{"id":28726,"date":"2021-09-09T18:48:03","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T22:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=28726"},"modified":"2021-09-09T19:14:00","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T23:14:00","slug":"worship-wednesday-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow-and-i-know-hes-watching-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=28726","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – His Eye Is On the Sparrow, and I Know He’s Watching Me – Civilla Martin"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Heartlight<\/a><\/p>\n

My heart is suffering, withered like grass; <\/span>I even forget to eat my food. <\/span>Because of the sound of my groaning, <\/span>my flesh sticks to my bones. <\/span>I am like an eagle owl, <\/span>like a little owl among the ruins.<\/span><\/em>
\nI stay awake; <\/span><\/em>I am like a solitary bird on a roof.<\/em><\/strong> – Psalm 102:4-7<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

“Aren\u2019t two sparrows sold for a penny?<\/span> Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father\u2019s<\/span> consent.<\/span><\/span> But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em> So don\u2019t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”<\/em> – Matthew 10:29-31<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have a friend who is sad.<\/p>\n

She has reason. A series of losses and almost-wins have knocked the breath out of her. She loves God and trusts His goodness, but she still struggles with why life has gone the way it has…at this moment.<\/p>\n

In praying for her and searching the Scripture to encourage her, it didn’t surprise me that even in my down time, the Lord spoke through an ordinary passing moment. A scene in a little-known TV movie. Settled on the couch, during a rain shower, I watched a film<\/a> where one of the characters quoted part of Civilla Martin<\/a>‘s poem “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Wonder shot through me (once more) at the beauty of this truth and the song inspired by it. I searched out “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”<\/em><\/a> online. So many lovely renditions of the old hymn on YouTube (see a few of the links below).<\/p>\n

In my search, I came across author Gail Johnson<\/a>‘s blog <\/a>(written during the COVID summer of 2020) on the same song. Ironically, she had just seen a film which inspired her post as well (I’m pretty sure it is the same one). It was another gift from the Lord as I prayed and sought His face on behalf of my sweet grieving friend.<\/p>\n

Johnson’s blog is wonderful, and you can read hers…or just stay here briefly, to worship with me, on this page. The quote below is from her blog, and it’s so to the point on today’s dilemma…how to deal with loss and our sadness over it.<\/p>\n

The person who has the habit of hope also has the habit of remembering. Hope needs memories the way a writer needs notes. This is partly because hope depends so much on imagination. Our images of the future are sweepings from our remembrances of things past. If we expect to keep hope alive, we need to keep memory alive. Happy memories of good things we hoped for that were fulfilled, and grateful memories of bad things survived.<\/em> – Lewis Smedes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Tonkin’s Growing Around Grief Model<\/a><\/p>\n

I really have no doubt that my sad young friend will find her way through this dark tunnel to the glorious light at the end. Watching her persevere through this time of suffering is to see the radiance of the crucified AND risen Savior in the life of His child. Grief is an unwanted gift which can grow us up in Him…and with each other.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me.<\/p>\n

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
\nWhy should my heart be lonely, and long for heav\u2019n and home,
\nWhen Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<\/p>\n

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\n

Refrain:<\/span>
\nI sing because I\u2019m happy, I sing because I\u2019m free,
\nFor His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet not your heart be troubled,\u201d His tender word I hear,
\nAnd resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
\nThough by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<\/p>\n

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
\nWhen songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,<\/strong>
\nI draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free<\/strong>;
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.*<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n

Postscript: A member of my family told me recently that she wasn’t going to have a funeral. She didn’t want her family to suffer through one and she didn’t want all that sad music. I’ve thought about that a lot since. First, funeral gatherings can be amazing times of healing. They are a strange mix of sadness AND joy. We’ve lost some dear family members, colleagues, and friends in recent years. The times of the visitation, “wakes”, and even the funeral service have brought both tears of joy and sadness. With actual laughter in the halls as old friends and distant family reunited, honoring and celebrating a life too soon passed. So…a funeral can be a very good thing. Then the sad music. Sure some of the old hymns are sad…heartbreakingly so. I’ve played through this particular song several times this week. Turns out it is a favorite funeral song<\/a> (in fact, it’s in this top 100 list of Southern Gospel funeral songs). The words are not at all sad to me. They are triumphant, glorious, even defiant, in the face of loss, suffering, and grief.<\/p>\n

“When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,<\/strong><\/em>
\nI draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free<\/strong>;<\/em>
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;<\/em>
\nHis eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.<\/em><\/p>\n

I sing because I\u2019m [defiantly] happy, I sing because I\u2019m [gloriously] free,<\/em>
\nFor His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”<\/em><\/p>\n

*Lyrics to His Eye Is On the Sparrow – Civilla D. Martin, 1905<\/a><\/p>\n

History of Hymns – His Eye Is On the Sparrow<\/em> – Dr. Hawn<\/a><\/p>\n

Story Behind the Song: ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ – <\/em>Lindsay Taylor<\/a><\/p>\n

Lyrics to God Will Take Care of You<\/em> – Civilla D. Martin, 1904<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Ethel Waters – His Eye Is On the Sparrow<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

YouTube Video – His Eye On the Sparrow<\/em> – Lauryn Hill and Tanya Blount<\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Larnelle Harris – His Eye Is On the Sparrow<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Whitney Houston – His Eye Is On the Sparrow<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

YouTube Video – Why We Sing<\/em> (w\/ lyrics) – Kirk Franklin & Family<\/a><\/p>\n