Life

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

/ Gail Johnson / 27 Comments

Last month a friend sent me a video. (Thank you so much, dear friend.) I listened, curious about the artist. The song was a familiar one. When the song was over, I closed the window and didn’t think about it anymore. But God wasn’t through.

That weekend, my daughter and I watched a movie in which the protagonist faced doubts after arguing with a colleague. As writers and readers, we know the enemy’s gibes must hold a grain of truth. Guess what? Every point the coworker threw made perfect sense. The darts penetrated, wounding the fragile seed of hope.

Later, standing at a graveside, the same coworker asked the protagonist to say a few words to the family. As the camera closed in, you could see the emotional turmoil on his face as he struggled with his doubts and fears. When he spoke, he recited the following:

“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.”

When Singing Turns to Sighing 

Oh, how I commiserated with this character. I, too, cling to hope when everything around me screams the opposite. Hope and courage have been hard victories, for the enemy would have me—you to believe his lies.

“Haven’t you prayed long enough?” 

“The answers haven’t come in the past, so why should they come now?”

“Why should things change?”

“Why praise Him?”

“Face it. He’s not interested in your health. Get over it.”

“Why hope?”

Why indeed?

Drawing Closer

Knowing what this character had endured for the past two years and the battle now raging inside him, I knew he didn’t speak the words to the family alone. The truth within the memorized lines reinforced his own flagging hope. And like all good Christ-centered fiction, the truth of the moment didn’t stop there. The camera view shifted, and the focus became my life. I forgot about my present questions as I reviewed my past. Meditating on His work in my life soon became an act of worship. As I drew near to Him, the sighing for answers ceased. My heart filled with song once again.

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.

Lewis Smedes, Keeping Hope Alive

Throughout the day, information gets stuffed in our spiritual wells, clogging our praises. Our songs turn to sighs. We must dig the well every day as we draw near, giving Him our heartaches and troubles. But let us not stop there as we often do, but praise Him until our cares fall away, and we are renewed.

How can we do this in a world gone crazy? By finding what helps us to remember His goodness. Along with reading the Bible, my triggers are writing, music/songs, and nature. If I don’t write, if I don’t listen to songs, or if I forget to rest outside, I miss that day’s blessing.

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches (Psalm 63: 5-6 KJV). 

When we meditate on God’s goodness in our pasts, we ignite hope for our futures. Find your place to remember and then draw near with a grateful heart.

He Watches Over You and Me

If there has ever been a time, we need hope in our lives, it is now.

Christ is my Hope, the Anchor of my soul. Steadfast and True. He will not drag, leaving me to wander atop the waves amid the storm. He will draw near and rescue me or ride out the storm with me. How do I know this? Because He’s been faithful to me in the past.

Today, if you’re struggling to remember God’s faithfulness, start with His Truth and deeds in your life. I cannot promise things will get better in the here and now. It doesn’t always work out that way. But I will promise you of God’s love and care for us until the day we stand with Him in eternity. Until that day… His eye is on the sparrow, and He watches you and me.

The Story Behind the Song

Civilla D. Martin wrote the song after speaking with the Doolittles of Elmira, New York. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for twenty years, and Mr. Doolittle used a wheelchair to get to and from work each day. Seeing their joy, Mr. Martin asked of the “bright hopefulness” in their lives. Mrs. Doolittle answered, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The next day, Civilla D. Martin sent the poem to Charles Hutchinson Gabriel to write the music.

The third verse is hard to find on video, but it was the one I needed to hear. The moment I heard “when songs give place to sighing“ everything fell into place. Here’s the complete song. I’ve highlighted some of the words. Enjoy.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

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 words I hear; and resting on His goodness, I lose my doubt and fear. 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.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow © Civilla D. Martin Public Domain

Capturing the Moment

/ Gail Johnson / 21 Comments

I’ve seen media posts wishing to chunk this year into the wastebasket. I’ll admit I’ve thought about it until two weeks ago when I had the chance to be still and enjoy the moment.

That week, we spent four beautiful days with my son helping him settle into his new home. While working in the yards, we kept hearing a hawk, but couldn’t see the bird. Wanting a photograph, I was up the next morning, sipping coffee on the deck. My loss of sleep was not rewarded. Later, standing at the window, I struggled with the decision to grab my camera or just revel in the scene before me. Deep within my spirit, I heard, “Enjoy the moment.”

I relaxed and gave thanks for this undeserved gift. Then, I asked the Lord to help me live in the present, not glancing in the past or searching for the future, but the here and now, whatever my circumstance. Hard to do when things aren’t going your way. But as I remained there, memories of the last four years flooded my mind.

