God Cares for Sparrows!

Christian Devotional by Pastor Cecil Thompson

Psalm 84:1-3

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.”

I woke a little after six this morning and started my typical day’s routine. I read a few Scriptures and then waded through almost 100 e-mail messages that had been received since late last night. I prayed for many of the requests from all over the globe and then began to read some of the attachments.

One in particular (I will share it below) struck close to home and brought tears to my eyes. I immediately thought of my dear friend, Charles Sutton, who lost his wife several weeks ago. I was about to send it on to him when I realized that he was the one who had forwarded it on to me. I pray that it will bless you as much as it did me. Blessings, Charles!

THE SONG THAT SILENCED THE CAPPUCCINO MACHINE by John Thomas Oaks

It was chilly in Manhattan but warm inside the Starbucks’ shop on 51st Street and Broadway, just a skip up from Times Square. Early November weather in New York City holds only the slightest hint of the bitter chill of late December and January, but it’s enough to send the masses crowding indoors to vie for available space and warmth.

For a musician, it’s the most lucrative Starbucks’ location in the world, I’m told, and consequently, the tips can be substantial if you play your tunes right. Apparently, we were striking all the right chords that night, because our basket was almost overflowing.

It was a fun, low-pressure gig – I was playing keyboard and singing backup for my friend who also added rhythm with an arsenal of percussion instruments. We mostly did pop songs from the ’40s to the ’90s with a few original tunes thrown in. During our emotional rendition of the classic, ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now,’ I noticed a lady sitting in one of the lounge chairs across from me. She was swaying to the beat and singing along.

After the tune was over, she approached me. ‘I apologize for singing along on that song. Did it bother you?’ she asked.

‘No,’ I replied. ‘We love it when the audience joins in. Would you like to sing up front on the next selection?’ To my delight, she accepted my invitation.

‘You choose,’ I said. ‘What are you in the mood to sing?’

‘Well… Do you know any hymns?’ Hymns? This woman didn’t know who she was dealing with. I cut my teeth on hymns. Before I was even born, I was going to church. I gave our guest singer a knowing look.

‘Name one.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. There are so many good ones. You pick one.’

‘Okay,’ I replied. ‘How about ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’?’ My new friend was silent, her eyes averted. Then she fixed her eyes on mine again and said, ‘Yeah. Let’s do that one.’

She slowly nodded her head, put down her purse, straightened her jacket and faced the center of the shop. With my two-bar setup, she began to sing.

Why should I be discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?

The audience of coffee drinkers was transfixed. Even the gurgling noises of the cappuccino machine ceased as the employees stopped what they were doing to listen. The song rose to its conclusion.

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.

When the last note was sung, the applause crescendoed to a deafening roar that would have rivaled a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall. Embarrassed, the woman tried to shout over the din, ‘Oh, y’all go back to your coffee! I didn’t come in here to do a concert! I just came in here to get somethin’ to drink, just like you!’ But the ovation continued. I embraced my new friend.

‘You, my dear, have made my whole year! That was beautiful!’

‘Well, it’s funny that you picked that particular hymn,’ she said.

‘Why is that?’

‘Well …’ she hesitated again, ‘that was my daughter’s favorite song.’

‘Really!’ I exclaimed.

‘Yes,’ she said, and then grabbed my hands. By this time, the applause had subsided and it was business as usual. ‘She was 16. She died of a brain tumor last week.’

I said the first thing that found its way through my stunned silence. ‘Are you going to be okay?’

She smiled through tear-filled eyes and squeezed my hands. ‘I’m gonna be okay. I’ve just got to keep trusting the Lord and singing his songs, and everything’s gonna be just fine.’ She picked up her bag, gave me her card, and then she was gone.

Was it just a coincidence that we happened to be singing in that particular coffee shop on that particular November night? Coincidence that this wonderful lady just happened to walk into that particular shop? Coincidence that of all the hymns to choose from, I just happened to pick the very hymn that was the favorite of her daughter, who had died just the week before? I refuse to believe it.

God has been arranging encounters in human history since the beginning of time, and it’s no stretch for me to imagine that He could reach into a coffee shop in midtown Manhattan and turn an ordinary gig into a revival. It was a great reminder that if we keep trusting Him and singing His songs, everything’s gonna be okay.

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use you, just remember…

Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute, Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, David had an affair and was a murderer, Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, The Disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced–more than once, Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer… AND, Lazarus was dead!

No more excuses now! God can use us to our full potential. Besides we aren’t the message, we are just the messenger.

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.

— Pastor Cecil

Insights on John – Chuck Swindoll

Hardcover Book:  $20.84 (last checked)

Insights on John is part of the 15-volume Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary series. This newly revised and expanded edition draws on Gold Medallion Award–winner Chuck Swindoll’s 50 years of experience with studying and preaching God’s Word. His deep insight, signature easygoing style, and humor bring a warmth and practical accessibility not often found in commentaries.

Hands-On Bible NLT

Paperback Book: $11.59 (last checked)

ECPA Gold Award – Jesus taught with hands-on lessons and illustrations. TheHands-On Bible uses the same experience-based learning to communicate God’s Word in an active, understandable way. With hundreds of fun, memorable activities, the Hands-On Bible is packed with activities and experiences that invite kids to crawl inside the Scriptures and do God’s Word!

 

Skip to content