the God who gives and takes away...

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

it never ceases to amaze me, how some people can just find it in their hearts to accept it with so much peace, the fact that the Lord gives and takes away.. especially in funerals. it is so easy to say, yet so hard to embrace and face. some may say that they have left for a better place. but yet their absence from our lives is still very much felt. it makes me think, of what i wanna do with my life, how i wanna leave an impact on the lives of people around me, and not just disappear off the face of the earth. more than ever, it makes me cherish those around me even more.

i suppose each time we are faced with difficulties, it is in our very nature to focus all our attention or every part of our functioning brain capacity on the PROBLEMS, the things we LACK, but we forget, ever so often, just how BLESSED we are, and the things we already HAVE.

i suppose, not only do i have to learn to dance in the rain, but also to praise Him in the storm. =]