All Eternity We'll Sing!

While contemplating the faith that is ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, of His divine power, and the divine nature that we have been made partakers of according to His excellent glory, as spoken of through the apostle Peter by the Spirit of God, I came to verse 16 of the first chapter of 2nd Peter, as he says, "we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ".

As I thought of his eyewitness account, my mind returned to the incident in which Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." And thus the following words came to mind;

Oh see by faith the coming of
The power of His Majesty,
Jesus Christ, the King of kings,
The Lord of all eternity.
For He has granted unto us
The gift of His True nature,
As we in Him, are blessed to be,
As sons, a brand new creature.

All things of life and godliness,
He's given us to grow
That more like Him, on earth we'll be
As more of Him we know.
As we partake of promises
So precious and so great,
We overcome corruption of
The sins that we now hate.

Oh take the time to contemplate
All He holds now in store
For those of us He carried to
The cross, His body bore
Our sins, and all that does
Offend the holiness of God.
No words can tell the horror then,
When crushed before the rod

Of all the law, no mortal man
Could ever hope to fill,
As He in all perfection
Yielded to the Father's will.
What excellence and glory
Have we through Him received,
Increasing by His righteousness,
As by Him we believed.

So add to faith with virtue,
And with knowledge, self control,
With steadfastness and godliness
Our brothers we behold.
And do for them in love with God,
For all that truly matters
Is that His glory be displayed
And will o'er all that shatters,

Before the voice of Him Who comes
And every eye will see,
Him who comes to make His bride
More beautiful like He.
And though this simple song falls short
Of all of His perfection,
My prayer is that You'll look to Him
Who Is my hearts direction.

For Jesus gave a heart of flesh,
For that which was of stone,
And more than I can now perceive
He made me all His Own.
Now through His Word I dimly see
His face and know in part,
But then I shall know, as He's known
Me fully from the start.

And though we taste of glory now,
We trust in His good pleasure
To fill up all that we now lack,
The fullness of the measure,
The gift of Christ that all will see
The wonder of His glory,
And all eternity we'll sing
The splendor of His story.

Michael E. Wood
April 30, 2010

Let Us Rejoice and be Glad in HIM

How often have some of us been in a service in which we have sung the song of praise which begins with the words, "This is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it", taken from Psalm 118:24? Perhaps it has been but my own ignorance, but until recently my own thoughts had always been focused on the twenty-four hour period of the particular day of which I had been given the grace to live in, but as my beloved Dianna and I read this passage together I was reminded that "THE DAY" which is referred to in this passage is THE DAY our Saviour went to the cross and paid for the sins of His people.(see Psalm 118:14-27 for the context) Oh, how lofty our praise then must be unto our God for THE DAY THAT HE HAS MADE; LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN HIM!

While reading Psalm 143, and coming to the words, "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all You have done", the preceding text came to mind and the following words came to mind;

Thank You O LORD, for the day of the cross,
For on that day, Christ redeemed me from loss.
As we are now the work of Your Hand
We thirst for You as in a parched land.

Oh hear my pleas for mercy and answer (143:1)
Your righteousness, the cure for my cancer
Oh answer me quickly and make my soul fit
Lest I be like those who go down to the pit. (143:7)

Your faithfulness hide not now from me (143:7,9)
The face of Christ to Whom I will flee.
May Your Spirit lead me on level ground (143:10)
That all may know the Sweet Joyful sound,

As for Your Name's sake, my life You preserve, (143:11)
O LORD, from all my sin doth deserve.
Your righteousness, my soul out of trouble,
You bring by Your love and give me the double

Cure for my sin, and cure for my soul,
That all may see Your glory the goal,
As now, I Your servant will look unto You (143:12)
As You will destroy all my enemies too.

For You are my Rock, and my hands for the war
You train and You keep for all that's in store (144:1,2)
For You are my Refuge to Whom I now yield,
My Fortress, my Comfort, my Stronghold, my Shield!

Michael E. Wood
April 29, 2010

Jesus IS our Jubilee!

