Through Him Alone!

Michael E. Wood

May 19, 2017    

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  Psalm 25:1-5

 

Pleasing the Father is perhaps the greatest reward for obedience to His commands; made possible through the merit of Christ alone for the glory of God alone.

Oh, let my satisfaction be

To know that You are pleased.

To walk within Your faithful paths

As one who once was seized

From depths of sins dominion

By Your Righteous Holy Arm

Transported by Your Spirit

Where no devil can now harm.

The truth that though I may not be

All You before designed,

I am and shall forever have

A heart in which You shined

The light of glory in the face

Of Jesus Christ, my Lord

Who paid the price of which

No other ever could afford.

Through Him alone we’re qualified

As sons who once bore shame,

Forever to proclaim the praises

Of Your Holy Name!

To Your Praise

Michael E. Wood

April 21, 2017

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 
  Is. 55: 6-11

For those of us whom God has given the capacity to both read and comprehend His Word to some degree, we can easily find ourselves reading passages repeatedly with a disciplinary mindset.  This is not bad but if we are not careful we can very well find that in the habit of reading we are doing just that, reading out of habit rather than seeking to know Him and desiring to see His face in the reading.  While our heavenly Father is pleased to see, us reading His infinite Word, and has promised it will not return void but will accomplish that for which He has sent it, the benefits which we receive through reading are greatly increased as we are empowered by His Spirit to hear His voice through the scriptures and enabled to do what He says to the praise of His glory.

Words of glory, words of grace

Help me through them seek Your face.

Not mere duty but with glee

Brighten more my eyes to see

The wonders now of who You are

My Jesus, My bright Morning Star.

In seeing more, Oh, make me then

Renewed in mind so that within

The change will wholly demonstrate

You save for Your own glory’s sake.

So now in time and end of days

Oh, may my life be to Your praise.

Taste of Heaven

Michael E. Wood
April 8, 2017

And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness.
I Chronicles 29:22

While simply reading several portions of scripture as my normal portion for the day, the thoughts of this poem came to mind. I am fairly certain lingering thoughts from the preaching of Pastor Mark Webb at Beacon Baptist Church for the annual Spring Bible Conference had an impact on the resultant lines and they have a special place in being written as the first poem in our new place of abode in Burlington, N.C.  The preceding text of scripture is aptly appropriate and was read after the poem was written. How Great is our God, to confirm us as we go. To Whom is all the praise.

Oh taste of heaven in my heart
Which You by grace through Christ impart,
And all the glory goes to Thee,
Oh, Father through that matchless tree.
Though simple now these lines profess
The gift of Thine own holiness
Which by Your Spirit, You conform
Each child of Thine to be the norm,
To be like Christ in every thought,
Transformed to live as we are brought
Into Thy kingdom of the light
To show Thy glorious beauty bright.

While reading through Thy Holy Word
These thoughts of joy did thus occur.
Oh, take from us the frothiness
And fill with solid comforts bliss,
That we may honor as we stand
For truth, protected by Thy hand.
And help us see the open doors
By which Your Spirit thus out-pours
The Gospel to a dying land
Till all of Yours before You stand!

Invasion of the Morning Glories

Michael E. Wood

August 16, 2016

When we look at God’s creation do we enjoy it for its own beauty’s sake without considering the God who created it, or what elements of His truth He may convey through His Word to understand it?  Morning Glories blossom and fade in a day. God declares to us by His Spirit through His word, “for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24-25  Put all mankind together in the light of eternity and we are but like the grass of the field that withers and whatever natural beauty we may have is like the flower that falls. The good news for all who look to Christ and live is that He clothes us with the beauty of His righteous robes which fade not away, but rather display His infinite glory forever!

The invasion of the morning glories

Now in full array

Show forth some facets of the beauty

Of our God’s display,

To cause us to delight in Him through

Whom all things were made

And wonder at the privilege

He gives to them He bade.

Oh, Come and worship Him for Whom

Your hearts were made to know

And longingly look in His face

By which we’re made to grow

Into the likeness He knew best

Would bring such joy and peace;

For Jesus only, through the cross

Makes sin and death to cease.

So as we, like the morning glories

Peak and fade so quick,

Oh, Help us Great Physician

Look to You who heals the sick!

The Rest

Michael E. Wood

July 31, 2016

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!   

