The Sparrow

"His eye is on the sparrow and I know he's watching me."

As I thought about the events of the day this line from a song came to me.  And as I lay in bed, not being able to sleep, I figured I would capture my thoughts while they are racing through my head.

Today was not the best of my days...at least it wasn't looking like that until later in the day.  I'm struggling with not having a goal to put my work toward.  Being unemployed for four months has begun to take it toll on one part of me.  On the other hand I have had time to think which usually doesn't happen when I am so busy.

I had trouble getting motivated today.  Finally, after lunch, I went to the library to find some books to read.  I looked in the biography section.  In fact, I looked at every book in the biography section.  I ended up with one about Henry Ford published in 2005 and another about Thomas Edison from 1957.  Both guys were friends and both of them have inspired me with their accomplishments.

I got lost in the book until sometime around 5 pm when I began to watch the news.  Then shortly before 6 a phone call came in.  Pat took the call and after a couple of minutes handed the phone to me.  It was a friend I hadn't talked to in 30 years.

Shirley called.  I met her in 1975 and we sold real estate together for a few years.  I never went to church with her.  Never saw her much during the 5 or so years I was associated with Dutchland Realty.  But she called me tonight.  Why?  God had put me on her mind recently and she had been praying for me. 

Again, we hadn't talked to each other or seen each other for 30 years.  She didn't know whether I was in OH, CA or overseas somewhere.  She didn't know whether I was still following Christ or not.  She had no idea...except this prompting to call me and pray for me before she called.

It took her a little bit to find me.  First, she ran into a former neighbor, fellow realtor and member of a church we attended.  She got the number of the realty firm's owner's wife in FL from him.  Then she called her and got our number in PA.  Then she called on the phone.  Tonight.

Her church was in need of a pastor and my name came to her mind.  She realized that she could just forget she heard that and not call.  But she persisted, found me and called.  She didn't know if I was pastoring, retired or tending bar.  But she called to see if she was following the signals right.

To me that says, straight from my heavenly Father, that he knows where I am and he hasn't forgotten me in the loneliness I have felt the last several months.  He knows my gifts and abilities and he knows exactly where he wants me to be.  He just wanted to remind me that I wasn't forgotten...by using an obedient servant of his from 30 years ago to find me and call.

That's pretty cool.  That's the loving heart that I follow.  That's the Father I love.

Two things to think about.  Who has God been prompting you to call or get in touch with or what has he been prompting you to do that you've put off?  It's those little nudgings that he uses to get us involved in his ministry to others.  And secondly, how has God been showing you that you are not forgotten?  Celebrate it right now!

"His eye is on the sparrow and I know he's watching [you].