10th Anniversary – Why I Composed Awaken the Dawn

October 10, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to stream Awaken the Dawn as you read. For additional reflection, at the bottom I am also including the soothing, uplifting Awaken the Dawn music video filmed during an ocean sunrise on the Georgia coast.

What can you celebrate this week that happened ten years ago?

This week I am celebrating the 10th Anniversary of my 5th album Unveiled and the opening track Awaken the Dawn, which has consistently been a top listener favorite around the world. As I paused to look back and remember how this song happened, I was prompted to share more of the story with you…

I began composing Awaken the Dawn in May 2006, two months after the extremely painful experience of having our house robbed of everything small and valuable (all jewelry, cameras, etc.). I was on a quest for more hope in my life. The original working title was Waking Light. The inspiration was coming from Psalm 108:1-2, “My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” I learned this passage is identical to Psalm 57:7-8, and these are the only two places in the entire Bible (NIV version) where the words “awaken the dawn” are used.

The music was nice, but for many months it featured a main chorus which was not stirring enough emotion. I worked on it off and on, and finally by early 2007 it was taking shape, with each musical section finding its place. In all the writing, re-writing, and playing the notes over and over, my heart’s longing was to express the deep essence of hope referenced in these Psalms. It was a lofty goal, but I wanted this message of God’s hope, without words, to speak to the heart of every person around the world who might one day hear this melody.

We have all been “robbed” of hope in various ways. This could be in our dreams, relationships, emotions, spiritual journey, health, circumstances, or any number of life events. It is interesting to me that God would inspire a song about hope following not just having our house robbed, but several other experiences of loss or struggle, where there were moments of hopelessness in my life. Hidden in the piano notes is a message from my heart to yours… I have found Jesus to be faithful when I put my faith in Him to provide the peace, rest, hope and healing I need each day.

How does “Awaken the Dawn” sing a song of God’s hope into your life?

Taken by a Cloud

October 5, 2017 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to stream Taken by a Cloud from my 5th album Unveiled as you read this story from May 2014. I am also including the music video at the bottom so you can watch and listen for further reflection.

Have you ever been “taken” by a cloud? or had a beautiful scene take your breath away?

There is a splendor and mystery inherent in the world as seen in a common cloud that reflects something much larger than me. This idea originated from an ancient scripture, “As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud.” (from Acts 1:9)

I am thinking about clouds because this is my first blog post from an airplane. I have been “taken” by some clouds as I look out from my window seat. After departing from Baltimore in the rain on the way home to Atlanta, we soon were above the clouds looking down on them. Two recent experiences came to mind.

First, a few weeks ago I played a concert west of Chicago, Illinois near Wheaton College. My host was a new friend who graduated from Wheaton years ago. He took me on a tour of the Billy Graham museum there (Billy Graham also graduated from Wheaton). I photographed the above image in the final room of the museum. The Hallelujah chorus was playing from Handel’s Messiah, and the platform where I stood was surrounded by clouds. Carefully constructed mirrors created an effect that made the clouds go on forever whether I was looking up or looking down. This was a glimpse of heaven’s wonder and beauty, and it reminded me of Taken by a Cloud.

The second experience was last night in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I was invited to share some of my Scripture inspired piano at the HOPE International “Celebrate Hope” annual dinner, where 650 people gathered to hear inspiring stories from around the world, and support the great work that HOPE is doing. They specialize in micro-finance and savings programs for people in poverty who have a small business. Through targeted financial assistance entrepreneurs can grow their profits to help improve their living conditions, educate their children, and have a positive impact in their community. What is interesting is that at the core of HOPE International, is the faith, hope and love found in Jesus, and the Gospel of His grace and forgiveness. As I was “taken” by the incredible stories of financial and spiritual transformation in these impoverished communities, I was filled with eternal hope found in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.

How can you apply today’s music and words to find greater hope?

As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.” Acts 1:9-11

3 Steps to a Clearer Vision

March 14, 2017 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to the title track Unveiled from my fifth album as you read. If you enjoy, you can order the CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more).

What is keeping you from having a clearer vision?

A recent trip to Africa reminded me how to obtain and sustain a clearer vision. I was one of one hundred Americans teaching various skills to over 700 rescued orphans at Family Legacy’s Dream Camp in Lusaka, Zambia. The vision for my music class was for every student to write their own song using their faith in God and the Bible as their inspiration. And they did!

