John Newton; former slave trader repenting of his sinful doing and receiving God's Grace wrote this song.
Grace according to Miriam Webster :
unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a special favor.
Grace (from the Greek New Testament word charis) is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration/rebirth or sanctificatin; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.
Grace in my life, simply has enabled me to get to the point where I am now. Being born in the 60's in Germany has been very different from being born in the US at that time.
When "becoming free" the Hippie way was the thing to do in the US, it had still been very stiff and hush-hush in Germany. Anything and anyone against the grain of life was to be treated as outcast.
Being born into a family with an absentee father, growing up with a grandmother was very much frowned upon. Therefore, my upbringing was centered around a lot of pain and hardship. What has made Germany great in business and has prospered the country was pride and a great work ethic. But part of that pride has hurt people to the extend that some ways of life where just too hard.
I remember one particular unwritten rule: Never ask for help unless there is NO other way. You see, that makes people and families lonely and hard of heart.
Grace from God in my life has given me the correct outlook on this world and specially people. Not that I always respond correctly but I have a "heavenly" standard now. God's Grace has taken my hardness of heart and softened me.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26
Yes, I have good German qualities in my genes and thought process, but some of those thoughts where a stumbling block toward loving God's people and of course loving God with my whole heart and mind. He has changed it over the years.
In 1994, I first came to live in the US and it was the year that I dedicated my life to God again. Yes, it has been a long walk.
In 1994, I first came to live in the US and it was the year that I dedicated my life to God again. Yes, it has been a long walk.
That is part of the sanctification process, as we surrender ourselves to God's will in our live. Grace has helped me to obey God's commandments, walk away from unhealthy relationships, trust God and most important: believe God.
Grace has definitely been a gift from God to me. Looking back now, I just cannot claim any successful changes in myself and to my own strenght. This has only been happening by the Grace of God and His love for me.
One day, more than 15 years ago, I heard God's voice: "Are you willing to do what it takes to change the future of your descendants?" I immediately jumped up for joy and loudly proclaimed YES! Well, to be honest, if I would have known all that it takes to accomplish that, I would have NEVER signed up. But once again, looking back, it has been well worth it.
Many of you reading this may have had great relationships with their parents and I am glad for that. But many have not, and God's Grace can be such a gift in changing the past into a beautiful future, well worth living. There has been such chaos and sin running in my family and now my children and their children have a clean slate to live their lives for God. Being blessed and prosperous in their souls first and everything else added on. Isn't that exactly what we want as parents for our children? Well God is a parent too and He wants the very best for His children, which are you and I. Be blessed, I pray and enjoy the gift of Grace in your life.
Farewell, til next time......
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