Amazing Grace

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. I am combining my Fearfully Fabulous Friday and Then Sing My Souls Saturday.

For Fearfully Fabulous Friday, I have been reflecting on God's Amazing Grace in my life and the way He has been answering my prayers for Emily and so many others in my life. God's mercies and faithfulness never cease to amaze me!

I am reminded afresh of God's grace in my life ever since I know Him.

God draw me to Himself while I was yet a sinner, saved me from my sins and continue to shower His love and grace on me day by day. I live by His grace daily.

God is with me through all the changing scenes in life. And in all my trials, afflictions and difficulties, His grace has been sufficient for me and nothing will ever separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. What a mercy!

I read this encouraging portion from Horatius Bonar’s “Follow The Lamb” which I hope will encourage you too:

"Thou therefore, my son, be strong, in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1)

It was this grace or free love which first began with you, and with which you began. It was this which you at first “apprehended,” or rather, which “apprehended” you; and your special character is that of men who “know the grace of God” (Col 1:6); who have “tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Pet 2:3); men on whom God has had compassion (Rom 9:15); men to whom He has shown His forgiving love. Such is your name.

This grace of God is your strength, as it is your joy; and it is only by abiding in it that you can really live the life of the redeemed.

Be strong, then, in this grace; draw your joy out of it; and beware how you turn to anything else for refreshment, or comfort, or holiness.

Though a believing man, you are still a sinner; a sinner to the last; and, as such, nothing can suit you but the free love of God.

Be strong in it. Remember that you are saved by believing, not by doubting. Be not then a doubter, but a believer.

Draw continually on Christ and His fulness of this grace. If at any time you are beguiled away from it, return to it without delay; and betake yourself to it again just as you did at the first. To recover lost peace, go back to where you got it at first; begin your spiritual life all over again: get at once to the resting place.

Where sin has abounded, let grace much more abound. Do not go back to your feelings, or experiences, or evidences, in order to extract from them a renewal of your lost peace. Go straight back to the free love of God. You found peace in it at first; you will find peace in it to the last. This was the beginning of your confidence; let it be both last and first.

This abounding grace, rightly understood, will not make you sin; it will not relax morality or make inconsistency a trifle. It will magnify sin and enhance its evil in your eyes. Your footing or “standing” in grace (Rom 5:2) will be the strongest, as well as most blessed, that you can ever occupy. If your feet be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15), you will be able to “stand” and to “withstand”; not otherwise. Remember how Paul and Barnabas urged this upon the Jews of Antioch, “persuading them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43; Gal 5:4; Titus 2:11; 1 Peter 5:12).

(Excerpts from Horatius Bonar’s “Follow The Lamb”)

Thank God for His Amazing Grace that saved me while I was yet a sinner and now His grace is keeping me through each day. And by His grace, I shall one day be with Him in glory to worship Him and enjoy His love and fellowship for all eternity. What a blessed hope!

For Then Sing My Souls Saturday I like to share the hymn Amazing Grace written by John Newton.

Wikipedia has a write-up on John Newton and his writing of Amazing Grace. John newton (July 24, 1725 – December 21, 1807) was a former slave-ship captain.

Someone wrote :

John Newton was a slave trader. He trafficked thousands of men, women and children. in 1748 a violent storm threatened to sink his ship and he fell to his knees and prayed to God for mercy. It was that night that John Newton sensed that there is a God who hears and answers prayers. He can save the worst of men. Over time, Newton repented. He became a preacher and writer of hymns together with William Cowper.

In 1772 he wrote a hymn called "Faith's Review and Expectation", a song that we know now as "Amazing Grace". It became perhaps the most popular song in history. A song that with a few notes lifts the head of the hopeless and softens the heart of the hardened.

On September 11th, "Amazing Grace" was sung to comfort a mourning world. It was sung after the hurricane Katrina, reviving the spirit of a fallen city.

Grace has the power to transform to right the wrongs, and turned a man who was once traded slaves into one who fought for their freedom.

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

"Amazing Grace"

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, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­i­ver, 1779)

This touching video with an introduction to John Newton's writing of "Amazing Grace" is posted by betahifi on YouTube. This "Amazing Grace" is sung a capella by Judy Collins, accompanied by the Harlem Boy's Choir, performing at the national Memorial Day Concert, Washington, DC, May 1993.



Here's another Video of "Amazing Grace" sung a sweet little girl Zoei Toh :)



May you continue to know God's love and Amazing Grace in very special ways today and everyday!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a blessed weekend!

For more participants of Fearfully Fabulous Friday, do visit Jill.

For more participants of Then Sing My Souls Saturday, do visit Amy.

Thankful Thursday

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Psalm 36:5"

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thanks for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ Today I am thankful to God for hearing our prayers for Emily and her family. Thank you for praying for Emily and her family. Thank God for His mercies and faithfulness!

