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!

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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!

Things Which Seem Distressing

Michael E. Wood

August 20, 2013

 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, Philippians 1:12

How often do many of us as followers of Christ in America lose our focus in the midst of what seemed at the time to be very distressing circumstances only to be rebuked in our spirit when we consider what others are called to endure?

When the apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to write to the church at Philippi, he was in prison awaiting trial. In the midst of not knowing with absolute certainty whether the ensuing days would bring about his demise, he used every opportunity for the advancement of the gospel.                             

 How are you doing out there?

He takes those things which seem distressing

To bring forth a richer blessing,

Turning all out for our good

Though far from us yet understood.

For though we may seem now deterred

By circumstance: His voice is heard,

Proclaiming freedom through our bonds

To hearts He opens and responds

Unto the faithful gospel call

That Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

Forgive me when my love does not

Excel and intercede

With prayers for other saints

Who suffer far and greater needs

Than I can now imagine with

My comforts and my pride

Which yet distract in moments

When I hear not what they cried.

Show mercy and love loyalty

To all you have in view.

For You alone are Judge of all

The hearts You have made new.

And give to them that measure

Of Your grace that You know best

Fits for each occasion

Of Your children seeking rest.

In Christ alone give comfort

And the strength to burdens bear

Exactly as You portioned

To display Your glory there

In the midst of trials

As You make Your presence known

To show them that You love them

And You own them as Your own.

I’m Thankful for My Wife

Michael E. Wood

November 26, 2014

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.  Proverbs 31:29-31

Any true minister of the gospel desires above all else to see God glorified through the transformation of souls to the praise of His glory. We long to see Christ formed by the power of the Spirit in the hearts of those whom we have the privilege to preach to on a regular basis. Over the course of time we find that we rejoice when we see what appears to be fruit formed from the Vine and yet we grieve when we see what appears to be something less than good fruit.

In recent days Dianna and I have had the opportunity to rejoice in some situations while becoming very concerned about another. While praying and searching the scriptures as how to respond to this particular circumstance, Dianna was able to give insight into an area which had not come to my mind and thus provided wisdom with which to go forward in a manner we believe to be pleasing to the Lord. With all the things I have to be thankful for during this season of life the Lord has given me, I am so very thankful for my wife.

I’m thankful for the wisdom

God has given you, my wife,

Which helps to keep me humble

As we journey through this life,

Together for the cause of Christ

That we might make Him known,

With steadfast love and faithfulness

That He to us has shown.

Oh, help us love with patience,

Holy Father, God, and Friend

In such a way that Christ may be

Exalted to this end

That others come to know You

By the Spirit which You gave

To birth them into life as

Christ’s own blood for us was paid

To save us from our sin that

Your own glory may be known

Which raised us to behold

All of Your beauty as Your own.