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 was an adult convert to Christianity…. “by the grace of God I am what I am”
He was very aware how much farther he had to go as a disciple of Christ… “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…”
Before his conversion, he was a slaver and a horrible sinner… “but still I am not what I once used to be…”
John Newton went on to be powerfully used by God as a Pastor and Hymn Writer. You know him best for his most popular hymn, Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
That saved a wretch like me….
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
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Happy Birthday to my dear brother Craig L. Metcalf of Houston, Texas!
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9 comments:
My favorite verse is...
When we have been ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days
to sing God's praise
than when we first begun
Thanks for sharing a glimpse of Newton's life. Happy Wednesday! :o)
Newton knew knew a thing or two about grace. BTW, I think I remember hearing that last verse of Amazing Grace was written later, by someone else.
I can't get through that song EVER without crying. He knew what he was talking about!
I love that song.......not just because Daniel sings it but the words are wonderful.
Thanks for the visit.
Yvonne.
Gregg,
Isn't it true that the longer we know Christ, the more we realize just how amazing His grace is? I'm humbled every day that God saved a wretch like me. Thanks for the quote, too. Wonderfully encouraging!
I love the quote from Newton. Thank God for His grace that saves us and will see us safely home.
Like Paul, John Newton's eyes were opened. And like Paul, he seemed to possess a deepened humility brought by trials. I love the impact that he had on Wilberforce and the ending of the slave trade in Britain.
If we don't grow and change for the better, we are definitely in a bad way.
Yesterday's post was really a challenge. I read but it was very deep and I wasn't sure what to say. It was a good post though.
Lee
Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011
we must tell ourselves these truths daily.
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