While meditating on Psalm 95:1-7, "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 the Lord is a great God,and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth;the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it,and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God,and we are the people of his pasture,and the sheep of his hand."
Weak Feeble Hands
Oh, Father of mercy and Father of lights,
We thank You for faith, to come in Your sight.
You are our ROCK and You are our SHIELD,
You are our SOVEREIGN to Whom we now yield,
And though our minds flitter from this and from that,
You draw us now closer for more than a chat.
The depths of our heart You do search with Your Word,
And conform us to Christ through the Word we have heard.
From the heights of Your mountains and all of Your sea,
You give us the pleasure to now bow the knee.
We are Your people and the sheep of Your Hand,
Oh, bring us to Jesus all over this land.
Not ought do You need from our weak feeble hands,
And yet You delight in our most simple strands.
Proclaiming Your praises as onward we go,
As vessels of mercy, through whom You do sow,
The gospel of Christ by Your Spirit and blood,
And raise up the dead, by Your glory to bud,
Reflecting the power of Your Great Sovereign Love,
Redeeming Your chosen by Your grace from above.
Michael E. Wood
February 19, 2010
What True Prayer Is
"Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God." John Bunyon
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Helpless, Hopeless Child of Man
Having finished the book by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, "God's Way Not Ours", and upon remembering my own once helpless and hopeless estate apart from the grace of God, these words came to mind. Though they may be somewhat simple in thought, my hope is in the Lord, Who gave Himself for me, that He will use them to bring glory to Himself, and to provoke the thoughts of others as they consider our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory both now and forevermore. Amen!
Oh, helpless, hopeless child of man,
You cannot stand the laws demand.
Though gifted by a common grace,
With it you cannot sin erase.
Your speech is but a noisy gong,
Your praise is but an empty song.
Though faith you have and mountains move,
Not ought but love will ever prove,
The glories of our God and King,
Who came to earth, Whose praise we sing.
Oh, what love You showed to man,
To condescend, fulfill the plan,
Set forth by our eternal God,
Yet to this world You seem so odd,
That to a cross You then did go,
Provide the way that we may know,
Forgiveness and the joy You bring,
As nothing else of which we cling.
Your blood has freed us from our plight,
And raised us from our nature's night.
To honor You in all we do,
And give to You the glory due!
Michael E. Wood
February 17, 2010
Oh, helpless, hopeless child of man,
You cannot stand the laws demand.
Though gifted by a common grace,
With it you cannot sin erase.
Your speech is but a noisy gong,
Your praise is but an empty song.
Though faith you have and mountains move,
Not ought but love will ever prove,
The glories of our God and King,
Who came to earth, Whose praise we sing.
Oh, what love You showed to man,
To condescend, fulfill the plan,
Set forth by our eternal God,
Yet to this world You seem so odd,
That to a cross You then did go,
Provide the way that we may know,
Forgiveness and the joy You bring,
As nothing else of which we cling.
Your blood has freed us from our plight,
And raised us from our nature's night.
To honor You in all we do,
And give to You the glory due!
Michael E. Wood
February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
A Thrice Holy God
Upon reading yet another chapter in, "God's Way Not Ours", by D. Martyn Lloyd Jones and thinking upon my own former thoughts intermixed with things I have heard from others; along with a burden for those with whom I am presently employed, these words came to mind.
Have we language, that we did learn,
And yet have hearts one day will burn,
All full of pride and sin within,
Without, our works are seen to men?
Have we thoughts to fool you God,
With ignorance with which we're shod,
And walk on paths so broad and wide,
And think to You our sin we hide?
Confess our need? Why, we know best,
And in the end we'll stand the test.
Just look at us, for after all,
We've come so far since Adam's fall.
For surely God now understands,
As we now follow His Ten Commands.
And though He sees our imperfection,
Does He not know our good direction?
Friend, if you have any thought that there is any thing good within yourself at all apart from the grace of God which comes by faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, then you are a Fool! For the only thing that will satisfy the Thrice Holy God, before Whom you will stand one day is JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!
Michael E. Wood 02-16-2010
Have we language, that we did learn,
And yet have hearts one day will burn,
All full of pride and sin within,
Without, our works are seen to men?
Have we thoughts to fool you God,
With ignorance with which we're shod,
And walk on paths so broad and wide,
And think to You our sin we hide?
Confess our need? Why, we know best,
And in the end we'll stand the test.
Just look at us, for after all,
We've come so far since Adam's fall.
For surely God now understands,
As we now follow His Ten Commands.
And though He sees our imperfection,
Does He not know our good direction?
Friend, if you have any thought that there is any thing good within yourself at all apart from the grace of God which comes by faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone, then you are a Fool! For the only thing that will satisfy the Thrice Holy God, before Whom you will stand one day is JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!
