jesus’ flesh and blood,

Whose house is founded

On the Rock that stands in every flood

And winds that rise

To test and prove the source of all foundations,

And glorify

The Only God and Lord of all the nations!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part 7

2011-07-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

July 13, 2011

While the present series does not encompass all of the blessings received to my heart from the Lord during recent days while waiting for what I trust will be full temporary recovery from my back injury, my desire is that He will use the things He has given me to be an encouragement to others and most of all that He will be glorified therein. Thus with prayer and praise we look to Him who was, and Is, and is to come! To Whom be glory both now and forevermore. Amen!

Closing Prayer and Praise!

The glories of Your grace,
Enlightened by the knowledge

That we soon will see Your face;

Oh help us to be bold

And speak the truth in love,

Dependant on Your Holy Spirit’s

Power to unfold

The mystery of the cross

Of which You bore alone,

O Christ, redeeming all You chose

From great eternal loss.

For in Your train we follow now,

As justified, forgiven,

Till all the earth shall know

And every knee before You bow.

After reading the following to my beloved Dianna, she said, "That sounds like a song". I smiled and said, “We’ll see.”

Oh when we fail to notice

As our mem’ry is so weak,

We trust in You that every step

From slipping You will keep.

As all for Your great honor,

Oh help us to be true

And by Your Holy Spirit’s power;

Christ give glory to

Your precious Name, as it alone

Is worthy of all praise

And by the power of Your blood,

We stand, forgiven, raised,

Rejoicing in the privilege;

The called and justified,

As grace through faith You gave to live

Till with You glorified!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part 6

2011-07-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 13, 2011

Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

How oft do we think of afflictions as being those things which we suffer physically in the body or emotionally in our minds?

While having not the slightest intention of belittling those things, and am becoming all the more familiar with bodily afflictions as I grow older, the things that bother me most are those things I find remaining in me revealed by the Holy Spirit through the scriptures and the holiness of God Himself in the person of Christ.

The slowness and deception of my own heart and mind to grasp and to speak the realities of the One true God by the power of His Spirit unto His glory would be disheartening at times to the point of exasperation apart from His free grace. But God in His infinite wisdom gives peace through the blood of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and causes us to rejoice in every tribulation with hope and assurance that in all things He will be glorified. In steadfast love and faithfulness, He walks with us and He talks with us, reminding us that we are His to do with as He will. And He who has begun a good work in us will continue to do so till the day of Christ. He is our life; we are hidden in Him, and all for the purpose of His infinite glory. Amen!

Heaven We Foretaste

Afflictions of the heart
And afflictions of the mind
Are places all God’s children
Will in Him true comfort find.

For as we drink the cup
In earnest looking up
To Him Who Is our peace
And bids us to Him come and sup

Of resurrection power,
He is each passing hour
And gives the fruit of joy
Which comes from each new budding flower.

And in them we do taste
That nothing is a waste
He uses as in sweet communion
Heaven we foretaste

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part Five

2011-07-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 8, 2011

Often when I am given a new poem, my immediate desire is to share what I have been given with my beloved Dianna as soon as possible. Upon calling her and reading to her the poem from the previous post, I said, “Why is God so good to me?”, and then, “I know the answer to that!” Upon hanging up the phone the following came to mind.

The Smile of God and Not a Frown

Why is God so good to me
Is what I ask in part,
When I know the dark recesses
Of my stubborn heart?

Then in mercy, He doth speak
By Holy Spirit groan,
“In Christ alone, You are mine,
Whose blood did full atone
For every action, every thought
Of sin with great offense.
I Am your One Great Treasure,
And I Am your Recompense!
For My glory, I have raised you
From eternal loss.
For My praise you may forever
Glory in the cross!”

And thus His exaltation
Is forever now my aim.
His steadfast love and faithfulness
Forevermore proclaim.

For He is all my hope
And all my joy,
And all my crown;
For in Him
I receive
The smile of God and not a frown!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part Four

2011-07-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 8, 2011

Another benefit of being immobilized for a few days was the opportunity to begin to read the book entitled “Revival”, by Martyn Lloyd Jones.

It is quite obvious that in the day we live there are multitudes upon multitudes of people oblivious to the Presence of the Living God. Oh that He might send revival in our day that Christ would be exalted, and that His Name would be praised to the glory of God the Father! The following are a few excerpts from the aforementioned book which stimulated both the prayer of my heart expressed through poetry.

