Why is Grace so Amazing?

This is Chris Tomlin's version of the classic hymn Amazing Grace. We sing this over and over again throughout the ages, at various churches and hear it all over the world. Sometimes we forget exactly what we are singing about. Between the twas and thees and thous, what are we really raising our hands and singing loudly about...Here is another rendition of the song with a more in-depth look at each phrase:


Amazing grace
Unbelievable, shocking, marvelous pardon for everything selfish, prideful, disgusting thing I have done

How sweet the sound
How treasured, how in awe I am of that word, grace.


That saved a wretch like me
That came to rescue, set free, salvaged, defended, an immoral, self-loving, sin-enjoying, God-hating, filthy person like me who found joy in sinning against something so pure and holy

I once was lost, but now I'm found
I once, before now, before that moment was lonely, off-track, fallen between the cracks, hidden, astray, invisible, without, wayward, BUT NOW I'm brought into being, established, brought into the light, a new creation

Was blind, but now I see
Was uncontrolled, unprotected, near-sighted, unthinking, leading nowhere, BUT NOW I have been uncovered, REVEALED, opened, have clarity, perceive with my eyes, pay attention to

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
It was that pardon from suffering, that pardon from death, that Someone stuck by me through my pain and still called me Their child that showed, that instructed my heart, my soul, my well-spring of life, my humanity, essence to stand in awe of, revere the Lord



And grace my fears relieved
It was that pardon that my awe and respect for the Lord soothed; It was grace that made me realize what the consequences were and that grace pardoned ME from the road to DEATH

How precious did that grace appear
In my darkest, loneliest moment I was rescued, I was saved.

The hour I first believed
Immediately.

My chains are gone
My restrictions, the things I have been a slave to no longer have power over me, 

I've been set free
I've been bailed out, let off the hook, redeemed,

My God, my Savior has ransomed me
My powerful, loving God, My DELIVERER, my defender has bought my freedom, cleared my past, absolved me of blame and responsibility

And like a flood His mercy rains
And like an uncontrollable, powerful, unexpected flood our Judge, our Ancient of Days pardons us from the death penalty

Unending love, Amazing grace
Over and over and over again, eternal love, undeserved freedom and redemption

The Lord has promised good to me
The Giver of all good and perfect things has committed a full, abundant life to me

His word my hope secures
My anticipation is dependent on His truth

He will my shield and portion be
He will be my protection, Guarder of my heart, my security, my defense and every missing piece, my fulfillment 


As long as life endures
Forever.
[2x]
My chains are gone
Everything that has kept me from living a FULL life, a content life, a SATISFIED life is gone

I've been set free
I've been untangled, given a new body, a new mind, a new Spirit, and a clean slate

My God, my Savior has ransomed me
This God I had always read and studied about CHOSE ME, gave me a new life, restored me from brokenness, found me WORTHY

And like a flood His mercy rains
No matter what I've done, no matter how many times I've already said sorry, no matter how many times i've said no, He doesn't give up on me, He doesn't leave me like everything the life has to offer does

Unending love, Amazing grace
He doesn't leave, He doesn't condemn you, He calls you His prize, His bride, His child, Unfathomable is this forgiveness He has that He can choose to forget your sin and separate you from it
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
This life is but a moment.

The sun forbear to shine
The light will cease

But God, Who called me here below
But the Creator Who had a plan for me

Will be forever mine
Will be there for me always

Will be forever mine
Never leave me or forsake me,

You are forever mine
I will never leave You Jesus.




What are YOUR chains? Why is grace so amazing? I know the Lord has saved me from the path I was heading down. He rescued me from death. 


Sex outside of marriage can lead to stds, abortion, emotional baggage, depression. Depression can lead to thinking irrationally, and make you contemplate even taking your own life. 


Alcohol can grow from a social activity to an escape from the pain. After a night of drinking at the bar, your mind tells you he never loved you and you were never good enough, causing you to think for even a moment, if I were to wreck my car, that'd show him! 


