All Things New released their debut, self-titled album on BEC Recordings April 2, 2013, and have released The Attic Sessions EP on July 29, 2014. 

Although the members of this worshipful, contemporary, and often folksy Florida quartet could talk about their childhood like it was yesterday (because it practically was), the songs they write and sing on All Things New already contain the clarity of a hard-won life lesson: things break apart in this world, but God restores them.
 
"I feel like these are songs that people need right now. They carry the message of redemption and freedom in Christ who came and died for us while we were still sinners," says lead singer Garrett Hornbuckle. "All Things New is just so eager to share that hope."

On the surface, Hornbuckle, drummer Luke Wycuff, bassist Joshua Schou, and guitarist Jeff Stein are young, easygoing, and stylish, but dig a little deeper and you'll find godly men who know too much too soon about broken homes, broken faith, and broken hearts. I had the chance to interview the band in person at Creation Northeast about "Washed Over Me."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

Garrett: When we were in the studio we knew we needed a few more songs and we talked with our producer about writing a song that is fun, that probably wouldn't be a single and go to radio. So we decided to make it as fun as possible so that when people hear it they will smile and want to sing and clap their hands and declare God's love throughout the song. What's funny now is that it was released as a single and was on radio and we genuinely had no idea that was going to happen. It was a very last minute song. It is definitely a crowd favorite and fun to play live. The energy is captured on the record, which is really cool because sometimes that's hard to do.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Isaiah 30:22 (VOICE): Then you'll get rid of all your worthless idols clad in silver and your despicable images plated with gold. You will destroy these idols and discard them as you do filthy rags, saying, "Get out of here."

Psalm 35:27-28 (MSG): But those who want the best for me, let them have the last word--a glad shout!--and say, over and over and over, "God is great--everything works together for good for His servant." I'll tell the world how great and good You are, I'll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.

Philippians 3:7-11 (NKJV): "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

2 Thessalonians 1:12 (NLT): "Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with Him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ."

What is the takeaway message?

Garrett: We are finally coming into who we are as a band and knowing who we are and what we want to say. The big thing for All Things New is that we want these songs to not only encourage other people but also to encourage us as well. I know our album encourages me tremendously through all the songs and "Washed Over Me." The songs have the message of redemption and that you're not too far from God. No matter what you do, you can always be redeemed and rescued by Him. The grace is always there. You just have to accept it and believe it and you have to be in Christ. It's been cool personally for me to see people after shows come up to each and every one of us and tell us that tonight they realized who they are in Christ. That's what makes it all worth it. That's the reason we do this. 

Jeff: There was a cool story not too long ago on Instagram where one of our friends said that she was having a rough time. She was a new mom and feeling inadequate. She was listening to the radio and heard "Washed Over Me." She said she felt that literal sense of God washing over her and reminding her that He's got her. That was one of the coolest moments for me from this album because I know her personally.

Lyrics:
The sun is rising on a new day
My soul's alive cause my sins You cast away
Down by the river, I was redeemed
When Your love washed over me
When Your love washed over me

My chains were broken, my debt was paid
I traded dirty rags for riches in Your name
And in that moment, my soul could sing
When Your love washed over me

Like water, You poured out
And grace covered me
When Your love, oh Your love
When Your love washed over me

My search is over, I've found my home
My cup is overflowed, with You I thirst no more
There on the river I found the victory
When Your love washed over me

Like water, You poured out
And grace covered me
When Your love, oh Your love
When Your love washed over me

When Your love, when Your love
When Your love washed over me
When Your love, oh Your love
When Your love washed over me

Like water, You poured out
And grace covered me
When Your love, oh Your love
When Your love washed over me
When Your love washed over me

The energy and infectious enthusiasm of the musical feel and celebratory message of this song causes me to worship along loudly, "in Spirit and in Truth." The combination of the slow build at the beginning of the song, the gang vocals, and NEEDTOBREATHE-like musical inflection really brings home this solid Gospel message. Grace washes us clean and we become a new creation in Christ, hence the band name All Things New.

The chorus "Like water, You poured out / And grace covered me / When Your love washed over me" does an excellent job of explaining what grace is all about. My pastor uses the acronym, Gods Riches At Christ's Expense to define grace. The picture of God's grace being poured out, like water, is a beautiful and biblical image of the water and the blood that poured out of our Savior Jesus Christ when He hung on the Cross to provide God's riches to us at His own expense. That's when His love washed over us, and when you've put all of your hope and trust in Jesus for your salvation, you can't help but want to celebrate that free gift of undeserved and unmerited favor from God.  

The Christian walk is summed up poetically in the lyrics, "I traded dirty rags for riches in Your name / And in that moment, my soul could sing / When Your love washed over me." Dream big, live for God and know that He has great plans for you. It has been said that people remember songs longer than they remember sermons and this is a truly edifying and uplifting offering of praise and adoration of our King, Jesus. Join in with the band and sing the song of the redeemed: "My search is over, I've found my home / My cup is overflowed, with You I thirst no more / There on the river I found the victory / When Your love washed over me." Amen to that!

(Watch the music video here.)