“The basis of everything is the sovereign, transcendent, living God, who in His eternal, glorious freedom acts, intervenes, and interferes with the life of the whole church and of individuals.”

“And in revival men and women feel as Paul did. They see their own sinfulness; they are horrified and cry out for deliverance.”

“That is what happens in every period of revival and of re-awakening. Men and women quake in the presence of the living, and the holy God.”

The Awareness of Your Presence

The awareness of Your presence
Is that which we beseech,
Not aught of self but all of You,
O Holy Spirit reach
Into the hearts of mortal men
That they may know Your hand,
O Father how You condescend,
Give grace to understand;
The wickedness with which we’re born,
Our hopelessness and loss,
Then fill their eyes with faith to know
The wonders of the cross.

For powerless are we to gain
One soul by what we speak
But You our Mighty Savior
Are the Shepherd that doth seek
The lost of which You purchased
By Your blood and when You cried,
“It Is Finished!” bowed Your head
And on the cross You died.

Buried in a borrowed tomb
And three days later rose;
Our Father’s satisfaction
Was accomplished to expose
Your glory which will never end,
But in it stand amazed
The remnant by the mercies
Of our God Whose Name be praised!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part Three

2011-07-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 7, 2011

The Temple He Hath Built!

Haggai 2:5-9 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.

While continuing to be laid up in the bed with back pain, I was given the pleasure of reading through some of the Minor Prophets. What a delight it is to be enabled by His Spirit to see the God-centeredness of God through the scriptures; the proclamations of prophesy concerning the sacrifice of His Son, a glimpse into the glory of the finished temple in heaven built by Himself, and the benefit of peace we have received through the covenant of grace between God the Father and God the Son.

Thus we will boast more gladly of our weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us, having all confidence that He will build His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Do you stand before God’s people
And in awe you speak
Of Him Who has all power
And from heaven still’s His sheep?

To know that as His voice is heard
With all of heaven shaken,
Those remaining will delight
In Him who was forsaken.
For us it was upon the cross,
Communion with the Father
Was broken momentarily
For every son and daughter,
That in Him God was pleased to give
This Holy benefit
By Jesus Who gave up Himself
For sin so infinite.

And thus with joy we shall delight
In all He brings our way
And glorify for mercy
Till with Him at perfect day.
For God the searcher of all hearts,
Remover of our guilt,
Will glorify Himself that day;
The temple He hath built!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part Two

2011-07-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

July 6, 2011

While being the tenth consecutive day with back pain, one might ask, “Why do you address this as very light afflictions?”

In comparison with things many of our brethren undergo daily throughout the world, mine is indeed a very, very, very light affliction. I heard a missionary quote a believer from another country as saying, “You Americans pray that God will remove the burden from your back. We pray that God will strengthen our backs to bear the burden.”

In Romans 5:1-5 We are instructed, and learn by experience, that not only do we have peace with God judiciously through the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ; but, we also enjoy peace with God as a benefit of our justification while He leads us through the various trials of this life, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God!

Our Great Physician

Oh far beyond our intellect

Our Mighty God, He doth select

Our tribulations whereby we

May know and love His Majesty!

He does not need our earthly things

But takes great pleasure in the wings

Of faith He gives for us to fly

Into His arms of love on high.

In our patience we possess,

Experience whereby we bless

His Name in hope and without shame

All glory will go to His Name!

And thus through time we shall reflect

His knowledge, Who without respect

Of persons but by our position

In Christ alone, our Great Physician!

Blessings From Very Light Afflictions - Part One

2011-07-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 5, 2011

While pretty much confined to being on my back in bed for four consecutive days, Dianna printed out a number of pages from an eBook we had purchased through http://www.monergism.com/.

The make up of the book is a collection of articles by different authors on the subject of Justification by faith alone through Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. One of the articles is entitled, Free Justification by Octavius Winslow. The following poem was written upon the completion of that article along with other various readings.

Do You Trust Morality

Do you trust morality and living life much better
Than so many others by the law, Yeah even to the letter?
Do you seek as for yourself the good of every neighbor,
And is the goal of heaven what you seek in all your labor?

