His Eye is on the Sparrow

“His eye is on the Sparrow and I know He watches me!”

As a child, after my parents divorced, my mother decided that the three of us, girls should get baptized.  The day of the baptism we all waded together in the water and the Pastor called out to us, “Who wants to go first?”  I, typically the shyest of the three girls felt boldness, perhaps for the first time in my life and I walked towards the Pastor, and he baptized me.

I think I shocked myself and most definitely my mother, sisters and grandmother (in particular) who was in attendance.

I always have cherished that memory.  What was it about that day that I no longer felt timid or afraid?  Was it the Holy Spirit drawing me to Himself?

I was recently at a Wednesday night church service and that memory came up for me. I felt as if God was saying to me, "I remember even the small steps of faith you took as a child!'

You see, God always remembers.  He’s amazing!  He never forgets not one day of your life! 

³⁰ And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:30-31

Eternal Pleasures

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

There is a skip-

 In my step today.

Not in the papers

Piled high, but in

The blueness of

The sky.

I watched a child

Pass me by

Humming a tune;

The cow jumped

Over the moon.

Candles lay

Upon my shoulder,                                                                                                                   

And a prayer to                                                                            

Watch me over.

Sleepy children

Fill the room,

 In Stained-glass

Windows-half-past noon.

Eternal pleasures-

Watch and wait,

Path of life

Joy of Fate!

Your Presence

Your

Presence

Is what

I seek,

A cloud of

Witnesses

I meet.

In Love

With a

Savior

-humble

And meek.

I dance

-I wait

At your

Blessed,

 Wounded

Feet.

Aware

That

I,

More a

Sinner

Than

A saint.

Enveloped

By your

Goodness

And your

Grace.

At last,

 In

Joy-

For you

Have

Come

near.

In your

Presence-

I do not
fear.

Under His Care...

“Come; let us bow down in worship,

Let us kneel before the Lord our

Maker; for he is our God and

We are the people of his pasture,

The flock under his care.”

Under His care we are His Flock,

Under His care We are the People!

Under His care, He is our God!

Under His care we kneel down and

Worship!

Under His care we come…

Under His care- we bow

As one!

(From Psalm 95)

Twas Grace!

“'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed”  
John Newton

The greatest lesson God will ever teach us is one of Grace.  It’s all about Grace.  Grace is your most beautiful moment.  When we find grace hidden in our lives, and when we are able to give Grace to others that’s when humility, beauty, and goodness find their voice.

“You stoop down to make me great!” (2 Samuel 22:36)  Grace is the litmus test of greatness. It is no small thing to be grace-filled.

Grace defined is “favor, goodwill, and loving-kindness.”  Grace is not something we deserve.  It is unmerited favor granted by God.

It can be easy to receive grace from God and others, but difficult to give it when we have felt wronged, mistreated or underestimated.  Human beings are difficult by nature- and so we need a Grace-filled God. 

The times in my life I have given grace to others, who may or may not have deserved it, I’ve had to humble myself, and I have found peace and joy in the process.

God is always pleased when His children are acting out of a place of Grace, and not pride or Self-Will by definition.

Grace is a journey.  At the beginning we found grace, and at the end we will again receive grace from the hand of our Father. 

Dear God, I pray that we would remember the hour we first believed and received the grace to be your child.  I pray you would bring to mind the many times you and others have given grace to us in times of need.   We know we don’t deserve it, but we are so grateful to receive it from you and others.  Please enable us to be givers of the grace we first received, and help us to enter into your peace, and joy in knowing that we are all in this together.  Thank you for being our wonderful savior, and friend.

Daughters

Under God’s Covering,

Pouring down Love.

A Shepherd,

A Watchman,

From Abraham’s

Brood.

Showers of

Blessing,

In Tabernacle’s

Of Praise.

A descendant

Of Miriam,

An offspring

To Raise.

From Old

To New Testament,

From Judges to

Jesus.

Our Daughters of Jesse,

And Princesses of Egypt.

We gather together,

And tell unknown stories,

Once Captive in Israel,

Now Zion of Glory!

He was there.

For every setback, For every failure, For every moment of rejection, For every denial, For every wound, For every sickness, For every act of violence, For every disease, For every lie, For every act of abandonment, For every act of hatred..

He stood in the gap for us. 

He believed for us.

He took on our pain.

He took on our shame.

He remembered our name.

He spoke the truth to us.

He loved and He cured us.

Jesus never abandoned us.

Jesus always befriended us.

Jesus fought hard for us.

Jesus always advocated for us.

For every seed of Hope planted,

For every word of Life granted,

For every flower of Joy scented,

He was there.

 “For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”  Isaiah 53:12