December 7th

What a blessed time at the Christmas by Candlelight at the Northeastern Baptist Church in Kalamazoo where our son Nathan is music pastor.

The ladies in the church signed up to be hostess to a table which she decorated, invited quests, made and served the dessert.

There were about eighteen tables, all beautifully decorated.

The snowman centerpiece light was so pretty.

This is the dinnerware that Jennifer used and she used star cookies with our names for name cards.

The evening was a special blessing to me because Nathan gave a beautiful Christmas concert.

One of my favorite numbers he presented was “In The First Light”.

What a blessed day of fellowship and praise with God’s dear people this past week.

Sunday, Ken and I had the privilege of ministering at the First Baptist Church of Weston, MI.

http://www.firstbaptist.8m.com/index.html

When we arrived we were warmly greeted. The church is an old church with beautiful wood work throughout. Everything was so warm and homey and well cared for. We were also so blessed by the services.

The Sunday school opening was well prepared by the song leader and a young person played the quitar to accompany the opening. The Sunday school teacher was well prepared and we were blessed by the lesson.

The church is blessed with about 4 pianists, 2 organists, trumpet and flute players, 4-5 people played the guitar, each having a part throughout the days services.

The daughter of one of the families was visiting, with her preacher husband (from Canada). She sang along with three others in beautiful harmony, accompanied by guitars and the electronic piano. Oh, what a precious time as we all worshiped the Lord with her as she lifted her voice to the Lord in praise and adoration.

Even the family that entertained us in their home for dinner had not only prepared a feast for us but invited several other families. The hostess had called us to find out if we had any special dietary needs and went to great effort to make sure that I had plenty to eat.

It is always such a joy to me when people obviously spend time preparing for the Lord’s work as if it were the most important thing they had to do. Whether it be the S.S. teacher, pastor, musicians or cooks. God will use us all if we are prepared and willing.

Some little statements that I have often used when training musicians and teachers in our past ministries:

“If it is worth doing- It is worth doing well”
“God uses a prepared person”

He truly did that Sunday at the little church in Weston, MI.

I encourage those of you whom God has blessed with talents to practice and prepare as if you were scheduled to sing or preach or give a testimony at any moment before the KING and HE will give you opportunities to mininister for HIM.

We were also so blessed at our Thanksgiving Family Praise time, when some of our young grandchildren gave testimony of how they feel the call of God in their lives.

PRAISE THE LORD!

I have always looked forward to Sundays and Wednesdays and any other days when things are going on the the Lord’s house. Even in the little West Foster Care Home on a side street in Hillsdale, MI. while the BIBLE is being shared with six men and the helpers scurrying around working to meet the needs of those dear men.

Our day started out with a S.S. Class, I prepared my lesson for my Sunday School class just in case someone came….(not today). I also prepared for the adult class so that I would be able to contribute if I didn’t have any students in my class.

This morning in the worship service Ken and I sang, “Come Christians Join and Sing” by Christian Henry Bateman, arranged by Rick Powell.

One line that I like especially in the song is “Life shall not end the strain, Allelujah, Amen.”

The song ended with exerpts from Wilbur Chapman’s, “Our Great Savior”.

“SAVING, HELPING, KEEPING, LOVING, He is with me to the end…. Allelujah”.

I just love to sing and worship God in His house where ever Christians gather.

There is no place that I would rather spend my vacation, or my birthday or anniversary than I His House. There is no place I rather be when I am discouraged, grieving or ill. As our dear retired missionary Bud Johnson with Baptist Church planters stated in their last prayer letter…. “even though sometimes I don’t feel so great, I still go to church, because while I am there I get cheered up.”

When we go on vacation, we like to find a church to with which to worship.

Today at our West Home service, one dear man didn’t want to face the front, so the helper let him sit there with his back to us. When we started singing he kept his eyes closed nearly the whole time but I heard him singing and I watched his lips move as he mouthed the words to “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” and later we sang “Amazing Grace” and all the men sweetly sang with haulting voices. They also really listen as the gospel as it was given. This is so precious and exciting to me to be able to encourage those dear people.

If you have an opportunity to help your church minister in a nursing home, I encourage you to go to your pastor and offer to sing or just go and join in the singing and help turn the pages for the residence or hold the book for one who can’t.

My very first solo was in a nursing home when my pastor Allen Robbins took us to serve at a nursing home. Also the first time that I played the piano publicly was at a nursing home service. I would not trade those experiences for anything.

I heard someone say once, I’d rather wear out serving the Lord than rust out serving myself or the world.

“Come Christians Join and Sing”

From the time I was a small child I have always loved to sing of my wonderful Savior’s love.
See this link for my testimony.

Those who know me know that I have always used “Singing His Praise” to sign my correspondence.
This is the reason that I am using this title for my weekly article on our website.

It was a joy for me today to see the faces of the congregation from the vantage point of the piano bench as they sang today of Christ’s return. Pastor spoke of “THE WORD OF GOD ON THE RETURN OF CHRIST”. Oh, how I look forward to the wonderful singing in heaven.

No more sore throats, voices weakened by age or discordant sounds. Just one great beautiful choir.

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands….” Psalm 100:1

No matter whether we have a great voice or not we are encouraged to lift our voices to our Savior in songs of praise.

Try it today and everyday this week….After you read His word during your quiet time with the Lord, lift you voice in praise and song. When you are in pain or while you are going through a struggle lift your voice and it will lighten your heart and bring unbelievable peace into you heart and life.

When I struggle with things which I feel that I don’t have the strength personally to do, I sing ” I Can Do All Things through Christ Who Strengtheneth Me.” or “His Strength Is Perfect”.

“Isn’t He Wonderful”.

Have a wonderful joyous week.

Singing His Praise
“Jesus Is Coming”

Jane A. Pierpont

This past week, June 11, 2006, we had the special privilege of attending the ordination of our youngest son, Nathan Shipley Pierpont, at the Northeastern Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, MI.

http://www.northeasternbaptist.com/

Nathan’s sister-in-law, Mary, sang a solo for the ordination service and I was truly blessed by her testimony. The title of her song was “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend.

http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/worship_center/1275127.html

Mary is facing serious kidney surgery on June 22 and we would truly appreciate you prayers for a successful surgery, guidance for the surgeon, strength for Mary and the family and her full recovery.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny…

As Mary sang she was radiant with the Love of Christ.
Mary is a student at Pensacola College and we are praying for a complete recovery for her so that she can return in the fall.

Thank you Mary for the special Song of Testimony

We pray for God’s richest blessing in you life.