Drawn from Emmanuel's Springs.

Michael E. Wood

July 17, 2015

 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,    Colossians 1:3-6

 … whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   John 4:14

One of the amazing things about the grace of God is that it never ceases to be amazing. Once we have been made anew by the Spirit through the sacrifice of Christ, our transcendent, triune God uses His written Word through the various means of grace which includes preaching, teaching and reading to refresh us with the living waters of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. We are stirred with love both for Him and the brethren, being made to know what that looks like on a practical level with the continued amazement of His grace to the praise of His glory.

We thank You for the power

Of Your Word to stir afresh

Our souls to see the grace

By which You do as one enmesh

Our lives together for the praise

Of Your own glory there

In heaven as on earth You work

Your will in all who share

The nature You have given when

You called us forth to birth.

The new creation joined by Christ

To magnify Your worth.

And as You by Your Spirit

More Your mysteries unfold,

Oh, help us to proclaim the truth

In love and yet as bold

Ambassadors of life and light

Which Your salvation brings

Oh, Father God, through songs of praise

Drawn from Emmanuel's springs.

To Make You Content

Michael E. Wood

May 12, 2015

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

It’s pretty amazing how we can think we are content until something as simple as the telephone lines going down for a couple of days not only impacts our use of the phone but also access to the internet and makes us realize how dependent we have become on technology in our current culture in the western world. For some this could apply to their use of cell phones. For others perhaps it is access to your favorite television programs. The degree of stress could likewise be intensified if you have a business contingent on these services.

In no way am I advocating that we should sit back and do nothing to reconcile our situation, but what I am asking is how does something of this nature make us feel?  Do we find ourselves in a sense of despair, because we don’t know what to do with ourselves? Are we driven to make unwise decisions to rectify the situation?  How do we react to those with whom we are reliant for help in our particular situation?  Do we have the peace which passes understanding, the self control to take responsibility not only for our actions but for the manner in which we address others, and the joyful patience to wait on the Lord and find contentment in the present circumstances?

When the phone doesn’t work and the lines are all down

Then trust in the One in Whom grace doth abound.

And do what you can as you wait for repair,

Rejoice in the truth, staying not in despair.

Refocus on things which you have as gift

As the mercies in Christ will alone you uplift

To restore such a joy by His Spirit to take

A hold of His promise to never forsake

Or leave you adrift in this short little trial

But cause you to look on His face with a smile.

For nothing that’s good will He ever withhold

To make you content as a sheep of His fold.

For no earthly loss can come close to compare

With the glory awaiting His children to share.

So thank Him and praise Him in all things below

And give Him the glory, Who has you in tow,

Unfolding the way as you cast every care

Upon Him who promised your burdens to bear.

 Five years have passed,
Oh, how quickly they’ve flown.

As one we give glory to

Him who has owned

Our marriage to show

Himself mighty to save

And sharpen His image

As He did engrave

Our names on the palms

Of His hands at the cross

To count earthly gain

For His name as a loss,

And be found in Him

As together we seek

To know Him and love Him

Who blesseth the meek.

With much more to learn

In a settled embrace,

Oh, help us dear Father

Continue to face

All that You send

By Your sovereign decree

To make us like Jesus

And He alone see

Exalted in glory:

The smile on His face;

The treasure You give

By indelible grace.

Happy Anniversary Wifey!

May 18, 2015

Happy Mother's Day

It’s hard to think how quickly

Now the days just seem to fly,

With thoughts of you in moments

For your good as they pass by.

And none can stop the clock

As it keeps ticking on its way

But thankfulness springs forth

As we await a brighter day

When all of life’s investments

Will be clearly seen to show

That you did what you thought

Was best to help us children grow

Into the men and women that

You hoped we would become.

May love proceed from all,

Expressed by this your oldest son.

We Love You MOM!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Life has Conquered Death

Michael E. Wood

April 5, 2015

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15 

Just call us strange if you like, but that’s OK. God moves in a mysterious way, His mercies to behold. While on the one hand you can read of my wifey’s discovery Easter Sunday morning here: http://thewoodssecretgarden.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-love-when-things-like-this-happen.html, on the other hand, as she showed me the tiny new growth coming out of the vine, it appeared to me to be growing out of the place in the appearance of the cross the feet would have been nailed. The gospel passage from Genesis 3 came to mind and the following words began to flow concerning the fulfillment of God's promise to the serpent and the victory of Christ overall.

The serpent’s head was crushed

And Life has conquered death.

The darkness is o’ercome

By the Spirit of God’s breath.

“Live”, Christ says to all

Who hear His word in fear,

 And justified we’re made to come

And worship drawing near.

United with the Vine

Whose purpose to declare

God’s glory overall has shined

As He our sins did bear.

Rejoice then in His love

And walk in faithfulness

As these are gifts He gives

In His own gift of righteousness.

And when our day is done

While looking in His face

We’ll give the rightful praise

Unto the glorious God of grace!

O, Glorify God for His mercy!

Michael E. Wood

December 13, 2013

While rummaging through various note sheets, I found these little tidbits which had never been posted.

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,  and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said,” Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”  And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”  Romans 15:9-12

O, Glorify God for His mercy!

Sing praise and His honor proclaim,

Rejoicing with all of His people

As He rules by His infinite Name!

---------------------------------------------

That which we do with Your glory in view

Is the means that You give to now magnify You!

Though appearance counts nothing as seen now by men,

It’s the smile of Your face that is worth more than when

The plaudits and honors are vainly poured forth

To distract us from setting our course on true north,

Where Your greatness and glory, O Christ, will come due

When we see, in Your likeness, we are made all anew!

He Poured out His Life (New Song)

Michael E. Wood

January 24-25, 2014; February 10, 2015

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:10-12

With so many changes and challenges over the past year, writing poetry and songs have taken a back seat to other more pressing issues.  Having written several verses but never feeling quite comfortable with the results over a year ago, I was given some time to rehearse, to edit and to add anew verse resulting in the following.

He poured out His life that we might have entry.

The veil of His flesh was broken and torn.

He offered His blood which speaks as the sentry

And He is the door, through which we’re reborn:

Forgiven, restored to enter the presence

Of God as the Father, majestic, with awe!

In Christ we are welcomed, boldly approach Him

And praise the Almighty, who saves from the fall.

He is our peace, our shield, and defender,

Exhausting the wrath, which would have been due.

And none would approach, but grace overcoming

Our sin and our death brought His glory in view.

The eyes of our hearts were opened to see Him,

Who was and He is, and still is to come.

His glory and might revealed in ascending

Up back to the place of which He was from.

He is our wisdom and purifier.

The Father through Him did words to us give.

His promises great, have made us partake of

The nature divine, so through Him we live.

Oh, Father we praise You, rich in the mercies

By which You have loved and made us alive,

Together with Christ and raised to the places

Whereby we may You, alone glorify!

Your Spirit of grace and all supplications,

We ask of You, Father now to supply

Afresh to partake in boldness proclaiming

The blood of the cross through which we draw nigh.

Oh, help us to seek Your prize set before us,

Though weakened by flesh, Your glory pursue,

And trust in the strength that comes in beholding

Your beauty which stirs our affections for You.

And then on that day, when like Christ we will be

Admiring in awe, His glory as seen.

With ears hearing praise beyond that imagined

And hearts made to feel what we never had dreamed.

Forever with angel voices, we’ll praise You.

A new song we’ll sing, Father, Son, Holy Ghost,

Empowered by love that grows, never ending,

Enraptured with Christ, as the Head of the host!