Do you trust religious forms and closely to them cling?
Perhaps you as a member of a church have joined and sing,
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound”, and yet the truth be known,
You do not trust in Jesus Christ, by grace through faith alone!

Perhaps you live above reproach compared to other men
And yet you’re blinded to the fact, in Adam you have sinned.
So driven by desire to prove that you know what is best
You do not trust in Christ alone and enter in His rest!

Oh when this life is over and much sooner than you think,
God as Judge o’er pride and ignorance will not then wink.
For if you trust in anything of self you’ll be denied
As only through the blood of Christ can you be justified.

And through the cross this was accomplished for all those who look
And live by faith in Christ alone, as God who undertook
The only way by which the Father’s justice vindicated
Could display the glory of Almighty God as stated.

For in His written Word He has declared for His Own sake
To redeem a remnant of all peoples to partake
Of holiness of without which no man could ever see,
God alone through Jesus Christ to Whom all glory be.

Oh Holy Spirit come and speak these truths into effect
In hardened hearts and blinded minds who will no way subject
Themselves unto the One True God, except by grace You give,
The light of glory in the face of Jesus Christ to live!

All For Good

2011-07-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
July 2-4, 2011

On Tuesday, June 28th, 2011, I had begun to have back pains which continued to grow worse to the point of being in tears as I struggled to get out of the bed on Sunday morning. Dianna insisted it was time to go to the Doctor and I had to agree. Thus we headed to the ER at Mercy San Juan Medical Center. Everyone from the intake personnel, to the nurses and doctors were wonderful and to our amazement we were in and out in about two hours. There was no bone damage according to the X-rays, I was given some medication and told if it did not get better to return in a couple of days so they could recommend a physician for further care. The next four days were spent almost entirely in the bed.

Having been born again by the Spirit of God by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross, I have likewise come to understand that the things which happen to us in this life are never by accident but rather are designed by the sovereignty of God for the purpose of the furtherance of the gospel. While having my X-rays done, one of the technicians noticed the inscription on my wedding ring and asked, “What language is that?” I said, “It is Hebrew. Both my wife and I have the same inscription, and it means, ‘I am my Beloved’s and He is mine’”. I would like to have said more but I have learned to despise not the day of small things and trust that God will bring glory to Himself through the infirmity of my flesh and in the weakness of my witness for Him.

Pastor Jeremy Twombley stayed in touch via email and special prayer was offered up to our Lord on Wednesday night by our brothers and sisters at Immanuel Baptist Church. Again to our amazement when I awoke Thursday morning, the pain that I had been feeling had subsided by at least fifty percent and when Sunday came I was well enough to attend all of the services. And what a wonderful day it was! Though I was somewhat uncomfortable sitting with low levels of pain, and at the time of this writing have not completely healed, we are happy to say, “It is good to be in the house of the LORD!”

The first verse of this poem was written the day before going to the hospital, with the remaining being given the day after.

All for good You do for me
That flows forth from Thy charity.
Sweet comforts are found all in Thee,
O Christ, because of Calvary!

We thank You when afflictions come,
We’re made to know that You they’re from,
As mercies flow amidst our ills
And lifts our eyes unto the hills
From whence You come, O God our strength
And stretch us to know more the length,
The breadth, the width, the depth, the height
Of Your great love both day and night.

Because of You we persevere
Rejoicing as You draw us near
To make Your Presence very clear
That others come to know Your fear.

O Holy Spirit come revive
Your church that we may humbly strive
With power from on high by grace
Reveal the light of glory’s face.

For Jesus is our only hope,
Who gave Himself to show the scope
Of glory which transcends the fall
To praise Your Name O Lord of all!

In Him Your Glory is Shown!

2011-07-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood

July 1, 2011

James 1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

To the natural man with a natural eye fixed upon things of this world and to those who have a view of God in relation to the temporal enjoyments of this life this verse would be viewed in the light of the pleasures this world has to offer and seen as the direct blessing of God upon a life which would seem to be pleasing to Him by virtue of outward forms of religion and obedience thereto. So then, how does one who professes godliness but denies the power thereof handle the adversities of life such as loss of health, wealth, or any other earthly enjoyment which eventually comes upon all men?

