Ukuthula, Usindiso, Ukubonga, Ukunquoba, Induduzo

What a privilege that I have the opportunity to be involved in a choir like the one here at my wonderful university.  I get to sing with a group of people who, for the most part, all care deeply about the quality of the music that we make.  I get to sing songs about Jesus and listen to people lift His name in praise even when they don't realize that they are glorifying Him whether they want to or not.  If I choose to let the Holy Spirit be a part of the rehearsal then I get to worship through song in my classroom every single day.  What a beautiful privilege I have.  This is one of the songs that particularly effects me every time we sing it.  I can feel the heaviness of the Spirit come into the rehearsal room as soon as it starts, and to think about what the words mean makes the song even more fabulous.  The great thing about my Lord is that even if the language I'm singing is not my language, He still knows what I'm saying.  He hears me praising His son's sacrifice.  He hears this group of 30 singers lifting His name and giving thanks for the blood of Jesus.  Praise the Lord for bringing peace, redemption, praise, victory, and comfort into the world by the blood of Jesus.  Hallelujah.

Ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono (Aleluya) igazi likeJesu linyeneyz'
Peace in this world of sin the blood of Jesus brings, Hallelujah

Usindiso kulo mhlaba wezono (Aleluya) igazi likeJesu linyeneyz'
Redemption in this world of sin the blood of Jesus brings, Hallelujah

Ukobonga kulo mhlaba wezono (Aleluya) igazi likeJesu linyeneyz'
Praise in this world of sin the blood of Jesus brings, Hallelujah.

Ukunqoba kulo mhlaba wezono (Aleluya) igazi likeJesu linyeneyz'
Victory in this world of sin the blood of Jesus brings, Hallelujah.

Induduzo kulo mhlaba wezono (Aleluya) igazi likeJesu linyeneyz'
Comfort in this world of sin the blood of Jesus brings, Hallelujah.

You Are Impressive

Today I tried to figure out if I should be impressed by God.

God is good and He is the greatest being in existence.  He is unfathomable and incomprehensible.
God does great things that deserve thanks and praise and adoration.

As Christians we should expect great things out of our powerful and perfect Father.  Miracles and healing are typical for our Lord.  Those things are in His nature.  It is a part of Him to do things that seem impossible to us.  So since we expect those things, maybe they shouldn't seem impressive.
At the same time "impressive" is like "impression" and so as I learn more about my Father I find things about the same unchanging God that are simply new to me.  Those things should be impressive.  Also, although we expect things from Him, they are always unexpected.  The way that He answers prayers is never something I can figure out.  Sometimes He waits months or years, but sometimes He answers prayers instantly.  And no matter when or how He answers those prayers always puts me on my knees.  No matter how much I expect the answer and believe that there will be an answer, when the answer comes I fall even deeper in love with Jesus because He blows my mind every time.

Impress:

• to affect deeply or strongly in mind of feelings; influence in opinion.
• to apply with pressure, so as to leave a mark.
• to urge, as something to be remembered or done.
• to fix deeply or firmly on the mind or memory, as ideas or facts

God is all of those things.  Everything He does leaves a mark on His followers.  Everything He is affects me deeply.  Every time He shows himself He is fixed on my mind.  There is nothing about my God that is not impressive.

Although we should believe and be expectant followers understanding that our God can do all that He wants, He is impressive because He cannot appear without changing the hearts and lives of those who see Him.  

They Shall Be White as Snow

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."
-Isaiah 1:18

Maybe the reason people get so excited about the snow is because it is a beautiful picture of our God.  Most obviously, it is white and beautiful.  The bible tells us that our sins make us like crimson, but because of Christ's sacrifice we can be made as white as snow.  Second, it is so gentle and beautiful while at the same time it can be dangerous.  It also can cause people to stop their plans.  God's presence calls us to stop and admire, praise, worship, and love Him.  All too often we don't stop because we don't recognize Him.  I admit to being guilty as well. God demands our worship, and our attention.  There is nothing greater than being at His feet and there is no higher calling than to be His servant.  Instead of going along with my day as God's presence calls to me, I will stop and acknowledge His greatness.  Let the wonder, gentility, and strength of the snow be a reminder of our wonderful Lord.

My Precious Victor Jesus

How many times was I told to keep my eyes ahead when I run?  So why am I looking around now, when the prize is so much greater than coming in first?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. -Hebrews 12:1

I so often look around the world on my own to find things.  I look for provision, happiness, a husband, satisfaction.  There is nothing more important at this time than simply looking ahead and running the race that God has set out for me.  God's arms are stretched out wide in front of me, and I should be sprinting to them.  I should long for my Jesus so much that I can't stand my human body that keeps me from getting to experience Him fully.  Yet I dwell in this body happily and I feel satisfied in my popularity and beauty.  I feel fine just going through my day without even once speaking the most precious name I know.  I feel perfectly okay without speaking the words that could save a life from eternity away from the Father.  I am satisfied with myself when I sing well and make a few people smile.  I should love Jesus so much it makes people confused.  I should be so obsessed with His glory that people wonder what in the world my purpose in life is.  I should long for more of Him so earnestly that there is no mistaking His hold on my life and my heart.  I should be running so fast and so hard for Him that the things that may be important and impressive and satisfactory to the world are only a blur in my peripheral vision because I am running so fast and so focused toward my precious victor Jesus.

The Lost Son

When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servant have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
-- Luke 15:17-20

So many people don't understand that there is no 'good enough' for God.  We can never be good enough.  Our lives will never be worth acceptance from God.  Praise the Lord that we are not good enough, because if we could be, why would we need God at all?  Instead, He pursues us while we're still so far from perfection just like in the parable of the lost son.  We don't have to be good enough because when we accept the saving grace of Jesus, his death pays for all of our sins.  The father in the parable has been betrayed by his son.  His son essentially told him that he'd rather have him dead, and he wants his inheritance now.  He then goes and spends it all on immoral things.  When the son decides it would be smarter for him to go back and at least be a servant in his father's home he starts on his way back.  The father sees his from far away.  Without the son ever saying a word his father runs to him without haste.  He was so far away, but his father had been watching and waiting for him.

That is how God feels about each of us.  He is watching and waiting for you to come home, and when he sees you on the very horizon of salvation, He will run to you and take you in as if you have never sinned against him once. How could you refuse a love like that?

Dear World

Dear World,

Thank you for persecuting me and considering me insane.  By trying to hurt me you are only blessing me.  I strive everyday to be more like my Savior.  When you tell me I'm crazy, I know I'm doing something right.  I want to identify with Jesus, and you're only helping me in that.  Don't think you're getting me down by hurting me.  You're only pushing me closer to Jesus, which is exactly where I want to be.

Love,
Katie

And so it goes.

I'm going to miss this.  Home. Music fills the rooms. Laughter and joking. Family.  The sounds of home. My dad sits strumming his guitar, and the television talks to no one in the background.  The crickets chirp in the thick night air.  The feelings of home. Safety and security. Love. Comfortability. Easiness.  I'm going to miss the morning. Waking up to the sounds of my family going about their business downstairs.  I'm going to miss going up to my wonderful mother and resting my head on her shoulder.  I'm going to miss being able to cry to my sister.  I'm going to miss having my brother to beat up.  I'm going to miss the beautiful heart of my wonderful baby sister. I'm going to miss my dad and the way he shows that he cares.

I love you. I'll miss you.