The Kingdom of Heaven Is Secure

"Joy is that deep settled confidence that God is in control in every area of my life."

Paul Sailhamer

Joyful! I was reading about Henry Van Dyke last Friday morning. He was a Presbyterian minister; the author of many books; professor of literature at Princeton University; a Navy chaplain during World War I, and ambassador to Holland and Luxembourg under President Woodrow Wilson. He was born 1852.

My favorite place to see fawn is on Fisher Road west of Sigel. Drive just a few miles west and doe and fawn are fairly relaxed, even with all the cars that zoom, so they're easy to photograph. Of course, when I go out it's first light, and I have the road to myself!

He wrote one of our most cheerful and joyful hymns: "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee." In the short article about his life, my attention was caught on the following statement: "When he published this hymn in 1911, he noted that it was to be sung by people who 'are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven."

Isn't that what we're going through right now? A revolution to destroy America. And just think, way back in the 1800 a man wrote a hymn so that people would not be afraid. That really caught my attention.

Fawns are now triple and more in size.

Van Dyke was a guest preacher at Williams College in Massachusetts and was so moved by the beauty of God's creation he wrote this hymn of joy. "Your mountains were my inspiration," he told the college president. "It must be sung to the music of Beethoven's 'Hymn to Joy,'"

"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!"

South of Fisher Road, into the forest, I have my favorite spots to see fawn. As you can see, there were a lot of fawn that morning! I was able to get video of them also.

I love the words in the second verse:

"All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee."

Early morning quiet and no cars leaves the area refreshing and cool.

Hear "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE

I never tire of seeing fawn and doe.

Yes, I believe there is nothing that can overthrow the kingdom of heaven. And although events and circumstances are difficult and scary, as Christians we know the King is in control!

"Joy has something within itself that is beyond joy and sorrow. This something is called blessedness . . . is asked for and promised in the Bible. It makes the joy of life possible in pleasure and pain, in happiness and unhappiness, in ecstasy and sorrow. Where there is joy, there is fulfillment. And where there is fulfillment, there is joy."

Paul Johannes Oskar Tillich

(1886-1965)