This is the first song that I ever led when I was in first grade at Mount Paran Christian School. Mrs. Duncan emailed my mom and asked her if I would be interested in leading because she could tell from music class that I had a heart for music. This was the first song that truly introduced me to the worship world, and also introduced me to music in general. I then led this song at my home church, First Baptist Church of Dallas, with a close family friend and Samford alum, Natalie Higgins. This song is forever marked as my ‘first’ and my introduction into what I would later discover to be the calling of my life.
How Deep The Father’s Love
This song is the namesake of this album, “All My Life”. This song has served as a cornerstone of my faith and is always a song I go back to when I need to be reminded of how faithful and merciful the Lord has been every single day of my life. There is never something that happens that He has not known about and prepared me for. His goodness is truly the foundation of who I am as a person and as a woman of faith.
Goodness of God
This song has been formative in my faith as someone who grew up in a Southern Baptist congregation. This song has served as a reminder as to the goodness and grace that we experience when we are with the Lord. My entire life people have come up to me and sang the words of the chorus of this song, “Good Morning ‘Amazing Grace’, how are you today?”, was often how I was greeted at church each week. Now, this song serves as a cornerstone of my faith and the things that I believe. I would not be where I am today without His love, mercy, and grace. During the duration of this song I encourage you to contemplate on how you came to faith in Christ in the first place. Really hone in on the words of the chorus, “I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.”
Amazing Grace
King of Kings is forever special to me because this is the song that I sang when I was auditioning to come into the Samford Worship program. This serves as a marker for such an important time in my life, which was when I got accepted to the program. Ironically, when I got my acceptance letter to the school of the arts, I was standing around a piano at my high school rehearsing to lead worship. I will never forget opening that email and seeing the words “Congratulations Grace, we are happy to extend you acceptance to the school of the arts”. What a blessing and answered prayer that day was for me! Today, this song still holds the meaning of that moment, because that was the moment I knew I was doing what the Lord was calling me to. It also serves as a benchmark to see how far I have come in my abilities as a vocalist and leadership. A song that once used to scare me to sing is now one that I can lead on the fly and know that most everyone will know what I am singing and be able to worship alongside me.
King of Kings
Take Heart
This song was written by myself and one of my classmates Katherine Williams. When we sat down to write it together we decided to focus in on 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him becuause he cares for you”. The lyrics of the verses are intended to paint a picture of what it can look like to be crippled with anxiety and worry. The chorus is a reminder to the whole Church to sit with the Lord in His presence and feel His comfort. The bridge is simple, the Word of God. “Cast all anxieties on Him, He cares for you!” Our desire for this song is that it would speak directly into your situation and anxieties, whatever it may be, and bring you peace. Take Heart should serve as a reminder that we are His people and He is our shepherd, He will never leave nor forsake us.
The first time I heard this song was at the Passion Conference in 2022, the first time it was ever played live. I immedietly fell in love with the words to the song and the message behind it. It quickly became a song that was on repeat in my car every morning on the way to school. This song became an anthem of my life during my senior year and continues to be to this day. When I look around at all of the things the Lord has done in my life, I am in awe. The people He has put in my path for such a time as this and who have helped to shape me into the person that I am today will never be shy of a miracle. Throughout the four years I have been at Samford, these people and experiences have formed me into someone who is sure of their faith and calling into ministry. Look at what He’s done! I encourage you to reflect on all that the Lord has done in your life and how we can give Him honor and glory for these things.
What He’s Done
This song, similar to Amazing Grace, was sung regularly in my congregation growing up. When I would come home from school and ask my family what they wanted me to sing at church on a Sunday, my dad would always request How Great Thou Art. After a few times I finally caved and did it for him. Truthfully, leading this song always intimidated me because it is such a big song, but when I led it at First Baptist Church of Dallas in summer of 2024, the Lord was at work. I had never felt so comfortable leading a song that was so powerful, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. A few months later I led it at a funeral for a family member and I remember praying for the Lord to give me comfort and allow me to speak to someone’s life through the song. That was one of the first times I felt the Lord physically move through me when leading a song in a service like that.
How Great Thou Art
Truthfully, I picked this song to be included in this project months ago, but now it means even more to me than it ever has. Not long ago I led this song at my grandfather’s funeral and it was one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. The song has always made me emotional and has been one of my absolute favorite hymns to sing and lead. It takes on a whole different meaning when you have to lead it with your family after such a tremendous loss has occurred. This song will always hold a special meaning to me, as it is a reminder in all circumstances that the Lord gives us peace in the midst of the scariest trials we will walk through as believers. During this song, I encourage you to reflect on all of the ways that the Lord has provided for you, supported you, and made a way when it seemed that there was no way.