New Album SO LOVED – Intro Part 2

April 17, 2018 By Stanton Lanier 3 Comments

Click above to listen Walking on Air as you read, which is one of 15 tracks on the new album So Loved (releasing 4/24/18). After reading and listening, I encourage you to watch the Walking on Air Music Video for additional reflection and inspiration.

Has God shown you are SO LOVED by Him through another person?

I will be sharing more stories behind my 11th and newest album So Loved after it releases on April 24th. For this Intro Part 2 (if you missed it, you can also read Part 1), I want to tell you about Daniel in Zambia. Daniel was one of ten orphan boys in my Family Legacy Camp Life group in summer 2015 and 2016. Music to Light the World is Daniel’s sponsor so he can attend a Family Legacy Academy school to receive a top education, along with meals and nutrition. Before I share more about Daniel and the photos below, I encourage you to consider sponsoring a child in his Chainda community in Lusaka, Zambia (pronounced Chi-(eye)-in-dah) — Chainda Children Needing Sponsoring.

So the picture on the left is from June 2015 Camp Life and the picture on the right from January 2017 Dream Camp. You can see Daniel’s physical growth in these images. He is also growing in his faith in God as well as all his school subjects. From the first day we met in 2015, Daniel stayed really close to me, always wanting to play together, just the two of us, even when the other boys played as a group. Even though Daniel is fatherless, He has shown me God’s love in a fresh way, and how God sees me and wants me to stay close to Him, like I saw Daniel and was available to him.

Who is someone you can share God’s love with today?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

New Album SO LOVED – Intro Part 1

April 11, 2018 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

What do the words SO LOVED make you think of?

My 11th and newest album So Loved has many stories to share behind all the new music, which I am excited to share in the coming months. As an introduction before its release, ideas have been flowing about this theme. One picture I will forever have in my mind is “my boys” served by Family Legacy in Zambia, some of whom are pictured in the photo below. These boys are orphans by the world’s definition, but they are children loved and seen by their heavenly Father from His perspective. Joyfully and beautifully they saw my love and care for them as a glimpse of God, and through their love, hugs, and smiles for me, God gave me a glimpse of how He sees and loves each of us as His children. Please read on for a few more thoughts to inspire your life and faith journey…

In being loved and loving others each of our stories include the past, future, and present. If you are like me, there are happy and sad memories from the past, with many positive experiences and some regrets. It can be easy and difficult at the same time, but a word to represent the past is “faith” as we remember God’s faithfulness in loving and caring for us. A word for our future in being so loved by God and sharing His love with others, is “hope,” as we place our trust in Him. A word for the present day and moment is “love.” Our being fully present and engaged in life’s moments enables our doing of receiving and sharing God’s love.

If you have been moved by this story and blessed with resources, please consider sponsoring a child in Zambia to help them attend a Family Legacy school and receive an excellent education, as well as much needed nutrition. Click here for Sponsorship Information (you then need to click the “Search” button).

What step can you take to grow in experiencing and sharing God’s love today?

Easter 2018 ~ Seeking Hope

March 27, 2018 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to listener favorite Awaken the Dawn as you read (this track first appeared on Unveiled, and is also on December Peace and Treasures of Peace). which appears on three albums. You can also order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music and listen on Apple Music-iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more. If you have never seen it before, I strongly encourage you to pause and watch the Awaken the Dawn music video.

Where are you seeking hope this Easter, and in 2018?

It is amazing to think that three months have already passed this year. Since “hopes and dreams” are often spoken in the same phrase, how is your progress toward finding hope, and living your dreams in life? If you are like me, it is often easier to think of negative things reducing my hope in life, and preventing my dreams from coming true.

One of my hopes is that the four ideas below will help bring you greater hope this Easter, and also fuel your 2018 dreams…

1. Sing and Make Music.
What is your passion? Your purpose? What do you love doing that also serves others? To “sing and make music” means to release your “song” — your gifts and calling — into the world to be a blessing to others. To clarify your purpose, think about the one or two things you love to do. They often begin in childhood, or revealed themselves to you early in life. Do one thing today to “sing and make music.” Read and reflect on the verse behind this phrase (see down below). You can also watch the Awaken the Dawn video to inspire you and go deeper with this idea.

2. There’s No Need to Fear.
What are you afraid of? Success? Failure? What others will think? These are some of my fears. Take a leap of faith today, like a little child who jumps into your arms and trusts you to catch them. Take one action step that is a little scary, but which will move you one step closer to your dream coming true. Read and reflect on the verse behind this phrase (see down below). You can also watch the Far Away from Home video to give you courage and go deeper with this idea.

3. Do Not Be Anxious.
What are you worried about? What makes you anxious? For me, this can be uncertainty about the future, financial security, being healthy, my creativity, making a difference, etc. Whatever you are are anxious about, surrender this to God today, asking Him to carry it for you, and to show you a next step to take toward your dream. Read and reflect on the two verses behind this phrase (see down below). You can also watch the Dawn and Dusk Take Turns Calling video to bring a calm assurance and go deeper with this idea.

4. Jesus is Our Ultimate Hope
Easter fills me with awe and wonder. Though I am sinful and undeserving, Jesus loves me (and you) so much, He came from heaven to earth to save us and make us fully alive forever, through His death on the cross and His resurrection three days later. Romans 10:9 and John 5:24 are two of many beautiful and powerful Scriptures which testify to this…”if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (ESV)

Father God, thank you for loving us more than we can know or imagine. Thank you for your amazing gifts of grace, forgiveness, and hope you offer to us through Jesus.

Psalm 108:1-2 (NIV)
“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)
“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Psalm 65:8, Psalm 34:9 (MSG)
“Dawn and dusk take turns calling, ‘Come and worship.’ Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.”