March 15, 2012
March 12th, 2012March 15, 2012
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
‘Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.
This hymn has been one of my favorite hymns since I was a child. It was this hymn that was sung as I was baptized at the age of 13 and one that makes me cry every time I hear it. I believe that it is truly by God’s grace that I am who I am today. It is by His grace that I was saved and by His grace that I was rescued from a very dysfunctional home and by His grace, I was able to escape the abuse that was part of my daily life as a child.
At first it was hard for me to accept that God would choose to save me. It was hard for me to accept God’s grace, a gift given to me free of charge. A gift that I felt I didn’t deserve. I was not popular, I came from a poor family, I had nothing going for me, yet I knew that God had a plan for me and that if I let Him, He would use me for His purposes. As I learned to trust God and to accept Him into my heart, I began to heal and eventually became a whole different person. I developed self-confidence, a will to live and a drive to break the chains of abuse that were my life and to become the person that God planned for me to be. His Amazing Grace did this for me and I am eternally thankful. My Lord loved me enough to die for me, I can never repay Him for this but I pray that I do His will as I seek to walk with Him.
Dear Lord,
You alone are our God! It is through Your grace that we are even alive. I pray that we would be mindful of Your amazing grace in our lives. You have made us and it is You who have authority over us. Help us to show others the love that You show us. Help us to do YOUR will and to show Your grace and love to others. Thank You for Your amazing grace in our lives and may all blessing and honor and glory be given to You most precious Lord. Amen
Julia Wheeler Dean