5 Things to Know About Heaven

November 14, 2017 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to stream Longing for Heavenly Country from my 10th album Climb to the Sky as you read. I am also including the music video at the bottom, so you can use for additional reflection if you like.

What does “heavenly country” make you think of?

With our U.S. Thanksgiving holiday approaching, along with autumn colors and cool air, November brings a season of harvest and reminds us to count life’s blessings. Each of us has the universal challenge of quieting life’s noise and distractions enough to pause and give thanks, and to experience more moments of peace and contentment.

Inspired by the song Longing for Heavenly Country, I began to think about heaven, and how setting our thoughts on things above can bring a harvest of blessings to us now — during life on earth — as well as to our future. Along with the music track and video, I hope you will reflect on “5 Things to Know About Heaven” (from Scripture and C.S. Lewis) to increase your peace, joy, and contentment now, and in the days to come.

1. Heaven is a Real Place.

The word “heaven” appears in the Bible 622 times. If we believe by faith, here are two of many encouraging verses about heaven being a real place…

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” — John 14:1-3 (NIV)

2. Heaven is Our True Home.

“The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can’t supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” — C.S. Lewis

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” — Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

“But our homeland is in heaven, where our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is; and we are looking forward to his return from there.” — Philippians 3:20 (TLB)

3. Heaven is a Better Country.

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” — C.S. Lewis

The passage below is from Hebrews 11, known as the “Hall of Faith,” from the many Bible characters named in this chapter.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 11:13-16 (NIV)

4. God and Jesus Invite Us into Relationship from Heaven.

“The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” — Psalm 14:2 (NIV)

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 (NIV)

5. We Can Play a Part in Bringing Glimpses of Heaven to Earth.

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” — C.S. Lewis

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:9-10 (NIV)

Which of these encourages you the most right now?

Walking on Air – Guided Meditation #3

October 3, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

The new song and video Walking on Air inspired me to create three short meditation opportunities to help you stop “doing” for a moment, so you can practice “being.” There are deep and meaningful insights available to us when we take time to pause and listen for God’s voice. Our moments of “being” with Him equip and energize our “doing” for Him as we seek to serve and love others well.

This exercise will seem simple, and it is, but it will not be so easy because you need to quiet your mind and silence any distractions. For this third meditation guide, as you watch the video below and listen to the music, I want you to think about your future, and how God offers us eternal hope. First, read the Scripture passages below…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 1:8-9 (ESV)

“He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (The Message)

Next, watch the video (or close your eyes) and as you listen to the music, see what God wants to reveal to you. What is He saying about your present circumstances? Your past hopes and hurts? Your future with Him? Anything else? When God speaks, write down what He is saying to you, or at least take mental notes so you can hold onto His words for future encouragement.

Have You Seen A Glimpse of Heaven?

November 7, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 1 Comment

Click above to listen to Eternity from my fourth album The Voice. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Have you seen a glimpse of heaven?

For me, these glimpses happen when I experience life’s greatest moments of beauty, adventure and intimacy (a concept inspired by C.S. Lewis and Ken Boa). This past summer my son and I stayed up past midnight and photographed a thunderstorm several miles out over the ocean. The lens would stay open for twenty seconds or so, and a few times we captured some amazing lightning flashes like the one below (notice the stars in the upper right from long exposure).

This image reminds me of a precious moment that combined all three experiences: the beauty of distant thunder and lightning, the adventure of staying up past midnight, and the intimacy of an unforgettable photo shoot with my son.

What is one of your life experiences similar to this?

As you are listening to the Eternity music stream, recall one of these moments and cherish it. Reflect on Ecclesiastes 3:11 that inspired me to compose Eternity. For me, the cello and piano represent heaven and earth, respectively, and a conversation between the two, where a welcoming grace meets a longing for hope. Below are some other quotes around this theme. I pray you see a glimpse of heaven in something or someone today. I would love to hear your comments.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. — Ecclesiastes 3:11

The sweetest thing in all my life has been the longing to find the place where all the beauty came from. — C.S. Lewis

I believe in the immortality of the soul because I have within me immortal longings. — Helen Keller

We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come. — A.W. Tozer

People without a relationship with their personal Creator are hungering for love, happiness, meaning, and fulfillment, but nothing that this planet offers can fully satisfy these longings. — Ken Boa

If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world. — C.S. Lewis