While contemplating Psalm 139, I came to verses 17,18,23-24, which read, "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would out number the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. " " Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting", the following thoughts came to mind:

How precious are Your thoughts, O God
Secured for us by Jesse's rod.
How vast they are as You display
Your work of grace in us of clay.

For by Your Word You now impart
To every simple broken heart
Of which You choose in Christ to mend
To sing Your praise, world without end.

All things You spoke to be and wrought
By Him Who once stood then and taught
Beside the shores of Galilee,
Now Jesus Is our Jubilee!

Oh what delight to know You know
Our every need that we may grow.
Oh search in us now every part,
That we may know how great Thou Art!

We thank You for the grace of asking.
The way You lead now everlasting
Until we meet on heaven's shore
And see You Jesus, Whom we adore.

Michael E. Wood
April 28, 2010

After writing the final line, the Spirit of God brought 2nd Cor.10:3-5. Praise God for the obedience of Christ working in us both to will and to do of the good pleasure of God!


"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..."

The Blossoms of the One True Vine

Psalm 128, Which begins with, "A Song Of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table", caused me to ponder the Majesty and Love of our Lord for His church, and the blessing of the LORD; Who has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ for His Own glory.

Typically, as it is our nature, to view the scriptures in relation to our own benefit of which some are quite obvious in this passage, I found myself asking the LORD to show me Christ in this passage, for He is in every line, and it is He Who opens our eyes to see His beauty by His Sweet Holy Spirit. Thus I was led to research a number of sources for information and after reading Hosea chapter 14 along with the introductory remarks from the ESV, which speaks of how we, the Israel of God, were depicted as unfaithful: promiscuous, indifferent, illegitimate, ungrateful, and stubborn; I was left in awe of the love of God which far exceeds our ability to comprehend as He through Christ has redeemed us from all our iniquity, and thus these words came forth:

Are we left in humble awe
As the blood of Christ doth call,
Expressing love without pretension,
The purchase of His apprehension.

As God ordained by hands of men
That Christ would pay for all our sin.
For it was through His agony,
He heals from all apostasy.

He loved us freely from that hill
And turned God's wrath by Sovereign will.
Now on our head, He is the dew
Which brings forth fruit to honor You,

For Jesus is The Root of all
Your shoots, O God, spread out to call
Upon the beauty of the Lord,
Whose fragrance fills with one accord,

Beneath Your shadow as we dwell
And flourish as our praise doth swell,
To spread Your fame like best of wine,
The blossoms of the One True Vine.

And all our fruit will come from Him,
Who like the cypress, our Diadem,
Gives to all what He deems right
To see the glory of His might!

Michael E. Wood
April 26, 2010

Your Testimonies Rejoice My Heart

While contemplating Psalm 119, it occurred to me that this Psalm though filled with instruction, is also a continual prayer with praise unto our God for His Unspeakable Gift, imparted by His Word into our hearts as we are made acceptable in His sight through our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ unto the glory of God both now and forevermore. Amen!

As I arrived at verse 111 in this Psalm, "Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart", the following words came to mind;

Your testimonies rejoice my heart
For by Your Word You now impart
The Beauty of my God and King,
Lord Jesus Christ, to you I sing!

You've blessed me with this life's afflictions,
And bring deliverance from all addictions,
Of which my flesh so strongly clings
And blinds my eyes to heavenly things.

Oh, help me daily rise above
All vanities by Your steadfast love.
According to Your Promise give,
True Light to my eyes that I may live,

In such a way that pleases You
As You unfold Your Words so True, (119:130)
Appointed by Your Sovereign grace
That we may see Your smiling face,

Upon our lives to honor You (119:135)
In all we think, and say, and do.
We Your servants in Your Word delight
For it is tried, and true, and right! (119:140)

And though we tremble and tend to faint,
You hear the cry of every saint,
Which ascends as sweet perfume,
The smell of which You brought to bloom,

That we may know how near You Are,
Ever present, and never far (119:151)
From all that You would choose to give,
The grace of life, for Your glory live.

