Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
One Sunday in May, Mother's Day, to be exact, I received quite a large check towards my summer adventures from a family member. It was a game changer--an open door to dreams of which I was previously unsure. Directly afterwards I went to church, my heart full. 10,000 Reasons was sung with passion by the worship leaders. And on that evening, I sang like never before. I had seen God provide in an unimaginable way.
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find
Of course I could not have known of the storm that was to come. Exactly two weeks later, on a fitful Sunday morning, my dear little brother passed away. I remember that song, that reminder to worship and to bless Him, streaming in the other room that day and the next as another brother and a friend sorted and sifted and rearranged boxes and belongings so that family and friends might have spaces to love and to mourn. His heart is so kind---I remember finding His love in that truth.
The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
And on that Wednesday night and Thursday morning, as I packed through the night after the funeral, the living room scattered with clothing, mosquito repellent and water filter bits and pieces, I prepared to journey to a continent far off--and set this song to repeat--all the weary hours long. A new yet uncertain day was dawning. It was time for me to go. I knew I would be called to sing my song again--which really was His song. And I knew no matter what had happened or what the path held, my heart and soul would never cease to sing.
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
I was in an airport somewhere between Texas and Africa, in need of guidance and direction in the midst of delayed flights and missed connections. A caring friend was on the other line of the phone. He was at my house, using my computer, ironically, and as he turned his attention to my flight information on the screen, there it was again. That song. Still on repeat from a day or two before. I could hear it through the phone.
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forever more
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forever more
In Mozambique I sat on the concrete classroom floor, still floating in a sea of grief, yet held so gently in His hands. The familiar sound rose again. No one could know what it meant to me--that we have a history, this song and I. No, it wasn't the end of my life yet, but still my strength faltered. He was strong for me when my brother's time came. He was strong for me when all that I knew or was sure of was His goodness. He will always be strong for me.
At the OneThing conference in Kansas City over New Years I had the pleasure of hearing Matt Redman sing this song live in worship. Gripped my heart. My spirit was light again and danced within me. Finally I could sing with joy--like never before.
My soul will sing His praise unending---10,000 years and forever more.
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