12/19/13 – 31 Days of December Peace

December 18, 2013 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

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

Peace took on new meaning for my family in 2004. That December found us holding our first and then only daughter, Hayley, close in our arms, day after day, as we awaited her final breath. Years of faith, prayers of loved ones, and Scripture-inspired music surrounded us daily and reminded us of the eternity we one day would share together; the knowledge of Hayley’s imminent death, though, remained wrenching. I remember constantly kissing her forehead, as I had a lifetime of love to fit into an unknown, but certainly short, number of days. I wanted the warmth of her cheek on mine and the memory of holding this cherished gift from God to be etched on my heart forever.

Hayley would pass away from an aggressive form of leukemia on December 19, 2004, having been home under hospice care for several weeks. A year filled with hospital rooms, intense chemotherapy, more than 60 blood and platelet transfusions, full-body irradiation, and a cord blood transplant would come to an end that evening with our daughter taking her last breath…six weeks before her second birthday.
December Peace is His Peace. His Peace brought tears of joy to my eyes and compelled my heart to sing praise as my precious daughter smiled, took her last breath, and left this world forever. His Peace was joy amidst anguish.

His Peace continues to turn my fear, anger and confusion into faith, love and compassion, and helps me look forward for comfort rather than backward for explanations. And it is His Peace that now fills my Decembers with visions of my baby girl running into His arms.

This life is full of difficult, sometimes nearly impossible-to-bear circumstances. His Peace reminds me that there is an eternity beyond what we can imagine. His Peace reminds me that all that is ahead is so much greater than anything we will leave behind. His Peace reminds me that He is in control AND that I am loved.

His Peace frees me. His Peace brings me to contentment, even when my heart aches… especially in December.

What Brings You Peace and Rest?

September 27, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

I’m in the middle of a busier than normal stretch, so I had to let my blogging rest for a bit. This “stopping” brought me peace and rest. Last Sunday I got to share my first ever concert in Missouri (at First Baptist Church in Dexter). This “doing” brought me peace and rest (see the photo below). Right now, some new music for my next album is on hold. This “waiting” brings me peace and rest.

Is there something you could stop doing to bring you peace and rest?

Is there something you can do to bring you peace and rest?

Is there something where waiting could bring you peace and rest?

Peace and rest

Last week I was working to get ready for our biggest event of the year on October 11th (An Evening of Hope 2012). I was also preparing for events this week in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee. Back at the beginning of June, I set a goal to blog 2-3 times per week. I’ve “failed” a few times. This summer I also created the first three episodes of the Pianist of Peace podcast, each with a personal story, a life question, and music for reflection. My goal was to release one new podcast each month. This launched with the August Podcast, and the September Podcast followed. I will probably “fail” at this goal from time to time as well.

If you are in a busier than normal stretch, what can bring you peace and rest? Do you need to “stop” or “do” or “wait” regarding the possibilities? One thing I know: Whatever your passion is, whatever makes you come alive, don’t stop doing that. It will fill your heart with good things and overflow into your life being a blessing to others.

Rivers of Light

September 18, 2012 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

This morning I decided to create the opportunity for you to be still, slow down and just “be” versus “doing.” Take five minutes to watch the Rivers of Light music video. Reflect on the two questions below, then meditate on the two verses at the bottom that inspired this composition.

What is an answer I am looking for today?
What is a good gift I am desiring?

Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear – Isaiah 65:24

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. – James 1:17

Ancient Paths – My First MP3 Single

August 7, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16, about 600 B.C.).

Today – a new MP3 single release. Two months ago – no idea a song would be created that expressed this ancient verse. Here is it how it happened and what it means to me… ~ photo credits to my gifted friend Craig Corbin – www.craigcorbinphotography.com

In May a couple who has supported Music to Light the World for many years, made it possible for me to replace a 12-year old keyboard (my first 3 of 7 albums were created and recorded on this). I ordered a new Yamaha synthesizer and it arrived about a week later. In the first hour of playing around with the incredible piano sounds and endless mixing combinations, a new song was born (coming later). In the second hour, another new song was born that became Ancient Paths. The melody came quickly, and some surrounding variations surfaced during a few more short sessions at the keyboard. I knew it was complete in early July and was hoping to release my first MP3 single.

Today it happened. Here are a few thoughts on what it means to me…

Using our creative gifts feeds our heart, which then overflows in service to others
Things happen little by little, one step, one day at at a time; have patience; be thankful
“Stand at the crossroads and look” What decision are you facing today? The melody opens with a pattern of plodding through life, step by step, looking for the path.
“Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is” The melody sweetens as the good way is revealed with a sense of striding in it. What have you learned from history, from ancient paths, others who have gone before you? King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God planted eternity in the human heart. Have you thought of eternity as a “good way” before? What a mystery that we are “wired” to seek eternal life.
“and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” The musical combinations have an overriding hope to receive peace and rest. Walking through life, looking, plodding, finding the good way, smiling, striding, glowing.

Augustine wrote around 400 A.D. “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” What are you restless about in your life right now? How can you ask where the good way is, and walk in it? This really tests my faith at times. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). I love this promise. I need rest for my soul today. How about you?

Thanks for “listening” to some of the depth behind a piano melody that married to its title, Ancient Paths. I would love to hear from you with thoughts on this new piece of music, as well as the questions above. The MP3 is available at stantonlanier.com, and worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and all other digital outlets. Grace and peace until next time…

Solitude Refreshes

June 20, 2012 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

You will often see themes of simplicity, silence, solitude and surrender interwoven in my music and life stories. Solitude makes me think of the saying about how the quality of our private life produces the quality of our public life. Solitude refreshes, renews and revives. A few memories of solitude and current practices of solitude for me are:

Sitting all alone at the top of my favorite tree when I was ten years old
Going on a childhood bicycle ride to a friend’s house
Working at a canoe rental and being outdoors in the river all alone
Driving or camping all alone in open spaces, like northern Minnesota in grad school
Going for a run and listening to peaceful music
Waking up early for quiet time while most of the world is still sleeping

What are your favorite memories of solitude? What are your favorite practices of solitude?