For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, Psalm 95:1-2, 7

 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Hebrews 1:2

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, Hebrews 3:7

 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Hebrews 4:4-5

Psalm 95 can be divided into two distinct parts. We are given an invitation to worship the LORD in verses 1-7 and then a warning against unbelief in verses 7-11. Whether we come before Him individually or especially as in the context of this Psalm assembling together with the people of God, we are to come joyfully, thankfully, humbly; believing the good news that Christ alone enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit to enter the presence of God to worship Him.

While researching and contemplating the authorship of this Psalm, the following came to mind.

The voice of the Father, the voice of the Son,

The voice of the Spirit, the great three in One;

His Word now declares as He speaks from on high

To humble our hearts and rejoice to draw nigh

To give Him the praise and with thankfulness lift

Our voices as one though we tend now to drift

With our doubts and our fears, but exhorted to seek

His presence, our Savior, who Shepherd’s His sheep.

For we are His people and graze in His land,

The pastures of promise till with Him we stand.

So help us, Oh Father, endure every test

With joy now with Jesus who gives us the rest

Accepting Correction

Michael E. Wood

June 23, 2016

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.     Psalm 94:12-15

There is a brand of so called Christianity in our current culture which promotes everything as positive and encouraging rather than Biblical and balanced. The writer to the Hebrews tells us not to regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. While in the process of being disciplined it seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

The psalmist being carried along by the same Holy Spirit records for our learning, the blessedness of the one whom the LORD disciplines. Though He has various means by which He can bring about discipline in our lives the context of the passage seems to point to God’s use of the wicked to bring about this discipline, and thus displays His Sovereign power and providential use of all things for the good of His people and the praise of His glory.

Let us continually be learning and putting into practice the habit of giving Him thanks in all things while trusting Him with all our hearts, and not leaning on our own understanding.

Do we now build our lives on our comfort and ease

Imagining somehow that God is well pleased?

But then in a moment when things are all changed

Through circumstance, turmoil, and lives rearranged;

We question His goodness, and kindness, and love,

Not seeing that all things are sent from above

To mold us and make us like a Potter the clay.

Are we hardened or nimble for shaping that day?

For He in His mercy sees better than we,

Designing each detail to drive to the knee,

*Accepting correction to know and commune

With Him in His sweetness like finest perfume

Perfecting His praise in a life offered up

Through Jesus who drank of the bitterest cup.

Oh, none can imagine the extent of His pain

That He bore to remove our gross sin and our shame,

But not only that, to present without fault

The church as His bride, one with Him to exalt

The glory and praise God alone has, as due.

Oh, Help us, Dear Father, to magnify You!

*Footnote: In printing this out for a hard copy distribution, Dianna pointed out to me that I had originally used EXCEPTING ( a preposition - used in the sense of apart from or excluding, also used as a conjunction at times) instead of ACCEPTING ( a verb - used in the sense of agree to or receiving something without saying no). The two words sound similar and can be easily confused, but my, what a difference a single word can make. Thus, it seems appropriate to receive correction even in the writing of this poem.

Congratulations!

Michael E. Wood
June 3, 2016



It's that time of year here in the U.S.A., wherein many of us know someone or several that have arrived at a certain level of academic achievement. Some of us who have been down the path of formal education or not, like to encourage others (often family members) in their accomplishments by sending cards and or a small money gift to celebrate. Dianna had a niece who graduated from high school this year and was able to find a couple of cards appropriate for the occasion. I on the other hand, for various reasons didn't find one for a niece who graduated on my side of the family, but The LORD was very gracious in using Dianna to help put together a hand made card and the following came to mind:

 Hi Lauren,

My, how the years have flown
               and you have grown
in stature, and wisdom, and knowledge.

May your aim be true
                in all that you do
As you apply what you know now
                                      in college.

May the LORD be pleased
        to give grace for your needs,
His faithfulness shown from above,
     
His presence to know
      As forward you go
We pray that you walk in His love.

Congratulations!   Michael & Dianna

Use of our Time Aright

Michael E. Wood

April 3, 2016

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Oh, the sweetness that is ours in knowing like Moses that the Lord has been our dwelling place in all generations. He who is from everlasting to everlasting God has pronounced a number of judgments since the fall of mankind in the garden including the return of man to the dust of the ground. Ps. 90:3 While being brought into the understanding of the eternality of God we are likewise brought into the understanding of the brevity of our temporal lives on earth, so that we are inclined by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ alone to ask for our Father’s guidance in using every day He gives to the praise of His most majestic, infinite glory.