Michael E. Wood
April 24, 2010

O' Let it Be Known

While sitting under a willow tree at Kingsdown Commons and meditating upon 1st John 2:1-8 the passage from the Gospel according to John was brought to mind, " If ye abide in Me and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you." Then as my mind thought of the many splendid temporal blessings of which we have seen come from the hand of the Lord in recent days, in preparation for our union together for the glory of God, the following words came to mind:

Oh Father we ask, not for temporal things
For those are not what our hearts now most crave,
But that You will bless and Your Spirit may come
And brake o're dark hearts like a great mighty wave.

The Light of Your Presence, Oh may it be known
That others, the Truth, they may clearly see.
The glory of God in the face of our Lord,
Jesus, Who came and made our hearts free.

May Your Light be so bright, and we are then hidden
By the cross of which we were bought,
That all of the glory will be only Yours
Seen by all those You have then sought,

To bring to Yourself, Oh let it be known
That this is the purpose You gave
By making us one, to rejoice in Your Son
And by Him alone You will then save.

All praise be to You, for the beauty we have,
Embraced by Your love and affection,
To make us like Jesus in all of our ways,
Til with You we see all Perfection.

Michael E. Wood
April 22, 2010 (1:10-1:43 pm)

P.S. Part of what also came to mind, which influenced the words of this poem, was the fact that earlier in the day I had walked into Cracker Barrel to get a To Go order of food to take with me and a couple I knew was coming out to the cash register and the gentleman and myself exchanged hello's and the lady said, "the sun was so bright I couldn't see you". Of which I responded with a smile, "Oh, that would be my desire more and more as the days go by."

Marks of Conversion...

While listening to the message entitled, "Marks of Conversion", a sermon preached by Gregory N. Barkman from John 8:30-47, which helps to distinguish the difference between a spurious faith from the true faith that comes as the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast; (which can be found by clicking here......., ) the initial words of this poem came to mind. Corresponding then with the daily passage read together with my beloved Dianna in 2nd Corinthians 13:5-14, the following thoughts were written:

What makes you think that you are now saved
When you to your sin are yet still enslaved?
No love for God's Word, nor yet for His glory.
Are your thoughts not bound up in your own selfish story?

Examine yourselves by His Word if you dare,
For that is the main way, God speaks of His care,
To all of His children, redeemed in Christ Jesus,
The True Revelation of just how God sees us.

For Almighty God by His Spirit revealed
The Truth through the prophets, that the nations be healed.
But only those called will stand up to the test,
To follow the Saviour, through faith in Him rest,

In all He accomplished as He hung on the tree
And paid for the sins of all He would set free,
To walk in His Spirit of which He imparts
To show forth the face of His love in the hearts,

Of all who would bow, confess Jesus as Lord,
Repenting from sins, by His grace they're restored,
Because of the pleasure that God chose to give
To the praise of His glory, as for Him they live.

Friend, the Revelation of Jesus Christ is not just the name of a book in the Bible, but the reality of the only way of salvation to the glory of God, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved. His name is Jesus, and He came to save His people from their sins!

Michael E. Wood
April 18, 2010

To the Praise of His Glory

To the praise of His glory, Oh let us now live
That others may know that His love He did give,
Through Christ to redeem us from all of our sin
And gave us His Spirit, Who lives now within

The depths of our soul, and our heart to impart
The armor of light to repel every dart,
By the shield of our faith through Christ's sacrifice,
Our Victor secures o're every wicked device

Sent forth by the evil one. Oh let us now wield
The sword of the Spirit, or'e the strongholds he held,
And stand by the truth of the Word of our God,
To the death we will fight till no more on this sod,

All our praise will be to Him for all that He gave
To free us from bondage in sin as a slave,
For sons we now are, let freedom now ring,
Til with Him and for Him anew we will sing.

Michael E. Wood
April 19, 2010 a.m.

For His Sake!

After having the good pleasure of reading through the book of Ephesians in one sitting in preparation for teaching the "College and Career" class at Beacon Baptist Church, these words came to mind:

Oh, taste and partake of what is now yours
And lay up in Christ, our Treasure, He stores
Unto His coming for all who forsake
Ourselves and the things of this life for His sake.

