Lessons from a Modern Day Scribe

May 28, 2015 By Stanton Lanier 6 Comments

Click above to listen to Desire from my third album Draw Near as you read. If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and more).

Have you ever thought of yourself as a scribe?

Of course, there is much depth, skill, history and training to the ancient art of scribing. I know very little, but recently had the privilege of being introduced to Paul Antonio, who is a modern day scribe in London, England. During a live presentation he taught the Q Boston audience how scribing involves pausing, stillness, deep breathing, as well as the beauty of this ancient (and modern) art form.

Then he offered a challenge…invest the time to write out one chapter of the Bible by hand, and see what happens. He said this would require a place of silence and no distractions, and to invite God and the Holy Spirit into the process. A friend and I decided to go for it and share our experience with each other. Here is my description to him of what happened for me this morning…

Dear Bill,

Ever since we committed to scribe a chapter of the Bible by May 31st, God has brought this to mind. Well, this morning, I paused, took some deep breaths along the way, and wrote out 1 John 5 (included above next to photo of Paul Antonio).

It probably took about one hour, and I was inviting the Holy Spirit into the process, not sure what would happen, but anticipating something special. I was two-thirds of the way through and there was peace, joy and inspiration as I wrote. However, I had not had any breakthrough, or a strong sense of anything extra. Then when I got to verses 14 and 15, my heart was pierced, and tears began to flow…

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

Writing these two verses out brought a flood of prayer memories and requests, when our children were in the womb, how God has shaped and is shaping His purposes for them now at ages eighteen and fourteen, my bride of almost twenty-five years, relationships, eleven years of Music to Light the World, etc., etc. I put the pen down and began praying for many people and things according to his will, holding onto the promise in these verses.

A few lessons I learned from this experience are 1) slow down and be still, 2) pause and breathe deep, 3) remember God’s plans and purposes in my story, 4) writing out Scripture can lead to a powerful encounter with Him.

Would you join me in some scribing and let me know what happens for you?

The song Desire was perfect for today’s post because it was inspired by the verses below, which combine beautifully with those found in 1 John 5:14-15.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Psalm 40:8 “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

The Powerful Message Inside “Number My Days”

May 26, 2015 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to listen to Number My Days from my first album Walk in the Light as you read. If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and more).

What does the phrase “number my days” bring to mind?

For me, this question brings a flood of thoughts and memories. I wrote this piece of music almost fifteen years ago. It was the summer of 2000. I had been married almost ten years. Our son was three years old. We were expecting our second child in November (our daughter).

This year will be our 25th wedding anniversary. Our son just graduated from high school, and our daughter just finished eighth grade. This fall we will have a college freshman and a high school freshman. Where did the days go?

There is a powerful message inside this song Number My Days…

The music has two main sections. The opening and primary theme expresses joy and hope, living in the moment, making the most of our days, having child-like faith. The answering theme is slower, more reflective, symbolizing the much needed pause to take all of life in, to recalibrate, to nourish our souls.

The message inside this song comes from Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NIV). Said another way, “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!” (MSG).

All of these inspirations were on my mind with a toddler and baby on the way in the summer of 2000. All of them are still in my thoughts today in 2015, yet they are maturing. They are richer. They beckon me toward hope in knowing God more deeply, in being more grateful for His grace, in being a better husband, a better father, a better friend. Yes, there is a powerful message inside Number My Days.

Which of the above themes is most relevant for you right now?

My Secrets to Contentment

May 21, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Contentment from the album The Voice. If you enjoy, you can order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music directly or visit iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more.

What is your secret to being content?

Do you feel like you are in a fog when it comes to being content? It doesn’t take much for me to drift into being discontent with my circumstances or to worry about the future, even though I know there is so much to be thankful for. I have to be intentional to nurture remembrance and gratitude.

When I was composing and recording Contentment my heart’s desire was to slow down my mind from thinking anxious thoughts, and to focus on the things in life that are pure and lovely: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Below are my “secrets” to moving from discontentment toward contentment…

FROM TO

Think about what you don’t have                 Give thanks for what you do have
Dwell on goals you have not achieved         Take one positive step toward progress
Worry about outcomes you can’t control    Surrender outcomes and serve others well
Be upset by what hasn’t gone your way      Remember when things turned out okay
Let fear and uncertainty cause inertia         Let faith and adventure move you forward
Compare where you have less                     Count your priceless blessings

How can you move toward contentment today?

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” — 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” — Philippians 4:11