Don’t Give Up on Worshipping!

“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

During my stay in Orange County last week I visited my old church in Fullerton. Grace Korean Church was the church I grew up in. It was also the church that God used to show me what spiritual warfare and missions training looked like. I was trained to literally die for the gospel, as I heard of the accounts of our missionaries being sent off to dangerous places like North Korea, Afghanistan, Burma, and areas of unreached people groups.

I didn’t realized how much I missed worship music, till I entered in the doors of Grace Korean Church’s college service. Before the service started people were praying to usher in the presence of God. There on the stage was once a young college student who was in a family group (small group) I once lead back when I was in college. During that time in college, I was on the worship team as well. After a few months of being frustrated (my voice was clearly a distraction to Sunday worshippers), the Lord spoke for me to step down and start a small group instead. It was humbling but I decided to obey.

During the year of that small group, much happened. I decided to delay finishing my undergraduate studies at CSU, Fullerton in order to devote more time to the small group. I knew my parents thought I was crazy, but I knew that it was necessary. For who has been given little must prove faithful. I took two part-time semesters and spent a lot of time with the 12-15 members. I remember this one passionate individual named Joe Yoo who would also question the contextual accuracy of the bible studies, or torture me by threatening to let out his natural gases in my house. I also recall the beginnings of Joe learning how to play the guitar and sing. It was horrible. Joe if you are reading this, you know it was true. I saw the passion in Joe and wondered what would become of it.

Last Sunday, I saw Joe on stage at Grace Korean Church leading a team of 10 or 12 musicians. They were so talented it blew my mind away. The beautiful meshing of violin, piano, bass, drums, and 5 or 6 singers appropriately welcomed in the presence of God. Musical technicality was superb. I heard his guitar strumming against his matured voice. I could not help but start to cry. Not only because they were THAT GOOD, but I could easily focus on what was being sung.

“Ask and I’ll give the nations to you, Oh Lord, that’s the cry of my heart. Distance shores and the islands will see your light, as it rises on us.” I was spending time in worship with the Lord surrounded by the cushion of euphoric music.

During the worship time, I could not help but to feel so free, so uninhibited to pray and sing and cry. And because of this, I saw the importance of worshiping in spirit and in truth (and in musical technicality). I was not once distracted by the lack of musicality.In addition, they had many times of prayer woven into the set, causing us to refocus on the reason why we went to church in the first place.

I found out that Joe Yoo practiced playing guitar 7 to 8 hours a day for a few years. He also recorded his voice and each worship set he led, on garageband and replayed it over and over until it was in pitch. This showed me so much dedication and because of it, my life for the moment is truly blessed and filled with the spirit of God. This week has been very different indeed.

“Do not grow weary in doing good [or practicing at your God-given gift] for at the proper time you will reap if you DO NOT GIVE UP” -Galatians 6:9

Till Next Time,

Bonnie