Oh, how may we use of our time aright

To show of your goodness and show of Your might?

But with words that You give by Your Spirit of light,

Petitions You hear through Christ Jesus the sight

Of which You behold, ever pleased with Your Son.

Oh, make us like Him as Your people of One,

Chosen to know and be known with the view

To Him be the glory, who makes all anew.

Though Storm Clouds Arise

Michael E. Wood

March 15, 2016

 A few years back I began to notice signs on our highways here in California which read, “Severe Drought, Conserve Water”. This actually opened Gospel opportunities as I would ask individuals, why the signs don’t say “Severe Drought, Pray for Rain”. With the recent El Nino effect in our region we have had a recent abundance of rain, which led to posting the following excerpt.

“Drenched by 'March Miracle,' Northern California reservoirs inch toward capacity

Los Angeles Times Joseph Serna Contact Reporter March 14, 2016 6:38 PM

A series of storms pushed California’s biggest reservoir past its historical average for mid-March this weekend and put the second largest one on track for doing the same by Monday afternoon, officials said.

Together the Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville reservoirs have the capacity to hold more than 8 million acre feet of water and after a wet weekend in Northern California, they were 79% and 70% full, respectively, by Monday morning, according to the state Department of Water Resources.

Some people have referred to the recent series of powerful storms that have dumped rain and snow on the Sierra as the “March Miracle.”

The storms filled Lake Shasta above its average for this time of year and by 4 p.m. Monday; Lake Oroville surpassed its historic average, said DWR spokesman Doug Carlson. Lake Shasta is the state's largest reservoir.

“It’s happened a little quicker than I personally thought,” Carlson said. “It would appear the [seasonal storms] have really achieved what they historically do, which is deliver a lot of rainfall to the mountains.”

Neither reservoir has reached its historical average in nearly three years, data show.

“I don’t know if people here will be dancing in their cubicles when [Oroville] hits the historic average, but it will be the first time it’s done that for the duration of the drought. That is reason to be joyous,” Carlson said.”

Though the outcome in general is an occasion for celebration, there have likewise been a number of ill effects upon some due to mudslides, downed trees, etc. The day in and day out downpours have also had an impact on schedules for some and simple necessities of others. Some also have difficulty in comprehending the fact that the sun is still shining above the clouds.

These are reminders for us as followers of Christ that when we undergo personal storms in our journey through this life, God is always working all things for our good and His infinite glory.

Though storm clouds arise

And veils from our eyes

The beauty that shines from Your face,

Your witness within

Though we feel a chagrin*,

Gives promise; the reign of Your grace,

With abundant supplies

As Your Spirit applies

Beyond all we think or expect.

For more than we hope

With Your glory the scope,

In holiness, work to perfect

Your image in all,

As prostrate we fall;

Your church, to the praise of Your Name.

You are our strength

Oh, show in the length

Your love for the spread of Your Fame!

*chagrin: a feeling of vexation, marked by disappointment or humiliation (or rejection)

In The Darkest Distress

Michael E. Wood

January 21, 2016

O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you.  Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry!  For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength, like one set loose among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand. You have put me in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah Psalm 88:1-7

Spiritual depression is one of the most difficult realities for some to comprehend.  For believers who have never suffered in this manner, they are hard pressed to be of any use to those who suffer if they have never been brought to a place of understanding through personal experience or the pure revelation of God by His Spirit through the Psalmist as displayed in Psalm 88.  I would encourage you to read the Psalm in its entirety and consider the words of the “Prince of Preachers”, from his own personal experience.

 “…. God never placed a Joseph in a pit without drawing him up again to fill a throne: that He never caused a horror of great darkness to fall upon an Abraham without revealing His covenant to him; and never cast a Jonah into the deeps without preparing the means to land him safely on dry land.  Alas, when under deep depression the mind forgets all this, and is only conscious of its unutterable misery; the man sees the lion but not the honey in the carcass, he feels the thorns but he cannot smell the roses which adorn them. He who now feebly expounds these words knows within himself more than he would care or dare to tell of the abysses of inward anguish.  He has sailed round Cape of Storms, and has drifted along by the dreary headlands of despair. He has groaned out with one of old –“My bones are pierced in me in the night season; and my sinews take no rest I go mourning without sun.  Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my soul as the wind.”  Those who know this bitterness by experience will sympathize, but from others it would be idle to expect pity, nor would their pity be worth the having if it could not be obtained.  It is an unspeakable consolation that our Lord Jesus knows this experience, right well, having, with the exception of sin of it, felt it all and more than all in Gethsemane when he was exceeding sorrowful even unto death.” 

