Hello and welcome to my website!
So many people have asked me,"What have you been doing?"
Well, in this moment, I am thrilled to be releasing our new CD, Voyage.
Scott and I have been working on this music for about a year. You can
read more about that on the Voyage CD page and song descriptions
page of this site.
It has been six years since we released our last project, Becoming.
Creativity seems to take a lot longer for me now. There is always so
much to do. I have been raising and teaching our 3 children, who
seem more like adults every day.
Scott has been working on other artists' records, sometimes as producer, sometimes as guitarist and sometimes as both. He teamed up with Ken Lewis to produce and play on this recording.
Scott and I have been enjoying life together as we celebrate our 20+
years of marriage. Like everyone, we wonder how the years fly by and
pray we make the most of the days. (We will be upgrading and adding
more information to this site in the next months.)
I thank you for your eyes to see and your ears to hear! What a joy to
share the gift with those whose hearts resonate with ours. May the
music ring in the deepest places of your soul.
In the grace and mercy of Christ,
Christine Dente
Voyage
THE NEW RECORDING !
Price:10
is Christine and Scott Dente’s latest musical offering. Also known as Out of the Grey, this couple has always focused on nuanced lyrics, ethereal vocals and eclectic guitars. For this project, Christine wrote 10 songs based loosely on prayers from the book, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers. She unites her love of jazzy pop to their Puritan devotion to Christian piety. The result is an intimate and worshipful experience. Scott joined forces with friend and fellow producer Ken Lewis to create a compelling blend of organic and electronic elements. This Voyage comes across with a fresh yet enduring perspective on the Christian life.
Special Pre-sale Price - $10.00
+ $5 shipping* & handling (domestic )
or $7.50 shipping ( outside of US )
no additional shipping charges for up
to 5 copies
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lyrics
Oh Lord of the Air
My little plane flies on a restless wind
Grant that Jesus may be
At the wheel to guide me safely in
Let no current divert me
Nor my faith be wrecked with turbulence
Bring me to the gate unscathed
This voyage is long
And the stormy clouds are pitiless
But your word is secure
Grant me grace to fear a little less
For your haven is guaranteed
Each day will bring me nearer home
Your peace just like a river flows
Pour your oil upon my troubled skies
Convert my every care to prayer
Convince my heart you’re really there
And may the world this day be glad that I’'m alive
Oh Lord of the air
Thy cross will be upon my radar screen
Though this voyage is long
I will fly this night with hope unseen
Next day will bring me nearer home
And may the world this day be glad that I'’m alive
I’'m alive
Til I reach the place of endless praise
All songs written by Christine Dente 2009 Oh My Coco Music /
Centricity Music Publishing
Inspired byThe Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett
God All Sufficient
Oh Lord of grace,
The world is before me this day
And I am weak and fearful but I look to thee for strength
God all sufficient, God all sufficient
If I venture forth alone
I stumble and I fall
But on the beloved’'s arm, I’'m a tree standing tall
If left to the treachery of my heart
I would shame thy name
But if upheld by thy spirit
I'’ll bring glory to the same
Be thou my strength to stand
Be my light to see
My feet to run, my sword to fight
My shield protecting me
God all sufficient
To enrich me will not diminish thee
All thy love is in thy Son
I claim his name
He died for me His blood covers my shame
God all sufficient, God all sufficient, God all sufficient
Return Again to Me
Oh Lord you know
My heart is cold
Myself I loathe
Where do I go from here?
