My Glory and My Head!

Having purchased an ESV Study Bible through DesiringGod.com, one of the benefits which came with the purchase was an on-line audio of the Bible. While being busy with some other things and listening to 1st John in it's entirety, the following came to mind;

The Son of God has come to me--
The Savior of the world;
And soundness to my mind He gives,
Though Satan's dart are hurled.

For on the cross He purchased me
And crushed that serpent's head
And freed me from my sin within
And to it, I am dead.

Though writhing yet remains in me
Through flesh of which I hate,
My Savior Is my Comfort
And through Him I shall escape.

Oh No, I take not lightly
All the flaws of which you've read;
But joy in God through Jesus Christ,
My Glory, and my Head!

Michael E. Wood
June 29. 2010

To Be A Godly Man!

While contemplating Palm 145:4,18 which tells us, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.", and the Priority of Prayer, as spoken of in the apostle Paul's charge to Timothy in 1st Timothy 2:1-6, the following came to mind:

I charge you now of first importance
To be a godly man.
That men should pray in every place
Uplifting holy hands.

For supplications must be made,
As with Aaron and with Hur,
Stayed the hands of Moses
When in battle fatigue occurred.

For not the arms of flesh will bring
To us the victory,
But by the means that God commands
Secures His sure decree.

Oh do not faint when you see not
With fleshly mortal eyes,
For faith will see through Christ alone,
In Him our vict'ry lies.

For it is he who wields the sword
Of His unchanging Word,
And fights unto the death by faith
With His full armor gird.

With marching orders that we have
No matter what our rank,
Approach the throne of mercy
In the lead or on the flank.

For God delights in mercy
And by Him we shall be heard,
And gives to us what He deems best,
According to His Word.

For this is good and pleasing
In the sight of God our Savior;
The blood of Christ now testifies,
The change of our behavior.

Oh what can we now offer Him,
But be His faithful witness.
Christ Jesus is our Testimony
And He for heaven fits us.

Until that day more glorious
On Him we'll keep our eyes,
For then His fullness we shall see,
Our Everlasting Prize!

Michael E. Wood
June 29, 2010

Entrusted

The voice of God tells us in 1st Timothy 1:5, "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Every single day we are given is a gift from God through the abundance of His steadfast love and faithfulness. It behooves us to recognize it as such; ask, believe, and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to teach us, and then use us to speak the truth of the fact that JESUS SAVES, in love, and then trust that He will bring forth fruit unto His Own glory and praise through the gifts He has given His church until we are all with Him in glory.

Entrusted with these gifts You gave
No longer to ourselves enslaved,
Oh Holy Spirit come and make
Your presence known for Jesus sake.

Oh saturate our minds and fill
With love's strong chords to do the will
Of our Great God by which we're sent
Into this world with time we're lent.

Oh fill with weight each precious line
Of Holy Writ and show to Thine,
Both those who know and those to come
The power of Christ, The risen Son!

Oh purify each conscious thought
With sincere faith in all You've wrought
That grace and glory may abound
Unto Your praise with joyful sound.

Oh help us now for Christ lay up
Treasures of souls, with Him we'll sup,
With all the folds and flocks gathered in
As all of time will come to an end.

Michael E. Wood
June 28, 2010

Shebna or Eliakim?

Upon listening to a heart piercing, soul searching, message by Reddit Andrews from Isaiah 22 which was concluded with three questions:

(1) How seriously do I seek God's plan before I seek my own?
(2) Do we pay more attention to our relationship with God than our plans and preparations?
(3) Is my service to God more like Shebna's or Eliakim's?

I must confess that my desire has not always been, and continues to fall short at times, for the purpose of the glory of God alone. Oh how easy it is to fall into complacency and to have desires for things, which may not be bad in themselves--such as having a good name, but when the motivation comes from selfish pursuits rather than the glory of God alone then they are a stench in the nostrils of our Blessed and Holy Potentate--the KING of kings and LORD of lords.

When God in mercy doth search our hearts
And pierces through to our hidden parts
Our flesh then trembles in His sight,
Condemned to death by His Spirit's light.

Oh shall we by our pride suffocate,
And think of ourselves to pontificate,
And glory in what we think is our own--
When none but God yet sits on the throne.

O please have mercy O God of renown,
And grant us grace, restore then the crown
To cast at your feet, as we are still
And know You are God, embraced by Your will.

O help us reflect, before You be real,
Confess now our sins, give grace then to kill
All things that seek not Your glory alone,
And give You the praise, for all is Your Own!

