Many of you are familiar with the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You.”  It was written by Civilla Martin who was married to Walter.  One day Mr. Martin was to go out of town to preach.  Knowing that she was not feeling well, he thought of canceling the engagement.  It was, then, that their son, who was still 9 years old, said to him, “Father, don’t you think that God will be able to take care of Mother while you are gone?”  Hearing that, Mr. Martin, then, left.  

While he was gone, Mrs. Martin, inspired by the words of their son, wrote the lyrics to the hymn that we now know as “God Will Take Care of You.”  When Mr. Martin returned home, she handed him the lyrics and he immediately composed the tune.  That Sunday the hymn was first sung and has been a beloved of many to this day.  Later in that year, Mrs. Martin wrote another hymn that has also become a favorite of many, “His Eye Is on The Sparrow.”  Both hymns share a similar theme of God’s taking care of us and the inspiration originated from the same source, a 9-year-old boy.  

War has started in Europe and there is no telling how widespread it will be.  We truly live in a precarious time. Up till a month ago we still did not believe that war would break out in Ukraine—not in the 21^st century and not in Europe.  But now it is happening before our eyes.  Up to three years ago we never thought that a virus could infect and kill millions of people—not in the 21^st century and not here in America and Europe.  But it has happened and still does.

All these remind us of one simple fact: We have little control over life.  Many things could go wrong and life as we know it can stop to a screeching halt.  But the hymn assures us, “God will take care of you, through ev’ry day, o’er all the way.  He will take care of you.”

Pastor Paul