Yesterday a young man I watched grow up across the street from me and who went to school with my children decided life was too hard and took his own life.
Last night I heard about a 6th grade boy in the community I teach in who had an accident with a wood splitter. He lost 3 fingers and was facing 18-24 hours of surgery in an attempt to repair the damage.
I continue to feel great pain for the people of Haiti as they face such devastation, pain, suffering, and loss.
On my way to worship this morning I was praying for these huge situations and crying out to God!
As always He is faithful! The service began with "Blessed Be Your Name" and these words washed over my soul!
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
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
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 Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
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 the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
How awesome that the God of the universe;
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
the Creator of everything would take time to
remind me of the privilege of knowing Him!
Pastor Lance spoke of how our life should be a
pursuit towards God, not things!
My life should work around God not the other way
around!
But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your
life will be demanded from you. Then who will get
what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with those who store up things
for themselves but are not rich toward God."
Luke 12: 20-21
Life is so much better when we depend on our
Heavenly Father. He knows best and He has great
things planned for us! I want to pursue Him and the
permanent things of heaven, not the trivial things
of this life - not the temporary things.
Father,
You are my sanctuary!
You are my rock and my fortress!
I want to pursue you with everything in me!
I want to praise You!
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise!
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I'm gonna say
Blessed be the name of the Lord -
Blessed be Your name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord -
Blessed be Your glorious Name!
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Blessed be your name!
I want to always remember to praise
and bless your name -
in the good and bad -
in the happy and sad -
in the joy and in the pain.
Blessed be Your Name Jesus!
