The Tests of Life--Our Soul Refines

Michael E. Wood
November 18, 2010

As Pastor Robert Briggs of Immanuel Baptist in Sacramento, California was closing out a message on "The Reality of Challenges with Spiritual Immaturity", he read from 2nd Peter 1:5-9.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9

This took me back in time while at Beacon Baptist as Pastor Barkman began preaching through this book of the Bible, and the following thoughts came to mind. The first stanza was written during the devotional message during prayer meeting with its conclusion finalized later at home.

Much easier now to say the words,
Than live them when the test occurs.
Which tempt us to remove our gaze,
From Him Who saved by grace amazed.

And thus our God in love reminds,
The tests of life our soul refines;
To cause us to dig deeper still
Into His Word to know His will.

For we are not made perfect yet.
So firmly let our minds be set
On all He shows that pleases Him.
Oh, Praise His Name with all of them
That He has chosen to behold
His face more precious than was told.

The Savior is Singing o'er me

Michael E. Wood
November 17, 2010

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Having pondered this passage from time to time, it occurred to me while listening to a message preached by Reddit Andrews that my Savior was singing o'er me through the preaching of His Word. I cannot recall the content of the message, and perhaps some of it has to do with God's particular design for me, but there in the midst of worship it was as though the sermon had taken on the sound of music as Christ was exalted in His Beauty, for He has put a new song in my heart, even praise unto our God, many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

As I think back over the last few years of my own life, God has used many of His servants, here below and those who have gone before us, to sound His praise and to exalt the glory of Christ through the faithful preaching of His Word--of which I trust He has used not only to bring forth the fruit of a life that has been changed for His glory; but, continues to be manifest in new songs and poems.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached joyfully.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.

On now hear His voice,
Who has made you His choice.
This grace upon us He has showered.
For His life He did give,
For His glory we live,
By His Spirit we now are empowered.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached faithfully.
God in man as He sits at the Father's right hand,
Interceding for all He commands.

Sometimes with rebukes
And sometimes with reproofs,
He speaks as He knows all my heart.
And yet patiently
As His love sets me free,
And from Him I shall never depart.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached joyfully.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.
With reverence projecting His Great Majesty,
My Savior is singing o'er me.

With those gone before
We shall never ignore.
His sweet counsel He speaks from above.
Because of His cross
We will count all else loss,
As He answers all things in His love.

The Savior is singing o'er me.
His Word being preached faithfully.
God in man as He sits at the Father's right hand,
Interceding for all He commands.

We Boast Not in Self

Michael E. Wood
November 19, 2010

While pondering 2nd Corinthians 5:4-21, and having concluded what I thought would be simply a couple of paragraphs was enlarged while in the process of typing, and thus by the enabling power of His Spirit may God be merciful to use the simplicity and weakness of my own words to magnify His power. For our sake he made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

God gave us His Spirit--The Guarantee;
That all which is mortal may swallowed be--
Up by life, though now we still groan;
Yet always good courage God gives to His own.

Though while in the body we have not arrived--
We make it our aim to please with each stride;
He Who Is Just to Whom we'll appear;
Receiving of Him of Whom we now fear.

For what we now are, to God is known.
Our hope to your conscience He has shown.
We boast not in self or outward appearance;
But only of Christ and heart adherence.

His glory alone has made us new creatures.
His love now controlling to take on His features.
And His ambassadors we have become,
As God, through us, directs to the Son.

Oh, now unto God be reconciled.
For life in this world is just for a while.
All else will be found to be empty and vain--
If you come not to Him In Jesus Name.

To Be More Like Jesus

Michael E. Wood
November 6, 2010

While pondering Romans :26,27 and 2nd Corinthians 3 the following poem came to mind.

Your Spirit, Your permanent glory unfolds
To give us such hope wherein we are made bold.
Removing the hardness of minds which were veiled
When all on the cross through our Savior was nailed.

With words now unuttered Your Spirit now groans
Interceding now perfect By Christ Who atoned
Transforming our members to know of Your mind,
To be more like Jesus, Whose glory we find

Exceeds all the glory when bound by the law
Which held us then captive, and by it were awed.
This freedom You gave us, removing the curse
As we in our Savior our sins were immersed.

And buried by mercy beholding Your face,
We praise You in awe of Your glorious grace.
Now raised by Your Holy omnipotent call
To life everlasting, redeemed from the fall.

Oh help us Dear Father pursue all Your truth
Made faithful to show by indelible proof,
Commending ourselves to the conscience of men
That only through Jesus, Do You save from sin.

To Him We May Fly!

Michael E. Wood
November 2, 2010

The following thoughts were written while contemplating my granddaughter's third birthday. With her name being Tatum, she is often called Tater-bug by her mother.

My prayer for you my Tater-bug;
One day you'll learn to fly.
On eagles wings
Where all will sing
With joy in Christ on high.

How can this be, for bugs don't sing,
Unless transformed in heart.
To save our life
From sin and strife
Revealed in hidden parts:

As God the Holy Spirit,
The Father sent in love
Shines forth the light
Of Jesus Christ
Who came down from above.

