Happy Anniversary to Us!

May 18, 2017

Over the last seven years it has been my tradition to write a poem for our anniversary.  Though there were some lines that came to mind last night, they never completely gelled.  My good intentions have been disrupted you might say with the business of getting some things done around our new place of abode in preparation for my wifey's arrival here in North Carolina next week.

So, to my surprise and delight she wrote one and we rejoice together in the goodness of God.

Here it is ....

"Sweet Kisses" on my husband's face
Although he's far away
He calls me every morning
before I start my day.

At 5 am, it's 8 am

My phone begins to ring

Three messages delight my heart

A Song he picks to sing

A morning prayer, A Bible verse

The sweetest sounds I've heard

I hold the phone close to my ear

And hang on every word.

I love this man with all my heart

We're very strange, it's true

But seven years ago today

God knew just what to do.

No one really understood

The weirdness that is me

Until I met my Michael

And he let me, be me!

God took two wacky people

Three thousands miles apart

And joined us both together

But, that was just the start!

Sweet Kisses on his handsome face

We're very strange it's true

But strange is good, and weird is fine

When there are two of you!

After seven years of marriage

It gets clearly every day

How blessed I am that this sweet man

Loves me anyway!

So husband, as I close these lines

Although we're far away

Sweet Kisses on your handsome face

I love you more each day!

Happy 7th Anniversary Husband!

Dianna Lynne Wood

The Providential Hand of God

Michael E. Wood

March 13, 2017

While God has shown Himself faithful to do abundantly above all Dianna and I could ask or think, He has likewise revealed wisdom in withholding things in the past to provide for things both in the present and for the future in relation to the temporal things that we have need of.  How much more are we enabled by His Spirit to trust Him for those things we need to be consistent in proclaiming His greatness both in the present and to future generations.

The providential hand of God by all who see is seen,

The glory of His majesty, and on Him wholly lean.

Tis seen by those who do not know and do not understand

His glory is the reason He controls with His own hand

The movements of His people for the gospel to be known

Both in and through and to all those whom Christ has made His own.

Oh, that we might with humble hearts and firm affections go

Where e’er He leads from day to day as soldiers made to grow

In strength to strengthen others for the battles yet to fight

That Christ be magnified to show the power of His might.

For of Him, through Him, to Him may the glory ever be

Expressed through songs of praise to God for all eternity.

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

Happy Birthday Mom

November 23, 2015

Michael E. Wood

Realizing I haven’t posted anything in awhile I thought I would begin the New Year with a recent personal memory poem.

More than a card is a memory shared

To lighten the load of the burdens you've bared

And trust that with joy you will see in the light

Of eternity things that will bring great delight.

Investments of time in family and friends

Some thought forgotten but will with their ends

Show forth the love given over the years

The fruit of true faith as you've sown with your tears.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Thank you for your investment in me,

Michael

 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

Happy Mother's Day

It’s hard to think how quickly

Now the days just seem to fly,

With thoughts of you in moments

For your good as they pass by.

And none can stop the clock

As it keeps ticking on its way

But thankfulness springs forth

As we await a brighter day

When all of life’s investments

Will be clearly seen to show

That you did what you thought

Was best to help us children grow

Into the men and women that

You hoped we would become.

May love proceed from all,

Expressed by this your oldest son.

We Love You MOM!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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.

Happy Anniversary, ‘Wifey’!

May 18, 2014

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3

Four years now and nothing I’d change

As God has seen fit our life to arrange

As a platform for love which comes from the heart

Of Christ who is pure and has made us a part

Of His body as one o’er which He does sing

And walks in our midst by grace now to bring

The honor that’s due, Oh, Father above.

There’s no One like You that together we love.

I Love You Dianna Lynne Wood!!!!

