Blessed Be Your Name

 

Each September 11th I wake up to see hundreds of posts on social media about a different September 11th that changed the lives of many. Each time I see those images I feel the same tight knot in stomach and lump in my throat. In 2001 we lived about 30 miles from the World Trade Centers and could see the smoke rising in the distance. I knew people who worked in the towers and can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the news came over the radio which I had playing in the background.

A moment that changed history. A moment that changed lives. Nothing would ever be the same. 

Our lives were changed as a result. In some ways it changed for the better as we made different decisions about where we were headed. In some ways it changed for the worse as I often think we were hasty in making those changes and there was some fall-out over that. But either way, things were different after that moment.

As I reflect on these decisions on this September 11th, I do know this one fact. Life can change in an instant for better or worse. You never know when something will happen that will change the course of your life. 

But God never changes. No matter what we are facing, He remains the one constant. If bad things happen can we still say, "Blessed be Your name?"

There is a song we sing periodically in church by that title. 

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'll say

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord blessed be Your name

In the light and in the darkness I choose to bless the name of the Lord. And really is a choice we make. We can focus on the negative and allow it to drag us down into the depths or we can focus on the Lord and know He is God even when we don't understand. 

Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

This week I'm thankful for the following things:

💓 It's been a hard summer with my son out of work, but I'm so thankful that today he starts a full-time job in the public school system with great benefits. It seems to be an environment where they understand his disability and are willing to work with him.

💓 A sweet gift from a friend who knows what I love.

💓 Getting our insurance sorted out.

💓 A wonderful leadership team at church whom encourages and challenges.

💓 Walks in a beautiful setting.

💓 A new little one in church who has been prayed for and is already loved.

💓 A great start to our new women's study at church.

💓 An uplifting worship service yesterday.

💓 Praying with a stranger to whom we delivered a basket of goodies.

💓 Phone conversations with my children.

💓 Continued weight loss (so far 25 lbs.).

💓 Preparing and looking forward to a district-wide conference in a couple of weeks.

💓 Encouragement found daily in God's word.

and finally...

💓 No matter what I face, God's name is blessed.