Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Twenty Years of Composing – Grace and Truth

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It is hard to believe I composed my first instrumental melody twenty years ago (click above to listen with Spotify as you read). In May 2000 I had a new keyboard and basic studio set up. God inspired the idea to use a verse of Scripture as the basis for an instrumental song. The first melody was titled Grace and Truth from John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This idea leading to my first instrumental has become more and more profound over the years. Below are a few thoughts about this song, and what it has meant to my life and faith journey. I hope these reflections inspire your story.

Grace and Truth is in the key of C, which made it easier to compose and play. It begins with delicate verse variations to represent how grace is gentle and tender. The chorus is big and bold with low chords to express truth. This is followed by a new grace melody with higher notes flowing down. The truth chorus repeats again. Then the original grace melody returns and ends the song. It became the seventh track on my first album Walk in the Light.

This amazes me how grace comes before truth in this verse. As my desire to study Scripture grew in the 1990s, I didn’t realize my heart was filling with more truth than grace. In the 2000s God began to teach me to have more grace and forgiveness toward people. He was gradually helping me to see every person as He sees them, and to love them with His love, as He first loved us. In my life and faith story grace has been catching up with truth. Today both grace and truth are filling my heart more and more. For many years I lived life with more of an either or perspective, where either grace or truth was the lead story. In my case truth carried more weight than grace. This made me quietly more self righteous and judgmental with regard to others, even though I was just as unrighteous and sinful in God’s eyes. Only Jesus is filled with one hundred percent grace and truth, but He invites us to grow in receiving and sharing both with others through our lives.

The Lord has been so patient with me. His grace is an amazing gift (Ephesians 2:8). His truth is perfect, refreshing my soul (Psalm 19:7). My life and musical journey with grace and truth is woven into all one hundred forty songs I have composed and arranged over the past twenty years. I hope my music and story continue to be a blessing and encouragement to you!

How does the music and inspiration behind Grace and Truth speak to you?

Perfect Peace New Song

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Click below to hear the new song Perfect Peace with beautiful, peace-filled piano and cello (released April 28). Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more. For pianists you can also purchase the PDF Sheet Music.This Swiss Alps photo I took last year is the background for the song artwork. Please see underneath the image to read some inspirational notes…

During these historic and unprecedented weeks of the global coronavirus pandemic, I have been meditating on Isaiah 26:3 which says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV). The Amplified Bible says, “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You–in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Meditate on these words as you listen. It is a powerful combination to take in the Scripture inspired piano and Isaiah 26:3 together.

If you are interested in more of the “behind the scenes” story for this song…it took a couple of weeks for God to reveal. The piano begins by slowly singing the notes for “Perfect Peace” two times (each word is two syllables, musically). Then the notes sing “You keep him in perfect peace.” This phrase becomes the verse portion, which appears several times throughout the song. The chorus portion starts with rhythmic notes, and was inspired by the words “whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” The chorus answers the verse as a response to the perfect and constant peace God promises us when we fully trust and take refuge in Him. It was a beautiful blessing from God to finish this song a few days before we remember Jesus’s life and death, and celebrate His resurrection. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is our ultimate Perfect Peace, who saves us from our sin, and gives the gifts of resurrection and eternal life to all who believe.

How does the music and theme of Perfect Peace sing over your life today?

How Thanksgiving Leads to December Peace

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Click above to listen to Thanksgiving with piano and English horn as you read. If you enjoy, listen to this and more music from Best Holiday Album Winner December Peace (ZMR Awards), the just released 2019 Christmas album December Peace II, and check out the 31 Days of December Peace devotional softcover book or e-Book.

How can Thanksgiving lead to December Peace?

My good friend and mentor Ken Boa consistently encourages me to practice two disciplines: Gratitude and Remembrance. As I prepare my heart and attitude for the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., I was reminded of two verses that have transformed my life and faith journey. Here is how I believe these can prepare you and me for December Peace, and even can lead us there…

2015 Dec Peace CollageAs you are listening to Thanksgiving, reflect on these words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Recorded in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7 point me toward giving thanks. They focus my heart and mind on gratitude. This prompts me to remember God’s blessings. Then I begin to think about particular times when God has been faithful to provide for me, to see me through a difficult time. For example, when our house was robbed, when there were emergency room visits to the hospital, when I was having fears and doubts about the future, etc. By practicing the thanksgiving in verse 6, this leads to the peace promised in verse 7, which will guard my heart and mind.

I composed the song Thanksgiving from these verses, because I am often tempted to be anxious about everything, not just anything. The music expresses child-like faith, and skipping through life with joy. I wrote the Advent and Christmas season devotional 31 Days of December Peace, to offer real life stories filled with hope and inspiration (from my life and the lives of special friends). Each leads to peace and rest, to gratitude and remembrance, to experiencing “December Peace.” Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with thanksgiving, peace and joy!