Drugs can be a way to chill out or to have fun, but when you start choosing drugs over your family, support system, and friends, your become controlled by them. You can't function or be happy or have fun unless you have smoked, taken that pill, or had that hit. It makes you forget about the past, the present and even the future. When you can't hold that job or pay your bills and every bail out you had deserts you... where are you headed?


You see, I have been a victim of all of these mechanisms Satan uses to steal, kill and destroy. 


But AMAZING GRACE! I found the Jesus can renew my body. He can redeem me. He died for me in spite of all the things I've done and let others do to me. 


AMAZING GRACE!  He washed away all of the abuse, the one night stands, the emptiness, the shame, the ways I had learned to satisfy myself instead of letting Jesus... 


AMAZING GRACE I am drug and alcohol free. 


AMAZING GRACE I am no longer a slave to sin. The only thing I need is Jesus.


AMAZING GRACE I found "The One" to spend my life with and have a beautiful baby girl, and a family that loves and supports me. I am surrounding by people that love the Lord and challenge me in my faith. I have a job in ministry and other jobs that allow me to do what I love while having time to nurture and grow with my family. 


AMAZING GRACE is what I sing, hands lifted high, tears streaming down my face. I do NOT deserve this and I am SO unashamedly thankful!

WHOA it's been a while!

So, I apologize for the long absence in blogging. I didn't want to write with hormonal outbursts, rants, or other trivial things while I was pregnant with our first baby, then I was overwhelmed with the role as a mommy. Now that our baby girl Kinsley is 6 months, and going to bed around 7:30pm, I am going to try to start it up again.

I admit I had been waiting for the "PERFECT" blog or idea the Lord laid on my heart, that would change people... but I've realized, if I'm waiting for the perfect message, I'll be waiting forever. So, I decided to just jump in and tell you just what the Lord is doing in my life.

My heart and passion is for teenage girls- no doubt about it! The Lord laid that desire on my heart and led me to trust Him that I would be working in ministry. I prayed about it constantly and though I would go through months of forgetting my calling, He would bring it back with an intense fiery passion.

I heard about this private school, Grace Academy, that originally supplemented homeschoolers and provided classes like fashion, sewing, and a girls Christian growth class. I KNEW without a doubt God was calling me there. I wrote many times to the school, filling out applications on a whim, and trying to get an "in" when I finally got called in for an interview.... for an assistant position in media. I had them in front of me at least, and poured out my heart to them. I shared my testimony, where I felt God was leading, and my desire to share with young girls. They totally saw that I was not meant for the position they called me to interview for, but also informed me they already had the Christian growth class filled. They offered some computer classes and math but I am not a "teacher" so I said I was not qualified to teach those. I didn't know computer or math, but I knew I wanted to minister.

They wanted to keep in touch and if the position became available, for some reason or another, they'd give me a call. Months went by and I can't remember if I did this before or after I had my baby, but I knew I needed to have some supplemental income and I looked to see at the positions still available at Grace. They had a Graphic Design position available, and since I'm artsy and I know Photoshop, I applied.

Before I knew it, I was signing a contract to teach graphic and web design classes twice a week. That was so God. I had 3 months at home with Kinsley, and then started school at the end of August. Over and over again God was teaching me that He doesn't call the qualified, but He qualifies the called.

October came and I found out that the Christian growth teacher is now PREGNANT, and leaving on maternity leave in February. I headed straight to the office and offered to fill in. I was OVERJOYED and KNEW it was the Lord. They also told me that she was staying home with the baby and not coming back next year.... WHOA! I start subbing Jan. 31 and they hope to move me right into that position! Now THAT is FAITH!

I'm going to start blogging more since I will be more involved with the students and learning new material. If you are a teen or a mom of a teen, or even a friend of a teen, PLEASE ANONYMOUSLY  write a comment below letting me know some topics I could base my lesson plans off of... areas of temptation, struggles, questions, etc. That would be awesome! Looking forward to furthering the Kingdom!