On my walk this morning I found myself listening to a worship song sung in two languages – English and Chinese. Because I am bilingual, my attention became more focused as I unpacked the lyrics in both languages in my head.
Here’s the video link for that song if you wish to listen to it.
It was a cool summer evening in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico when I heard a worship song I was familiar with sung in a language I know little about. My family and I were camping for a few days when one day after a wonderful hike I heard the worship song, “Holy Spirit, you are welcome here” sung in Spanish.
Intrigued, I moved closer to listen. The rendition was beautiful but I was also puzzled why they would sing it in Spanish.
“Because it is their heart language,” came the certain answer.
This response came from a pastor when I raised the question later, and as I considered it, I recalled the Miao Christians I met many years ago in China. (Find out more about them in our book on Amazon here.)
Through their story I had the wonderful privilege of finding out more about the Pollard script, named after a British missionary who lived from 1894-1915 and who put their oral language into writing.
“How could we not be happy? We know the Lord.” _ a simple response from a tribal Miao Christian I interviewed years ago.
During the pandemic year of 2020 I decided to start a Youtube channel. I really just wanted to understand how Youtube works, and I called my channel Simple Daily Joy. Learning how to produce content for that platform inspired me to start several playlists, one of which was the praise song “The Blessing”, sung in various languages and tongues around the world.
As the world was turned upside down by Covid-19, I caught a glimpse of what heaven might sound like.
Here’s the playlist I created of the worship song “The Blessing” – sung in various heart languages from around the world.
There are 28 versions this moment. Enjoy!
I am not sure how you found your way here, but I hope just like my serendipitous personal and musical encounters with all the Christians highlighted here you will be encouraged to sing in your heart language to God.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
