Pause for Praise

This morning in church we sang this song. I hadn't heard it for a while, but it seemed needful for my heart, so I'm posting it here so I can come back to it from time to time. And maybe it will bless someone else as well...

(It's by the "Newsboys." Not sure of copyright info. )

What I like about it is the affirmation -- the *choosing* to bless God's name, no matter what our circumstances. I'm still learning this. I need to keep practicing. It seemed to weave together with the sermon preached by Bishop Duncan, who made his pastoral visitation this morning, and who reminded us that God has a plan: for the world, for us as a community, for you, for me (as individuals) and that it's our task to learn to "walk in" that path he's prepared beforehand for us (Ephesians 2).

Part of our cooperation with what God's doing seems intimately connected to praise...

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Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

And blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's "all as it should be"
Blessed be You name
And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
I will bless Your name

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I turned 38 today. It was kind of a lonely and tired birthday. But it was a birthday, and I'm thankful to be alive and well.

Blessed be your name, Lord!