Click above to listen to the new song Far Away from Home (Keyboard Mix). If you enjoy it will be available on iTunes very soon. The release date is set for Tuesday, August 5, 2014. (Updated May 2016: iTunes purchase and download now available here.) What fears are you facing that you need to overcome? This is a first. I have never put a song out for listening before it was available for purchase, but I was prompted this week to write a new post to share the story behind this melody. I will explain why in a moment. I encourage you to listen through this 4-minute track as you reflect on these words…

The story begins when I was fourteen. An elderly lady in our church invited me to her home to study the Bible over the summer. Everyone had great respect for her faith and wisdom so I said “yes.” I only went a few times, but I remember reading out loud together and discussing each passage. She introduced me to Isaiah 41:10 — “Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” These words spoke powerfully into my life and became a milestone in my faith journey. I started writing songs on the piano that year and one of them was titled “Fear Not.” So now we’re going to fly through a few decades of time. Journey with me as I remember some of the many fears from age fourteen until now. Look back on your story, your fears, and remember those you overcame, even though they seemed insurmountable at the time: Will I hit the game winning shot? Does she like me? Are you there God? Can I pass this class? Should I take this job? Does God really forgive me? What if I ask her to marry me? Why is “this” happening? and How will we get through this? — miscarriage, car accident, loss of a loved one, medical emergency, house robbery, financial uncertainty? Lord, what do you want me to do? What is amazing is if you read Isaiah 41:10, it is an answer to all of the above questions and more — anything we are fearing, everything we are facing. I am going to put a few different versions of this passage at the bottom so you can meditate on them. This week my youngest of two brothers was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Hundreds of people are already in this battle with him, praying for his healing and that soon he will be cancer free again, for good. The first thing I did was to send him the words of Isaiah 41:10 and this new song for listening. We are trusting God’s promise in this verse. Being one of the first scriptures I took to heart, I always was wondering if and when Isaiah 41:10 would become one of my Scripture inspired piano melodies. I started composing them in May 2000, and as 2014 began, there were 88 compositions. Little did I know that in February, #89 would be born from this passage. It took until July to refine it and complete it, and now, because God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), you are able to listen to my musical expression of these life changing words (I will share about the title Far Away from Home in a future post). How does Isaiah 41:10 speak into your life right now? ISAIAH 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (New International Version) 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. (The Message) 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. (English Standard Version) Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (The Living Bible)