By Him of Whom We’re From

Michael E. Wood

April 30, 2012

Romans 6:11

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

 ^{Romans 8:13}

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

“Mortification is a continued act, it is a daily dying to sin, ‘I die daily.’ A crucified man will strive and struggle, yet, in the eyes of the law, and in the account of all that see him, he is dead. It is just so with sin.”

Thomas Brooks, “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Device”

What a wonderful and encouraging description we are given through the words of Thomas Brooks concerning the ongoing process of our sanctification. For though we may and do suffer setbacks or momentary declension, we are continually born up by the Holy Spirit given to us through Christ Jesus our Lord, who loved us and gave Himself for us, thereby being not only our guarantee that we shall never return to whence we came but will indeed receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls culminating in that glorification that encompasses all creation to the praise of His glorious grace.

The cross we bear is that of daily dying to our sin

And yet we do rejoice as it is Christ we are to win.

For as we look to Him we find He is the means of grace

And more like Him we shall become while looking in His face.

And as the sirens of this world will vie for our attention

It is the Holy Spirit who will keep us from declension.

Though setbacks are determined by our arrogance and pride,

Our Sovereign God will use these too to show us we have died.

For as we cry for mercy, we still find we are embraced

By Christ Himself who through the cross has our own sins erased.

Lift high therefore the banner and continue in the fight

Through the blood of Jesus who has conquered by His might,

Every foe we find within ourselves and those without

That for His praise we’re carried by His Spirit then to shout,

“He is the God alone in whom we trust o’er all the span

Between the heavens and the earth fulfilling Father’s plan

To manifest His glory even now and more to come

When all creation is renewed by Him of whom we’re from.”

You Need Not Any Thing

Michael E. Wood

March 14, 2012

Psalms 115: 1-3 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Revelation 4:9-11 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

On some occasions God will bring forth words of praise or prayer to Himself in the form of poetry from my heart during the course of a message being preached or taught. When that takes place I usually write down the thoughts which immediately come to mind with the intent to further develop it later, and then return to focusing upon that which is being taught in that present moment. There have been a number of times that that has occurred over the past few years and has resulted in the writing of a poem to completion soon thereafter. On other occasions it has resulted in the thoughts being transferred from whatever was handy in that moment to write upon a card or in a book of which seem to lie dormant in its development, or as in this case it becomes what my precious wife Dianna has labeled as a “spark”.  As Pastor Jeremy Twombley began teaching on a Wednesday night the Attributes of God, we looked at a number of passages from scripture and he made the following statements. “God is self-existent, in need of nothing.” And “God chooses to glorify Himself through creation and man.” As he relied heavily upon instruction given by Wayne Grudem, this little “spark” is likewise an expression of how God uses faithful men to teach faithful men as well as uniting them together for the praise of His glorious grace.

For though You need not any thing of aught that we might do,

You grant to us the privilege to offer up to You

The form of worship that is pleasing by true faith alone,

Centered on the glory of the Lamb upon the throne!

Thank You for the pleasure in expressions that You give

By Your Holy Spirit knitting members then to live

As one body in the temple of Christ crucified

And resurrected by the power in Him glorified.

Amazed In Glory Shared

Michael E. Wood

April 21, 2012

2^nd Thessalonians 1:10-12

"...when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

“All afflictions and troubles that do attend men in a way of righteousness can never rob them of their treasure, of their jewels.”

“The treasures of a saint are the presence of God, the favor of God, union and communion with God, the pardon of sin, the joy of the Spirit, the peace of conscience, which are jewels that none can give but Christ, nor none can take away but Christ.”

“Why, a believer’s treasure is always safe in the hands of Christ: his life is safe, his soul is safe, his grace is safe, his comfort is safe, and his crown is safe in the hand of Christ.”

Quotes above taken from “Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices”, Thomas Brooks*

Remains of doubts, remains of fears,

Remains which bring me more to tears

But these afflictions prompt to rise

And look to You my souls True Prize,

To thank You for this evidence

You gave to me to know and sense

The working of Your Spirit in

My heart to purge me from my sin.

For this You came to earth to do

In every son to make anew.

Oh Christ the One true offering

Who by Your blood gave covering

That we may of Your Spirit drink

Much more than what we know or think

And by Thy will our souls preserved

As daily we of that reserved

Partake of hidden manna for

Thy glory by the cross You bore.

Our minds get dull, our thoughts get weak

Until we hear Your Spirit speak

Through Your unchanging holy Word

And know it is Your voice we heard,

By which You lead us then to praise

Your Name Oh God through passing days

Until we in that place prepared

Will stand amazed in glory shared.

*Puritan Paperbacks, The Banner of Truth Trust

More Today than Yesterday

Michael E. Wood

April 17, 2012

Revelation 22:3-5

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Oh more today than yesterday Oh Lord help me embrace

The grace You give for faith to live and see Your smiling face.

For all I need I find in You who saved me from disgrace

That for Your glory I might live in this sin darkened place.