The true grace of God gives a person an eye to see that all that our Sovereign Father does and brings into our lives are truly good gifts, yea, perfect gifts in which His goodness is displayed by that which He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. He does not change, nor is it in Him to change; therefore we are made to delight in Him who through the abundance of mercy shown through the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ hath granted us forgiveness of sins and all things by His Spirit which pertains to life and godliness unto His eternal praise.

Oh now I exclaim, and gladly proclaim

Tis pleasure to sit at Your feet

To listen with awe, and know above all

Your grace is sufficient to meet

Every command by writ of Your hand

You breathed out, as men wrote on paper,

The Gospel, Good News, for those that You choose

Through lives that on earth are but vapor.

Oh Spirit come quicken in hearts You have written

To know we are claimed through the cross,

With sin overcome by the blood of Your Son

Whose glory will never know loss.

In knowing we’re Thine, we humbly resign;

Receive all as good from Your hand;

And count all as joy of which You employ

That others in Jesus will stand

Strong in the test to prove godliness

With contentment is now our great gain.

For in You we find none other so kind

To give us Your joy in our pain.

So light our affliction and sweet the affection

You speak by the sound of Your voice

To guide and to cheer, to draw us so near

And say now again we rejoice

In You who alone, Oh Jesus enthroned

In glory to now intercede

For though we be tried, in You glorified

We’ll be as You meet every need.

Oh in us inflame more love for Your Name

Through the fires of this life that You meet

Out to all those whose faith in them grows

More pure as in You we’re complete.

Oh help us to bloom as the fragrant perfume

Of Your life in us You did impart

So sweetly to sing to You our Great King

Who gave us the love of Your heart!

In our generation our great expectation

Is that You will raise for Your glory

A remnant to shine by Your glory divine

By Your Spirit to exult in Your story.

For our happiness is only in this

That You above all will be known

Through Christ crucified and now glorified

And in Him Your glory is shown!

To Us Makes It Plain

2011-07-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 30, 2011

Having strained my back earlier in the week and finding it difficult to move around without pain, I found myself having to make arrangements for someone to fill in for me in the janitorial duties at church. With having some extra time on my hands I decided to read the Gospel Coalition blog for the day and share its content, via email, with one of the elders from our church. In his first reply, he asked how I was feeling and in his second reply, he said that I should have some good time for reading and writing. In between emails, the poem below was composed and I forwarded it along with my reply beginning with, "Thanks Jeremy. I started to reply to your first email by answering "feeling older" but before I could answer, here's what He gave me between emails."

Older days and still amazed
At just how good God is,
For He confines, to know His mind,
And know that I am His.

For in the pain there is much gain
And glory to behold,
To be still and know His will,
As He to me unfolds

His light amidst earthly conflicts
As darkness flees away
To rejoice in Sovereign choice
That He has brought my way.

For as we shall behold Him well
Amidst obscurity,
We ask for pow'r in the hour
He gives for clarity.

To make Him known, as from the throne
He calls His human sheep.
By His Spirit; His voice they hear it,
And know that He will keep

All who fall and to Him call,
As Christ for us was slain,
As He from glory, reveals His story
And to us makes it plain!

The Father, Spirit, and The Son

2011-07-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 27, 2011

1st John 1:2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-

While pondering this passage as a part of preparation for a Bible study, thoughts arose in my mind concerning the difference between “the life” and “the eternal life”. To the apostle John, along with the other apostles, the life of Jesus while on earth was openly displayed and witnessed by them. From the effectual call to follow him, to every word spoken in purity and with the power of the Holy Spirit, to every work which continually affirmed him to be the Son of God come in the flesh, the life was made manifest. In the gospel attributed to the same writer, he closes out the account therein by saying, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

Though these brief words are sadly and woefully disproportionate in regards to explanation, I rejoice in the fact that our Father is pleased in our contemplations of the glories of His grace as revealed not only in the written word but by His mighty Spirit in the person of Christ Himself. For he was eternally with the Father before all creation, came to earth in the form of a man, lived the life of obedience to the Father’s will that we could not live, even unto death, the death of the cross. He took upon Himself our sin, shedding his blood and offering himself up as the only sacrifice sufficient to deliver us from the wrath to come. He was buried for our offences and raised again for our justification. Overcoming sin, death, and hell on behalf of all appointed by the Father who would put their trust in Him, he ascended to the right hand of the Father, and lives to make intercession for us. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son has not life, for He is life eternal.

