August 12th

I just finished the book "A Time to Mend" by Gary Smalley & Sally John. It was about a marriage that unravels after 30 years; probably seems like an odd choice for me right now. Lol! In the book, they mention the praise song, "Blessed be the Name". Now I have heard that praise song many times. It always brings me to tears. To be able to praise God in good times and bad just seems to be such an evidence of strong faith. But I never connected where the lines in the praise song came from.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21

I began reading Job because I know God wanted me to read it again (I say again because I really dislike Job and try to avoid it at all costs) . Right there in the first chapter was the words to the praise song that I adore! Read through all the words to the song.

Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
album: Where Angels Fear To Tread (2002)
- - -
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



So now I'll say what I should have been saying all along.

Thank you God for the situation with Rachel.
Thank you God for our car breaking down.
Thank you God for Chistine losing her job
Thank you God for our air conditioning breaking down
Thank you God for our financial struggles

Hallejulah, Blessed be your name!