I’ve written many songs, and have recorded a few of them.
The God who wove you in the dark
the one whose rough hands made your heart
had you in mind before the dawn of time
The one who gazed with gentle eyes
at all the colors of your life–
Before the threads were dyed,
the artist saw your life
(chorus)
Back at the house you started from
your God has left the porch light on
however late the hour, you’ll find the way
Oh, welcome, then! back to the light
in from the dark of mortal strife
into the house of grace
where love lives, take your place
(chorus)
Your work is done, you are loved, you are loved
Go in peace, you are loved
Go with God, you are loved, you are loved,
Go with God, you are loved….
♥
© 2007 Katarina Stenstedt
Based on Matthew 14:25–33 and Mark 6:51–52.
Click to listen (Lord of the Waves mp3)
Take courage my friends, it is I, don’t be afraid
Take courage my friends, it is I, Lord of the waves
“Lord, if it’s you, then ask me to come
to you now on the waves,” Peter said.
You bid him to come; he left the boat;
and he walked till he noticed the wind.
Take courage my friend, it is I, don’t be afraid
Take courage my friend, it is I, you can walk on the waves
“Master, save me!” Peter cried
as the waves pulled him into the deep.
You reached out at once to hold him up
as the waves washed the soles of your feet.
Take courage my friend, it is I, don’t be afraid
Take courage my friend, it is I, you can walk on the waves
As you reached the boat and they took you in
the wind died and your calm touched the waves.
Your friends in the boat now bowed to you
They said, “Truly, you are who you say!”
Take courage my friends, it is I, don’t be afraid
Take courage my friends, it is I, Lord of the waves
♥
© 1995 Katarina Stenstedt
I wrote this song for Gene’s sister Paula and her husband Dave, and I sang it at their wedding. Paula and Dave met sailing, and they got married outdoors on a beautiful summer day at a spot overlooking the Detroit River.
Honey, you be the water, and I’ll be the sun
You’ll be my canvas, and before the wind we’ll run
You be the waves that everyone can see
and I’ll be the current that moves us from beneath.
Let’s make a picture of our life from now on – down by the river
You be the painter, and I’ll be the joy
of the picture that’s coming to life.
Honey, you be the colors, and I’ll be the brush
You’ll be my canvas, and I’ll cover you with love.
Yes, you be the colors, and I’ll be the brush
You’ll be my canvas, and I’ll cover you with love.
♥
© 2002 Katarina Stenstedt
The disciples experienced times when Christ seemed crazy, disappointing, unpredictable, and even uncaring, so maybe it’s not so strange that sometimes I do too. This song is based on John 6:60, 68.
Words of Life (mp3)
You have the words of eternal life
Where else would we go?
He left the crowds by boat, asleep in the stern he rode
As light rain rose to a squall, he slept through it all
and when waves swamped the boat, his disciples lost hope
When Jesus was sleeping, it was hard work believing
You have the words of eternal life
Where else would we go?
Through grief, through doubt, through death
we can glimpse our eternal rest
Though questions aren’t resolved,
with our small faith, we can confess:
You have the words of eternal life
Where else would we go?
Jesus, return to us; dig us out from the dust
We won’t need faith once we gaze in your face
Once you calm the last sea, and the clouds of doubt scatter
Once the truth’s plain to see, we will sing ever clearer
You have the words of eternal life
Where else would we go?
♥
© 2005 Katarina Stenstedt
This is the first song I ever wrote. It’s based on Psalm 130.
Out of the Depths (mp3)
If you O Lord kept a record of our sin
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you, there is forgiveness
Therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
And in his word I put my hope
My soul waits for the Lord, for he himself
Will redeem Israel.
O Israel, put your hope in him, for his is unfailing love
And with him is full redemption from all your sin.
♥
© 1991 Katarina Stenstedt
An Easter song, based on Matthew 28.
Click to listen (Mary and Mary mp3)
Jesus lives, he lives – let his life spark life in you
Let what is cold in you be warmed anew
He lives, he lives – let his life spark life in you
He lives, he lives.
Mary and Mary, still seeing spots from that light
Their grief in crazy disorder – could that angel be right?
They ran back to town.
And who had walked out to meet them
but their Lord who’d been dead
They’d seen his cold body, and here he was in warm flesh
And he said, Don’t be afraid:
I live, I live – let my life spark life in you
Let what is cold in you be warmed anew
I live, I live – let my life spark life in you
I live, I live.
♥
© 2007 Katarina Stenstedt
Brace yourself for a truly awful recording. Maybe by posting this mp3 here I’ll inspire myself to make a better one.
But bad as the recording is, this is the final version of Sewing, and that’s saying something for a song that’s had a fairly long evolution. I’m pleased with it now, as a song. Not as a recording. As a song. 
Sewing (mp3)
chorus 1: I had a plan, I knew the shapes that you should cut
the pattern and the cloth
and I thought you would deliver on my plan –
You were looking at me
Did I see some mischief in your smile, some irony?
And as your needle pierced the cloth, your plans were coming true
as all those plans of mine were lost….
bridge: I have never been so sure before that you were here but
I have never understood you less
chorus 2: You hold a dream, in colors you conceived for me
imagined long ago
And your thread holds across eternity –
You’re still sewing for me
your ancient hands can find a place for every mismatched piece
held within your loving gaze, one by one the pieces fit
and nothing goes to waste
♥
© 2010 Katarina Stenstedt
