This is My Father's World

At the sound of a familiar song, we can be transported to a special time and place.  That happened to me this week as I listened to Marty Goetz play and sing "This is My Father's World."  In my mind I was a 12-year-old girl at summer camp.  Camp Sunnybrook was in a beautiful spot in the PA Poconos.  Part of the camp program included vespers that would take place on a White Pine tree-covered peninsula that extended out into a small man-made lake.  The floor of the peninsula was covered in a bed of aromatic pine needles.  When the late afternoon sun was shining on the needles the smell was out of this world.
 
A group of campers would gather on the peninsula at the end of the day to listen to a devotional and sing songs of praise and worship.  As I sat in the heavenly atmosphere, we sang "This is My Father's World.” After vespers were completed and everyone left, I stayed behind, because I was not ready to walk away from a holy moment.  With deep gratitude and renewed commitment, I continued to sing the song, knowing the truth that our world was created and sustained and ruled by our Heavenly Father.
 
Scripture is filled with verses that confirm that God is our Creator, Maker, and Sustainer.  He is all that and more!  Psalm 8:3-4 asks a question:  “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?"  Indeed, how blessed we are that the One who is ruling the world stops to care for us.  Let's look at 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 where David praised the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel.  "Praise be to You, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.  Yours, Lord, is the Kingdom; You are exalted as head of all.  Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things.  In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."  Amen!
 
I want to share the words from "This is My Father's World" (Verses 1 and 3) with you, because they are comforting to me, especially when I consider the state of our world today.  It is my hope that they also comfort you.

• "This is my Father's world, and to my list'ning ears, all nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.  This is my Father's world!  I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--His hand the wonders wrought."

• "This is my Father's world--O let me ne'er forget, that tho the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.  This is my Father's world!  The battle is not done; Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heav'n be one."

There is much turmoil and uncertainty going on around us.  Those with an evil agenda seem to be gaining momentum.  We cannot let any of this settle on us.  We have a higher truth.  We must remember the One who is in charge and use our mouths to declare the goodness and power and glory of Him who is in charge.  Why don't we start with Psalm 24?
 
"The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it on the seas and established it on the water.  Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.  They will receive blessings from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.  Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob. 
 
Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is the King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is He, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty--He is the King of glory."  

Let the truth of this Psalm strengthen us and bring us peace. Remember that this is our Father's world!