The expressions on our faces in this photo capture the emotion of three steps we can all take to have a clearer vision…

1. Surrender (to abandon oneself entirely) — A huge moment happened in my story in 1994, when I surrendered my career to God. As soon as I said by faith, “Lord, I surrender…” I began to hear God’s voice and sense His direction more clearly. It was so worth the wait for my vision to become aligned with His vision of career success. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

2. Seek (ask for something from someone) — In 2004 I found myself asking Jesus for a clearer vision, and to help me know Him and His voice. With my wife at home with our two young children, was I supposed to start a full-time music ministry? He was faithful to show us the way. Luke 11:9-10 says, “And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

3. Stride (walk with long, decisive steps in a specified direction) — I love this definition. God has shown me how 1994 and 2004 were part of His plan to bring me to Zambia in 2015, 2016, and 2017. After surrendering to and seeking God, if you and I stride forward by obeying each step He reveals, our vision becomes clearer. We can look back on the past, live now in the present, and move forward to the future with full confidence in Jesus. Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Which of the above steps needs more of your attention right now?

The song Unveiled was inspired by 2 Corinthians 3:18 and life’s “veils” which prevent me from having a clearer vision. A “veil” is a covering of my heart that keeps me from understanding. When I turn to God the veil is taken away and I can more clearly see and reflect His goodness. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

An Idea for Clearer Vision

June 15, 2016 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

What vision, dream, or life circumstance do you wish you could see more clearly?

Sometimes life’s “clouds” keep me from seeing clearly, or understanding why something is happening. On a recent music video trip, the shelf cloud pictured below was our welcome as we scouted a filming location for the next morning. Thunderstorms were likely the next few days, but there was also a chance the weather would be partly cloudy with no rain.

As we hoped, we were able to film a video for a brand new song under cloudy skies at sunrise the next day. The big surprise (seeing more clearly) came the second morning, when an unplanned video for the listener favorite Awaken the Dawn happened to a glorious sunrise that peaked through the clouds. I encourage you to watch Awaken the Dawn here.

For me, seeing more clearly, seeing beyond the “clouds,” involves praying, watching, waiting, or acting, and usually a combination of these. Waiting can be the most difficult, which is where faith comes in. There is a sense that God is revealing next steps toward living out a vision or dream for the future, or living life on purpose, or making sense of life circumstances.

Here is the liner note I wrote for the song Unveiled: “A ‘veil’ is a covering of my heart that keeps me from understanding. When I turn to God the veil is taken away and I can more clearly see and reflect His goodness. See 2 Corinthians 3:18.” There is no guarantee we will see or understand things fully every time. However, I have found that God helps put things in perspective. He is faithful to unveil things in His way and in His time.

What step can you take toward seeing more clearly today?

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)

“…our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, MSG)

December 10th ~ The Quest

December 10, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to O Come, O Come Emmanuel as you read. This 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 was twenty-one years old and had just graduated from Georgia Tech with a chemistry degree. I decided that I had memorized enough formulas and performed enough laboratory experiments for my lifetime. So, I drove my 1980 Oldsmobile Omega and all my possessions (clothes and a stereo) to LaGrange, Georgia to become a shift-manager in a carpet dyeing plant.

After a few weeks of orientation and training I began to work alongside other shift managers to learn from them. I had to get to know the jobs and the workers from front to back on the two hundred foot long “range.” There were four guys who ran the whole thing, from sewing the carpet together, to dyeing, drying and inspecting it. It was a pretty amazing operation to observe.

Pretty soon my boss asked me to work on Saturdays. It wasn’t too long before I was only getting two Sundays off per month. I remember asking, “What about Labor Day?” regarding time off. An experienced shift manager answered, “It’s labor day.” Thanksgiving week I worked seven days straight from midnight to 9 a.m. Low on sleep, I followed through with plans to go with my dad to the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech football game in Athens, Georgia, about two hours northeast of LaGrange. It is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving and was an afternoon game that year. I sat there during the game watching the 80,000 plus crowd enjoying the game and their Saturday, knowing that at midnight I would be back at the plant for another day’s work. This was a pivotal point in my decision to end my short carpet industry career.

