I took this picture this morning after a light rain shower. Every rose bush at Whispering Winds seems to be competing for attention this week – to show off how beautiful God has made each one.

Last week God drew my attention to the beauty in nature – in order to draw my attention back to God. What prompted all this mental and spiritual activity? It was the following passage in the devotional book Jesus Calling:

My world is filled with beautiful things; they are meant to be pointers to Me, reminders of My abiding Presence. The earth still declares My Glory to those who have eyes that see and ears that hear.”
[Jesus Calling, © 2004 by Sarah Young, Thomas Nelson Publishers,  p. 165]

The beautiful things we see in nature “are meant to be pointers to Me…”

Sometimes it works. When I see a goldfinch perched on top of a thistle on the roadside, or when I look at a rose bush completely covered with bright pink roses, sometimes I think, God really does beautiful handiwork. Many song writers have had the same thought. That’s why they have written songs like:

These short Asian Lilies promise many more bright orange blooms to come. Look at all the buds!

• For the Beauty of the Earth
• Morning Has Broken
• All Things Bright and Beautiful
• This Is My Father’s World
• How Great Thou Art
• His Eye Is on the Sparrow
• In the Garden
• Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
• He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
• Majesty, Worship His Majesty

And hundreds more. When we see, think and sing about all the beautiful things God has created, we get a glimpse of God.  “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” [Psalms 19:1 NRSV]

The best smells of summer come down-wind from a mock orange tree in full bloom.

God has filled the world with beautiful things – from bright goldfinches flitting along the roadside to red-winged blackbirds cawing to each other in the wetlands; from bright orange Asian lilies to the sweet fragrance of mock orange blossoms. Now is just about the easiest time of the year to think about the beauty of God’s creation.

Next Sunday afternoon, June 17, everyone is invited to Whispering Winds for a hymn sing. We’ll sing whatever hymns you want to sing – but I’ll “prime the pump” with songs about the beauty of God’s creation – like the songs listed above. We’ll gather together in the living room and sun room about 3:00 and sing for a couple hours, with breaks for homemade cookies and lemonade or iced tea as needed. Even though we’ll start our hymn sing with hymns about the beauty of God’s creation, come prepared to request your favorite hymns whatever they are. We have plenty of songbooks, and if we have the music, we’ll sing whatever songs you request.

My dad is in the center, with my mom next to him, and surrounded by their grandchildren. The picture was taken in 1986 at a family gathering to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The day of the hymn sing is Father’s Day. My dad would have loved coming to this hymn sing. His favorite part of going to church was singing together with everyone. He usually slept through the rest of the Sunday morning service, but he was always wide awake to sing the hymns. He especially liked “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” I can still hear his voice singing it loud and clear, even if he had just come out of a deep sleep.

If you’re planning to join us Sunday, please call (608-212-6197) or email me (MarianKorth@Gmail.com) so I have an idea how many batches of cookies to bake. But if you decide at the last minute to just show up, that’s fine, too. We’ll be delighted to see you.

Cookies and lemonade will provide the nourishment to keep us singing.