Sunday, May 5, 2013

Blessed Be Your Name

In church today we sang the song, Blessed Be Your Name.  It is a great song that is full of so much truth.  There was a time back in Michigan, when I didn't like the song.  It wasn't that I thought the words were not true or I didn't like the tune, it was because I had sung it so many times, that I was done with it.  While singing it today, that was not the case.

"You give and take away.  My heart will choose to say, 'Lord Blessed Be Your Name'"

My time here at Beautiful Gate has been one of giving and taking away.  While I was singing those words today, I needed to stop and reflect.  With all the giving and taking, was my heart saying "Blessed Be Your Name?"  Or was I just singing the song, because it was projected on the screen?  I want to live my life in a way that no matter what happens I can raise my hands and praise God.  I want to believe the words I sing!!!  There may be moments when I raise my hands high in celebration for what God has done.  There also may be moments when I put my hands out through the grief and pain.  I may not understand what I am facing, but I pray that I can rely on God's love to get me through. 

I was helping Anita today in her Sunday School class.  We were talking about trees.  Isaiah 55 talks about how the trees rejoice and clap their hands.  Anita talked about how sometimes wind and storms are hard on trees, but they don't move.  They rely on their roots to hold them down and as they stretch their arms to Heaven.  They may sway a little with the wind.  They may get hurt, and loose some branches, but they do not move.

I want to be a tree.  I want to be able to stretch my arms to Heaven no matter what is beating on me.  I want to reflect His love in my life and CHOOSE to live His joy.  I know life is hard and there will be moments when quiet reflection is what my heart will need.  But I pray I cannot only sing, but believe and proclaim the words "You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, "LORD BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!"

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