Having read a portion of the Commentary on the Song of Songs, by James Durham, along with the introductory remarks by John Owen written May 20, 1669, of which remarks can be found in it's entirety by clicking on "The Wood's Secret Garden", dated August 23, 2010, I was reminded of how easily we can slip into focusing more on the gifts of grace we have received in Christ, rather than Christ Himself.
Psalm 145:6, says, "On the glorious splendor of Your Majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate." And thus, through Christ Himself, we are reminded that our primary focus is the glorious splendor of God Himself first; and then upon His wondrous works, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Let us press more intent
In our striving to Jesus,
For His body and blood
Is the means He doth feed us.
Not aught of our works
Do we thus then depend,
But by faith and His Spirit
Do we thus apprehend.
For though He doth use
What we call means of grace,
Our hope is still Jesus;
He bids, "seek His face".
To know Him is what
He doth press in our soul,
As life He doth give;
By His cross, He made whole.
And thus with delight
He doth scatter our darkness
To show Himself faithful
To all His; the harmless
And blameless as children
Of God without blemish,
As lights in the world
Til our time here is finished.
So as we are members
Now one of another,
Oh let us provoke
By God's mercy, each other.
Transformed in our minds
By God's Word to discern
His good, and acceptable,
And perfect will learn.
Having gifts that now differ
According to grace,
Oh let us be fervent
To stand firm in our place.
Appointed through Christ
As our Sovereign and head,
God seated us with Him,
When raised from the dead.
Oh let us by love serve Him
To this great end,
Til all are won to Him,
And thus comprehend,
Through Jesus Christ only
Be glory forever,
To the only wise God
Who works all things together,
That we may rejoice
In all loss to perfection,
As one to His praise
In the great Resurrection.
United we shall be
In His love so unspeakable,
For His Name sake alone
Beyond all that is thinkable.
Michael E. Wood
August 24, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Can God Breath Life into Dead, Dry Bones?
In Ezekiel 37:1-14 we are told of the vision given which speaks of the Israel of God as being like a valley of dry bones. The prophet is asked the question by the Almighty, "Son of man, can these bones live? To which the prophet answered, O Lord God You know.
God in His infinite wisdom has given two kinds of sight to most of us whom He has raised from the dead. The first is of a natural order of which most are partakers of to see the beauty of the glory of God in creation, and the ugliness of this fallen world. I say most, because some are born physically blind or lose their natural eye-sight in this life for the glory of God.
The second is of a spiritual nature, to see beyond the natural into the realm of God Himself, of which all of His children are partakers of, so that even in objects which speak to most nothing but death and decay, He brings His Word to mind by the power of His Spirit, because of the finished work of Christ at Calvary, for the express purpose of His glory, our enjoyment of Him, and to be the means through which others will be brought to know the glory of His grace, to know that He alone Is the Lord as one generation commends His works to another.
Recently Dianna and I made a discovery in the "Secret Garden" of which some may think to be absurd, but it happened to be the skull of what we believe to be a horse or a mule.
Where it came from, how old it is, or how it got to be under a bush by our door we have no idea. It had become a little hotel for snails, as the hollows were full of them. Deni, our friend, upon Dianna's request, took the skull cleaned out the snails and then soaked it in Clorox for several days. The skull was so old, it broke in two as a result, but the teeth remained in tack. Dianna began to take pictures of the remains, blow them up, adding color with contrasting light shadows, and then low and behold these images appeared.
As I pondered this vision of dead men seen in these teeth, I thought of how Samson by the power of God had slain a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass, and then from the same bone there came forth a spring of water to quench his thirst. Oh How mighty and awesome our God is to slay all of our enemies through the death of Christ and to give us fountains of living waters through his resurrection.
The vision of Ezekiel also came to mind, and the following poem came as a result.
Can God breath then life
Into dead and dry bones,
And raise for His glory
In those He now Owns,
A great congregation
By His Son to His praise,
And show forth His power,
The Ancient of days?
Look closely and you will
Then see in this image,
The semblance of life
Through these, then the visage,
Of men who are dead
With no hope in this life,
For judgment is sure,
O' remember Lot's wife!
And yet if you breathe
Though dead while you live,
The power of Christ
Can give life to forgive,
And raise you to praise Him
By the power of His blood,
His child by God's mercy,
You'll be understood.
A new threshing instrument
Made then with teeth,
To show forth the power
Of His Spirit underneath,
His watch care and grace
Which comes from above,
Through Christ He gives life,
Who answers in love.
So if you have eyes now
To see in this art,
The faces of doom,
Then from judgment depart.
Through Christ for His glory
Who only bestows
New life from the dead
By His Spirit to know,
On the sure day of
God's great resurrection
Some will be raised
By the cross to perfection.
Others will also be
Raised then in gloom
And show forth the judgment
Of God in their doom.
That He for Your sins
By His blood He did pay
The judgment of God
Meant for us on that day,
And yet for His glory
He'll show in that hour,
There's no other Name
Like Jesus in power!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
God in His infinite wisdom has given two kinds of sight to most of us whom He has raised from the dead. The first is of a natural order of which most are partakers of to see the beauty of the glory of God in creation, and the ugliness of this fallen world. I say most, because some are born physically blind or lose their natural eye-sight in this life for the glory of God.
