The following is one of my very favorite worship songs. This one was sung recently at church, led by our friend Pinky. The dancing that usually accompanies this song is always so much fun.

Thanks to Brenda Leeuw for translating the lyrics into English from Zulu.

Entsungwini zokuphila kwami (x6)
(For the days of my life)
Baba, siyakubonga (x6), e e
(We thank you, Lord)
Siyakubonga (x6), e e
(We thank you, Lord)
Baba, Baba (x6), e e
(O Lord, O Lord)
Siyangubonga, Siyangubonga (x6), e e
(I thank you, Lord; I thank you, Lord)

Filed under: Praise Songs by Rebecca on May 6th, 2009. Tags: lyrics, praise, siyakubonga, we thank you, worship | Post a comment

Another song, led by our friend at the Powerhouse Vincent Mabena, affectionately called “Little Vincent” or “Vince” so as to distinguish him from Pastor Vincent.

Thanks go out to Brenda Leeuw for translating the lyrics loosely into English from Zulu.

Hamba, hamba vangeli
(Go gospel, go)
Hamba, hamba vangeli
(Go gospel, go)
Hamba vangeli elisha (Go new gospel)

Intsibi edihe zinye (x6)
(Iron sharpens iron)

Hamba vangeli elisha (Go new gospel)

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Filed under: Praise Songs by Rebecca on April 22nd, 2009. Tags: praise, worship | Post a comment

We continue to love worship at the Powerhouse. Click the link below to hear a song from a recent Sunday.

Special thanks to Gloria Nyathi for helping translate the lyrics from Tsonga.

Loko mi hi vona hi te tani
(We are what we are)
Hi yena Yehova
(It is because of the Lord, Jehova)

Hi sasekile ma hi vona
(We are beautiful as you can see)
Hi katekile ma hi vona
(We are blessed as you can see)
Hinkwaswo ka swona
(All of these)
I tintswalo ta Yena
(Are the grace of the Lord)

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Filed under: Praise Songs by Rebecca on April 9th, 2009. Tags: praise, worship | 1 Comment

Here’s a fun song from church this past Sunday. You’ll notice the song carries one beat throughout, but it turns out it’s four songs in one (my understanding is that this was unplanned). I love the spontaneity of the worship here and how the congregation just “goes with the flow”—it’s really freeing to experience, even for we Americans who still struggle to follow along on some songs.

Special thanks to Nkele, Pinky and Brenda for helping with translation.

U lulamile Jehova loyi
(This God is good)
Ahe! U lulamile
(Ahe! He is so good)
Kasi nwina umi kume kwihi?
(Where did He get you?)
Ahi kume la, ahi veka la, ahi yisa le
(He found us here, He put us here, He took us there)

Siliwelile i Jordana
(We crossed the Jordan)
Siliwelile (4x)
(We crossed)
Siliwelile singaphesheya
(To the other side)

Ithuba loku thandaza
(We have the time of prayer)
Sinalo (2x)
(We have)
Ithuba loku thandaza
(We have the time of prayer)

Siliwelile i Jordana
(We crossed the Jordan)
Siliwelile (4x)
(We crossed)
Siliwelile singaphesheya
(To the other side)

Khutsi khutsi rena
(In the Lord we are having)
Ra ikhutsa
(Rest)
Amen
Alleluia Amen (3x)

Jesus! Jesus!

Siliwelile i Jordana
(We crossed the Jordan)
Siliwelile (4x)
(We crossed)
Siliwelile singaphesheya
(To the other side)

Listen to the fun the Powerhouse has in praising God by clicking the button below.

Filed under: Praise Songs by Rebecca on November 12th, 2008. Tags: praise, worship | 1 Comment

The Powerhouse web design class taught me this one, and now we sing it at the end of every class.

Re ya go leboga (3x)
(We thank you)
Modimo wa rona
(Our God)

Ga go ya swanang le wena (3x)
(There is none like you)
Modimo wa rona
(Our God)

Listen to the class sing by clicking the button below.

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Filed under: Praise Songs by Nathan on October 8th, 2008. Tags: praise, worship | 2 Comments

Probably one of the greatest things about being here so far is worshiping at the Powerhouse Church. There’s no good way to express how wonderful it is, but I thought we could at least share some of the songs, with translations when needed. The first song I wanted to share really gets at the heart of worship. The lyrics are very simple, as with most of the songs sung here.

“When the praises go up, His glory comes down. We lift Him higher, higher, higher. When the praises go up, His glory comes down.”

Back home, at most churches I’ve ever attended, I felt like the praise team was like a an ox, hauling a big wooden cart filled mostly with sick people. Sometimes the cart would get rolling pretty well, and everyone felt something. But sometimes the ox was too weak to pull the cart at all, even when it encouraged the people in the cart to help out. At the Powerhouse, it’s more like all the people are meeting for a huge rally or some kind of celebration. There’s electricity in the air, and the praise team is just there to start the anthem. Everyone gets into it, making up their own ways to demonstrate their love for God. Some dance, some form a conga line around the church, some just move from side to side with their hands raised high. Sometimes the pastor has to stop a song or else it will just keep going and going like the Energizer worship bunny. This type of worship is so much more meaningful and I dare say glorifying to God because the people are putting their hearts out there for God—telling Him how worthy He is of praise. My hope is that back home we can learn to worship like this—to get out of the cart and start dancing without shame. I pray for thankfulness for all that we have, and for warm hearts eager to give God the glory for it all (I’ve got more thoughts to share on this, but I’ll save them for next time).

Click the button below to hear this song.

Filed under: Praise Songs by Nathan on September 19th, 2008. Tags: praise, worship | 1 Comment