Stanton Lanier / Sky Whisper Sound, LLC

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Four Reasons to Practice Solitude

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Click above to listen to Solitude from my 2001 debut album Walk in the Light as you read. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes, Amazon or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

What is your favorite way to practice solitude?

When I was in high school and college I worked several summers at a canoe rental in the Florida panhandle (Adventures Unlimited is still going strong and has beautiful canoe trips and awesome zip line courses – today’s photo is from a return visit to the Coldwater River in 2012).

My favorite job was called “the top.” A co-worker would drop me off at 7 a.m. at the beginning of the twelve mile day trip. At the same time other co-workers would unhitch trailers full of canoes and drive back to home base. Within a few minutes it was just me and one hundred canoes to unload. For the next hour, one by one, I would carry them on my shoulders down to the sandbar beach. It was an awesome physical workout, but here is why I loved this job so much…

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If I could finish by 8 a.m. or maybe a little sooner if I hustled, I knew I would have twenty to thirty minutes to soak in the cool, clear, shallow river (before the busloads of canners would start arriving). Or, I could lie back on a cushion in a canoe and just listen to the breeze blowing through the tops of pine trees, or the birds singing to start a new morning. I wasn’t thinking about it a lot then, but looking back, I was learning to practice solitude. It was refreshing and energizing. It made my attitude more positive and my work more productive.

To this day, I can draw on those memories, and I know what a difference it can make to be alone, to be still, and to take in the moment. Whether taking a morning jog or swim, or sitting in my den before the world awakes, I like to listen for God’s gentle whisper in these moments. I am alone, but I am not lonely. The more I practice solitude, the more enriching it becomes. Four motivating reasons for me are: 1. Refreshment, 2. Energy, 3. Positive Attitude, and 4. Productive Work.

How could some moments of solitude shed light on a life decision you are facing?

“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.” – Mark 1:35

Practicing Simplicity

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Click above to listen to Simplicity from my third album Draw Near as you read. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes, Amazon or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

What are your favorite childhood memories illustrating the importance of simplicity?

One of mine is climbing trees. I also loved playing on the “dirt pile” or riding my “spyder bike” with the banana seat. This morning however, another memory is rising above these, especially since yesterday was Father’s Day here in the U.S.

It was my tenth birthday. I had been waiting for this with great expectation. My Dad was taking me camping for the weekend in the North Carolina mountains. Being the oldest of three boys, I was the first to experience what became a family tenth birthday tradition. Here are a few things that happened on this simple, yet unforgettable, camping trip…

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It poured down rain as we put up our tent. Over night a raccoon chewed open the peanut M&M bag, and ate some. As we prepared morning breakfast, we discovered there were ants in the spam (an inexpensive, salty canned meat). We went fishing at a trout farm, where you used kernels of corn for bait. When the fishing hook hit the water, there was a feeding frenzy! It took about ten minutes to catch our dinner. The most meaningful thing was the simplicity of it all — just being with my Dad.

This experience inspired me to have a special outing with my son and daughter on their birthdays. I couldn’t wait until my son was ten, so we went camping for his fifth birthday, and the tradition began. The simple things in life are often the most valuable. God’s love is like this — just be with Him and ask Him to be with you. Keep it simple.

What is a simple thing you can do with a loved one to create a priceless memory?

Ecclesiastes 7:29 — “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.”

Numbering Our Days

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Click above to listen to Number My Days from my first of eight albums, Walk in the Light. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Are you numbering your days?

Today’s post was birthed during a morning swim, as I was remembering last night…

Number My Days was one of the first Scripture inspired piano melodies I composed. It was the summer of 2000. We had a three-year old son, and were expecting our second child that fall (we were blessed with a baby girl). When I was creating this piece, I was meditating on Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (NIV). The Message says it like this — “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”

Here is what happened last night…

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This same “baby girl” (now our thirteen-year old daughter) wanted to go with her friends for pizza after the swim meet. It was 11 p.m. and meant we would be out until midnight. I knew we would be tired this morning, and it might even make for long day. Yet, I knew that one hour would be worth it, one of those priceless moments woven into the fabric of daily life. It was a “number my days” moment to treasure with my daughter.

Treasuring life’s “priceless” moments is like pausing to treasure a beautiful sunrise. Being intentional to invest our living to “number our days” is like making the effort to rise early to witness a breathtaking view. I hope this music-words combination is a blessing and encouragement to you today.

What is a recent “number my days” memory for you? How can you apply this to an upcoming life event?

My Personal Faith Story (Video)

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This morning I am taking a leap of faith by inviting you into some of my life story, with the song Peace from The Voice playing in the background. Thanks to the 315 Project for capturing this 3-minute version of my faith story so beautifully on film.

How does my story connect with yours?

I would love to hear from you and will respond personally. You can comment through the blog or contact me via email. Thanks for watching and God bless you in your journey today and this week!

Rest – Are You Receiving It?

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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.

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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

Hearing The Voice

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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.

2005 The Voice

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)

Crossing Waters – Taking a Leap of Faith

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Click above to listen to the piano, percussion, violin trio Crossing Waters from Open Spaces as you read. If you enjoy the music, please consider supporting by visiting stantonlanier.com, iTunes, or Amazon.

Is an idea stirring in you that will require a leap of faith?

This is what I was reflecting on as I was composing Crossing Waters. I will explain in a moment, but first, here is a short story that required a big leap of faith…

A few summers ago my son and I were part of a high adventure Boy Scout trip to the Northern Tier boundary waters on the Minnesota-Canada border. Our group of five scouts, two adult leaders, and a guide canoed fifty miles in five days. Our route took us across a dozen cold water lakes, and included two miles of carrying three canoes and all our camping gear between each lake. The night sky was breathtaking, with more stars than I have ever seen.

