This is an amazing worship song from the Hillsong album This is Our God.  It caught me in a new way this week.  Here are the words…

I have decided I have resolved To wait upon you Lord
My rock and redeemer shield, and reward I’ll wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise You’ll come to us
As certain as the dawn appears

You’ll come let your glory fall As you respond to us
Spirit Rain, flood into our thirsty hearts again You’ll come.

We are not shaken we are not moved We wait upon you Lord
Mighty deliverer triumph and truth We wait upon you Lord

As surely as the sun will rise you’ll come to us
Certain as your word endures.

Chains be broken, Lives be healed
Eyes be opened, Christ is here

This is the passage of scripture the song is written from (you were right mom:)

Hosea 6

Israel Unrepentant

1 “Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.

2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.

3 Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”

4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your love is like the morning mist,
like the early dew that disappears.

5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets,
I killed you with the words of my mouth;
my judgments flashed like lightning upon you.

6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

7 Like Adam, ^[a] they have broken the covenant—
they were unfaithful to me there.

8 Gilead is a city of wicked men,
stained with footprints of blood.

9 As marauders lie in ambush for a man,
so do bands of priests;
they murder on the road to Shechem,
committing shameful crimes.

10 I have seen a horrible thing
in the house of Israel.
There Ephraim is given to prostitution
and Israel is defiled.

11 “Also for you, Judah,
a harvest is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,

I’m probably going to introduce this song in January.

Well today brought me more knowledge about this band that wrote God of this City.  Here is a video that will enlighten us on everything we ever wanted to know about Bluetree, including where there name comes from.

The Video

I am liking these guys the more I read about them.  Here is their own synopsis of themselves from facebook.

Worship. Rock. Techno(logy).Three words that don’t seem to fit very easily into the same sentence.Its just as well we aren’t confined to sentences. The music of Bluetree is an experience. This experience may well be loud, bold and energetic.It may also be soft and so quiet you can hear the heart beat of the person beside you . You may be blown away by the powerful thud of the kick drum or the hypnotic wail of the electric guitars. However, if this is all you experience then your time with us may very well have been wasted. Through all the noises and beats, all the melodies and harmonies, what we want you to experience is the overwhelming presence of God. We want you to forget the lights, the stage and the hundreds of people around you. Forget the sound system that is assaulting your body with so much bass you feel like your being punched in the chest. We invite you to lose yourself in worship. Worship of the Almighty.

I also like their interests: God, Shooting stuff, beating people up, Programming (it lets me know they are real and are probably nerds) (nerd is not a bad thing)

Editorial retraction: They are specifically from Belfast, Northern Ireland.  Some might see UK and think England.  So technically I was right but I am now being more specific.

Just got home from the Hymn Sing a little while ago…when my dad introduced a song I said to Peter “that sounds like something my mom would say.”  It was a hymn that I had never heard before called Count Your Blessings.  I have bolded some phrases that really spoke to me.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.