No outward appearance, oh let us now trust
But look unto Christ, Who is faithful and just
To give all we need by His Spirit divine
As we look to His Word and our ears we incline

To hear all the ones on whom we're now built
With Christ as our Head, Who took on our guilt
And gave up Himself through the cross by His love
Redeeming His Own with the price of His blood.

By forgiveness and mercy we're raised from the dead
To sit with Christ Jesus, Who came in our stead,
To the praise of HIS glory in all ages to come,
Fulfilling the purpose for which we're made one.

Oh, Father now strengthen with all of Your might
And clothe us with all of the armor of Light
That we may proclaim now the gospel of grace
Of Jesus our Saviour, Who stood in our place.

Michael E. Wood
April 17, 2010

To Whom Much is Given

Oh, what an inestimable value we have in Christ, and of all He has given us by the blood of His cross. While pondering the meditations of God, as a number of distracting thoughts came to mind, the words spoken by Pastor Barkman came to mind after a wonderful series of messages preached by Mark Webb on "Gleanings through Galatians" which can be found by clicking HERE. The words spoken by the power of the Spirit of God to my soul were these; "To whom much is given, much is required", and thus these are the thoughts which came to mind:

To whom much is given, much is required!
Oh, fill up our hearts with all You've desired,
As we by Your wisdom, now seek unto You.
Oh, fill up our minds, and our strength now renew.

You know our distractions, by Your Spirit distill
The truth of Your Word, to walk in Your will.
We trust in Your mercy, oh help us convey
The mystery of Christ, that others may say

How good and how pleasant that You truly Are
To all who are near and all who are far.
For You know the paths that Your children now walk.
Protect us from him, who our souls he doth stalk.

For there is no power, but what you have given.
Conform us to Christ in the land of the liven'.
For now is the time for those You uphold
That through us the truth of the gospel be told.

Oh, may now the grace of Your glory be shown
As we look to the cross of Christ Who atoned.
Oh, help us not look to our own feeble ways
As praise we now give to the Ancient of Days.

Michael E. Wood
April 16, 2010

To Home We Fly

While contemplating Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ in the heavenly places," the following thoughts came to mind:


Where are the "heavenly places"? What do they look like?


And though eye hath not seen and ear hath not heard the things that God has prepared for those that love Him, He has given us His Spirit with which we see by faith a glimpse of the things that are ours both now and forevermore. And thus a few simple thoughts of the "heavenly places" as described by scripture was given to me to think upon.


They are the places where God dwells.

They are places of purity and holy moral perfection.

They are places beyond the imagination of the carnal, fleshly, temporal mind.

They are the places where the Spirit of God dwells.

They are the places where God is exalted and Christ is magnified.

They are the places where the glory of God shines forth; the passion for His glory is ever increasing, and shall increase throughout eternity.

They are the places where you will find, as John Piper calls it, " The God Centeredness of God".

They are the places where the thoughts of God take center stage; (see Isaiah 55:8-13).

They are the places of the habitation of God (Isa. 57:15).

They are the places that can be found only in Christ, through Christ, and by Christ for the glory of God.


Enjoined with these thoughts, I had the good pleasure to visit with a couple of elderly saints--one named Edna, who I had only met once before. During the few moments I was given , in which I trusted I would be used to bless her on this second visit, she said to me with a smile, "I will be praying for you and your marriage." Oh, what a delight and encouragement that brought to my soul as this dear saint is so feeble that she had asked me, a few moments before, to push the button (which was literally just a few inches from her hand) by which she could call for assistance, promised to pray for me and the woman of which God has so graciously brought into my life.


And thus these words of praise and prayer were given to me, of which I trust the Lord will use to be an encouragement to others, as we delight in Him.

Oh, what a gift to contemplate
The King of kings, our Potentate.
For though He dwells so high and lofty,
He yet speaks peace so sweet and softly.

He gently leads us all along
And gives to us the joyful song.
For though He may need bring us low,
That is the place where grace doth flow

Into our hearts to fill our vision
By steadfast love He gives provision
That we may know that He revives
All those with humble, contrite lives.

Oh Christ, You Are our Good Profession,
Our Hope will give way to full Possession.
And though for now You may seem far,
You name Your Own like every star.

