Singing Lady Groups at Southern Baptist Churches or I Do Not Harmonize Well By MyselfThe first time I was put in a Singing Lady Group it was a quintet at a church in another town. The choir director, let’s call him HewhogaveusalettergradeeverySundayandneveraboveaB-, said after practice one Wednesday, “You five ladies get together and work up a hymn along with a routine.” A routine? Was this church or show choir?The next week the five of us met in a little used Sunday School room that had a piano in it. I was told to sing the low, low part. Half way through the very first verse, the leader of the group who sat behind the piano, suddenly quit playing. She put her hand on her hip and demanded,  “Amanda, what are you singing?””Well, I thought I was singing the low part,” I sheepishly answered.”Well, think again!”I dropped out. They all wore matching denim overalls with red t-shirts with their hair tied up in bandanas.  They did a cute little 4-part gospel two-step up in the chancel area for their ‘routine’…The second time I was part of a Singing Lady Group there were six of us; two on each part. You know, first , second, alto.  I felt a little more comfortable having another alto to sing with. Well, that is until we started practicing. I was standing next to a lady singing second soprano and I felt an elbow in my side. Just thinking that she had accidently bumped me, I kept singing. Then another elbow came my way, along with a vehement whisper, “Get off my note, Amanda!””OH! Sorry!” was my response and I moved away from her. We sang publicly twice and then mercifully disbanded. So, I said all of that to say that I’ve been placed in another Singing Lady Group. Not really a “group”, but we’ve been given a song to learn. At first it was going to be a duet. I agreed because I was told to sing the low part; I’m a natural tenor. The song starts out duet, goes to trio, and then throws in a fourth part. Ah, yay! I’m a great mimic. Harmonizing isn’t my strong suit – see the above two paragraphs. Our choir master assured me that we would get together and work parts. A month has passed and nope…The super ironic thing is that the first Singing Lady Group’s song was I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL and so is the song for this Sunday. (!) Is the Father God giving me another shot at it or does He figure we all need a laugh? I’m glad the Bible says to make a joyful noise and not for us to all sing in perfect 4-part harmony.

Posted on by theexileskitchen by Amanda Ellison Anglin

Joyful Noise Blessings from the Exile’s Kitchen. 

Jesus, I Love You

Posted on by theexileskitchen by Amanda Ellison Anglin

Since writing this post two years ago, I have sung Jesus, I love You one time during church service. And I cried through the last few lines. The song is on the schedule for this Sunday. I’m asking for prayer. Whether God is glorified through my singing straight through it technically correct or glorified through my tears may He indeed be glorified. 

Blessings for reading again.

It was after our choir had done the musical Somebody’s Praying You Through that our music minister told me he had picked out a new song for me to learn. It was called Jesus, I Love You: written by Norman Hutchins and performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle  Choir.

I learned the song, concentrating on the notes and I, of course, learned the lyrics. The first time I sang it during worship I had no problem with it. But in choir practice a few weeks later, as we went over the song again, the words really got to me. I couldn’t sing it for sobbing. And when we would present the song for worship, I couldn’t get through it. I would get to a  certain point and then couldn’t finish it.

Joy of my salvation

Peace in my storm

Loving arms protect me

Shelter from harm

My strong tower

My dearest and best friend

I had no problem with these descriptions of Jesus. My hang up was with the line that proclaimed Jesus as my everything. People would ask me, “Amanda, what is it about the song that makes you cry?” I would tell them, “If I were to sit down and write a love letter to Jesus, it’s exactly what I would say.” But now, just being as real and honest as I can be, I knew deep down that wasn’t the truth. And God knew it, too.

You see,  there were parts of my life that I welcomed Jesus in willingly, invitingly. But then there were other areas in my life that I would wave Jesus away and say, “That’s okay. I don’t want to bother You. I can handle it.”

Until September of 2013, then I realized that I didn’t have it by myself and that I did need Jesus present and powerful in every part of my life.  During these last three years, He has been

there when I was lonely,

there in all my pain,

guiding my footsteps,

shelter from the rain.

And it was Him, He has made my life complete. 

He is to me my everything and that is why I sing. 

During the vamp of the song, the lyrics talk about not being ashamed to tell the world. Now that sounds a lot like evangelism. Evangelism, I thought up until this past year, was for other people. Well, in 2016 I have gone on two mission trips: one to Nashville, TN and the other to New Milton, England.

Was way out of my comfort zone, let me tell you. Half way over the Atlantic, the pilot throttled back on the engines. I punched the GPS on in the back of the headrest of the seat in front of me to see how much longer we had to fly. Oh, gee, only about another four hours. Um, Mr. Pilot, are we gonna make it to England? Hhhmmm? Please. Closer to God up in a plane, I guess. Prayers were flying around up there, I can assure you.

On English ground, I met many lovely people, all with hearts focused on God. I found myself opening up and telling my story, from my beginning salvation to my present walk. They responded with warmth, thanked me for my testimony,  and wished me the best. I’ll  always treasure my visit there.

Another adlib in the song praises Jesus with

How You set me free!

Isn’t that the truth?! I am free! As much as I loved my earlier life, I would not want to go back there. The only one I need to please is Him. Which if each of us would make that our priority, this dark world would be a whole lot brighter. Will I cry the next time I sing it? Well, we’ll all find out together. So,

Jesus, I love You. I couldn’t imagine if you were not there.

Blessings from the Exile’s Kitchen.

20160919_201422