If you ask me what my favorite song is I would say Amazing Grace. It was not until I was 33 years old that I knew for the first time how amazing grace really was. I have always loved this song and can sing all the modern verses but I often sang it without any deep knowledge or meaning of the wonderful truths I was voicing. But when I was 33 an amazing thing happened that saved my life…
That is when I accepted the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I really did not know much about grace. But I knew once I believed that my eternal destination was heaven and my home was with God. And I knew then and know now that I did not do one single thing to deserve God’s blessings.
Grace! I had started on a journey that began an everyday cycle of grace upon grace!
AND FROM HIS FULNESS WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE UPON GRACE John 1:16
The song Amazing Grace was written by a slave trader John Newton. Newton wrote of himself, “I sinned with a high hand and made it a study to seduce others”. He had a long and notorious life in the slave trade but God kept calling him back to the Christian roots his mother instilled in him at an early age.
On one fateful voyage in 1747, a ship he was on headed to England hit a huge storm and it was during that storm that Newton converted. Although later he would admit, I could not consider myself a believer, in the full sense of the word”.
In 1755 Newton gave up his seafaring life and began to teach Bible Studies in his home in Liverpool. He also became more and more disgusted with the slave trade. In 1767 he became an Anglican minister. It was in his Olney parish in Buckinghamshire that he prolifically wrote hymns for a Thursday night prayer service.
In 1773 he combined 280 of his hymns with his friend and lay helpers 68 hymns to create Olney Hymns. Amazing Grace along with other recognizable hymns were part of this precious hymnal.
Newton went on to write a book called Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade which helped William Wilberforce’s work to abolish slavery in England.
Newton’s memories of his life as a slave trader never left him. Even in his old age when he became feeble and was asked to retire, he said, “I cannot stop. What? Shall the old African trader stop while he can speak?”.
Listen to the words of Amazing Grace again and put these words into the sinner slave trader turned saint’s perspective. Now, sing these words looking at your own life!
Grace for many people is a hard truth to swallow. For me, I run to it like it had open arms for it does! The arms are the arms of God and the stretched out arms of my Lord on the cross!
The New Testament talks a lot about the concept of grace… what it is and how it is dispensed.
Grace is often described as unmerited favor. Unmerited- doing nothing to deserve something and favor- like a kindness being done for a favorite child! Grace is the ultimate act of kindness given from the only One who loves us without reserve! And for those who believe we live in a state of grace upon grace.
Non believers are also given grace. It’s also God’s unmerited blessings in their lives too but they do not often recognize it.
The sunshine, every breath we take. Our homes and food and children. Our jobs and our very lives. These are all measures of Amazing Grace if we take care to see it!
Grace is finding favor with God. Grace is the opposite of “fair”. It is benevolent and underserved and kind. It is love beyond measure when you are unlovable. It is blessings without bounds when you have nothing to give in return. It is AMAZING!
The best example of God’s grace is the Cross! God sent His only Son to die on a cross. To take our sins upon Himself and suffer the consequences of sin and suffering and death in our place. And then He offers every single person in the world a new relationship with Him if we should choose to accept this grace.
We go from the family of Satan and sin into the family of God and GRACE! Unmerited, undeserved yet true. This so so big, so magnificent it is hard to wrap my mind around! It is love and mercy rolled into one! It is Amazing Grace!
So I bow to my God and my Savior and thank Him for “grace upon grace”. And the only response I can give is to offer my life and service to them. It is the only response that makes sense.
THEREFORE, I URGE YOU IN VIEW OF GOD’S MERCY, TO OFFER YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD- THIS IS YOUR TRUE AND PROPER WORSHIP. Romans 12:1
Just as Paul wrote in the book of Romans, because of God’s mercy the only response that is right is to be a living and holy sacrifice to please God. It is our way to thank Him… to worship Him!
So as we walk in priceless, costly grace upon grace today let’s thank and worship God will living moment by moment in this grace and living to please God as we worship Him with our lives!
This week’s memorization verse…
AND FROM HIS FULNESS WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE UPON GRACE John 1:16
One of the first things that came to my mind right after I was saved was this song. I saw it in a whole new way. How amazing is His grace indeed!
God’s Grace is Amazing! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I have to say Amen!
Thank you, Yvonne you shared this beautifully.
Amen, sweet Yvonne.
His grace after grace is truly abundant in my life, Thanks be to God!
Beautifully said. Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration.
Thank you for sharing –what a blessing
May you receive God’s blessings overflowing and shaken down for your wonderful witness to the world!
Beautifully said!
Such a beautiful blog to start me day. Thank you.
So well written AMEN
May God richly bless you, again and again, Yvonne and Bobby (!)
Your words of fierce and brave encouragement and truth will plant seeds you may never see in this world, but will reap eternal reward to glorify He who has shown unmerited favor to you and me!
Oh…and i love all your designing tips also ?❤️
Amy from montecito,ca
Amen! Prsise God!
Our former pastor defined grace as Gods Riches At Christs Expense. Thank you for this lesson, and your reminder for us to run to the open arms of grace and mercy
So enjoy reading you post on sundays. You have a way of writing that makes sense to me. Thank you for your endevors with the Bible and sharing your interperpetation
I thank you for this beautiful post today! I become choked up everytime I have hear this Hymn and sing it. I am blessed by God’s Grace on a daily basis, and I put that first and foremost in my morning and evening prayer. ” God saved a wretch like me.”
Praise the LORD!! What a double blessing to receive this email today! His Amazing Grace abounds in my heart as well. It is a double blessing because in today’s world and media God’s grace is silenced. How I rejoice in this message today. To have a sister in Christ Jesus that I can welcome into my home!
Thank you Yvonne for the precious reminder of how indescribable HIS grace is. I am so undeserving, but praise to Jesus for paying my debt. Have a blessed Sunday my friend.
Thank you for your uplifting and inspirational messages! They touch my heart!
Thank you Yvonne I too am very grateful for God’s Grace on my life and my families lives, so thanks for this beautiful message that I reeived this mornng. A lovely way to start the day. Blessings to you and yours.
Beautiful words of His AMAZING GRACE!
Amazing Grace! How sweet it is! How I love that song! I do my best each and every day to do the best that I can to be in God’s favor. Many days I fail but through His grace, I am saved! Thanks be to God!
Thanks for today’s lesson Yvonne. We get so busy we forget Who controls the universe. With all of our possessions and degrees. When we feel we are so great and powerful 1st Peter 5:5 and James 4:6 can put us back on a straight line. Thank you again for this lesson.
Grace as defined by My pastor: GRACE
Keeping the law and paying the penalty
Breaking the law and escaping the penalty….that sums it up for me. God bless you.
I grew up in church and this is the first time I’ve heard the story of John Newton. Amazing Grace has always been one of my favorite songs. Thank you for sharing this story and also reminding me of God’s grace and how great it is.
Yes! My new life began when I was 38!! It’s never too late to accept God’s perfect gift!!
The movie Amazing Grace is really good, about John Newton, his life, and how he came to write the song.
I love the movie Amazing Grace. It is really about Wilberforce and his fight against slavery. But John Newton is part of it.
Good morning, Yvonne. I always look so forward to your posts. Your kitchen inspired the design of the kitchen in my new home. I absolutely love my black soapstone counters and white cabinets!
I especially enjoy your Sunday posts and today’s is so special. I just purchased a gratitude journal this week and decided to spend a moment each day writing at least one thing I am grateful for that day. My first entry was simple, “God’s Grace.” I am so incredibly thankful for His grace and am amazed each day at the many undeserved blessings I receive.
Amen, Patty!