Are any of you tired yet of being stuck in the house? Well, I for one am.
However, and let me repeat that, however, it has been an awesome time to spend precious fellowship with Jesus!
It's also been a good time to finish off a track that I've been working on for a while: Amazing Grace by John Newton.
If you've never heard of John Newton, you can read more on Wikipedia about his life, but I would like to reference his epitaph since he wrote it himself for his tomb:
"JOHN NEWTON. Clerk. Once an infidel and libertine a servant of slaves in Africa was by the rich mercy of our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST preserved, restored, pardoned and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy. Near 16 years as Curate of this parish and 28 years as Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth."
You see, John Newton was a very wicked man at one time who worked on a slave trading ship. Similar to the Apostle Paul, John had a radical transformation by a loving God that changed his life forever.
He had a huge change of heart and a reversal in his priorities with people.
Since we've all had more time to think about our priorities in life in light of recent events, now's a good opportunity to ponder over where your life is and how you can spend time with a God who loves you!
Many people think this is a very ethereal exercise that only some can practice.
I'm here to dispel that thought by saying that all people have a spiritual nature that was created by an eternal and all-powerful Creator.
To deny that is to deny reality.
Men and women throughout the ages have spent time alone with God through prayer, reading the bible, and meditation. Not in trying to empty oneself as some eastern religions believe, but to fill oneself up with God who is Spirit.
Perhaps this scripture will help: "For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” https://www.bible.com/bible/116/JHN.4.24.NLT
Or this one: "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." https://www.bible.com/bible/116/2CO.3.17.NLT
One Pastor from the Seattle area who I listened to recently online said that this is the 'Season of the Global Monastery.'
I like that because it sums up what all of us are having to do right now. We're sequestered in the monastery of our own homes. We can't spend time in social or group gatherings like we did just a couple of weeks ago.
We can though still worship our creator and sing hymns and worship songs to Him during this time.
In fact, He may have allowed this time to have us spend more time with Him. If you think about it for a minute, a passionate and loving Father would want to spend time with His children.
He wouldn't make something bad happen, but He would use it to draw those He loves to Him and teach them more about Himself.
Let's enjoy some Amazing Grace together. And, you can download my new song to enjoy it with!
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