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Stanton Lanier / Sky Whisper Sound, LLC

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Striving or Abiding?

June 19, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

I met with a great friend this morning. We were talking about the many areas in our lives where we are striving and wanting to succeed – spiritual, family, work, relationships, etc. Striving involves hard work and faith. Resting involves hard work and faith too. I was reminded about a time several years ago when I shifted my focus from “Striving to Succeed” to “Abiding to Receive.” This is a delicate balance, but it helps me remember that God’s definition of success is different than mine, other people’s, and the world’s. Instead of striving in my own strength, by abiding in God’s strength my perspective shifts off of depending on myself to depending on Him. The results of hard work can be the same whether I “strive” or “abide,” but there is a healthy dynamic when I am grateful for receiving results versus celebrating achieving results. Striving is a great word and attribute, so if you still like this word, maybe you can add “striving to abide” to your mindset. Check out John 15:5 if this subject stirs you.

Where are you striving or abiding? Where are you achieving or receiving?

Beautiful vistas = reminders of receiving vs achieving

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Outside of Time

June 18, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

I wrote the words below after composing Alleluias Dancing as the final melody for the A Thousand Years album, recorded in April 2011. As I look back on this, it was a powerful symbol of how “a thousand years are like a day, or a watch in the night to God.” Sometimes a whole day’s work can seem like it gets done in a few hours. This song was like that. Every day is different, but keep creating and keep pursuing your gifts with a heart to love others.

The hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” was written by Francis of Assisi in 1225. The music first appeared in a Roman Catholic hymnal in Cologne, Germany in 1623. Beginning yesterday evening through this morning and this afternoon, an arrangement of this verse and chorus was inspired that begins in quiet worship and builds to a joy filled dance. It was hard work at times getting all the touches completed in recording the piano, but in the end it was well worth the afternoon hours in the studio. The last minute of the song will symbolize a wedding feast with friends and loved ones in heaven, as vocals, English horn and guitar join the dancing piano. Another amazing day all in all, and such a great feeling to realize that 12 new piano pieces have been created and recorded that will soon offer peace, rest, hope and healing to listeners around the world.

Where do you need this attribute of God, how He is “outside of time,” in your life right now?

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Simplicity = Peace & Rest

June 15, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

The idea of living a simpler life came to me in the mid 1990s through an excellent (and very small) book titled Intimacy with the Almighty, by Charles Swindoll. His reflections were founded on Ecclesiastes 7:29 that says, “God has made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.” Here are a few more thoughts on simplicity that have interwoven their way into my thinking:

  • Each day has enough trouble of its own. Focus on getting a few things done well.
  • Take time to pause. Take in your surroundings. Take time to listen to and serve others.
  • Take periodic vacations. Working hard requires faith. Taking a break requires faith.
  • Seek out memories to cherish more than stuff to accumulate.
  • If you’re a spender, stretch by saving a little. If a saver, stretch by spending a little.
  • Grow in generosity. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
  • Proverbs 13:7 – A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.

Has this given you any ideas on how you can live a simpler life?

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