NOTE: This is a very familiar hymn,
sung at the funeral of both of my parents.
Do you know the story behind it? The
following is a shortened version.
God bless you!
Carol
****************************
You Bring the Hymnal, I'll bring the History
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Imagine with me back to the year 1746.
A ship is docking on the coast of West Africa.
Its purpose is to snatch unsuspecting people
and sell them as slaves in the far off countries.
The captain of this ship is known far and wide
for his debauchery, vulgarity and blasphemy.
But one day in 1748, while reading the book
"The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A. Kempis,
our captain comes face to face with his sin
and turns his life over to Jesus, the Savior
of sinners. Our captain is John Newton. After
his conversion and dedication to Christ, he
became a pastor and hymn writer. His most famous
of hymns, "Amazing Grace", is a testimonial of
his conversion to Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Thru many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath 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
Then when we'd first begun.