A Willing Vessel | Posted July 29, 2013
To the casual listener, it might seem that Clay Crosse has reemerged out of left field. However, while Crosse—a four-time Dove Award-winning artist with nine No. 1 songs—has been flying under the radar since his last major label studio release in 2000, he has not been inactive.
He has released several independent projects, including a live album, a Christmas record, the 2009 CD Anthems, and most recently an Americana collection of hymns, gospel standards, and other spiritual songs. In addition to recording music and writing a book, Crosse has also been busy serving as a worship pastor.
Many of the songs on Crosse's new release, reDedication, were written with producer and longtime collaborator Regie Hamm. Thematically, reDedication is a tightly focused work centered on God's sufficiency and our need to surrender our hearts to Him and live in relationship with Him.
With "Rest in You," Crosse kicks things off with a bang. This energetic track celebrates God's provision, referencing many of the biblical names of the Lord: Shepherd, Refuge, Father, Healer, Son of God, Redeemer. On the chorus, Crosse sings with confidence and conviction: "Every breath and every heartbeat / I feel Your love surround me / Even when the way's unclear / I know You'll see me through / 'Cause every moment, every minute / I rest in You." How refreshing that a song that speaks of finding rest in God is joyous rather than peaceful!
Title track "reDedication" finds a grateful Crosse reflecting on all God has done for him and renewing his commitment to relationship with the Savior: "I'm holding tightly to Your loving hand / I don't wanna let go again." The song speaks volumes on how we often forget the depth of our need, and how our heart overflows when we finally realize all He has carried us through.
"Vessel" is a shout it from the rooftop song of praise and surrender acknowledging that only God can fill our void, while recognizing that He blesses us so that we may serve as instruments of His love. This is the roll down the windows, crank it up and sing along moment of the record!
The album flows gracefully from "Vessel" to "Your River's Wide Enough." A gorgeous track with strong, cinematic visual elements, Crosse sings of God's mercy as a river "wide enough to drown the sins of every living soul / wide enough to hold the earth so no one is alone / wide enough to bring the Heavens down so we would know / You're wide enough to carry us all the way / all the way home."
"Waving a White Flag" supplies a bouncy, poppy moment. This little gem would be right at home on the radio beside Francesca Battistelli's "I'm Letting Go." Crosse sings, "I'm at the end of myself / This game of tug-of-war is through / Surrendering everything, I dedicate my life to you / I'm waving a white flag / flying it high ‘cause I'm giving up."
After surrender comes committed relationship to God. So the funky "Working on a Building" follows. Russ Taff and Melinda Doolittle each bring added soul to the track which communicates the need for continuous relational work—"brick by brick, I build it up"—while demonstrating the resultant security in building upon the Rock: "Storm clouds will come / storm clouds will go / But the one thing I know / This house will last / This house will hold."
Worship number "When I Lift My Hands" is currently gaining strength at radio. It's a moving song whose lyric reaches deeper into your heart with each listen until it becomes your own personal moment of worship: "When I lift my hands, I'm reaching for Heaven / When I lift my hands and call out Your name / I surrender everything I am and all I do / when I lift my hands, my Lord, to You."
Continuing in worship mode, Crosse takes his turn at "The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong United. It's a potent cover recounting all Jesus has done and asking how we could have any reaction other than complete submission to Christ.
On the personal "All Because of You," Crosse juxtaposes fame and worldly fortune with God's eternal blessing and reward. "Anything that's good in me," he professes, "anything that's true / It's all because of You." He promises, therefore, to return all glory to God.
The album closes with the poignant "Good Morning Lord," a humble blueprint for how to handle life: in daily prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord. Crosse admits, "I won't last a day without You here by my side / Everything inside my soul longs for you, so strong for You / And Lord, I bring / every single thing that I go through / back to You / until another day is new."
Closing Thoughts:
This project proves that quality music is found beyond the confines of Christian radio chart success. With reDedication, Clay Crosse has turned in what may be his finest work to date. And if the recent radio adds for current single "When I Lift My Hands" are any indication, hopefully it's only a matter of time before he garners a tenth No. 1.
reDedication finds Crosse in fine voice, his strong, soulful pipes delivering well-crafted songs that communicate a message of hope and comfort: God is sufficient, and His Son has done the work needed so that all may receive Grace. Faced with this truth, the only logical choice is to surrender and commit your heart to Him. Or, if you've already done so, do it again. For as the song "Good Morning Lord" shows, in order to walk in the Lord, we need to rededicate our hearts with each day, just as God renews His mercies each morning.
Song to Download Now:
"When I Lift My Hands" (Get it on iTunes here.)
Comments (0) | Add Comment | Is This Review Helpful? Yes | No |
to add lyrics if not listed.
