The Praises of HIS people!

... you are My sheep, human sheep of My pasture and I Am your God, declares The LORD GOD. Ezekiel 34:31

My mouth will speak of the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless His Holy Name. Psalm 145:21

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6

Oh Praise the LORD, and Praise our King!
Let not your praise be a vain thing!
For not all praise is now just alike,
Nor that is pleasing in His dear sight.
(1st Cor.15:38,39)

Not any praise will heal a dark soul
As only Christ can make one man whole
For God inhabits not all of praise,
But only that in which His people do raise.

Oh heavenly beings all praise now ascribe
For Christ will come and gain His dear bride.
Oh, then all praise will be higher still
By those He purchased by Sovereign will.
(Ps.29:1,2)

Surely the wrath of man will praise
Your glory in all of earth all their days.
And all the earth Your Name will proclaim,
There is none like You, You still are The Same!
(Ps.76:10,Ex. 9:13-16)

None will perish that come to repentance,
For by His cross He paid our due sentence.
He is to be feared above everything,
So let us give praise and honor our King!


Michael E. Wood
March 30, 2010

How wonderful, How marvelous!

In the midst of praying and contemplating on Psalms 147; which begins with the words, "Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting." And thus the following words ensued based on that Psalm. And, yes, there is music formulating in my mind, for this one.

How wonderful, How marvelous, is our eternal LORD.
He heals the broken hearted, and in Him they are restored.
He gives to them new names through His abundant mighty Power
He covers all the heavens and prepares for earth the shower.

He makes the grass to grow and gives to all the beasts their food,
And comforts all He has reclaimed and by His Spirit wooed.
He takes delight and pleasure in all those who fear His Name,
Who hope in His sure mercies, and His glories now proclaim.

Oh, Praise His Name Jerusalem, Oh Praise Your God O Zion.
The One Who Is The Lord of all, of Judah's tribe, the Lion.
For in Him is the blessing and the strength for all your children
And peace He gives to all who were before then, O so barren.

For now He fills with finest wheat, and sends out His command,
As all the elements are His and bow at His demand.
He sends His mighty Word and all before Him melts like snow,
His Spirit like the wind blows strong and makes the waters flow.

None other know the blessedness but those He chose to give
Salvation by the Word, His Son, by Jesus Christ, we live.
So come and sing His praises now, for pleasant now it is
And give to Him the glory due, for all of it is HIS!

Michael E. Wood
March 29, 2010 - Evening

"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord"

While driving away from Spring View Assisted Living and being in awe of the goodness of God; His steadfast love and faithfulness, the words of Paul of which my beloved Dianna and I had read together a week ago today came to mind. Romans 15:17 "In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God." As I pulled into the bread store I wrote the first three lines which came to mind and after taking a short nap the following was the result which also included thoughts from 1st Corinthians 1:26-31, For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. and Psalms 91:1-3 which reads He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

I am so proud of my Sweet Precious Saviour
Who by His grace has made me to savour
The Life that He gives and the Light of His favor
And now by His cross my sins He doth waiver.

Though vile and so weak, in Christ I will boast
The Great King of kings, and Lord of all hosts!
And now by His Word and the Great Holy Ghost
He buildeth His church to render the most--

Beautiful display of His awesome power!
Our Refuge delivers from the snare of the fowler!
All blessing is His of which He doth shower
Til with Him in glory, though we know not the hour.

Oh, let us be proud of the grace He has brought
To bring Him the glory in all He hath sought,
To bring to Himself, by His blood He hath bought
Til up in the clouds by His voice we are caught.

Michael E. Wood
(11:35a.m. Sunday-3/28/10)

Guard Your Master's Talents Well

Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:19-23

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. Matthew 25:29a

While reading Proverbs 27; my attention was arrested by verse 18, "Whoever tends a fig tree will eat it's fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored." I was then directed to Matthew 25:14-30, especially verses 19-23 and 29a, which speaks of what the kingdom of heaven is like and of the reward of those who are found faithful to Christ in that which has been entrusted into their hands for His glory.

And thus the following words of praise came to mind:

Oh, guard your Master's talents well
And you will one day hear,
"Well done thou good and faithful servant,
Enter My joy with cheer."

