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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.”

Filed Under: Calling, Inspiration, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Awaken the Dawn, Dawn and Dusk Take Turns Calling, Do Not Be Anxious, Dreams, Far Away from Home, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6, Psalm 108:1-2, Psalm 65:8, Sing and Make Music, There's no need to fear

10th Anniversary – Why I Composed Awaken the Dawn

October 10, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to stream Awaken the Dawn as you read. For additional reflection, at the bottom I am also including the soothing, uplifting Awaken the Dawn music video filmed during an ocean sunrise on the Georgia coast.

What can you celebrate this week that happened ten years ago?

This week I am celebrating the 10th Anniversary of my 5th album Unveiled and the opening track Awaken the Dawn, which has consistently been a top listener favorite around the world. As I paused to look back and remember how this song happened, I was prompted to share more of the story with you…

I began composing Awaken the Dawn in May 2006, two months after the extremely painful experience of having our house robbed of everything small and valuable (all jewelry, cameras, etc.). I was on a quest for more hope in my life. The original working title was Waking Light. The inspiration was coming from Psalm 108:1-2, “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.” I learned this passage is identical to Psalm 57:7-8, and these are the only two places in the entire Bible (NIV version) where the words “awaken the dawn” are used.

The music was nice, but for many months it featured a main chorus which was not stirring enough emotion. I worked on it off and on, and finally by early 2007 it was taking shape, with each musical section finding its place. In all the writing, re-writing, and playing the notes over and over, my heart’s longing was to express the deep essence of hope referenced in these Psalms. It was a lofty goal, but I wanted this message of God’s hope, without words, to speak to the heart of every person around the world who might one day hear this melody.

We have all been “robbed” of hope in various ways. This could be in our dreams, relationships, emotions, spiritual journey, health, circumstances, or any number of life events. It is interesting to me that God would inspire a song about hope following not just having our house robbed, but several other experiences of loss or struggle, where there were moments of hopelessness in my life. Hidden in the piano notes is a message from my heart to yours… I have found Jesus to be faithful when I put my faith in Him to provide the peace, rest, hope and healing I need each day.

How does “Awaken the Dawn” sing a song of God’s hope into your life?

Filed Under: Giving Hope, Music Stories Tagged With: Awaken the Dawn, georgia coast sunrise, healing, Hope, Peaceful Piano, piano, Psalm 108:1-2, Scripture Inspired Piano, Unveiled

3 Phrases to Fuel Your Dreams

January 31, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Stanton-Lanier-Unveiled-01-Awaken-The-Dawn-60-sec-English-Horn.mp3

Click above to stream listener favorite Awaken the Dawn, which appears on three albums. If you enjoy, you can order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (or listen on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more).

What are you dreaming about for 2017?

It is amazing to think that one month has already passed this year. As you look back on January, did you make progress toward your dreams? If you are like me, it is sometimes easier for my “self talk” to be negative, telling me what I didn’t get done, instead of being positive, and recalling steps accomplished toward my dreams for 2017 and beyond.

As I was exercising early yesterday morning, three phrases came to mind to fuel my dreams, and I wanted to share them with you…

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.

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.

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.

What words below speak to you the most?  Write them down, keep this in front of you, and take action this week.

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.”

Filed Under: Calling, Inspiration, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Awaken the Dawn, Dawn and Dusk Take Turns Calling, Do Not Be Anxious, Dreams, Far Away from Home, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6, Psalm 108:1-2, Psalm 65:8, Sing and Make Music, There's no need to fear

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