Please visit Spiritual Sunday to fill your heart with joy.
This Is my Father's World was written my Maltbie Babcock. Babcock was from an aristocratic family, and he was a brilliant scholar who attended Syracuse University. He was a proficient vocalist, and he directed the university glee club.
God called him to the ministry; and after training at Auburn Theological Seminary, he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Lockport, New York. He would go for long runs to observe his Father's world. During his time at Lockport he wrote a sixteen-stanza poem, each verse beginning with the words "This is my Father's world."
After his death in 1901, his wife compiled his writings into a book which included this.
I' ve always loved to sing this hymn. Thanks for sharing. Happy Spiritual Sunday.
Posted by: Sally | June 28, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Very beautiful! Thank you for sharing1
Posted by: Lisa | June 28, 2009 at 08:35 AM
I do always think on these timeless words: "This is my Father's world":) I like this hymn showing God's presence, personality, power and purpose. Hope your having a great Sunday. Lots of love to you and your kind mom.
Posted by: CrossRoads | June 28, 2009 at 08:35 AM
Sweet Beverly... that is one of my very favorite songs! How fascinating to know this, and we sang it often growing up in the Presbyterian Church. I had no clue he was a Presbyterian minister.
Love to you this fine Sunday morning and love to you every single day, my sweet friend...
Happy Spiritual Sunday...
XO,
Sheila :-)
Posted by: Sheila | June 28, 2009 at 08:38 AM
Beautiful! Thanks so much!
Posted by: Kathi | June 28, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Hi Rose Beverly, They are so pretty. Thanks for visiting my Tea Party on such a busy pink Saturday. I am looking forward to being a part of pink Saturday next week. I have, what I think, is going to be a fun Pink Saturday post. Have a wonderful Sunday and I'll see you next week. xo Lynn
Posted by: Lynn Wheeler | June 28, 2009 at 09:37 AM
Beautiful music. Wonderful words. Great pictures. I have always loved this song. I could fill this comment with great adjectives, but I will stop with FANTASTIC. Thank you for posting.
Posted by: Clif | June 28, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I have always loved this song. Knowing the background makes it even more special. The photos in the video really show a lot of the beauty of this world. Thank you for sharing it with us today.
Have a wonderful Spiritual Sunday.
Charlotte
Posted by: Charlotte | June 28, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Just beautiful! Lu
Posted by: Luanne | June 28, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Beverly - This is so beautiful, I have enjoyed the music very much. Thankyou !!!
Posted by: Patricia | June 28, 2009 at 08:15 PM
It's great seeing a Christian sister amongst your many bloggers.
Posted by: Paula | June 29, 2009 at 03:47 AM
This is my 2nd favorite hymn, right after "Holy, Holy, Holy." I once heard a preacher present a whole sermon on the un-Biblicalness (is that a word?) of this song. His opinion was that this is Satan's world. I was somewhere around 19 or 20 and I remember being so offended!
"...Oh let me ne'er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!"
And Fernando is another favorite of mine. Thank you for sharing this!
Posted by: Leslie | July 01, 2009 at 02:50 AM
Thanks you for sharing this lovely song.
Posted by: Regina | July 03, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Thanks for posting Maltbie Babcock's hymn, "This Is My Father's World." Today is the 151st anniversary of his birth.
As to Paula's comment about the preacher who rejected the hymn as not being biblical, that's nonsense.
Yes, in His infinite wisdom, a sovereign God has allowed Satan a certain amount of power, for a time. The Bible refers to him as "the ruler of this world" (Jn. 12:31--and see Matt. 4:8-9), and "the god of this age" (II Cor. 4:4). But he's on a very short leash, as the opening chapters of Job show us. His doom is sealed (Rev. 20:10). We need never worry that God has lost control. That is Babcock's point: God is still on the throne.
Posted by: Robert | August 03, 2009 at 06:37 AM