This is My Father’s World

The Battle is Not Done

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Yesterday, being Father’s Day, I chose to sing “This is My Father’s World,” at Discovery Villages. This is not only one of my favorite hymns, but with war raging, both in the Middle East and Ukraine, it is easy for our hearts to become anxious. We close our eyes and imagine the bombs bringing down buildings. What was once only a distant possibility, has become a daily nightmare both in Israel as well as Iran. Along with military targets, innocent men, women and children are buried under rubble, others are fleeing for their lives, wounded and terrified. “Where is God in the midst of all of the chaos?” the world asks. That is when the assurance of the final stanza rings loudest, “Though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” This hymn rings true to our hearts, not only because of the poetic mastery of the hymn writer, but because it is a reflection of a deep truth of scripture.

Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Now we may not all be in the middle of a warzone, but every believer has their own battles and battle scars to prove it. When we are in the middle of the worst, we need to remind ourselves that God has not fallen asleep at the wheel. No matter our situation, God remains firmly in control of both our lives as well as the affairs of earth. But we like children riding in the backseat, want to know, “When are we going to get there?” In my experience, God rarely tells us the answer. Instead, He helps us to learn how to trust Him, even when we don’t get filled in on all the details. Whatever you need to trust Him with today, why not take a moment to be still, and then pray, “God teach me to be still. In the middle of this battle and help me to trust you with every detail of my heart!”

My Father’s World

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
 and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
 and among the inhabitants of the earth;
 and none can stay his hand
 or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 ESV

If we turn were to on television this morning, we might wonder if this really is God’s world. Daily we hear reports of terrible things being done in our own country, and wars and atrocities in abundance abroad. When Maltie Babcock wrote “This is My Father’s World”, in 1901, his own little part of the world really was at peace and his lyrics are simply a hymn of praise for the beauty he saw on his long walks in the countryside. But by the time music had been set to his words, in a Presbyterian Hymnal in 1915, Europe was at war. and then a German submarine sank the ocean liner, The Lusitania. Twelve hundred innocent passengers drowned, and America entered a war in which millions were killed, including more than 116,000 American soldiers. Where was God in the middle of all the mess? He was right where He had been all along, calling out to us from the cross of Jesus Christ, to come and yield our hearts to Him! He is not an elected official. His term never expires, He cannot be impeached or overthrown. And in the words of this precious hymn, “Though the wrong seems oft so strong; God is the ruler yet!” I hope you will find hope and comfort in the words of this hymn and that you will be encouraged to trust Him through whatever battle you are personally facing today.

This is My Father’s World


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 these wonders wrought

This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
declare their Maker’s praise
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father’s world
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though 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 glorified
And earth and heav’n be one

Maltbie Babcock 1901

Early in the Morning

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: Genesis 19:27

Often when we think of early morning prayer times, a picture of a hot cup of coffee and a Bible in your hand comes to mind. But Abraham had a different idea. He went outside and found a place to stand and listen to God. I can identify with Abraham because I have loved waking up super-early since I was a kid. One of my earliest memories is hearing my mom say, “Go back to bed, it’s only six o’clock!” Maybe I was hungry or maybe I just felt that I might miss out on something exciting if I lay under the covers any longer. Either way mornings remain special to me and today that time includes going outdoors, weather permitting. While I am out walking around our neighborhood, the song that often comes to mind is “This Is My Father’s World.” According to the story, this was also the hymn writer’s inspiration when he would head outside, telling his wife, “I’m going out to see my Father’s world.”

Some versions have attempted to “Improve” the song by removing all Father and male references. Such silly theology misses the point that we have not just a God but a Father in Heaven. He watches over us all through every night and is waiting every morning to greet us and speak to us about our day. There is nothing more important that we could do than to stand before him and listen. One day we will all stand before the Lord, why not freely chose to do so today? No one could ever love us like a Father who sent His only Son for us that we could spend every morning with Him in Heaven and worship at His feet!

Since it is Father’s day week I thought I would share my Father’s day video this morning which includes This Is My Father’s World. Have a blessed day everyone!