By grace through faith, which is the gift of God we are likewise made partakers of His life and it is this same Jesus of whom and by whom we are made witnesses not only of his life while here on earth but forever unto His glory and eternal praise.

Arrested by His loving voice,
Called of God by Sovereign choice
By faith made now to see and hear
Like those who by Him knew God’s fear,
To witness water turned to wine
And raised the sick by simple line,
Spoken with authority,
That to God all the glory be.

Walked on water, calmed the storm,
Each day the works of God perform,
As grace and truth poured from the lips
Of Christ the One who still equips
The members of His body each,
That we be used and others reach
As vessels, Holy Spirit filled,
Rejoicing as the Father willed
Perfections spoken by the law
From Sinai fulfilled them all
That perfect in obedience
Jesus would in every sense
Become as man the sacrifice,
Pay in full the awful price,
As all our sins are blotted out
To join as one the festal shout,

Eternal life, eternal praise
Is now our theme eternal days
Till all shall culminate in One,
The Father, Spirit, and The Son!

Christ-Likeness Fashioned

2011-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 23, 2011

Psalm 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name’s sake.

There are dangers in focusing on ourselves as individuals concerning change in our lives. If our desire is stimulated by either feeling better about ourselves or outwardly looking better to others, our motivation is far from pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. When God has done a work of grace in our hearts through the merit of Christ alone, the outward manifestations may not be very apparent at all depending on the former character of the individual. In some cases an outwardly radical change may prove to be a work of common grace rather than that of particular redemptive grace, but will surely become manifest at the Judgment seat of God if not before then..

From God’s perspective, as He speaks and manifests His will by the Word of His grace, His glory is the primary purpose of our salvation, for His glory is worth more than the souls of all men. Thus our definitive sanctification both individually and as His body is a part of the covenant of grace established between God the Father and God the Son before all creation, and our progressive sanctification manifests the work of His Spirit evidenced first by change within that no one else on earth may be privy to by immediate observation, and yet the heart rejoices in God our Savior through our Lord Jesus Christ and rejoices in the obedience of Christ alone as it’s full satisfaction. For of Him and through Him, and to Him are things; to Whom belongs glory and honor and power, and blessing both now and forevermore. Amen

Our sanctification issues not
By the works from our own hands,
But only from a heart made new
In Christ made strong and stands
Against the torrents of the passions
Springing from sinful lusts,
Enabled by the Spirit’s power
To fulfill the Almighty musts
That come from God alone
As a Father Who surely will fulfill
All He has promised showing the glory
Of Christ who did all of His will.

So help us Dear Father Who now in this life
You’ve called by Your great Sovereign choice,
And justified freely as only in Jesus
We’re made to hear truth in the voice
Of Him that from heaven now speaketh to all
Removing the things that are shaken
Till we stand on the mount of Your infinite love
And shine like the light of a beacon.

We praise You for grace by which You exalt
Yourself to show mercy to us
And cause us to know the way in to walk
As You gave us The Song of Your chorus.

So if now you’re made to see and believe;
God’s glory your one greatest passion,
His grace you will find sufficient through time
As your being is Christ-likeness fashioned.

Beyond All Mortal Means

2011-07-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 22, 2011

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through the one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

God’s grace is super-abounding
And to it there is no end.
This attribute is His alone.
The free gift He did send,
By one man Jesus Christ,
Grace hath abounded unto many,
Though undeserved by mortal man,
Not even one; not any!

Much more than the forgiveness
Of which we were in need
And more than all the cleansing
Of every thought and word, and deed.
More than restoration where
In Adam we had fell,
And more than just a way to keep
Us from a burning hell.

Much higher our position now
Than before in Adam’s innocence,
For in Christ Jesus we have all
He purchased as a recompense.
And though in awe we do not yet
Completely understand,
His Word declares and makes us know
All things are in His hand.

Almighty Spirit come and help
Us always to draw nigh
And rejoice in hope of this
Great truth You do apply,
That the glory of our God
And Father will be seen
In all those who do rejoice
Beyond all mortal means.

Your Infinite Glory

2011-07-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 18, 2011

John 17:10 All mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.

Once we are born again, we begin to understand and grow in the purpose for which we were first created and secondly regenerated by the Spirit of the Living God through the merit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Hence, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

Our sanctification is the fruit and the result of the sanctification and satisfaction of Christ Himself.

