Amazing Grace 232/366

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2. This evening was our second Prayer in the City. Beforehand I met a gentleman and in our conversation discovered he's been a Christian for 42 years. One of the things we talked about was God's grace. He came to the park because he was lonely and just needed to get out of his house. He chose to stick around rather than leave and joined us in praying, singing and reading Scripture. After our walk, as I waited for the ones who walked with their two year old, I had a conversation with a woman I met several months ago. She was not part of the event, but was definitely part of God's plan for tonight. She and I also talked about God. We spent a lot of our time focused on how important it is to know that what He says about us, as opposed to what people say, is where our value comes from. His grace was part of that second conversation as well. 
3. Tonight it seems appropriate to share the song we sing at Prayer in the City: 
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5. 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.
6. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
   And grace my fears relieved;
   How precious did that grace appear
   The hour I first believed.
7. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
   I have already come;
   ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
   And grace will lead me home.
8. The Lord has promised good to me,
   His Word my hope secures;
   He will my Shield and Portion be,
   As long as life endures.
9. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
   And mortal life shall cease,
   I shall possess, within the veil,
   A life of joy and peace.
10. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
    The sun forbear to shine;
    But God, who called me here below,
    Will be forever mine.
11. *When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
    Bright shining as the sun,
    We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
    Than when we’d first begun.

John Newton, pub. 1779

*v. 7 by Anonymous/Unknown, pub. 1829

Ephesians 2:1-10

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."