C.H Spurgeon, The Treasury of David

No sensible sense of a comfort I feel

As my soul lies in torments by waves as they reel

Upward then plunging to depths never known

In the darkest distress of my spirit to groan.

Oh, when might I know Holy Father the gain

In the light of Your presence relief from this pain?

For when I look up I see only despair,

Then buried much deeper, I question Your care.

And yet I will call and will cry from my heart

While ignorance blinds me from knowing each part

You work with these trials as Your wisdom subdues

Every atom in place and the unseen reviews

Of soul searching time and again endless days

Awaiting the moment You break through the haze.

How long, with The Psalmist, Oh LORD, will I cry?

Yet to You I will to the day that I die!

Fill Mine Eyes

Michael E. Wood

August 25, 2015

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!   Psalm 84:11-12

“Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual, but spiritual mercies for themselves, and not for temporal advantages….. Temporal mercies are chiefly to be desired for the sake of spiritual blessings, and not their own…. The Christian, when praying for temporal things, should desire them for helps in his way and passage to heaven.  I do not say it is unlawful to desire life, health, and other comforts of this life, for the suitableness that these have to our natural affections, and to supply our outward necessities; but to desire them only for this is low and base, it is the mere cry of the creature.”  William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, Volume 2, p.428

The preceding quote may seem out of place in relation to the following prayer, as the heart of this poetic prayer is toward God Himself.  Yet, from past experience as well being in the process of growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it seems that we by nature can easily fall into expecting temporal blessings as a result of our pursuit of knowing God. Yes, He promises to His children that no good thing will He withhold from those that walk uprightly, but we all have need to allow and accept from Him what He defines as good, as He is our chief Good.

Fill mine eyes with Thine own glory

Through Thy Word, O Help me see

More of You for Thine own pleasure;

Draw me by Thy Spirit’s plea.

Not for comfort or for temporal

Gains that profit not, or last:

In beholding more Thy beauty

Of Your image, darkly cast;

Help me run the race with patience,

Joyfully, till home with You,

With Your splendor thus transcending

All redeemed in every hue.

Drawn from Emmanuel's Springs.

Michael E. Wood

July 17, 2015

 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,    Colossians 1:3-6

 … whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   John 4:14

One of the amazing things about the grace of God is that it never ceases to be amazing. Once we have been made anew by the Spirit through the sacrifice of Christ, our transcendent, triune God uses His written Word through the various means of grace which includes preaching, teaching and reading to refresh us with the living waters of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. We are stirred with love both for Him and the brethren, being made to know what that looks like on a practical level with the continued amazement of His grace to the praise of His glory.

We thank You for the power

Of Your Word to stir afresh

Our souls to see the grace

By which You do as one enmesh

Our lives together for the praise

Of Your own glory there

In heaven as on earth You work

Your will in all who share

The nature You have given when

You called us forth to birth.

The new creation joined by Christ

To magnify Your worth.

And as You by Your Spirit

More Your mysteries unfold,

Oh, help us to proclaim the truth

In love and yet as bold

Ambassadors of life and light

Which Your salvation brings

Oh, Father God, through songs of praise

Drawn from Emmanuel's springs.

 Five years have passed,
Oh, how quickly they’ve flown.

As one we give glory to

Him who has owned

Our marriage to show

Himself mighty to save

And sharpen His image

As He did engrave

Our names on the palms

Of His hands at the cross

To count earthly gain

For His name as a loss,

And be found in Him

As together we seek

To know Him and love Him

Who blesseth the meek.

With much more to learn

In a settled embrace,

Oh, help us dear Father

Continue to face

All that You send

By Your sovereign decree

To make us like Jesus

And He alone see

Exalted in glory:

The smile on His face;

The treasure You give

By indelible grace.

Happy Anniversary Wifey!

May 18, 2015

He Poured out His Life (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

January 24-25, 2014; February 10, 2015

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:10-12

With so many changes and challenges over the past year, writing poetry and songs have taken a back seat to other more pressing issues.  Having written several verses but never feeling quite comfortable with the results over a year ago, I was given some time to rehearse, to edit and to add anew verse resulting in the following.

He poured out His life that we might have entry.

The veil of His flesh was broken and torn.

