Lindsay McCaul Takes One More Step of Faith in Her Life & With Her New Album: An Exclusive Interview

Contemporary Christian artist and song writer Lindsay McCaul amazed us with her stunning debut album, "If It Leads Me Back" in 2012. After many trials and tribulations she is back with her brand new Centricity Records debut "One More Step" which features "Empty Handed" and the title cut.

McCaul was born in Abilene, Texas, and moved with her family to Florida when she was nine years old. Even as a child she was fascinated with Christian music, and began writing her own songs when she was 11 or 12. While majoring in linguistics at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, McCaul began leading musical praise & worship sessions, eventually becoming a regular worship leader at Chicago's Harvest Bible Chapel, where some of her original songs began to catch on with worship members and spread into the larger praise & worship community, eventually leading to a deal with Reunion Records.  

We are so honored to be able to catch up with Lindsay as she chats about her new record and her life:

1. Hallels:  Thank you Lindsay for your time.  I am listening to your album "One More Step" as I am typing out these questions.  It's a fabulous album, but I understand the album came about after a season of change and challenges in your own lives.  Can you tell us about a little about your journey from your debut album to this sophomore effort?

Lindsay: Yes! Thank you so much. The title, One More Step basically sums up something I feel like God has been teaching me over the past few years. A lot of change has happened in my life; I got married, released an album, my Dad passed away, I toured with Casting Crowns, Matthew West, Brandon Heath and Mandisa, my husband and I moved to Nashville, I switched record labels, and my brother-in-law passed away. Through that whole season and especially my Dad's home-going, I felt like God was encouraging me to focus on the day at hand. Today. Not next week, not a month or a year in the future....today, where His grace is sufficient. Where His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Repeatedly in Scripture, God tells us not to worry about tomorrow and assures us that His mercies are new every morning. He promises in Philippians 1:6, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. That's where the song, 'The In Between' (from the new album) came from, the realization that GOD is faithful when I'm faithless, is sovereignly and actively working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes all I need to do is take one teensy step of faith, believing in faith that He's working in and around me for His glory. When I'm convinced and confident every situation is a divinely orchestrated opportunity for Him to lead me closer, I can walk without fear, love selflessly and serve with joy. That lesson and everything God has been teaching me through it comes out a lot in different ways on the album.

2. Hallels:  I must say I love your debut record and I am sure many of our readers do too.  How's "One More Step" different or the same as your first record?

Lindsay: Well first of all, thank you so much. I'm so honored that you connected with If It Leads Me Back as that means a ton to me. I'd say with One More Step I really tried to focus on writing more up-tempo songs. Slower ballads have always come easier for me as a songwriter, so I knew those wouldn't be lacking when it came time to pick which songs made the album.  I intentionally surrounded myself with people who are great at writing up-temo's and I really love what we got. I wrote a TON for this album, probably 70+ songs. When we started to sort through and select which songs would be on the album, it was really cool to see a few underlying themes; surrender, following God in faith, His unfailing love, presence and faithfulness through every season emerge through the project, just as it did with If It Leads Me Back. Both albums are snapshots of my life, along with the valleys and mountaintops God has led me through. I'm praying they'll both be a tool God uses to encourage and lead people closer to Him.

3. Hallels:  The title track "One More Step" was inspired by your dad.  Can you tell us more about the story behind this song?

Lindsay: In 2005, I got a letter that my Dad had written to my four sisters and me telling us he had a terminal disease. I immediately started praying that he would be there on my wedding day, which truly was going to be a miracle because I was super single, and that I would be able to be there with him when his time on earth came to an end. I knew even as I prayed that God didn't have to answer the way I was asking Him to, and that however He answered He would still be good, loving, compassionate and kind. I also knew that He invites us to bring our requests before Him, so I did. God was so, so gracious and a few years later Dad took my arm in his and walked me down the aisle to my sweet Mark, and five months after our wedding I was sitting beside my Dad's hospital bed when the doctor came in and told us it was the very end. I got to hug my precious father and tell him how much I loved him and was thankful for him, and hear him attest to me that Jesus never failed him and would never fail me. I will never, as long as I live, forget those holy, treasured moments. I had been a little scared of trying to write a song for/about him after he went to be with Jesus. I think I was nervous it would be too painful to write about and was worried I'd feel like the song didn't capture and honor our relationship the way I really wanted to. God's peace was so present the day my producer & co-writer Jeff Pardo and I sat down to write, and the song just came flowing out. I'm praying God uses it to comfort others who have lost loved ones, and as a reminder that none of us know how much time we have left. We need to treasure and use the precious time God's given us to love and bless those around us.

4. Hallels:  What are some of your other favorite songs on the new album?

Lindsay: My first single, 'Emtpy Handed,' is basically a celebration that although we come to God with nothing but righteousness as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6), He welcomes us and bestows His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:8-10, Romans 5:17) and "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3) on us when we come to Him with faith in Jesus' finished work on the cross. What an awesome exchange! Our nothing for His everything. As I was recording the song, and even now, it's reminded me to live the way the Apostle Paul did after His encounter with Jesus, in awestruck wonder at how insanely blessed we are because of Jesus. 

Another favorite song for me has to be 'With The Brokenhearted,' which is based off of Psalm 34:18, The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. That verse has been a lifeline for me more times than I can count these past few years. I love it because brokenhearted people don't usually feel like God is near, as they think He's forgotten about them or doesn't care. But God wanted to make sure we knew He was present and close when we are hurting and aching. He's hurting and aching with us, because He loves us. I love that. What a promise! And just as He says in His Word, God has been incredibly near to my family and me through the last few years, so this song is really close to my heart.

5. Hallels:  You also get to sing with Brandon Heath on this record!  How did the two of you come to record together?

Lindsay: I've been a fan of Brandon's music for many years, as he's an incredible artist and songwriter. I was honored to get to open up for him and Mandisa this spring on the Brandisa tour. We've also been friends for a while now, and I so respect his heart for Jesus. He's the real deal! When it came time to decide who I'd ask to sing on the song with me, I really wanted someone who could testify to the truth of the Scripture behind the song (Psalm 34:18) and someone who knows and has experienced what a precious gift it is to walk through valley seasons with Jesus. Brandon definitely has, and he's also been a great friend to my husband and I as we walked through the past few years of ups and downs, so he was the perfect fit for 'With The Brokenhearted.' I absolutely could not be more thrilled with how it came out. I'm so grateful!

6. Hallels:  With all the changes that have had taken in your life, how has that affected your faith in Jesus Christ?

 I heard my friend and label-mate Jason Gray say recently, that pain is a holy experience because God uses it (if we let Him) to pull us close to Him. I would never have seen how faithful, constant, sovereign and good Jesus is if He hadn't allowed me to go through the change and pain of the last several years. I'm so thankful that He's kept (and is still keeping) His promise in Romans 8:28 to use all things together for good. Seeing His faithfulness through it all has really taught me that I can trust Him and has ignited a new fire in my heart to be a woman of the Word.  

7. Hallels:  For our readers who may want to purchase "One More Step" or find out more about you, where can they go?

 They can go to iTunes to purchase the album, or they can visit my website (www.LindsayMcCaul.com) to buy it and read more about my story. Thanks so much for having me. God bless you guys

 

 

Tags : lindsay mccaul lindsay mccaul interview lindsay mccaul new album lindsay mccaul one more step lindsay mccaul news lindsay mccaul 2014 lindsay mccaul empty handed