Michael E. Wood 02-16-2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
A Tribute to Beacon Baptist Church
As I was awakened around 5:00 a.m. this morning, after about four and a half hours sleep, and as I read a little and began to contemplate the gracious words of Pastor Barkman and the time I have been given here as a part of the Beacon Baptist Church, these words came to my mind, and as tears filled my eyes, I still find it hard to comprehend His goodness and mercy toward me:
What We Could Never Do
The privilege afforded me,
With words I cannot tell—
Engaged with those born from above;
Full hearts that now doth swell—
To magnify the Precious Name,
Which conquered death and hell,
Delighting in the One we know,
Who has done all things well.
Emmanuel came down to us
And through the veil of tears;
Received the cup, and bore the wrath,
And overcame our fears—
Which would have been because of sin
The loss of all our years,
And yet for joy, He cried forgive
Into the Father's ears.
No further explanation give
For why He'd choose to favor
Such wretched ones as we, But LOVE,
As now we're made the savor—
Of life to life to all He chose,
Our God, the great Engraver
Upon our hearts and minds to make
His heritage the braver—
To ask of Him great things, that He
Alone may gain the glory,
To tell more fully still the grace
Of all redemption's story.
And if through years He's carried us
‘Til we have heads so hoary;
We'll show the wisdom of His Word
Far more than allegory.
For He Himself has done for us,
What we could never do,
Empower us with steadfast love,
And faithful hearts made new.
We'll glory in the Righteous One,
Who is our Love so True,
Exalt the Name of Christ our King,
And give Him glory too.
Michael E. Wood - February 10, 2010
What We Could Never Do
The privilege afforded me,
With words I cannot tell—
Engaged with those born from above;
Full hearts that now doth swell—
To magnify the Precious Name,
Which conquered death and hell,
Delighting in the One we know,
Who has done all things well.
Emmanuel came down to us
And through the veil of tears;
Received the cup, and bore the wrath,
And overcame our fears—
Which would have been because of sin
The loss of all our years,
And yet for joy, He cried forgive
Into the Father's ears.
No further explanation give
For why He'd choose to favor
Such wretched ones as we, But LOVE,
As now we're made the savor—
Of life to life to all He chose,
Our God, the great Engraver
Upon our hearts and minds to make
His heritage the braver—
To ask of Him great things, that He
Alone may gain the glory,
To tell more fully still the grace
Of all redemption's story.
And if through years He's carried us
‘Til we have heads so hoary;
We'll show the wisdom of His Word
Far more than allegory.
For He Himself has done for us,
What we could never do,
Empower us with steadfast love,
And faithful hearts made new.
We'll glory in the Righteous One,
Who is our Love so True,
Exalt the Name of Christ our King,
And give Him glory too.
Michael E. Wood - February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
True Revival Send
Oh, desire, you great deceiver
Of this dark vain world's lust,
Hid within the hearts of men,
Who know not One Who's Just.
Oh, what a picture you paint for them
Of peace which is not peace,
Disguising hell so brilliantly
With lights which are on lease.
How blind they are in pride and sin
To think they will escape,
By trusting in themselves to know
The truth though masked with cape.*
No moral change or outer veils
Will keep them from destruction,
Though wise they think themselves to be
By reason and deduction.
They see Your work of common grace
And know not they are falling,
And think at last they will be safe,
And know not they're appalling.
They know not their lives to be
The stench of death to One so Holy,
The god of self, they're given to
And worship now so lowly.
The Christ they know is but a figment
Of their imagination,
And know not Him Who is the One,
The Light of all creation.
No love for You , or for Your Word,
You are the hidden Treasure.
No comprehension of the One
Who's Value's beyond measure.
Oh, Breathe, O' Breath of Life to them,
Who from this world are chosen,
Melt through the frigid hearts of all
Your own that are now frozen.
Oh, Holy Spirit as a Fire
Burn brightly now from Glory,
Reveal to them the Truth of Christ,
Who IS Redemption's Story.
He gave Himself for all our sin
And God is satisfied,
And those who come through Him alone,
They will not be denied.
Oh, God we ask that You be pleased,
And True revival send,
And separate Your wheat from chaff,
This for Your Glory's end.
More brokenness we ask of You,
Oh, Father of our God,
Your Son, our Christ, be Magnified,
As homeward we shall trod.
*(Cape: to head or point; to keep a course; as the ship capes southwest by south. In other words, though they may express one thing by what they say, they express another by how they continue to live.)
Michael E. Wood 02-08-2010
Of this dark vain world's lust,
Hid within the hearts of men,
Who know not One Who's Just.
Oh, what a picture you paint for them
Of peace which is not peace,
Disguising hell so brilliantly
With lights which are on lease.
How blind they are in pride and sin
To think they will escape,
By trusting in themselves to know
The truth though masked with cape.*
No moral change or outer veils
Will keep them from destruction,
Though wise they think themselves to be
By reason and deduction.