The second is of a spiritual nature, to see beyond the natural into the realm of God Himself, of which all of His children are partakers of, so that even in objects which speak to most nothing but death and decay, He brings His Word to mind by the power of His Spirit, because of the finished work of Christ at Calvary, for the express purpose of His glory, our enjoyment of Him, and to be the means through which others will be brought to know the glory of His grace, to know that He alone Is the Lord as one generation commends His works to another.
Recently Dianna and I made a discovery in the "Secret Garden" of which some may think to be absurd, but it happened to be the skull of what we believe to be a horse or a mule.
Where it came from, how old it is, or how it got to be under a bush by our door we have no idea. It had become a little hotel for snails, as the hollows were full of them. Deni, our friend, upon Dianna's request, took the skull cleaned out the snails and then soaked it in Clorox for several days. The skull was so old, it broke in two as a result, but the teeth remained in tack. Dianna began to take pictures of the remains, blow them up, adding color with contrasting light shadows, and then low and behold these images appeared.
As I pondered this vision of dead men seen in these teeth, I thought of how Samson by the power of God had slain a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass, and then from the same bone there came forth a spring of water to quench his thirst. Oh How mighty and awesome our God is to slay all of our enemies through the death of Christ and to give us fountains of living waters through his resurrection.The vision of Ezekiel also came to mind, and the following poem came as a result.
Can God breath then life
Into dead and dry bones,
And raise for His glory
In those He now Owns,
A great congregation
By His Son to His praise,
And show forth His power,
The Ancient of days?
Look closely and you will
Then see in this image,
The semblance of life
Through these, then the visage,
Of men who are dead
With no hope in this life,
For judgment is sure,
O' remember Lot's wife!
And yet if you breathe
Though dead while you live,
The power of Christ
Can give life to forgive,
And raise you to praise Him
By the power of His blood,
His child by God's mercy,
You'll be understood.
A new threshing instrument
Made then with teeth,
To show forth the power
Of His Spirit underneath,
His watch care and grace
Which comes from above,
Through Christ He gives life,
Who answers in love.
So if you have eyes now
To see in this art,
The faces of doom,
Then from judgment depart.
Through Christ for His glory
Who only bestows
New life from the dead
By His Spirit to know,
On the sure day of
God's great resurrection
Some will be raised
By the cross to perfection.
Others will also be
Raised then in gloom
And show forth the judgment
Of God in their doom.
That He for Your sins
By His blood He did pay
The judgment of God
Meant for us on that day,
And yet for His glory
He'll show in that hour,
There's no other Name
Like Jesus in power!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
We Were Born to Be Your Witness!
Having gone to sleep for a short nap afternoon, with the sound of a secular song from my past in my mind of which I will not mention at this juncture, I was awakened with these words fitted to that music. It is yet but a chorus, but praise be to God my Savior that He makes all things new.
We were born to be Your witness
When forgiven for our sin.
For in Christ we died, when crucified.
For when He rose again,
We were justified and glorified
Will be our happy end.
We were born to be Your witness
When You freed us from our sin.
Michael E. Wood
July 1, 2010
We were born to be Your witness
When forgiven for our sin.
For in Christ we died, when crucified.
For when He rose again,
We were justified and glorified
Will be our happy end.
We were born to be Your witness
When You freed us from our sin.
Michael E. Wood
July 1, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Rejoice in Him, Who is Our Life!
While continuing in the writings of John Bunyan, on the subject of the "throne of grace", and rejoicing in the Word of The LORD through the prophet Jeremiah wherein we are enabled to see that Christ has the right of possession and redemption in accordance with the Word of The LORD; for Jesus Christ has bought us with His Own blood, sealed us with His Holy Spirit, and has made us witnesses thereof--We are yet but earthenware vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. Praise be to Him, that there is nothing too hard for Him, for He Is The LORD, the God of all flesh, and has made a Name for Himself. He gathers His church from all countries, bringing us back to the true worship of Himself, making us to dwell in safety as there is nothing that can separate us from His love.
He has given us one heart and one way, that we may fear Him in our hearts; that we may not turn from Him. He has made with us an everlasting covenant, rejoicing in doing us good, having planted us in His land of faithfulness with all His heart and all His soul, and will bring upon us all the good that He has promised. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The greater we see our need and dependence upon our Father, The Almighty God, the greater we are enabled to see the mercy and grace provided for us through the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ unto the glory of God.
The procurement of our purchase
Is secure before God's throne,
And grace abundant floweth
Like a river to be known.
That we in humbleness approach
In boldness as our task
Requireth mercy freely given,
For grace is what we ask.
For all of that which we have need
In time or eternity,
Provideth God through Christ The Lamb
Who died on Calvary.
For as He Is the mercy seat
Which sits above the law,
And though we yet tremble
As approach we there in awe--
Our hearts are quicken by the fact
Our Father is well pleased;
By Christ alone, for sin atoned,
Our sin, by God appeased.
And as His blood now speaketh
Better things than that of Abel,
The Holy Spirit intercedes
With groans to then enable--
Us that we may find delight
In Him of Whom we call;
Rejoice in Him Who Is our Life--
Christ Jesus, Lord of all!