Our sinless holy Savior
Lived how we could not.
And He alone
For sin atoned
And spoiled the devil's plot.

For that liar and that thief,
Thinks only how to rob
The glory due
To Christ in few.
My Savior and my God!

And so I beg you listen
To this wisdom from a worm,
Who wickedly
And willingly,
God's love and Word I spurned.

But He in love unspeakable
Removed my stony heart.
In mercy gave
His life to save
No more now to depart.

God's wrath was satisfied that day
As Christ did count the cost,
And shed His blood,
Redeeming flood
For all His, through the cross.

By Christ alone our nature is changed
That to Him we may fly.
This world we leave
And to Him cleave,
As Abba, Father we cry.

As so as birthdays gifts will fade,
Received when three years old,
I pray the truth,
Like that of Ruth,
Will always be to you told.

For nothing less than holiness
Will bring unto God the glory,
That's due His Name,
Proclaiming His fame,
The Treasure of Christ with great joy!

Every Blade of Grass!

Michael E. Wood
November 1, 2010

In "Lecture to My Students", Charles Spurgeon addresses an issue entitled "To Workers with Slender Apparatus". In this chapter he speaks to those which have a relatively small library from which to draw the wisdom that comes from God. Having been blessed beyond measure with more books than I will possibly ever read in this life time, I find great delight in these words which come from that chapter, as well.

"In having time for meditation, you will be even better off than your brethren with many books and little space for quiet contemplation."

"Without books a man may learn much by keeping his eyes open."

"Every flower is waiting to teach you."

"Sermons glisten in the morning on every blade of grass, and homilies fly by you as the sere leaves fall from the trees."

"Go, thou who hast thine eyes opened, and find lessons of wisdom everywhere, in heaven above, in the earth beneath, and in the waters under the earth. Books are poor things compared with these."

While I am thankful for those who are far better than I in discipline and understanding to read, comprehend, and articulate the things which are given them from on high unto the praise and glory of our Most Awesome God , I continue to rejoice in the things He gives me in some of the simplicities of this life of which I trust He will use by the power of His Spirit to declare the truth of Who He Is to those He sends me.

How strange it seems that in October
Grass begins to grow,
Held back by the season of great drought
Californians have come to know,
To be the typical time of year
The rains begin to fall
And every tender blade comes forth
As from on high they're called

To show the temp'ral glory
Of all men born in their sin
And yet they bear the image of our God,
Creator of men.
And every blade cries forth the glory
Of our Almighty God
Who formed us for Himself like grass,
From dust, like earthen sod.

And many may produce in vain
Like splendid glorious flowers
While blessed by common grace from God
Sent down like wondrous showers.
But when the sun arises
With its scorching burning heat,
All grass will wither as before;
Flowers fall before the seat

Of Him Who Is The One True Judge
Of all the works of men,
And only those born from above
Through Christ, Who did condescend,
And took upon Himself our form
And bore the wrath due us.
Appointed by The Father,
A throng to join the chorus

Unto the glorious praise of Him
Who saves us by His grace,
As we through Sovereign mercy
See the light in Jesus' face.

And thus as all the seasons
Of this life are in God's hands
In faithfulness He sows His seed
Of Christ in all the lands,
Which will bring forth the fruit;
Eternal life, unto His praise,
Through Christ alone, Who by His Spirit
From the dead was raised.

Good news is shouted forth to all
He giveth ears to hear it
And eyes to see with hearts made new
By God , The Holy Spirit.
For as the grass springs forth
To show the promise of life anew.
The question is, "Do you know God?"
Far better, "Has He known you?"

(This was read aloud on November 12, 2010 at the "Open Mic" of the California Writer's Club held at Barnes and Nobles bookstore.)

Help Us Not To Trifle

Michael E. Wood
October 31, 2010

Having begun this Lord's day around 4:30a.m., visiting two churches, spending the afternoon with an elder and his family from one of them, Dianna and I found ourselves exhausted and spent the evening watching Word Pictures from Cross T.V. featuring Mark Keilar. Having fallen asleep while in the midst of watching, I awoke to Mark quoting Charles Spurgeon using the word "trifling". This word is defined as spending ones time idly or ineffectively. And thus the following words came to mind.

O help us not to trifle
With this life You've given us,
But seek You and be pleasing
In those things which are a must!

O help us to redeem the time
By spending all we can
By the power of Your Spirit
In Your Word, lest sinking sand

Be the stuff we build upon
Which will not stand the test,
But wholly trust in Jesus Name
By Whom You've given rest.

O help us live unto the honor
Of Your highest calling
And pursue with all our strength,
Tis You which keeps from falling.

With thankful hearts You've given us
And all before You lay
In humbleness our very best
Until the final day

In which You'll show the metal
By which all on earth was done
As only faith more precious
Than all gold, with vict'ry won,

Will manifest Your glory
As our all to You we owe
With all our praise perfected
As then You we'll fully know!