O Father in whom my soul delights
Make all my motivations right.
Give grace to stand within your plan
Proclaim your glory throughout the Land.

Michael E. Wood
June 24, 2010

His Praise Endures Forever!

Psalm 111 begins with, "Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation." and ends with, "His praise endures forever!"

Does this not speak of both present and future glory? The great manifestation of the glory of God in heaven, as every member of the body of Christ will be perfectly formed, united as one: with one heart, one mind, and one mouth to praise our Eternal, Omnipotent, Thrice Holy God! And yet we have the good pleasure to taste of His goodness now by the assembly of the saints, as we gather together to humbly worship, praise and adore our Holy, Majestic, Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
While contemplating the fullness of that which has begun and shall continue throughout eternity the following verses were written:

His praise endures forever!
The glory and honor of Christ is now told,
As the mystery of godliness in us He unfolds.
His praise endures forever!

For we are His workmanship created in Him,
Good works, God ordained, that we walk in them.
His praise endures forever!

Prepared in His glory, He speaks through His Son,
By the word of His grace, and His Spirit as One.
His praise endures forever!

O fix now your eyes on His cross and hold dear
The Name of our God, in both meekness and fear.
His praise endures forever!

For His Name is Holy and Awesome to all,
The ransomed, His chosen, as on Him we call.
His praise endures forever!

Oh guard this Gift by His Spirit in us
And know full well what His hands did entrust.
His praise endures forever!

For He is faithful and just in His call,
His righteousness endures and delights overall.
His praise endures forever!

His precepts are trustworthy, established forever,
Only dross as of gold, has God chosen to sever.
His praise endures forever!

With His glory in mind and our faith so refined,
We'll see the great splendor of all He designed.
His praise endures forever!

With thankful whole heart in the great congregation,
The company of the upright, from the dawn of creation.
His praise endures forever!

Oh fan into flames all the grace you've been shown,
That others in Jesus, His glory be known!
His praise endures forever!

Michael E. Wood
June 23, 20101

The Romans Project (Part Five)

While contemplating Romans 5:6-11:

Almighty God we did not revere.
Our helpless estate was Oh, so severe,
That God could not look on even one sin,
Yet in the due time, Christ entered in.

He died for us while we were yet enemies,
To deliver us from sin's captivities.
Perhaps for a good man some would dare die,
Or scarcely for the righteous who cry,

But God commendeth His love toward us,
That through the blood of Christ we're made just
As if we had never, ever once sinned,
To make us pure and holy within.

And all the wrath of God He consumed,
While enemies: in Christ we assumed
Reconciliation to God through His loss,
The death of His Son, who paid through the cross.

Much more, much more, being now reconciled,
We shall be saved by His life, as His child.
Not only so, but in God we rejoice
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who made us His choice.

All glorious praise to our God who had promised
By His word and His Spirit, He showered upon us
Such wonderful love through the life and bestowment
By Christ Jesus our Lord we received the atonement!

Oh what price could we then but fathom
Of all sins accrued beginning with Adam.
But had it been one, Christ still need have come.
Our thrice Holy God Is comparative to none!

For GOD IN HOLINESS IS SO INFINITE,
That Just He would be if to hell we were sent,
And yet through Christ, His justice was served,
And bore all the wrath of which we deserved.

Oh will you not repent then from sin
And be embraced by His Gift now within,
And know the love of God without measure?
The Just for the unjust, Christ Jesus, our TREASURE!

Michael E. Wood
June 22, 2010 3:31 pm

To be continued...

Oh Death, Where is Thy Sting?

While listening to an expository message by Redditt Andrews on Romans 6:1-4, and coming to verse 4 which states, "Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father", the words, "O death, where is thy sting?", came to mind. The first verse of the following came immediately to mind, and the remainder came while contemplating the text last night and this morning:

Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh death, through you I will sing!
Because of the wonder and glory of grace,
Unto my Lord Jesus when I see His face.
Because of Christ I will sing!
Oh death, where is thy sting?

Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh death, through you we will sing!
Into the death of Christ Jesus our Lord
We died then to sin, and no more now adored.
Because of Christ we will sing!
Oh death, where is thy sting?

Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh death, through you we will sing!
Baptized in Jesus, in newness we walk.
His life now within us, by Him we are taught.
Because of Christ we will sing!
Oh death, where is thy sting?

Oh death, where is thy sting?
Oh death, through you we will sing!
Christ rose from the dead, by it, no more we're awed.
The glory of the Father, by Him we're enthralled.
Because of Christ we will sing!
Oh death where is thy sting?