Thank you for walking together with me,

To the praise of His glory,

Michael

The Sure Foundation

Michael E. Wood

May 12, 2014

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:1-2

“Now this is surely a message for us at the present time. The first thing we have to do is make certain of the foundations. We need not to labour this point. We all must be ready to agree that the main effect of the various movements in the realm of thought and in the realm of religion (alas!) during the last hundred years has been to query and to question the foundation. The trouble still in the church is a matter of foundations.” October 6, 1946, from a message preached by DM Lloyd Jones in Westminster Chapel, London.

While contemplating thoughts that came to mind upon beginning a new book of expository sermons on 2 Peter I was reminded that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day.

The gospel call is what I know

And need to hear most, every day.

For Jesus set His love within

My heart, to speak along the way.

The narrow gate, He brought me in

By blessed holy union

And through His blood I now enjoy

The Father’s sweet communion.

The Holy Spirit leadeth me

And shows to me my teachers,

Confirming truth by scriptures

As they’re taught by His own preachers

Appointed and anointed

To instruct by wisdom given

To live each day by faith in Him

Who in me is now livin’.

How subtly our enemy

Attacks the sure foundation

On which we have been built

Upon in each new generation.

But Christ who has accomplished

Our salvation to the end

Will glorify Himself

In each new battle that we win.

So courage take, by righteousness

Through Christ within the veil

As we as bones and flesh of His

Are strengthened to prevail

O’er all that is now present

In this worldly evil haze

Till all the glory of His light

Shines through all of our days.

His Sheep

Michael E. Wood
April 20, 2014


“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19

It appears that our life is getting back to some similitude of being normal once again. We still have a few things which would be good to have finished in our little humble abode, like having air conditioners installed before the Summer heat comes, but living here in Rancho Cordova has become a reality.

As mentioned in the previous post, Dianna has been writing about the events of our transition and found another sight to post the transformation process of the 1964 mobile home we have moved into. http://www.hometalk.com/ Most of the response has been very positive and encouraging to others to venture out in do it yourself projects for home improvement, but one individual was put off with the fact that "Christ is in every room" and used the word sheep as a derogatory description in their response. While thinking on these things the following came to mind.

His sheep indeed we humans are
Who know the sweetest voice
Has called us each by name to know
Our Shepherd made the choice
To give His life as payment
For our great offence toward God
And suffered in our place when struck
With judgments mighty rod.

And as He rose victoriously
O'er sin and death and hell,
His righteousness provided us
With entry through the veil,
To praise the One who is our King
With joy, no words describe,
Who ransomed all the church
From every nation, tongue, and tribe.

Fulfilled Then in Your Presence

Michael E. Wood

February 21 & March 16, 2014

 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

 1 John 3:2

Having been much distracted over the past month and a half with researching, purchasing, and now in the process of remodeling an older mobile home (Dianna has written more of the details on http://thewoodssecretgarden.blogspot.com/); it seems that time for writing on this blog has become less of a priority for a season. With maintaining “the old school method” of writing out poetry and songs by hand and then transferring everything to the blog with introductory remarks requires more time than one might think. I smile as I look back when going through a season of writing profusely and some one remarked, “You must have a whole lot of time on your hands”. Well now I can more readily appreciate what they were saying. It’s not the writing of the poems but the contemplation and writing of the introductions that seem to take up the most time.

Sometimes I get the sense that though my writing comes from the heart that God has and is transforming in me, the intent of the writing is meant more for the benefit of others..

Oh may my final breath

When that day comes be to Your praise

With joyful expectation

That this body You will raise.

Resulting in the glory

That belongs alone to You

When Christ in all His beauty

Is than seen in every hue

Of transformation that takes place

Begun while here on earth

As by the sacrifice of Christ

You gave me second birth.

Fulfilled then in Your presence

Holy Father, as Your son;

Rejoicing in the Spirit,

Who through Christ

Has made us one.

BLESSED BE THE NAME! (Shorter Version)

Michael E. Wood

June 21, 2011

Upon the completion of the new song as mentioned in the previous post I was asked if I could make a shorter version, and the following was the end result.

