"Blessed Be Your Name" — Henry Williams

That's one of my favorite all-time worship songs. At least tied for first. It's a song about praising God in the good times and bad, in plenty and in suffering, in abundance and in death. Tomorrow there will be a celebration of Kevin Fontaine's life and our God who overcomes death. I can't be there because I'm in California, but Kevin and his family have been on my mind all day. Their faith, the hope that it brings, the reality of God's presence and power have been so evident as Kevin fought cancer. The song has also been on my mind today. Matt Redman wrote it, I recently learned, in response to 9/11. Here are the words:

Blessed Be Your Nameby Matt Redman- - -Blessed Be Your NameIn the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flowBlessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your nameWhen I'm found in the desert placeThough I walk through the wildernessBlessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your nameWhen the sun's shining down on meWhen the world's 'all as it should be'Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your nameOn 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 praiseWhen the darkness closes in, LordStill I will say

Blessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your nameBlessed be the name of the LordBlessed be Your glorious name

You give and take awayYou give and take awayMy heart will choose to sayLord, blessed be Your name