Inspiration: performances
His Eye is on the Sparrow
arranged by Cindy Berry
performed by Christy Kiespert
arranged by Cindy Berry
performed by Christy Kiespert
Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart fell 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
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches
I know He watches, I know He watches me
Why should my heart fell 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
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches
I know He watches, I know He watches me
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
arranged by Victor Labenske
performed by Christy Kiespert
arranged by Victor Labenske
performed by Christy Kiespert
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge!
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our Refuge!
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Great is Thy Faithfulness
arranged by Melody Bober
performed by Christy Kiespert
arranged by Melody Bober
performed by Christy Kiespert
In January of 2009, my husband suffered from serious health problems. He lost his job on February 20 because these health issues interfered with his ability to work.
At that time, I was studying the life of Moses in Bible Study Fellowship. In our study, we were learning about the Israelites' struggle to trust God while traveling in the desert, waiting for the Promised Land. I felt like I personally was wandering through a desert of my own. Our situation looked really desolate and hopeless to me. My own Promised Land seemed unattainable.
However, in the Bible study were also learning about God's holy character. We were learning that a heart of fear looks at God's character in light of the circumstances, focusing on how overwhelming the situation seems. But the heart of faith views the circumstances through the character of God, seeing the situation as an opportunity to witness a mighty act of God.
I wanted that heart of faith. I felt compelled to play this arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" at the worship service the Sunday following my husband's job loss. For me, playing it was a statement of faith - the first step toward trusting Him with my circumstances. I could not see the way forward, but I would trust God. Even though things looked bleak, I would believe God would be faithful in the midst of the situation. Even though nothing was working out the way I had planned, I would claim God was in control.
Every year since, I have played "Great is Thy Faithfulness" on the Sunday closest to February 20. In the years that passed between this annual landmark of faith, I have seen continual reminders of God's faithfulness. Although many things were still not the way I planned, He taught me to look for His goodness in the midst of difficulty. I have found many opportunities to give thanks.
Seven years later, on February 20, 2016, my husband called me from his work place. He told me that the full time position we had been praying about was finally available and would soon be his. I could not believe my ears. We had waited and prayed for this particular job for 5 years. I was so grateful and gave thanks to God for His graciousness.
Later, I arrived home and began my practice plan for Sunday. It was then I realized that this was my annual week to play "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
The absolute sovereignty of God hit me full force in that moment. Seven years before, I had doubted His love for me because of the circumstances. Now, He was proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that He could be trusted. Despite my lack of faith, He was graciously restoring to us an even better situation than the one we had lost. I realized in that moment that God knew the perfect timing of His plan for me, even in 2009.
In the meantime, He had given me something much greater than an answered prayer. He had given me Himself. In all those difficult days, I had learned the true joy of knowing Him. My small faith in playing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is still no larger than a mustard seed - but I am seeing Him move mountains in my life.
I look forward to playing this hymn many more Sundays, proclaiming again: "Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto Me!"
At that time, I was studying the life of Moses in Bible Study Fellowship. In our study, we were learning about the Israelites' struggle to trust God while traveling in the desert, waiting for the Promised Land. I felt like I personally was wandering through a desert of my own. Our situation looked really desolate and hopeless to me. My own Promised Land seemed unattainable.
However, in the Bible study were also learning about God's holy character. We were learning that a heart of fear looks at God's character in light of the circumstances, focusing on how overwhelming the situation seems. But the heart of faith views the circumstances through the character of God, seeing the situation as an opportunity to witness a mighty act of God.
I wanted that heart of faith. I felt compelled to play this arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" at the worship service the Sunday following my husband's job loss. For me, playing it was a statement of faith - the first step toward trusting Him with my circumstances. I could not see the way forward, but I would trust God. Even though things looked bleak, I would believe God would be faithful in the midst of the situation. Even though nothing was working out the way I had planned, I would claim God was in control.
Every year since, I have played "Great is Thy Faithfulness" on the Sunday closest to February 20. In the years that passed between this annual landmark of faith, I have seen continual reminders of God's faithfulness. Although many things were still not the way I planned, He taught me to look for His goodness in the midst of difficulty. I have found many opportunities to give thanks.
Seven years later, on February 20, 2016, my husband called me from his work place. He told me that the full time position we had been praying about was finally available and would soon be his. I could not believe my ears. We had waited and prayed for this particular job for 5 years. I was so grateful and gave thanks to God for His graciousness.
Later, I arrived home and began my practice plan for Sunday. It was then I realized that this was my annual week to play "Great is Thy Faithfulness."
The absolute sovereignty of God hit me full force in that moment. Seven years before, I had doubted His love for me because of the circumstances. Now, He was proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that He could be trusted. Despite my lack of faith, He was graciously restoring to us an even better situation than the one we had lost. I realized in that moment that God knew the perfect timing of His plan for me, even in 2009.
In the meantime, He had given me something much greater than an answered prayer. He had given me Himself. In all those difficult days, I had learned the true joy of knowing Him. My small faith in playing "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is still no larger than a mustard seed - but I am seeing Him move mountains in my life.
I look forward to playing this hymn many more Sundays, proclaiming again: "Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto Me!"