He offered His blood which speaks as the sentry

And He is the door, through which we’re reborn:

Forgiven, restored to enter the presence

Of God as the Father, majestic, with awe!

In Christ we are welcomed, boldly approach Him

And praise the Almighty, who saves from the fall.

He is our peace, our shield, and defender,

Exhausting the wrath, which would have been due.

And none would approach, but grace overcoming

Our sin and our death brought His glory in view.

The eyes of our hearts were opened to see Him,

Who was and He is, and still is to come.

His glory and might revealed in ascending

Up back to the place of which He was from.

He is our wisdom and purifier.

The Father through Him did words to us give.

His promises great, have made us partake of

The nature divine, so through Him we live.

Oh, Father we praise You, rich in the mercies

By which You have loved and made us alive,

Together with Christ and raised to the places

Whereby we may You, alone glorify!

Your Spirit of grace and all supplications,

We ask of You, Father now to supply

Afresh to partake in boldness proclaiming

The blood of the cross through which we draw nigh.

Oh, help us to seek Your prize set before us,

Though weakened by flesh, Your glory pursue,

And trust in the strength that comes in beholding

Your beauty which stirs our affections for You.

And then on that day, when like Christ we will be

Admiring in awe, His glory as seen.

With ears hearing praise beyond that imagined

And hearts made to feel what we never had dreamed.

Forever with angel voices, we’ll praise You.

A new song we’ll sing, Father, Son, Holy Ghost,

Empowered by love that grows, never ending,

Enraptured with Christ, as the Head of the host!

Things Which Seem Distressing

Michael E. Wood

August 20, 2013

 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, Philippians 1:12

How often do many of us as followers of Christ in America lose our focus in the midst of what seemed at the time to be very distressing circumstances only to be rebuked in our spirit when we consider what others are called to endure?

When the apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to write to the church at Philippi, he was in prison awaiting trial. In the midst of not knowing with absolute certainty whether the ensuing days would bring about his demise, he used every opportunity for the advancement of the gospel.                             

 How are you doing out there?

He takes those things which seem distressing

To bring forth a richer blessing,

Turning all out for our good

Though far from us yet understood.

For though we may seem now deterred

By circumstance: His voice is heard,

Proclaiming freedom through our bonds

To hearts He opens and responds

Unto the faithful gospel call

That Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

Forgive me when my love does not

Excel and intercede

With prayers for other saints

Who suffer far and greater needs

Than I can now imagine with

My comforts and my pride

Which yet distract in moments

When I hear not what they cried.

Show mercy and love loyalty

To all you have in view.

For You alone are Judge of all

The hearts You have made new.

And give to them that measure

Of Your grace that You know best

Fits for each occasion

Of Your children seeking rest.

In Christ alone give comfort

And the strength to burdens bear

Exactly as You portioned

To display Your glory there

In the midst of trials

As You make Your presence known

To show them that You love them

And You own them as Your own.

I’m Thankful for My Wife

Michael E. Wood

November 26, 2014

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.  Proverbs 31:29-31

Any true minister of the gospel desires above all else to see God glorified through the transformation of souls to the praise of His glory. We long to see Christ formed by the power of the Spirit in the hearts of those whom we have the privilege to preach to on a regular basis. Over the course of time we find that we rejoice when we see what appears to be fruit formed from the Vine and yet we grieve when we see what appears to be something less than good fruit.

In recent days Dianna and I have had the opportunity to rejoice in some situations while becoming very concerned about another. While praying and searching the scriptures as how to respond to this particular circumstance, Dianna was able to give insight into an area which had not come to my mind and thus provided wisdom with which to go forward in a manner we believe to be pleasing to the Lord. With all the things I have to be thankful for during this season of life the Lord has given me, I am so very thankful for my wife.

I’m thankful for the wisdom

God has given you, my wife,

Which helps to keep me humble

As we journey through this life,

Together for the cause of Christ

That we might make Him known,

With steadfast love and faithfulness

That He to us has shown.

Oh, help us love with patience,

Holy Father, God, and Friend

In such a way that Christ may be

Exalted to this end

That others come to know You

By the Spirit which You gave

To birth them into life as

Christ’s own blood for us was paid

To save us from our sin that

Your own glory may be known

Which raised us to behold

All of Your beauty as Your own. 

Holiness in Which to View

Michael E. Wood

October 10, 2014

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment – hating what He hates – loving what He loves – and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.” (p. 64, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

“… true holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seen, and known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is precious ointment: if it exists, its presence can not be hid.” (p. 69, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

“Habitual lively faith in Christ’s presence and readiness to help is the secret of the Christian soldier fighting successfully.

