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Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

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My Spirit Refreshed

September 20, 2022 By Stanton Lanier 6 Comments

Today is release day for the new song My Spirit Refreshed, now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music platforms, or you can click below to listen as you read the inspirational notes underneath.

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/My-Spirit-Refreshed-Stanton-Lanier-c2022-MTLTW.mp3
 
This musical idea began with Proverbs 11:25 which has been special to me for many years. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” I was also thinking of Johann Sebastian Bach’s famous quote, “The aim and final end of all music should be unto the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” As this verse and quote took root in my heart over the years, I began to encourage people in conversation. If we all seek to glorify God and refresh the souls of others in our life and work, then our light will shine more brightly in the world as we are a blessing to people.
 
For me refreshment includes experiencing peace, rest, hope, beauty, joy, and more as I have time alone or time with others. This can be in day to day life or when I am being intentional to unplug and relax in a beautiful setting, perhaps beside the ocean shore or in the mountains. I am sure you have some favorite places in the world to help you refresh. I love this Scripture passage and Bach quote because, in addition to seeking our own refreshment, the words encourage us to be refreshed by refreshing others.
 
Initially I envisioned some rhythm in the music to give it an upbeat feel and express the joy of being refreshed. However, as I searched for the right instruments and emotion, the piece began to take shape as a gentle dance on the piano, accompanied by soft strings and French horn. The meter begins in 4/4 time, then becomes 3/4 time, which is the same as a traditional waltz. The dance continues with 6/8 time, a third time signature which elevates the emotion as we listen. Even though the tempo is slow to medium throughout, it feels like it changes slightly for each time signature, even though the beats per minute are staying very nearly consistent. This musical approach became a new lens for viewing my own refreshment, as well as being refreshed by refreshing others. There is depth and richness in these experiences, with layers of beauty and meaning for ourselves and the lives we touch. The composing was exciting as I began to see how the time signatures could represent life’s gentle rhythms instead of using percussion instruments in the piece.
 
I pray the music and these thoughts are refreshing to you, and that your life and work continue to multiply refreshment in the lives of people you serve regularly, people you encounter periodically, and even people you may see only once in a lifetime.
 
How does My Spirit Refreshed speak into your story?
 
Proverbs 11:25 from a few Bible versions…
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (NIV)
“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (ESV)
“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” (MSG)
“A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.” (NET)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Beauty, Hope, peace, piano, proverbs 11:25, refreshing, refreshing others, refreshment

Seeing Everything Beautiful

August 25, 2022 By Stanton Lanier 13 Comments

The new track Seeing Everything Beautiful just released this week. Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music platforms, or click below for some moments of peace, hope, and beauty. You can also read the song story as you listen…

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Seeing-Everything-Beautiful-Stanton-Lanier-c2022-MTLTW.mp3
 
This is my first song to feature a new, state-of-the-art guitar software sample, capturing a world class player and connecting their skill and technique with my fingers on the keyboard. Gentle piano chords in the background keep the rhythm, and soothing orchestral horns and strings provide harmonies underneath.
 
My inspiration began with a different idea for a theme and title, but nothing magical happened for a couple of days. In searching and investigating some other familiar Bible verses, the Scripture from Ecclesiastes 3:11 caught my eye and heart which says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” This verse inspired the song Eternity back in 2005, on my 4th album The Voice. However, this time the “everything beautiful” stood out for me. I have to be intentional to slow down, pause, and take notice of the beauty around me each day, or else I will miss it. 
 
The emotion in this music expresses God’s beauty over our life, our relationships, our circumstances, life’s ups and downs, and many other aspects of life where beauty is there for us to receive if we see it. There is some mystery, wonder, and poetry to the idea we can see God’s beauty in everything, and over everything, if we look more closely. I hope Seeing Everything Beautiful washes over you and brings you a sense of knowing God sees you, loves you, and knows you and your every need in this very moment.
 
How does Seeing Everything Beautiful speak into your story right now?
 
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV)
 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Beauty, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Hope, Noticing Beauty, peace, Seeing Beauty

Prayers for a Lifetime

July 20, 2022 By Stanton Lanier 20 Comments

Today – July 20, 2022 – is release day for Prayers for a Lifetime. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all music services, or by clicking below. As you listen, scroll down to read some of the story behind this song…

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Prayers-for-a-Lifetime-Stanton-Lanier-c2022-MTLTW.mp3

 

“Life is short. God is big.” This phrase comes to mind every time I think of Bible verses speaking about how short our time is on earth. For example, Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” and Ephesians 5:16 “…making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” For me these are reminders that heaven is our true home, and we are just passing through. Prayers for a Lifetime comes from deep places in my heart and soul. I have experienced great loss and great blessings. I have had times of victory and times of struggle. Life has brought moments of sanctuary which are like a cool, refreshing waterfall, and moments of desert which are like a parched land causing me to ask, “Where are you God? Why is this happening?” 

Some of the piano notes in the chorus are “singing” the words “a prayer to the God of my life” from Psalm 42:8. This song takes a long look back on life, from God conceiving me in my mother’s womb and knowing everything about me before I was born, even the numbers of the hairs on my head (Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 12:7), to a lifetime of memories from childhood until today. By God’s grace and faithfulness, I can look back and look ahead, knowing He is with me in good times and bad. “But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.”

As I composed the music I reflected not only on prayers for my lifetime, but prayers for other lifetimes — my wife, children, family, relatives, and friends, and prayers for every person around the world who hears my music, and hears this new song. May we all grow in pursuing our heavenly Father, surrendering to Him, longing to hear and obey His voice, and experiencing His grace and goodness in our lives. Thank you Jesus for being the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6), and for the gift of eternal life with you forever (John 3:16), far beyond my short lifetime on earth.

Thank you for listening to and reading about Prayers for Lifetime. Wishing you God’s grace and peace, Stanton

Here are three version of Psalm 42:8…
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. (NIV)
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (ESV)
But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. (NLT)
 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Beauty, Hope, peace, Peaceful Piano, piano, Psalm 27:8, talking with God

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