Fall Colors

Click above to listen to a portion of For Such a Time as This as you read, from the new album Climb to the Sky. Visit climbtothesky.com for links to this 10th and newest album, music video, CD, MP3 Album, Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify.

What is a “for such a time as this” decision you are facing, or dream you are making?

As I was driving a winding, mountain road last weekend in north Georgia, the colors of autumn brought to mind the new song For Such a Time as This. I love the fall because it brings cooler air, and splashes of red, orange, yellow and gold leaves amidst southern pines and evergreens.

I couldn’t resist pulling off the road to capture the image below. Just as the brilliant red of this maple tree is only present for a short time, and just as the seasons come and go, life brings us possibilities and opportunities that will soon pass. Some of these are “leap of faith” moments, and we have to decide whether to jump. How do we know when to say “yes?”

Like Esther’s story in the Old Testament, we don’t get to see the full picture of all God is orchestrating until we can look back. What we do have the privilege of doing is surrendering to Him and asking Him to direct our steps. When I seek to listen for His voice, and wait on Him for either direction or confirmation for a next step, He is always faithful to reveal His plans little by little. When life’s “for such a time as this” decisions present themselves, I want to have a mindset of aligning my “push” with God’s “pull.” Practicing this today helps give me greater confidence and clarity for tomorrow’s “for such a time as this” choices.

This song is also a sixteenth birthday gift to my daughter, composed with a heart of love and blessing from her earthly father, and inspired by words from her heavenly Father. When we read the Scripture verses behind this song, one is spoken to Esther, and one is spoken from the Lover to his Beloved in the Song of Songs. Yet, the way to receive them is as though they are spoken from God to each of us (in my words): “…perhaps I have brought you to your current position for such a time as this. Remember, you are altogether beautiful and flawless in my sight.”

Hold on to these thoughts in your journey today — God believes in you, loves you, and forgives you more than you can know. Jesus loves you and believes in you, and His gifts of grace, love and forgiveness will always be there for you.

How can this be applied to one of your decisions or dreams today?

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 (NIV)
“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” — Song of Songs 4:7 (ESV)

Click above to listen to How Beautiful from my second album Still Waters as you read. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

When was a time something you love was part of a great surprise?

Sometimes these events happen in bunches, and sometimes there may only be a few per year. This story happened Saturday, February 1, 2003. I was still a full-time financial planner and had released my second album Still Waters before Christmas 2012. In the midst of Saturday chores and projects around the house, there was a voice mail left on my phone.

It was a friend from Arkansas, and the message said, “I think I just heard your music on The Weather Channel. How is that possible!?” With technology at the time, it took a few days to figure out. A Still Waters CD had made it from a person at work to a person at The Weather Channel to the person in charge of music for the Local on the 8s. The song How Beautiful had been selected for the music rotation, and was playing in the background about once every two hours across the U.S. This only lasted for two minutes during the local forecast.

To my surprise, this led to CD orders from thirty states. There were amazing stories from people who emailed to share they could sense God’s peace and hope in the instrumental music. One was from a lady in Michigan who was folding her laundry. Another was from a young man in a Connecticut hospital. All of this caused tears of joy and a growing sense that something bigger was happening. Was God calling me toward doing music full-time?

The other big surprise was the inspirational verses behind How Beautiful. This was and still is one of my favorite melodies on this album. The piano notes are singing the scriptures almost word for word, which speak of the beauty of serving others in love, and the wonder and mystery of God’s grace and forgiveness.

How beautiful can your life be today in sharing some good news with someone?

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” — Romans 10:15

“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” — Romans 10:9