Holy Father, God of all,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

So Mighty, Powerful,

Words ne’er can proclaim.

You are Awesome

And so Beautiful!

(Chorus)

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

God Your mercy came to us

In form of a man.

In love You did the work,

The cross by Your hand.

Christ was slain;

With Him we are raised,

(Chorus)

Holy Spirit, Comforter,

God’s Presence within.

We ask You expectantly,

Your help to the end.

In our weakness,

Glorify the Lamb!

(Chorus)

BLESSED BE THE NAME! (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

March 22- April 19, 2011

I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, Psalm 144:9

Several months ago I was given a book by our good friend Denise McCool entitled, "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J Morgan. I have found this book to be a great encouragement to my soul as it relates the stories behind 150 of the world's greatest hymns. Each account is different in it's own way, but usually gives some background about both the writers of the lyrics and that of the authors of the music if it was known. In many cases the songs or hymns did not become well known for many years and in some instances not until after the death of the author.

In my own journey as it relates to writing songs and hymns over the last few years, I have not found what might be deemed by many as success as men count success. Whereas we all tend to be bent toward instant gratification I would have to admit that there have been moments when I have felt discouraged in the process. And yet I know that my Redeemer lives. He is Sovereign over the affairs of men and works all things together for our good and His infinite glory. Christ is the head of the church and He has given gifts to men to show forth His glory.

In March of 2011 I was asked to see if I could write some lyrics for a tune of which Paul Vossen of Immanuel Baptist Church in Sacramento, California had devised with a guitar. With much prayer I set out to discover what the Lord would give me for this occasion as this was something that I had never attempted to do before. While Paul was recording the music to send via internet, he closed the session with singing a few words of praise that were not intended to be a part of the song, nevertheless they stuck in my mind and became the bulk of the chorus posted after each verse.

As with everything we are and everything we have, we commend all to the grace of God to use as He sees fit.

Holy Father, God of all,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

So Mighty, Powerful,

Words ne’er can proclaim.

You are Awesome

And so Beautiful!

Greater than

All our minds can think,

Or our hearts perceive,

Yet Your grace You give us,

And You cause to believe

Your love, everlasting love

Poured into our hearts.

Your Spirit now given us,

Shall never depart.

Though we

Are so wretched

Yet You gave us Your Son!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

God Your mercy came to us

In form of a man.

In love You did the work,

The cross by Your hand.

Humble servant,

Christ was slain.

With Him we are raised,

For Your glory LORD!

And we offer praise!

Fruit of lips give thanks

To Your glorious Name!

And now we will worship You,

With reverence and awe.

With hearts in humility,

Now prostrate we fall.

For alone

You are worthy

Of all glory and might!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

Holy Spirit, Comforter,

God’s Presence within.

We ask You expectantly,

Your help to the end.

In our weakness,

Glorify the Lamb!

For we

Dare not trust ourselves,

But will glory in

Our infirmities,

Christ alone seek to win.

Teacher of God’s Holy Word, *

We bid You to come.

Breathe life through the light of men,

Christ Jesus, the Son!

For alone,

He is worthy

Of all glory and praise!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

* (Options)

(1)You are now our guide and strength,

(2)You are now our guarantee,

     We bid You to come.

     Give life through the light of men,

     Christ Jesus, the Son

Through Disappointments

Michael E. Wood

January 28, 2014

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30

What a wonderful thing it is to see God at work in the midst of our circumstances as He carries us to heights perhaps never dreamed of in this life. And yet it is perhaps in the midst of some of our greatest disappointments in which we are not given to see in our own time continuum what it is that He is doing, that His most gracious and wonderful work is taking place. He is not bound by time and all of His purposes for us as His children may not always be apparent. Therefore, let us trust in the LORD with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding, acknowledging Him in all our ways knowing that He will direct our paths for our good and His infinite glory!

Through disappointments God doth reach

Into the soul that He may teach

That He in faithfulness will share

Our every burden and every care.

