Victorious Worship

Yesterday, a good friend of mine, Aubrey invited me over for the worship night of Victory Alabang, I accepted as she asked me in advance this time. Honestly, I haven’t been to one for so long, my song base is outdated, and my heart fears the setting. I felt like I wasn’t in the right situation to give praise and offer myself in music to the Highest. But I still went as her enthusiasm and companionship was compelling, considering we were a group that made the choice to attend.

A few month’s back I would say my heart was a wreck, and I mauled piles of sins back to my life, tainting my experience and corrupting my being yet again. I was empty, craving for something invisible, immense and indescribable… Familiar? It was not the darkest, but a dark time nonetheless. Work drained the my vitality, friends felt distant and loneliness possessed my thoughts. I was troubled every night, I couldn’t sleep right: My back ached, my mind lingered, there was no rest, no peace but somehow I made it through.

Things changed after getting a break, I had a renewed life force and perspective. I guess you can call it being refreshed as I felt exhausted. Nature’s effect sure does rejuvenates the soul, something that no amount of gaming has provided me under the urban circumstance and its all thanks to my brother Sean. But the grace doesn’t end with Sean, I’m sure. The sequence of events was too timely, and nature has His finger prints all over it, it would be a shame to miss the marks that was left for me to notice and with the blessing of sight, I did notice.

As I entered the doors of the church, the scent breezed with energy and anticipation, we passed through people of different appearance and attitudes, but all were in unison as their presence emanate a sense of purpose for the gathering. At last, we reached our spot by the side of the stage, the lights dimmed the piano started, the drums and the rest of the instrument. First thing I noticed honestly is the girl that sang by the the stage facing my way was beautiful, joy was evident by her face, and her smile in line with her excitement glowed above the faint lights, she was wearing a G-shock watch like I had except it was white.

The song started, as expected, the lyrics we’re foreign to me, but I understood its message, by repetition I’ve learned to go with some but some I had a hard time following. Nonetheless, the words moved my heart restoring me to who I am and showing me what I was. The sense of guilt, gratitude, grace and honesty was full on, nobody had the time to be embarrassed about what others think, all we had and need at that moment is to lift up the One that has, and continues to save with grace and mercy. With a familiar tone, the introduction plucked my enthusiasm to hear a song I can sing to the Man that saved me. ‘Unending Love’ was sang, needless to say, with no holds barred or self-consciousness I burst into tears as the song’s heavy hymns and words hits the point that reminds me, I have been redeemed, sacrificed for and most of all, loved, still and forever more.

Knees we’re bent, tears we’re shed, cries to the most High was raised, each child, had his or her own weight to lift, and they we’re lifted up. Everyone was broken to be reborn, vulnerability abounds to acknowledge that no one was strong enough to endure the crashing waves or to cry as it swept them from where they stand. Hearts we’re exposed and you could see fire ablaze in the hands, eyes, lips and knees of those who gave worship. God was there, He was there to calm the hearts of torrent and everyone who acted upon each of their sacrifice to offer with their bodies.

But it didn’t end with hearts crushed, the instruments continued gradually to a song of joy and praise. With legs itching to jump, and body’s moved to dance, there was a diversity of people’s translation of the overflowing happiness of their souls, to each man their own reverb of the chorus, and lines of additional prayer of acknowledgement. I didn’t know how to sing them once again, I got to follow the chorus a little, but the best part was to see the liveliness of God’s people sing and dance like no one’s watching.  I stood there in the midst of what seemed like a glorious festival, gave thanks, and asked for blessings for that church.  Their worship doesn’t stop with a song, everyone has his or her own way to let go of an immense gratitude or need, give to Him what is due, to the people that don’t understand, let them wonder or be curious, what’s important is that you’ve given what you have.

I left the carpet floor, empty of worries, stress or anxiety. I felt restored and revived, as if peace was my spirit. I guess I needed that more than I know, the songs sang in a way, better expressed my heart than my words. Thanks for the invite Aubrey!