better than a sparrow.

tonight bel&i got some precious girl time. nick had a game out of town, so we came home and got to hang out... just the two of us.

she has this praise&worship dvd that i *love* watching with her. i got her in her jammies and we sat in the recliner and rocked as we watched it together. it's amazing how many times god has tugged at my heart while reading bella stories out of her "baby bible" or in watching these baby videos... god works in mysterious ways.

this song brought tears to my eyes tonight:

"this is my father's world, and to my listening ears

all nature sings and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

this is my father's world i rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

his hand the wonders wrought.

this is my father's world.

o let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong

god is the ruler yet.

this is my father's world:

the battle is not done

jesus, who died shall be satisfied

and earth and heaven be one."

love. it.

it makes me think of the passage in matthew (10:29-31) that outlines god's love for us: "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 on your head are all numbered. so don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

as i take in the world around me... especially now through the eyes of my daughter... i am struck so often with the majesty of it's creator. and even more so, the fact that the creator of this world and all it's intricacies is the holder of my heart.

{let that soak in for a moment}.

i love reading psalm 8 where david is thinking these very thoughts. he says: "when i consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" (v. 3,4)

jesus, may i see more of you--your power, your love, your indescribable beauty--in the world around me. in bella's laugh and twinkling eyes. in the quiet stillness of the night air. in the sun bringing it's glistening warmth. in the barren, old fingers of dark, gnarly trees and the white blossoms of spring signaling new life.

this is my father's world. and he intimately cares for everything in it... even the sparrows. and i mean far more to him than they.

(i couldn't resist: how could i write this blog with the word sparrow in the title and not think about "his eye is on the sparrow" from sister act 2... i know, i know so old but it still gives me goosebumps every time. enjoy.)