My Joy

Church. I don’t even know how to express my deep joy that I felt worshiping with the people of the Mochipapa community. We were able to share in the service with one of the nursing students preaching about the life of Joseph and singing as a group for them, one song led in the Tonga language. That was good. I sat next to a young woman with her baby, who was cooing and smiling at me throughout the service. That was good. An older woman across the aisle who could barely get into the church in the morning due to her physical ailments, was dancing and worshiping. That was also good.

But the best part this morning was the prayer time. The church choir led a prayer song and as they continued to sing the congregation began to pray. Not led from the front like our churches back home, but individuals began to lift their heart cry to the Lord. The rumbling became louder and louder. One young woman could be heard above the rest, yelling out to the Lord, distressed and in deep pain. I was standing, listening to the cry of God’s people when I began to hear a soft voice, an African voice singing...

“Then sings my soul, my savior God to me. How great thou Art, How great thou Art. Then sings my soul, my savior God to me. How great thou Art, How great thou Art”.

What a incredible moment of worship. What a privilege to be in the presence of a loving, compassionate God whose mercies are absolutely new each day.

“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” Thessalonians 2: 19-20