Michael E, Wood
August 6, 2010
He has given us one heart and one way, that we may fear Him in our hearts; that we may not turn from Him. He has made with us an everlasting covenant, rejoicing in doing us good, having planted us in His land of faithfulness with all His heart and all His soul, and will bring upon us all the good that He has promised. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The greater we see our need and dependence upon our Father, The Almighty God, the greater we are enabled to see the mercy and grace provided for us through the Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ unto the glory of God.
The procurement of our purchase
Is secure before God's throne,
And grace abundant floweth
Like a river to be known.
That we in humbleness approach
In boldness as our task
Requireth mercy freely given,
For grace is what we ask.
For all of that which we have need
In time or eternity,
Provideth God through Christ The Lamb
Who died on Calvary.
For as He Is the mercy seat
Which sits above the law,
And though we yet tremble
As approach we there in awe--
Our hearts are quicken by the fact
Our Father is well pleased;
By Christ alone, for sin atoned,
Our sin, by God appeased.
And as His blood now speaketh
Better things than that of Abel,
The Holy Spirit intercedes
With groans to then enable--
Us that we may find delight
In Him of Whom we call;
Rejoice in Him Who Is our Life--
Christ Jesus, Lord of all!
Michael E, Wood
August 6, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Glimmers and Sparks
While listening to an announcement that the church or local body of believers would love to hear of our praises, the following words came immediately to mind:
To praise my Lord and Savior
Is the joy of all my days.
For He delights in mercy
And His smile has fixed my gaze,
Upon Him as the risen One,
Who intercedes for me,
And by His precious holy blood
Supplies my every need!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
To praise my Lord and Savior
Is the joy of all my days.
For He delights in mercy
And His smile has fixed my gaze,
Upon Him as the risen One,
Who intercedes for me,
And by His precious holy blood
Supplies my every need!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Roman Project (Part Eight)
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. Romans 6:15-19
While listening to a message preached by Reddit Andrews on Romans 6:15-19, the first verse to this poem came to mind, and two days later the initial thought streamed into the making of the following poem. As that which often occurs in simplicity and godly sincerity, these gifts of poetry that are given to me are also the manifestation of my heart cry in prayer to my Father which is in heaven, who delights in mercy, and shall give to us whom He has redeemed for the express purpose of proclaiming the glory of His grace, His desires for our heart, transforming us into the image of His dear Son.
Laid hold of by God
To Him we now live,
And thanks be to Him,
All glory we give.
Oh help us not waiver
Or ever confuse
The purpose for which
You have chosen to use,
Men like ourselves
So wretched in sin,
The light of Your glory
Through Christ has shown in
Our darkness with which
We were so innovative,
Not knowing that we were
Then held captivated
And blinded by sin,
The result of the fall,
Til grace You did give,
Now on Jesus we call.
For He is the reason
We have faith to serve,
Held captive by mercy,
His cross now preserves
Our life in Your hands
As we see our weakness,
Rejoice in The Lamb
Who before came in meekness,
And gave up His life
The sure Ransom of all,
Your glory excelling
By which we're enthralled.
Oh help us by strength
Of Your Spirit embrace
All You speak by Your Word,
And the smile of Your face,
Til all for Your glory
We stand in one place,
And praise You forever,
The LORD of all grace!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
While listening to a message preached by Reddit Andrews on Romans 6:15-19, the first verse to this poem came to mind, and two days later the initial thought streamed into the making of the following poem. As that which often occurs in simplicity and godly sincerity, these gifts of poetry that are given to me are also the manifestation of my heart cry in prayer to my Father which is in heaven, who delights in mercy, and shall give to us whom He has redeemed for the express purpose of proclaiming the glory of His grace, His desires for our heart, transforming us into the image of His dear Son.
Laid hold of by God
To Him we now live,
And thanks be to Him,
All glory we give.
Oh help us not waiver
Or ever confuse
The purpose for which
You have chosen to use,
Men like ourselves
So wretched in sin,
The light of Your glory
Through Christ has shown in
Our darkness with which
We were so innovative,
Not knowing that we were
Then held captivated
And blinded by sin,
The result of the fall,
Til grace You did give,
Now on Jesus we call.
For He is the reason
We have faith to serve,
Held captive by mercy,
His cross now preserves
Our life in Your hands
As we see our weakness,
Rejoice in The Lamb
Who before came in meekness,
And gave up His life
The sure Ransom of all,
Your glory excelling
By which we're enthralled.
Oh help us by strength
Of Your Spirit embrace
All You speak by Your Word,
And the smile of Your face,
Til all for Your glory
We stand in one place,
And praise You forever,
The LORD of all grace!
Michael E. Wood
August 1, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Your Love Personified!
Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!
How Mighty and Awesome is He to give to us expressions of thought toward Himself, as an outpouring of His Spirit, as we are enabled to hear the voice of His Word, in accordance with His revealed will, and ask for those things which are to us freely given based on the merit of Christ alone. But far more grateful are we that He gives to us the Spirit of supplications whereby we are enabled to come to Him with groanings which cannot be uttered, and yet assuredly ascends to the throne of grace in perfect order far beyond what our natural minds can conceive or display. And as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of His will, we are thereby called to pray with the Spirit and with the understanding, and thus encourage one another in the faith while it is called today. Oh that He may perfect in us that which is pleasing in His sight.
