Jesusluvsall's Blog

Last night I visited House of Prayer a Ukrainian church here in my city. They had a special speaker who shared some good things, but for me the biggest blessing was seeing friends I have not seen for a long time and to worship with them.

Vladimir was my first student from Ukraine. He came here with his wife Yelena in 2000. I used to meet Vladimir in a coffee shop in downtown Lincoln. We had a lot of fun studying together. I will never forget the time when as we were studying, Vladimir’s eyes got real big and he pointed out the window. I turned around and saw a police officer arresting someone. I changed our lesson plan to explain basics about our justice system. Vladimir had grown up in Ukraine as a child when it was part of the USSR, so police activity got his attention.

I saw many other former students last night. It was a blessing to see them again and catch up with them a little. One young woman who was in my Newcomer Refugee class last summer is married now and expecting a baby next month. I also saw the family I helped to have a wedding at my church because they couldn’t use the church building their church rented at the time.

As we were worshiping, I could feel the song in my spirit even though I did not understand the words. I just closed my eyes and felt the music in my spirit. A few of the songs were ones I knew in English, so I sang in English as all the others sang in Ukrainian. Those songs were also sung in English at the end. It is a great blessing to worship with people in another language because it reminds me of what is written in Philippians 2:

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

A day will come will all people will acknowledge Jesus is Lord, a day all will come before Jesus on his throne. People from every language will be there. The only question will be whether we are there rejoicing in gratitude or there in fear for having rejected him in this life.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.