•  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •   
  •   
  • New Free Resource

Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

  • Browse Store
    • Music Streaming
    • Piano Books & Sheet Music
    • Song Licensing
  • Concerts
    • Concert Schedule
    • Booking Information
  • Read Blog
  • Donate
    • Make a Tax-Deductible Gift to MTLTW
  • About
    • Stanton Lanier
    • Music to Light the World
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • View Cart

Solo Piano Grace

September 7, 2023 By Stanton Lanier 9 Comments

Solo Piano Grace just released and is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, YouTube, Amazon Music, and all music services worldwide. You can also click below to listen as you read the story behind this new piece.

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Solo-Piano-Grace-Stanton-Lanier-c2023-MTLTW.mp3

 

The new song Solo Piano Grace expresses the peace, hope, and beauty God’s grace brings to my life. The piano melody themes are simple and beautiful yet deep and powerful, much like God’s grace and forgiveness of  my sin, and the wonder of His love and faithfulness. As the years go by I am learning the amount of grace and forgiveness I give to others is a reflection of the grace and forgiveness I have received from Jesus. I want to keep growing in my understanding of God’s grace and my gratitude to Him for saving me from death to life. He has given me grace by the truckload, and He is teaching me to offer this quantity of grace to all people – family, friends, and strangers. The Lord has offered immeasurable grace to me over and over again. I want the times I have given others only a thimble, teaspoon or cup sized amount of grace to remind me to offer people grace by the truckload, which God has given to me. May His grace encourage you today, that you are seen, known and loved by a heavenly Father who is for you, and with you always.

How does Solo Piano Grace speak to you? 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

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. (John 1:14, NIV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14, NIV)

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6, NIV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22:21, NIV)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Beauty, Ephesians 2:8, God's Grace, God's Love, grace, Hope, John 1:14, peace, solo piano, solo piano grace

Easter 2018 ~ Seeking Grace

March 6, 2018 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to listen to Spirit of Grace from Open Spaces as you read (after reading, watch the Spirit of Grace music video). You can also order the Open Spaces CD or MP3 Album or PDF Sheet Music, or enjoy on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Pandora.

As we prepare for Easter 2018, what do the words “seeking grace” mean to you?

The song Spirit of Grace reminds me to remember, and be grateful, for life experiences and memories. Whether beautiful or disappointing, most life events keep pointing me toward grace. The photograph below is from an unforgettable family visit to the Great Ocean Road in Australia a few summers ago. This image symbolizes three reasons for a “seeking grace” in my life, relationships, and calling. I hope the music, words, and video invite you to join me in seeking grace this Easter season.

Seeking Grace Reason #1: Receiving Grace Leads to Giving in Life. God’s love and grace are bigger than an ocean, surrounding, protecting, and washing over the shoreline of my heart. The more deeply I  receive and am grateful for them, the more they overflow out of my life. This leads to giving love, grace and forgiveness to others, as well as giving time and resources to serve others.

Seeking Grace Reason #2: Giving Grace Leads to Blessings in Relationships. God and and the truth of His Word are like the rock along the Great Ocean Road — strong, unshakeable and often bold. God’s grace is like the oceans — deep, wide, and often gentle. After unknowingly doing the reverse for many years, I have found if I first give people gentle, compassionate grace, which is rooted in bold, confident truth, this leads to blessings in relationships.

Seeking Grace Reason #3: Blessings of Grace Lead to Freedom in Our Calling. In the verses down below the Holy Spirit is called a spirit of grace, the spirit of truth, and our Helper. Jesus was full of both grace and truth, and the gift of God’s grace saves us through faith. It is easy for me to condemn myself because of my sins, selfishness, imperfections, and failures, which can hold me captive. I can never earn them, but I can receive the blessings of grace. These include being forgiven, others-centered, faultless, flawless and excellent in God’s eyes, all of which lead to freedom in my calling.

Which reason for seeking grace is most inviting to you this Easter?
 
“I’ll pour a spirit of grace and prayer over them.” — Zechariah 12:10 (MSG)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…the Spirit of truth.” — John 14:16-17 (ESV)

“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.” — John 1:14 (NIV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

“The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.” — Isaiah 11:9 (MSG)

“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” — 1 Samuel 2:2 (ESV)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: blessings of grace, giving grace, God's Grace, Holy Spirit, Open Spaces, receiving grace, Spirit of Grace, Zecharia 12:10

3 Reasons for a Spirit of Grace

February 28, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 14 Comments

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/4-spirit-of-grace-60sec.mp3

Click above to listen to Spirit of Grace from Open Spaces as you read (after reading, watch the Spirit of Grace music video). You can also order the Open Spaces CD or MP3 Album or PDF Sheet Music, or enjoy on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and Pandora.

