~Daily Devotion 15th~

The Sparrow at Starbucks

^{Matthew 10: 29 - 31}

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I once read that a coincidence is just when God chooses to remain
anonymous... .....

The SPARROW at STARBUCKS
The song that silenced the cappuccino machine

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 rescinded 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 something' 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, you’re the vessel He works through.... He is willing to use you, are you ready to be His hands???

Devotion Written or Posted By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2009 "Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals"

Study Notes: The New King James Bible

Unless otherwise stated, all content in this mail is © 1996 through 2009 by Coffee With Pat, and the Respecteds Authors.

Blessing, Love and Prayers,

Pastor Pat

Well, let's get started. I myself, have been hurt, by people that I loved and cared for. I have now made it through, crossed over to be free, because I have chosen to forgive them. I hope that I can share with you, what you need to do, to make it through.

I know that in reading the devotion below you are saying, " I know all of this" but, you still may feel that you cannot forgive someone. If this is the circumstances, the first thing you need to do, is ask God to give you the will to forgive. He will do it. I do not have a problem with forgiving. As a matter of fact I have forgiven persons whom have hurt and told lies against me. I have even tried to reconcile with them. Even to the point of calling and saying Merry Christmas, and or etc.

But, there is an old saying hurt me once shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me. Reconciliation does not mean you have to keep going back, again and again, or put yourself in a position to be hurt again, over and over. Let's say, every time you went to the State Fair, you ate a lot of junk food, then got a ride that turned you upside down, and you became sick. Don't you think that after a while you would catch on. If I do this, I will face these circumstances. To be reconciled, is just to say, listen, I know what has happen, and I forgive you. If I have done anything to you please forgive me. I wish you the best, and now I have done my part. I made the step of faith. Now it is in God's hands.

That is all God expects you to do. When you have forgiven the person and tried to reconcile with them, it is then up to God. God knows that there are some people who refused to be reconciled with. But that is between them and God. You just do you part, because I know that God also knows the circumstances, and does not want us to continue to be hurt. I know that not only myself, but you have gone through things that were just not right. I know that also you may feel anger, and resentment, but you have to let it go. Do not get caught up and trapped in the past. Do not dwell on the things and disappointments of the past.

I know that you are saying, "but I cannot forget, Pat, you just do not know how bad it hurt me." Friend, our life does sometimes pass before us. We remember the good and the bad. Some times we even dwell on the bad things over and over again. You have to stop that now. Every time satan tries to bring the past up, tell him to get lost. You need to focus on the good things of life that God has for you. If you have done wrong, ask God to forgive you. When you do Praise God, He does not remember the bad in your life anymore, so why should you.

The devil can only tell you lies, so stop listening to him. One of the scriptures that God took me to, really helped me to understand, that I must forget the past, so I could reach forward to the goal God has planned for me.

Philippians 3:12-16 12. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

13. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

14. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

16. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

I know that with the last few years of many surgeries, if I had not let go, I would not be here today. I could have let bitterness take control, but God and I had a long talk, and He told me, "Pat, for your spiritual and emotional health, you have to let it go. If you do not, you will not get well, and you will stay in bondage of unforgiveness and resentment. It will rule you and destroy you. You must not try to correct the situation. I will take care of it. You are my child, and I will make sure things are straighten out, and I will take care of those who have hurt you. You just forgive them, love them in Me, and bless them, and turn them over to me.

See, Pat, I know who you are, and the people who know you also, know who you are, so do not worry about your reputation. It stands high in my book. And Pat, look at what happened to my Son, Jesus. He was lied on, accused wrongly, and hurt, but He knew that He had to go through it, so you would not be in bondage to hurt and unforgiveness. " WOW! When God talks to you, you had better listen. Thank God I did.

Matthew 5:43-45 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45. that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 18:21-22, 21. Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22. Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

I know what you are saying, "Pat do you know how many times the same person has hurt me?" Yes, I been there, done that, and have a medal to show for it. It seems like it has been for me the same person over and over again. But that does not matter. We still have to forgive them over and over again. Not for their good, but for our spiritual and emotional health. We have to remember that they may be taking it out on us because they are in a bondage of hurt and disappointments.

Matthew 5:23 -24, 23. Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24. leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 6:14-15 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

We all want to be in Heaven together, Praising God, giving Him all the glory and honor He deserves. Do not let unforgiveness keep you from entering Heaven. It will not be worth it. Let God control your circumstances. Let God make a difference in your life.