Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Easter 2018 ~ Seeking Grace

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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)

3 Reasons for a Spirit of Grace

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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)

Rembrandt’s Prodigal: A Life Lesson

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Click above to listen to Spirit of Grace 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.

Can you find yourself in Rembrandt’s painting “The Return of the Prodigal Son?”

The three main characters in this renowned painting “The Return of the Prodigal Son” are also found in The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) — the father, the younger brother, and the older brother. This story and painting have transformed my life, and are a deep source of inspiration behind my music and calling.

As I share how and why, look for yourself in the story. I believe this can be transforming for your story too… (please see the two excellent resources down at the bottom, which have spoken very powerfully into my story as well).

FullSizeRenderThe Younger Brother (Kneeling). For much of my life this parable in Luke was a wonderful story. The father’s forgiveness of his youngest son was a beautiful symbol of God’s forgiveness of my sin. This picture of God’s grace spoke to me, but my wonder was limited. I couldn’t relate. This youngest son had taken his share of his father’s estate and squandered it all on reckless living. I am the oldest of three sons. I wanted to please my parents and follow the rules. However, I did envy people who seemed to be having so much fun with “reckless living” (I also quietly judged them). I have had my “prodigal son moments” in life, but I didn’t think this story applied so much to me, since it was really for those who had “lost it all.” Or was it?

The Older Brother (Standing). I can relate to the older brother. This is me, since I have two younger brothers. Because the “Prodigal Son” story doesn’t focus so much on the older brother, I thought I was safe. His story is in the last section of the parable, more of a footnote than the headline. He had stayed home, spending his life serving his father and taking care of his estate. He was prudent, not reckless. However, when his father held a great feast and party to celebrate his younger brother’s homecoming, the older brother was angry and refused to go in. It took many years for God to reveal this “aha” moment in my life. For too long, I had taken life too seriously, not having enough joy, and quietly holding a self-righteous pride in my heart. Now the story did apply to me. God was showing me I needed His love, grace, and forgiveness just as much as the younger brother.

The Father (Touching). As Tim Keller and Henri Nowen so eloquently illustrate, God can enable each of us to have the heart of the father in the story. He loved both of his boys, the youngest and the oldest. His love was filled with grace, acceptance, and forgiveness toward both, more than either son realized. This revelation is what transformed me. God wants me, wants us, to be like the father in the story — to love people well, to grow in seeing them through His eyes, from a heart of grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. The “heart of the father” has been breaking through in my life ever since. This is the heart behind my music — to meet people where they are, to express God’s peace, rest, hope and healing through Scripture inspired piano.

How does this speak to your story? What character are you? Who do you want to be?

The following are links to two of the very best books on this subject, which offer amazing insights into the deep meaning of Luke’s writing and Rembrandt’s painting: The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith, by Tim Keller, and The Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, by Henri Nouwen.

4 Questions to Refresh Your Work-Life Balance

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Click above to listen to Spirit of Grace from my 8th album Open Spaces. If you enjoy, you can order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music directly or visit iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more.

Which of the questions down below refreshes you the most?

I recently was invited to speak on this pivotal issue of work-life balance. It was a good challenge to think through the best ideas I have learned over the years, but most importantly, to see how I have applied them to grow in my work-life balance.

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1. Is your life more of an argument or more of a story?

In looking back, I realized I spent my first thirty years (until 1994) viewing life as more of “a problem to solve” than “an adventure to live.” There had been moments of adventure, but the overarching theme of my life was more of an argument than a story. Over the past twenty-one years, by surrendering and asking God what He wants me to do, instead of striving to achieve and hoping to meet everyone’s expectations, I have experienced much greater clarity, purpose, contentment, and work-life balance. Think of your life as an inspiring story, an award-winning film, being lived out each day.

2. Are you more of a creator, or more of a consumer?

Starting about fifteen years ago, I dramatically reduced the amount of time I spent listening to the radio or watching television. This idea began a journey toward keeping a balance between creating and consuming. Having a “creator” mindset influenced my wife and I in our living, and in parenting our children, to spend more time “creating” and less time “consuming.” It became more fun to film a short movie, cook a meal together, or play an old-fashioned family game. Try applying this idea in your work, family time, hobbies, etc., using your unique, creative gifts.

3. Which way do you lean: scarcity mentality or abundance mentality?

The world sees everything as scarce — time, money, belongings, etc. Applying an abundance mentality to work-life balance can lead to amazing, unforgettable moments. Here are just a few examples: believing anything is possible in your career and trusting your calling, spending on a family dream vacation or special home project instead of saving too much, becoming a better saver if you have a history of overspending, or giving generously to charitable causes which align with your heart. From a faith perspective, Jesus promises abundant life (John 10:10) and eternal life (John 5:24) when we believe Him, overcoming the scarce and temporal.

4. Are you pursuing more: grace-liberty-progress or truth-legalism-perfection?

In most life areas, including work-life balance, I used to see things through a lens of truth (always be right), legalism (follow a formula), and perfection (make no mistakes). The “Life Balance Wheel” set me up to fail when the “right formula” became the “perfect life wheel.” I have been very refreshed by pursuing work-life balance with grace (goodwill), liberty (freedom, flexibility) and progress (forward movement). I choose Grace over Grind, Refreshed over Exhausted, Progress over Perfection.

What is one idea you should act on to make progress with your work-life balance?
— Marriage, Family, Career, Financial, Spiritual, Health, Vacation, Other?

Argument or Story?

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Click above to listen to Spirit of Grace (from my 8th album Open Spaces) as you read. If you enjoy you can stream, download music, or find sheet music at the following links: Open Spaces CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book, Desert Thirsty for Rain PDF Sheet Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora.

“Is your life more of an argument or more of a story?”

This question cut to my heart several years ago. It went deep. For most of my life the idea I was supposed to “defend my faith” had taken root. A light bulb came on as I realized my story had been more of an argument up until then. It was good argument — for what was true, noble and right — in a word, for TRUTH. iStock_000013181151Small The thing I couldn’t see as clearly was the spirit of judgement and criticism toward others that came with this “truth package,” wrapped in pride with a ribbon of self-righteousness. Even if only perceived by others, this meant they were felt. My friend Ken Boa (www.kenboa.org) says, “Stop taking yourself so seriously, because God has already taken you seriously.” I cannot make myself right. Only God makes me right, and it is by His Spirit of Grace (Zechariah 12:10, Ephesians 2:8). Living a captivating story is so much more compelling than winning an argument, right? Thinking on things that are pure, lovely, and admirable — in a word, GRACE — means loving, accepting, and forgiving well. It means listening to someone’s story and sharing pieces of my story that speak into theirs. It also means being positive in my assumptions toward others versus negative (because I don’t know their full story yet). Living a story of grace is a process. It takes practice. It means mistakes will happen. It weaves a beautiful tapestry of wonder, mystery, joy and tears. Will I live a story of grace today? Will I have a spirit of grace or “ungrace” toward others? As a bonus for reflection, consider watching and listening to the Spirit of Grace music video…