And in the darkest part of night
Like You, we'll shine with glory bright.
And in Your bottle You now fill
With every tear by Sovereign will.

Oh, every prayer You clearly hear
Though but a sigh with heavenly fear.
Oh strengthen us and draw us nigh
Until with You to home we fly.

Michael E. Wood
April 15, 2010

The Offense of the Cross

In the midst of contemplation and worship, as Mark Webb was being used of the Lord to speak the truth of the gospel in relation to the offence of the cross, these words came to mind:

It was my hands that murdered Him
Who died that day for me,
And as He hung upon that cross
I could not help but flee,

Into His arms Who showed such love
And caused me to believe
For though with Him I too was slain
His grace I did receive.

In Realms of Glory Yet Unknown

While contemplating passages in Galatians, and other New Testament books in reference to how those of us who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, we are called to examine ourselves in the light of eternity and of the surpassing love that is ours both now of which we, by His Spirit, are to manifest one toward another and is forever ours through Christ alone, that we may glorify God and enjoy Him forever, these words came to mind:

In realms of glory yet unknown
The love of God is fully shown!
And yet while time for man exists
We cannot fully know the bliss.

And yet, Praise God, we get a glimpse
Through Christ alone His love persists,
And beckons us before the throne
That we may make His glory known!

Impart to us Your loving favor
That we may truly love our neighbor.
Cast out from us all selfish pride
That they may seek in Christ to hide,

Within the veil of Your torn flesh
By which You cause Your church to mesh
Into the holy temple of
Your faithfulness and steadfast love.

Oh, now You fill our hearts with gladness
Intermixed with holy sadness
Of all the ways we yet fail You;
Oh, fill our minds with all that's true,

That we by grace may comfort still
All those in Christ by Sovereign Will,
To whom You call, Oh, Holy Spirit,
Unto the praise of God and fill it

Up to the fullness as all the ages
Transcend the words of all the pages
Left for us by Your sure Word
Until we see the One we've heard.

Michael E. Wood
April 10, 2010

"Come let us walk in His Light"

As Dianna and I have been reading through the Bible together we came to Isa.2:5, which says, "Come let us walk in the light of the LORD", of which she said something like "Sounds like a song to me", and I quickly blurted out some simple sounds of praise with those words. We laughed and then I wrote them in my journal at (11:23 p.m., 4/8/10).

As I was awakened around 5:38 a.m. (4/9/10), I could not get away from the theme, which in itself is a part of the beauty of the true grace of God, as He has not only made us for His own glory, but through the person of Christ saves us and keeps us for His own glory! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!!!! And thus a new song was given which speaks of the Gospel of Christ as spoken of in light of the words given to us in Isaiah chapters 1 and 2 as the result.

Come, let us walk in the light.
The Light of our LORD and our God.
He'll teach us each day,
And we'll walk in His ways,
For in that is what brings Him delight.
That is what brings Him delight!

In That Day, He alone, Be exalted!
Haughty looks and all pride will be brought low.
And all men will bow down, bring Him glory.
Every tongue will confess unto Christ,
He alone then Is worthy!

Come now and reason with Him
Though your sins are like scarlet within.
For Christ is The Way, for our sins He did pay,
Oh, let's praise Him in psalm and in hymn.
Praise Him in psalm and in hymn!

For the mouth of the LORD has now spoken
And His Spirit now dwells in His chosen,
To all those, who in Christ, are the broken
Before all creation was brought then to speak forth His glory!

Oh, come now and worship the King
For Jesus, our Lord and our God,
Restores as the first, all for Him that do thirst
And repent, by His righteousness sing.
Repent, by His righteousness sing!

Let us go, to the mountain, of His house.
He will come, to the earth, for His Own spouse.
For alone, He is worthy, of all praise.
By the glorious gospel of Christ
We will stand in His glory!

Come let us walk in the light.
The light of our Lord and our God.
His face we will see and His glory will be
So majestic they'll be no more night.
Majestic they'll be no more night!

All our praise, will then be, Holy prefect.
For like Him, we will be, in His glory.
And forever, we'll dwell, and His beauty,
Will be far beyond
All that we could have ever imagined!

