Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Finding Life’s Open Doors

By 2 Comments

Click above to listen to The Voice, the title track from my 4th album The Voice, as you read. 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.

What is an “open door” you are walking through or wishing for?

In this sense an open door is something filled with God’s goodness. It could be a new job, a creative project, a family vacation, some fresh joy in your marriage, finding your soulmate, or anything good your heart desires.

One of my “open door” wishes right now is new music. I am composing for a new album coming this fall. As I seek and meditate on verses to become Scripture inspired piano, the process can often seem very slow. Sometimes nothing comes. Sometimes portions of a song come quickly.

As I experience life’s ups and downs, instead of focusing on my frustrations, I am wanting to remember the blessings. It is not a perfect journey, but when I seek to hear God’s voice, and offer a heart of worship to Him, I see more clearly and He reveals more “open doors” of His goodness.

Below are some verses I lean into, whether I am walking through, or wishing for an open door. I hope these inspire your story today, and pray God reveals more of His goodness to you.

…but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. When Elijah heard the quiet voice… 1 Kings 19:11-13 (The Message)

“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Worship God if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness.”
Psalm 34:8-9 (The Message)

Which of these verses moves you closer to your open door?

Open Spaces

By Leave a Comment

What is your favorite “open space?” Is it the beach or the mountains? Is it an open field or a walk in the woods? “Open space” moments we cherish are often temporary and fleeting. I don’t think it has to be this way. Read on to see what I mean…

Open Spaces, Yosemite National Park

I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past spring and was blown away. I learned photographer Ansel Adams first visited Yosemite at age nine. He was so taken by it, he returned every year for the rest of his life, and began photographing it from every possible angle and season. His black and white photos of Yosemite are legendary. I shot the image above from the famous tunnel view, where you are first greeted by the valley. Breathtaking.

Maybe the Yosemite vistas had put “open spaces” into my mind, but I was unaware. A few months later, I started composing a melody and was looking at Psalm 119, where The Message says, “Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life…invigorate me on the pilgrim way…And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom…” The music came quickly and became Open Spaces, a new song I hope to release in early 2013.

I don’t think life’s “vista” or “open space” moments have to be short lived. By faith, when God meets me where I am, in spite of my brokenness, fears, and worries, he longs to invigorate me. He wants me to experience striding freely through wide open spaces. Spiritually speaking He offers me the opportunity of daily “open space” moments if I am attuned to the wonder and beauty around me, if I notice the kindness of others toward me, if I seek to love and serve.

So, what is your favorite “open space?” How can the essence of those special “open space” moments ring true in your daily living?

Contentment = Peace and Rest

By 11 Comments

Half Dome View – Yosemite National Park

In the next few months my song Contentment from The Voice CD will be heard in 13,000 fitness clubs in 70 countries. It will be used for the cool down, deep breathing time at the end, following an intense one-hour workout with instructor and DVD.

This inspired me to write down a few steps to help turn us from discontentment toward contentment:

  • Think about things you don’t have OR focus on giving thanks for things you do have
  • Dream about goals that haven’t happened OR take one positive step to make progress
  • Worry about outcomes you can’t control OR surrender outcomes and serve others well
  • Be frustrated by what hasn’t gone your way OR remember when things turned out okay
  • Let fear and uncertainty cause inertia OR let faith and adventure move you forward
  • Measure where you have less than others OR count life’s blessings that are priceless

Contentment liner notes from The Voice CD: It is so easy for me to be discontent with my circumstances or to worry about the future, even though I know there is so much to be thankful for. I wrote this to slow down my mind from thinking anxious thoughts, and to focus on the things in life that are pure and lovely. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (1 Timothy 6:6, 6:7-8, Philippians 4:11)

How can you learn to be more content today? What areas can you turn from discontentment toward contentment?