They see Your work of common grace
And know not they are falling,
And think at last they will be safe,
And know not they're appalling.
They know not their lives to be
The stench of death to One so Holy,
The god of self, they're given to
And worship now so lowly.
The Christ they know is but a figment
Of their imagination,
And know not Him Who is the One,
The Light of all creation.
No love for You , or for Your Word,
You are the hidden Treasure.
No comprehension of the One
Who's Value's beyond measure.
Oh, Breathe, O' Breath of Life to them,
Who from this world are chosen,
Melt through the frigid hearts of all
Your own that are now frozen.
Oh, Holy Spirit as a Fire
Burn brightly now from Glory,
Reveal to them the Truth of Christ,
Who IS Redemption's Story.
He gave Himself for all our sin
And God is satisfied,
And those who come through Him alone,
They will not be denied.
Oh, God we ask that You be pleased,
And True revival send,
And separate Your wheat from chaff,
This for Your Glory's end.
More brokenness we ask of You,
Oh, Father of our God,
Your Son, our Christ, be Magnified,
As homeward we shall trod.
*(Cape: to head or point; to keep a course; as the ship capes southwest by south. In other words, though they may express one thing by what they say, they express another by how they continue to live.)
Michael E. Wood 02-08-2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
My Hope is in the Lord (New Edition)
(4:13p.m.-2/14/10)
Oh, never underestimate the beauty and the wonder of the grace of God by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, even when we are asleep. Ps. 127:2b: "... for So He giveth His beloved sleep."
I had laid down to take a nap on this Lord's day and awoke with this tune and these words which came forth in my waking moments which easily adapt to that which was given to Norman J. Clayton (1903-1992) "My Hope is in the Lord" (original song)
My hope is in the Lord, Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
(Chorus)
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.
No merit of my own His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.
(Chorus)
And now for me He stands before the Father's throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.
(Chorus)
His grace has planned it all, Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.
(Chorus)
(The words that came to me as I awoke – New Lyrics)
His steadfast love alone, conveys us to the throne,
And there we make our wants and wishes to Him known.
(New Chorus)
In Him, we hide, In Him abide,
As from the cross His church spills from
His bleeding side.
His glory our desire, His praise is now our hire*,
As clothed in white will one day be our full attire.
(New Chorus)
* Hire; (a) the state of being hired, or having a job; employment (b) to obtain the services of in return for fixed payment; to employ. And thus we are bought with the price of His own blood, as the payment for our sin has been made in full, through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as our hope is fixed in Him, we are thus employed to joyfully sing His praise through all eternity unto His glory! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
And if this be but a minute picture of how we are blessed by Him in our temporal sleep of this life to receive good things from Him; How much more will be the case when we awake with Him in glory to be brought back with Him to reign with Him forever and ever. Amen!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Psalm 127:1-5
Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
Oh, never underestimate the beauty and the wonder of the grace of God by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, even when we are asleep. Ps. 127:2b: "... for So He giveth His beloved sleep."
I had laid down to take a nap on this Lord's day and awoke with this tune and these words which came forth in my waking moments which easily adapt to that which was given to Norman J. Clayton (1903-1992) "My Hope is in the Lord" (original song)
My hope is in the Lord, Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
(Chorus)
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.
No merit of my own His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness.
(Chorus)
And now for me He stands before the Father's throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.
(Chorus)
His grace has planned it all, Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.
(Chorus)
(The words that came to me as I awoke – New Lyrics)
His steadfast love alone, conveys us to the throne,
And there we make our wants and wishes to Him known.
(New Chorus)
In Him, we hide, In Him abide,
As from the cross His church spills from
His bleeding side.
His glory our desire, His praise is now our hire*,
As clothed in white will one day be our full attire.
(New Chorus)
* Hire; (a) the state of being hired, or having a job; employment (b) to obtain the services of in return for fixed payment; to employ. And thus we are bought with the price of His own blood, as the payment for our sin has been made in full, through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and as our hope is fixed in Him, we are thus employed to joyfully sing His praise through all eternity unto His glory! Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
And if this be but a minute picture of how we are blessed by Him in our temporal sleep of this life to receive good things from Him; How much more will be the case when we awake with Him in glory to be brought back with Him to reign with Him forever and ever. Amen!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Psalm 127:1-5
Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one’s youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
A Spark
Our time is in His hands,
To do as He commands.
Our times are in His hand.
Our joy is His demand,
As Christ fulfills,
The Father's will,
To give Him glory still!
Note: This came to Michael this morning and I am posting it here, as I sense a "song" may be in the works.
To do as He commands.
Our times are in His hand.
Our joy is His demand,
As Christ fulfills,
The Father's will,
To give Him glory still!
Note: This came to Michael this morning and I am posting it here, as I sense a "song" may be in the works.
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