Oh death. where is thy sting?
Oh death, through you we will sing!
Forever delivered from death and its claim.
We live by His Spirit, His glory our aim.
Because of Christ we will sing!
Oh death, where is thy sting?

Michael E. Wood
June 21, 2010

The Romans Project (Part Four)

While meditating on Romans 5:1-5, the following came to mind:

"Therefore" is a word by which we implore
The mercies of God by which we endure
Those things in ourselves, not perfect as yet
And fight now the sin which doth so easily beset.

Justified by our faith, God's Unspeakable Gift!
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, no longer adrift.
By Him we have peace with our Almighty God,
As upward, yea, homeward by faith we now trod.

Through Christ we have access by which we now enter
And stand in this grace, made worthy, a sinner.
And in hope of the glory of God we rejoice,
By His pleasure we're made now to hear His Sweet Voice.

The Just for the unjust, God's love did impart
Through the Holy Spirit, given, poured into our hearts.
Because of this hope we are put not to shame,
The evidence of character to honor God's Name.

And more like His nature, produced by endurance,
To know Christ through suffering, Oh what sweet assurance.
For as we rejoice in our present sufferings,
The greater the glory of the Great King of kings!

Michael E. Wood
June 17, 2010

to be continued...

He is the Christ!

As I began to read a message by C. H. Spurgeon entitled, "Testimony and Experience", which began with the passage of scripture found in John 4:39-42, the first chorus with a tune then came to mind. Four days later with the completion of reading that message along with hearing a message by John Piper, entitled, "Build Your Life on the Mercies of God" (Rom.12:1,2), the following was the result:

Many from our town believed
Because of words you brought,
"He told me all I ever did",
For Jesus knew your thoughts.
But many others came to Him
With doubt and fears to seek,
Believing not until they heard
The precious Saviour speak.

(Chorus)
Now we believe,
but not for thy saying.
For we have heard
Him for ourselves.
And now we know
that He has now spoken.
The Saviour of the world,
for He indeed is the Christ!

I once thought that I knew Him too
For others taught me well.
I did not know the knowledge then
Would take me straight to hell.
And all my works were blinded
By my passions and my pride,
Then crushed in spirit, Jesus came,
Revealed His bleeding side.

(Chorus-2)
Now I believe,
but not by thy saying.
For I have heard
His Word for myself,
And now I know
by His Spirit He's spoken.
The Saviour of the world,
for He indeed is the Christ!

So if you have all knowledge,
but your love for God's amiss.
And faith to move all mountains
but you know not mercies kiss.
Repent then from your pride and sin,
your shame and hopelessness.
For Christ alone, for atoned,
your only hope for bliss.

(Chorus 3)
Sing with me then,
if you have heard Him.
For He has raised
us up from the pit.
And for His glory,
He has now spoken.
The Saviour of the world,
for He indeed is the Christ!

Michael E. Wood
June 15, 2010

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." John 4:39-42

The Mighty will fall!

While sitting at the table having lunch with Dianna and Deni, we heard a great cracking noise and looked out the patio door to see a great oak tree fall to the ground just a few feet away from the apartment. We spoke of the timing and the Sovereignty of God over all things. I looked again at that great tree lying there this morning and the following came to mind:

A great oak tree came crashing down yesterday.
It fell without warning, there was no delay.
A hundred years plus, it stood from it's birth.
You could tell by it's height, and tell by it's girth.

No wind from without or quake from beneath,
The problem we saw was all underneath,
It's beauty and glory of which we beheld,
Had covered disease by which it had fell.

Many years it provided both shelter and food
For so many creatures of which we conclude,
Yet all in it's path was crushed when it fell.
The mighty has fallen is what we now tell.

What a sobering thought, all men are like trees,
No matter how glorious with all their degrees.
Though nations they make up and stand in their prime,
All this world will fall at the end of all time.

For sin is a reproach to the most glorious nation,
Falling short of the glory of the God of creation.
Though He dwells now on high and He rules overall,
He delighteth in mercy, showing compassion to all,

Of which in His pleasure, He's chosen to give,
Through Christ for His glory, by the cross to forgive sin.
Not all will now heed Him, deceived by their sight,
To do what they feel, that to them seemeth right.

Their end is destruction, and OH SUCH MISERY!
The tree lies where it falls is God's Sovereign decree!
Oh today is the day of salvation to all,
Who bow at the feet of King Jesus and call,

And trust in the blood of our Covenant Son,
And rest in the justice of which He has won,
By giving Himself, The Atonement for sin,
And sent His Sweet Spirit, our peace now within.