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I shared that my friend, Peggy, has started "Mission 4 Monday" and while visiting M4M blogs, I came across Liza's Eyeview. Liza shared about her friend Emily who was hit by car on a Wednesday afternoon 2 weeks ago. Emily suffered multiple fractures. A surgery done on Saturday went well and thank God that on Tuesday 2nd Sept Emily has regained consciousness.

Thank God for His further mercies and faithfulness to Emily and her family. On Saturday, 6 September, Emily was moved out of the ICU. On Monday, 8 September, Emily was able to have her breakfast at the courtyard and able to make some phone calls. Praise and thank God!

♥ Thank God that we serve a Great God Who is greater than any circumstances in our life!

He is a God that hears our prayers and delight to answer it according to His mercies.

What a mercy that we can come before our Heavenly Father's throne of grace daily to cast all our anxieties and care upon Him and to find strength, grace, joy and peace for each day to walk with Him and serve Him.

Please continue to join me in prayers for Emily and her family, if you can.

Josh Spencer's update on Wed, 10 September:

" ... Emily's personality, memory, and conversation abilities are coming back well. And her physical movements. It's mostly her cognitive abilities -- attention, judgement, social behavior skills, problem & decision-making skills, etc. -- which are lagging.

Everyone tells us it will take 6 months to a year of rehab for those functions to be healed, if they ever are. Most brain injury survivors need some form of rehab for the rest of their life, but many can still return to productive, "normal" lives with the right help.

Everyone, please continue to pray for the Lord to continue healing Emily's mind in whatever way he sees fit, and that our family would have the wisdom to do what's best for Emily, and for the medical system to do so also."

Liza's update and prayer request at Praying For Emily on Wed, 10 September are:

Praise Report:

The rehab doctor told Linda that they may possibly send Emily home on Thursday or Friday! OK, this is advance report...not definite yet. The rehab doctor will make a decision on Wednesday (which is today). I will let you know of the decision as soon as I hear from Jenny or Linda.

Prayer Requests:

1. For Emily's mind to continue to recover. We are so happy and excited about Emily saying words and "conversing". Considering the accident and the severity of her condition when she first got in the hospital, it's a miracle that she's talking and conversing at this time. However, she far from total recovery. At this point, she speaks in a "child like manner" and not yet the Emily that used to be before the accident. Therefore this is something we can focus our prayers on. For a complete healing of her mind.

2. For Emily's emotions. Jenny mentioned that Emily was sad yesterday. We can all understand that. We understand how she will go through a vast variety of emotions throughout the recovery process. Please keep her in prayer on that area. Emily is a strong and sweet young lady, and I know that she will get through this ordeal but it is not easy.

3. For the pain to subside and be gone. Jenny did not mention about the pain yesterday but I know that's a big issue. Please continue to pray that all the pain will subside.

4. For logistics, etc. - If the rehab doctor decides that Emily will be able to go home sometime this week, there will be a lot of decisions to make in term of logistics and support. Pray as the Spirit leads.

5. Strength and wisdom for Emily's family - this prayer request is from me, not from Jenny. I just know that Emily's family needs a lot of prayers for strength and wisdom during Emily's recovery. I know you are already praying for this, so this is just a reminder :)

Thank you so much for keeping up with the blog and for all your prayers and support. God bless you all.

Liza

♥ Thank God for preserving Emily and giving her a heart to serve the Lord even in her afflictions.

Emily's mother, Linda wrote on Monday, 8 September:

"....Early this morning, when just Emily and I were awake, she was thanking the Lord and asking Him to use her. When I reminded her that He was using her in a mighty way thru her blog to thousands of people around the world, she nodded her head and said,"ok". I am constantly reminded of God's grace, goodness, faithfulness and powerful love in watching each small and large step that Emily is taking. Thank you for all the kind words but most of all your prayers. Each of us are witnesses to God's deep, deep love for his children. May He richly bless each of your lives.

In His Son's Worthy Name,
Linda"

It is encouraging to read of how Emily is thinking of serving the Lord and asking Him to use her even in her affliction now! Praise God for using this accident to be a testimony of His mercies, goodness and faithfulness.

I am reminded of the song I posted last Saturday for Then Sing My Souls Saturday.

Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Thank God that He loves us and is in control of all situations in our life so that even in the storm we can praise Him for His love, mercies and faithfulness.

♥ I am thankful to God once again for providing precious people in my life ie. my family, church, friends and blogging friends who love and care for me in their very wonderful ways.

♥ I am thankful to God once again for all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. I have been so greatly blessed by all of you and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. It is wonderful to read of how God is guiding and blessing you in your walk with our Lord and it encourages me in my walk with God too. Thanks again for your prayers and encouragements.

May you know God's love and care in very special ways today and everyday!

How about you? How has the Lord blessed you through the past week?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a blessed and thankful day!

For more participants of Thankful Thursday, do visit Iris at Sting My Heart. It will be a very blessed and spiritually uplifting experience for you!