Newton – Love and Grace

This is my 500th post to this blog and it will be pretty quick yet I wanted to share. I have written about his most famous of hymns but never have I ever delved into his works, his life, his ministry, but I came across this John Newton story today, in the places I seem to find. The story had to do with Newton’s love of his life, his wife Mary, and his reaction to her death in 1790.

First, a line from a letter he had written to his wife, “I am always a little awkward without you, and every room where you are not present, looks unfurnished.” I love this line and to me it speaks volumes of love, closely followed by the necessary apprentice for true love, humility.

Second, I share a few more words penned by Newton after Mary died, showing his love for her, his dealings in grief, and ultimately his love and faith in our Lord and Savior. “The Bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine.  But the Lord, the all-sufficient God, speaks, and it is done.  Let those who know Him, and trust Him, be of good courage.  He can give them strength according to their day.  He can increase their strength as their trials increase…and what He can do He has promised that He will do.” Amen.

http://wp.me/p1TwRa-80

 

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OBX The Trip

The week was a whirlwind of travel, adapting we all deploy
Mostly a magical Holiday feeling, for all ages, girl or boy

Thank you my brother for your abundance of generosity
Here I look deeper at seconds created by opportunity

We will never forget the road trips, trying if not epic
Where every turn and twist not a soul could predict

I ask each of you, and perhaps challenge you a bit too,
To peer beneath the surface, as an introspect might do

You possess the frame and even the visual that fits
Scan your minds eye, a personal collection of video clips

Zoom from above to the level that’s so, so close
Smile at the memory, repeat, take in a heavy dose

On the beach you pan in any direction among family
Each unto their own, they play, enjoy, just being happily

There’s the dinner table each night that sprawls endlessly
Fellowship amidst the feast with all the loved ones you see

Day trips and moments we all made our for ourselves
But the pure joy is there for each of us that delves

The evening around the screen we all did gather to spy
That breaking story like scenes from days long gone by

The elaborate collection of material captured by electronics
Too many exhibits for our minds focus to one firmly fix

So, make common, not this week, rather hold tight your grip
On the moments abundant carrying pure joy, OBX the trip