All You Have in Mind

August 17, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 10 Comments

All You Have in Mind just released and is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services worldwide. You can also click below to listen as you read the story behind this piece.

The new song All You Have in Mind may be my favorite of 2023 so far. It is filled with musical expressions of the peace, hope, wonder, refreshment, energy, and anticipation God wants me to experience to the fullest. This happens when I trust Him one day at a time for all that He has in mind to do in my life story. The inspirational verse is from 1 Samuel 14:7, “‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his (Jonathan’s) armor-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.'” (NIV) Another version reads, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” (ESV) Just prior to this Jonathan says, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf,” to see him and his armor-bearer through a situation in which the two of them were greatly outnumbered by their enemy. My life application would be for times when I am greatly overwhelmed by a challenging situation, or even an exciting opportunity, as I wonder if God will come through for me. Can I, will I, fully put my trust in Him for the outcome He desires? Is He really with me heart and soul? And am I with Him? Perhaps He will act on my behalf when I have the faith to take action. He wants me to experience all He has in mind to do in my life.

There are several other verses this brought to mind, which are like beautiful threads of a tapestry in my life and faith, just like all the musical parts of this song weaving together to form the composition in its full expression. One of these is Psalm 37:4 which says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV) “Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.” (NET) God has a lot in mind to do in my (and your) life, but His plans and purposes happen at His pace as we take steps of faith based on what He has revealed so far. After a faith step He reveals a little bit more to obey. Psalm 37:4 reminds me to speak my heart to God, and to listen to His heart for me as well. I want to be in a two-way conversation with Jesus, sharing with and listening to Him, as I seek to align myself with His desires and delights for me, which then become ours together as one. Down below are more verses I had in front of me as I composed the music. I hope these refresh you and inspire you like they do me.

These Scriptures and thoughts were my meditation as I began to sketch ideas on the piano. The opening notes sing “Do all that you have in mind,” which you can hear two times at the beginning, and again throughout the song. Musically this begins my surrender to God for what He has in mind to do in my life. This process is exciting to me now, even though I was more often afraid or hesitant in the past, earlier in my life. The opening theme leads to a second theme with long notes expressing how big God is. He has me in the palm of His hand and His strength and power are with me as I seek Him. He is very calm and at peace with everything even though my heart may be uncertain, or even racing a little with wonder. This sets up the primary theme which is when God moves in our story. The pace moves from waiting to walking to running with Him by faith (visit Waiting Walking Running which I composed a few months ago to listen and read more on this topic). All You Have in Mind features orchestral strings and alto choir, symbolizing God’s ever presence, and the countless angels in heaven watching over us and cheering us on. The cello and French horn are reassurances of God’s tender care, which is very personal and detailed for each of us. The feather flute is the Holy Spirit, which is woven into every musical theme throughout the piece. I hope the music and the story behind it encourage you to keep running life’s race with desire and delight, and with wonder and adventure. Keep watching for God to do all that He has in mind to do in your life. Perhaps He will do something exceedingly and abundantly beyond what you could have imagined.

How does All You Have in Mind speak into your life story today?

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” (Psalm 37:23, NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

“A man’s or woman’s mind plans his or her way [as he or she journeys through life], But the Lord directs his or her steps and establishes them.” (Proverbs 16:9, AMP)

“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24, NLT)

Solo Piano Blessings

July 27, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 12 Comments

The new song Solo Piano Blessings is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services worldwide. You can also click below to listen as you read the inspiration behind this piece.

I composed Solo Piano Blessings as a reminder to count life’s blessings in the midst of the ups and downs. There are so many when I begin counting. The melodies are a heart felt expression of being grateful for life’s blessings. James 1:17 reminds us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” God is the true source of blessings, and I need to be prepared to notice them, as well as receive them with gratitude, peace, hope, and joy.

Will you join me in pausing to reflect on your life’s blessings for about five minutes? As you listen begin thinking about what you can be thankful for in this present moment, and for this day. Then gradually expand to your life, faith, work, ministry, people, experiences, memories, and anything you can count as a blessing from God. He is a generous Giver and He is worthy of our thanksgiving and praise.

The piano melody, notes, and chords have plenty of space to help us slow down, and focus on being thankful. There is some tension between the major and minor chords, which is a picture of real life with its ups and downs. There are beautiful slow chords played with plenty of rest between them to help us breathe in God’s blessings, which prepares us to be a blessing to others. The melodies rise and fall, with a downward cascading pattern to symbolize God’s blessings – every good and perfect gift – coming down from heaven.

How does Solo Piano Blessings speak into your heart and story?

If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! (James 1:12, Passion Bible)

But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it — they experience God’s blessings in all that they do! (James 1:25, Passion Bible)

Solo Piano Yearning

July 6, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

The new song Solo Piano Yearning just released, and is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services worldwide. You can also click below to listen as you read the inspiration behind this piece.

Solo Piano Yearning is a vulnerable, real life musical expression for times of longing for God. Maybe He is close like James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you,” but I still want to know Him more deeply. Or maybe He seems very distant and my faith feels dry and parched like Psalm 143:6 “…I stretched out my hands to you (God), as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.”

Wherever you are in your life and faith journey, and whatever the circumstances you are facing, I hope the gentle pace of the solo piano, the “longing” minor harmonies and melodies, and “expectantly hopeful” sprinkling of major chords and notes all work together to help you experience God’s peace as you join me in yearning for Him. The artwork for Solo Piano Yearning features a faded image of the sheet music for my song Peace, which is a favorite of listeners and pianists around the world. The inspiration for Peace came from John 14:27, which is a beautiful answer directly from Jesus fore times when our hearts are longing for and yearning for Him, whether consciously or unconsciously. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

The opening melodies become song verses symbolizing a conversation with God and questions for Him. The long descending chords theme is the chorus answer from Him throughout the song, assuring us of His surrounding love as we trust in Him (Psalm 32:10). An additional fifteen second theme appears three times in the song from 1:42 to 1:57, repeated from 1:58 to 2:13, and finally from 3:25 to 3:40. The notes are literally singing the words and syllables found in Psalm 84:2 below, like a piano prayer from my heart to my Father in heaven. He fulfills all of my yearnings through Jesus, my Savior and Friend. My longing to be fully seen, known, loved, and forgiven is complete. Thank you Jesus for your generous grace, mercy, loving kindness, and patience in my life and faith.

How does “Solo Piano Yearning” speak to your heart?

“I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:27, NIV)

“O God, you are my God. I long for you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1, NET)

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2, NIV)

“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9, NIV)