Rest – Are You Receiving It?

May 23, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to listen to Resting from the album The Voice (recorded at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Have you been receiving rest in the midst of life’s stress, busyness and hurry?

With regard to rest, are you more likely to strive for it, or receive it? As we go into the three-day Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S., I hope your resting is enhanced by a short life story from this week, and the liner notes behind this song.

To experience rest fully involves surrender, letting go of things out of your control, and stopping the worry. I have found much better results from a posture of receiving (open heart, open hands) rather than striving (gritted teeth, clinched fists). My rest was put to the test this week when my wife’s email address speed went from normal to very. very. slow. I am our family “IT Guy” (computer fixer), which is a scary thought, and had to (calmly) deal with the service provider over the past few days. I struggled to rest in the situation because this was a rare case where nothing was wrong with our computers or equipment, yet they would not accept responsibility and admit this problem could be their fault (even though while using the email account an error message appeared saying something was wrong on their end – Warning. Server Error. Connection is Very Slow.). Ultimately I had to surrender, let go, and stop worrying about the circumstances and the outcome, which were both out of my control. It was not easy, but the intense frustration reminded me I needed to receive rest.

Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are remembered. This definitely puts life’s “problems” in perspective. There is reason for all of us to pause, give thanks, and rest in the freedom and blessings we are able to enjoy. Because others have sacrificed to bring more peace, rest and joy to our lives, we can express our gratitude, whether to military, family, relatives, friends, teachers, or bosses.

Here are the liner notes from The Voice CD for the song Resting you have been listening to: “Rest is something I often seek, to take a step back from the pace and fullness of life, to trust that things I cannot control are in good hands, and to find a few moments of calm strength in a world so full of unrest. There are times that I need to rest by relaxing, and there are opportunities when I need to rest in the midst of activity.”

Rest – Are you receiving it?

“The Lord replied, ‘my Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'” – Exodus 33:14

Two Reasons to Visit Your Quiet Place

May 21, 2014 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Quiet Place from the album The Voice (recorded at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

What is your favorite quiet place?

Are you being intentional to invest some time there? If it is far away, do you have a next best place closer to home where you can spend quiet time? It can be hard to believe that taking time for quiet and solitude is actually productive, and even increases productivity. Even now I can hear the call of urgent “to do” lists. How stopping feels contrary to accomplishing as much as I can today. Yet, something seems true and right about pausing. Here are two reasons why I believe our quiet places invite us to come visit.

First, I find a sense of refreshment that is so good for the soul. I am able to recalibrate my perspective toward being thankful. It seems like we each have a favorite physical place that quiets our spirit the most . . . the mountains . . . the beach . . . a farm . . . an open field . . . a walk in the woods . . . a special room. This piece of music was created to help you close your eyes and imagine that you are in this place so close to your heart.

Second, I find a sense of renewal. My attitude and words are more life giving when my heart thinks on things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Investing time for quiet offers the opportunity to pray and listen, to read and reflect on Scripture, and to live out Luke 6:45 in a more positive way: “What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

So, when is your next visit to your quiet place? May your heart be refreshed and renewed.

“He said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:31-32

Hearing The Voice

May 20, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 10 Comments

Click above to listen to The Voice, the title track from the album The Voice (recorded at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Do you long, like me, to hear God’s voice more clearly in a noisy world?

I have discovered this is possible, but it takes some patience and practice to experience hearing God’s voice more often, and with more clarity. The disciplines of simplicity, silence, solitude and surrender play an integral part. However, the key is to take the first step. Here is some of my story and what I have learned.

By the time I was in high school I had become a worrier and perfectionist, and was overly conscious of what others thought of me. The voice I often heard in my mind was my own, criticizing my performance and pouring on more pressure to succeed. God was part of my life, but it took a long time before I deeply explored the possibility of hearing His voice. Could He actually guide my steps in life? Could He provide the wisdom, discernment and comfort that I needed? Could I really hear His voice?

The more I have pursued this, the more I have encountered profound conversations and intimacy with a God who cares for me beyond my comprehension. Tell God you would like to hear His voice more clearly. Ask Him to speak into your life, to instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, to give you counsel, and to watch over you (Psalm 32:8). Thank Him for His promise to surround you with His love as you trust in Him (Psalm 32:10). Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

Try playing the solo piano title track from The Voice in an extra quiet place . . . be still . . . and listen. Listen. Be quiet. Listen. Be still. Listen.

Can you hear The Voice? What is God’s gentle whisper, His still, small voice speaking to your heart?

“. . . the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice . . . Elijah heard the voice. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (1 Kings 19:11-13; Isaiah 30:21)