Recently, while doing some open-air worship, I sang a song I hadn’t sung for years.
Based on Psalm 7, the song was written in 2003 and was captured on a cassette tape during a time of worship at Woolwich Community Church in December of that year. It was then transferred from the cassette onto an MP3 file, so the quality was a little rough. I have tried to clean up a bit, but I have only been partially successful. Nonetheless, I like the performance, particularly the flute played by Mary Campbell.
The full band was:
Richard Stringer: guitar and vocals
Mary Campbell: flute and vocals
BrianFoster: congas and vocals
Caroline Brown: keys
Sound Desk: Mark Fraser
I hope you enjoy the song and thanks for listening.
This is a song written as part of this year’s 12 Song Challenge and I realised I hadn’t put together a demo of the song. So here is a rough piano/vox demo as a placeholder in the meantime. I sung as I played, so the vocal isn’t the best but that isn’t the point of the demo.
If you like my stuff, please take time to like the video and subscribe to my channel as there are more songs coming.
Lead Me
Verse 1:
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. As I go through my day I call to you For you have been my refuge, and my strong tower And as my heart grows faint, I cry out to you
Chorus:
Lead me, oh lead me, to the rock that is higher than I My fortress, my refuge, my saviour, beginning and end,
Verse 2:
Let me spend my days resting in your house Settled safe beneath the shadow of Your wings. For you heard my cry, answered my prayer No matter what may come, I know you’re by my side.
11 years after it was written and 3 years since I recorded it, I am finally releasing one of my most popular songs, This is Love.
One of the biggest themes in Christianity is God’s love. This idea is deep and personally means a lot to many people, including me. It also inspires a lot of music and art. Today, I want to talk about one of my own songs called “This is Love” that really explores this theme and includes words from the Bible in its lyrics, making a connection between God’s message and us through music.
Back in 2003, when I wrote “This is Love,” I was beginning to change how I approached music. Instead of just expressing my own thoughts, I started to feel like I was sharing a message that was inspired more directly by God. This shift is especially clear in the first part of the song, which uses words from the Bible, from 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
This Bible verse is very important because it highlights how God showed His love first by sending Jesus to help us and fix our relationship with Him. The term “hilasmon”, used in the original Greek, is translated as “atoning sacrifice,” meaning a special offering to make things right. This concept has been a central part of Christian beliefs for a long time.
The music style of “This is Love” is inspired by the 1960s, a decade known for its new music that often explored big life and spiritual questions. Choosing this style was not just about nostalgia but about reinforcing the song’s message through a genre known for its deep explorations and revolutionary ideas.
When I think about how this song combines music with Bible verses, I see how art can open new ways to understand big ideas. It’s not just hearing the words; it’s feeling them in our hearts through the music. This can help us see things differently than we might if we were just reading or hearing them spoken.
To sum it up, “This is Love” isn’t just a song. It’s a reflection on God’s profound love, told through music. It has helped me—and I hope it helps you—think about how vast and transformative God’s love is. As we all continue to grow in our faith, songs like this don’t just entertain; they teach and provoke thought.
I hope this song brings you closer to understanding God’s love as you listen and enjoy the music.
A while ago, I took my music down from streaming platforms as I needed to redo the terms of the distributor I was using. I re-released Jesus, Son of David and King of Glory, but didn’t get round to re-releasing Here at the Cross so I am not finally doing that. You can find out more by following this link.
A new year, a new month and so a new challenge and this month it is to write an Assembly Banger.
From my eldest daughter’s point of view, the last Assembly Banger was Shine Jesus, Shine. Having been around at the time when Graham Kendrick wrote the song and heard him lead it around the time it came out it’s hard to disagree with her.
So in honour of that and before I’ve had a chance to work on any ideas it only seems apt to share the song for everyone’s enjoyment
So the new subject for December is here and its on the global church
Its such a big subject but after a looking of work I settled on the idea of many peoples, tribes and tongues from
So the new subject for December is here and its on the global church
Its such a big subject but after a lot of work I settled on the idea of many peoples, tribes and tongues from Revelation 7: v9
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
The initial words and tune came quite quickly, but I found myself straying into tunes that sounded familiar and it took about 4 or 5 tries to find one that I was happy with and I felt was my own work.
I submitted the song and got some good feedback and worked again on the lyrics. They probably need a bit more polish, but I don’t think they will change dramatically, so I felt safe making a demo and here it is.
All Around the World
Verse
We are a church of many nations Diffr’nt peoples, tribes, and tongues Some are local some have travelled To this place that we call home We have come in expectation. We have come to praise the Lord Like brothers our and our sisters all around the world.
Verse
In every land in every country Every corner of the world Saints are gathering, some in secret Some in prison, some are free They have come in expectation. They have come to praise you Lord Joining with God’s children, all around the world.
Verse
When at last we all will see Him In the new Jerusalem Pure and spotless without blemish The Bride of Christ will be revealed Blessed are those invited to the wedding of the Lamb They will come from every nation, every people, tribe, and tongue.
It’s been a long time since I posted and, like of people who do similar things I’m going to blame the busyness of life. There is lots going, most of it good.
I’m still active in the 12 Song Challenge hosted by Resound Worship and the reason for today’s post is to share the song I have submitted for November.
The challenge was to write a song based on Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. It took me a while to find a passage that really stirred me and I finally settled on Chapter 1 and verse 20.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
Yes and Amen
All the promises of God find their ”Yes” in Jesus Christ x2 So Ask, seek, knock and the door will be opened to you x2
God says Yes! Yes! Yes! He says Yes! x2 Give glory to God with a loud Amen! x3
I first got the idea for a song based on the names of God in 2008, but it took until 2021 to write, record and release it. Why was that? Find out in this video.
Richard Stringer Music 
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