Music Review: Steps of Faith by Margaret Becker

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Honest lyrics that still enourage and challenge

Cons: Not quite my personal song list/dated music

The Bottom Line:

Pure 80's music

Wrapped around timeless lyrics

That still touch my soul

Margaret Becker Shares Honestly in this Collection

I have always had a love/hate relationship with Margaret Becker's music.  An early Christian rocker chick, I have found some of her stuff just too rocky for my personal taste.  Her slower songs were radio hits during my high school days, and I found the honesty expressed in them captivating.  Since radio hits generally make up the majority of songs on a best of collection, Steps of Faith is the perfect solution for me, and something I come back to time and time again.

Make no mistake about it, we are traveling back to the late 80's and early 90's for this release.  The CD itself came out in 1992, and the songs here are from 1987-1991.  I will not apologize for the production because so many of the lyrics are outstanding.

The disc opens with the only new track on the disc.  "This Love" explores the joy and freedom found once we truly understand the nature of God's love for us.  The first verse talks about a lonely, broken person while the second verse celebrates the transformed person who is secure in God's love.  The mid-tempo song is very heavy on the keyboard and drum machine.

From there, the disc delves into eleven of Margaret's radio hits.  There really doesn't seem to be any order to them timeline wise or theme wise.  But the songs are mostly wonderful.

"All I Ever Wanted" is slower prayer asking for God to make Himself the number one priority.  It's got guitar as the backbone.  Like so many of the songs on this disc, I find myself drawn to the honesty of the lyrics.

"Look Me in the Eye" is even better, however.  This song is strong on the keyboard.  It contrasts an prayer from her early Christian years where she was more interested in being holy than in fortune and fame with her current attitude that has lost sight of that desire.  And then there's the chorus.  "Look me in the eye/Tell me if You see/Traces of Yourself/Growing there in me."  I love it!

Yet the reality of life comes through in "Never be an Angel."  Again, a keyboard song, this one acknowledges the sin in life while still praying for perfection.  "I'll never be an angel/But here I am again asking for change in my life."

Somehow, I had missed "Just Come In" until I got this disc, but I immediately fell in love with it.  Written from God's point of view, it is his reaction to our constant repenting over the same sin.  It's a great reminder that God has already forgiven us when we've confessed a sin.  It's the slowest song on here with a great keyboard backing.

For pure fun, there's "Streets of Innocence."  The song starts with Margaret singing the chorus (the word innocence repeated several times) a cappella before the keyboard and drums come in on the mid tempo song.  The idea of the song is the freedom that comes from having a clear conscience.  I especially love the line "You can have your money/And You can keep your pride/I don't need nothing cause I'll be living rich tonight in innocence."  I normally don't like songs that repeat stuff over and over again, but this song is fun enough to make me forget about that.

Another fun song is "Solomon's Shoes."  Again we've got an upbeat song heavy on the drums and keyboard this time.  The song contrasts the dependence on God when Margaret was poor versus the struggle to depend on God now that she has enough money in her life.  And how does Solomon fit in?  She finds herself forgetting about God now that she isn't scrapping for every meal.

But my absolute favorite song on here is still my favorite Margaret Becker song.  "Who Am I" expertly captures my thoughts every time I witness the stars in the night sky.  It's another slow, thoughtful, keyboard track that really allows the wonder at God's power and His desire to know each of us by name to sink in.  I've been singing it in personal worship for years, and I expect I will for a long time to come.

I will admit I put off buying this disc for a number of years because of what was missing.  I love her song "You Remain Unchanged," and it isn't here.  And I've never been a big fan of "This is My Passion" and "The Hunger Stays," both of which are here.  If that swap had been made, I would have bought it earlier.  I'm glad I finally did buy it because I have enjoyed listening to it for many years.

Like many collections of the day, this one doesn't include the words for the previously released songs.  Instead, Margaret does share some thoughts on each of them.  I really enjoy this insight into songs that have greatly touched me.

If you can get past the 80's feel of the music, you will find some truly amazing lyrics to chew on for some time to come.  Steps of Faith will make a great addition to your music library.

CD Lengths: 50:42

Tracks:

1. This Love

2. All I Ever Wanted

3. This is My Passion

4. Find Me

5. Look Me in the Eye

6. The Hunger Stays

7. Never be an Angel

8. Streets of Innocence

9. Just Come In

10. Who Am I

11. Solomon's Shoes

12. Never for Nothing