His eyes, on me

     I ponder His eye on me and a sense of His tenderness, compassion quiets and settles me. As a child or perhaps even a few years ago, this might have triggered thoughts more along the lines of "O, be careful little hands what you do...for the Father up above is looking down..." Rather than feeling warm and fuzzy, this usually conotated a fearful aspect of an idea that God is looking with eyes towards seeing and punishing my wrongdoings. As I consider this idea now, I see the Father's heart pursuing/ interested not in all my failure but my potential and using my failures, struggles, battles and triumphs to mold me into His vision. And His vision is Himself, His Son, His beauty uniquely revealed in variegated displays in each of His people. And rather than being afraid and shrinking back at His gaze, I am in awe, humbled, quieted and joyfully restful. I'm so thankful that the work is His and mine is to rest and let Him do it His way and in His timing. Yes, I get restless, seeing my failures and wanting to fix it all right now. My goal/ desire is total transformation right now, His is to journey with me through a long, unfolding process and to grow me up in faith and build relationship over decades.
  Funny how God confirms what He wants me to say/do. On Sunday as I started this and contemplated this hymn, the pastor quoted Benjamin Franklin as the Continental Congress struggled to formulate its new government: "In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance. I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.  I therefore beg leave to move -- that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service." 

And we can do no better. 

His Eye is On The Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be 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 me.
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 diesI 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 


Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear; 
And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears; 
Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see; 
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.





Lauryn Hill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H74FBgOZTDw