I'm at a loss
Can't find your love
Seems you have gone
Return again to me
Your grace is all I need
Help my soul to breathe
Pour on your grace
My heart needs change
My soul won't rise
Until you draw me nigh
Help my soul to breathe after your holiness
and you make me own my sin
the struggles of my youth
until all I know is sin
in everything I do
The Valley of Vision
Lord, high and holy
So meek and lowly
Thou hast brought me to this valley
Where I live in the depths yet
Gaze at thee in the heights
Hemmed in by sin I see your glory
In this Valley of Vision, I'm low enough to see
The heights of your glory, the depths of my need
So my eyes are always lifted
Lord, in your wisdom
The way up is down
And bearing the cross is wearing the crown
And though I have nothing
I'm richer than a king
When I am broken then I'm healing
This Valley of Vision keeps me on my knees
The deeper this well of mine, the brighter thy light it shines
Lord, let me always find thy light in my dark
thy life in my death
thy joy in my sorrow
thy grace in my sin
thy riches in my poverty
thy love in my lack
thy glory in my valley
It's All About You
Oh lover to the uttermost
May I read the meltings of thy heart to me
In the manger of thy birth
In the garden of thy agony
In the cross of thy sufferings
In the tomb of thy resurrection
In the heaven of thy intercession
Emboldened by this thought
I defy my enemy
In treading down temptations
Resisting every scheme
Renouncing the world, I am valiant for the truth
It's all about you
Your love story is true
It's all about you and all you do
Your love keeps coming through
Your love is true
Thou hast loved me everlastingly
I pray that I'll love thee as I am loved
I am loved, I am loved
You gave yourself for me
Died that I might live free
In every moment of my time
and every movement of my mind
With every beat of my heart may I realize
The Mover
Oh Mover of me, may I always submit unto thee
Oh Mover of me, may I always depend upon thee
You don't move men like stones but endue them with life
That they may be free to be moved by thee
Oh Mover of me, it was You made me able to see
The Christ I receive, couldn't love if you didn't love me
Oh Mover of me, let thy love draw me nearer to thee
Oh Lover of me, make me ready, I'm headed for thee
Though my heart was a stone, you made it your own
That I might be free
Oh Lover of me
Now my heart is free to be moved by thee
The Mediator
Oh God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
We hope in thy word and in thy mercy
For there we see thee on a throne of grace
And we hear you say, "Come and be ye saved"
The one who made a way, a way to save us
You sent a savior, our mediator
We derive relief from his suffering
How many are now witnesses to you
Glorified in heaven, living on the earth
So many souls you've rescued from the ruins
Jesus our Savior, our mediator
We trust in thy word by thy good pleasure
See how you change us like Isaac and Jacob
As Abraham believed, the truth has set us free
Jesus our savior, our mediator
We hear you say, "Come and be ye saved"
I Expect Great Things
I expect great things of God
For God He is so great
He can do what we cannot
I hope for joy unseen
And hope wont disappoint
Faith is sure of what will be
So I hope for joy unseen
I wait for glory days
When every voice will praise
The name above amazing love
So I wait for glory
I hope for joy
Trinity
Three in one, one in three
Awesome mystery
Father, Son, Spirit Holy
Our God, the Trinity
Oh Father, you have loved me, sent Jesus to redeem
Oh Jesus, you have loved me by washing my soul clean
Oh Spirit, you have loved me by showing me my need
So profound a mystery
Oh Father, I thank you for giving me to Him
Oh Jesus, I thank you for taking me in
Oh Spirit, I thank you for planting faith within
An amazing mystery, the awesome Trinity
Three persons in one God
I praise the threefold name
Heaven Desired
I am going where the means of grace shall cease
Where I need no more to fast or pray or seek
I am going where no grief or fears can live
No more tears or sorrow, no more shame or sin
Where I'm going there's no sickness
No more death
No unhappiness
And I won't be back again
I am going where I'll see the perfect sight
Find the sweetest food to fill my appetite
Where the music plays the finest melody
For the soul that finds its happiness in thee
I am going where I'll finally draw close
With my body and my soul
To the One I've longed to know
I am going where I shall be near to thee
In thy kingdom, dwelling with thy family
And when I arrive, I'll be satisfied
This beginning of my life
It's the heaven I desired
The Voyage began in 2005 when I started reading The Valley of Vision book of Puritan prayers. Initially, the old-style usage of Thee, Thou and Thy was an obstacle to my worship. However, I gradually began to find the depths of Godly truth and human honesty that seemed hidden by the old-fashioned words. Like reading a classic novel, reciting these prayers helped me slowly absorb the beauty and meaning inside the unfamiliar language. That's when I decided I could meld the old with the new and create songs around certain prayers that had become special to me.
