I have been involved with worship bands for over 40 years! I started playing drums in my local church and after I taught myself guitar I became a worship leader.

Over the decades I have led in a wide variety of contexts from small prayer groups, Sunday morning worship teams to large national events with thousands of ‘worshippers’.

It’s been a joy, and still is, to help a group of people unite and focus on God together through music and song.

There are many songs to draw from, and I even had a go at writing my own some years ago! There are a number of songs that are based on or even quote Bible verses.

Recently I read this in the book of Lamentations…

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

— Lamentations 3:22-23 The NIV Bible

This appears in a ‘Book of Lament’, written by the prophet Jeremiah during a time of extreme national distress and suffering, when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.

It stands out like a lit match in a pitch black room, as it offers a message of hope. Even in deep pain or dark circumstances, God's grace and compassion do not run out and are renewed with each new day!

This is a wonderful and powerful theme, which was used in the classic hymn, ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’. The chorus is:

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

In the mid 1970’s Edith McNeill, a member of the Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas, wrote a beautiful and simple song called, ‘The Steadfast Love of the Lord’.

Both these songs are still be sing in churches today! Why, because they proclaim a Biblical truth about God’s faithfulness. Why not check them out and have a listen!

God bless you:)

Gary Bastin

Hope Community Church leader