No Longer Standing in the Middle

Michael E. Wood – December 23, 2009

(Chorus 1)
Will you stand in the middle
Or call on His Name?
Will you stand in His Glory
Or stand in your shame?
Do you live for the purpose
That all may proclaim
The matchless Glory of Jesus
Who still is the same.

When Korah stood in the middle
While wearing His name
The Lord God of Heaven
Through Moses proclaimed
A new work would take place
The earth opened wide
Consumed all of Korah’s
Rebellion and pride

Chorus 1

When neither voice or an answer
Was spoken from Baal
Elijah called on the Lord God
Whose fire then there fell
The people knew that the Lord God
Was Lord God alone
And they fell on their faces
As His glory was shown

Chorus 1

For years I walked in indecision
Based in my thoughts
I thought that I knew Him
And yet I was lost
My hope rest in the good works
I thought I had done
But when it came to give Him glory
I found I had none.

Now I know, there's no middle,
Except in the mind.
You can think you are righteous,
And yet be so blind.
Apart from Christ you'll remain there,
Deceived you will be.
Unless the grace of the LORD GOD,
Doth shine down in thee.

(Optional verse)
Now I know, there's no middle,
Except in the mind.
You can think you are righteous,
And yet be so blind.
Apart from grace you'll remain there,
Deceived you will be.
You must repent, and believe that,
Christ's death made you free.

In peace and glory in Jesus
The Rock I now stand
By grace, He pulled me from the pit of
The deep sinking sand
From all the lies I was buying
When I thought I was saved
He raised me up to now walk on
The great Kings Highway

(Chorus 2)
No longer standing in the middle
Because of His Cross
His blood’s interceding
To count all things loss
In sweet assurance
He guides us to know who He is
By grace we stand in the truth
Of the Word He has giv’n

Chorus 1

(Closing)
The matchless glory of Jesus
Who still is the same
Do you bow at His feet
And His mercy proclaim
Do you live for the purpose
That all may proclaim
The matchless glory of Jesus
Who still is the same?

"FOR MY BELOVED DIANNA - SCRAMBLED EGGS AT 4:00 A.M."

Upon awaking around 3:30 a.m—knowing that I had the day off—I fixed myself some scrambled eggs and read a message by Martyn Lloyd-Jones sent to me by my beloved Dianna, entitled, "A Superabundance of Blessing". I began to write out a few words and then went back to bed. When I awoke, around 8:00a.m., the words to this poem continued to come to mind and thus I wrote:

Scrambled eggs at 4:00a.m.,
Lloyd-Jones and me,
We reveled in the glories of
The Christ who set us free.

Thank you my dove for all the love
Showed forth from thee this hour.
His visitation to my heart,
His Spirit came with power.

As confirmations of His love
Rejoiced my heart to see,
The greater fullness of His Gift
He gave to you and me.

Drink deep, He says, unto our souls,
There is no limit here.
Rejoice in our Eternal God,
His absolutes are dear.

Of all we share, not ought compares
To His o'er flowing Spring.
He is our Life! He is our Joy!
He is our Everything!

Oh, Jesus, Lover of our souls,
You cause our hearts to sing.
We thank You for the glories of
The Life that You now bring.

Until we see You face to face,
We ask You for Your power,
To glorify Your Precious Name
With each new passing hour!

Michael E. Wood
December 28, 2009

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)