Tag Archive | Fanny Crosby

Kissing Cousins

Feb14

Fanny Crosby’s life story is fascinating. She developed a severe eye infection when she was just six weeks old. The family doctor was out of town so another doctor came to see her. He asked the mother to put a poultice of hot mustard on her eyes until the infection cleared. The remedy blinded the little girl. The family found out later that the man who treated her was not a doctor, but a certified quack.

Fanny’s first poem, written at age eight, could be the anthem for her life: O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world, contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy, that other people don’t. To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot and I won’t!

The budding song writer did not spend her time angry, bitter, or resentful about her blindness. She grew up to be a prolific writer. During her lifetime she wrote the lyrics to over eight thousand gospel songs, many of which we sing today. “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” (1868), “Blessed Assurance” (1873), and “To God Be the Glory” (1875). She was content with her life struggles and thankful for the gifts God gave her. She channeled her intellect and energy into doing good.

Contentment and thankfulness go hand in hand. One is closely attached to the other. They are kissing cousins, so to speak. God’s people were often examples of the opposite, discontentment and ingratitude. They murmured and complained after God delivered them from bondage (Exodus 17:2-3). They were discontent with the judge, Samuel, and cried out for a king (1 Samuel 8:4-5). They were not satisfied to serve the one true God, but worshiped idols (1 Kings 16:30-33). After they returned from captivity, they were not content to take Hebrew wives. Instead, they took foreign women (Ezra 9:1-2). In each case, their poor decisions led them down a dark path filled with undesirable consequences.

Paul recognized the importance of being content and thankful. He wrote Christians, Now godliness with contentment is great gain (1Timothy 6:6). Despite the harshness of his life, Paul said, Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (Philippians 4:11).

Contentment is neither inborn nor accidental. It is a decision. When we choose to be content with the life we have been given, we will be thankful for everything, good and bad. We will trust God to keep us humble when we abound, and gently lift us up when we falter.

May we, like Fanny Crosby, strive each day to be thankful and content in all things. In this, let us praise God and magnify His holy name! Today’s verses:, Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5), giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).

–Teresa Hampton
Audio studies available at http://christianwomanaudiodevotionals.abiblecommentary.com

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land

Sep21

He was lost. The desert stretched before him, endless, dry, forbidding. He wiped the dust from his forehead. His sweat evaporated immediately, leaving only dry salt that irritated his face.

He saw it coming. The wall of sand raced toward him. He ran. Fear surged through him. No cover offered protection, only a few large rock formations sticking up from the desert floor like giant stalagmites. The storm was gaining on him. He felt the sand bullets striking the nape of his neck. He sprinted toward an outcropping of stone. His eyes stung from the whirling sand. He scoured the rock with his hands, searching for a place to hide from the storm that now enveloped him. He found a small cleft, just large enough to squeeze into. He pulled his jacket up over his head and lay protected from the stormy blast.

How often do we feel pelleted by worry, pain, disease, and death? How we long to find that cleft of rock! What joy to know that we have that protection! Fanny Crosby said it well in her song, “A Wonderful Savior:”

“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
that shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
and covers me there with His hand.”

And as God is inclined to do, he heaps the blessings on us.

He gives us friends. We all have that one special brother or sister in Christ to whom we can take any problem, any hurt, any joy, and know that, even though our words may not come out right, he’ll understand our heart’s intent. If you don’t have such a friend, be one! “A man who has friends must himself be friendly” (Proverbs 18:24, NKJV).

He gives us an earthly family. I love my church family here in Winona. Not a large congregation, we are only about seventy souls. They are such a loving church, helping each other during difficult times, enjoying each other during good times. They are a cleft in the rock for me. I know that during times of crisis, those brothers and sisters will be there for me. I have no doubt!

He gives us a heavenly family. Angels watch over us (Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:12), the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26,27), our Brother lived and died for us and bore the separation from God for us. We have a Father who gave his most precious Son for us.

Surely, he hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, and covers me there with his hand!

by Barbara Ann Oliver