Partakers of Your Sovereign Choice

As I lay in bed this morning, I felt the tiredness of my body and mind, after having gotten only about five hours sleep on back to back days. But as the following words came to mind, I was compelled to get up and write.

"Partakers of Your Sovereign choice, constrained to hear Your lovely voice."

Upon looking back to a passage of which I had read the previous morning: Proverbs 6:20-23, three phrases stood out; "Your Father's commandment", "They will lead you","They will watch over you", "and when you awake, They will Speak with you".

Upon further review I noted the inclusion of "your mother's teaching". Since the scriptures teach that Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all, my inclination is to say we are to continue to seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of the Father, to set our affections on things above and not on things of the earth, for we are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God.

And thus as there is a significance in obedience to earthly fathers and mothers in the fear of the LORD, far greater is the significance of our obedience to our Father and our mother above for the edification of the body of Christ while we are here on the earth, to Whom be all the glory and the praise and dominion both now and forevermore. Amen

Furthermore, as I was in contemplation of some excerpts from Psalms 31-35, especially 33:18-22, and knowing that I had but a short time before heading out for the morning worship services at Beacon Baptist Church and the Spring View Assisted Living Home, I asked of the Lord to give me an ending for this poem, that I might be on the way, and thus this offering of praise was completed.

Partakers of Your Sovereign choice
Constrained to hear Your lovely voice
And sanctified we are by You
Increased with joy and comfort too.

For Your Name we now are led,
You speak to us upon our bed.
And though distress at times You bring
Your wise design makes us to sing.

Oh, help us more discern Your Truth
As through Your Word You send reproof
To fix our gaze upon Your smile
Though answer be to wait awhile

And walk with You this chosen path
Your cross we bare Who saved from wrath.
Oh, by Your all wise counsel send
That we for glory apprehend
Your likeness by Your Spirit's power
To make us more like You this hour.

Michael E. Wood
March 7, 2010

Every Little Poem and Song

Before going to sleep last night (March 5, 2010) I clicked on to The Gospel Coalition Blog and there was an article written about a book by Maurice Roberts entitled, "The Happiness of Heaven". Upon further investigation of Reformation Heritage Books website, I found another book entitled, "True Happiness: An Exposition of Psalm 1", by Martyn Lloyd Jones, and thus I went to sleep while meditating on Psalm 1; Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.....

I was awakened at 3:25 a.m. with these words in mind:

Every little poem and song,
Oh, give to make Your people long
To know You more and honor You
With thoughts of praise and glory too.

I felt like I had to either get up and write these words down or else I would lose them. I thought that I would lay back down and go to sleep, but the words kept coming and by 7:06a.m. this little poem and this little love song to my LORD, my Saviour, and my God was written.

Little Poem

Every little poem and song
Oh, give to make Your people long
To know You more and honor You
With thoughts of praise and glory too.

This bread You gave and sent from heaven
To feed poor souls like unto leaven
Hid in three measures of flour 'til done
To praise the glory of Your Son.

Oh, in the early morning hours
Your grace doth flow and bring the showers
Refreshing souls with thirsty hearts
Who in this world remain with parts

In need of You to take from us
All things that mar Your holiness.
Oh, make us more like Jesus be
Until our all we give to Thee

With thankful hearts full in Your presence
New names and bodies in all the sense
Of which You speak now through Your Word
And by Your Spirit confirm what's heard

By those You filled with all Your mind
To give us sight who once were blind
Though veiled in flesh we now can sing
YOU ARE OUR TREASURE, YOU ARE OUR KING!

Little Song

You are our Treasure and You are our God.
You lead us to heaven with staff and a rod.
Your Word we delight in because it is true
Because of Your pleasure, our hearts are made new.

(Chorus)
Oh, help us to praise You Who hallowed our days
Receive of Your mercy to teach of Your ways
That others may know the sweet pleasure You give
By grace and for glory to You we now live.

You are our Saviour and You are the Son.
The blood of Your cross has made us now one.
What cause of rejoicing, Oh endless delight
We are now favored to show forth Your light.

(Chorus)

All hidden in Jesus with hearts set ablaze
Til with You in heaven we stand there amazed
Beholding Your Beauty with all of the love
You gave by Your Spirit now sent from above.

(Chorus)

So little we know of all that You Are
And yet by Your grace You've led us so far.
You are our Hope and You are our Prize.
Oh what a love we''ll see in Your eyes.

(Chorus)

And once these were all written down, the following came to mind;

Oh, help us not an idol make
Of all You give for glory's sake
For all we have comes all from You
To give You praise and glory due.

Our praise is but a shadow yet
Of all we have in You to get
And all our loss we felt in pain
Will in that day be glory's gain. (8:20a.m.)

Rejoice Our Hearts...

This little poem came to mind after spending some time in the Psalms and then resting in the blessing pronounced and the mutual lifting up of our hearts unto the LORD in Psalm 20.

Oh, how shall we improve upon
The grace now given through Your Son?
Protect us from our pride and sin,
Rejoice our hearts to enter in--

Before Your face and see Your smile
As He Who saved us from our guile.
Oh, may our praise be all from You
As we now seek Your glory too--

Along with all who are Your own
Redeemed to stand before Your throne,
From every nation, race and tongue,
Of those now hidden in Your Son.

Michael E. Wood
March 5, 2010

I Shall Not Be Shaken!

