Mozart Archives - Stanton Lanier

Before reading, click above to listen to the title track A Thousand Years from my 7th album, with piano and English horn. For more listening or sheet music from this album you can click here.

Is everything well with your soul?

As I think about this question it points to the three parts of the song A Thousand Years. Each represents an idea to help care for your soul.

1. Live with Simplicity and Childlike Faith (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)
I was inspired to arrange Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for this piece, to represent childlike faith. The image below expresses how I want to live life — with adventure, joy, faith and trust (“the swing” was captured in Vermont during the April 2011 recording of the album). Remember the first time you climbed a tree? The first time you rode a bicycle? The first time you saw the ocean? The first time you saw the mountains? Care for your soul by remembering, giving thanks and asking God to help you follow His leading. Nurture simplicity, and take leaps of childlike faith into greater adventure, joy, faith and trust.

2. Live out of Silence and Solitude (Original melody)
The original melody that opens and appears throughout A Thousand Years flowed out of a place of peace and rest. For me, this sense of contentment comes from practicing silence and solitude, usually early in the morning. Caring for our souls happens best when we unplug from technology, distraction and noise. My favorite things to do during this time are reading and meditating on Scripture, praying, and listening for God’s voice. Practicing silence and solitude results in God speaking into my life through His Word. Even during times when He seems distant or quiet, I have learned to trust in His promises that He loves me, He believes in me, and He knows my needs before I ask.

3. Live from a Place of Surrender (It Is Well with My Soul)
The third part of A Thousand Years is the famous hymn It is Well with My Soul. The author’s story of surrender is profound. He never knew his words would impact millions of lives. In 1871 Horatio Spafford’s extensive real estate holdings burned in the great Chicago fire. For two years he and his wife served people in need after the fire. In 1873 they planned a family holiday trip to England. Needing to finish some business, Horatio sent his wife and four daughters ahead to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Their ship was struck by another vessel and sank. His wife was saved with a few others, but 226 people drowned, including all four of their daughters. As Horatio Spafford traveled by ship to join his wife, when he passed over the waters where his daughters died, he penned the words to It is Well with My Soul (Wikipedia). When we surrender and abide in God’s strength, “it is well with my soul” becomes true for us as we experience His presence and live for His glory.

Which of these ideas or verses below can help you care for your soul?

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Habakkuk 2:20
The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Mark 1:35
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.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Click above to listen to the title track A Thousand Years from my 7th album as you read (featuring original, Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and It Is Well with My Soul melodies). If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album, or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more).

What is one of your favorite childhood memories that filled you with wonder and awe?

As you listen to the music stream and read this post, I want you to think of a favorite childhood memory filled with beauty, then recall something recently that stirred this same child-like faith, wonder and awe. I can remember climbing to the top of a 100-foot tall sweet gum tree in North Carolina at age nine, the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains when I was ten, or trying to outrun the ocean waves washing up on the beach at age eleven. Just a few years ago I got to visit northern Minnesota for a week of canoeing and camping. I awoke at 3 a.m. several mornings to gaze at night skies filled with more stars than I had ever seen.

For me, these kinds of moments are breathtaking. They remind me that creation has a Creator, and the story I am living has a Storyteller. They point me toward God’s beauty, adventure, and intimacy he reveals to me, and his incredible gift of grace and forgiveness. Connecting physical and spiritual wonder and awe is so powerful and reviving.

This was all contained in my heart as I created the song A Thousand Years, combining original composing from Psalm 90:4 with Mozart’s famous melody best known as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and the famous 1871 hymn It Is Well with My Soul. Musically I wanted to interweave the wonder and awe of child-like faith with the peace and hope of spiritual peace with God through Jesus in my soul.

If this music and topic inspires you, please take time to watch or bookmark the newest music video Far Away from Home, from my 9th album Treasures of Peace. The music and story are a visual illustration of Isaiah 41:10 child-like faith and living life without fear.

Where is a place you could go to nurture your child-like wonder and awe?

Psalm 90:4 (NIV) “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG) “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”

3 Ideas to Care for Your Soul

Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle Meets It Is Well with My Soul