Tues.3.24.15...Jonah 2.. Share Your Story Too!

Amazing Grace!

Jonah was in such a great storm at sea. Yet the storm within him may have been even greater. Only God's amazing grace spared him. It reminds me of another man at sea, also hardened to the things of God, but in a very vile way. A gospel tract describes this man's life as follows- "One would be hard pressed to imagine, let alone to live, a blasphemous life equal to [his] early years.

In his youth he became the captain of a slave ship, landing at least one load of his human cargo in Charleston, South Carolina. It is reported that at times he was so drunk and destitute that even his crew regarded him as little more than an animal. Once he fell overboard and his ship’s crew refused to drop a boat to him. Instead they threw a harpoon at him, with which they dragged him back into the ship. He seemed oblivious to the plight of the poor black souls chained in the hold of his ship.

His willful and wanton disregard for all that is right and holy led him into a life plagued with despair, dangers at sea, abuse, public floggings, destitution, depression, near drownings and miraculous escapes." It took a great storm at sea, lasting four weeks, before John Newton finally started taking seriously the Scriptures his mother had taught him as a young boy. And now you know the story of the man, John Newton, who wrote the world famous song, "Amazing Grace."

Each person's story from sin to salvation is a song to God of His amazing grace. You and I can also sing our story of salvation-
      "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."

When I think of Jonah's life, though he was already "saved," he was a wretch and rebel as well. Stormy waters also caused him to finally to cry out to God and do His will. He writes out his turning point prayer and testimony in Jonah chapter 2.

Have you ever written out your testimony? It's really not hard to do. Remember the story of the blind man Jesus healed in John 9? He simply said, "I once was blind, but now I see." John 9:25. (Now you know where John Newton got those lyrics from.)

1.-So let's write out our Amazing Grace stories of how "I once blind, but now I see." Make it short. Write it out on the front and back of your MP3 card.

First, on the front of your card, briefly describe what your life was like before following Christ. We did something like this previously, but we just used key words that expressed how we felt, such as empty, depressed, hateful, etc. Feel free to use such again. You don't have to write out a full story, but when you share your testimony with others, share a story, if possible, when you were feeling empty, depressed, whatever it was for you. People love to listen to stories. Let me first share with you a snippet of my story as an example of how short you can make your testimony.

I pursued the "high life" throughout high school. But it left me so empty. I remember looking at my bloodshot eyes and asking, "Is this all there is?" Then I pursued philosophy and psychology in college, but that didn't fill the hole in my soul.  

Now briefly write out how Jesus has changed you. The blind man said, "The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.' So I went and washed, and now I can see!" John 9:11 NLT. What happened to you? How did you get saved or what was a significant spiritual turning point for you?

Here's what happened to me-

I was kicking around in a pile of autumn leaves and had such feelings of hatred toward my sister who had become a radiant Christian, filled with love and joy. I so resented her! But God used that to show me I needed Jesus too to forgive me and fill the hole in my soul. And He has! I'm not saying I'm perfect. Go ask my wife. But because of repenting and receiving Christ, I now have eternal life.

(Normally, I would also give you a verse to write on your 3x5 card, but I guess you've already filled it up :)

Got time to praise the Lord for His amazing grace? Enjoy this short video then. Beautiful scenery as well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I

Wow, what a lot of great encouraging comments I read yesterday! Perhaps you noticed we had two guys post for the first time yesterday- Phil Raymond, who lost his father a week ago and Ricardo (aka Rich) Guardiola. 

Don't forget to go each day to the Scoreboard and put your points on the board. By doing this you are a GREAT example to the Pros.