JJ Heller Reflects on Why She Chose to Record "His Eye is on the Sparrow"

Acclaimed singer and songwriter JJ Heller announces that she plans on releasing a new album of hymns. I Dream of You: HYMNS will be released on March 1, 2024. However, she will begin releasing a hymn on the second Friday of every month until the whole record comes out. This week, Heller releases her own version of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" following last month's "Joy Joyful We Adore Thee."
Heller has taken the time to reflect on what the hymn "His Eye on the Sparrow" means to her.
To say the summer of 1999 was a pivotal time in my life would be an understatement.
After achieving my dream of playing college basketball, I discovered I wasn't as good as I used to be, and playing just wasn't fun anymore. At the end of the season I decided I was done with basketball, but I didn't know who I was if I wasn't an athlete.
When the school year ended, I went on a missions trip to Kenya, Africa to serve the poor in Mombasa and surrounding villages. During my six weeks there, I grieved the loss of my old dream of being a collegiate athlete, but I also started to learn how to play the guitar and wrote my first song with the help of my friends Sarah and Tracy.
One night when our little team of five was staying in a cement house in a rural region, it was my turn to clean the dishes. With my soapy arms submerged in the red and white tie-dyed washing basins, I started to sing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" to pass the time.
After the first few notes, my team started to gather around to hear me sing. Feeling embarrassed and vulnerable I stopped singing and asked them why they went out of their way to come listen to me. My friend Phil said, "I'd pay money to hear you sing."
I'm sure he doesn't remember saying that, but it was the first time in probably a decade that I thought of my voice as anything special. It was a life-changing moment for me: one that God used to give me the smallest little nudge to keep dreaming and keep singing.
I honestly don't know where I'd be without that night in the little cement house. "His Eye is on the Sparrow" will always be special to me. It's a song that was there for me at the very beginning of my career in music, and I'm so happy to share this version with you!
Tags : "His Eye is on the Sparrow" JJ Heller I Dream of You: HYMNS
Hot Trends
-
Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans Announce Christmas Together Tour
-
Deitrick Haddon Reimagines A Classic With Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker and John P. Kee
-
Earnest Pugh Scores Fifth No. 1 with “Don’t Give Up”
-
Story Behind Chris Tomlin's New Song "Is He Worthy?"
-
Amy Grant Tweets 'Fighting Breast Cancer Today And Every Day By Drinking Pink With Athena Water'
-
Abbie Parker Leaves I AM THEY Band
-
Chris Tomlin’s Ninth Annual "Good Friday Nashville" Sells Out Bridgestone Arena
-
Kalamity Kills Returns with Fiery New Single "Afraid"
-
Pope Francis Dies at 88
-
Amy Grant's "Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith" Turns 10!
-
Amy Grant: 'How Mercy Looks From Here,' Talks About New Album And Taking Care Of Aging Father
-
Samuel R. Blakes Talks About His Godly Heritage, Leading Worship & His New Album "I Survived"
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter
-
Carlos Santana Talks about How Christian Faith Saved Him After Seven Suicide Attempts
Most Popular
-
Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans Announce Christmas Together Tour
-
Deitrick Haddon Reimagines A Classic With Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker and John P. Kee
-
Earnest Pugh Scores Fifth No. 1 with “Don’t Give Up”
-
Story Behind Chris Tomlin's New Song "Is He Worthy?"
-
Amy Grant Tweets 'Fighting Breast Cancer Today And Every Day By Drinking Pink With Athena Water'
-
Abbie Parker Leaves I AM THEY Band
-
Chris Tomlin’s Ninth Annual "Good Friday Nashville" Sells Out Bridgestone Arena
-
Kalamity Kills Returns with Fiery New Single "Afraid"
-
Pope Francis Dies at 88
-
Amy Grant's "Be Still and Know... Hymns & Faith" Turns 10!
-
Amy Grant: 'How Mercy Looks From Here,' Talks About New Album And Taking Care Of Aging Father
-
Samuel R. Blakes Talks About His Godly Heritage, Leading Worship & His New Album "I Survived"
-
Joy Williams Reveals the Real Reason Behind Civil War's Breakup
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson Finalizes His Decision to Leave Christianity in Tear-Filled Letter
-
Carlos Santana Talks about How Christian Faith Saved Him After Seven Suicide Attempts