What do the words “spirit of grace” make you think about?

This song and the story behind it came to mind this morning. I was reflecting on some life experiences and memories, some beautiful, some ugly, which kept pointing me toward grace. The photograph below is from an unforgettable family visit to the Great Ocean Road in Australia a few summers ago. This image symbolizes three reasons for a “spirit of grace” in my life, relationships, and calling. I hope the music and these inspirations behind it encourage you to consider joining me in cultivating a spirit of grace.

Reason 1: Receiving Grace Leads to Giving in Life. God’s love and grace are bigger than an ocean, surrounding, protecting, and washing over the shoreline of my heart. The more deeply I  receive and am grateful for them, the more they overflow out of my life. This leads to giving love, grace and forgiveness to others, as well as giving time and resources to serve others.

Reason 2: Giving Grace Leads to Blessings in Relationships. God and and the truth of His Word are like the rock along the Great Ocean Road — strong, unshakeable and often bold. God’s grace is like the oceans — deep, wide, and often gentle. After unknowingly doing the reverse for many years, I have found if I first give people gentle, compassionate grace, which is rooted in bold, confident truth, this leads to blessings in relationships.

Reason 3: Blessings of Grace Lead to Freedom in Our Calling. In the verses down below the Holy Spirit is called a spirit of grace, the spirit of truth, and our Helper. Jesus was full of both grace and truth, and the gift of God’s grace saves us through faith. It is easy for me to condemn myself because of my sins, selfishness, imperfections, and failures, which can hold me captive. I can never earn them, but I can receive the blessings of grace. These include being forgiven, others-centered, faultless, flawless and excellent in God’s eyes, all of which lead to freedom in my calling.

Which aspect of grace is inviting you — receiving, giving, blessings?
 
“I’ll pour a spirit of grace and prayer over them.” — Zechariah 12:10 (MSG)

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…the Spirit of truth.” — John 14:16-17 (ESV)

“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.” — John 1:14 (NIV)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” — Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

“The whole earth will be brimming with knowing God-Alive, a living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.” — Isaiah 11:9 (MSG)

“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” — 1 Samuel 2:2 (ESV)

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: blessings of grace, giving grace, God's Grace, Holy Spirit, Open Spaces, receiving grace, Spirit of Grace, Zecharia 12:10

Progress Over Perfection – What's Love Got To Do With It?

June 13, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/01-First-Love.mp3

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

Is your mindset thankful for progress, or frustrated by a lack of perfection?

The tension in this question is real in my day-to-day life. If you are like me, maybe you have a “performance mentality” that wants to rear its ugly head. When this happens, I am tempted to start striving too hard, and my body language feels more like clinched fists and gritted teeth. I risk my mindset looking like something like this — strive to please others and do my best to perform for God, then maybe others will like me better and God will love me more. Going down this slippery slope leads to frustration that once again, perfection is out of reach.

This is why I wanted you to listen to First Love as you are reading this…

DSC05250
Several years ago a good friend spoke words into my life that began to stick. He said, “Focus on progress, not perfection.” As a “recovering perfectionist” this was huge for me. It was a mindset shift. Focusing on progress rather than perfection helps me be thankful instead of frustrated. Surrendering results and outcomes to God also increases my peace and rest.

About half of my Scripture inspired piano compositions are lyrical, meaning the piano is “singing” some words. First Love is one of these. Here is what the notes are singing: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16 is the verse melody) and “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 is the chorus melody). 1 John 4:10 offers a great summary: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

What a gift this is, to be able to receive grace and forgiveness rather than having to strive, please and perform. This is the foundation for my “Progress Over Perfection” mindset. By God’s grace, He loves me even though I am not perfect. As I make progress in surrendering to Him, seeking to listen to Him, to follow Him, He shows the way and I can trust Him with results and outcomes.

How can being thankful for progress inspire your journey today?

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Peace and Rest, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Draw Near, First Love, God's Grace, God's Love, Scriputre Inspired Piano

Copyright © 2025 · Music to Light the World · All rights reserved. Privacy Policy