The event that made an even bigger impact happened one night when I was working third shift. It was pretty common for something to break down, but you never knew when it would happen. This time it was at 3 a.m. The dryer broke, which meant the carpet would come out damp. The dryer had to be shut down for repair and all the dyed carpet in the queue had to be piled up in a big metal tray. So there I was at 3 o’clock in the morning, twenty-one years old, B.S. in chemistry diploma back at the apartment, kneeling in a big pile of wet carpet, with more wet carpet coming down on me to be stacked in the tray. It was at this moment when I thought to myself, “Who am I? Why am I here? What am I doing? Why did I major in chemistry? How am I making a difference? After all, it’s only carpet!!!” Somehow, by faith, I knew I was not alone in my struggle.

This was one of those “character building” experiences that is part of life’s quest for purpose and meaning. It would still be several years before I surrendered my career path, asking God what He wanted me to do, instead of trying to make my way into opportunities for financial success. Through a sense of hopelessness and failure a mark was left that was life changing.

Have you had a “3am carpet mill” moment? What chapters in your story have been part of your quest for life purpose and meaning? How did you find peace in the midst of the struggle?

3 Ways to Find Hope in Sunrises

May 19, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Awaken the Dawn from my fifth album Unveiled as you read (also on December Peace and Treasures of Peace). If you enjoy, consider ordering a CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more).

What does a sunrise symbolize for you?

This week is “graduation week” for our family, with our son finishing 12th grade and daughter finishing 8th grade. This fall my wife and I will be in new territory with a college freshman and high school freshman. We will also celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. My desire is to find hope looking forward and looking back as 2015 unfolds.

Yet, with so many special memories from the past, and such great anticipation for the future, I can have trouble living in the moment. I catch myself thinking about tomorrow or the next day, or even something on my schedule for later today. My sense of hope can become misguided or even get lost in the busyness. How about you?

Ever since I composed Awaken the Dawn from Psalm 108:1-2 (also see Psalm 57:7-8), sunrises have been a richer symbol of hope for me. Somehow this music embraces a human longing we all share each and every day — a desire for hope in the midst of life’s circumstances.

For me, trying to fulfill this longing for hope with my own strength, my own plans, or my own common sense, always falls short. Below are three ways to connect hope with each day’s sunrise. As you read them, see which one speaks most to your heart right now, and try to practice it.

1. REST. We are in a place of rest when watching a sunrise, or rising from sleep to the sunrise and a new day. Resting moves us toward hope.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” — Psalm 62:5

2. WAIT. We have to wait for the sun to rise. This is true whether we woke up early to get in position, to get the camera ready to capture a sunrise, or we have been resting through the night, waiting for the new day. Waiting moves us toward hope.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

3. SURRENDER. We cannot control the sunrise. We cannot control our life circumstances. We can try to make wise decisions and then take action, but ultimately a posture of surrender is needed. Surrender moves us toward hope.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” — Psalm 32:8-10

Which will you use to connect hope with tomorrow’s sunrise?

The inspirational verses behind Awaken the Dawn…

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 108:1-2

“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul!Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 57:7-8

A Music Video for Counting Life’s Blessings

March 10, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

This post was designed for taking a few minutes to pause, watch, and listen…to count life’s blessings. Take a deep breath and soak in the Rivers of Light music video filmed in the north Georgia mountains. You can reflect on the verses underneath if you like.

The first verse, which is lyrical, meaning the piano is actually singing these words, is from Isaiah 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” When a friend introduced this verse to me, I was blown away. God knows the prayers in my heart before I even call to Him. And He hears my prayers before I am finished speaking to Him. Wow. Take a moment to pause and open your heart to Him, to speak with Him, to listen for His answer.

The second verse is the overall theme for this song, and encourages me to count life’s blessings. “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) This was captured in the Unveiled CD liner notes: “Desirable and beneficial gifts from heaven are painted in this song as rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” Take a moment to pause and give thanks to God.

What life blessing does this post help you recall?

Wildflowers – 7 Reasons to Press the Pause Button

August 6, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

Click above to listen to Wildflowers from Unveiled with piano, vocals and guitar. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

What is your response to the phrase “do not be anxious about your life?”

