How Thanksgiving Leads to December Peace

November 26, 2019 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

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…

As 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 #3 – Walking on Air

May 15, 2018 By Stanton Lanier 5 Comments

Click above to listen to track #3 Walking on Air 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 picture from your life captures that “walking on air” feeling?

It was Palm Sunday in April 2011. I was in Vermont and had the day off from recording my 7th album A Thousand Years at Imaginary Road Studios. After morning worship at a postcard white steeple church, I took an afternoon hike with a mission to find and enjoy a huge swing at the top of the mountain. With a small backpack containing water and snacks, a small digital camera, and a video camera, I began climbing upward. When the swing came into sight my heart raced, and I couldn’t wait to sit in the seat. I pushed off and gradually began swinging further and further out over a hillside that dropped off underneath me. Then I stopped, positioned the digital camera on a log, and set the timer. The first photo timing was off, but on the second attempt the image below was captured. Here are a few reasons this is a favorite symbol of “walking on air” in my life and faith journey…

I used to take life (everything) too seriously. Now I see things with child-like faith, awe and wonder.
I used to “strive to acheive” success. Now I “abide to receive” the outcomes God has in store for me.
I used to hold on to things too tightly. Now I “live and swing with God” as He holds the chains from heaven.
I used to be afraid and risk averse. Now I trust God’s words “Fear not” and take faith risks as He guides me.
I used to have more anxiety and worry. Now I have more peace, hope and joy by God’s grace and goodness.

What step can you take to “walk on air” today?

WALKING ON AIR | HANNAH
1 Samuel 2, Psalm 89. “Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us. You’ve been so good to us. We’re walking on air. All we are and have we owe to God.”

1 Samuel 2:1 (MSG). “Hannah prayed: I’m bursting with God-news! I’m walking on air…I’m dancing my salvation.”

Psalm 89:5-9 and 15-18 (MSG). “God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways, the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways! Search high and low, scan skies and land, you’ll find nothing and no one quite like God. The holy angels are in awe before him; he looms immense and august over everyone around him. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you, powerful and faithful from every angle? You put the arrogant ocean in its place and calm its waves when they turn unruly…Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God. Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do—they can’t keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us—you’ve been so good to us! We’re walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!”

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (MSG).  ”He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise—they’ll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we’ll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.”

Day 7 for “31 Days of December Peace” ~ The Sweet Gum Tree

December 7, 2017 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Snow Angel as you read, from December Peace (Best Holiday Album, ZMR Awards). If you enjoy, consider sampling and ordering the CD, MP3 Album or sheet music. You can also listen on Spotify, Pandora Holiday Channel, Apple Music and all other digital streaming services.

This story is from 31 Days of December Peace (soft cover or PDF eBook). Also available from Amazon Kindle, iTunes, and other e-Readers.

Where could you use some “December Peace” today?

I loved to climb trees in North Carolina as a boy. Our yard had pines, dogwoods, a few tall hardwoods and a persimmon tree. But across the street was a giant sweet gum tree. This was the dream climb.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/14083893

The sweet gum tree towered above the rest. The little green, prickly round balls were captivating. They were brilliant green in the spring and summer, and turned brown and fell to the ground in the fall. The trunk was way too big to put my arms around. The top seemed a hundred feet higher. Once you reached the highest branch you could sit on, the world seemed so much smaller down below. You would sway a foot or two in the wind up there. It was only pleasure though – no fear.

It was always fun throwing the sweet gums from up in the tree. “Projectile DNA” is just hardwired into boys. One time some friends and I decided to see if we could hit a car as it drove by. My heart raced. What would happen if we actually hit one? We found out. The screech of tires skidding scared us half to death. A man got out, shook his finger up at the tree yelled something. It sounded like he was saying “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” I recall butterflies in my stomach as I was throwing the balls – followed by a gasp as I feared death at the hands of sweet gum road rage! Thankfully the driver decided not to climb the tree to get us. As the car drove away we all sighed with relief and started to retell the story to each other. We didn’t need to throw any more that day.

My soul was stirred every time I climbed that sweet gum tree. There were secret things I discovered up there… freedom from worry, the independence of a bird, the choice to pause and take in the beauty, the awesome power of nature, the wonder and simplicity of childlike faith. I was part of something a lot bigger than myself. It was like I had a part in the story. There did not seem to be any limitations on what was possible in this life.

