Your Light Shines Through

Michael E. Wood

November 21-24, 2013

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63

 I was pondering over John chapter 6 and landed squarely on verse 63 when the first part of this poem was written.

The sun was beginning to rise over the hill next to our apartment casting its first rays through the shadows. It occurred to me, that there are times when we are distracted from acknowledging the presence of God by virtue of the cares we have in this life. Through Christ the Son, He continues to shine forth His glory through His written word by the power of the Holy Spirit opening our eyes afresh to the fact the He never leaves us or forsakes us. He uses the darkness of the shadows in which we live to see our need to cast all our cares upon Him and to realize that the darkness and the light are both alike to Him and that He is ever present.

Though this poem is imperfect with meter changes etc.; it is a heart cry given to me to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

Oh, by Thy words we live and breathe

And bow to Thee on bended knee.

And by the Father’s first decree

We cast our burdens all on Thee.

I love the way Your light shines through

The darkness that we see

And causes us to yet rejoice

In shadows as we flee

Into Your waiting arms of love

So gentle and so strong

And there You give assurance

You were with us all along.

And though we’re made to feel at times

We may be too subjective.

Our one desire is You are known

And that is our objective.

So judge we not by feeble sense

But trust alone in You,

That by Your word You will transform

Our all to honor You.

And though our flesh may feel the cold

By winds You send our way,

Your Spirit warms our hearts

To live for You another day.

So help us feast upon You

And rejoice in Your pure light,

By the knowledge of Your presence

As Your sons now in Your sight.

Our Father, Ever Dear!

Michael E. Wood

November 15, 2013

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Quite often, my precious wife Dianna will ask me if I am ready to preach just prior to the time I am scheduled to preach. More often than not my answer is, “I never feel ready.” Now while that statement may not be altogether true, I do find that with my current schedule in teaching and preaching several times a week I feel so very inadequate and ill-prepared when I think of the incomprehensible responsibility of proclaiming the Excellencies of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. And yet I am encouraged by the promises God has given through the written word that it is indeed He who makes those whom He has called to this task sufficient as ministers of the good news of the grace He gives from day to day and enables us by His Spirit to be the conduits through which He speaks.

While in the process of preparation for a Bible study at the Terraces in Roseville, California, a flood of passages came to mind to bring emphasis and weight to the particular text we would be looking at for the day. In this process I was given the confidence that these passages came to mind as a free gift of the grace of God and that He would use them to magnify Himself during our time for the day, and then the following words came to mind.

I often marvel at the grace

You give to seek You in the face

Of Christ whose glory we behold

By faith in scripture You unfold

Because He came and bled and died

As You in Him are glorified

While by the Spirit we are changed

Fulfilling all You have arranged

Till all shall see Him then on high

And bow the knee to glorify

Your matchless Name by which You own

All praise and glory on the throne

From which You rule o’er every thing

And shall forever as we sing

New songs of praise with all who fear

You, as our Father, ever dear!

In the Beauty of Your Reign.

Michael E. Wood

November 5, 2013

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

While moving from the great doctrinal statements of the preceding eleven chapters of Romans the apostle Paul appeals to the practical aspects of living out the gospel of which we have received by faith in the finished work of Christ alone. By the grace of God we are what we are, children of God. Though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we are to be continually being transformed from one degree of glory to another through the renewing of our minds by the power of the Spirit and effectually showing forth the excellencies of Him who died that we might live to the praise of His glory.

Oh purify my motives!

May they all come forth from Thee

To magnify by life and word

Thy grace which set me free

From sin and self and captivates

My heart and mind to show

No other one or thing

Comes even close to Thee to know.

For knowing You exceeds

All earthly pleasures or their gain,

As all else pales completely

In the beauty of  Your Reign.

So guide us by Your pleasure

And Your faithfulness in love

To live the words You've spoken

For Your glory shown above.

More of You (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

October 2, 8-9, 2013

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

While this verse speaks particularly of the relationship of John the Baptist with Jesus the Messiah in salvation history, the thought occurred to me that the principle of our ongoing sanctification could also be observed.

As we consider how we might become more usable to God in the advancement of His Kingdom, our focus should be continually brought to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  For we are the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.  So then as we proceed to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it should likewise become more and more evident that it is Christ in us, the hope of glory, who will bring about His purposes by the power of His Spirit to praise of His glorious grace.

Contemplation's never cease

Of how Your kingdom may increase.

But I find so oft, I fall so short

Through life You give on lease.

And what I need in all I say,

And what I need in all I do

Is so much less of what’s of me

And so much more of what’s of You.

More of You to cheer the heart

Which feels the pains of searing loss.

More of You to give the strength

To bear the burdens of the cross.

For the joy You set before all those

Who look to You and live,

You have promised to bring forth

That we may You the glory give.

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Father, help me by Your Spirit

In the cross of Christ to hide,

Knowing You are ever present

As the blood spilled from the side

Of my Savior who has given words

To know Him as my guide,

And to slay my pride remaining

And in Him alone abide.

More of You to give the grace

I need to honor You each day.

More of You to shine the light

Of life to others on the way

To the house You have prepared

For those who look to You and live,

As our Father through the Son

That we may You the glory give.

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So then all You have appointed,

Help us see by Your own hand,

You have brought to know the truth,

By Christ alone we’re made to stand.

May Your faithfulness and love

Give strength in weakness that we feel

As the treasure in these jars of clay

Show others, He is Real!

More of You to give the grace

To walk in true humility.

More of You to change our thoughts

To live a life of purity.

For the glory we behold

As those who look to You and live

Shall be fully consummated

In Your presence then to give.