Update: Jacque at Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths has started a meme about Psalms and Praise Songs. I am posting an update on this entry to participate in her theme. Go to her site and check out her latest post!

Here is the first in a series of posts that will focus on music, most specifically on music that encourages us in our walk with God. There are so many wonderful songs to discuss, so I hope that you will enjoy learning the background of each of these songs.

The song that I would like to begin with is a wonderful hymn that I know we all are familiar with…Amazing Grace. The tune is especially familiar, but you may not be aware of the history behind the lyrics and composition of the song.

John Newton (1725-1807) was the composer of this hymn, which like many hymns of that time, was sung by a different tune. The lyrics however are the same:

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

John Newton had been involved in slave trading for years and even continued this after his conversion in 1748. He later decided to give up the slave trade to become a minister. Many of his sermons led to others realizing a need for the abolition of slavery.

To me this is an example of God’s grace. A man that made decisions in his life that brought pain to others was saved and used for God’s glory! He clearly realized the grace that was freely given to him and thanked God for it through his prolific lyrics and in his actions towards others.

How many of us can use an example from our lives that demonstrate the grace of God? I know I can….and more than once. God has continued to pull me under the shadow of his wing more times than I can count. There are times that we think we see the whole picture….but then are shown the real “whole picture”. It is humbling, is it not?

It is also a picture of the love of God. He loves His children. That is so evident. When I was in a situation a few years ago that could have been devastating for me and my child, it was God’s love that prevented me from taking a step further (even though I thought I was making the right decision). He knew the “whole picture” and later when I saw what had been waiting for me, I was humbled by God’s love for me.

I think that John Newton was a humbled man. He made choices (wrong choices) and turned to God. Through each circumstance, either good or bad, he acknowledged God’s grace and love, and the belief in his ultimate destination.

Want to learn more? John Newton and Amazing Grace

Want to hear Amazing Grace?

What I am about to share was totally unplanned, but I just ran across a website that is promoting Amazing Grace Sunday for the movie by Walden Media, Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace Sunday is today, February 18, 2007 and churches are encouraged to sing the hymn Amazing Grace, to show unity in support of abolishing slavery. The idea is that the participating churches would be singing at one time…the same song…in unity.

I have not seen this film. I haven’t even watched the trailer, so I am not promoting the movie or Amazing Grace Sunday. It is just more info to check out about the history of this song and what it is encouraging others to accomplish.

I hope this post has encouraged you to listen to this song a little more closely, to experience the rich history within it’s composition and to realize the grace of God is very real… John Newton experienced it in his life and so do we…every day.

HT: Emerging Women