His Eye Is on the Sparrow: A Devotional Inspired by Nature: Volume I

By J. Michael Fuller and Shirley D. Andrews

Shirley Andrews has brought forth the greatness of our God through the visualization of nature; through the lives and behaviors of some of Gods most colorful creatures, birds! Shirley brings together her words of wisdom and the power of her prayers as she shares with each new description. As I read the book, I gained a totally new insight into how our God, the Creator of all things, yearns for us to be close to Him. Through the Scripture and the photos we see clearly the loving beauty of Gods creation.

I recommend this devotional for people who are looking for the gentleness, sweetness and loving kindness that comes to us through Shirleys ability to show us the greatness that comes from small things. I encourage each of you to take this devotional each day and see how God will reveal Himself to you and how we along with Shirley journey with her in her relationship with God.

This book brings forth the greatness of God on each page! ENJOY!

Rev. Patti Molik

Elder, Upper New York Annual Conference

United Methodist Church

Shirley's wonderful compilation of prayer, Scripture, photography, and devotional reflections, contained in "His Eye Is On the Sparrow," provided me with a greater respect of the interdependence between humanity and creation and the way in which God's presence sustains and maintains the fragile balance between the two. This inspiring devotional highlights insightful lessons to each of us through the life of various birds God has gifted to the world. I know I will look at birds differently from now on.

Rev. Penny Brink

Elder, Upper New York Annual Conference

United Methodist Church

"Shirley turns our attention to the loving presence of God all around us and encourages us to step out in faith to receive the grace God is waiting to share with us."

Rev. David Martin

Elder, Upper New York Annual Conference

Hope United Methodist Church, Troy, NY

For over three years, Shirley has been growing physically stronger and healthier with my help. Now you have the opportunity to grow spiritually stronger as you enjoy "His Eye is on the Sparrow," her first devotional.

Nicholas Galuardi-Exercise Physiologist, Saratoga Health and Wellness Center. Saratoga Springs, NY.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973606666

J. Michael Fuller

Shirley is a graduate of Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and has a master’s degree from the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY. She taught elementary public school music for 31 years. Most of those years were in the Scotia-Glenville School District. She also taught music education classes at Schenectady County Community College. Shirley loved her career in teaching. She has two children and two grandchildren. After retirement and the death of her husband, Shirley pursued a second career as a Certified Lay Minister in the Adirondack District of the United Methodist Church (UMC), and has held leadership positions at Porter Corners UMC, Ballston Spa UMC, and led worship at Woodlawn Commons in the Wesley Community. At present, she is the keyboard accompanist for the Galway UMC in Galway, NY. Shirley continues to be passionate about devotional writing for God lovers, God seekers, nature lovers and the family altar; hoping that more families will use these books to worship and pray together. “MERRY CHRISTMAS – Advent to Epiphany,” A Devotional Inspired by Nature: Volume 3 is her third project. Future writing may include “DIVINE LOVE - Ash Wednesday to Pentecost,” A Devotional Inspired by Nature: Volume 4.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 Shirley D. Andrews.

Interior Art Credit: J. MICHAEL FULLER

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

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: 978-1-9736-0667-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0666-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017916102

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/02/2018

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Part

1

Lord God, Our Creator And His Creation On Earth

Song Sparrow

Black-Capped Chickadee

Baltimore Oriole

Eastern Bluebird

American Goldfinch

Blue Jay - Crested

American Wigeon

Purple Sandpiper – Winter Plumage

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Ruddy Turnstone – Winter Plumage

Belted Kingfisher

Part

2

Lord God, Procreator Of All Life On Earth

Eastern Bluebirds – Mom And Pop

Sandhill Cranes - Calling

Canada Goose - Calling

Loon - Feeding Chick

Caspian Tern – Mom With Chick

Caspian Tern – Dad With Lunch

Black Skimmer – Mom And Chicks

Black Skimmer – Dad

Snow Geese Family

Part

3

Lord God, Provider For Life On Earth

American Pelican

Great Blue Heron – Preparing A Snake Snack

Green-Backed Heron

Green-Backed Heron – With Lunch

Herring Gull – Preparing A Crab Dinner

Roseate Spoonbill- Preening

Photographer

Author

References

Coming In Early 2018

Also Avaialbe In 2018

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I extend a special thank you to those who have daily lifted this project to God in prayer and have continually given me words of encouragement. Your prayers and support were essential in taking this devotional from vision to reality. I am especially appreciative of:

Johanna Calabro, loving friend and intercessor, for her faithful prayers and encouragement along this journey of faith, especially her prayers for this first project.

J. Michael Fuller, photographer and praying friend, whose work inspired my writing in each part of this project, from creation in the Book of Genesis to God’s plan for eternal life in the Book of Revelation.

Kendra McDonald, my loving granddaughter, who helped me with technology in designing the cover for His Eye is on the Sparrow.

Carrie Boyer, a loving friend and technology-savvy administrative assistant in the Adirondack District of the United Methodist Church in the Upper New York Conference. I will forever be grateful for her masterful editing of His Eye is on the Sparrow.

Sharyl Backus, traveling companion and loving friend, who has listened to my problems all along the way from the beginning of this project to publication.

I also want to thank my personal trainer, Nick Galuardi, Rev. Patricia Molik, Rev. Penny Brink and Rev. David Martin, for taking the time to read and endorse my first devotionals. Your guidance and support has blessed me and encouraged me to keep moving forward in ministry.

Shirley Andrews

John 10:9-10

PART

1

Lord God, our Creator and His Creation on Earth

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness He called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning - the first day.

And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.’ So God created the great creatures of the sea, and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:1-5, 20-21