His Eye is on the Sparrow

I am quite attached to this first passage. It never fails to stir some kind of emotion in me...and not always a positive one. Sometimes I get irritated because I've heard it so many times (I regularly think of it as I'm getting ready to head out), and sometimes it strikes that certain chord that sends chills or guilt or some other powerful feeling running through me. No matter how many times I've heard it or roll my eyes at God ("Yeah, yeah, don't worry, blah blah blah...what about me?"), it is always a good reminder and so very true.

On a light note, although I long ago got over my Jason Perry obsession (promise!), I always think of the version he sang of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" (lyrics located below)...it was a great version (as well as the one from Sister Act II)...I think the song fits well with the Matthew 6 passage. A quote and the Scriptural source of that song (according to Wikipedia) are also located below.

God bless you, and I hope you never forget how important you are, how important God things you are. I love you all.

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Why should I feel discouraged / Why should the shadows come / Why should my heart feel lonely / And long for heaven and home / When Jesus is my portion / A constant friend is He / His eye is on the sparrow / And I know He watches over 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 / His eye is on the sparrow / And I know He watches me (He watches me) / His eye is on the sparrow / And I know He watches / I know He watches / I know He watches me

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.
-- Civilla Martin

Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV)
29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

(The Bible passages were taken from biblegateway.com, and the lyrics and quote were taken from wikipedia.com.)