For that which Christ entrusted you
Is not for you alone;
But given that you gain the more
In others He'll call home.

Oh, Father by Your mercies show
All we must now adjust--
That we may truly honor You
With all you do entrust.

Into our hands to bring You glory
In every thought and deed--
That by Your Spirit we be true
To sow Your faithful seed.

Oh, what a prize to see the eyes
Of Jesus, Whom you value!
For He has called you to Himself
Just as He did call Matthew.

When all accounts are settled then
You'll have the great abundance
Of Christ Who Is our All, our Gain,
Our Life, and All our Substance!

And all the wonders of His grace
We'll see in what we've sown.
For great will be His harvest then
In those of whom He's known.

Oh, seek not now the praise of men
For though your wait be long,
You'll see the face of Him Who sings
O'er you with joyful song!

Michael E. Wood
March 27, 2010

The Beauty of Your Smiling Face!

While reflecting on the glory of the grace that has been given to us through Christ and the means of prayer by which we approach the throne of grace as revealed through His Word in Colossians 1:26-29, "the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me", the following words came to mind which also reflect the beauty of Christ as shared by Pastor Michael Karns as he quoted both D.A. Carson, "If you have anything less than a Sovereign God, you will always be confused", along with excerpts from James MacDonald's book, "When Life is Hard".

Oh, Father help Your children see
Our all in Christ, maturity;
To struggle now in every prayer
Is that which brings You glory there.

To fight the fight of faith in Him
Oh, lift our hearts to trust with them
Who of like mind You've shown the truth
And raised them up to walk from youth.

Christ our Lord absorbs the shocks
Of life's hard road with all it's knocks.
For in Him all our future lies
Who in His glory hears our cries.

Our Sovereign God now tests our minds
And raises those who in Him finds
His light now scatters all confusion
Which once held us in our delusion,

When then held captive by our sin
Amazing grace then entered in.
The greatness of His Mighty Power
Now raised with Christ to walk this hour.

Oh, Father help us now reflect
The One Who in us did effect
So Great Salvation to behold,
Refining faith like unto gold.

More precious than the songs we sing
Oh, help us Magnify our King!
As we now toil before Your presence
Reveal the glory of Your Essence!

As now our secret prayers ascend
Oh, Christ Your Spirit will attend,
To give us good revealing grace,
The Beauty of Your Smiling Face!

Michael E. Wood
March 26, 2010

We Watch Your Hand

These words came as a result of watching how God has, and is, moving in the lives of others to bring about the purpose of uniting Dianna and I as one for His glory.

We watch Your Hand in humble awe
As before Your throne we fall,
And worship You for Who You Are
As by Your grace we're brought thus far.

So obvious You show Your mercy
By moving men to stir with fervency
Our hearts to write Your detailed care
To show in You there's no want there.

In every care that comes to mind
Your steadfast love shows we are Thine.
And thus we bless Your Name with glee
And trust in all to honor Thee.

We thank You Father; You Are Love!
You sent Your Spirit like a dove
Upon our Lord and then to us
Because He died and gave us trust.

The gift of grace through faith alone
And now in Him we are Your own.
Now in Christ we're made to see
To You alone all glory be.

Michael E. Wood
March 25, 2010

Christ, the Preeminent One

While contemplating the Preeminence of Christ, while in the enjoyment of His Word, as spoken in Colossians chapter 1, and most especially verses 15-21 which reads, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind doing evil deeds...", these words came to mind:

Oh Christ, we ask of Thee to be
Preeminent that all may see,
The very image of our God
Who Is so High, so Deep, so Broad.
Invisible, and yet not hidden
Unto the eyes of Whom You've bidden.
And since we know this is Your will
We ask in sweet assurance still.

As from You, through You, to You be
All glory and all majesty!
For in You all the fullness dwelt
And God was pleased, and then He dealt
The angry blow of all His wrath*,
On You, O Lord our Sabaoth.

And through Your blood You gave us peace
And by Your knowledge, You give increase.
To reconcile all to the Father
Every blameless son and daughter.
The hope of the Gospel is our claim
And all Your glory is our aim.

*wrath is pronounced "roth"

Michael E. Wood
March 24, 2010