Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Sparrow

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26

I have been living this amazing "George Mueller" kind of life lately. (Go ahead..do a google search..he's one of my heroes of the faith). I'm gonna put it out there, I think it is because I have finally come to the place where I am believing God for who He is and what His Word says. Don't get me wrong, I've always believed the Word of God is true, but lets face it, you know what you really believe when you act like you believe it. How often to we say things like, "The Bible says...", "I know the truth is this...", but then at that very same time we worry about our finances, we rack up debt, we continue in our slump...perhaps we are not really believing God. As always, it boils down to trust for me. I found that I could totally trust Him for some areas of my life, but then there are others that I act like I'm just not sure. I would never consciously say that of course, but my actions would.

If I were to mention the miracles one by one that have occurred in my home...the hand of the Almighty God found at my address, time and time again, my fingers would hurt from typing so much! I feel like I'm living in the New Testament. Only the Lord would know the silent prayers my husband and I have prayed for our various, and often times numerous, situations. So when the very next day the Lord sends two or three people to us with very specific answers to our silent prayers...it blows me out of the water. It has happened so much lately that I have just come to expect the Lord to meet our every need "according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Please note I said need, not want, dream or desire...NEED. I am so eternally grateful for that!

Believe me when I say that I'm not just talking monetary, physical, and emotional, I'm talking all of those plus spiritual as well. His truth resonates in my heart...so that at times that is all I hear. I am in love with His Word. It totally sustains me! So, please if you know me and you see that I'm struggling (because lets face it, we will continue to struggle this side of Heaven)...please, just remind me of the Word. I have recently heard someone say that people often say when you are in the center of God's will you are sure to be safe. However, when you are in the center of God's will the enemy is not happy and you are more vulnerable for attack. (Living that like crazy lately) The difference is, God will still have His way. God cannot be defeated by the already defeated enemy of our souls. Amen?

So, as I close my first blog in many many months...take a look at that picture. That is my boy and the baby bird we found hopping along our driveway. He barely had his flying wings. My Kyle, lover of all nature, has a precious heart for God's creation. Prayed for his friend, Baby Peeps, that God would protect him, help him find his Mommy & Daddy, and make sure no stray cats ate him. After we prayed I spoke that verse to Kyle. His eye is on the sparrow (even though that is technically a baby blue jay)...

Popular hymn penned by C. Martin here is a little history of the song:

Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said this about her inspiration to write the song based in the scriptures outlined above,
Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.
—Civilla Martin



Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

You can listen to it here.

1 comment:

Caroline said...

You know when you go to church, and you sit down, frazzled by everything that took place prior to making it to your seat, and the pastor starts to speak and it's as if he is speaking directly to you? This happens to me most Sundays, and lately, happens to me at almost every turn. Thank you for your post! Keep them coming, I love to read them... Caroline