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Tonight we attended the College age service that takes place at our church on Saturday night. (I know we are too old, but we were there to help, and we're not too old to enjoy it!)I was feeling especially blessed tonight because Heather was doing well enough to attend and also because sitting next to us, was our Pastor who had been away for over a year after being called up from the Navy Reserves. I'm so thankful for answered prayers on Heather's behalf and to see Pastor Paul, smiling and worshiping with us, as only he can do!
One of the songs that we sang tonight really speaks to me. It is a song that I have loved since I first learned it. Our youth pastor introduced it to us several years ago and I often think of him when we sing it. He and his wife really have lived out the words to this song, as they recently lost a son, shortly after birth. Even in the middle of those difficult times, they were able to praise God through their tears. Here are the words to the song:
Blessed be Thy name,
When the sun is shining down on me,
When the world is all that it should be,
Blessed be Thy name
Blessed be Thy name,
When the road is marked with suffering
When there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be Thy name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Thy name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be the glorious name.
Tonight it was easy for me to sing this song. My daughter is returning to full health. Someone we have really missed is back. Everything is going well. The harder thing is to praise in tough situations. I have known many people who have done that and been a great witness. I have been blessed in my life and haven't had great tragedies occur to me, but I can say that God has been with me through things like the loss of Bob's job a few years ago and the death of my Mom. I will say "Blessed be the name" now and I pray that when I am in the middle of tough times, I will continue to say it.