My challenge was to translate their concepts of piety into my ideas of pop songs. How could I create the music and lyrics I wanted but retain the beautiful truths and emotions these English and New England evangelicals expressed? The piano is my instrument of choice for working out my creative passion, so I paraded out my favorite jazz/pop chords and wove melodies and lyrics as my voice and ears directed. I used some of the original poetry, added a lot of my own wording, and enlisted my husband Scott Dente's help in affirming the direction I was headed. Finally, in 2008, he and Ken Lewis began producing/recording this project, and they created the unique musical approach for which I was hoping. A year later we release, with joy and satisfaction, this Voyage... which has been quite a journey.
Prayer References
The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions edited by Arthur Bennett and first published in 1975 by Banner of Truth. In the preface he explains that these collected prayers testify to the richness and colour of evangelical thought and language that animated vital piety in an important stream of English religious life. The strength of Puritan character and life lay in the practice of prayer and meditation.
Music, too, is a powerful medium through which we can connect to God in worship. These songs I've written are worship songs, but first and foremost they are intimate prayers, meant to inspire intimacy, devotion, and love for our holy Father God.
This prayer is found in Part IV of the book, entitled Needs and Devotions. The writer was concerned with travel by boat and the perils of the restless sea. My modern fears rest in the uncertainty of air travel; thus, a little plane on the restless wind is my symbol of the tumultuous Christian life.
Found in Part VII, Gifts of Grace, this prayer is often on my lips as I begin the day. From my daily troubles to my deepest shame, I find in Jesus complete sufficiency. My weakness and fearfulness seem to wake with me each day, yet it is a fresh occasion to trust in Him and not in myself. This song climaxes in the awful and awesome assurance that Christ's sacrificial life and death are all I need!
This song draws inspiration from the prayer entitled Need of Grace in Part IV, Needs and Devotions. It is a prayer from a cold heart, a self-loathing stance crying out for God's return. I notice that mainstream Christian dialog seems to shy away from the language of self-loathing. I guess it has something to do with our worry over self-esteem. Those of us who dwell most on our brokenness often overlook the dreadful nature of sin in light of Gods holiness. I'm quick to look to the Lord for healing and help. Yet this prayer reminds me that my sin--my propensity for rebellion and self-sufficiency--is the reason Christ had to die to offer me this grace.
Valley of Vision
Its the first prayer, found in the introduction, which sets the tone of the book. This prayer is a beautiful illustration of the paradox of God's kingdom, the unexpected, upside-down world of the Jesus way: A holy God Who lowered Himself, and a great view of holiness from the depths of my need. My plea is to learn and to remember His light in my darkness, His joy in my sorrow, His grace in my sin, His love in my lack. His glory in my valley.
This comes from the prayer Christ Is All found in Part I, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This prayer addressing God as Lover surprised me. I suppose the word has different connotations now than it did a few hundred years ago. I really like the words of intimacy and the longing to remember the love story of Jesus. The story is true, and I can get away from thinking my life is all about me. How refreshing to declare, Its all about You, and all You do!
From Part I, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Oh, the mystery of the Spirit of God, the mystery of regeneration. How amazing that my choosing the Savior came only after my Savior chose me! The First Mover endues me with life that I might be able to grasp that life He offers. The Christ I receive, I couldn't love, if He didn't first love me.
The Mediator comes from a prayer found in Part X, A Weeks Shared Prayers. Our Father God reminds us that He is deeply rooted in the history of His people. Instead of a throne of judgment, His is now a throne of grace. Jesus, our Mediator, a Savior rooted in time and place, deserves our complete devotion.
This title comes from The Great God prayer found in part I and from the Voyage prayer. A few simple lines caught my attention, and I wrapped a three-part idea in a hymn-like melody. Each section begins with statements of faith, based on a great God: I expect, I hope, I wait. My salvation is not based on MY faith, but on the One in Whom I put my faith.
Found in Part I, this devotional prayer addresses an awesome reality held in one small word: Trinity. So I wrote a simple song with a simple arrangement to highlight and contrast the complex and unsearchable truth of the triune God.
From Part IV, Valediction. This prayer drew me with the title and the first line: "May I arrive where means of grace cease." What an amazing thought, that I will no longer need to fast or pray or seek. Instead, I will finally draw close to the One I've longed to know. Heaven will have no grief or fears or shame or sin. It will be filled with satisfying things for the soul that finds its happiness in the Lord. A perfect ending to an extraordinary journey.
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