A sparrow chose our deck as the perfect place to build a
nest, lay eggs and raise some baby sparrows.
I can look out our kitchen window and see them each morning. Today, I told Kimberly, “It just hit me…last
year a robin nested under the deck but this year we have sparrows.” She looked at me as if to say, “Yes…and…?” I said, “God says his eye is on the sparrow
and so how much more he has his eye on us as his children.”
I have been reveling in that thought today: “His eye is the
sparrow” (not only that Scripture but the old song that is based on it keeps
replaying in my head today). It is an
incredible thought. If God is attentive
to these small, brown birds…if he cares about their well-being…if he is
interested in their provision, then how much more attentive is he of you. His eye is on you. He cares about your well-being. He is interested in your provision. He is so attentive to you that Jesus says
knowing that makes worry a sin. The
Father has your back, so cast worry aside.
It is one thing to read and sing about this truth, the
question is how do we help other people experience the truth that God
cares? The answer will require nothing
less than becoming incredibly and tirelessly practical. For example, most Thursdays during the school
year, Brenda Walters, would knock on my office door and say, “A guest is here
from Belle Stone School.” I would
immediately drop what I was doing and head to the lobby. There I would find Brenda loading a cart full
of children’s clothing, personal care products and food. Then Brenda would introduce me to our guest. Our guests from Belle Stone are primarily
folks who fall through the cracks and are unable to receive government
assistance, but due to circumstances are barely getting by. Once I had learned their name, I would ask, “Is
there anything I can be praying for you about today?” Not one time did a family answer, “Nope. We are good.
Everything is just fine.” Nor did
the family talk to me about their financial burdens. Instead, when asked how we could pray they
shared of greater hurts and needs.
One grandmother wiped away tears as she shared about the
recent loss of her husband and son. As
if that was not enough, her grandchildren were being abused and neglected, so
she took all 4 of them in under her care.
“Pray for God to give me strength,” she cried.
Another woman did not have tears but fear in her eyes. She explained that her great nephews and
nieces were almost murdered by their mother.
She received the children when the physical and emotional bruises were
still fresh. “Pray for the children to
be safe,” she urged.
Another family had been laid off and had exhausted their
last resources to move here for a new job.
Once they arrived to Canton, they were informed that the job offered was
now withdrawn due to unexpected cutbacks.
You could see the despair in their eyes.
“Pray for something to just work out,” they asked.
“His eye is on the sparrow.”
I’ll be honest. Sometimes as I
met with our Thursday guests, I have questioned that. I want to say on their behalf, “God, if your
eye is on them, and then why don’t you do something to help them?” No sooner does that question make it to
heaven, then I hear his reply: “I am
doing something to help. That is why I
have left my church here on earth and given them my Spirit so they might be
cleansed from selfishness and empowered to serve. In that way the world will know that if my
eye is on the sparrow, how much more I care for them.”
Canton First Family, will you help us restock our Belle
Stone Pantry that helps both families from the school and families in need in
our church family? The list of accepted
items are at the welcome center in the lobby or on www.cfnaz.com.
Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment