The Sparrows

Good morning! From Dorothy Callies. I thought this was good to share.

June 20 2011 Special Devotion
Kim Johnson's Mold Me devotion under the theme: The Sparrows.

In response to sparrows, my favorite teacher in high school who taught math shared about the song, "His Eye is on the Sparrow", sung by Ethel Waters. I surfed on internet to learn more about it. It was in 1905 when Mrs. Civilla Martin wrote the gospel song after she and her husband Dr. Martin had visited some friends. Civilla wrote and shared that their friends Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle who were true saints of God, faced afflictions and yet lived happy Christian lives. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for some twenty years and her husband Mr. Doolittle was an incurable cripple who had to struggle to move to and from his business in a wheelchair. While Civilla and her husband visited with the Doolittles, Civilla's husband Dr. Martin commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them what their secret for it was. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple saying, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me". Civilla and husband found the beauty of their simpleness, and that was how the hymn "His Eye is on the Sparrow" was born. What inspiration.

1. Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven 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.
(Chorus)
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.

2. “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.
(Then chorus)
3. 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.
(Then chorus)
(Lyrics: Civilla Durfee Martin)

2 Corinthians 4: 8-10
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Because of the Doolittle's experiences and afflictions, we can relate and know for sure God watches over us too. We must remember that we will always face world's problems, but we don't have to let them take control of our lives. We trust in our Heavenly Father to take care, and remember He will work around them, and we just wait and if we faint not, we will see results. Faith should be active, not be put on shelf and left behind.
In God we trust that His eye is on us, the sparrows.

Thank you, Kim!