Who Loved Us More!

Oh Father, God; we ask You now,
Help us to look to Your Word and plow
Into the depths of Your Love's Strong Cord
In Christ alone, and mercy stored;

For those You’ve called unto Yourself,
Released from sin and brought to health,
And for Your glory, You've made us free,
To live a life of purity.

O, Spirit come; help us partake,
Of grace anew, and sin forsake
With sharp rebukes, if need might call,
If we but at Your feet might fall.

Rejoicing in Your righteousness,
Partakers of Your holiness.
Our eyes affixed on Heaven's shore,
In Christ alone, WHO LOVED US MORE!

Michael E. Wood
December 26, 2009

Merry Christmas To All

Do You Know this Christmas Child?

God incarnate has come to earth,
To save mankind from wrath and dearth.
Oh, do you know this Christmas Child;
Born of the virgin, so meek and mild?

Of all the gifts come down to man,
None other could breach the broken span—
Made by our sin in which we're born;
Nailed to the cross all stripped and torn.

For love He came, for love He died—
To save us from our sin and pride.
The Son of God, Yeah, Son of man;
Fulfilled the law, fulfilled God's plan.

And all of life is but a waste,
Apart from Christ's redeeming grace.
Most wondrous gift sent from above;
Come down to man, Redeeming love!

Oh, that you may truly know the personal
intimacy of His love toward you this Christmas.

Michael E. Wood
December 19, 2009

No Room in the Inn

Having been “religious” yet lost and a hypocrite of the most degrading and rank order; this song is a declaration of the love of God to my soul and to all who call upon Him in truth and especially as we are mindful of that which took place in Bethlehem.

No room in the Inn and no room in your heart;
The darkness you see is all on your part.
This Jesus you see is a stranger to you—
Only Christ, for His Glory, can make all things new.

CHORUS
Oh, wonder of wonders, we're made to behold,
With joy that's unspeakable, glory untold.
You transcend our minds, and You cause us to see,
Partakers of holiness, grace us to be,
Transported to the fullness of Your sovereign love,
Now captives of Jesus, Who reigns from above.

No wrappings, or tinsel, or lights all aglow;
Nor presents, or gifts, or friends you may know
Can give you the joy that God only gives
To those, in submission, repent from their sins.

(Chorus)

Your vileness and pride, it will keep you from this
And apart from free grace you will never know bliss
You say, I’m not loving, you say I’m not kind
Yet apart from His mercy, I too would be blind

(Chorus)

In darkness I wandered apart from His grace;
Until He, in love, revealed me His face.
Not ought could I give Him, Not ought could I bring,
And yet through His Cross His glory I sing.

Oh, wonder of wonders, we're made to behold,
With joy that's unspeakable, glory untold.
You transcend our minds, and You cause us to see,
Partakers of holiness, grace us to be,
Transported to the fullness of Your sovereign love,
Now captives of Jesus, Who reigns from above.

Michael E. Wood
December 8, 2009

Building up By Breaking Down (New Version)

“He delivereth the poor in his affliction , and openeth their ears in oppression” Job 36:15

How oft we seek to glory in
The things that we would do,
When God, in mercy, doth afflict
To give a heart that's true

In moments when we fail to see
In things He sends our way
The face of Him Who lovingly sends
Fire to save the day.

CHORUS
He buildeth up by breaking down,
Both pride and sin within.
Our faith refined to make Him known,
It's Christ we are to win.
And worship Him in holiness;
Give glory to His Name--
His voice will speak majestically,
In Christ we are to win .
(Ps. 29:1,2,4)

Sore troubled minds, Oh look to Him
Whose faithfulness is sure
And glory in the cross you bare,
His gift to make you pure.

Rejoice with Him Oh, righteous one,
Declared before the throne,
By blood and Spirit come to Him,
Who took you for His own.

(Chorus)

In grateful praise and thankfulness
Exalt His Name on high,
Restore to Him His rightful place,
In humbleness draw nigh.

Within, without, His chastening hand
Doth bring us to our knees,
And give to us the grace we need,
That pleasing we shall be.

(Chorus)

How beautiful His precious smile,
To us He doth bestow;
To fix our hope in Him alone,
As homeward we will go

That we may apprehend from Him,
Who apprehended us;
The Prize of Jesus Christ Himself,
All else we count but dust.

Conform us to Thy image,
For Thy own Name sake alone;
That all may come to know that you
Are God, and God alone.

He buildeth up by breaking down,
Both pride and sin within.
Our faith refined to make Him known,
It's Christ we are to win.
And worship Him in holiness;
Give glory to His Name--
His voice will speak majestically,
In Christ we are to win .

(1st Pet. 1:3-9; Phil. 3:7-14)

Michael E. Wood
(6-10-09 8:43a.m. & 11-2009 - new verse added)

The Great Exchange

Note: This started out as a poem and has now become a song. The last three versus where added and it is sung to the same tune as "Building up by Breaking Down".

The day of Your eternal praise
Now fixed upon my eyes;
My flesh now trembles in Your sight
Until I seize the prize.

You need not anything from me
That I might think to offer.
No merit of my own have I
From which that You might proffer.

No words can tell the privilege
Of which I now receive,
Through mercy and the blood of Christ—
Forgiveness to believe.

O’ matchless wonder of my heart,
Concealed before Thy Throne;
The great exchange of all my sins,
By Christ, and Christ alone.

O’ help me to proclaim Your grace;
Your spirit now empowers—
Your Word to sow within all hearts
Until You bring the showers.

Your bud bring forth and cause to bloom;
Your fruit to bless Your name—
The joyful sound of thankful hearts
Forever will proclaim.

All glory, laud and praise to You—
In matchless, splendor, wonder;
O’ for Thyself, we ask of You,
As sons beyond the thunder.

Conform us to Thy Image
For Thy Own Name sake alone.
That all may come to know that You
Are God, and God alone!

You build us up by breaking down
Both pride and sin within.
Our faith refined to make You known
It's Christ we are to win.

And worship You in holiness,
Give glory to Your Name.
Your voice will speak majestically,
In Christ we are to win!

Michael E. Wood
November 20, 2009

FOR HIS GLORY LIVE!

(Ps.79:9 "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for Thy Name's sake".)

In all the seasons of our life,
Our Vict'ry is secure.
In Him Who took us from the womb
To make us holy, pure.

The power of His Word infused;
The righteousness of Christ,
His blood and Spirit intercedes,
And brings an end to strife.

He is our Peace, and gives us peace
To bow before His throne—
The remnants of our fainting flesh
Now melt through Him alone.

His fervent Spirit we now have,
Because He chose to give;
To magnify His Precious Name
And for His glory Live.

Michael E. Wood
Morning of 11-16-09