like never before

I was supposed to be going through the pile of paperwork in my office this morning...applications, grocery receipts, bills.

But I have missed it so -- passionate voices that sound like hundreds, singing hearts out in praise to God -- bursting out of the chapel and filling the entire campus with something like heaven.

I slipped in the back of the chapel just as one group finished and another was about to start.

"Today, I sing in English," Wanique shared, and began slowing playing through the opening chords of Ten Thousand Reasons by Matt Redman.

A student favorite, the men and women around me lifted their voices and their hands with Walnique, boldly singing out in their best English...

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

I begin to cry, one, because we're all crying a lot these days, and two, because the words God just finished speaking to Emily He was now reaffirming to me.

It was before seven this morning when Emily busted in our house, bawling and grinning and talking a mile a minute.  She had been awoken suddenly out of a deep sleep, and heard rain lightly falling.  Still half asleep, she went outside, seeing the sun trying to push through gray clouds.

She turned to head back to the house and stopped dead in her tracks to this:

Those are our homes, right in the middle.

"I KNOW," she repeated fervently, still grinning and dewy eyed as I headed up the office, "That God is taking care of us, that He is closely here with us, that He will carry us through."

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul

Oh, my Soul

Worship His Holy name

Sing like never before

Oh my soul

I'll worship Your Holy Name.

It is a new day dawning.  A new school year and new day, just today.

It's time to sing His praises again, and whatever may pass today, you'll find us singing when this evening comes.

Bless all these persecutions, hardships and trials.

We'll sing like never before.