How precious is our God and Savior as He leads His dear children along, often in ways we are not aware of until after the fact. Having completed reading a message by Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones concerning our Covenant making and Covenant keeping God, I had viewed the time that was yet available to do a little reading and read a sermon by Robert Murray McCheyne, entitled, I The LORD Have Called Thee in Righteousness The following are excerpts from that sermon:

Isa. 42:6-8 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

In this passage we have some of the most wonderful words that ever were uttered in the world. It is not a man speaking to a man. It is not even God speaking to a man. It is God speaking to his own Son. Oh, who would not listen? It is as if we were secretly admitted into the counsel of God, as if we stood behind the curtains of his dwelling-place, or were hidden in the clefts of the rock, and overheard the words of the eternal Father to the eternal Son.

Learn the greatness of your sins. Remember Christ had no sins of his own. No wrath was due himself; all that wrath he bore was ours. You that are believers, you have but a small sense of the greatness of your sins. Oh! Look here; see God holding the hand of his Son, while he wades through the sea of wrath! Oh! Surely a look at a suffering Christ should keep you in the dust for ever. You must never open your mouth any more. And, oh! Will you not love him who so loved you, who lay down under these surges and billows of God’s wrath for you?

Your infinite glory Oh help us express
By the word and the life of all true holiness.
For that which is Yours and not shared with another
Can only be seen in our great Elder Brother;
You took by the hand and You led through the sea
Of Your infinite wrath which would have consumed me.

And my soul melts with tears when I think of Your love
That You lavished on us by Your Son from above.
For He in our place and New Covenant Head,
Endured to the end on the cross in our stead.

Oh stir our affections anew in the light
Of Jesus in whom is Your glorious delight,
Forsaking all things of no profit below
That he for Your glory some others will know.

Oh Spirit of God please do come and effect
The word of Your grace through our lives to project
The infinite value of Christ and the call
Of God only wise, Who is LORD overall.

We thank You Oh Father for great Sovereign kisses
You give with each day that none of Yours misses.
For as You take pleasure and to us display
The work of Your hands that we too might convey,
The faith that You caused us to see and to feel
That others might come to know Jesus is real.

We praise You for mercy, though we be but gentiles,
As You look through Christ Jesus and show us Your smiles.

This Week that was Written

2011-06-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 17, 2011

With having two opportunities to be a mouthpiece to proclaim the glory of Christ this past week, very little thought was given toward writing, and yet the privilege to spend a greater degree of time reading and studying the Word of God reminded me not only of my need and dependence upon the Spirit of God to be my teacher but also a reminder that it is God the Father through the merit of Christ who has written and continues to write the truth of the gospel upon my heart. Thus the following words came to mind Friday morning.

Little on paper this week that was written
But into my heart by my God that was smitten.
For He in the form of a man on the cross
Gave His life to redeem me from failure and loss.

For nothing I’ve done or can do measures up
To the blessed forgiveness obtained by the cup
Christ drank to the full as God’s justice was spent
Wherein He showed mercy, gave grace to repent
From the sin and the pride that had blinded my eyes
To know that His love overcomes the great lies
That once I believed as a child of this world
While led by its spirit as deeper I hurled
Myself into depths of depravities store,
Deceived by my heart and God’s Word I ignored
Until He was pleased to reveal by the Light
Of His glory through Jesus to live in His sight.

The times of my ignorance God has winked at.
O glorious translation for more than a chat,
For we by the power and the joy of Christ’s’ union
Embrace and enjoy such Holy Communion
That all in this world surely loses appeal
By the greatest high calling, consumed by the zeal
Of knowing our Savior who over His house,
Has loved us forever; His bride and His spouse.

Now He is the purpose my soul shall define,
His excellence grants me the grace to refine
All that remains to His praise by the Name
Of Jesus, Who Is and forever the same!

The Word of God Now in You

2011-06-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 7, 2011

Hebrews 4:10-12 "...for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

While pondering thoughts of heaven over the last few days, I opened my Bible and my eyes came to rest upon the preceding verses. As the Word of God is living and active in the lives of those whom God has appointed unto salvation, the natural overflowing effect is a life of joy committed to holiness unto the LORD. Though the life giving stream from the fountain-head may seem to trickle at times, He is ever present working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure and for His glory. The following was written initially as a poem but while reading through, music from another song came to mind of which it can easily be sung to. Initially I could not recall or find the tune but when I asked Paul Vossen before the main corporate prayer meeting of Immanuel Baptist on Wednesday night, he immediately recognized it to be “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken”, written by John Newton in 1779.