Oh Father, by the love we now own;
Which flows from Your eternal throne,
Help us to know the width and depth
And height of it, by which we are kept.
For all the price of it was paid
As all our sins on Christ were laid.
And You have loved us without measure,
The great supply of Your good pleasure.
Now all our path through life is paved
By Your redeeming grace we are saved.
Oh by Your All Mighty Spirit show
Through us Your grace that others know--
That You, and You alone indeed;
Through Christ provide for every need.
For He, Your love personified,
As One with You, forgive He cried!
And You are pleased to hear Him sing,
O'er us, His bride, as He our King
Rejoices to see That coming day
When all will see the great display--
Which ears have not heard, nor eyes have seen;
Your glory so awesome, so pure, and clean.
Your thrice holiness we shall surely possess,
Made perfect in love by Your righteousness!
Michael E. Wood
How Mighty and Awesome is He to give to us expressions of thought toward Himself, as an outpouring of His Spirit, as we are enabled to hear the voice of His Word, in accordance with His revealed will, and ask for those things which are to us freely given based on the merit of Christ alone. But far more grateful are we that He gives to us the Spirit of supplications whereby we are enabled to come to Him with groanings which cannot be uttered, and yet assuredly ascends to the throne of grace in perfect order far beyond what our natural minds can conceive or display. And as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of His will, we are thereby called to pray with the Spirit and with the understanding, and thus encourage one another in the faith while it is called today. Oh that He may perfect in us that which is pleasing in His sight.
Oh Father, by the love we now own;
Which flows from Your eternal throne,
Help us to know the width and depth
And height of it, by which we are kept.
For all the price of it was paid
As all our sins on Christ were laid.
And You have loved us without measure,
The great supply of Your good pleasure.
Now all our path through life is paved
By Your redeeming grace we are saved.
Oh by Your All Mighty Spirit show
Through us Your grace that others know--
That You, and You alone indeed;
Through Christ provide for every need.
For He, Your love personified,
As One with You, forgive He cried!
And You are pleased to hear Him sing,
O'er us, His bride, as He our King
Rejoices to see That coming day
When all will see the great display--
Which ears have not heard, nor eyes have seen;
Your glory so awesome, so pure, and clean.
Your thrice holiness we shall surely possess,
Made perfect in love by Your righteousness!
Michael E. Wood
Friday, August 13, 2010
Stir My Heart to Comply!
Written in 1662 in Bedford gaol (jail), John Bunyan described prayer as being, "a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God".
And thus without intent to be a guide in anyway; but, to simply share the intents of my heart in the process of learning to pray and sharing through the express gift of the thoughts being implanted by the mind of the Spirit of grace and supplications through the vent of poetry given to me of which I trust that God for His good pleasure will use to resonate in the hearts of those who seek Him. For 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. ( Hebrews 11:6)
Clothed by the blood of the crucified One,
I come to You Father Who made me Your son.
United to Christ by Your Sovereign election,
Converted, enlightened by Your Spirit's selection.
And thus by Your Word here in prayer come now I
And ask that You quicken, stir my heart to comply
With all You have purposed by Your strength to prevail
Through Christ, who in inapproachable light dwells.
So now I come poor, and yet trust in Your Promise
That You will make rich by Your Spirit upon us.
Great grace please now give to Your saints whom You touch,
The apple of Your eye, whom You love so much.
And cause them to stand in the midst of temptation
And get Yourself glory through their tribulation.
Provide for their needs as the lilies and birds,
For You own the cattle of thousands of herds.
And give them the wisdom to walk in Your light,
And power to put all of Your enemies to flight.
Your Kingdom advance by Your seed that we sow,
By the power of Your Spirit and cause it to grow.
And show forth the power of Your Word to command
To the praise of Your glory, by Christ, Your right hand.
In all that we ask, we submit to Your will,
For our good and Your glory, You work by Your skill.
All praise we now give by Your strength not to falter
Lay all at Your feet and our life on the altar
And thus by Christ' Name, we leave all now to You
For You are our peace and our Great Comfort too!
Michael E. Wood
July 28, 2010
And thus without intent to be a guide in anyway; but, to simply share the intents of my heart in the process of learning to pray and sharing through the express gift of the thoughts being implanted by the mind of the Spirit of grace and supplications through the vent of poetry given to me of which I trust that God for His good pleasure will use to resonate in the hearts of those who seek Him. For 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. ( Hebrews 11:6)
Clothed by the blood of the crucified One,
I come to You Father Who made me Your son.
United to Christ by Your Sovereign election,
Converted, enlightened by Your Spirit's selection.
And thus by Your Word here in prayer come now I
And ask that You quicken, stir my heart to comply
With all You have purposed by Your strength to prevail
Through Christ, who in inapproachable light dwells.
So now I come poor, and yet trust in Your Promise
That You will make rich by Your Spirit upon us.
Great grace please now give to Your saints whom You touch,
The apple of Your eye, whom You love so much.
And cause them to stand in the midst of temptation
And get Yourself glory through their tribulation.
