Finding Hope in Long and Lonely Nights

November 8, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to listen to a portion of A Long and Lonely Night as you read. Visit climbtothesky.com for links to this 10th and newest album, music video, CD, MP3 Album, Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify. After reading, watch the Far Away from Home music video to lift your spirit.

What have you been anxious or fearful about lately?

Recently I had the opportunity to share my music at a conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and to play concerts in Waukesha and Kenosha. This trip allowed me to visit the shores of Lake Michigan, including the Cana Island Lighthouse.

The image below was taken through a small window from inside the lighthouse during the climb up (a small “climb to the sky” moment). As I thought about sharing the inspiration for the song A Long and Lonely Night, I began thinking how the inside of a lighthouse is much darker than the outside. The greatest source of light on the shore, which can be seen for miles, is dark inside.

When I am feeling dark on the inside, the light of God’s word and presence is there shining into my circumstances. When I am anxious or fearful, He says “Fear not.” When I am having a long and lonely night, or not sleeping well, He is always there, caring for me, offering hope and comfort, even though I may not feel hopeful.

My long and lonely nights are not nearly as rough as Paul’s. He went from being totally against Jesus and his followers, to being totally for Jesus. His personal encounter with Jesus in Acts 9 transformed his life. From then on he shared the good news of God’s grace and forgiveness, and that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God. This resulted in Paul being jailed, beaten, flogged, shipwrecked, robbed, betrayed, and without food multiple times. He had many a long and lonely night.

How does this solo piano melody and its inspiration speak into your long and lonely nights?

“I’ve known…many a long and lonely night without sleep…” 2 Corinthians 11:27 (MSG) “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (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.” — Isaiah 41:10 (MSG)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” — Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

Longing for Heavenly Country

November 1, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 8 Comments

Click above to listen to a portion of Longing for Heavenly Country as you read. Visit climbtothesky.com for links to this 10th and newest album, music video, CD, MP3 Album, Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

What does “Longing for Heavenly Country” mean to you when you first read this phrase?

This blog post is dedicated to my friend Craig, and in honor and memory of his wife Kellie. I just found out overnight that Kellie passed away from cancer at age thirty-nine, on October 13th, the day of my Atlanta release concert for the new album Climb to the Sky (“Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there!” Psalm 139:7-8, The Message).

The new song Longing for Heavenly Country inspired by Hebrews 11:16, is deeply connected to the album cover art that Craig created in 2011 for my 7th album A Thousand Years. As you listen to the melody, take a look at the image Craig created below. Pause and study it for yourself, for a minute or two. Take in the amazing creativity, and the elements illustrating the inspiration from Psalm 90:4, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” (NIV)

Then, see below the image for how it captures the essence of Longing for Heavenly Country…

With God’s grace and help, Craig and Kellie demonstrated great faith during her battle with cancer. Even though we cannot understand or explain many things that happen during our life on earth, or how God’s ways are often mysterious, Craig and I were discussing how He tells us His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). Below are five of the rich symbols of “Heavenly Country” in Craig’s image for A Thousand Years.

The Dove. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove, and is our Guide, Counselor and Comforter (Matthew 3:16, Isaiah 11:2, 2 Corinthians 1:4).
The Flowing Water. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38, NIV)
The Overflowing Cups. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows…” (Psalm 23:5, NIV)
The Books Holding Up the Piano. One of these is an old Bible. “Your word is a lamp for my feet.” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).
The Shoes for the Piano Pedals. These are Craig’s grandfather’s shoes. They are a symbol of our legacy, of God’s faithfulness, that we pass down to our children, and our children’s children (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Kellie has a perspective on these truths, these glimpses of heaven, that we do not yet fully know. I am certain she would want us to know how much Jesus loves us, believes in us, and forgives us, even though sometimes we may not feel like we love him, believe in Him, or have been forgiven by Him. Today I give thanks to God for Craig and Kellie being part of my life and music story.

How does the music and these words speak into your “longing for heavenly country?”

“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” — Hebrews 11:16 (NIV)

Climb to the Sky – Part 2

October 25, 2016 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Climb to the Sky is my brand new album release. Click the play button above to enjoy a sample as you read. To listen to all 12 tracks visit the Climb to the Sky album page. Also, I hope you will pause to enjoy the new Climb to the Sky Music Video.

What are some ways you like to “climb to the sky” in life? Today as an adult? When you were a child?

Several weeks ago I posted Climb to the Sky – Part 1, so if you would like to read this first you can click here. Since writing this title track song in February 2016, I have been meditating on Psalm 139:8 “If I climb to the sky you’re there…” This verse is rooted in the opening words of this Psalm, “God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.”

Before performing this piece as the closing number for that Atlanta release concert, I shared with the audience some of the “broken stories” from my life. About how I stuttered when I was five years old, and this made me very shy. How I had to get glasses when I was ten years old, and didn’t wear them until I was thirteen (but could still make a lot of basketball shots without them). How a sixth grade “girl friend” broke up with me because I had not kissed her. And how for many years I was striving to succeed and meet people’s expectations for my life, through my college and early career years.

Then I shared how we are all on a “climb to the sky” in life. As children, this could have been climbing trees, flying a kite, or looking out an airplane window for the first time. As adults, this can also come from life experiences we enjoy, but for me, my “climb” is founded on a perspective that life is an “adventure to live” instead of a “problem to solve” (credit to John Elredge from his book Wild at Heart). This is some of the wonder and awe found in Psalm 139. The entire Psalm is definitely worth a read.

As you hear the piano “climbing” with the chorus notes, join me in remembering to keep alive your child-like, to give thanks for life’s many blessings, and to embrace the adventure God has in store for you, by faith. He loves us and knows us more than we can comprehend.

How does the music of “Climb to the Sky” speak to you?