The sun is now shining, the soft wind now blows.
The glorious grace of our God He bestows.
All knees will bow surely, all tongues will confess,
ALL GLORY AND PRAISE TO THE LAMB'S RIGHTEOUSNESS

Michael E. Wood
June 16, 2010 - (8:09 - 10:48 am)

Upon finishing this poem I looked to my Bible and it was open to Psalms 75:2,3, which says,
"At the set time I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all it's inhabitants, it is I who keep steady it's pillars."

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift, who takes His own, causes them to overcome, and makes them pillars in the temple of God. (see Psalm 75 in it's entirety, along with Revelation 3:7-13)

Christ is Preeminent!

We are told by the voice of God through the apostle Paul in the book of Colossians that Christ Is Preeminent! In Him all things are held together. He Is The Head of the body, The church. He Is The Beginning, The Firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be Preeminent.

Proverbs 11:2b,3a "... with the humble Is Wisdom. The integrity of The Upright guides them..."

While pondering these thoughts, the following came to my mind:

You are my integrity, and You are my pride,
And by You Sweet Spirit, Your Word is my Guide!
You Are my Wisdom, and You are my Fear,
Because of Your mercy, I know You are near.

You Are Righteous and Blameless and keep my way straight.
Your truth gives discernment to know what to hate.
Within and without; You now lead by Your Hand,
And strengthen to live in Your Promised Land.

Oh teach our hands quickly to know how to fight.
Abundance of counselors You give by Your might!
To wage the good warfare and stand in Your strength,
By love without bounds, beyond depth, without length!

Michael E. Wood
June 11, 2010 7:51 am

My Sweet Love

On April 18, 2010 I sent Dianna, via email, a personal poem that I had written. It was never posted on the blog. A few days after arriving in California and settling into our new apartment, she printed out a copy of it and laid it on the dining room table. I smiled as I saw it laying there. What she did not know, was that another poem of a personal nature was in the process of coming to mind prior to me even seeing the one that she printed out and thus I immediately began to write out the new poem on the same printed page. Since we are now married, we feel the liberty to post both. Below is the original four verses of the poem from April 18, 2010 followed by the four new verses.

(04/18/2010)
Here I wait for my Sweet Love
For whom I Love o much
And though I cannot see her face
My heart still knows her touch.

For God has blessed me far beyond
All I could ever earn--
For by His grace He's touched our lives
And for Him we do yearn.

Oh Precious Father, thank You for
This gift You've given me--
Of my Dianna; because, of You
Together soon we'll be.

Reflections of the wondrous grace
Of how You have made two--
Becoming one to praise the Son
As You've made all things new!

(06/09/2010 - 3:42 p.m.)
This helpmate from Jesus
Now heretofore known,
More precious than rubies,
Her value is shown,

That we now as one
May look pure to the face
Of Jesus our Saviour
And run now our race.

Oh help us by mercy
And all of Your love,
Reflect now Your glory
Til with You above,

We sing all Your praises
As with You we'll be,
Beholding the glory
Of Your Majesty!

Michael E. Wood

He Lendeth us His Precious Thoughts

While reading Psalms 37:23-31 which reads: "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever. The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip", these words came to mind:

The Son arose for me this morn
And by His Spirit I am warmed,
And made to feel His presence near,
As He Is all my Hope and Fear!

He lendeth us His precious thoughts
That we may tell of all He's wrought.
He Is our Portion and our Bread,
To walk with Him, Who in our stead

Established all our work of grace
That faithful we may run our race,
Delighting Him with all our heart,
Through Christ alone we'll not depart!

Michael E. Wood
June 7, 2010

Honey from The Rock

Mind clearing glimmer; stimulated by Proverbs 3, seeing my need to take hold of sound wisdom each day, while expressing thoughts of glory from yesterday, for Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Amen!

For we would now be all adrift
Apart from You! Amazing Gift,
Removed from us a heart of stone,
And one of flesh, You gave Your Own!

Now honey from the rock You give,
Our eyes now bright, that we might live,
And walk securely in Your way,
Until Your face we see, That day!

Oh, Help us now by righteous deeds,
By love attend to pressing needs.
Oh Father hear now the groans of the poor,
That we may know how to love You more! (Ps.11)

Michael E. Wood
June 3, 2010

The Romans Project (Part Three)

(10:37a.m.6/4/10)

More pure than all the law is found
The righteousness of God and bound
Through faith in Jesus Christ the Son,
Eternal God, our Holy One!

