As a worship leader, I always try to create song sets that consist mostly of songs that are praise of God and His greatness, and less about "us" or "me". Sometimes worship sets can have all songs about us and what we need, which isn't always bad, but shouldn't be the norm. As many leaders in the Vineyard have said, including Bert Waggoner and Don Williams, worship leaders are preaching the Gospel and teaching theology just as much as pastors and teachers are, we just do it with song.

But now we are in the season of Lent, which is commonly not observed or given much attention in the Vineyard or protestant churches, but our church is embracing this year. As a worship leader, I've had my radar up for songs that really deal with the themes of repentance, dying to self, and turning back to God. It means that some of the songs I will choose for my sets will be a little be more "me" oriented, but are songs that say to God, "I'm turning back to you, cleanse me God!"

I was sitting at my lunchbreak in the car, and I a song by Charlie Hines on the Vineyard Club CD, "Fascinated" really speaks this well. Here are the lyrics:

You wait in silence, You wait with mercy
You wait in love, Lord, You wait for me

You wait in patience
You wait with forgiveness
You wait in tears, Lord, You wait for me

And I can’t go on, have I gone too far
As I turn toward You I turn away
And all my sins You’ll take away
As I run to where I left You standing
I long to hear You say “welcome home”

You wait in joy, Lord
You wait with compassion
You wait with grace, oh, You wait for me

As I turn toward You I turn away
And all my sins You’ll take away
As I turn toward You I turn away
And all my sins You’ll take away
As I run to where I left You standing
I long to hear You say
I long to hear You say
I long to hear You say “welcome home”
No matter what I’ve done
How far from You I’ve run
I always hoped You’d wait for me

Not only are the lyrics excellent, but the song is beautifully written. I really feel like this is a song that I am supposed to add to our next service as we continue in this time of Lent.

Labels: Vineyard Music, Worship Leading