The Sparrow and the Penny: Fables of Faith

By Andy Gilmer

Take a walk with the imagination of Andy Gilmer as you join not-so-everyday characters through the everyday challenges of faith that we all face. The Sparrow and the Penny is a collection of twenty-eight fables of faith that will reassure readers worth and purpose while strengthening their faith in Christ. The power and truth of the Gospel comes to light as you travel with whimsical characters through these colorful, heartwarming tales that will lift your spirit. Its easy to see why these stories are loved by so many who have already had the pleasure of reading and sharing them with family and friends. The stories of this collection can be used to complement Bible studies and devotions. They are tender enough to be bedtime stories for the smallest child, and their inspiring messages can lift the heart of the child of God at any age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490850818

Andy Gilmer

Andy Gilmer has been blessed with a lovely wife, Rebecca, and he is the father of two wonderful children, Hannah and Micah. He is encouraged when his works are enjoyed by others, and he hopes they bring inspiration to you and glory to Jesus Christ.

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Copyright © 2014 Andy Gilmer..

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5082-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-5081-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014916067

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/23/2014

Contents

1     The Sparrow And The Penny

2     The Dewdrop And The Rose

3     The Lily And The Thorn

4     The Calendar

5     Prayer Petals

6     The Smallest Spider

7     The Clam And The Grain Of Sand

8     The ¾ Of An Inch Worm

9     Jobe’s Tree

10   The Graceful Gooney Bird

11   The Firefly And The Man In Chains

12   The Little Leaf

13   The Cloud

14   A Worm With A Purpose

15   The Two Blacksmiths

16   Four Little Seeds And The Farmer’s Prayer

17   Captain Hank The Plank

18   The Memory Quilt

19   The Colt That Carried A King

20   The Tiny Acorn

21   The Two Fig Trees

22   The Mockingbird And The Savior’s Song

23   The Fifth Smooth Stone

24   The Cow, The Bee, And The Promise

25   Did Somebody Just Spit On Me?

26   What Did I Just Swallow?

27   The Little Branch

28   The Fish And The Mightiest King

To Jesus who inspired me to write,

and my wife, Rebecca for encouraging me to write,

and my children, Hannah and Micah for being my first audience.

1

The Sparrow and the Penny

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ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE was a little sparrow living in a thicket on a narrow road to Jerusalem. One day, as the little sparrow was feeding, a large crowd of people led by a man named Jesus came by. He was a man like no other the little sparrow had ever seen. He was mighty yet gentle, and the people listened intently to every word he spoke. The little sparrow perched in a tree over the road to do the same.

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As Jesus passed under the little sparrow, He began to teach that five sparrows are sold for two pennies…

Five sparrows for two pennies! chirped the little sparrow. This means that I alone am worth almost half a penny!

Excitedly, the little sparrow flew into town to find out how much a penny would buy. He knew that, if he could find the worth of a penny, he would know how much he was worth.

I must go to the market where the people go, the little sparrow thought. The ones who sell things will surely know the value of a penny.

When he came to the market, the little sparrow perched above the shoemaker.

Surely I am worth more than something people put on their feet, he thought.

But he found that the shoes were worth much more than a penny so he flew to the potter’s tent.

I am much more valuable than something used to carry water, the little sparrow said with confidence.

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Yet, after watching the people come and go he saw that a clay pitcher cost much more than a penny also.

From shop to shop, the little sparrow flew until he had been to every merchant in town -- the carpenter, the blacksmith, the garment maker, even the fisher and the baker. Knowing now that everything else was worth much more than a penny and that he himself was only worth half a penny, the little sparrow became very sad. He knew he must find Jesus again.

If anyone knows how much I am worth, it is Jesus, the little sparrow thought.

The little sparrow knew that Jesus taught in the temple, so he went there and sat in the window to wait on the Lord. Now, while the little sparrow was waiting, he saw something that filled his eyes with tears and made his little heart sink. A poor widow entered the temple and put a penny in the treasury. Since the widow received nothing back for the offering she gave, the little sparrow now thought that he too must be worth nothing. As the little sparrow began to cry, the widow began to pray.

Father in Heaven, she prayed. Thank you for providing for all of my needs each day. You have taught us that five sparrows are sold for two pennies…

At the sound of this familiar and painful truth, the little sparrow turned to go. But just as he was about to spread his wings and fly away, he heard the most wonderful words he could have ever imagined.

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…yet not one of them is forgotten by You, continued the widow.

Not one is forgotten by God? That means I am treasured in heaven! chirped the little sparrow.

The little sparrow’s heart lifted as he joyfully hurried home to tell his friends everything that he had learned. That was the day the little sparrow learned that his worth did not come from others.