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MUSIC BLOG   

04-18-2024

God’s Beautiful World

I love working with children and senior adults.  There is an unpretentiousness with both groups that is both refreshing and appreciated.  Last night I was sharing a song with our children’s choir that we will be singing in a few weeks in church.  The familiar hymn text the children are learning is “For the Beauty of the Earth”.  This is s new text for our children’s choir, and the setting of the text (the music) is new and beautiful.   This setting has a lovely melody which is well suited to the children's voices.  Our church family will enjoy listening as our children will enjoy singing. Last night in rehearsal, I was saying a line of the hymn and having the children repeat it back to me.  After we did this a few times, I asked them the meaning.  As per usual I got mostly blank stares from the children.  But slowly one of the children began to read and interpret the verse: for the wonders of each hour, of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of night.  We determined that certain times of the day have their own unique beauty.  I reminded them of the special sunrises and sunsets they have seen and how different the beach looks in the early morning or evening. The children were challenged to think of both verses that we are singing and realize that the song is about God at work in creation.  He loved us so much that He created a beautiful world for us to enjoy. 

Today I traveled with our S.A.L.T. Ministry (Senior Adults Living Triumphantly) to Pinehurst NC to visit the Sandhills Community College Horticultural Gardens.  We arrived at 9:30 a.m. for our 10 a.m. guided tour.  Fortunately, our tour guide was available and we got an early start.  I had no idea what to expect as it was my first time.  The gardens were started in the 1960s as a collection of different types of hollies.  From those humble aspirations, the gardens have grown to over 37 acres which include a children’s garden, a woodlands garden, a Japanese garden, a holly garden a garden maze, a proper English garden an annual garden a rose garden a conifer garden, a vegetable garden 3 greenhouses and so much more.  Our newly appointed docent, Marcia, expertly and lovingly guided us through the gardens.  We left one spot of beauty only to be enamored by the next spot.  Although we saw much of the gardens, there were a few choice spots to be explored at another time. 

Tonight I will be pricing items for a missions/youth yardsale and on Friday and Saturday that will be my focus, Today, however, I enjoyed God’s amazing creation with a group of seniors who seemed to be as interested in the tour as I was.  Today was a great day.

God gives us rest in our busy lives.  He loves us and encourages us.  We all have burdens that tend to overwhelm us and can take our focus off Him. 

Psalm 46 is one of my favorite Psalms.  It is a song of refuge, asking God for help in time of need. 

Psalm 46

King James Version

46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 

You may be having a day of days.  A day that seems to overwhelm you like a flood.  Be still and know that He is GOD.  He is with us.  God is our refuge. 

God loves you and that’s enough.

Blessings,

Marty