I wrote my memoir in 2016, so I was excited to see 2017. That January, I fell twice within a week and broke several bones. During my recuperation, I prayed for 2018! In September, I lost my irreplaceable furbaby. I didn’t pray for 2019 to come. Time was teaching me to just wait. As the years before, I faced unexpected events. In the spring and summer, I stayed in the dermatologist office for skin cancer removal. My thyroid meds also needed adjusting, and that put me in an emotional and physical tailspin. But through it all, God was faithful. But honestly, I was ecstatic to ring in the New Year.

And here we are. In another world! The present circumstances have taught me to hold tighter, laugh louder, talk longer, and love harder. I’m learning not to be so worried about capturing the memory as much as enjoying it, especially with my loved ones. When I do, I show faith in the hope I have in Christ, assured that He’ll redeem this time. And amid all the uncertainty, I wait expectantly for His appearing. Just like I did that morning on the deck.

Waiting.

Expectantly.

I didn’t need a picture to remember the hawk. He’s engraved on my mind. There’ll be other days to capture a similar moment, but today I’ll enjoy the moments the Lord has granted me.

How about you? Are you enjoying the season you’ve been offered or waiting for a better time? 

The present circumstances have taught me to hold tighter, laugh louder, talk longer, and love harder. #hope @GailJohnson87

Women of Faith and Fiction ~ Trisha Robertson

/ Gail Johnson / 18 Comments

I love reading a book review because I enjoy hearing the reader’s ideas. Every reader will bring something different to the table. So this year for Women of Faith and Fiction, I wanted to give a shout-out to the book reviewers. They do a marvelous job! Let’s begin.

Personal

Who is Trisha Robertson?

Hi, my name is Trisha Robertson. I am a book reviewer/blogger. I have always loved stories. My love of reading began around age 8 and I’ve had my nose in a book ever since. I started writing stories of my own in elementary school. Stories that have never seen the light of day, and many that are lost to the dust of time. I especially enjoy reading and learning about History. Be sure to stop by my blog and say “Hello!” You can find me at www.joyofreadingweb.wordpress.com

You can also follow me at these locations:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/JoyOfReading7

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoyOfReadingBlog

Instagram: www.instagram.com/trishrobertson

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/trishrobertson1

Professional

Your love of reading shows, Trisha. Tell me, who is your all-time favorite character?

Honestly, I enjoy all the characters I meet in books. My favorite character changes with each book I read! 😊

I hear ya! What is your latest read about?

As I write this, I’m currently reading The Blizzard Bride by Susanne Dietz. The story is part of the Daughters of the Mayflower collection from Barbour. Each story stands on its own and can be read in any order, but it is fun to read the stories down through history from the Mayflower! This story takes place during the Blizzard of 1888 in Nebraska. It is quite a page-turning story!

I will definitely have to check it out. Please, tell us about your reading process.

I don’t really have a reading process. I just pick up a book and read it!  I do have little sticky flags to mark favorite quotes or things I want to remember. Or in my digital books, I use the highlight feature.

Where would we be without our highlight feature? I like marking my favorite quotes. Moving on… What is your best marketing tip?

Give signed bookplates to members of your influence team. I’m always more inclined to buy a print copy over a digital copy if I have a signed bookplate to add to my book!
Share your book on various social media platforms. The more people see your book, the more likely they are to buy it.

I like both ideas, especially the signed bookplate idea. Do you choose a word or scripture for each year?

No, I don’t really choose a word or scripture for each year.  I know it’s a rather popular thing to do. For me, I feel that just one word or one verse doesn’t fit the entire year.

Inspirational

I believe it’s important to encourage each other in our daily walk. Would you share a word of encouragement with our readers?

Keep your focus on God. It is so very important to have a daily relationship with God! I have found that when I lose my focus on Him, I start to fall. But as long as I’m keeping my focus on Jesus, even when bad things happen, even when I don’t understand, that He gives me the will to keep going. On my own, I’m not enough. But He is enough! Always!

Thank you, Gail, for inviting me to participate in this interview and visit with your readers today!

I agree, Trisha! Thank you for visiting and sharing. You are a gift to your readers and to authors. Keep up the good work, dear friend.

“Give signed bookplates to members of your influence team. I’m always more inclined to buy a print copy over a digital copy if I have a signed bookplate to add to my book!” ~ @JoyOfReading7 via Women of Faith and Fiction @GailJohnson87 #interviews #reviews