Rejoice now, Oh, all of new birth
With all those in Christ on the earth.
His glory will shine as we yield up our mind,
As in One we shout forth all His worth!
As One we shout forth all His worth!

His glory will shine, as we yield up our mind,
As in One we shout forth all His worth!
As One we shout forth all His worth!

Michael E. Wood
April 9, 2010

Christmas in April!

HE IS THE SPRING WHO GIVES NEW LIFE!

Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalm 32:2

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. Psalm 32:5-6

I will bless the LORDat all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:1-3

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. Psalm 33:3-6

When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17-18

The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22

While contemplating the passages of scripture given to us in Psalms 32-34 with my heart filled with the plague of remaining sin and yet rejoicing in the goodness of God through Christ Jesus my Lord, and while looking from the front porch I noticed a Red Bud tree among the lofty pines with their new growth which reminded me of a "Christmas tree"and the following words came to mind:


Oh, do you think of Christmas
At this time of year so bright?
For Jesus came to die for men,
And save us from the blight

Of all our sin which brought the curse
And caused the earth to groan.
HE IS THE SPRING WHO GIVES NEW LIFE
To those whose hearts now moan.

In every flower's beauty
And in every new pine cone,
He shows such glorious power now
To raise those of His Own.

New life is ours because the cross
Was destined from His birth.
He came to bleed and die for sin
For those born on the earth.

For angels who are fallen
Have not now so much hope
But will forever burn with those
Who do not see the scope--

Of Oh, such wondrous love for men
That God Himself would come,
And bare rejection and reproach--
The Humble Servant, Son!

He Is The High and Lofty One
And by His grace imparts;
Redemption to His chosen ones
Of humble, contrite hearts.

Oh, taste and see the LORD Is Good
In all that He may bring;
To search our hearts, refine our minds,
And give new songs to sing--

Unto His glory til He comes
And full salvation shows;
To His beloved bride of Christ,
All them, that He now knows.

Oh, what a thought, that without sin
Our faith then, more than sight--
With bodies raised, we'll praise His Name,
In robes, all pure and white!

Oh Jesus, Lover of our souls,
Oh, help us now to be
The vessels of true love and grace,
Reflect Your Majesty!

And help us now in holy awe,
Give you all the worship due,
For none on earth can e'er compare
To all we have in YOU!

Michael E. Wood
April 7, 2010

Through Christ my Sacrifice, Who is My Own (Second Revision)

As I have continued to ponder the glory of Christ and continue to review the words of this song given to me whereby we His people can magnify Him and bring glory to His name, it occurred to me that there may be those who would misunderstand the language of the first chorus. As there is no glory of which compares even in the remotest of ways to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, I trust that it will be perfectly understood that any glory that I may lay claim to is not my own but that which is excellent and proceeds from Him, through Him, and to Him for His Own Name's sake alone. It is Christ Who is the spotless, perfect, sacrifice of God, and by grace through faith in His blood, He is my sacrifice, whereby I am justified before God the Father, and He is satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son!

O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices, and in your salvation how greatly he exults! You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.

Selah

For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold upon his head. He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever. His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him. For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved. Psalm 21:1-7

Here is the new Closing Chorus (Higher octave)

In Christ I'm justified,
My soul is free.
In Christ God's satisfied
And pleased with me.
Before my Father's throne
His glory will be shown
Through Christ my sacrifice
Who Is my own.

Complete New Version

"Through Christ my Sacrifice, Who is my Own"

The Father willed to give,
His Son that I might live.
For wrath and sin atoned,
Through Him, I now am owned.

Though wretched vile within,
His blood now covers sin,
And all I am is His;
Through Christ Alone!

(Chorus 1)
In Christ I'm justified,My soul is free.
In Christ I'm satisfied,God's pleased with me.
Before my Father's throne,
My glory will be shown,
Through Christ my sacrifice,
Who is my own!

My secret sins He sees,
And brings me to my knees.
His Spirit intercedes,
Supplies for all my needs.
To Him I now will cling,
And all my days I'll sing.
Give glory to my God,
Through Christ alone!

