It could be congregational, or a special song.

Redman does a great job of not only focusing on little ones, but turning the chorus outward – “So what am I going to do with this life you gave me?”

Verse 1
So fearfully and wonderfully made
How could they say there is no God?
Reminded every breath that I take
It’s by your hand I have been formed
So what am I going to do with this life you gave me?
What could I do but life for your praise?

Chorus
You gave me this breath
And you gave me this strength
And every day I’ll live to obey you
With all of my heart
With all of my soul
Let every breath I’m breathing display you, God

Verse 1
I am not a stranger to mercy, for you found me
Wrapped your truth around me
I am not a stranger to grace
I have seen it in your face
I am not a stranger to kindness
We’re the broken with your life inside us
You have brought your gospel to me
And I breathe it every day
How did I become your miracle?
Now to take your truth and tell the world

Chorus
I’m going to take it to the streets
I’m going to sing it ’til we meet
Heaven is open
Come on all the earth rejoice
I’m going to take it to the streets
Wake up the dead heart from its sleep
Heaven is open
Now the time to raise our voice

Loud and energetic, the song wouldn’t fit every context, but the song could serve well especially with younger groups or if your church is used to a loud style.

The line from the chorus, “wake up the dead heart from its sleep” is unclear and perhaps unhelpful. We are called to go into the world, proclaiming the good news, and doing works in the power of the spirit, but the power to wake dead hearts is God’s. It might be worth an explanation if you use it.

One could wonder why Redman didn’t put “We’re going to take it to the streets,” emphasizing the work of the church together in this task, but there is a necessary recognition of our individual responsibility to proclaim the gospel, which this song emphasizes.

“Beautiful News” is another way of describing the gospel. Though we hear bad and ugly messages daily from the world and our own hearts, God’s beautiful news breaks in. The song a call to share the good news with the whole world:

Verse 1
Joy is the theme of my song
And the beat of my heart
And the joy that is found in you
For you showed the power of your cross
And your great saving love
And my soul woke up to you
I heard your beautiful news
Grace so amazing, so true

Chorus
Shout it out, let the people sing
Something so powerful should shake the whole wide world
Make it loud, make it louder still
Savior we’re singing now
To celebrate your beautiful news

The song emphasizes the necessity of our celebration of and telling the good news around the world. It could be good within a meeting to pair it with a song which would also emphasize the fact that God is the one who is ultimately responsible for accomplishing this mission – he’s a lot more powerful than we are!

It is call for God’s name and the song about him to be sung around the world.

Chorus
All over the world
Your song will resound
All over the world
Your praises ring out
We’re living to see
Your name and renown
All over the world

Verse 2
Young and old, near and far
There’s a place for every heart
To join in your song, join in your song
Every nation tribe and tongue
Come together, join as one
Give glory to God, glory to God
We are the people of God
We’ll sing your song
Here on the earth

You can view the full lyrics here.

Drawing from Psalm 23, the song is a song “in the gap” – one that fills a need in many of our churches’ repertoire – that of suffering.

Verse 1
Even though I walk
Through the valley
Of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught
In the middle
Of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back, I know you are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
O no, You never let go
Lord, you never let go of me

Verse two speaks about the hope that is coming, and the way we live now because of that hope.

If you lead the song, and usually call out the first line of the chorus to repeat it, you may want to find an alternative this time. It can sound a little funny when you’re trying to call it out (like I did), and just shout, “Oh no!!”

The melody at the beginning of the verse can take a little extra care to make sure the congregation learns it well, so you may want to spend time with your team or person at mixing board to make sure the vocals are clear.

Because it’s similar in theme, the song could be a good pair with My Hope is Built on Nothing Less in the same service.

Over the next few posts, I’ll mention a few of the songs that I think would serve a congregation.

You can listen to a lot of the CD by going to the special site set up for the album. If you get it from itunes, there’s an extra bonus track at the end, although by doing it that way you don’t get the lyric sheet.

Individual songs:
You Never Let Go
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Take It to the Streets
All Over the World
Beautiful News