The biggest “leap of faith” moment came when we all had a chance to jump off a 40-foot cliff into deep water. My son and I both took some time looking from the edge. If we made the leap, it would be a symbolic moment. We would bond through overcoming our fear, and we could call on this experience when facing life’s future “leap of faith” moments. There was risk. We were scared. But we jumped. One thousand one, one thousand two, splash — exhilaration!! Wow!

The Leap

The uplifting, upbeat piano melody in Crossing Waters is symbolic of child-like faith, that anything is possible. The light percussion joins in, indicating there is a rhythm to life’s “leap of faith” moments and how we respond. We often have to jump into the unknown, to “get our feet wet” so to speak, before any results can happen. The violin represents looking back over our shoulder in gratitude and remembrance for all the times God has been faithful to help us “cross the waters” of fear, and revealed the exhilarating blessings on the “other side.”

What leap of faith “next step” is God asking you to take?

“And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap. So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing…The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” Joshua 3:13-17

Practicing Silence

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

Are you good at practicing silence, making time for quiet and listening? Or, does this continually seem out of reach due to the stresses, volume and velocity of every day life?

Either way, let this music and words allow you to breathe, to be recharged, to experience silence in a new way. IMG_2472 Here are a few things that come to mind when I think about, and try to practice silence: Out of 88 piano instrumentals I have composed, “Silence” is the longest, and is on two albums (Still Waters, original recording time of 8:59, and December Peace, re-recorded time of 7:58). I have always found this interesting. It wasn’t forced, but maybe points to the importance of silence. The music was birthed from the idea in Habakkuk 2:20, “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” My grandfather “Daddy L” (short for Lanier – my Dad’s father) was one of the quietest men I have ever known. He was full of faith, love, and kindness, yet he didn’t say much. He had a long career in banking and was active in serving the community. He loved fishing, and he was absolutely unbeatable at every way you can play the game of checkers. He died the summer before I turned seventeen (I never beat him at checkers). His silence influenced me to be reflective, to take time to pause and take in the scene. It also inspired me to be more vocal with my children, to speak into their lives more intentionally, while also teaching them the value of silence. The disciplines of simplicity, solitude, silence and surrender have all impacted my faith, creativity and calling. I am quite content with long periods of silence. I set time aside to practice silence, frequently for short lengths of time, and occasionally for long periods from a half to a full day. God is always faithful to speak into the silence with His still small voice. His gentle whisper offers wisdom, guidance, and comfort. Do you need to take time to practice silence? What are some benefits you could discover?

Humpback Whales Echoing Brilliance

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When is the last time you saw something brilliant?

What does this have to do with humpback whales? The connection was a “brilliant” experience for me. In high school and college years I worked several summers at Adventures Unlimited, the largest canoe rental in the Florida panhandle. In recent years they built one of the top zip line tours in the southeast through pine forests and along the Coldwater River. Jack, the owner, and my boss, taught me and all his employees the value of hard work and customer service. He also made sure we laughed and had fun in the process. He was, and still is, a great leader and visionary on a person-to-person basis, with creating unique outdoor adventures, and with preserving natural beauty. He is also a lifelong friend.

I got to see Jack last December when he and a friend attended one of my concerts in the area. My performance included Singing in the Ocean Deeps from the album Open Spaces. Afterward his friend said, “I have a friend in Tonga, in the South Pacific, who is a world-class ocean videographer. Do you want me to see if he might want to combine his film with your music?” Below is the result…

Sometimes we see something brilliant, literally, like this amazing video of a mother humpback whale and her calf. Sometimes we “see”something brilliant when we take notice that something good wasn’t just a coincidence. Like what may happen through a friend. Sometimes we can sense that God was the author of “brilliant” as expressed in Psalm 8 (The Message)…

“God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble. I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps. God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.”

This is the passage that birthed Singing in the Ocean Deeps. God was brilliant as the inspiration came, as the piano keys began to sound like the ocean, and as the French horn was added in the recording studio to symbolize whales singing.

What is an experience that echoed “God, brilliant Lord” in your story?

Scoring Big – A Basketball Discovery

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

What is an awesome “mountain top” memory you could call on today for encouragement?

Since this weekend is the Sweet 16 of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (it’s okay if you don’t care), I couldn’t resist sharing a story from my past that I call on from time to time. To set this up, you have to know I was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. This gave me a love of ACC basketball, and I would later go to college at Georgia Tech during some great basketball years (1982-1986). I played high school basketball in the Florida panhandle — what I like to call “football country.” We had a Florida state champion football team. Lots and lots of basketball practice, wanting to play in the ACC one day (which did not happen), and having some great teammates at Milton High School, led to two favorite “mountain top” sports moments. My junior year I scored 30 points in a game. I was never more “in the zone” than that night, going 14 for 19 from the field and 2 for 2 from the free throw line (there was no three-point line to reward my long range). My senior year I didn’t have much playing time, but was blessed to be on a team that made it to the Class AAA Final Four for the state of Florida. We lost in double overtime in the semi-final, but it was still a mountain top. MHS 1982 During college and early career years I learned that life would be a roller coaster, filled with some mountain tops, and more valleys. When my age matched my career high point total for a basketball game — age thirty — I discovered that the true meaning of success involved surrender, rather than striving to “score big.” It was the year that Joshua 1:8-9 would really take root in my life, and forever alter my game of life. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” There is a basketball player inside me when I compose, record, and play concerts on the piano, seeking to offer God’s peace, rest, hope and healing to listeners. My prayer is that everyone who encounters the Scripture-inspired melodies would discover or re-discover a mountain top moment. What is one of your “mountain top” memories, and how can this give you confidence and courage today?