Provide for their needs as the lilies and birds,
For You own the cattle of thousands of herds.
And give them the wisdom to walk in Your light,
And power to put all of Your enemies to flight.
Your Kingdom advance by Your seed that we sow,
By the power of Your Spirit and cause it to grow.
And show forth the power of Your Word to command
To the praise of Your glory, by Christ, Your right hand.
In all that we ask, we submit to Your will,
For our good and Your glory, You work by Your skill.
All praise we now give by Your strength not to falter
Lay all at Your feet and our life on the altar
And thus by Christ' Name, we leave all now to You
For You are our peace and our Great Comfort too!
Michael E. Wood
July 28, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
We Thank You and Praise You for All You will Do!
While perusing through a notebook, of which I normally take notes while listening to the public preaching of the Word of God, I came across this little poem of which I had written on my wedding day to my beloved Dianna. Whereas we would be making a cross country trip to California leaving out at 6:00a.m. the morning after our wedding, the car was already packed including the computer, and thus I am happily reminded that though we may forget, God never forgets the prayers of His people, as we are led by His Spirit to ask in accordance with His revealed will, believing that He will assuredly answer for His Own glory and praise.
What excitement fills my mind as I rejoice in the remembrance of that day, of which has come and gone, and yet the purpose of Almighty God for the exaltation of the Precious Name of Jesus grows with clarity each new passing day, as together we seek first the kingdom of God and His glory, entrusting that He will add everything we have need of to fulfill His purpose for us, just as He has promised, to that end.
This is our prayer of which we trust that we will see fruit in the redemption of souls, and the building up of the body of Christ; not only as a result of the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified on that day, but continually until we see Him in glory.
Oh Father in heaven whose rain You now bring,
The shimmer of light in all heavenly things.
For even amidst our most sweet earthly joy
We plead that in Christ, You show forth all Your glory!
Oh would You be pleased in this day You anointed,
To fill up the vision of all You appointed
To come to the cross, as in Jesus we see,
Your wonder and power with all clarity.
Not one now deserveth because of our sin,
And yet by Your mercy we may enter in--
That we may gain grace to attend every need;
To wait upon You as we follow Your lead.
Oh help us be quick and discerning in all,
As humbly we lay our petitions and fall--
Now prostrate before You and trust in Your will,
To use now our weakness, by Your Spirit to fill--
Up with all confidence by Your Word to provide
The means of all grace, as in Jesus we hide.
These things we now ask for we know You are True
And thank You and praise You for all you will do.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Michael E. Wood
May 18, 2010 (The day of our Wedding - 1:25 am-5:20 am)
What excitement fills my mind as I rejoice in the remembrance of that day, of which has come and gone, and yet the purpose of Almighty God for the exaltation of the Precious Name of Jesus grows with clarity each new passing day, as together we seek first the kingdom of God and His glory, entrusting that He will add everything we have need of to fulfill His purpose for us, just as He has promised, to that end.
This is our prayer of which we trust that we will see fruit in the redemption of souls, and the building up of the body of Christ; not only as a result of the preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified on that day, but continually until we see Him in glory.
Oh Father in heaven whose rain You now bring,
The shimmer of light in all heavenly things.
For even amidst our most sweet earthly joy
We plead that in Christ, You show forth all Your glory!
Oh would You be pleased in this day You anointed,
To fill up the vision of all You appointed
To come to the cross, as in Jesus we see,
Your wonder and power with all clarity.
Not one now deserveth because of our sin,
And yet by Your mercy we may enter in--
That we may gain grace to attend every need;
To wait upon You as we follow Your lead.
Oh help us be quick and discerning in all,
As humbly we lay our petitions and fall--
Now prostrate before You and trust in Your will,
To use now our weakness, by Your Spirit to fill--
Up with all confidence by Your Word to provide
The means of all grace, as in Jesus we hide.
These things we now ask for we know You are True
And thank You and praise You for all you will do.
In Jesus Name, Amen!
Michael E. Wood
May 18, 2010 (The day of our Wedding - 1:25 am-5:20 am)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Be Glory There!
According to 2nd Thessalonians 1:10, one of the great awesome wonders for the followers of Christ upon His return, is the fact that when He comes on that day, He will be glorified "in His saints, and will be marveled at among all who have believed". What a glorious day that will be indeed, to be completely sanctified by the Spirit of God, conformed to the image of Christ, living in the midst of the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, as partakers of the glory which shall be revealed. Hallelujah! What a Savior! To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity! Amen!
Be Glory There!
Lyrics & Music by Michael E. Wood
May Christ by His grace
In our life now impart
His sweet testimony
Rejoicing our heart.
That we for His glory
His cross we shall bear
Til He in us marveled at
Be glory there!
(Chorus)
Be glory there! Be glory there!
Christ in us marveled at
Be glory there!
Be glory there! Be glory there!
Christ in us marveled at
Be glory there!
We pray to this end
That our God will make you,
His calling then worthy
As all He subdues,
With every good work
In His power by faith done
In you through the Name
Of the glorified One!
(Chorus)
Oh be not now shaken
Or faint in your mind.
The grace of our God
All sufficient you'll find,
As He is now in you
And you in Him too;
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Glorified then in you.
