amazing grace by john newton

"amazing grace. how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. i once was lost, but now i'm found, was blind, but now i see. twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear. the hour i first believed. thro' many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; tis grace hath bro't me safe thus far and grace will lead me home. whenever we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing GOD'S praise than when we first begun." john newton

amazing grace is my favorite hymn. i cry almost every time with joy, or pain at the sound of these words.

we have been granted grace by the LORD when we seek eternal life with him. when our hearts become HIS and we seek HIS glory we are the same as a child going to their parents seeking forgiveness. what we do in this lifetime; how we live, how we love, how we cherish will be judged by our FATHER in heaven.

our legacies will not be judged on the world's view, but GOD'S view. we will not be judged by how much money we make, but how we use that money. we will not be judged by how large are home is, but whom we welcome into that home. we will not be judged on the clothing we wear, but if we are willing to give that clothing to someone in need.

many of us reading this are in their thirties. we are trying to live our lives or, raise our families. we don't know how we will be perceived by the world or GOD, but i can pretty much bet we worry more about how the world perceives us than GOD. all that should matter to you is how GOD perceives you; HE knows your heart. HE knows if you have tried to the best of your ability to put HIM first and follow HIS laws. live your life by CHRIST'S example in scripture. we may stumble, but seeking forgiveness and grace from HIM should be the only thing you should worry about.

take for example the man that wrote amazing grace. john newton was a captain on a slave trading ship for britain. later in his life he accepted CHRIST into in his heart and devoted his life to GOD. it is hard for us to justify forgiveness for such horrific sins, but in the end it is GOD'S forgiveness and grace we should seek.

"for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge." 2 peter 1:5