Sunday Night Sparks of Prayer and Praise

Michael E. Wood

Some times while listening to a message being preached thoughts of prayer or praise in the form of poetry come to mind. 

November 25, 2012

 We desperately need the help of the Holy Spirit to make application to our hearts when hearing the Word preached, for often we can find ourselves distracted in a multiplicity of ways.

Oh help me to hear and to understand more

Of how to repent and to you then adore,

Not just from sin in, which I’ve been wrong

But much more toward You unto whom I belong!

December 16, 2012

 Partially inspired from watching” Chariots of Fire”. The more we are enabled to comprehend the way in which our Father has wired us by His Spirit for His glory through the finished work of Christ, the more we are enabled to enjoy Him in the doing of His good pleasure.

I feel Your pleasure when I write

As from Your presence flows Your might

By which my spirit now takes wings

And soars by faith to You and sings

With so simple strains as they may be

To the praise of the glory we find in Thee!

Christ Our Strength Is Present

Michael E. Wood

December 5, 12, 2012

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2^nd Corinthians 12:9-10

While each of us, as children of God, is called to face various trials in this life for the glory of God, it is not always easy. The pain is real, whether it is physical, emotional, spiritual, or all of the above. Thanks be to God as our Father, whose grace is sufficient to meet our every need in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

How good it is to be reminded of our weakness here

That we might see that Christ our strength is present, which is clear

To all that He draws near in truth, though humbled we may be

For through the path of suffering, His glory we shall see.

So take good courage by His Spirit, sent from heavens throne

And glory in the glory He will share with all His own.

For nothing on this earth compares with what our eyes shall see

When for His Name we’re raised to know His awesome majesty!

Press on then toward the goal while stretching forward to the prize,

The upward call of God in Christ Jesus as you rise

Above these troubles you now face as nothing separates

Us from His love and surely comes for all who on Him waits.

I Am the Same Forever

Michael E. Wood

November 30, 2012

To the choirmaster.  A Psalm of David.   In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; Psalm 31:1-3

Though my thoughts can be so puny and my grasp of understanding so slight, I give thanks to God through my Lord Jesus Christ that He does not change. We were made for His glory and through the redemption that comes through Christ alone, He has promised to guide those who are His for His Name's sake.

The following came as a result of contemplating the words that God has given to us through the Psalms and through the enjoyment of reading, “Knowing God”, by J. I. Packer

I Am the LORD; I do not change

I Am the same to day

As yesterday and will my friend

Guide you to know the way

By which you may be pleasing

By the Holy Spirits might

Now given by the grace of Christ

To stand by faith and fight

Against the foes that lie within

And those reproaching shouts

Which come from those encroaching

On My glory with their doubts.

For I have now redeemed you

Through my Son who bore your shame,

And raised you up to be like Him

To glorify My Name!

And though the way may seem unclear

At times: Remember this,

I will not hold to anger

When you seek my Son to kiss.

So seek His face by My own Word

From which I will not sever.

I Am the LORD; I do not change;

I Am the same forever!

More Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 25, 2012

^"... including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,"Cross references: Romans 1:6 Rev. 17:14; [ch. 8:28, 30]Romans 1:6

Though the following thoughts may be somewhat simplistic and childlike, my heart rejoices in the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a man: the helpless babe in Bethlehem was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, and I am called to belong to Him.

Because of Gods great love for me,

I am His and He is mine.

Chosen, called; eternally,

I am His and He is mine.

Separate from the world to be,

I am His and He is mine.

Unto His glory, I now see

I am His and He is mine.

All praise to Christ, who set me free

I am His and He is mine.

And through His name I worship Thee;

I am His and He is mine.

I praise Thee Father as Your own;

I am His and He is mine.

As Christ for me, did sin atone;

I am His and He is mine.

Flesh of flesh and bone of bone;

I am His and He is mine.

A member of His body sown;

I am His and He is mine.

In this world till fully grown;

I am His and He is mine.

As raised with Him before Thy throne;

I am His and He is mine.

So help me walk now more holy;

I am His and He is mine.

To show Thy glories guarantee;

I am His and He is mine.

Empowered by Thy Spirits plea;

I am His and He is mine.

Till perfect in eternity;

I am His and He is mine.

Beholding all Thy majesty;

I am Yours and You are mine

Sparks of Praise from Romans

Michael E. Wood

November 13, 2012

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:1- 4

As helpless babe you came to earth,

The seed of David made by birth,

But in that resurrection hour;

Declared the Son of God in pow’r!

November 20, 2012

O help me love Thee as I ought

With every thought and deed,

Well ordered by Thy Spirit

And the word before decreed,

That Thou alone be glorified

By holiness of heart

Of which, O Christ, you purchased

To the full and not in part.

For when You rose victorious

O’er my sin and conquered grave,

You raised me with Yourself

To be Your child and loving slave,

Now free from all the judgment

Which Your righteousness imputes

And shields me in my conscience

When my foes come with rebukes,

For as I take my stand I trust

Your armor as my own

And raise the shield of faith

You gave by grace through You alone.

A Savior is Born

Michael E. Wood

December 15-16, 2012

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:9-14

Some two thousand years have passed since that day

When an angel appeared to the shepherds to say

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be

For all the people” and this you will see

In the city of David a Savior is born,

Who is Christ the Lord; you will find him adorned

In swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

This babe to so many is still yet a stranger.

For hidden is he to the blind natures eye

Till the Father above gives a heart made to cry

Out by the Spirit, convicting of sin,

And judgment meets mercy when Christ enters in,

To show himself glorious to the praise of his grace;

The fullness of the Godhead to seek then His face.

How good and how gentle you’ll find him to be,

The Shepherd who paid with his blood on the tree.

So if you now see him by faith; take a stand

And spread the good news just as far as you can.

For that little babe is our soon coming King

And the glory of God will then fill every thing

As the heavens and earth will be made all anew

Fulfilling the purpose of our God who is True!

Suffering What You Deem Best

Michael E. Wood

September 27, 2012

 ... and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:17

While listening online to Pastor Michael Karns from Beacon Baptist Church preach on the subject of “Suffering: The Pathway to Glory”, some of those from our congregation at Immanuel Baptist came to mind as they are undergoing a season of suffering.

Having undergone certain seasons of suffering in my own life, at the age of fifty-six, I have no expectations that they will be the last. So as much as I trust the Lord may use the following to be an encouragement to others, I likewise commit all into our Fathers hands to uphold me by His steadfast love and faithfulness when called upon to look to Him with joy while enduring that which He deems best for His infinite glory.

Oh Father help me see this as a gift from Your sure hands

Which draws me close to comprehend Your presence by the bands

Of love beyond all measure and affixed by Your design

To know that I am Yours and through Christ Jesus, You are mine!

Oh help me then embrace that, which You’ve chosen for my good,

In suffering what You deem best and by You understood

To be that which will make me more like Jesus in this time;

To taste and see that You are good till with You then sublime,

Exulting in Your glory when all truth will then unfold

The wonders of Your grace which were much greater than were told.