I composed Wildflowers because It is easy to become preoccupied with worrying about all kinds of things. Slowing down and pausing to look at wildflowers in bloom can put things in perspective. The guitar and vocals join in to remind me I am not alone.

Last week I invested time with my family on vacation, and took a ten day rest from social media, blogging, etc. Below are 7 reasons I found it very beneficial to press the “pause” button…

1. Resting. Rest is vital for refreshment and productivity (for more on this, see my post Rest – Are You Receiving It?

2. Quality Time with Loved Ones. A walk on the beach with my wife, a bicycle ride with my daughter, a midnight photo shoot of lightning with my son. Priceless.

3. Being Instead of Doing. It is reviving to marvel at the wonder of creation — ocean waves, thunderstorms, warming sun, treasuring moments instead of checking off to do lists. I also have written a blog post about this: This Very Moment – Being vs Doing

4. Slowing the Pace. We are overloaded with information and activity from all directions. Periodically we need to slow life’s pace to renew our focus for running life’s race.

5. Enjoying a Hobby. I enjoy cooking and photography, so grilling a few dinners and taking lots of pictures were both therapeutic for my soul. I captured the wildflowers above off the southwest Florida coast.

6. Watching Sunsets. I love sunrises and sunsets. I have never regretted taking the time to watch. Either one is a symbol of grace, hope and faith that God is in control. When is the last time you took time to really take in a sunrise or a sunset?

7. Reducing Worry and Anxious Thoughts. Matthew 6:25 (ESV) says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” Pressing the “pause” button helps me keep things in perspective, to trust God for provision, and to count life’s blessings.

What is your #1 reason to press the pause button right now?

MATTHEW 6:25-34 (The Message)
25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Dreams in the Night – How I Minimize Anxious Thoughts

July 11, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 1 Comment

Click above to listen to Dreams in the Night from my fifth album Unveiled as your background reading music. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available). What life circumstance is causing anxious thoughts for you? I am an “anxious thoughts expert,” so before I forget, I want to mention two other resources I encourage you to take in after reading this post. The Dreams in the Night Live Concert Video and My Personal Faith Story Video are tools you can use to help minimize your anxious thoughts to find peace and rest. What are your “dreams in the night?” What are your greatest fears and doubts? I struggle with anxious thoughts daily. There is always something to be anxious about, right? And it always involves uncertainty about the future. When I surrender the future, let go of the past, and live in the present (really live — come alive), this helps minimize my anxious thoughts. In life, and in this musical melody, there are both restless moments and restful moments. But there is more… As I share in my personal faith story, I grew up with worrisome and perfectionist tendencies. Combining this with experiences of defeat fueled my anxious thoughts (I still remember the 8th grade spelling bee — I misspelled the first word in front of all my teachers and peers, and I was devastated!). However, there were also moments of victory which sparked confidence (like when I scored thirty points in a high school basketball game). Unless I practice letting go of past defeats, they will be a negative influence in my thinking. Instead, I want to practice recalling the thrill of past victories. This helps maximize my faith in what is possible. Even when I seem to be in a good place — living in the present and having confidence —anxious thoughts can still appear, keeping me from peaceful rest. Amid unsettling dreams in the night there are still whispers of optimism and expectation. God’s still small voice assures me of His care for me, and His presence with me in all things. The best antidote for anxious thoughts is to open my heart to Him, to listen for His voice, and to meditate on His Word. What “moment of victory” from your past, or scripture verse helps maximize your faith? Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on people, fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. — Job 4:13-14 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. — Philippians 4:6-7 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” — Lamentations 3:22-24

Rivers of Light – A Piano Prayer

June 6, 2014 By Stanton Lanier 10 Comments

Click above to listen to Rivers of Light from Unveiled as your background reading music (piano and flugel horn duet with Jeff Oster). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Have you counted your “rivers of light” blessings lately?

Here is why I ask. When I was creating Rivers of Light there were two inspirational verses behind the notes. Whenever I play this piece in concert with its custom video of a north Georgia waterfall and river, it is like a piano prayer — here is why.

The second verse is the overall theme for this song, and encourages me to count life’s blessings. “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) This was captured in the CD liner notes: “Desirable and beneficial gifts from heaven are painted in this song as rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” Take a moment to pause and give thanks to God.

How does this “piano prayer” speak into your story today?