Did you have a sweet gum tree or favorite childhood hideaway? Where do you find simplicity?

How Thanksgiving Leads to December Peace

November 28, 2017 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Thanksgiving with piano and English horn as you read. If you enjoy, listen to more music from Best Holiday Album Winner December Peace (ZMR Awards) and check out the 31 Days of December Peace devotional 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 we transition from our U.S. Thanksgiving holiday to the season of Advent, 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…

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?

Climb to the Sky – Part 1

August 9, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 8 Comments

Visit climbtothesky.com for CD and MP3 Album pre-orders, and October 13th Atlanta release concert tickets. For the time being, I hope you enjoy listening to Taken by a Cloud from my 5th album Unveiled in the background as you read…

What does the phrase “Climb to the Sky” bring to mind for you?

As a young boy I loved to climb trees. Growing up in North Carolina there was a 100-foot tall sweet gum tree in our neighbor’s yard, across the street from our house (I have written about this before — you can read here if you like). My friends and I climbed to the top often, but I also remember being up there by myself. There was something about the quiet, the breeze, the view, and the perspective there was something, some One much greater than me. I didn’t know it then, but Psalm 139 (the inspiration behind Climb to the Sky) would be waiting for me in the future to describe this sense of awe and wonder.

Whether climbing a tree, visiting the mountains, hiking a high trail, or looking out an airplane window, the bigness of the sky is fascinating. What is your favorite “big sky” experience? Fluffy clouds, breathtaking sunrises, captivating sunsets, and starry nights have brought unforgettable memories of the sky in my faith journey. It is not the creation though, but the Creator who offers us a personal relationship through Jesus and His death on the cross to save us from our sins. He had the ultimate climb to the sky in Acts 1:9, which inspired the piano-violin duet Taken by a Cloud.

I hope these thoughts have stirred some of your life’s “climb to the sky” memories, and they give you hope in whatever you are facing today. The “Sky Maker” made us too. He, our heavenly Father, loves us more than we know, and has redeemed us by His Son’s grace and forgiveness. It takes child-like faith to believe, but I have found Him faithful in showing me the way and watching over me in all things. Trusting Him during our quickly passing days on earth prepares us for the ultimate “climb to the sky” and eternity with Him.

What verse from Psalm 139 speaks most to you today (see below)?

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there!” — Psalm 139:1-8 (ESV)

“God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful—I can’t take it all in! Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! — Psalm 139:1-8 (The Message)

Cultivating the Artist Child Inside You

March 15, 2016 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to listen to Wherever You Go as you read (from my 8th album Open Spaces). If you enjoy, visit the online store to order the CD or MP3 Album or PDF Sheet Music. You can also download or stream on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Pandora.

Are you cultivating the artist child inside you?

The photo below is from the 8th grade talent show, when I performed Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree. But this did not happen naturally or easily. In kindergarten and early elementary school I stuttered when I talked. I am still reminded of this today, whenever I say the word “reward” with the “r” and “w” sounds. Even though I began piano lessons at six years old, well into my teenage years my right leg would always shake when I played for an audience. And, in the 7th grade I wanted to quit piano lessons because it did not seem cool anymore, and I wanted to focus on basketball.

As I started writing songs in high school, both piano and basketball were my two favorite things in life. However, as I looked ahead to a college education and career, the voices speaking into my life all said “You are a good at math and science, and a smart student. You should be an engineer.” Very few people, if any, believed that piano or basketball could be a career choice. Guess what began to happen to the artist child inside me? Conformity began to overtake creativity. Fear began to replace child-like faith.

I just finished reading The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus, who for fifteen years has been a voice God has used to inspire me to nurture the artist inside me, and to seize divine moments. Erwin writes (viewing God as our Creator), “…we are both works of art, and artists at work. At first our soul is like a canvas where others begin to paint the portrait of who we are. Slowly as we develop and mature, we take the brush into our own hands and continue painting our own lives.”

I have also been meditating on Psalm 139, which has an amazing section… “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day” (The Message).

I hope these thoughts, and some part of my life story inspire you to nurture and cultivate the artist child inside you. God has given each of us a unique set of passions and abilities. I encourage you to visit yours often, to practice them with a spirit of child-like faith and adventure. Be sure to make time to create. Don’t replace your creativity with conformity. You are an original work of art!

