The Bread of The Presence

Michael E. Wood

May 13, 2014

So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.         1 Samuel 21:6

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:9-11

Do you remember that old saying, “You are what you eat”?  As members of the body of Christ we have each been given the privilege of partaking of the bread of the presence of Christ through the Word of His grace that we might become more like Him from one degree of glory to another until we are with Him and like Him in glory

The bread of the presence of Christ we partake

Who strengthens our hearts and our minds to forsake

The sin which remains so that Like Him we’ll be

When with Him in glory His face we will see.

No sin will be seen then as all God forgot

When Christ in our place crushed that serpents own plot

To rob and to steal and to kill and destroy

The glory that God only wise can employ

When all He will bring to that consummate end

Revealing in splendor the Son He did send

Whose greatness and power then fully displayed

Will fill all our joy then forever amazed.

So feast on Him there in the Word of His grace

As He quickens our step in His patience of pace

For He knows of our weakness to stumble and fall

Yet He answers in mercy when on Him we call.

The Sure Foundation

Michael E. Wood

May 12, 2014

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:1-2

“Now this is surely a message for us at the present time. The first thing we have to do is make certain of the foundations. We need not to labour this point. We all must be ready to agree that the main effect of the various movements in the realm of thought and in the realm of religion (alas!) during the last hundred years has been to query and to question the foundation. The trouble still in the church is a matter of foundations.” October 6, 1946, from a message preached by DM Lloyd Jones in Westminster Chapel, London.

While contemplating thoughts that came to mind upon beginning a new book of expository sermons on 2 Peter I was reminded that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves every day.

The gospel call is what I know

And need to hear most, every day.

For Jesus set His love within

My heart, to speak along the way.

The narrow gate, He brought me in

By blessed holy union

And through His blood I now enjoy

The Father’s sweet communion.

The Holy Spirit leadeth me

And shows to me my teachers,

Confirming truth by scriptures

As they’re taught by His own preachers

Appointed and anointed

To instruct by wisdom given

To live each day by faith in Him

Who in me is now livin’.

How subtly our enemy

Attacks the sure foundation

On which we have been built

Upon in each new generation.

But Christ who has accomplished

Our salvation to the end

Will glorify Himself

In each new battle that we win.

So courage take, by righteousness

Through Christ within the veil

As we as bones and flesh of His

Are strengthened to prevail

O’er all that is now present

In this worldly evil haze

Till all the glory of His light

Shines through all of our days.

Imputed and Imparted

Michael E. Wood

April 22, 2014

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, Ephesians 6:10-14

“Before I can stand in the presence of God I must be positively holy, I must be positively righteous. God is just and holy. ‘God is light and in Him is no darkness at all’. To stand in His presence I need to be positively righteous. And this is how it happens. As I believe on God’s Son and His perfect work for me, He ‘imputes’ His righteousness, His perfect observance of the law to me. I have not kept the law; Christ has kept it perfectly and He is righteous before the law. God puts that to my account, imputes to me, the righteousness of His own Son. He clothes me with it. So, as I stand in the presence of God, God does not see me, He sees the righteousness of His Son covering me completely.”

“That is the beginning; that is what makes me a Christian; that is the foundation. But God does not stop at that, He now begins to work in me the righteousness of His own Son. He ‘imparts’ it to me, He makes it a part of me, He puts it into me. This happens of necessity as the result of the rebirth, regeneration, the new life. There is a seed of life ‘implanted’ in me.”  

Quotations from: “The Christian Soldier", D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, p. 229, 230

Imputed and imparted is the righteousness alone

Which comes by faith in Jesus Christ who did for us atone

To give us such a standing that we in the presence of

God the Father, know Him and are known as His Beloved!

And no inherent goodness or integrity of ours

Could ever stand the torments of the darkest cosmic powers

But grace so freely given helps us learn that we can stand,

Receiving strength by promise in obedience to command

Of God breathed words provided through the text of Holy writ,

Empowered by the Spirit, working in our inner wit

To grow us and sustain us for the purpose we were born

Anew and thus prepared as Christ’s own bride, He did adorn.

His Sheep

Michael E. Wood
April 20, 2014


“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19

It appears that our life is getting back to some similitude of being normal once again. We still have a few things which would be good to have finished in our little humble abode, like having air conditioners installed before the Summer heat comes, but living here in Rancho Cordova has become a reality.

As mentioned in the previous post, Dianna has been writing about the events of our transition and found another sight to post the transformation process of the 1964 mobile home we have moved into. http://www.hometalk.com/ Most of the response has been very positive and encouraging to others to venture out in do it yourself projects for home improvement, but one individual was put off with the fact that "Christ is in every room" and used the word sheep as a derogatory description in their response. While thinking on these things the following came to mind.

His sheep indeed we humans are
Who know the sweetest voice
Has called us each by name to know
Our Shepherd made the choice
To give His life as payment
For our great offence toward God
And suffered in our place when struck
With judgments mighty rod.

