Before the Dawn of Time

Do these thoughts ever come to mind? "Oh, who am I, that I should be so blessed to have communion with the Almighty God of all creation? Why should He love me so, except by His Own choosing, and for the manifestation of His Own glory and praise?"

To dwell on the fact that GOD IS LOVE, is not just a wonderful thought, but a present reality in the life of those He has appointed unto salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What blessed thought that because of the imputation of the righteousness of Christ, we are brought into the everlasting arms of our Father which is in heaven. That He loves us with the same everlasting love that He loves His only begotten Son from before anything that is created was brought into being and we love Him because He first loved us. Oh that we might love Him more in thought, word, and deed!

Oh may it now be known of Thee
Thy tender love from Calvary.
For when You sent Your Son to come
He died alone upon the tree.

How precious are Your thoughts we're told
As by Your Spirit You unfold
The myst'ries of unfailing love
Far greater than we now behold.

You spoke before the dawn of time
To Thy Own Son of all of Thine.
And as You were well satisfied
All hid in Him You said, "They're Mine."

Thus before You set to motion
All creation for devotion,
The fullness of unchanging grace
The Lamb slain, shows forth Love's ocean.

As my love for You grows, abounds.
Christ Is my reason, He my grounds.
Rejoicing together, in His love
Moves me to praise with joyful sounds.

This song of love my heart records
As nothing but God's peace affords.
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Delights to tighten up our chords.

So swim therein unto the end
With much thanksgiving, thus ascend
As ev'ry good resolve God fills
Through faith by love in Christ depend.

Michael E. Wood
September 13, 2010

Glimmers and Sparks

While contemplating what seems my own slowness in growth and at the same time, pondering the course of action the Lord would have us to take in service to Him, this little spark came to mind.

To wait on You, In You I'm blessed--
As You search out my earnestness.
With Holy Fire You burn within,
And seal Your vision to this end;

That we may by Your Holiness,
Proclaim to all Your Righteousness.
Our only Hope Is Christ alone,
Our Witness now before Your throne.

We now draw nigh with confidence,
Your throne of grace with reverence,
Receiving grace, through mercy find--
Our means of help through all of time.

Michael E. Wood
September 7, 2010

Rejoice Then Together!

Upon having received a compliment concerning the joy of the Lord expressed by Dianna and I after a worship service, we were asked to pray for a couple, as they seek to honor our Savior through their leadership in His praise and worship through song.

The following words of poetry and prayer came to mind, of which I trust will be an encouragement to others to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice, for you just never know how God may use you as the means to direct others to Himself, that they may repeat the sound in joy.

The joy of the Lord, is Oh so infectious,
It speaks of the One within Who is ageless,
To strengthen His body He chose before time,
Proclaiming the grace of His glory sublime.

And though it's not given to know all the seasons
Known only to God for the purest of reasons.
We are given this, as His Own, we receive
His power by the Holy Ghost upon us to be

His witnesses, as His great signs and great wonders,
Sealed up to the day, He speaks by the thunders.
Though all is not written, all will be fulfilled,
The mystery of God, to Whom all we yield.

So help us speak boldly, Oh Father of lights,
Direct all to Jesus in whom all delights
Of honor and glory and praise is now due,
Fulfilling the scriptures, our guide unto You!

Oh never then doubt by His Words, as His spark
The light of His glory, then others will hark
Unto His voice clearly and fill then with cheer,
Rejoice then together with meekness and fear!

Michael E. Wood
August 3, 2010

By Your great wisdom O' God, and by the power of Your Mighty Spirit O' Father, lead and direct this couple unto the glory of Your praise. Help them to be true both in action and in word to the great integrity of Your Word and Your character, as reflections of the light of the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For it is in His Name we pray and upon His Promise we rest. Amen!

Delight Within the Veil

Concerning the mortification of sin; is it not but the mercy of God which reveals to us the idols and sins of our hearts in His time, that He may continually refine and purify us for the express purpose of showing forth His steadfast love and faithfulness both in us and through us, to know that He is God alone, and to Him be all the glory? Ten thousand times ten thousand to infinity, YES! And thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Oh how complex at times it seems
To seek Your face in light supreme
When sin within doth veil the grace
You sweetly send by Your embrace.

As by Your Spirit You reveal
Those things within which once were sealed
Unto our minds by times appointed
To show Your love by Your Anointed.

Oh how great Your mercies store
Supplies for all our need and more,
As You consume but only dross,
And lead us gently to the cross.

Oh help us now confess and fight
The sin within by Thy pure Light.
For there no darkness dwells with You,
And all of grace our sins subdue.

And for Thy honor help us to dwell
With pure delight within the veil
Of Thy sweet presence for Jesus sake
As He the Lamb we now partake.

Anoint our eyes with Thy pure salve.
Rejoice our hearts in all we have,
By all You Are! We are made glad,
Fitted for battle, we thus are clad.

Unto the death with thankful plea,
With blessed assurance from Calvary.
More than conqueror's You made us to be
Through Christ alone, our Victory!

Michael E. Wood
September 8-9, 2010

Colossians 4:12 "...that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God."

Upon the completion of this poem, the following song by Fanny Crosby came to mind.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

(Refrain)
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

(Refrain)

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

(Refrain)

Oh Children Rejoice in Your King!

