The Hacker Family
The Hacker Family

Sifa Kwe Bwana

19 July 15 – Sifa Kwe Bwana!

 

One of the Swahili phrases I learned in Africa was “Sifa kwe Bwana” or “Praise the Lord.” 

 

As I write this, I'm sitting on the front porch of a cabin on a lake in northern Wisconsin. Ethan's scout troop is spending a week camping, boating, shooting, and hiking and I'm fortunate enough to be with him. This morning was so peaceful, I couldn't help but feel good about life. It brought to mind one of my favorite Psalms...Psalm 145. I call it the Psalm of Praise:

 

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. 

...

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger and of great mercy. 

The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 

All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. 

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power. 

...

The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked he destroyeth. 

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. 

 

Sometimes it's hard to praise the Lord, particularly when life is hard. A great example to me comes from Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom. These two girls were sisters and lived during the horrors of World War II. They were captured and sent to a concentration camp. There they tried to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the other prisoners by holding Bible study in their barracks. One night Betsy told Corrie they needed to thank God for the lice in their barracks (there was lice everywhere in their barracks). Corrie at first resisted, but finally gave in and thanked God for the lice in their barracks. These two girls found out later that the only reason they were able to hold their Bible study was because the guards refused to enter their barracks...because of lice. The lice also allowed the women of their barracks to maintain their virtue. 

HTTPS://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2008-08-27.html

 

It’s not always easy for me to remember to praise the Lord when things get tough.

 

Joseph Smith and the early Saints faced many trials as they tried to worship the Lord.  I don’t have room here to quote it, but Doctrine & Covenants 128:19-24 really motivates me to praise the Lord.  If the early saints were able to praise the Lord in the face of their trials and adversities, then surely I can try harder to give praise.

 

I'll end this with the words of a short hymn: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

 

Sifa Kwe Bwana! - Praise the Lord!

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