  It must never be forgotten that faith admits of degrees. All men do not believe alike, and even the same person has his ebbs and flows of faith, and believes more heartily at one time than another.” (p. 91, Holiness, J.C. Ryle)

I am often amazed at the provision of God in meeting us as His children right in the place of our need. Recently I had the privilege of attending one session of a men’s conference focusing on “godliness” at Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, California. I was given the choice of four books to take with me. If you have never read “Holiness” by J.C. Ryle, I would highly recommend it. You can find it here http://www.epbooks.org/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=9781783970162

Oh, help me now, as I pursue

The holiness in which to view

The face of Him who took my place

And died to save me by Your grace.

So freely now I come to You

Who raised me up to walk anew

And ask that You would make me know

Each step that You would have me go.

For as I think and contemplate

Of all You’ve spoken here of late,

It seems I have so far to go

To honor You by how I grow.

And though I know it makes You smile

When I just sit with You awhile

And listen to all You have said.

Oh, Christ, my living, worthy head

Help me show forth by righteous deeds

That others see that grace proceeds

To change us for Your glory now

By each degree until we bow

Before Your throne and give the praise

For all You’ve done through all our days

And see in perfect love, Your face,

Oh God of glory; God of grace.

Jesus Only, Be My Portion

Michael E. Wood

February 20, 2014

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:23-26

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.   Ezekiel 11:19-20

Thankfully God does not save us through the sacrifice of Christ and then leave us to our own devices. He has given to us a new heart by the work of His Spirit and leads us into all truth as revealed through the scriptures. A part of the truth that He teaches us is that though our objective position before Him is secure in Christ, the struggle with remaining sin is a reality we must take responsibility for. We are freely given all things that pertain to life and godliness both for our own personal sanctification and for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Not the heart that You have given

But the flesh that yet remains

Gives me fits and blinds my vision

To the truth that Jesus reigns.

Help me walk then circumspectly

With discernment knowing then

You uphold me by the power

Of Your loving own right hand.

Jesus only, be my portion

Who sustains with confidence

To draw near You, God our Father

And to rest in His defense.

For all judgment You committed

Unto Him, who is my peace

And gives guidance by the Spirit

That Your kingdom may increase.

So with joy we sing Your praises

As we sojourn in the way

Which is best and to You pleasing

Till with You at end of day.

Eye to Eye

Michael E. Wood

January 21, 2014

  For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.  Romans 2:28-29

As the great apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to pen these words, a number of principles were set forth. It is not enough to say a prayer, profess Christianity and live according to the dictates of scripture in an outward display for the praise of men: i.e., baptism, church membership, attendance, etc. There must be the work of the Spirit, translating us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory!

Because of the redemption that is found through the sacrifice of Christ alone we are made to be the children of God, and though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we know that when we see Him; that is Jesus, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Thus we give up ourselves in total dependence upon God’s free grace to empower us to continue in the work of sanctification that we might hear from Him, “Well done, though good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

Oh to hear, “Well done” from You

That day you bring all things to view,

As by Your Spirit, made anew

We bow in awe and reverence to

The One through whom You did supply

The energy to thus rely

On all He is to draw us nigh,

Till then we see Him, eye to eye.

Oh, Happy Day

Michael E. Wood

March 30, 2014

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
  Psalm 66:16

What a wonderful thing it is to be able to look back on the day that we as individuals were brought into a saving relationship with Christ by the Spirit of the living God. As adopted children of God the Father, ransomed from the slave market of sin, we grow in our understanding of what He has done for our souls and rejoice in the opportunities He gives to articulate those truths to others whether it be by spoken word or written word. Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior of the world and especially to those that believe.

In songs of praise I lift my voice

And join with all who have by choice

Cried out to Him who has revealed

Our pardon through the cross was sealed.

Oh, Happy Day, when God the Son

Arose to show what God had done,

As Father when by His decree

The blood of Christ would ransom me.

The Spirit came and opened eyes

By grace through faith to see the Prize

Of Christ, our Hope, to earth was sent;

God’s love in us is now present.

Oh, more than words could ever tell

That God in us has come to dwell,

Whose faithfulness and love shall keep,

His called and chosen, human sheep.

So help us, Father, now to gain

The ground You give to thus proclaim

The glory that in You is found

To be the joy for which we’re bound!