As you prepare for Thanksgiving, and for December, ask yourself these questions:

  • Who are some people you are grateful for?
  • What are some things you are grateful for?
  • What difficult times has God helped you through?
  • When did something amazing and good happen that encouraged you?

SO LOVED Track #12 – Spread Your Wings

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Click above to listen to track #12 Spread Your Wings from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

How do the words “spread your wings” inspire your life journey right now?

For much of my life the words “spread your wings” were all about me. As a teenager and younger man I wanted to “spread my wings” — achieve success, have financial security, see the world, live a life of adventure on my own terms, etc. Eventually at age thirty I reached a point of surrender. Instead of “striving to achieve” I slowly began a new journey of “abiding to receive” God’s blessings of life purpose and provision. Little did I know, many years later I would compose an instrumental song titled Spread Your Wings, inspired by the story of Ruth. I hope the melody and these thoughts inspire your life journey today…

As I was creating the album So Loved from selected Bible characters and their stories, Ruth and Boaz were top contenders. The more I read the story and searched for a title (found in the book of Ruth, chapters 2 and 3), the phrase “spread your wings” stood out. Don’t we all aspire to live a “spread your wings” kind of life? And yet, as it was for me at first, doesn’t this make us think of spreading “our” wings to enjoy the freedom and independence this seems to offer? When Ruth said to Boaz, “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer,” this is a picture for us of how God redeems us by His grace. Boaz was the son of Rahab the prostitute (her story inspired track #10 Scarlet Threads). Boaz and Ruth were great grandparents to Jesus by twenty-eight generations. Through Jesus God spreads His wings over us, covering all of our sins, and completely forgiving us. He offers us the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), and the opportunity to know and trust Jesus as our Savior and Friend. Wow. This is the kind of “spread your wings” life I want to live!

P.S. The opening 1:10 of the song expresses our longing for redemption, and the beauty of receiving God’s gift of salvation through Christ. Then the piano slowly “sings” the phrase “spread your wings over me” four times, followed by “spread your wings, spread your wings, spread your wings, over me” three times. After another verse section variation, beginning at 2:44 the chorus builds even larger all the way to the ending, repeating the above phrases over and over. This allows God to sing His Word over us as we surrender to and trust in His covering. Within the track the words “spread your wings” are played thirty-five times by the piano.

P.S.S. The bird in the photo is an African Darter, which I took in July 2015. Through my music and ministry Music to Light the World, my family and I were invited by Family Legacy to serve orphans in Lusaka, Zambia. We were able to visit Chobe National Park to see amazing wild life along the Chobe River in Botswana.

How can you go deeper in trusting God to spread His wings over you?

SPREAD YOUR WINGS | RUTH
Ruth 2 and 3. “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” God protects us under His wings when we fully surrender to and trust in Him.

SO LOVED Track #11 – If You Say So

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Click above to listen to track #11 If You Say So from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

What “deep water” is God calling you to?

If You Say So is a tribute to Peter’s bold faith. We can relate to his story because, like us, he was longing for spiritual hope and beauty, and yet he was broken and imperfect. His devotion to Jesus led him to proclaim, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.” And yet, three times he denies ever knowing Jesus. As I composed this song it became a conversation between the piano and cello, with French horn underneath. Here are the two phrases the notes are singing, which we can apply to our life and faith…

If You Say So I will. If you listen for them, you may hear how the piano and cello are singing these words throughout the song. The song opens with “But if you say so, I will” repeated four times. Peter and his co-workers had been fishing hard all night, and had caught nothing. Following this, Jesus told him to push out into deep water and let his nets down for a catch. They caught a huge haul of fish strained the nets to capacity. This story inspires me to ask God two questions: “Do You have something you want to let me know? Is there any deep water you are calling me to?” If we lean in by faith to ask, listen closely, and obey, we can experience God’s faithfulness and fruit in our lives beyond our capacity to comprehend or imagine.

Do You Love Me? The piano and cello notes begin singing this phrase in the middle of the song, and more and more to the very end, where these words shaped the final four notes. After His resurrection Jesus asks Peter this question three times (remember Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion). In our lives, we know Jesus loves us because He says this, and promises this to us, so many times in Scripture. The entire album and title track So Loved are a testimony to His great love for us (John 3:16). The question “Do You Love Me?” has become even more powerful for me. Even though I am (and we are) broken, sinful, and imperfect, Jesus loves us first. He invites us to love Him in response with grateful hearts. When we experience His love and grace more fully in our lives and stories, it overflows from us to people we encounter in God’s “deep water” moments.

How do the music and words offer you hope and beauty today?

IF YOU SAY SO | PETER
Luke 5, John 21. Peter’s bold words “but if you say so I will” and Jesus’ words “Do you love me?” inspire us to know God’s patient tenderness toward us.

