As We Whimper and Whine

(And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.)
2 Cor 12:7-10)

Tho so unworthy, You bid us to come—
Drink deep of the Fountain, which is Your dear Son.
Our thirst You doth fill with Your marvelous grace,
As we look through Your Word to behold Your Sweet Face.

Oh, help us to hate what You hate of ourselves;
As we whimper and whine, as we look to our delves.
Your grace is sufficient; Your strength is made strong,
As we boast of infirmities which cause us to long—

For more of Your wisdom and more of Your love,
To fill us with power and strength from above.
Christ, only Christ can fill our desire
To bring You the glory in all of our mire.

As pitiful children, we confess of our need
To learn to take pleasure in all where You lead.
We thank You, Oh Father; correction You bring,
And cause us to glory, and cause us to sing—
Of all of the wonders of Your matchless grace;
To lead us to heaven to see Your Dear Face.

What wondrous affection You'll show when You're done,
By bringing reproaches as You did to Your Son—
To make us like Jesus in all that You do,
To strengthen Your body as we are made new.

Oh, use us to strengthen the weak feeble knee,
As we bow in submission to Your Sovereignty.
Treasures of mercy, we ask of You now;
To strengthen our hands, and continue to plough.

To preach of the gospel—Your Kingdom Will Come;
In Power, Your Spirit, will make us all One.
Beholding Your glory forever we'll be;
Rejoicing in Jesus throughout all eternity.

Michael E. Wood
09-21-09

Now Unto Him Be All The Glory

(Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph. 3:20,21)

Now unto Him be all the glory.
Now unto Him be all the praise.
Now unto Him be all the glory.
Who worketh in us by His love without end all our days.

Grace You have giv'n, because it did please You—
Forgiveness of sins, Your pleasure to give.
Chosen in Jesus, to be made holy;
To the praise of the glory of Your grace, accepted in Him.

You caused us to hear the truth of the gospel—
Enlightened our eyes, to see by Your Spirit.
Hope now we have, because of Your calling;
Because of Your mercy, we're raised now with Him from the dead.

For now in Christ, we are brought near to You
And through His blood, we are made one.
He is our peace, we now can come to You—
By One Spirit O, Father in holiness we now draw nigh.

We are Your church, we are Your body;
Built upon Christ, Who now is our head.
(Built upon Christ, our Chief Cornerstone)
We who believe are carefully joined in Him—
A dwelling for You by Your Spirit forever, Amen.

And for this cause, we are made ministers,
To spread the Good News by Your mighty power.
And for this cause we bow our knees to You;
Oh, fill us with strength by Your Spirit with love from on high.

Now unto Him be all the glory.
Now unto Him be all the praise.
Now unto Him be all the glory.
Who worketh in us by His love without end all our days.

(Up an octave)
Now unto Him be all the glory.
Now unto Him be all the praise.
Now unto Him be all the glory.
Who worketh in us by His love without end all our days.

Michael E. Wood
09-19-09

We Thank You Today

Michael's Prayer 09/12/2009

Our Father which art in Heaven, we thank You for who You are. For the wisdom that You not only possess; but, that also transcends our ability to comprehend, and has brought us unto Yourself, that we may behold Your glory.

We thank You for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has given Himself through the perfection of such a holy life here on earth that it was not only possible for Him to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of His people; but, for the joy that was set before Him, embraced the Cross of suffering affliction, having satisfied the eternal wrath that would have been rightfully our own and has presented Himself in our stead, having fully satisfied both that which You desired of Him and for us.

We thank You for the gift of eternal life, through Him that has loved us with an everlasting love, that we might be enabled to view the life You’ve given us, with an eternal perspective, having been raised with Him out of the dunghill of hopelessness and helplessness, striving about things that are vanities of our own minds.

We thank You for the blood which has not only been presented before You as the sweet smelling savor of acceptance, in exchange for the corruption and putrefying stench of our sins; but, through which we have been granted forgiveness for our sins—and continually cleanses us from all that remains of sin within us.

We thank You for the gift of Your Spirit , who at this moment, not only indwelleth us; but, guides us into all truth that we, through the love of the truth, shall be conformed more and more into the image of Your dear Son—as we are Your salt and light in this dark and decaying world of men. We thank You for His bold intersession and perfection in asking on our behalf all that You desire for us. Not only of those things that we have need of in this life; but for the one that is to come.

We thank You that You delight in mercy—that Your mercies are new everyday; and that because of Your great mercies, which are beyond our own comprehensions, You also delight in us and cause us to not only delight in You; but, grant to us that same boldness whereby we are embraced—we are enabled to approach unto You.

We thank You for the grace that You have implanted into the very core of our being; whereby we have received from You so great a salvation., that every aspect of our being has been translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of Light in Your Son. And,though we know that there is so much in us that is not there yet.

We thank You for the guarantee of Your Word, which You have commanded on our behalf, that we shall be where You are, not only in spirit; but, in body, as well.

We ask You today to transform our minds by Your Spirit through Your Word, that we may behold Your glory. Help us today to take up the cross of our present circumstances and follow You unreservedly. Show us how we may not only lay down our lives for the brethren; but, also empower us, with the power from on high, that we may be overwhelmed by the beauty of Christ, and that He may receive glory, and honor and praise, both now and forevermore. Amen

SIN ATONED BY CHRIST ALONE

(Romans 3:25,26: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. )

How true it is that God is love;
But, God is also just.
And all of sin He'll not forgo,
For judgment is a must.

His character consistent all,
He Was, and Is, will Be.
His judgment will show forth His praise,
Through all eternity.

Oh, think not to presume upon
The mercy of our God;
When you will not from sin repent,
And face His mighty rod.

And beaten to the dust you'll be;
Your soul, it will not die.
And just He'll be Who will not hear;
Though from the pit you cry.

Think not your best be good enough
When all is said and done—
Trust not that God is like yourself
And He your vict'ry won.

No church, religion, or kept law
Will keep you from this fate.
His wrath upon you will be just,
Though love He'll not forsake.

The cross of Christ; your only hope—
For justice has been served;
And vindicated, God is now,
From wrath He has not swerved.

Our Righteous, Holy Saviour
Showed forth His Light that day,
“Forgive them Father” was His cry,
As for our sins He paid.

And in the tomb they buried Him—
Corruption could not touch;
The sinless Son of God arose,
Victorious over such—

As would have kept us too
From all the glories of His grace;
Were we not chosen first in Him
Of all of Adam's race.

For just is God, and justifier
Of all that do believe,
In Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Who died on Calvary.

The Word made flesh now satisfies
The righteousness of God,
And mercy now we have received
To walk upon the sod.

Our hearts now filled with true desire,
And for His glory live;
Until we see Him face-to-face,
And to Him glory give.

All praise to Him our righteous One
Who intercedes for all,
For sin atoned, by Christ alone,
The ransomed from the fall.

And at His feet, we'll cast our crowns;
To us were freely given,
As we behold the beauty of
Our risen Lord in Heaven.

Michael E. Wood
08/31/2009