Pain in the Offering
There is a song written by Matt Redman titled; Blessed be the Name of Lord.
When I first heard this song, I didn't really think much of it. It sounded like any other "Christian Worship" song. It's been nearly a year since I first heard that song. Today, if you were to ask me what I now think of Matt's encouragement to all Christians, in such amazing lyrical form, I could tell you this: I now know the meaning of those lyrics better than anyone I know, it's as if I wrote them myself!
In the course of just one year, I have walked from happiness to great, great, sadness. From abundance to almost nothing but the clothes on my back. From sheltered to homeless, from deeply loved, to overwhelmingly abandoned.
The story is long, and it's fully of suffering and heartache, but all the while I can testify to God's amazing provision for me. I can testify of my unwillingness to walk away and turn my back on such a God, simply because life has brought me tragedy.
Over the next few days I will begin to tell this story, one that has yet to find it's "happy ending", although I feel very close.
If I have learned anything thus far, it would be this:
God has a plan for each and everyone of us. And what this world means to harm us with, God CAN and WILL turn it around for good.
Blessed Be Your Name
by Matt Redman
- - -
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