Sabbath Hymns

From the time I was little, singing from the baptist hymnal in Westwood's old sanctuary, to this past summer praising God with the nursing home patients at Cambridge Hills, I have always loved old hymns. I'll never forget one of the residents at Cambridge Hills named Daniel. When we would pass out the hymnals and start to turn to a certain hymn, the moment we named it Daniel could tell us the exact page it was on in the hymnal. He knew all the words by heart and was one of the loudest singers.

But it's not just Daniel who has an amazing mental collection of hymns--many of his generation have a staggering knowledge of old songs. And although most contemporary churches don't sing hymns anymore, Daniel and others like him have inspired me to increase my repetoire. :)



"Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship with a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle--true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: 'His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.' The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn 'His Eye is on the Sparrow,' was the outcome of that experience."

--Civilla Martin

"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." --Matthew 10:29



Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion; my 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.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness I lose my doubts and fears
Though by the path He leadeth, yet one step I may see.
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 way to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I 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 me.

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.

Words by Civilla D. Martin (1905)
Music by Charles H. Gabriel