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Signing for Him

Hi everyone!

While I've been at home without the internet, I went through my photo album and found a picture from my talent show days. I was also inspired recently by a wonderful video I watched on YouTube by a deaf pastor that worshiped the Lord with his hands in sign language. I decided that I'd share that part of my life with you all.

I started attending the county talent show when I was ten years old. I was encouraged by my teacher aide, Mrs.Elder, to perform songs in sign language. I fell in love with it and performed every year until I was 17. There was nothing like being on stage in the dark with the spotlight, the sweet anxiety before the curtains opened and knowing you had an audience somewhere in the dark. I love expressing music through my hands. I'd do anything for just one more chance to perform again.


(Me and Jenn, 1995)


I took some videos to show you guys an example with my digital camera in my living room. The first song is called "Ten Thousand Angels Cried" by Leann Rimes. I performed it for my church when I was young. This is one of my favorite songs to perform for churches.






This is the song that won me the grand prize at the talent show for my final year. I performed "Light Up My Life" by Leann Rimes. I did Disney songs growing up, but for my last year, I performed a more mature and romantic song.



And I wanted to share that I love to sing (by myself, lol), but that signing with my hands to worship is the same feeling as singing. I may use my hands, but it comes out from the same place in my heart. I thank God that He allowed me to be able to understand the words in the songs after I memorize them and the ability to follow along with the words. How awesome that we can use different ways to worship the Lord, and even enjoy "visual" music!

7 Comments:

  1. Mich said...
    what an awesome gift you have!

    Many people just look at signing as an art, but my grandma was one of 13 kids, half of them were born deaf. Being around them, while growing up I have always appreciated the beauty of the language as well as the people who take the time to learn it. I wish I had taken the time to learn it myself. It is beautiful.

    God bless.
    Heart2Heart said...
    I love sign language. I went to elementary school with a deaf school that shared the same campus so we learned sign language as part of our day to day curriculum so we could communicate with them on the play ground. We even learned songs in sign language as part of our Christmas program.

    It truly is one of the most expressive languages I know.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat
    John said...
    beautiful!!! :D
    Lady Jess said...
    Wow! That was so pretty! I remember you doing "Carry the Light" before and it was SO pretty.
    Martha said...
    I remember watching you practice in your room before the talent show, it was old news to me.. but somehow, I always became teary when I saw you on stage. Even though most of the people did not know sign language, you made us feel* each word, we felt alive once again and we were all bawling at the end of the song LOL. No wonder you kept winning, year after year :o) I take credit for it though, I did help you after all ((whistling))
    christy rose said...
    That was beautiful Charlene!
    Growing In Grace Magazine said...
    Beautiful Charlene! I love using sign language in my worship time. You did a great job putting feeling into those songs. So much more than just listening to it. ~Sisterlisa

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