(Chorus)
Hold now to Him
Who now holds on to you.
For He is our confidence,
Steadfastness too.
Direct now our hearts
O God by Your sweet love,
Til with Christ in glory
We're seen then above.
(Chorus)
When on that day
As His saints glorified,
Beholding His face
Who was once crucified
We then as He is,
His likeness shall be,
Proclaiming forever
His great majesty!
(Chorus)
Be Glory There!
Lyrics & Music by Michael E. Wood
May Christ by His grace
In our life now impart
His sweet testimony
Rejoicing our heart.
That we for His glory
His cross we shall bear
Til He in us marveled at
Be glory there!
(Chorus)
Be glory there! Be glory there!
Christ in us marveled at
Be glory there!
Be glory there! Be glory there!
Christ in us marveled at
Be glory there!
We pray to this end
That our God will make you,
His calling then worthy
As all He subdues,
With every good work
In His power by faith done
In you through the Name
Of the glorified One!
(Chorus)
Oh be not now shaken
Or faint in your mind.
The grace of our God
All sufficient you'll find,
As He is now in you
And you in Him too;
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Glorified then in you.
(Chorus)
Hold now to Him
Who now holds on to you.
For He is our confidence,
Steadfastness too.
Direct now our hearts
O God by Your sweet love,
Til with Christ in glory
We're seen then above.
(Chorus)
When on that day
As His saints glorified,
Beholding His face
Who was once crucified
We then as He is,
His likeness shall be,
Proclaiming forever
His great majesty!
(Chorus)
His Great Congregation
In Paul's letter to Pastor Titus, addressing the stewardship of God entrusted to the saints, there is a heavy premium placed upon the manner in which we live and do our work both in private and in the public arena as a reflection of the work of grace that has translated us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of light, and thus with much delight in being pleasing to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and having a view to be ready to give an answer to every man that asks of the reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear, we are to be as they, " ...showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." (Titus 2:10) And thus we are to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven!
In everything, may by grace we adorn
The doctrine of God; our Dear Savior.
That through our lives, we may preach Christ--
Who Is our Sweet Source of behavior.
May our primary thought in all that we are
Be for the Kingdom's advancement.
For the glory of God in all that we do
Will show forth His Nature's enhancement.
For just like all men, we were in sin
With no hope or the power to save us,
But Christ gave us life by His sacrifice--
By grace then through faith, we will trust,
As we live in His Spirit, let us walk close to Him,
Whose power brings life from the dead.
Speak truth then in love, as we'll answer above--
May no words be then left then unsaid.
For His Promise is now, and this is the day
In which He may bring forth salvation;
To those who are close, by the Sweet Holy Ghost
To make up His great congregation.
Oh pray then, Oh pray, for this is the means
God chose by His will to conceive.
And He, for His glory, will speak forth His story
And cause men in Him to believe.
Michael E. Wood
July 27, 2010
In everything, may by grace we adorn
The doctrine of God; our Dear Savior.
That through our lives, we may preach Christ--
Who Is our Sweet Source of behavior.
May our primary thought in all that we are
Be for the Kingdom's advancement.
For the glory of God in all that we do
Will show forth His Nature's enhancement.
For just like all men, we were in sin
With no hope or the power to save us,
But Christ gave us life by His sacrifice--
By grace then through faith, we will trust,
As we live in His Spirit, let us walk close to Him,
Whose power brings life from the dead.
Speak truth then in love, as we'll answer above--
May no words be then left then unsaid.
For His Promise is now, and this is the day
In which He may bring forth salvation;
To those who are close, by the Sweet Holy Ghost
To make up His great congregation.
Oh pray then, Oh pray, for this is the means
God chose by His will to conceive.
And He, for His glory, will speak forth His story
And cause men in Him to believe.
Michael E. Wood
July 27, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Romans Project (Part Six & Seven)
Romans 5:12-14 (3:07 p.m. 7/3/10)
Once in Adam we all were dead
In him who sinned, our federal head.
And all from glory short we fell,
Our just dessert would then be hell!
For through one man, death came through sin.
Death spread to all, for all have sinned.
Into this world sin came indeed
When man had not a single need.
For God made Adam pure and perfect,
And yet they* bowed unto the serpent.
Both* doubted, denied God's Word they did,
Transgressed His Word and from Him hid.
His blood now runs through all our veins,
This ill-repute to our God Who reigns.
Though sin's not counted where there is no law,
Sin did indeed bring forth our fall.
And death from Adam to Moses reigned
Though all like Adam sinned not the same.
And he was like one yet to come,
The Son of God, The Righteous One!
*(they and both refer to Adam and Eve, as Genesis 5:1,2 states,"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; Male and female created He them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created")
Romans 5:15-17 (8:16 a.m.-4:09 p.m. 7/26/10)
Oh come let us see the wondrous comparison
In awe of the Greatness of God; His compassion.
For if many have died through the one man's trespass,
Much more we have grace through The One Man now access.
,
To come to the Father, by the free gift of grace,
The light of the glory of God in the face
Of Jesus who brought to us justification,
Exchanged for the judgment which brought condemnation.