Though transcendent beyond all thought

His immanence through Christ Jesus brought

The knowledge of His presence to

Our hearts as children; not a few.

While in Him as a new creation

Each in our own generation

Are given to see beyond our time

He was before and yet behind

Each circumstance to bring about

His glory which we sing and shout

To praise Him as our strength and song

With joy that to Him we belong.

And naught of earth shall ever compare

With Him whose glory we will share.

Hear my cry, O God (Additional Verses)

Michael E. Wood

January 18, 2014

 On October 12, 2011 I was given the grace to write a new song in the midst of undergoing a time of testing entitled, “Hear My Cry, O God”. The song begins with the words coming from Psalm 61:1-3. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

After having sung the song on numerous occasions during various services I have been entrusted with, I was contemplating singing it again. As I came to the end of the third verse, new words came to mind that I did not write immediately and were therefore lost in those moments. While thinking of these things at a later time and singing afresh to the Lord, I was given two additional verses which can be used together with the original or may be used as alternatives for a fourth verse.

Alternative #1

Till that day does come

With one voice as one

We praise You God and Father of the Son.

Our Lord Jesus Christ

Who is Holy thrice,

We wait upon You, counting the great price.

That was paid in full

On the cross that day.

Showing all the world

Your great love displayed.

Him, You did condemn,

Rod of Jesse’s stem,

To save all those who put their trust in Him.

Alternative #2

Till that day does come

May our sentence from

Your presence, conveyed by Thine own Holy One

Give to us as meek

Waiting at Your feet

Thine own words to fill the soul indeed with meat;

Which gives strength to all

Who before You fall

As we hear Your call

And worship You in awe.

Knowing You are here

Counting every tear

That flows from hearts as broken by Your fear.

Words from the Original Song:

Hear my cry, O God,

Listen to my prayer;

From the end of the earth I call to Thee.

When my heart is faint

To the rock lead me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

For when arrows fly

I will run to You

And I’ll stand by faith

For Your glory too.

You alone are God

And my refuge been

And through Christ You covered all my sin.

You have given me

The heritage

Of all those who fear Your Name.

For the blood of Christ

Removes my shame

That Your glory may be all my aim.

For the King enthroned

Now before Your face

Has redeemed me by

Such amazing grace

That my heart cannot

Help but sing to You

And forever give all the praises due.

All Your promises

Are fulfilled O God,

In Christ. We now can freely worship Thee.

He, the curse for us

When upon the tree

As He paid sins debt to set the captives free

That were written in

Your eternal book

As the Lamb was slain;

You forever look

With a smile upon

All in Him as one

Who will reign forever in the kingdom come.

Brought Afresh to See the Wounds

Michael E. Wood

January 7, 2014

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

Ephesians 2:1-3

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13

It is good to be reminded from time to time of the condition we were in by nature; separated from Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world. This truth, by the Spirit, gives us a far greater appreciation for the abundance of grace that has been lavished upon us in Christ Jesus.

There are occasions that I am brought to tears by the remembrance of consequences of past sins, but I am so thankful that we have a God and Father who has not left us to ourselves and has given us great and precious promises that He will indeed work all things together for our good and His infinite glory. In Christ, we have become a new creation. We have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Therefore we can find encouragement to forget those things which are behind and reach forth to those things which are before us; pressing toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

About the time I have in mind

I've made some progress here

I’m brought to see afresh the wounds

I caused through veil of tears.

And though my great offenses

Were indeed against some men,

It’s You, Oh God, my Father

Who alone I did offend.

Psalm 51:3-4

I thank You for forgiveness which

You wrought through Your own Son

And ask that You enable me

To magnify the One

To whom I owe allegiance

For the mercy You have shown

As through Him I am pardoned

And released to be Your own.

So help me to obey You

By forgetting what is past

And focus on eternal things

You give which ever last.

