Tag: Fanny J Crosby

Posted on

What Is YOUR Story?

We sing that we have a “Blessed assurance,” but what does that mean? When you say/sing that “Jesus is mine,” how does that change your life…does it change your life?

We must consider the rest of this verse if we are to fully understand the value and importance of this assurance in Christ. You will sing that you are an heir of salvation and that you’ve been purchased of God. Have you been born of His Spirit and washed in His blood? If you have, and if you are walking with Christ, then you have blessed assurance.

But you have to realize it doesn’t stop there. As a matter of fact, Fanny J. Crosby realized there was more to this ‘blessed assurance.’ Notice the the importance found the next two verses; “Perfect submission…” Are you prepared to submit to the King of Kings? When you do then you realize that when Christ returns, the joy (rapture) of heaven will burst on our sight. And even in her blindness, Fanny J. Crosby wrote about ‘seeing’ Christ when He comes to take us home. Notice the reference to Matthew 24:31 as she writes, ‘…angels descending.’

So take note of the rest we find with the assurance we have in Christ. The third verse simply states in my Savior I am “happy and blessed.” And with this blessed assurance, we are watching and waiting for Christ to come and take us home. It amazes me how our author of this song used the eyes of her heart to ‘look above.’ It really is no surprise to me that Fanny J. Crosby wrote that this blessed assurance was her story and her song.

Still the question is for you and I to answer is simple. Will you have a heart of submission to Christ? Are you ‘lost in His love?’ Spend your life praising God and singing of His glory. Search for and find that perfect submission. When you do, then you can answer the question…What is Your Story?

Posted on

Pass Me Not…

Looking at the second in this series of articles to highlight some of Fanny J. Crosby’s songs, let’s consider the words of one of her songs from 1868. Just 3 years after the pain of the American Civil War, she was encouraged to write this hymn as the result of a visit to a prison. It was in the spring of ’68 and William H. Doane recorded the following: “After she (Fanny J. Crosby) had spoken, and some of her hymns had been sung, she heard one of the prisoners cry out in a pleading voice, ‘Good Lord, do not pass me by!’.” The song finds it’s Biblical basis as we read of Christ passing by the blind me in Matthew 20:29-34. “Two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.’…”
An additional reference can be seen in the second verse of this song as we read Mark 9:24. Jesus and His disciples are speaking with a man concerning his son’s illness. The boy was possessed by a spirit, vs 17, and the disciples had not been able to cast the spirit out. In speaking to Jesus the man said, “…if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus response to the father’s plea was in the form of a question as he asked, “If You can?” All things are possible to him who believes.” In this statement Jesus offers hope to all mankind. And, like the troubled father, when we’re honest with ourselves we will admit our own short comings. In reply the father says what Fanny J. Crosby wrote and what we come to sing… “I do believe, help my unbelief…”
Would that we all have a heart that cries; “Savior, Savior! Hear my humble cry…”
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior…
Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition, help my unbelief.
Trusting only in Thy merit, would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit, save me by Thy grace.
Thou the spring of all my comfort, more than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee, Whom in Heav’n but Thee.
Posted on

Do You (Will You) Know Him?

Let’s take a moment and consider the blessing we have with so many talented hymn writers from across time. Historical figures like Isaac Watts (1700’s), Philip Bliss and William Bradbury (1800’s). Or more recently Albert Brumley, Thomas O. Chisholm and Lloyd O. Sanderson from the late 1800’s to mid 1900’s. But we’d be amiss if we failed to mention the more recent contributors; such as Chris Tomlin (How Great is Our God), Keith Getty (In Christ Alone) and Ken Young (Thomas’ Song). There are so many talented hymn writers/composers that this short article could never do them justice.
But for the next few weeks I’d like to look closely at a contributor who gave her heart and soul to writing hymns for God’s people. We’ll break down three of her most noted songs and perhaps grow closer to praising our God in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. In her writings, Francis Jane Crosby had a desire to place “a heightened emphasis on religious experiences, emotions, and testimonies”  when it came to singing to God. The style she used reflected a “sentimental, romanticized relationship between the believer and Christ.”
Perhaps you’ll remember some of the stories behind the wonderful hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. Consider the fact she had a great love for God’s Word and had memorized several books of the Bible (which served as the ‘fountain’ for her inspiration). Some many know that she authored/penned more than 9,000 songs during her life, and many under various pseudo names. But perhaps the most fascinating characteristic that this beautiful hymn writer brings to historical account is the fact she lost her sight at the age of 6 weeks! Before she could even register the memory of sight, she was blind. And though many would find this an opportunity for depression, her true heart was expressed as she wrote…
“It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”
And with that in mind, let’s consider a hymn she wrote in 1894 exemplifying her desire to ‘see’ God… “I Shall Know Him”
“When my lifework is ended, and I cross the swelling tide, when the bright and glorious morning I shall see; I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side, and His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him, and redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him, by the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face, and the luster of His kindly beaming eye; How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love and grace, that prepare for me a mansion in the sky.
Oh, the dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come, and our parting at the river I recall; To the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome home; but I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Through the gates to the city in a robe of spotless white, He will lead me where no tears will ever fall; In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight; but I long to meet my Savior first of all.”

