“You are always with me, and everything I have is yours” (Luke 15:31, NIV)
“This is my Father’s world.” I recently heard Holy Spirit whisper to my heart these profound hymn lyrics as I was out and about. As I approached the main square of our city, the sky was extravagant. The Itaya River was up ahead. The beauty of the fading day rested on my senses. Holy Spirit pointed out to me how creation’s loveliness was overwhelmingly greater than the signs of poverty around the city. In spite of the bad things that happen here, this is my Father’s world.
Later, I was sitting in my rocking chair in our back yard, praying. He whispered it again. Gazing up at the soft clouds floating by, I took in His bounty. The green leaves greeted me brightly with their gentle rustling, and I received His generosity. The songbirds regaled me with His tenderness, and I drank in His goodness. Specifically, He sent my favorite as His messenger: the yellow-rumped cacique. This creature’s call sounds like the most exquisite, musical drop of water. Every time I hear it (which is frequently), a thrill goes through me. I smile and thank Daddy for His kiss.
Yes, this is His world, He went on. And you are My heir. So, wherever you go, show up like you own the place. Because you do.
That word is for you too, my friend. Everything He has, He has shared with you and me. Wherever your feet take you today, walk with supreme confidence. Walk, knowing you are royalty. Act like you own it all. You do. Precious child of the King, you do. Everything He has is yours.
“All things are yours, whether… the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours” (1 Cor. 3:21-22, NIV).
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening 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 the 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.
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
****************************
When God says, “All things are yours,” what does that mean to you?
Feeding On Jesus 
A Beautiful reflection Much needed. Thank you,
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are welcome, dear Faye! 💖
LikeLike
Good morning, Jennifer. This is the second blog this morning reminding me to enjoy God’s creation. I love the hymn you quoted. Here’s an old chorus that I thought of:
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
The wealth in every mine,
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell,
He is my Father so they’re mine as well,
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
I know that He will care for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw that is SO beautiful! I hadn’t heard of it, but it’s absolutely perfect for this! Thank you so much for sharing it 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jenn! “All things as yours” when spoken by God says to me that the beauty and wonder of His creation are available to me. I can reflect on what I see allowing it to bring me to a place of worship. I can share the insight He gives me in this regard with others; either to affirm for them His power or point them toward it.
These two examples (there are many more!), get to the heart of my answer: All things are His. Because He is a gracious and wonderful God, He has given us these glimpses of His majesty. They are only mine in the sense that I can behold Him in them. I recognize it is all His, and He by His grace has opened hearts and eyes to see.
Blessings,
Chuck
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your insights on this, Chuck! Thank You Father, for making available Your majesty and beauty to us, to stir the correct awe and wonder in our hearts for You!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good morning Jennifer! I had to look up the yellow-rumped cacique. Our Creator is certainly creative! Thanks for sharing!
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! That verse is so wonderfully relevant to this topic, thank you Jon! I am glad you got a chance to look up my little friends. Wikipedia, I noticed, has a recording of some of their calls, but it doesn’t do justice to the real-life thing. The “live acoustics” make it sound much more like water, and much more ethereal, than the recording. I have never heard anything else like it in my life. So very special!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love how God speaks to you.
As soon as I read the first sentence of this post the hymn began running through my mind. 🎶
LikeLiked by 2 people
Smiling once again. Your comments always bring me joy! Thank you, my dear sister 🙂 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen, this is the truth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Praise the Lord! Thank you my sister!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mindful of a quote from a favorite spirituality guy, Henri Nouwen. He insisted that “everything is grace.” God gives us this big world to run around in and take care of, He gives us good times, and He also gives us hard times as a means of growth and testing. “What is there to learn from this hardship,” he encourages us to ask. If we keep to the truth that God never leaves us to battle alone as we progress to our final destination, that is very much a comfort!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!! A comfort this world could never take away from us! I am a big fan of Nouwen too. Such depths of insight in his books! Thank you so much, Mike. Our Father really has given us abundance!
LikeLike
Also, how is your mom doing? I’ve been praying for you and her.
LikeLike
Better in some ways, and not in others. But no falls in more than a week, which is really good. Thank you much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As for Nouwen, I ‘m working through his book on discernment. Great stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hadn’t heard of that one. What is it called?
LikeLike
Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life. A 2013 copyright.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noted. Thanks so much for the recommendation, Mike!
LikeLike
I am glad there are some improvements! I will keep praying. And it is my honor!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Love and Love Alone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! Really appreciate it!
LikeLike
Amen, and amen! Let us be blessed gifts to this world that God has so lovingly gifted to us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Lord Jesus!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I savour those words. Thank you Jennifer. I don’t know that song, but I thought of “All things bright and Beautiful.” Of course I had to find out what a yellow-rumped cacique is – and now I’m listening to some on a video. The internet is very resourceful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is AMAZING how much information is available to us online! I know that Wikipedia has a recording of them singing, but as pretty as it is, it just doesn’t do justice to the “live” sound they make. There is some incredible depths to it which I think is hard to capture on a recording. But I am so very glad that at least you can get a pretty good idea of my favorite nature sound! And yes, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” goes so wonderfully with this theme!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on dawnfanshawe and commented:
This post ministered greatly to my heart and soul.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw thank you so much my dear sister! 🙂 💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
my pleasure indeed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Jonathan!
LikeLike
aye-yup!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person