And now with time redeemed

Oh help me use it for Your glory

To show and tell the greatness

Of my Savior’s wondrous story.

Ephesians 5:8-10, 15

That Which Toucheth You

Michael E. Wood

December 30, 2013

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Ephesians 5:29-31

For the holidays the city had given Dianna six days off, so she decided to take an additional four days which would give her two full weeks before returning to work. This would allow her to come with me to the various facilities of which the Lord has opened opportunities for ministering the Word and allow her to help finish a number of projects that have been on the back burner for some time.

Shortly into this time she developed severe back pains. By doing a little research she determined that it was sciatica. Providentially she had also decided to go on a new diet, of which during her research found to be helpful for treatment for the sciatic condition. Her pain subsided over the course of the two weeks, but she felt discouraged over not being able to do all the things she had planned.

In many ways I felt helpless to be much comfort and sometimes selfish for my own perceived loses during this time and yet these are the thoughts which came to mind to bring some level of comfort to my beloved wife.

Upon reading this to her, I said, “You can always tell when I have been hanging out with the Puritans by the way I write can’t you?”

Perhaps thy God will come

And take the burden from thy breast

Or stoke the fires, refining faith

Like gold to stand the test

To prove by His own presence

He indeed knew what was best

To make thee like Himself in

Thine own heart’s true treasure chest.

For that which trills the soul

Amidst a bitter providence

Is the sweetness God brings forth

To show His love and faithfulness

In all He has appointed

To produce the fruit remaining

When the winter turns to spring

And we with Him rejoice in gleaning

From the benefits received

Which He alone could e’er produce

Through this trial He brought us through

To make us meet for His own use.

For you see now that which toucheth you

Now also toucheth me.

So together let us bold approach

God’s only mercy tree.

Which provideth all the healing

For the nations from its leaves

And has given us true shelter

By His righteousness which cleaves

To each soul of which He’s humbled

By His grace to thus proclaim

He alone is God eternal

And His glory is our aim!

This Time of Year

Michael E. Wood

December 31, 2013

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32

Dianna and I began a tradition of audibly reading the Bible through together which actually started before we were married.  Today will mark the third year we have chosen to use “The Discipleship Journal Plan”.  It is designed for consecutive reading in four different parts of the Bible for each day and allows for one day of rest per week.  We have found that it is an easy way to be disciplined in reading through without necessarily following the plan punctiliously.  We have likewise found that since we do not know what a day may bring forth we can skip some days, make up for them on other days, and still accomplish the desired goal of reading the Bible through in a year in addition to personal readings individually.  Using this particular method has thus far allowed us to complete the desired goal and finish out the year reading our own selection of additional passages.

With several good motivations our desire was to close out the year reading through the Gospel of Luke once again. Though we did not finish together by December 31, enough progress was made to bring forth additional thanksgiving to Jesus our Lord, the Son of Man.

Thank You for this time of year

To ponder now anew

Things You did while You were here

To show that which is true

Of which we as Your children

Celebrate rejoicing,

Looking to that one day when

All creation voicing

Praise and honor and glory

As God’s sons are revealed

Consummating the story

How by Your stripes we’re healed.

Your Glory and Power and Worth!

Michael E. Wood

December 29, 2013

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:32-34 (ESV)

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1 Peter 1:17-19 (KJV)

While in the process of preparing for ministry at Atria I had stopped to read a portion of scripture from Luke 9-12 to Dianna. A few moments later while pondering the passages for the upcoming message about “Making the Best Use of Your Time”; these words came to mind as a prayer in the preparation.

Oh LORD, You have saved me

And made me Your own.

Oh, send the supply

Of Your grace from the throne

Of mercy, refreshing

And waking my heart

Through which You may use

For Your truth to impart

To those You prepare

As the ground for the seed

And water them often

As You see each need.

And lead in the way

As You deem for each best

To strengthen by faith

Till we enter the rest

Which comes at the end

Of our sojourn on earth

To show forth Your glory

And power and worth!