"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10: 29-31Several years ago I was raped for the third time in my life. I had already accepted Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior and was a very young Christian prior to that last assault. I hit a low point after the assault, becoming severely depressed and dysfunctional. I flew out to Houston and was baptized. When I returned from Houston, I found a church and started attending bible study. We were in Mathew when I was home alone and in an emotional slump. I was on my belly crying out to Jesus (cathartic sobbing). I told Jesus that I wasn't getting Him the way I should and I could feel the separation. I pleaded with Jesus to send me a sign or open my eyes and ears that I may receive His message to me. The very next day, I was pulling out of a store parking lot and a Sparrow fell out of a tree. I stopped the car and went to the Sparrow that was flapping around, unable to fly. I scooped the little bird in my hands and watched this precious creature from God take its last breath. I cried for a moment until I remembered the verses in Mathew that I had just learned in bible study about our value in God's eyes. I suddenly realized that was God's message to me.
After that experience, I started seeking the Lord in prayer, scripture, worship, and music. I looked for the Lord everywhere and in everything. About two weeks after the fall of the Sparrow, I was jogging and listening to a song "Praise to You." I started thinking back to that fallen Sparrow. As soon as I did, I felt something beneath my feet and I knew what it was before even looking down. When I did look down I witnessed my second fallen Sparrow at my feet.
Christmas was drawing near and I was watching a documentary on Jesus. I had learned that Jesus was born during the lambing season and not December 25th. When I went to bible study several days later, I opened my bible at random and started reading about the cleansing of Solomon's temple. King Ahaz had turned away from God and started worshipping other Gods and idols. Ahaz had boarded up the temple. When his son Hezekiah became king, he cleansed the Temple and made many cleansing sacrifices. About this time, Pastor walked into the Sanctuary and I mentioned to him that I had learned that Jesus was born during the lambing season. He said that was accurate but it made sense to celebrate His birth on December 25th because that's when Judah Maccabee recaptures Jerusalem and restores the Temple. I thought it was odd that I had just read about one cleansing of the Temple and Pastor mentioned a significant other. I felt again God was talking to me.
Christmas morning I spent gift exchange at my sisters. I went to the back bedroom for a short nap because I had to work that night. I was dreaming about this huge temple where people were singing praise. The temple was like the size of a residential block. I was awakened from the dream by one of my sisters who was cleaning (vacuuming/cleansing). I got up and went into the living room where my other sister was watching a documentary about Jesus. I sat down and tuned into the program which was talking about Solomon's Temple. There on the TV was the remains of the Temple steps. I was floored. Temples at bible study, in my dream, and now at my sister's house Christmas morning. I felt compelled to read the bible so I went to my car to fetch mine. I sat out under the porch and read about Hezekiah again. While I was reading about the cleansing, I heard this bang against the window of the house. I looked over and there on the ground was a stunned Sparrow. I prayed at that moment to let that Sparrow live. I sat still and that Sparrow did not move for about five minutes. It then turned its head so its eye was on me. I sat still for about another five minutes. Family started calling me in for gift exchange. I stood up slowly and as I did, the Sparrow rose again and flew away.
I have chills when I recite this story. Pastor said that God is making me holy and that three Sparrows is a holy number. He felt God would not send any more. Jesus rose again in three days. "Oh Immanuel, God is with us."
May I encourage all Christians to seek God in every breath and heartbeat, for this is when we hear God communicate to us. Don't let this world distract you from the Kingdom of Heaven and keep you separated from God. Stay connected to God and blessings unfold.
Amen
InHisgripKim
Blessed Happy