PUSH OUT INTO DEEP WATER (LUKE 5:4-11, MSG)
When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I will let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

DO YOU LOVE ME? (JOHN 21:15-19)
(This happens following Jesus’ resurrection, right after Peter has a second miraculous catch of fish). After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…”

SO LOVED Track #10 – Scarlet Threads

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Click above to listen to track #10 Scarlet Threads from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

Where in your life could you use a ray of hope?

The idea behind Scarlet Threads, inspired by Rahab’s story, was to musically express the tension in our lives between darkness and light. We all are seeking light and hope, yet we don’t always walk in the light, or find a sense of hope. How can Rahab the prostitute offer us a ray of hope? Here are some insights for reflection as you listen to this piece…

The Set Up: Joshua chapters 2 and 6 tell the story of Rahab the prostitute, who showed hospitality to two Israelite spies, and hid them from the king of Jericho. When Jericho fell, she and all her family were the only ones spared because she had helped God’s people. The spies had instructed her to tie a cord of scarlet thread in the window so they could identify her house and rescue her family. Rahab’s name is found in Matthew 1:5 in the Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (his great, great grandmother by 29 generations). She is also included in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” (verse 31) among many great characters of the Bible who exemplified faithfulness and obedience to God. Theologians view the scarlet thread as a symbol of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sin.

The Application: The solo piano sections of Scarlet Threads (there are three) represent God’s grace and forgiveness toward Rahab and each of us. The beauty in the piano melody is a symbol of God singing a beautiful song over Rahab, and over our life as well. God saved Rahab and knew she would be an ancestor to the Messiah, and His salvation is available to us by faith in Jesus. The rhythmic, darker sections of the song represent the sin and scandal in Rahab’s life, as well times in our lives when we wander from God’s ways. Even with our brokenness, God has forever redeemed and saved us when we put our faith and trust in Him. He sees in us and sings over us more beauty, light and hope than we can imagine. Can you hear His song just for you? Will you join me in embracing His promise in John 1:5? The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

What part of the music or words above give you a ray of hope today?

SCARLET THREADS | RAHAB
Joshua 2. “tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window.” God redeems our sins like he saved this prostitute, Jesus’ great grandmother 29 generations earlier.

SO LOVED Track #9 – Heart and Soul

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Click above to listen to track #9 Heart and Soul from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

What are you pouring your heart and soul into right now?

This could be your work, your hobby, your family, your marriage, your next vacation, your walk with God, or any number of noble pursuits. The song Heart and Soul is a soundtrack inspired by the life of Caleb, whose great faith resulted in a life of even greater adventure as he trusted God’s guidance. A better phrasing of this question in my journey is “How is God stirring my heart and soul to follow Him better, to follow Him like Caleb?” This requires a wondrous and mysterious combination of stillness and waiting with surrender and action. As you listen to the music and read about the six sections of this song below, I hope you will find fresh inspiration and wisdom in making your life choices and decisions…

1. Section 1 (First 45 seconds, 0:00 to 0:45). Approaching God in Stillness and Waiting. The song opening expresses our wanting to know what to do next. This requires moments of prayerfully getting quiet, and listening closely for God’s gentle whisper.

2. Section 2 (Next 45 seconds, 0:45 to 1:30). Moving with Surrender and Action. This section symbolizes taking first steps as we begin to find our rhythm with faith and obedience, and to know God and His voice more intimately, like Caleb.

3. Section 3 (Next 60 seconds, 1:30 to 2:30). Going Deeper in Stillness and Waiting. This section is a little bit longer than the opening, symbolizing deeper stillness and waiting — listening more attentively, and hearing God’s voice more clearly.

4. Section 4 (Next 45 seconds, 2:30 to 3:15). Moving with Greater Surrender and Action. Our life and faith rhythm gets bigger and louder so to speak, as we interact with God, listen for His voice, and obey His further instructions more swiftly.

5. Section 5 (Next 45 seconds, 3:15 to 4:00). The Blessing of Communion and Interaction. This musical bridge takes us into still deeper communion with God, interacting with Him as we combine both waiting and acting. He knows our needs and guides us faithfully.

6. Section 6 (Final 60 seconds, 4:00 to ending). The Blessing of Affirmation. As we follow God with all our “heart and soul” He encourages us and gives us greater confidence. Like Caleb, the chorus melody and rhythm now begin to represent the growing fruit and impact of our life choices and decisions. This happens as we continue to trust and obey God in all things.

Which phase of this process is most meaningful to you at this moment?

HEART AND SOUL | CALEB
Deuteronomy 1, Numbers 13-14. “he (Caleb) was all for following God, heart and soul.” When God says “let’s go” and we obey, all things are possible with Him.

SO LOVED Track #8 – Strength Is Yours

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Click above to listen to track #8 Strength Is Yours from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

How do you bring forth strength when you feel weak and helpless?

