Blessed Be Your Name

As mentioned in our recent newsletter, we were recently invited to speak at a leaders conference in the village of Pacho. The theme of the conference was on encouraging the elders to empower the youth and the value of a life lived for Christ.

I felt led to share on Psalm 71:17-23.

"Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

You who have done great things. Who is like you God?

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,

you will restore my life again; 

from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you - 

I whom you have delivered.

As I was preparing what to speak on, something took a hold of my own heart. These past few months spent in Uganda have been filled with healing. I looked back over my life to the times when I have seen the marvelous deeds of God and the heartache of brokenness. 

And yet... God is faithful. He is so faithful.

It's incredible to me that I'm back in Uganda. My time here in 2010 was a perfect example of pure joy and incredible pain. And yet, the Lord has used both to grow me and has brought me back to serve Him through serving those living in this land.

Our lives are a testimony of his grace.

The ever popular song "Blessed be His Name" by Matt Redman comes to mind. If you listen carefully to what you are singing, it is an intensely powerful song. To me, it sums up these few verses in Psalm 71.

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

It doesn’t matter what season you are in… for example here in Uganda it is “rainy” season, meaning it rains almost every day. Many people have been planting and harvesting crops to feed their families. The cool breeze flows through the screened windows of our little home and brings a refreshing from the heat that normally clings to you like glue. It’s the fruitful time of the year.

But we are on the verge of the “other” season.

The “dry” season yields little rain and relief. The sun beats down and the heat dry everything out. Dust cakes everything in a think covering of a reminder that its terribly dry. Crops don’t grow and you have to sweep 5 times a day. It’s intensely dry and hot.

When I left Uganda back in 2010… I left in dry season. And to be honest, I feel I’ve remained in that season since that time. Wandering in the desert. Holding onto God and his promises but at times struggling when I see a mirage of a stream and thinking my time in the desert heat is done. But still finding myself here. I was so broken when I left Uganda 6 years ago and yet I knew God was calling me back.

And He is faithful. What I thought was lost… was actually being planted deep into my heart and on the verge of sprouting.

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord, blessed be Your name

It’s a choice. It’s easy to praise God in the “abundant” times… but it’s a choice to praise him in the “desert” times. And in my “old” age, I pray I continue to learn the things of God. As I said, looking back and standing here I am amazed at how the Lord is working everything together for the good.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

From brokenness to beauty.

From ashes to joy.

From dry to abundance.

He is working in our lives in such an extraordinary way. Whether you are in a time of abundance or find yourself wandering in the heat of the desert. Whether you are in the beginning stages of life or nearing the end. God is faithful. The young can learn so much from veterans of the faith and follow their example of holding on to the Lord no matter what life brings them. There is such value in a testimony of a life lived for God.

It’s not easy… but it’s worth it.