As of late, my custom has been to begin the day with reading, meditating and praying from Psalm 145. On this particular day I was awakened a little earlier than normal and though I began in Psalm 145, I found myself continuing into Psalm 149.

Coming to verse 2 which says, "Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.", music began to come to mind, and as I looked to verse 1 which includes the words, "Sing to the LORD a new song" I was much encouraged by knowing that the children of the promise are counted as offspring, so that all of the redeemed in Christ from the foundation of the world are the Israel of God, and He is our King! Thus from Psalm 149 and Revelation 1 came the following:

Let Israel be glad in his Maker!
Oh children rejoice in Your King!
Let your praise be to His Name then with dancing
Making melody with tambourine.

For the LORD, He takes pleasure in His people.
The humble He adorns with salvation.
Let the godly exult in His glory,
Out of Zion from every nation.

(Chorus)
Sing for joy a new song.
Praise His Name all day long.
All His godly ones, own now this honor.
For the judgment that's written
With our enemies smitten,
With His two-edged sword in our hands.
Let Israel be glad in his Maker!
Oh children rejoice in your King!

What a sight we'll behold at His coming.
The King with His eyes like a fire.
And His face in full strength, like sun shining.
All with Him in robes of white attire

His voice then will sound like a trumpet.
From His mouth comes sharp, two-edged sword.
He's the First and the Last, at His feet our crowns cast,
All in Him then will see Him adored.

(Chorus)

(and close with repeat of)
Let Israel be glad in his Maker!
Oh children rejoice in your King!

Michael E. Wood
August 31, 2010

Afflictions of our Ignorance

I am made more and more fully aware, by the scriptures, that the things of which I am given to write embrace a far wider expanse than my own personal walk with God in the geographical location or time element in which I presently live. And, thus my own afflictions are but very light in comparison with so many of our brethren which have gone before us. Many in other parts of the world, such as, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan endure great persecutions and many more will no doubt endure even more in days to come.

Oh how many there have, and do, and shall literally give up their lives for the cause of Christ, and thus it behooves us to be much in prayer for our brethren. To stand strong in the faith, giving glory to God, that they have been counted worthy to suffer such conflict for the kingdom of God. 2nd Thessalonians 1:4,5 "Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is the evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--"

Afflictions of a humbled mind,
As glimpse Your glory now we find,
Such wondrous wisdom You bestow,
Through Christ alone to make us grow.

Afflictions of our ignorance,
Through Christ give mercy; true repentance,
In all of time and days of past,
Redeemed to show You are steadfast.

In love You took us for Your Own,
And cause us by Your Spirit groan,
That we may see Your full perfection
In all You've chosen through election.

For not one hair of head will perish,
Strength You give to endure and cherish
Your all consuming holiness,
By which we're made, Your Name to bless.

Oh strengthen those who face the conflict.
Give words that none can contradict.
Though some be delivered; put to death,
You raise to praise with final breath.

For though the powers of heaven be shaken,
Not one in Christ shall be forsaken.
Lift up your heads, God's Word is clear,
For Your redemption is drawing near.

Michael E. Wood
August 30, 2010

By Your Eternal Spirit

While in the process of reading Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth", I was reminded it is good to read the "Rest of the Story", before coming to a conclusion concerning a matter. As he was addressing the subject of "special seasons and times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to give his children a sweet assurance of his favor and love." As he had listed nine different seasons, and I was in the midst of reading the one concerning the partaking of the Lord's table, questions began to arise in my own mind concerning the enjoyment thereof, causing me to wonder if there was something I was missing, as some seem to make more of partaking of the sacraments than the day to day partaking of the bread of life broken and opened to us by the Spirit of the Living God, secured for us by the sacrifice and sustenance of the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all sin.

While in this state of questioning, the following poem was written. Being enabled to look to the Word for answers, and immediately thereafter, as I continued on to the Seventh point by Brooks, the thoughts of which I trust were given to me of the Lord were confirmed. "...Praying times are times wherein the Lord is graciously pleased to give his people some sweet and comfortable assurance of His love and favor towards them. Usually the most praying souls are the most assured souls. Prayer crowns God with honor and glory that is due His Name; and God crowns prayer with assurance and comfort. There is no service wherein souls have such a near, familiar, and friendly intercourse with God, as in this of prayer, neither is there any service wherein God doth more delight to make known His grace and goodness, His mercy, and bounty, His beauty and glory to poor souls than this of prayer."

Therefore, I rejoice in the conclusion that our enjoyment of Christ and our usefulness by Him in the public arena and that of corporate worship is strengthened and increased as He leads us forth in the enjoyment and usefulness by Him in private.

I thank You for my ignorance,
For in it I am frail.
When waves of doubt assault my soul,
I know You shall prevail.

For You have chosen us so weak,
To show Yourself so True--
To strengthen us where glory dwells
Within our hearts anew.

By Your Eternal Spirit;
While engraved upon Your hands,
You offered up Yourself to God,
And pure our conscience stands--

That we may serve the Living God,
Your will did take effect;
Embracing us to know Your Name--
By sacrifice perfect,

A holy people to Your praise
To wait Your soon return.
Lord Jesus come, for You or'er all
Is Whom Your children yearn.

Michael E. Wood
August 26, 2010