For not as one trespass, much more the free gift,
Through the abundance of grace by That One Man uplift,
Though by Adam's one sin we were spiritually dead,
We reign now in life by Christ Jesus our Head!
Oh can we now fathom and value the cross
As all men in one man brought infinite loss.
The free gift of righteousness through Jesus came
As He bore our wrath and the infinite blame.
Oh Father now help us, Your glory, our gain,
To magnify Jesus, for all else is vain.
For the free gift that followed our many trespasses
As the praise of the grace of Your glory surpasses,
The great reign of death by which we were held
Through The One Man Christ Jesus it's grip was dispelled.
The free gift much more than our words have conveyed,
Tis Your pleasure, Oh God, by which we are saved!
Michael E. Wood
Once in Adam we all were dead
In him who sinned, our federal head.
And all from glory short we fell,
Our just dessert would then be hell!
For through one man, death came through sin.
Death spread to all, for all have sinned.
Into this world sin came indeed
When man had not a single need.
For God made Adam pure and perfect,
And yet they* bowed unto the serpent.
Both* doubted, denied God's Word they did,
Transgressed His Word and from Him hid.
His blood now runs through all our veins,
This ill-repute to our God Who reigns.
Though sin's not counted where there is no law,
Sin did indeed bring forth our fall.
And death from Adam to Moses reigned
Though all like Adam sinned not the same.
And he was like one yet to come,
The Son of God, The Righteous One!
*(they and both refer to Adam and Eve, as Genesis 5:1,2 states,"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; Male and female created He them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created")
Romans 5:15-17 (8:16 a.m.-4:09 p.m. 7/26/10)
Oh come let us see the wondrous comparison
In awe of the Greatness of God; His compassion.
For if many have died through the one man's trespass,
Much more we have grace through The One Man now access.
,
To come to the Father, by the free gift of grace,
The light of the glory of God in the face
Of Jesus who brought to us justification,
Exchanged for the judgment which brought condemnation.
For not as one trespass, much more the free gift,
Through the abundance of grace by That One Man uplift,
Though by Adam's one sin we were spiritually dead,
We reign now in life by Christ Jesus our Head!
Oh can we now fathom and value the cross
As all men in one man brought infinite loss.
The free gift of righteousness through Jesus came
As He bore our wrath and the infinite blame.
Oh Father now help us, Your glory, our gain,
To magnify Jesus, for all else is vain.
For the free gift that followed our many trespasses
As the praise of the grace of Your glory surpasses,
The great reign of death by which we were held
Through The One Man Christ Jesus it's grip was dispelled.
The free gift much more than our words have conveyed,
Tis Your pleasure, Oh God, by which we are saved!
Michael E. Wood
Monday, August 2, 2010
Have You Grown Indifferent?
Upon reading a series of messages by Charles Haddon Spurgeon on soul winning and coming to one entitled, "SOUL-SAVING OUR ONE BUSINESS", based upon 1st Corinthians 9:22, "That I might by all means save some", the following poem came to mind, with some preceding thoughts to consider.
With a clear understanding that salvation is of the LORD! That it is He, according to the good pleasure of His will, having chosen us from the foundation of the world, who are the called according to His Own purpose and grace to bring us by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the gospel into a saving relationship with Himself for His Own glory, it is yet incumbent upon us to remember the rock from which we were hewn and the pit from which we were dug. He has called us who make up His church, while we are here on earth, to preach the good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, making disciples of every nation unto the glory of God!
With that in mind, the following are a few excerpts from that message by C. H. Spurgeon:
"The expression used gives great prominence to instrumentality, and this is the wont of scripture."
"It has pleased God to save souls by His people, and therefore He places in them a sacred longing by all means to save some."
"...the Lord has implanted in the heart of all genuine believers a passion for the salvation of souls: in some this is more lively than others."
"...He knows best how to glorify His Own Name. He puts a longing to save others into our souls, that He may get glory by using us, even us who have little fitness for such work except this passion which He has implanted in our breasts."
"Lo, God has given to His church the work of conquering the world, the plucking of brands from the burning, the feeding of His sheep and lambs, and this it is which trains the church to deeds of daring and to nobility of soul."
"Unquestionably the Lord will see that His Own elect are called in due season, but He will do this by the preaching or teaching of the Word."
"...if you have grown indifferent to the conversion of those around you, search out the secret reason, find what is the worm at the root of your piety, and in the Name of Christ seek to be delivered therefrom."
Oh does God's passion in you rise
To lay up souls beyond the skies.
For by His glory He instills
A broken heart to sow the fields,
Of men who are as once you were,
Whose chief desire was to self-serve.
And blinded by their lust and sin
Will not receive God's Son within,
Their hardened hearts with which they're born
With only thoughts of God with scorn.
And yet for us the Savior died
And cried forgive when crucified,
And by His Spirit we were born
To praise Him, Who we once had torn.
It was our sins which held the whip,
And from His back His flesh did rip,
And plunged the spear into the side
Of Christ by Whom we're sanctified.
For by His blood we are made fit
To preach by faith and Holy Writ.
For we know not who are elect
But preach Christ, Who will then perfect
A holy people unto the praise
Of God who from the dead did raise
The church to be His instrument
To preach the truth, that men repent,
And turn them to our God above
And praise Him for His endless love.
