More than Many Sparrows

     What I am about to say will come across as incredibly cliche, but hey, cliches are typically cliche for a reason-as in they should be said often. Anyways, the new school year is up and running, and it feels really good to be back. really good. But, before I jump into school mode, I want to reflect on this Summer. I did a really poor job of blogging this Summer. The truth is that after anything remotely funny/joyful/bad/unique happened, I'd make a mental note...I should write that down to remember. However, I really never wanted to take the time to think out exactly what I wanted to write or how I wanted to say it. Needless to say, I've already forgotten a good handful of those things that I wanted to blog about, but that really doesn't matter all that much. It doesn't matter because when I think about the most important thing I wanted to write about in order to remember from this Summer-really, the most pressing thing that I will EVER want to write about-it is simply and rightly about how GOOD, GOOD, GOOD the Lord is to me. I don't say that to mean that I'm somewhat special and that God's goodness is unique to me. I wholeheartedly believe that He is equally as good to everyone else who calls upon Him...and knowing that blows my mind even more. It is crazy to me how personal and yet universal God is. There were so many times this Summer-all different circumstances, all different reasons, all different places- when my heart literally felt h.e.a.v.y in my chest with appreciation and love for Christ. The joy, strength and peace that He provides literally would well up in my chest and overwhelm me over and over again. This was not caused because of anything besides the absolute goodness of Christ. It could not be attributed to anything else other than the beautiful fact that God continually led me to ask for more and more of Him...and he continued to faithfully show up-and show up-and show up. It was humbling to see and accept just how human I am-how human we all are- and to simultaneously see how inhuman God is. I think of it like this, "After all we're only human, but THANK GOD God is God."The world is absolutely broken. It's full of broken people, situations, etc. and we will all be deeply affected by the truth in that in some way or another. However, the reason that my heart is so full is because I have seen God pour out his goodness three billion times more than I have seen the devil succeed in tricking people into accepting a view of brokenness or despair. Long story short, the name of Jesus is of infinite power, and when we call on Him- he shows up big time.
     One of my favorite verses this Summer was Matthew 10:29-31 saying,
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
I love this verse-first of all-because I think it is a beautiful picture of how God takes care of his children. It shows how personal he is with each and every one of us-knowing every single hair on our head and working to protect us and provide for us in every good way. What a good father!! What a loving God! We can rest assured under his intimate care for us that we are in good hands. the absolute best. That truth alone is enough to make my heart well up with joy. Skipping ahead- I found this poem last night that my grandaddy wrote. It's based off of the above Scripture, and it was just another sweet reminder from Christ about his goodness towards me, especially because it is based off of this particular verse and because I hadn't been able to find my box of poetry that my grandfather had written and given to me years ago. When I found it, I couldn't believe that it was written about this scripture because of how much God had pressed that on my heart this Summer. However, I would expect nothing less from our sweet, sweet Jesus. Here is what my wise and loving grandaddy wrote:
                                             Brave Sparrows
Today a little sparrow fell
And lay so still upon the ground,
With none to care if sick or well
Or if that feathered frame be found.


Yet, one doth miss it silenced song
Though body melt and join the sod,
To leave a void in chirping throng
Ne'er beyond; the infinite mind of God.


As Heaven sees each tiny bird
None shall ever fall unknown.
So even whispered prayers are heard,
By him who watches o'er his own.


Hence to wings, to climb, to dare to fly
Above stale air of common place,
Lest we die, before we die
And Grace becomes disgrace.

Elbert Smith
Reflections from Matthew 10:29-31

absolutely love it!!!! I apologize for the somewhat jumbled nature of this post-it's late and I'm sleepy, but my heart had been wanting to write this down for a while. If we only remember one thing in this crazy, hectic world, let us remember to praise our Lord. He is absolutely worthy, absolutely powerful, absolutely loving-it goes on. And, the fact that we get to live under his care and sovereignty is absolutely o.v.e.r.w.h.e.l.m.i.n.g. May our hearts always be full of the love that Christ provides. May we ever be overflowing with praise and have lips willing and ready to share his goodness with anyone and everyone. May we be gracious. May we live freely and confidently in the light that God views each and every one of as worth more than many sparrows. If THE God of the universe says that about me, about all of us...I'd say that's a pretty big deal. I'd say it's something worth eternally rejoicing about. It changes our broken world reality, taking away its power- and gives us a new reality to live in- a reality in which we fully and joyfully anticipate (and see) Christ super succeed over any and everything that the world throws at us. May we live with ever growing knowledge and wisdom of the infinite goodness of God!!!