3 Ideas to Care for Your Soul

February 17, 2016 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Before reading, click above to listen to the title track A Thousand Years from my 7th album, with piano and English horn. For more listening or sheet music from this album you can click here.

Is everything well with your soul?

As I think about this question it points to the three parts of the song A Thousand Years. Each represents an idea to help care for your soul.

1. Live with Simplicity and Childlike Faith (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
I was inspired to arrange Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for this piece, to represent childlike faith. The image below expresses how I want to live life — with adventure, joy, faith and trust (“the swing” was captured in Vermont during the April 2011 recording of the album). Remember the first time you climbed a tree? The first time you rode a bicycle? The first time you saw the ocean? The first time you saw the mountains? Care for your soul by remembering, giving thanks and asking God to help you follow His leading. Nurture simplicity, and take leaps of childlike faith into greater adventure, joy, faith and trust.

2. Live out of Silence and Solitude (Original melody)
The original melody that opens and appears throughout A Thousand Years flowed out of a place of peace and rest. For me, this sense of contentment comes from practicing silence and solitude, usually early in the morning. Caring for our souls happens best when we unplug from technology, distraction and noise. My favorite things to do during this time are reading and meditating on Scripture, praying, and listening for God’s voice. Practicing silence and solitude results in God speaking into my life through His Word. Even during times when He seems distant or quiet, I have learned to trust in His promises that He loves me, He believes in me, and He knows my needs before I ask.

3. Live from a Place of Surrender (It Is Well with My Soul)
The third part of A Thousand Years is the famous hymn It is Well with My Soul. The author’s story of surrender is profound. He never knew his words would impact millions of lives. In 1871 Horatio Spafford’s extensive real estate holdings burned in the great Chicago fire. For two years he and his wife served people in need after the fire. In 1873 they planned a family holiday trip to England. Needing to finish some business, Horatio sent his wife and four daughters ahead to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Their ship was struck by another vessel and sank. His wife was saved with a few others, but 226 people drowned, including all four of their daughters. As Horatio Spafford traveled by ship to join his wife, when he passed over the waters where his daughters died, he penned the words to It is Well with My Soul (Wikipedia). When we surrender and abide in God’s strength, “it is well with my soul” becomes true for us as we experience His presence and live for His glory.

Which of these ideas or verses below can help you care for your soul?

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Habakkuk 2:20
The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

What is a “Pure Love” Song?

February 11, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 15 Comments

Click the play button above to listen to the love song Pure Fountain as you read…then pause it when you are ready to watch the video down below.

Have you ever thought about “true love” as “pure love?”

With the February 14th Valentine’s Day holiday approaching, I was thinking about how common the phrase “true love” is around the world. For example, “Yes, it must be true love” or “Have you found true love?” A phrase I have not heard used so much is “pure love.” Have you heard either of these before? “Yes, it must be pure love” or “Have you found pure love?”

Take a few moments to slowly read over the words below which express the depth and richness of the words “true” and “pure.”

TRUE: correct, accurate, right, verifiable, factual, what actually/really happened, genuine, authentic, real, actual, bona fide, proper; sincere, genuine, real, heartfelt, from the heart, loyal, faithful, constant, devoted, steadfast, unswerving, unwavering; trustworthy, trusty, reliable, dependable.

PURE: unadulterated, uncontaminated, unmixed, undiluted; sterling, solid, refined, one hundred percent; clarified, clear; flawless, perfect, genuine, real, clean, fresh, sparkling, unpolluted, untainted; wholesome, honorable, reputable, clean, honest, upright, upstanding, exemplary, worthy, noble, blameless, guiltless, spotless, unsullied, uncorrupted, undefiled.

Now, with these in mind, watch the Pure Fountain (Love Song) music video, and receive this as a love song from God to you personally. Listen to the music as a love song gift from Him to you. Meditate on the words from Him to you. Reflect on how much He loves you and believes in you — true, pure, paradise.

Words from the Lover to his Beloved (God to you) in Song of Solomon, Chapter 4:

“Dear lover and friend, you’re a secret garden, a private and PURE FOUNTAIN. A garden fountain, sparkling and splashing… You’ve captured my heart. I stay until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. Body and soul you are PARADISE. One look my way and…I was hopelessly in love!” (The Message)

Consider asking: God, would you reveal Your true and pure love to me more deeply?

Jesus sees us long before we see Him. He knows us. He brings to us His true and pure love. He brings to us His grace and forgiveness of our sin. Based on everything I know about Him, He believes in you (and in me). His is a “pure love” song.

Desert Thirsty for Rain

January 26, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to listen to Desert Thirsty for Rain (from my 8th album Open Spaces) as you read. If you enjoy you can stream, download music, or find sheet music at the following links: Open Spaces CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book, Desert Thirsty for Rain PDF Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora.

Is your soul thirsty like a desert thirsty for rain?

When I composed this song, I wanted to express the emotions of life’s “desert” moments or seasons, when life seems dry, prayer seems empty, and God seems distant or even very far away (if sometimes fear grips you like us does me, you should also check out the Far Away from Home music video and its inspiration).

It only takes a moment to remember some “desert” moments from recent times to years ago: the five-day long stomach illness a few weeks ago, when the car didn’t start leaving for a trip last fall, when our house was robbed, the jobs early in my career when there was something missing, working third shift in a carpet mill, making an “F” on several college exams, missing the game winning shot, wanting to quit piano lessons when I was twelve, having to get glasses when I was ten, stuttering when I was five. The list go could go on.

However, there is another perspective in Psalm 143, which gives me great hope…

“I remembered the old days, went over all you’ve done, pondered the ways you’ve worked, Stretched out my hands to you, as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.” (The Message) “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” (ESV)

I can choose to dwell on a “desert experience” from the past, to focus on some “desert moment” in the present, or to fear a “desert season” in the future. Or, I can choose to remember all the good things God has done for me in the past, to reflect on how He is working on my behalf today, and to give thanks for His faithfulness to be with me in the future, wherever I go (Joshua 1:9).

I hope you will use the new Desert Thirsty for Rain Music Video as a resource for seeking God’s presence, whether life right now seems like a dry desert or a thirst quenching waterfall. If your soul is thirsty, God’s grace, forgiveness, love and care are there for you like the rain drops in Desert Thirsty for Rain.

What is one memory of something good God did, which you can cherish today?