Amazing Grace

I almost used laziness as an excuse for staying home from church today, but I am glad I did not.

One of the songs we sung today was called "Amazing Grace" written by John Newton in 1779. This is probably one of the most well known hymns ever written. It is a very moving hymn, especially when over 300 (not an exact count) people are singing it together. Please take the time to listen to it by clicking here.

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.

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

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, 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 called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

My pastor today spoke on Acts 12:3-19, where Peter is miraculously freed from jail and a certain death by beheading, similar to what Herod did to James in verse 2, which I mentioned in the post from Sunday last..

It is interesting to note that there were sixteen guards watching Peter, rotating every three hours in four groups of four. Two would guard the door while the other two were shackled on either side of the prisoner. In the morning, when Peter was nowhere to be found, Herod ordered the guards put to death in the prisoners' place. Which is to say that these men were beheaded for letting their prisoner escape.