I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Even as I write this, I am taken by the beauty of Christ in this passage, as He prayed in the garden, "If it be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done." "I have set the LORD always before me;"

While reading Psalm 16, I came to verse 8 and my mind was taken back to Psalm 62 of which my beloved Dianna and I had read together yesterday afternoon. Verse 2 says, "I shall not be greatly shaken", and verse 6 says, "I SHALL NOT BE SHAKEN". Another thought impressed upon my mind was a statement made by Thomas Brooks from the work of grace written by him entitled, "Heaven on Earth"; "What is grace but glory begun? And what is glory but grace perfected? Grace is glory in the bud, and glory is grace at the full." And thus these words came to mind.

It is Christ that shall not be shaken
Though all else in life will be taken.
He is my portion and He is my cup,
And with Him in glory He's called me to sup.

Partake of His pleasures now at His right hand,
This grace He has given to cause me to stand
Along with all saints, the excellent ones,
Beautiful inheritance of God, called sons.

We trust not ourselves for He is our good
And tests now our hearts as He only could.
My heart now is glad for He is my joy.
His Word He has given by which we enjoy

The path of life of which He's made known,
The light of His presence of which He has sown
Into this world to tell of His story
Until He returns in all of His glory.

Maranatha!

Michael E. Wood
March 4, 2010

"Through Christ my Sacrifice, Who is my Own" Second Version

As I was contemplating an idea and a verse given to me by my beloved Dianna at 1:02a.m. 3/3/10 and then while reading in Proverbs Chapter 3, I came to verses 9,10 which says, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." And thus as I thought on this passage and asked of the Lord for that which would be honoring to Him, this version of "Through Christ my Sacrifice, Who Is my Own" came to mind. I trust He will be pleased, honored, and glorified with both versions for His Name's sake.

"Through Christ my Sacrifice, Who is my Own"

The Father willed to give,
His Son that I might live.
For wrath and sin atoned,
Through Him, I now am owned.
Though wretched vile within,
His blood now covers sin,
And all I am is His;
Through Christ Alone!

(Chorus 1)
In Christ I'm justified,
My soul is free.
In Christ I'm satisfied,
God's pleased with me.
Before my Father's throne,
My glory will be shown,
Through Christ my sacrifice,
Who is my own!

My secret sins He sees,
And brings me to my knees.
His Spirit intercedes,
Supplies for all my needs.
To Him I now will cling,
And all my days I'll sing.
Give glory to my God,
Through Christ alone!

(Chorus 2)
In Christ I'm justified!
I've been set free.
In Christ I'm satisfied.
He's ransomed me!
To stand before the throne
Because of Him, be known.
Sweet Christ my Sacrifice,
He is my own.

His presence now with me,
To Him, all glory be.
His grace now makes me stand,
He leads me by His hand.
His holiness in me,
Perfected I will be.
My Hope, no shame I'll have,
Through Christ alone!

(Chorus 3)
In Christ I'm justified!
He's made me free.
In Christ I'm satisfied.
Like Him I'll be!
One day, before the throne
His glory will be shown.
For Christ my Sacrifice,
Is now my own!

(Repeat Chorus 1 - higher octave)
In Christ I'm justified,
My soul is free.
In Christ I'm satisfied,
God's pleased with me.
Before my Father's throne,
My glory will be shown,
Through Christ my sacrifice,
Who is my own!

Michael E. Wood
Original February 21-22, 2010
Revision March 3, 2010

May We Never Grow Weary

While contemplating Prov. 4:20-23, 2nd Pet.1:12-21, and Isa.40:31 these words came to mind.

Your work of grace You've made us to see
Eyewitnesses now Of Your Majesty.
For by Your Word You've taken us there,
Upheld by Your great loving care.
Your Spirit has borne us all the day long
And caused us to sing now with joyful song.

Oh, what a privilege we're made to become
Partakers of Christ, Jesus the Son.

Who bore all our sins and griefs to declare
The glories of the cross we now bare.
And though now established in this present truth
May we never grow weary as the days of our youth,
But ever increase as we wait upon You,
The LORD God of heaven our strength to renew.

Michael E. Wood
March 2, 2010

My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.


Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

"...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

The Power of God

"For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." Romans 6:5

While pondering Romans 6 and 2nd Corinthians 13:3,4 these thoughts and poem came to mind.

As Paul spoke not only to those in the audience who belong to God in Christ at that present moment, he was also speaking to all that belong to God in Christ from that day forward, and thus the truth of the effect of the gospel continues by the power of the Spirit of God through the Word and the words of God not only because of the fact of the historical and literal resurrection of Christ but because HE LIVES by the power of God and the glory of the Father, we also live with Him by the power of God and the glory of the Father in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.


Have you been crushed because of sin?
Do you now live with Christ within?
Has your old self been crucified?
Is now the Spirit of God your guide?
Do you now trust in His perfection
As told by His Word and resurrection?

Are you now free and do you now live
And hope for the glory of God now to give
Life from above to those now estranged
While breath remains in them who seem out of range?
Present now yourselves to God Who alone
Gives life to the dead, as He calls them His own.

Oh, let us petition the God of all grace
Til with Him in glory we see the dear face
Of Jesus our Saviour Who lives now above
And asks of the Father to answer in love,
For all that are His who now are all broken
And give Him the glory for all that is spoken.

Michael E. Wood
March 1, 2010