Summary: How can we sing in a strange land? Can we sing in jail. Christian must keep singing.

CAN YOU STILL SING? ...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

SPARROWS: represent GOD’S LOVE AND GOD’S CARE, God cares about little insignificant things,

THE SMALLEST ACCEPTABLE OFFERING THAT COULD BE MADE AT THE ALTAR IN THE TEMPLE. A sparrow, turtledove or pigeon was considered poor people’s meat. While the sparrow was cheap it was still considered an acceptable sacrifice to God. Jesus handpicked the smallest offering as significant and God cares and loves little things. God gave his best bt he will accept small things based on ability. GOD CARES ABOUT LITTLE STUFF, HE CARES FOR YOU. GOD WILL NOT REJECT YOU IF YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY A COW, LAB OR A GOAT.

FEAR NOT, DON’T WORRY!

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Little birds can teach great lessons. Little things, there was NO ROOM, let us make room.

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Let us remember the little birds... NO ROOM IN THE INN? There was a little bird that came and lived at my house a few weeks. He and I became friends. I felt so sorry for that little bird. He seemed happy to jump around on the ground. He could no longer fly, but he could still sing. Could I ever be happy jumping on the ground? I think I am supposed to fly?

A mean cat visits sometimes and eats some of the birds that are welcomed at my bird feeders. This bird was so little. He had lost his flying ability. He could not reach the feeders. He just looked up to me when I was outside. I talked to him one day and I told the little bird he was always welcome at my house and I would try to help him.

I placed feed down on the corner of the patio and he found it. One day I was outside and I felt the bird hopping around and he seemed to SING: He was thirsty, I said, Buddy I never thought about that. I placed water down on the ground level. Daily I gave him special food and water. I hoped he would fly again.

He seemed to enjoy it so much. We became friends. I even prayed he would again fly, but God didn’t honor that request. There was a greater lesson than being happy flying, there was a lesson about being imprisoned by circumstances and still singing.

We became friends and I would talk to him and tell him he was always welcome here. I told him how special I thought he was. I also told him to watch out for the mean cat that came from time to time. He became friendly with me and would allow me nearer and nearer. I guarded not to place fear in him..

One day we came home and Linda said: Your little friend has passed away. His body is laying near your spot? I picked him up and carried him to the edge of the field, and I thanked God for letting me feed this little bird in his last days.

I loved that little bird and our time together.

THE KING JUST KILLED JAMES AND THE PEOPLE WERE US HAPPY. THE KING HAD A BETTER IDEA. WHAT WOULD I DO LOCKED UP IN JAIL? PRAISE, WORSHIP AND PRAYER MIGHT HELP? GOD CARES

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

WHO CAN HELP ON A BAD DAY? YOU CAN! MY MOM’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT?

I thought how many small people just need a dear friend to do a little extra. Give some time? Show some love? Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 my 91 year old friend --- Herman that helps me play music at the rest home had a bad day... 3 years ago, Dec 18, 2005 his wife of 69 years passed away. I remember as Dec.19th is my birthday and their anniversary. The day she died, the next day they would have been married 69 years. I remembered the day, I seemed in prayer to see Herman’s pain, I called him and asked how he was doing. He was so down I could tell over the phone.

Herman was down and had not been eating for several days thinking of home and his wife, he married her in 1934... he didn’t feel like playing music at the rest home. I said Herman, I am coming after rest home and we are going out to eat at his choice place...

We finished rest home, I invited my helpers: Clinton and Sam (A/G) pastor and we went to Herman’s house and he got in my van and we started crying. The day seemed so heavy to me. I had no words to say: I just started praying, all 4 of us were crying and praying.

God helped us touch a bird named Herman--- He sent my way. God helped me touch Herman. God sent him my way to love. I met Herman 5 years ago when they put his wife in the rest home. They had no kids. I would watch Herman hold his wife’s hand. She was now blind and deaf. He visited her daily. I think she knew it was her man. Their last few years found her in the rest home and he at home. The silver cord of life was slowly being cut.

Herman, Clinton, Sam and I went to a little run down greasy spoon to eat, Herman’s pick, this was their eating place. We sat and talked with a little hero. Herman served in Korea and is a good man. Herman was an army government specialist. He told about the long ride home after his duty. The storm with 100 mph winds rocked their ship and Herman thought he would die at sea. He told about meeting one of my guitar heros, Mel Travis at WCKY in Cincinnati, Ohio. We just listened to a little bird sing his song. As we left we all hugged --- a long dwelling hug. Herman has served the Lord many, many years.

No, Herman has never been and will never be at our church, he can’t drive very far. Herman is a little friend that has reminded me of my Mom. He is just a little bird that needed some extra attention. God’s little bird can’t fly like he used too? He can still sing!

I took some of my Mom’s Christmas present money and bought the 4 of us lunch and had a wonderful lunch and time together. (Most know my Mom has been dead 26 years) I still buy her presents, I just give mom’s presents to some little bird that needs some extra love. After we returned Herman to his house, we sat in the van and said nothing. Just looked forward, I could not think of any fancy words to say. We all four started crying in the van, and when I cry I pray, I prayed 20 minutes for Herman. My heart knows of all his time alone. His home has become a prison, he sets and looks out the window. Probably thinking about his long home. I think there are many little birds out there looking for someone to reach beyond here... ??? Could you touch a bird for Jesus? I am not sad for my Mother, I rejoice in a God that gives and a God that takes away... the away is but temporary.

I INVEST MOM’S CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND BROUGHT GRAPES

I took the others to their cars. Stopped at the grocery store and purchased $15 worth of grapes. I had some more of Mom’s gift left. I went to the state hospital, there is a little old lady in the mental hospital that over the years has grown special to me, Betty is about Mom’s age. I set down on Betty’s bed, she in her chair looking out the door. She said: I LOVE GRAPES? I didn’t know? Betty wolfed down many of those grapes, I was concerned she would be sick. We laughed a while, prayed a while, and I thought, MOM ALWAYS LOVED LITTLE BIRDS, SHE WILL LOVE THIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT. I cried all the way home, not missing Mom, but thinking of the day we shall be together again, together forever... my dream knows there is more... I can’t find it? but my heart says: LOVE THE LITTLE BIRDS... THE GIFT NEVER STOPS GIVING...

YOU CAN SING IN THE BARN! NO ROOM IN THE INN? Let’s make room for some little bird this Christmas time. His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)