Oh by Your Mighty Spirit please descend upon my heart

And show to me the things of Christ You’ve chosen to impart

Within my soul that I might know and know more fully yet

The power that You placed in me, when You my soul beget.

As I have these tendencies to be dull and confused

I thank You that the preaching of the cross is what You use

To refresh my spirit and desire true holiness,

The fruit that shows the gift that’s given by Christ’s righteousness.

The light of knowledge of Your glory in the face of Christ

You’ve given that we might be lamps in this world’s darkened night

Until the day that all is day with no more temp’ral sun

And we then dwell within the veil of The Eternal One!

Mother's Day 2012

For Mother's Day this year, Michael decided to go 100% handmade--both the inside and (delightfully) the outside.  I think all mother's can recall how precious those handmade cards were, that their little boy or girl would present to them on special occassions.   And, I think that most mother's would also be delighted to be reminded of those sweet memories by receiving such a card from their 56 year son or daughter.  This year Michael decided to do just that.  He wrote a poem for both his mother and his granmother; we printed it out on card stock; and, he hand-illustrated the front of each card.  

Happy Mother's Day - Mom

I’m praying for you mother;

No distance can prevent

The heartfelt full affection

Which from heaven now is sent

And though this gift be not

Of which one sees or holds in hand,

My trust is in the Living God

Who gives the grace to stand

Amidst the conflicts and the trials

Which from His hand are good

And used of Him to comfort

All His own when understood.

Good it would have been to know

These things when just a child

When you sent me for a switch,

When not so meek and mild.

And every one I’m thankful for

As now I’m looking back,

And know you meant it for my good

That I might stay on track.

So though I can not be with you

On this your special day,

My very best I give for you

When for you I do pray.

Happy Mother's Day Grandma

Another year has come and gone

And now it’s Mothers Day.

I trust to you a smile to bring

In words I have to say,

For though our life is short

And like a breath when it is done,

I’m thankful that in faithfulness

That you the race have run,

And though the pace be slower now

In this part of your story,

The LORD will be your everlasting

Light, your God, your Glory!

So as you talk of ‘wanna-be’s’

While in the chair you sit,

Don’t let anyone now rob you

Of your humor or your wit.

For all will be as it should be

In just a little while

And all will see the face of Him

Who on His children smile!



We Who Once With Wasted Life

Michael E. WoodApril 15, 2012 -  ( A New Song)

Oh we who once with wasted life

And bent toward hell with sin and strife

Were buried in our natures night

And blinded to the glorious sight

That Christ alone in mercy gives

As we are known and know He lives!

Oh give to Him the praise that’s due

With passion, love and honor too!

Immeasurable Gods love was shown

When He for us our sin did own,

For that which was our just dessert

He did for us alone divert

Unto Himself exhausting all,

The wrath of God, due Adams fall.

Oh give to Him the praise that’s due

With passion, love and honor too!

Oh who could fathom or conceive

This plan but God which we believe.

At Cavalry not one was missed

Because His truth and mercy kissed,

Of whom He did appoint by grace

Through faith alone to see His face.

Oh give to Him the praise that’s due

With passion, love and honor too!

And in this confidence we strive

Because By Him we’re made alive

To walk in light of which the lamp

Of His own word reveals the stamp,

He by His Spirit sealed to us

To show Himself all glorious.

Oh give to Him the praise that’s due

With passion, love and honor too!

Oh fill our hearts with this desire

To see Your glory and aspire

To worship You in holiness

And rest in what You lead to bless

To show the work that You have done

Oh, Father by Thy One true Son!

Oh give to Him the praise that’s due

And glory in His Name anew!

Thou Art Enough

Michael E. Wood

April 18, 2012

Luke 10:42
but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

“How I wish that all professing Christians would bring themselves to an examination, and enquire, ‘Do I really believe in the person of my Lord, and accept Him as my Teacher? Do I study the Word of God to learn the truth from Him, and not accept it blindly and at second hand from my minister, or my parents, or the church of the nation, or creed of my family?’ We go to Jesus for teaching, desiring with our hearts to be taught by His book and His Spirit, cheerfully agreeing in all things to shape our faith to His declaration, and our life to His rule. For us, there must be no spiritual law-giver, and no infallible Rabbi, but the Blessed One, whom Magdalene called ‘Rabboni,’ and whom Thomas saluted as, ‘My Lord and my God.’”
C.H. Spurgeon

Upon contemplation of the passage from the gospel according to Luke, and the statement above along with the message in its entirety entitled, “The One Thing Needful”, the following was written.

Oh fill me with eternal stuff

Which shall attest Thou art enough

To all You bring into the room

To smell of Christ, the sweet perfume,

Prepared and given up for You

To manifest Your glory too!

For as You cause us now to sit

And learn of You from holy writ,

The hold of that which is so vain

Doth lose its grip by what we gain

In sweet communion as we rest

In Your own presence, freely blest,

And hear the voice of Christ our King

Who did for us obtain one thing

Which is of greatest need o’er all

To every child of whom You call.