Wednesday, November 24, 2010

~AN ESSAY THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU A LATTE



The Sparrow at Starbucks
~The Song That Silenced the Cappuccino Machine~
By John Thomas Oaks

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 crescendoed 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 somethin' 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.

~ ~ ~

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

~Encourage Yourself


One day I came across the lyrics to a song called "Encourage Yourself," by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers, and they really resonated with me...

Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test.
And no matter how you feel,
Speak the word and you will be healed;
Speak over yourself,
Encourage yourself in the Lord.

Sometimes you have to speak the word over yourself,
The pressure is all around,
But God is present help.
The enemy created walls,
But remember giants, they do fall;
Speak over yourself,
Encourage yourself in the Lord.

As I minister to you, I minister to myself,
Life can hurt you so,
'Til you feel there's nothing left.
(No matter how you feel),
(Speak the word and you will be healed).

Speak over yourself.

I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.
I'm encouraged.

~ ~ ~

"And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day."
~Judges 20:22, NKJV~

"And David was greatly distressed...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."
~1 Samuel 30:6, KJV~

"Then everyone was encouraged..."
~Acts 27:36, NLT~

"I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds."
~2 Corinthians 7:4b, NIV~

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you."
~2 Corinthians 13:11, HCSB~

"So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us."
~Hebrews 6:18b, GNT~

~ ~ ~

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

~POEM & QUOTATION FOR THE DAY



"Please be patient...
God isn't finished with me yet."

~ ~ ~

"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus."
~Philippians 1:6~

~ ~ ~

About two months after posting the quotation and verse above, I came across the following poem.  It was written by Ruth Graham and is in her book,

When we see
faulty, trying "saints,"
(ourselves the guiltiest,
no doubt)
forgive us, Lord,
for our complaints;
and help us never
to forget,
whatever else, Lord,
You're about,
You have not finished
with us
--yet.

~ ~ ~

Monday, November 1, 2010

~QUOTATION FOR THE DAY



"Why do we care more about what other people think than about what God thinks?"

~ ~ ~

"We ought to obey God rather than men."
~Acts 5:29~

~ ~ ~