The law and prophets bear witness now
To Him, with joy, we humbly bow,
And justified by His grace are we
Through redemption bought at Calvary!

It is now Christ of which we boast
Empowered by the Holy Ghost!
For what does all the scripture say?
Believe in God, through Christ, The Way!

Now blessed are we whose lawless deeds
Are forgiven by His Sovereign plea!
And sins forgiven by His blood
Which stems the overwhelming flood;

Which would have carried us to hell
Had not His righteousness as well
Been counted by faith to be our own
Through Christ, Who for our sins atoned!

(Rom.3-4)

(9:37a.m.6/9/10)

In footsteps, the faith of our father we walk,
And all for the glory of God our talk.
By His Promise and rest in His grace guaranteed
In the presence of God, in Whom we believed.

He gives life to the dead and calls to existence
Things that were not and shows His omniscience.
In hope, Abraham believed against hope
And strong in the faith, which shows forth the scope,

Of the Father of nations, Christ now has become,
The offspring and glory of God, Holy Son!
No distrust concerning the promise did he waiver,
From God for His glory, Who showed forth His favor.

Fully convinced God could do what He promised,
His faith counted righteousness to him and upon us,
Who believe in Lord Jesus, Who rose from the dead,
Delivered up for our trespasses, imputed instead,

A just vindication in answer to wrath.
Now justified freely, He leads with His Staff.
Rejoicing in hope of our God on His throne,
Til with Him in glory, His justice is shown.

(Rom.4:17-25)

To be continued...

The Romans Project (Part Two)

(11:05a.m.6/1/10)

We are God's Own, inwardly,
Salvation is matter of the heart!
For by the Spirit, His praise is made sure,
From whence we shall not depart!
(Rom. 2:29)

(11:03a.m.6/2/10)

How poorly now we understand
This gift so freely given,
And yet by grace through Jesus Christ
We stand secure in heaven!

A propitiation by His blood
Received by faith to show
The righteousness of God alone,
His forbearance now to know.

For He is just and Justifier
Of the one who has faith in Jesus.
The law of faith is what we trust,
And that is how God See's us!

Since God Is One - Who will justify
By faith, through faith, for all.
We do not overthrow by faith,
But now uphold the law!

(Rom.3:2 "....entrusted with the oracles of God." Living oracles- life giving words; not simply words to live by but words that Give Life!)

While contemplating these words given to the apostle Paul, the words given to Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876, came to mind. "Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life! Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life! Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty! Beautiful words! wonderful words! Wonderful words of life! Beautiful words! wonderful words! Wonderful words of life!

This song can be found in Hymns of Grace and Glory, by Life Line Publications, Page 216.

to be continued.....

The Romans Project (Part One)

As Michael reads through and meditates on the Book of Romans, he has felt led to write verses to convey the wonderful and powerful doctrinal truths expressed by Paul as he was led by the Spirit of God.

This was not a planned project; but, a wonderfully exciting one. We will post verses as they are completed. In conjunction with reading Romans we plan to also read Lloyd-Jones' expository sermons on Romans published by the Banner of Truth.

(05/30/2010)
The gospel is the power of God
That brought to me salvation,
And every one who doth believe
Of Jew and every nation.

Of it, I am not ashamed,
As faith to faith reveals
The righteousness of God in Christ,
The fruit His Spirit yields.

Made righteous by His precious blood—
By faith we each day live,
As His invisible attributes
To us His pleasure gives.

By His most awesome, eternal power,
And nature so divine—
He has made known, and made it clear
Through Christ He is now mine.

(05/31/2010)
Oh help me not presume upon
The riches of Your kindness,
It is Your patience and forbearance
Removes from me the blindness.

For You will render unto each
The purpose of Your plans;
By patience in well doing bless
The working of our hands.

You show no partiality;
For You are all our good—
As glory, honor, peace You give
To us now understood.

For not the hearers of the law
Are those who are made righteous
As only that now done by faith
Will show forth all the brightness—

Of our immortal eternal God
The judge of secrets of men
According to my gospel
By Christ Jesus for all sin.

Oh, do you call yourself a Christian?
And boast in all the law?
Of which you think yourself to keep
In outward shows to all.

Who blaspheme now the name of God
By your hypocrisy;
For all His praise comes by the Spirit
In hearts now made to see—

That of Him, through Him, to Him
Be all glory, majesty.
Our altogether Lovely One
The Christ, who made us free.

to be continued...