And as He rose victoriously
O'er sin and death and hell,
His righteousness provided us
With entry through the veil,
To praise the One who is our King
With joy, no words describe,
Who ransomed all the church
From every nation, tongue, and tribe.

Fulfilled Then in Your Presence

Michael E. Wood

February 21 & March 16, 2014

 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

 1 John 3:2

Having been much distracted over the past month and a half with researching, purchasing, and now in the process of remodeling an older mobile home (Dianna has written more of the details on http://thewoodssecretgarden.blogspot.com/); it seems that time for writing on this blog has become less of a priority for a season. With maintaining “the old school method” of writing out poetry and songs by hand and then transferring everything to the blog with introductory remarks requires more time than one might think. I smile as I look back when going through a season of writing profusely and some one remarked, “You must have a whole lot of time on your hands”. Well now I can more readily appreciate what they were saying. It’s not the writing of the poems but the contemplation and writing of the introductions that seem to take up the most time.

Sometimes I get the sense that though my writing comes from the heart that God has and is transforming in me, the intent of the writing is meant more for the benefit of others..

Oh may my final breath

When that day comes be to Your praise

With joyful expectation

That this body You will raise.

Resulting in the glory

That belongs alone to You

When Christ in all His beauty

Is than seen in every hue

Of transformation that takes place

Begun while here on earth

As by the sacrifice of Christ

You gave me second birth.

Fulfilled then in Your presence

Holy Father, as Your son;

Rejoicing in the Spirit,

Who through Christ

Has made us one.

BLESSED BE THE NAME! (Shorter Version)

Michael E. Wood

June 21, 2011

Upon the completion of the new song as mentioned in the previous post I was asked if I could make a shorter version, and the following was the end result.

Holy Father, God of all,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

So Mighty, Powerful,

Words ne’er can proclaim.

You are Awesome

And so Beautiful!

(Chorus)

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

God Your mercy came to us

In form of a man.

In love You did the work,

The cross by Your hand.

Christ was slain;

With Him we are raised,

(Chorus)

Holy Spirit, Comforter,

God’s Presence within.

We ask You expectantly,

Your help to the end.

In our weakness,

Glorify the Lamb!

(Chorus)

BLESSED BE THE NAME! (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

March 22- April 19, 2011

I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, Psalm 144:9

Several months ago I was given a book by our good friend Denise McCool entitled, "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J Morgan. I have found this book to be a great encouragement to my soul as it relates the stories behind 150 of the world's greatest hymns. Each account is different in it's own way, but usually gives some background about both the writers of the lyrics and that of the authors of the music if it was known. In many cases the songs or hymns did not become well known for many years and in some instances not until after the death of the author.

In my own journey as it relates to writing songs and hymns over the last few years, I have not found what might be deemed by many as success as men count success. Whereas we all tend to be bent toward instant gratification I would have to admit that there have been moments when I have felt discouraged in the process. And yet I know that my Redeemer lives. He is Sovereign over the affairs of men and works all things together for our good and His infinite glory. Christ is the head of the church and He has given gifts to men to show forth His glory.

In March of 2011 I was asked to see if I could write some lyrics for a tune of which Paul Vossen of Immanuel Baptist Church in Sacramento, California had devised with a guitar. With much prayer I set out to discover what the Lord would give me for this occasion as this was something that I had never attempted to do before. While Paul was recording the music to send via internet, he closed the session with singing a few words of praise that were not intended to be a part of the song, nevertheless they stuck in my mind and became the bulk of the chorus posted after each verse.

As with everything we are and everything we have, we commend all to the grace of God to use as He sees fit.

Holy Father, God of all,

Hallowed be Thy Name!

So Mighty, Powerful,

Words ne’er can proclaim.

You are Awesome

And so Beautiful!

Greater than

All our minds can think,

Or our hearts perceive,

Yet Your grace You give us,

And You cause to believe

Your love, everlasting love

Poured into our hearts.

Your Spirit now given us,

Shall never depart.

Though we

Are so wretched

Yet You gave us Your Son!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

God Your mercy came to us

In form of a man.

In love You did the work,

The cross by Your hand.

Humble servant,

Christ was slain.

With Him we are raised,

For Your glory LORD!

And we offer praise!

Fruit of lips give thanks

To Your glorious Name!

And now we will worship You,

With reverence and awe.

With hearts in humility,

Now prostrate we fall.

For alone

You are worthy

Of all glory and might!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

Holy Spirit, Comforter,

God’s Presence within.

We ask You expectantly,

Your help to the end.

In our weakness,

Glorify the Lamb!

For we

Dare not trust ourselves,

But will glory in

Our infirmities,

Christ alone seek to win.

Teacher of God’s Holy Word, *

We bid You to come.

Breathe life through the light of men,

Christ Jesus, the Son!

For alone,

He is worthy

Of all glory and praise!

So I say,

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name!

Blessed be the Name,

Of our God and Father,

Son and Savior,

Holy Spirit, in One.

* (Options)

(1)You are now our guide and strength,

(2)You are now our guarantee,

     We bid You to come.

     Give life through the light of men,

     Christ Jesus, the Son