(Chorus 2)
In Christ I'm justified!
I've been set free.
In Christ I'm satisfied.
He's ransomed me!
To stand before the throne
Because of Him, be known.
Sweet Christ my Sacrifice,
He is my own.

His presence now with me,
To Him, all glory be.
His grace now makes me stand,
He leads me by His hand.
His holiness in me,
Perfected I will be.
My Hope, no shame I'll have,
Through Christ alone!

(Chorus 3)
In Christ I'm justified!
He's made me free.
In Christ I'm satisfied.
Like Him I'll be!
One day, before the throne
His glory will be shown.
For Christ my Sacrifice,
Is now my own!

(Closing Chorus - Higher Octave)
In Christ I'm justified,
My soul is free.
In Christ God's satisfied
And pleased with me.
Before my Father's throne
His glory will be shown
Through Christ my sacrifice
Who Is my own.

Michael E. Wood
Original February 21-22, 2010
1st Revision March 3, 2010
2nd Revision April 5, 2010

The Greatest Truth (continued)

While contemplating the things already given to me on the preceding day, this also being intermixed with the fact that my beloved Dianna had sent an email containing the offering of praise to our Lord from the previous day to Pastor Redditt Andrews; his response in desire to preserve the text in song; and the glowing Truth of the gospel of Christ in accordance with the scriptures, as spoken in 1st Corinthians 15:3-4; and, of the glory which is yet to come, the following words came to mind as a continuation of the preceding thoughts:

Through Christ in which we first received
The Truth of First Importance.
His death and resurrection speaks
With the scriptures full accordance.

Though in the tomb He lay three days
Corruption could not come.
The gates of hell could not contain
The glory of The Son!

Oh, shout the mighty anthem of
Our Saviour's gospel song,
Til in His glory we stand anew
With heaven's mighty throng.

Oh, come Lord Jesus, come restore
Your glory in all creation,
As all the groans of time give way
In glorious jubilation!*

We thank You Father for the Spirit
By which we now perceive,
But then more glorious than all Your praise
Will be Your Majesty!

*could also be rendered; jubilant adoration

Michael E. Wood
2:44 - 4:35p.m. April 4, 2010

The Greatest Truth

While contemplating 1st John 2:7, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you heard from the beginning." I was led back to Leviticus 19 and read through 24:1-4 which reads, "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD regularly. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD regularly."

As I considered the fact that Christ is the head of the church, it is He who arranges the "lamps" (His messengers) on the "lampstand" (His church) both universally and locally for His own glory, and it is His good pleasure to give the power of His Spirit to those who faithfully and believingly ask for it. "And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:5-13.

While in this line of thought, the apostle Thomas came to mind as our Risen Lord showed him the scars in His hands and His feet, and thus these words came to mind.

So much more is ours to ask
And seek by Solemn Promise
By faith we see His smiling Face
And learn from doubting Thomas.

His scars showed forth the faithful fact
In Him our sins were borne.
But when the Father turned His back,
That's when His heart was torn.

As from the cross He cried aloud,
"Eli, Eli, Lema, Sabacthani?"*
He bore the fullness of God's wrath
Meant for you and I.

Oh, if the thought does not bring tears
Perhaps you're hardened still.
Deceived by sin in which you'll die
And God's full wrath you'll feel.

But Christ Who is my Sacrifice
And Hope for all perfection,
Secured for me by His shed blood
And bodily resurrection,

A steadfast hope and confidence
By grace through faith alone,
Amazed in love, with Him I'll be
Faultless before God's throne.

For He ascended and now He sits
Before our Father's Face
And intercedes for all He chose
Redeemed from Adam's race.

Oh, Holy Spirit, come to us
With power, The Word fulfill.
For the glory of our God,
You are our Guide and Seal.

Oh, help us in this very hour
Your faithful Word proclaim,
Though most will miss THE GREATEST TRUTH,
Lost in their "Easter's" aim.

Michael E. Wood
April 3, 2010

The Greatest Truth is the simplicity of THE GOSPEL, which is Of First Importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised the third day in accordance with the scriptures. 1st Cor.15:3-4

*(English translation: "My God, My God, why has Thou forsaken Me")