Tenor Plah

April 7, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to listen to Quiet Place (from my album The Voice) as you read. If you enjoy you can stream, download music, or find sheet music at the following links: The Voice CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book, Quiet Place PDF Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora.

It’s a rainy day in Atlanta this morning as I write. This “Tenor Plah” idea is a good one for rainy days, but can be applied any time when your spirit needs a lift. Sometimes rainy days — or life — can bring me down, if I allow my thoughts to spiral down a negative path. Before I share what “Tenor Plah” helps me remember, here is a list of “rainy day” words for consideration — Faithless, unimpressive, inopportune, polluted, ugly, deplorable. How did those impact your outlook? They are the opposites of the words I am about to share.

The words “Tenor Plah” help me remember “…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.” “Tenor Plah” represents the acronym “TNR PLA” from these six key words found in Philippians 4:8. Thinking about such things always helps me have a better perspective on rainy days, and life. So, whether it’s rainy, cloudy, snowy or sunny as you read this, consider filing “Tenor Plah” in your memory bank, so you can apply this whenever needed. What is something true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable you have noticed today?

A New Way to Listen to Love Songs

April 4, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 6 Comments

Click above to listen to Pure Fountain (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, Pure Fountain PDF Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora.

Do you know those “Aha” moments? When a “light bulb” goes on in your brain about something?

Here is one regarding an interesting way to listen to love songs. This may not apply to every love song, but I think it applies to most. I believe love songs can be instrumental music inspired by romancing words, such as Pure Fountain, but for purposes of this idea, let’s define “love song” as lyrics searching for or affirming redeeming, romantic love, combined with a beautiful melody that sings to the heart. So, play your favorite love song and listen like this… If the music and words are affirming love, pretend the words are being sung by God to you. Receive the love song as written personally for you, and sung to you, by God. If the music and words are searching for love, pretend the words are being sung by you to God. Listen to the love song as written personally by you, and sung by you, to God. Do you get the idea? It may take a little practice, but it is worth a try. For me it gave some of my favorite love songs a deeper meaning and life application. What did you experience when you listened this way to one of your favorite love songs? Below I am including the music video for Pure Fountain so you can receive this as an example affirming love, where God is singing to you. I hope you enjoy!

This Very Moment – Being vs Doing

April 2, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 8 Comments

Click above to listen to This Very Moment (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, This Very Moment PDF Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora.

Be. Be still. Be still and know. Be still and know that I am. Be still and know that I am God.
This way of praying through Psalm 46:10 is a great way to pause and allow your “being” to refuel all the “doing” that lies ahead. Repeat the phrases above a few times while listening to the music. Consider pausing a few times throughout your day to reflect on Psalm 46:10. Gives thanks for life’s blessings that come to mind. Remember a time that God helped you through, or maybe even a time when He did something amazing. Cherish life’s moments today. What area in my life needs a little more “being” before I keep “doing?” “…Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life…” (John 5:24, The Message)