Michael E. Wood
July 24, 2010
With a clear understanding that salvation is of the LORD! That it is He, according to the good pleasure of His will, having chosen us from the foundation of the world, who are the called according to His Own purpose and grace to bring us by the power of the Holy Spirit, through the preaching of the gospel into a saving relationship with Himself for His Own glory, it is yet incumbent upon us to remember the rock from which we were hewn and the pit from which we were dug. He has called us who make up His church, while we are here on earth, to preach the good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, making disciples of every nation unto the glory of God!
With that in mind, the following are a few excerpts from that message by C. H. Spurgeon:
"The expression used gives great prominence to instrumentality, and this is the wont of scripture."
"It has pleased God to save souls by His people, and therefore He places in them a sacred longing by all means to save some."
"...the Lord has implanted in the heart of all genuine believers a passion for the salvation of souls: in some this is more lively than others."
"...He knows best how to glorify His Own Name. He puts a longing to save others into our souls, that He may get glory by using us, even us who have little fitness for such work except this passion which He has implanted in our breasts."
"Lo, God has given to His church the work of conquering the world, the plucking of brands from the burning, the feeding of His sheep and lambs, and this it is which trains the church to deeds of daring and to nobility of soul."
"Unquestionably the Lord will see that His Own elect are called in due season, but He will do this by the preaching or teaching of the Word."
"...if you have grown indifferent to the conversion of those around you, search out the secret reason, find what is the worm at the root of your piety, and in the Name of Christ seek to be delivered therefrom."
Oh does God's passion in you rise
To lay up souls beyond the skies.
For by His glory He instills
A broken heart to sow the fields,
Of men who are as once you were,
Whose chief desire was to self-serve.
And blinded by their lust and sin
Will not receive God's Son within,
Their hardened hearts with which they're born
With only thoughts of God with scorn.
And yet for us the Savior died
And cried forgive when crucified,
And by His Spirit we were born
To praise Him, Who we once had torn.
It was our sins which held the whip,
And from His back His flesh did rip,
And plunged the spear into the side
Of Christ by Whom we're sanctified.
For by His blood we are made fit
To preach by faith and Holy Writ.
For we know not who are elect
But preach Christ, Who will then perfect
A holy people unto the praise
Of God who from the dead did raise
The church to be His instrument
To preach the truth, that men repent,
And turn them to our God above
And praise Him for His endless love.
Michael E. Wood
July 24, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Precious Crumbs
The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands. Psalm 138:8
Psalm 145:3,4 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.
Oh what great and precious promises we have through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ both of the life that now is and of the one to come. Insofar as we are enabled to see we have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever, then we are likewise enabled to see the glory of that which He has accomplished in us by grace through faith in the finished work of His cross for the increase of His kingdom beyond our own understanding and the years of our existence on earth. Thus we are to sow the Word of Truth beside all waters by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, as we live, entrusting that God for His Own glory will fulfill His purpose for us whether by life or by death.
Oh do we not by faith preach truth
To souls beyond our years.
For Christ alone, speaks from the throne
To overcome all fears.
And if we be but precious crumbs
Dropped from our Master's table.
Broken and blessed, we shall be used
To speak them loud as Able.
To feed a multitude so numerous
Beyond the sight of eyes,
Immortal with the KING of kings,
Who was and Is our Prize!
And as we follow in His train
With those gone now before,
Our shouts of Hallelujah ring
Til then on Heaven's shore--
We see His face, Whose Sweet Perfume
We smelled while in this life,
Through death rejoice we, through the blood
Of Christ our Sacrifice!
And when as voices from the past
You find us present there,
We bid you from the Smiling Face
Of Christ, Who's gentle care--
Will strengthen you to see by faith
The Wonders of His Love,
As all through life He carries you
With eagles wings above.
Michael E. Wood
July 21, 2010
Psalm 145:3,4 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.
Oh what great and precious promises we have through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ both of the life that now is and of the one to come. Insofar as we are enabled to see we have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever, then we are likewise enabled to see the glory of that which He has accomplished in us by grace through faith in the finished work of His cross for the increase of His kingdom beyond our own understanding and the years of our existence on earth. Thus we are to sow the Word of Truth beside all waters by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, as we live, entrusting that God for His Own glory will fulfill His purpose for us whether by life or by death.
Oh do we not by faith preach truth
To souls beyond our years.
For Christ alone, speaks from the throne
To overcome all fears.
And if we be but precious crumbs
Dropped from our Master's table.
Broken and blessed, we shall be used
To speak them loud as Able.
To feed a multitude so numerous
Beyond the sight of eyes,
Immortal with the KING of kings,
Who was and Is our Prize!
And as we follow in His train
With those gone now before,
Our shouts of Hallelujah ring
Til then on Heaven's shore--
We see His face, Whose Sweet Perfume
We smelled while in this life,
Through death rejoice we, through the blood
Of Christ our Sacrifice!
And when as voices from the past
You find us present there,
We bid you from the Smiling Face
Of Christ, Who's gentle care--
Will strengthen you to see by faith
The Wonders of His Love,
As all through life He carries you
With eagles wings above.
Michael E. Wood
July 21, 2010
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