||Written in Filipino - English|| COMPLETED ||
She loves God. He hates the very mention of His Name.
She is anointed by God's Spirit. He plays with demons.
She is God's. He is lost.
A woman of light comes to cross the life of a man whose life can...
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Muli kong chineck yung orasan ko, naninigurado kung saktong alas nuebe na. Sa totoo lang, halos thirty minutes na akong naka-tambay dito sa labas ng church nila Ma'am Johanna, pero nahihiya kasi akong pumasok ng sobrang aga. Nasanay ako sa Ifugao na ako palagi maaga dahil inaayos ko yung mga kakantahin, mukang pati dito eh naidala ko yata.
With a deep breath I took a step and began to walk towards the gate, the yellow-colored building of the church coming to view as I approached. Tama nga yung sinabi ni Ma'am, malapit lang itong church doon sa school. Mabuti naman. At least hindi na ako mamomroblema ng pamasahe papuntang town.
"Hi Grace!" Bumungad ang maaliwalas na mukha ni Ma'am Johanna sa pagpasok ko, her pastel-blue dress swaying freely as she walked towards me.
"Hi po, Ma'am!" Bati ko naman, smiling as she pulled me into a hug.
"Mabuti at nakarating ka!" Sambit niya, "Halika, doon tayo sa medyo harap umupo."
Tumango nalang ako at sumunod sakaniya, nag-oobserba habang naglalakad kami. Hindi naman kalakihan yung simbahan, pero it could probably hold around a hundred people. Most of the seats are already filled, and more people are coming in.
Na-excite ako lalo nang marinig kong magsimulang tumugtog ang mga instrumentalists. I must admit, para akong igno habang pinapanood sila. Paano ba naman, minsan lang naman kami magkaroon ng ganito ka kumpletong worship band sa amin. Isang guitar lang okay na, while dito mayroong acoustic at lead guitar, mayroong keyboard, mayroong base, mayroong drums at naku, ang daming mic! Kaya siguro marami ring back-up singers.
Marahan akong tinapik ni Ma'am Johanna at nagsalita, "Dito ka muna ha? Ako kasi Worship lead ngayon kaya akyat muna ako, okay?"
For a moment I couldn't speak. Could this get any more perfect? Worship leader siya, tapos preacher pa asawa niya. Wow naman, sana all, Lord!
A smile adorned my face as I watch her go up the altar, and upon her signal, the instruments began to play, pulling us all into dancing.
'God is fighting for us, God is on our side, He has overcome, yes, He has overcome We will not be shaken, we will not be moved, Jesus You are here, yeah!'
Immediately I began to sing along as I recognized the song, joy welling up my heart with each word. Hindi kami nakaka-kanta ng mga ganitong songs sa Ifugao, mostly kasi mga old songs ang alam ng congregation kantahin. Gustuhin ko man sanang turuan sila, mahihirapan din naman dahil mostly eh matatanda ang mga dumadalo kaya baka hindi rin magwork. Kaya tuloy parang tuwang-tuwa ako ngayon habang nakiki-kanta sa kanila. Yung mga kantang sa phone ko lang napapakinggan noon, ngayon finally! I can sing live with others!
I will live, I will not die! The resurrection power of Christ, Alive in me and I am free, In Jesus' Name!
It wasn't very long nang magsimula kong mahalata ang kaka-ibang liveliness ng worship. Sa palagay ko, hindi ito epekto ng dahil lang kumpleto yung mga musical instruments. As in lahat ng mga congregants kumakanta! They all were clapping along, all were seemingly joyful. Lalo akong na-aamaze. Usually kasi sa worship, hindi man marami, meron at meron parin yung parang tuod na parang wala man lang planong maki kanta! Pero dito? There was no sign of it! Hay, Lord! Kung sana ganito lahat ng simbahan!
Gradually, as the song came to an end, I expected the crowd to quiet down, but to my surprise, they did not. Instead, the instrumentalists seemed to go up on a crescendo, heightening in loudness as the people began to shout praises. I gaped in amazement.
Sa dati kong church, the only person who would do shouting, ay yung ale na palaging naka-upo sa front row. But here? Oh my goodness, I felt as though my heart could've bursted. Kulang nalang mayanig yung simbahan sa lakas ng mga papuri nila! I shut my eyes, eventually praising along as the music slowed down. Oh Lord, never had I been with worshippers like this! Sana Lord, turuan mo din akong maging katulad nila.
The music slowly changed in beat, the keyboard taking over as the song key changed.
'Mountains are still being moved, Strongholds are still being loosed, God we believe it, cause yes we can see that, Wonders are still what You do'
I gazed up towards the stage, reading each line as Ma'am Johanna sang. Hindi ako familiar sa kantang ito, pero the minute na narinig ko alam ko nang magiging on-repeat nanaman ito sa phone ko mamaya.
As much as I tried not to, hindi ko maiwasang mapansin yung boses ni Ma'am Johanna. It's like nothing I've ever heard before. Hindi man kasing taas ng boses ni Darlene Zscech, hindi man kasing crystalline ng mga boses ng Worship lead sa Bethel, there was something in her voice that evoked power. Every word na binibigkas niya, tila ba may kaka-ibang impact. I'm sure hindi lang ako ang nakaka-ramdam nito, it was very evident, at habang pinakapakinggan ko siya lalo akong namamangha. Bakit kaya ganon?
'We are here for You! Come and do what You do We are here for You! Come and do what You do We set our hearts on You! Come and do what You do We need a move!'
It wasn't very long when I found myself lifting my hands in worship, eyes shut as I sang. Hindi ko alam kung ano itong nararamdaman ko, but I never would want it to end. His Presence cloaked the building heavily, giving an awareness to everyone who was here. Tears voluntarily slid down my cheeks. Yes Lord, we need a move. I need a move. Kailangan po Kita Panginoon! Come, come and have Your way!
The song went on and on, repeating from verse to chorus for as many times as I could remember. Pero parang hindi ako nagsasawa. There is nothing - absolutely nothing - that is more pleasurable than being in God's presence.
After minutes of singing, to which I felt na kulang pa, the worship gradually came to an end, all wrapped up with a powerful prayer. Hay, grabe. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan ko pang makapunta dito sa siyudad bago maranasan ang mga ito, but what I know now is - surely this is God's plan.
One by one umupo kami, each catching a breath as the vigorous worship came to an end. Nakita ko namang bumaba si Ma'am Johanna, returning to our seat as her husband went up the altar.
"Grabe Ma'am," Panimula ko, "Ang galing mo naman maglead!"
Natawa siya at nagsimulang sumagot, "All Glory to Jesus, Hija. Ganon talaga, it's the Anointing that makes a difference."
Magtatanong pa sana ako sakaniya, pero nagsimula nang magsalita si Pastor. Ngumiti nalang ako at tumingin sa altar. Ano kaya yung Anointing?
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Kung merong hindi nakaka-alam nung kinanta ni Johanna sa worship, the title is 'This is a Move' by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. It's one of the most anointed songs na narinig ko. Hear for yourself! 👇