When I am overwhelmed by life struggles or battles I may ask the questions, “Lord, why is this happening?” or “Where are you Lord?” As you listen to Strength Is Yours, journey with me for a moment into the story behind this song and its application in our lives. Then perhaps listen again with a renewed perspective. Here is how this song and its meaning came together…

It was about 1180 B.C. The Israelites were completely overwhelmed in Judges 6. They were being defeated and overrun by the Midianites. They were way outnumbered, all their crops were being stolen, and they were hiding in caves to find some sense of safety and security. This was the scene when God appeared to Gideon, a man small in stature, and called him a Mighty Warrior. Gideon was certain God had made a mistake and needed quite a bit of convincing before his faith would reach beyond his current reality. When we face life’s battles or life seems hopeless, in mystery and wonder God offers us hope that He knows everything we are going through. Not only does He join us in the battle, He is fighting our battles for us.

The helpless feeling we experience is expressed in the intense opening of this soundtrack. The violin opens with a distressed melody, and is answered by the cello notes singing the phrase “go in this strength that is yours” in the midst of our insecurity and uncertainty. These were God’s words to Gideon, and they are His words to us, even when life’s battles lead to a hopeless heart. He promises to give us His strength and to be with us in all things. He is singing a “Mighty Warrior” chorus with angels and a heavenly orchestra of music, which builds in the song to a climactic finish filling our hearts with hope and strength. Let the music and this truth wash over you as you “go in this strength that is yours.”

What is one thing God is saying to you today through this music and its inspiration?

STRENGTH IS YOURS | GIDEON
Judges 6. God said to him, “Go in this strength that is yours. I’ll be with you. Believe me.” God is mighty and strong. He fights life’s battles with and for us.

SO LOVED Track #7 – Lush Meadows

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Click above to listen to track #7 Lush Meadows from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

What is a favorite “lush meadow” moment for you? What was the scene like?

As I composed Lush Meadows my heart was to write music that would take us to a beautiful meadow. I wanted to feel a sense of lying back and looking up at the clouds, of resting and relaxing in the moment, and of trusting God in all areas of life. This song was inspired by the 23rd Psalm and the peace and assurance expressed in David’s words, as well as Psalm 51 and David’s brokenness before God. Here is some of the story behind the soundtrack and how it happened…

David was called a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He wrote half of the Psalms (75 of 150), defeated the giant Goliath as boy, killed a lion and bear when he was a shepherd tending his sheep, and was the second king of Israel. However, he was also sinful, afraid, and often cried out to God in distress. The tension within his character has helped me have a much deeper understanding of God’s grace and forgiveness toward us, as well as His love and power working through us. With all this in mind, the music encompasses the friction between the wonder and beauty of the Holy Spirit working in our lives (the lush meadows from Psalm 23), and our sin and brokenness before God (within this beauty the piano sings the words “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me” throughout the song).

Musically, the piano is underscored by an atmosphere of deep peace to represent a lush meadow. The French horn symbolizes a shepherd’s horn. The harp is a tribute to David playing the harp and lyre as recorded in the Psalms. Listen to the song again, and allow God to sing His grace, forgiveness, and beauty over you.

How does Lush Meadows and its inspiration speak into your story today?

LUSH MEADOWS | DAVID
Psalm 23 and 51. “God, my shepherd, I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows. Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love.”

SO LOVED Track #6 – Stunningly Beautiful

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Click above to listen to track #6 Stunningly Beautiful from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

How often do you think of yourself as Stunningly Beautiful?

We usually associate the words “stunningly beautiful” with something outside of ourselves, such as a person, a piece of music, a work of art, a wonderful meal, or a place (like the Great Ocean Road at sunset pictured below). Have you ever thought about the possibility of God seeing you, just as you are,  as stunningly beautiful? Bear with me for a moment as I share how this song happened and what I learned…

Most of my albums include a love song for my wife, each of which are ultimately a love song from God to each of us. Stunningly Beautiful was inspired by the story of Rebekah, when Abraham’s servant traveled on a journey in search of a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. The full story is an amazing read, and can be found in Genesis 24. It took many hours to compose this soundtrack expressing the scene where Rebekah comes to the well to fetch water, and God reveals her to be Isaac’s wife. The Lord brought me to tears as He revealed the beautiful melodies, and as He brought to light how he sees me, and sees each of us, as stunningly beautiful. Even though I am broken, sinful, and undeserving, the Lord sings a song of forgiveness, grace, and beauty over me. He invites us to accept His amazing gift of love and salvation, from the Lover to His Beloved.

Will you join me in asking God to help us see with His vision – that we are stunningly beautiful?

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL | REBEKAH
Genesis 24. “The girl was stunningly beautiful.” God sees beauty in us and wants to show us His steadfast, unfailing, gracious, loyal love as He did for Isaac.