{HSCRC13} Hymn #9, This is my Father's World

Hymn Challenge #9: This is my Father's World
Words Written by: Maltbie D. Babcock
b. Aug. 3, 1858; d. May 18, 1901

Maltbie D. Babcock was born in Syracuse, NY. Mr. Babcock was not only a pastor but a musician and an athlete. He played several musical instruments, directed an orchestra, and he was leader of the glee club. He loved the outdoors and was an expert pitcher, a swimmer, and an avid fisherman. He also would run in the early mornings. Before he would leave, he was known to say "I am going out to see my Father's world." He died an untimely death when he made a trip to the Holy Land and died of bru­cel­losis (an infectious disease caused by bacteria). His wife, Catherine, collected and published his writings after his death in "Thoughts for Everyday Living" Copyright 1901.

Friday someone asked on a scrapbook forum "What makes you happy (besides family and God)?" My response was:

"I LOVE seeing God's creation around me, hearing the birds, smelling the honeysuckle, watching the water on the lake, being with horses, riding my bike on the beach as the sun rises, etc., etc., etc."

Then that same afternoon as I asked God what hymn we should study, I "happened" to open up my hymnal to today's hymn— "This is my Father's World." How perfect for the question I had just answered in the forum that same morning. Let's start off by looking at Verse 2:

Verse 2
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.

Some of you may remember that I have mentioned that I feel closest to God when I am out in His amazing creation. Even as I worked on writing this post over several days, I laughed when I was on my morning walk praying. I realized as I was praying that my mind had suddenly wandered elsewhere. Does that ever happen to you? Sometimes I really think I have adult ADD because my mind is always going a million places at once. Anyway, I continued my walk, and it wasn't until the sweet smell of wild honeysuckle caught my attention that I remembered I had been talking with God. He drew me back to Himself just through His awesome creation! Verse 2 of this hymn says "He speaks to me everywhere." Mr. Babcock then said in the same verse that He hears God pass in the rustling grass. For me it wasn't the rustling grass but the smell of honeysuckle. It happened again as I was at the stables riding Saturday morning—such a glorious, beautiful day, and the wild honeysuckle scent drew me back to God yet again.

So, where does God speak to you the most? Where and when do you feel closest to the Lord?  How will you draw closer to Him this week as you step out into His world? Let's look at some verses.

Psalm 8:3-5 "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? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor."

Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Looking at and being among God's creation allows us to see His greatness, His majesty, and His power. God created each of us too, and we are each of great value to Him. So if you have been feeling sad, unworthy, depressed—don't! God, as your Creator, loves you and He draws you to Himself through His creation that surrounds you. Are you looking for Him? Or are the sounds of a busy life getting in the way?

Psalm 33:6-8 "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; He puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him."

Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."

Psalm 50:10-12 "For every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it."

Psalm 97:1 "The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice."

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."

He is almighty God. He is all-powerful, and we should honor and worship Him. And what better way to worship than among His creation—out in our Father's world!

Below you will find the sheet music to this hymn (please click to enlarge). Click here to listen to a beautiful classical guitar play this hymn.

For my 6x6 page today, I used the Psalm 33:6-8 verse above. I also used the Blue Fern Studios Cloudy Skies chipboard. I painted it with crackle paint and then spritzed it with Glimmer Mist to give it a blue/grey look. I also used hearts from the Blue Fern Studios Heart Panel Chunky chipboard to denote the word 'love', and then I typed 'His world' on my vintage typewriter. I also had an earth flair button sitting on my desk which was perfect for this page.

Papers: Kaisercraft Basecoat Whitewash, Bazzill cs 
Blue Fern Studios chipboard: Cloudy Skies chipboard (painted with Tim Holtz picket fence crackle paint and Glimmer Mist sea glass), Heart Panel Chunky (painted with Tim Holtz picket fence crackle paint) 
Embellishments: My Mind's Eye enamel dots; Prima Avante Teal flower; Petaloo Mantis Green mini flower and leaves; Memory Box Geneva Vine; The Twinery ocean twine; Evalicious flair; Project Life Honey journaling card; The Crafter's Workshop mini bricks template with Liquitex light modeling paste; Zva Creative rhinestone flourish; sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword HSCRC13 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. And I pray that as you go out each day that you are reminded and drawn to your Heavenly Father as you go out into His world. Have a blessed week ahead!