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Providence

by Laurie Barber

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One wonders - is anyone in charge?! - I mean ultimately, finally, persuasively, lovingly. Anyone who cares and can do anything about the real-world situation in which we daily find ourselves. (And nightly too).

There's an ancient hymn, written by William Cowper years ago, that seeks to bring perspective - to Christians and others, about the ultimate plans of a sovereign God.

It's hard to believe Anyone is there, in the beyond and in the near. That as the Celts put it -'Bidden or not bidden, God is there.'

The video speaks of God’s Providence - the ordering of all things in creation (despite sometimes much of the evidence seemingly to the contrary).

So, it’s kind of plaintive - a lament of sorts, and yet also an attempt to muster faith - to see and to believe that God is weaving in the bad along with the good - all in the mystery of why God allows the bad in the first place.

We are healed by just being in the creation, even when it’s ‘red in tooth and claw’ - and ultimately we will be made whole in and by the God who becomes incarnate in our life-situations (God is even there, present) and who has become incarnate ultimately in the gift and giving of the Trinity Third Person: God the Son, our Saviour.

In my life and yours, many days - perhaps in most of them, it seems that all evidence is to the contrary, as we see suffering and tragedy, fire, tornado and flood.

What's going on?

It takes a whole lot of faith - or perhaps just a little, as long as it actually links us...

... to resonate deeply at all with St. Julian of Norwich's famous dictum:

'All shall be well, and all shall be well - and all manner of things shall be well.'

This is a long one - about 10 minutes.

So you may just want to get to a quiet place and moment in your day, to enter into the visuals and music - and into what I hope is kind of a meditative poem, based on the old hymn of William Cowper - ‘God Moves in a Mysterious Way (His Wonders to Perform)'.

And so - ‘Providence’ (which is much more than a city in Rhode Island).

I hope it’s helpful to you.

lyrics

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

- William Cowper

credits

released August 11, 2020
Composition and arrangement - Laurie Barber
Spitfire Audio instruments

The video 'Providence' may be downloaded at my Vimeo site: vimeo.com/473432545

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Laurie Barber Toronto, Ontario

Laurie is a Pastor, well known in Canadian Baptist life and ministry. Now 'retired' he is continuing to produce blogs, worship resources, music and videos of an inspirational nature. You can follow his site at www.lauriebarber.ca and vimeo.com/user1562843 ... more

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