What step can you take to cultivate the artist child inside you?

P.S. Wherever You Go was carefully chosen as the music stream for this post. The song was influenced by some music rhythm and life conversations with my teenage son, and was inspired by Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.“

December 7th ~ The Sweet Gum Tree

December 7, 2015 By Stanton Lanier 3 Comments

Click above to listen to the original piano-cello duet Snow Angel as you read (with Grammy winning cellist Eugene Friesen). This track is from 2009 Best Holiday Album December Peace (ZMR Awards, winning over Enya and Yo-Yo Ma). If you enjoy, please consider sampling and ordering the CD, MP3 Album or sheet music. You can also listen and download on iTunes and all other digital outlets.

This story is from 31 Days of December Peace (soft cover or eBook). Also available from Amazon Kindle, iTunes, and other e-Readers.

Where could you use some “December Peace” today?

I loved to climb trees in North Carolina as a boy. Our yard had pines, dogwoods, a few tall hardwoods and a persimmon tree. But across the street was a giant sweet gum tree. This was the dream climb.

Did you have a sweet gum tree or favorite childhood hideaway? Where do you find simplicity?

31 Days of December Peace: Day 7 ~ The Sweet Gum Tree

December 7, 2014 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

This story is from 31 Days of December Peace (soft cover or eBook). Also available from Amazon Kindle, iTunes, and other e-Readers.

Where could you use some “December Peace” today?

I loved to climb trees in North Carolina as a boy. Our yard had pines, dogwoods, a few tall hardwoods and a persimmon tree. But across the street was a giant sweet gum tree. This was the dream climb.

Did you have a sweet gum tree or favorite childhood hideaway? Where do you find simplicity?

Practicing Simplicity

June 16, 2014 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

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…

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.”

31 Days of December Peace: Day 11 ~ Sacred Joy

December 11, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

The new 31 Days of December Peace eBook is available for only $4.99. Download at stantonlanier.com or the Amazon Kindle Store.

Snow had fallen softly all day that Christmas Eve, and the blanket that covered Philadelphia made even the most gnarly northeasterner smile. Street sounds throughout the city were muted, and inside we listened to Mitch Miller sing the holiday songs of 1963 that only he could deliver.

The tree was especially beautiful that year, or perhaps in my memory it must have been, since unknown to me at the time, it was the last Christmas our family had together. There was palatable joy in the house, and seeing my mother and father full of that joy made the world perfect for a six-year-old little girl.

Santa visited our home that evening, an unimaginable feat that he would take time from his very busy schedule to visit a little girl in a row house in Philadelphia, but there he stood in my living room in full color, including a slightly red nose. His eyes seemed blurry and not twinkling, but I chalked that up to the cold night outside. I later learned that the red nose was honestly earned by our neighbor who gladly dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve each year for our block. He was Italian, and did enjoy a bit of Christmas vino throughout the day before visiting our homes.

I was given a quick hug and cautioned that I had better be in bed early if I wanted a visit. I raced up the stairs and into my new red and white flannel polka dot pajamas, and pulled the covers up to my nose. My father, who was a commercial milk truck driver, worked nights, even on Christmas Eve, and I listened closely for the hushed conversation of my mom and dad as they said good night and locks were drawn. My mother padded through the house quietly as if the snow had fallen inside as well. As she turned off the lights room by room, I could see the Christmas tree lights filter under my door and intersect with the moonlight from my window as though they sought each other out. I drifted to sleep knowing that when my father came home at daybreak, I would surely hear the turn of his key in the lock and the great festivities would begin.

That anticipation, hope, and joy that rested on me in 1963 is still with me as I ponder the glorious gift of God become Man. I have learned that all memories of this kind of joy and love are sacred even though they are not outwardly religious. They are not laden with nostalgic glimmer, but rather they are full of eternal hope, and a lovely shadowing of the eternal things to come.

All of heaven must have been full of the same anticipation that first Christmas Eve. All of mankind now yearns for that intimate knowledge of God and our childlike experiences and memories are to be embraced and nourished. They are a reflection of the glory that is ours as we experience the birth of Word become Flesh, the daily grace of the Spirit of Truth engraved on our hearts, and the magnificent love of a Father who has come home and turned the key in the lock. Rejoice and be glad! A Savior is born!