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.

 

The author of this beloved hymn knew the grace that he was praising.  He had indeed been a "wretch" until the Lord had, in his words, "...come from on high and delivered me out of deep waters".  He later became one of England's most evangelical preachers and hymn writers.  A life changed...truly that is "amazing grace".

 

In the doctor's office the other day, I noticed a magazine cover that was reporting on "The Life of the Amazing Joan Rivers".  With all due respect to a popular comedian, her public face...in my opinion...was anything but amazing.  Maybe she was considered funny...I found her to be rude and cruel.

 

Here is a better description of amazing.  Max Lucado in THE GRIP OF GRACE tells a story of a young monk with a troubled soul.  An older monk came alongside him and said:

 

We'll enter the abbey together and together we'll confess your sin.

No one but God will know which of the two of us fell.

 

That's amazing; that our Lord would pay the price of our sin that we might stand before our God blameless and clean.  He offers it to us free...generously...without limitation.  Why are we so stingy with the grace we extend to others?  Why do we honk when someone cuts in front of us on the highway?  Why do we come back with sassy one-liners when someone criticizes us?  Why do we teach our children to not let anyone cut in front of you?  By the way, that is the enemy who would keep us so rigid that we can't see beyond what we want rather than what we could give.

 

If the grace we receive is so amazing - and it is - then surely we can be more amazing (by His Spirit!) about the grace we extend.  Our world is waiting and watching to see if we will.

 

For further study:  Numbers 6:25, Pr. 21:26, Isaiah 30:18, Matthew 10:8, Luke 6:38, John 1:17, Acts 20:35, 2 Cor. 6:1, Galatians 2:21, Hebrews 12:15

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly



 



What God promises he has the power to do - Rom. 4:21

Standing on the promises I cannot fail

Listening every moment to the Spirit's call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all

Standing on the promises of God

 

Sometimes I wonder how courageous I would be if I really, really, really believed in the promises God gives to us in the Bible.  Do we even know what those promises are, let alone know the power given behind those promises? Paul was reminding the believers in Rome about the great faith of Abraham and how because he believed in God's promises he was considered righteous by the only One that can judge our faith.  There is no other explanation for a father being willing to sacrifice his son (Gen. 22) other than faith that the one who made a promise to him would be faithful to carry it out.

 

I have often been insecure in taking driving trips alone...I'm sure it stems from being a single woman and having car trouble.  We have AAA, I have a cell phone, I don't travel at night...I do all the right things, most of the time.  Several weeks ago, Don and I were going to a wedding outside of our city;  I was driving so he could review his notes...often the case with my preacher-husband!  All of a sudden a tire pressure warning message came on that said I was quickly losing pressure in a tire...19, 16, 14, 9, 6, 2...barely time to get off the highway.  I'm telling you my heart was pounding - and my man was with me!!  By God's goodness, immediately we came to an auto service place and they quickly took care of us. God had certainly provided!  My point is if I had ever taken the time to read the car manuel, I would have known my car had power to warn me of impending danger...in all different places in my car.  I think I would have spent a lot less time worrying about what would happen if I had a flat tire if I knew there was a warning system in place.

 

God gives us hundreds of promises in the Bible...because of His great love for us.  Not only does He gives us those promises, but as we learn from Paul, He has the power to carry them out.  In Hebrews 11:17, the author tells us "Abraham...embraced the promises" when he was about to sacrifice his one and only son.  Was that a courageous thing for him to do...you better believe it!

 

Have you read God's instruction manuel to us?  Do you know how many promises He has made to you about how much He loves you, how he will be with you ALWAYS, how He will comfort you, forgive you, guide you, bless you and hundreds more.

 

I believe I'm going to worry less about things that probably won't happen and memorize more of His promises!  How about you?

 

For further study:  Joshua 23:14, 2 Chron. 32:7, Psalm 147:5, Acts 1:7-8, Romans 1:16, 1 Cor. 1:18, 2 Cor. 12:9, 1 Thes. 5:24, 2 Tim. 1:7, 2 Peter 3:9, Hebrews 10:23.

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly