January 31, 2016 (Sunday) – A great day to go to church!
John Newton, in his final days on earth, said, “Although my memory’s fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” Newton wrote the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” and hundreds of others.
When he was 6, John Newton’s mother died. After two years of schooling, he went out to sea with his father at age 11. As an adult he became a slave trader plowing the ocean in slave ships. After his conversion, he became a minister and spent the rest of his life serving the Lord. A former slaver, he became an abolitionist.
“Amazing Grace” is sung by many every day somewhere in the world. It is by far the best known of our hymns and is greatly loved.
“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am” ― John Newton |
John Newton 1725-1807 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. When 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’ve first begun. |
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