Is the Word of God now in you,
Sweetly saying, “You are Mine”?
Holy, sanctifying, Savior
By His Spirit to define
To a dark and dying world He
Did His Image resurrect
In your heart and ever growing
Till with Him you are perfect.

Look then to yon heaven’s gates and
Strive till death with all thy might,
With all power He has given
And His promise as you fight
For the prize now present with us,
Love of God now manifest,
As He by the Holy Spirit
Draws us ever near His breast.

For the glory He possessed
With the Father before time,
As the Lamb slain for our purchase
Paid for every sin and crime
That we have and ever shall commit
With every thankless breath,
Yet our warfare was accomplished,
Hallelujah, through His death!

As the justice of the Father
Was by Christ full satisfied,
We then by His resurrection
Are made one and unified
For the purpose that His glory
Shall be one day fully shown,
As all things for Him created
Will be new and in Him known.

The Foundation that Surely was Laid

2011-06-25T08:13:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 8, 2011

While reading through the book of Ezra, I came to chapter 3 verse 6, which says, “…But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.”

Of course as you read through the entire text of the book of Ezra you find that in time and against all attempts to thwart the building of this temporal Jewish temple were overcome, the foundation was laid and the building completed.

What a glorious day we live in that many of us have a completed copy of the scriptures, and we are enabled to see by the sure mercies of God, as blood bought children of God through the sacrifice of Christ Himself and the effectual work of His Spirit, that we as gentiles “…are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together, into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

And thus we have the assurance, that come what may, ‘…God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those that are His”, and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”’ 2nd Timothy 2:19

Thou Father God, You without change
Revealed the foundation that surely was laid
By Your apostles and all Your prophets
And by the stone without hands that was made;
Chief-cornerstone, on which is built
The city of lights where Your glory doth shine,
And of all men, Your Spirit expressly
Speaks to our hearts that we know we are Thine.

Help us to offer in Thy true temple
And on the altar of which is now made
In such a way only those holy and
Bought by the price of the blood that was paid:
Such sacrifice as is now pleasing,
Accepted, the fragrance in which You delight,
Redeemed by the ransom of Jesus who lives
In Your great inaccessible excellent light!

A Doorkeeper

2011-06-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Michael E. Wood
June 9, 2011

While being in Sacramento for a little over a year, God’s choice of temporal employment for the time being is that of part time janitorial duties for Immanuel Baptist Church of which Dianna and I are now members. This allows for our temporal needs to be met, and the freedom to be and to do a number of other things we trust and pray will be used for the advancement and the glory of His kingdom. While contemplating this position in relation to other possibilities of employment and much more the purposes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the following came to mind.

A doorkeeper in the house of my God
Is where I would rather be
Than dwell in the richest palace
This present world has to offer me.

For God has a plan; His place in this world
Is to take now the lowest seat
And humility is the place where we see
God is Just, He is Right, He will meet

Every petition that to Him we make
With honest integrity He only can give,
Delighting in mercy to make us like Jesus
That we for His infinite glory shall live.

Oh what a wonder as children of God
That we are made to be kings
And priests of our Father now hidden in Jesus
As grace upon grace to us brings

The sweet understanding of what He has done
By His blood and His Spirit to come
For strength every day as He leads the way
As the depths of our heart He doth plumb

To show us the things by His Word that remain
To count as but ashes and dross
And trust in His power by faith to believe
These too have been nailed to the cross.

Oh the infinite love and the patience He shows
Within us until He does form
The things which our Savior did ask for His own
Then went to the garden that morn.

As He sweat drops of blood and in agony cried
“Not my will” but Thine only be done.
God answered by pouring the wrath we deserved
On His only begotten loved Son.

Oh how can we measure the infinite gain
That for us He bought on that day?
For words cannot tell, but with Him we dwell
In answer for which He did pray.

So serve Him with gladness regardless what others
May think of your earthly position,
For Christ is exalted, as now with all joy
He Is our one goal and ambition.