06/20/10: Father's Day Worship Blog

Our God (Tomlin)

Romans 8:31 - If God is for us, who can be against us?

Click Here for a video with Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman about "Our God"

How Deep the Father's Love (Stuart Townend)

1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

Click Here to watch the songwriter talking about the story behind this song

This is My Father's World (Maltbie L. Babcock)

2 Corinthians 6:18 - I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty

hymn story:

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, "To every thing there is a season." In Ecclesiastes 3:11, Solomon adds, "He hath made everything beautiful in his time." The Lord also reminds us that the world is His and the fullness thereof in Psalm 52:12. Apparently, this what Maltbie L. Babcock had in mind when he wrote the hymn, "This Is My Father's World."

Born in Syracuse, New York, on August 3, 1858, into a socially prominent family, Maltbie was given many opportunities to succeed, which he did not waste. At Syracuse University, he was a champion baseball pitcher and an outstanding varsity swimmer. His friendliness, coupled with a magnetic personality, made him a natural leader. In the years that followed, he was ordained into the Presbyterian Church and had a distinguished ministry in Baltimore and New York City's Brick Presbyterian Church. His life would be cut short at the age of 43, while on a Mediterranean tour to Naples, Italy. Rev. Maltbie Babcock would, by now, be totally forgotten except for one thing: he penned a song, thus preserving his story for us who love the hymns.

The pastor was a skilled musician and a great lover of nature. He enjoyed the "great out of doors." While pastoring a church in Lockport, New York, the inspiration for writing "This Is My Father's World" came to him. Rev. Babcock was in the habit of taking morning walks to the top of a hill north of Lockport where he had a full view of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside. He would say to his wife, "I'm going out to see my Father's world." It was on one of these early morning walks that he was inspired to write these words:

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.

Maltbie Babcock understood that nature reflects God's creative ownership of the world, but he also understood that the Lord also controls man' destiny:

This is my Father's world, O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet.br> This is my Father's world! The battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied.
And earth and heaven be one.

All Creatures of Our God and King (Francis of Assisi)

Ezra 7:27 - Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers

hymn story:

In 1225, a devoted Italian monk named Francis of Assisi wrote the lyrics for “All Creatures Of Our God and King." The music portion was added much later. Praise of God is the theme surrounding this lovely hymn and it echoes Francis' love for the world God created. All earth's creatures get life from God and all depend on Him for their existence. Saint Francis of Assisi, as he was to be later known, had a deep abiding love of nature and saw God’s hands in everything. The wonderful music and lyrics of “All Creatures Of Our God And King” reflect the grateful heart that penned the words.

Throughout his life, Saint Francis of Assisi demonstrated a humble and forgiving spirit. The beneficiary of inherited wealth, Francis lived the self-indulgent life of a soldier until the age of twenty-five. Then, he renounced his birthright and chose to live a poor, meager lifestyle as his honor to Christ’s selflessness. One psalm comes to mind when referring to Saint Francis of Assisi: Psalms 145:10,11 "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power." The words and music of “ All Creatures Of Our God And King” causes the listener to pay attention to God’s handiwork all around them.

A Simple Prayer (Gabriel)

My dad, Jeff Walter, led worship in a band called Gabriel for 18 years. They were regularly played on KLTY, had some nationally released albums, and were the ultimate road warriors. Before I was born, my dad and his band mates, Robert and Robin, would be on the road as much as 250 days per year! And though I've been leading worship since the seventh grade, I have never led with one of Gabriel's songs. I thought Father's day 2010 would be a good time to make that happen.

My brother is a counselor at a Christian camp in the Ozarks this summer, and my mom is visiting my missionary sister in the Dominican Republic, so I invited my dad up to Richardson for a little father, son one on one time this past Sunday. I intentionally waited to post this blog until after the service, so my dad could be surprised by the song selection. It worked.

Brian played the piano part to perfection, I added acoustic guitar, and Shane rounded out the three part harmony. It was worship. At the end, I simply said "Amen. I love you Dad," then went to give him a hug. He was crying. A lot! But hey, real men aren't afraid to let the Heavenly Father stir their emotions. At lunch afterwards, he called it one of the "highlights" of his life and expressed his hope that I would someday be able to know what he had experienced, when I have a son of my own. How deep the Father's Love for us. How vast beyond all measure!