 

Posted on

What Do You See?

Fanny J. Crosby wrote more than eight thousand songs during her life time.

Born in 1820 and raised in southeastern New York state, she was never afforded the privilege of seeing the sunrise or watching a bird fly through the air.  Before she had even seen 6 months of life, she was blinded by a ‘medical procedure gone wrong.’  And yet as we read any one of her many hymns, you’ll find that she was constantly referring to seeing and viewing all things godly.  Notice just a few of the thousands of hymns…

“Lo!  A spring of joy I see…” (All the Way My Savior Leads Me)

“We shall see the King of glory…” (Keep on Watching)

“Where our eyes shall see the beauty…” (At the Breaking of the Day)

“Visions of rapture now burst on my sight…” (Blessed Assurance)

“Let me now Thy glory see…” (Hear My Call)

“Ope thine eyes, behold and see…” (Church of Christ, O Sleep No More)

For someone who never saw the colors of life, she looked beyond this world and viewed things with her heart.  What has happened to those of us with strong eyesight?  The blessing of opening our eyes and viewing the sunrise; the pleasure we find in reading the printed word.  We are blessed with something those who are blind live without.  And yet some of us, with 20/20 vision, deliberately close our eyes to the promise of God.  It’s almost as if we are wondering in the wilderness.  Each of us have suffered from the bite of the serpent, and yet we dig in and refuse to ‘look upon’ the one who can heal and forgive.  It’s not a new scenario, and you’d think we’d learn from history.   Remember God’s words to Moses in Numbers 21:8, “…and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.”

When I consider all the thousands of songs that our feature poet penned in her day, there is one particular Fanny J. Crosby song I want you to read, perhaps for the first time.  It became known to me in the last seven or eight years and I was drawn to it by the title she had given it.  Ms Crosby’s religious affiliations were varied throughout her life time.  She worshiped with the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the Trinity Episcopal church and even the Dutch Reform church.  But with this smorgasbord of theology, she penned a most interesting hymn in 1905.  Not only do the words reach and touch me, the message is so timely for us today.  Follow along with the message and thought behind this 100 year old hymn.

Church of Christ, O Sleep No More

Church of Christ, thy Lord is calling;
Ope thine eyes, behold and see,
Precious souls, in chains of bondage,
Pleading now for aid from thee.
Up and work for those that perish,
Haste, the time will soon be o’er;
Fold thy arms of love around them,
Church of Christ, O sleep no more.

Lo, again thy Lord is calling;
Preach the Word, its truth proclaim;
Lift thy voice and, like a trumpet,
Sound aloud Jehovah’s Name.
Boding clouds are in the distance,
Billows foam, and surges roar,
Dark and wild the night is coming,
Church of Christ, O sleep no more.

Still again thy Lord is calling;
Take the lamp that once He gave;
Let its beams of peerless glory
Shine afar the lost to save.
Do His will and do it quickly,
For the time will soon be o’er;
He may come when least expected,
Church of Christ, O sleep no more.

Are we guilt of falling asleep on the job?  This life is long and weary, and often times our pathway is a hard road and quite honestly…we’re tired.  But this is no time to sleep!  Church of Christ, we are called to bring the lost to Christ.  We have an obligation to do more than just see those who in need; we must be ready to ‘fold our arms of love around them.’  Too often, I’m afraid, we revert back and say, ‘I’m just too busy’, or ‘My schedule is already so full.’  If you hold to that philosophy, I’m sorry to say, but you’re blind!  Shine your light in a dark and dying world.  Look up and see those who are in need.  There are ‘boding clouds’ in the distance, and believe me, the ‘surges roar.’  But it ultimately comes down to you and how you view your life with Christ…”When you look around, what do YOU see?”