Beatitudes is a new release from legendary CCM guitarist and singer-songwriter Stu Garrard (from Delirious and One Sonic Society), where he based his entire compilation of songs on the words of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount and Beatitudes starting in Matthew Chapter 5. The album features memorable and catchy songs with an incredible list of collaborations including features by Matt Maher, Audrey Assad, All Sons & Daughters, John Mark McMillan, Amanda Cook, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and Hillsong UNITED, among others.
 
These songs are great messages for us to celebrate that our freedom from sin is based on our faith in Christ Jesus. We need to celebrate that freedom with our hands reaching out to others in Christ, by showing His light in us and letting Him shine in us. 

The news release about "I Will Be Your Home" shares: "'The Beatitudes Project', a book, an album and a film (www.thebeatitudesproject.com), shines a spotlight on today's meek, especially those who are marginalized and displaced, including the millions of refugees fleeing war-torn areas like Syria. The song was inspired by families like the song's featured artist Hassan Al Zoubi's that are escaping across borders, fleeing bombs and bullets that have devastated their homes and country."
 
"I have been increasingly getting into advocacy work and activism on behalf of refugees, especially Syrian refugees," shares Audrey Assad. "The world is in the greatest refugee and migrant crisis that it has ever been in, that we know of." I had the chance to speak with Stu G about "I Will Be Your Home" who is joined on the song by Assad--the daughter of a Syrian refugee--and Syrian refugee Hassan Al Zoubi.
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

I was writing the book and I was looking at the theme of "blessed are the meek," and about those who are marginalized, and have the power of choice taken away. The idea of refugees came through looking at who the meek are in our society today. In the process of researching that, I came across a video about a refugee camp in Jordan with two mothers who didn't know where their husbands were and they were there with their children. They said for the men who were caught up in the fighting it was hard enough to look after themselves, let alone to look after their families. 

This one woman said she "found herself having to be higher and stronger than a mother." That phrase really stuck with me and sparked something inside. I knew if we wrote a song about refugees dealing with the meek theme that would be one of the main things in the song. I had the idea of maybe it was this Syrian mother singing to her children and also God singing to the refugee. 

I then was watching the U2 concert in Paris and Bono was urging the gates of Europe to be welcoming to refugees and saying "I just want a place called home." This idea came for this song, "I Will Be Your Home." I asked Audrey Assad if she wanted to write this song for this project. She said yes right away, and as the daughter of a first generation Syrian refugee she's been thinking about this issue and wondering how to connect that issue in a song. We sat down and wrote and shared those ideas with her about "higher than a mother" and "I just want a place called home." That led to us writing this song.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV): Now when He saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
 
Romans 5:3-5 (NASB): "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

What is the takeaway message?

It is very much a lamenting song. It could be a mourning and grieving song. It's a lament of the refugee who can't go home. They just want to go home and live in peace, but they can't. There's a lament of that. A standout lyric to me is, "The bullets fly, all over Eden tonight, and blood cries out from holy ground." That idea is about how the Persian Gulf area is the birthplace of humanity as far as we know from the Bible, Eden, and right now there is war and bullets flying and rockets exploding in that part of the world. The idea of that lyric is to point out how tragic what is going on in the Middle East. That land is historically special. 

With the Peacemakers chapter of the book, I based that on the Holy Land. Audrey was a brilliant person to write with and this is a strong, emotive subject. We got to the second chorus and going into the bridge we wanted the bridge to have an authentic Middle East influence. We were sent the name of Hassan Al Zoubi, who was a Syrian refugee in Nashville, and he played percussion and he joined us for the song, which gives the song an Arabic feel and he sings with Audrey as a lament on the song. It is a heart-cry of a song and is a mother singing to her child and God singing to His children that He is our home and the song lets us mourn the loss of our homeland and express the ache to get back home to where we belong. It is a song for refugees and those who feel displaced.
 
Lyrics:
Draw near to me
And I will show you how to mourn
To offer up your wounds like prayers
Come closer now
Come look your sorrow in the eyes
The kindness of your God is there
Your pain runs river wide
My love is wider
Mountains on every side
 
I will be higher than a mother
Safer than a place to hide
I will be more than just your shelter
I will be your home
 
The bullets fly
All over Eden tonight
And blood cries out from holy ground
Our treasure is buried in these fields
And life will find a way out
Wars rage on every side
Death will not rob you blind
Oh I will be your eyes
 
I will be higher than a mother
Safer than a place to hide
I will be more than just your shelter
I will be your home
I will be your home
I will be your home
 
According to this news release: "The United Nations, who declared June 20 as World Refugee Day, says that 'We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.' And 4.9 million of these refugees are from Syria with many more Syrians displaced."
 
It is commanded by Jesus in Matthew 5:16 to "let your light shine" so that others may praise God based on seeing the power of His life in us. Perhaps we can all practice "letting our light shine so that others may praise our Father in Heaven." This song is about realizing that if your eyes are open to the needs of others around you, and if you serve others and care about people more than think about your selfishness and doubts, then you can start to live out the Beatitudes and understand the words: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."
 
We know our lives here on Earth are only temporary and our real home is Heaven. Something Stu and I discussed was that as believers we need to remember that this world is not our home. We have a much bigger agenda, and the security of everlasting life as promised by our Savior, Jesus. We should all be living for Heaven, our true home. Everything in this broken world will ultimately disappoint you. 

Reflect on these stirring lyrics: "I will be higher than a mother, Safer than a place to hide, I will be more than just your shelter, I will be your home." I am inspired by how this song challenges me to have my priorities in the right place. When it seems like hope is lost, and all that's left is despair, there's still hope in God as He tells us that "I will be your home." Amen to that!
 
Check out the song: