To this day, the vast majority of American hymnals contain her work. Some of her best known songs include “Blessed Assurance”, “Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home”, “Praise Him, Praise Him”, and “To God Be The Glory”. Because some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, Crosby used nearly 100 different fictitious names during her career.
Crosby did not spend her life in bitterness and defeat, but instead dedicated her life to Christ. At the age of eight she wrote these verses about her condition:
- Oh what a happy soul I am,
- 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."
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.She also once said, "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior"
(Wikipedia)
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Jesus, keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain, free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calvary’s mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever, till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
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Near the cross, a trembling soul, love and mercy found me; there the bright and morning star sheds its beams around me. (Refrain)
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Near the cross! O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me; help me walk from day to day with its shadow o’er me. (Refrain)
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Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, hoping, trusting ever, till I reach the golden strand just beyond the river. (Refrain)
One day when she desperately needed five dollars and had no idea where she could obtain it, Fanny followed her usual custom and began to pray about the matter. A few minutes later a stranger appeared at her door with the exact amount.
I have no way of accounting for this, she said, except to believe that God put it into the heart of this good man to bring the money. My first thought was that it is so wonderful the way the Lord leads me, and I immediately wrote the poem.
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All The Way My Savior Leads Me-
(1) All the way my Savior leads me-
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
(2) All the way my Savior leads me-
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul a-thirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see.
(2) All the way my Savior leads me-
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the day;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
Refrain
O’er time’s rapid river, soon we’ll rest forever; No more marchings weary when we gather home!
A few more nights of weeping, then we’ll gather home! A few more watches keeping, then we’ll gather home! A few more vict’ries over sin, A few more sheaves to gather in, A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!
Refrain
A few more sweet links broken, then we’ll gather home! A few more kind words spoken, then we’ll gather home! A few more partings on the strand, And then away to Canaan’s land: A few more marchings weary, then we’ll gather home!
Refrain
Haste thee, wand’rer, tarry not, At the cross there’s room! Seek that consecrated spot; At the cross there’s room! Heavy laden, sore oppressed, Love can soothe thy troubled breast; In the Savior find thy rest; At the cross there’s room!
Thoughtless sinner, come today; At the cross there’s room! Hark! the Bride and Spirit say, At the cross there’s room! Now a living fountain see, Opened there for you and me, Rich and poor, for bond and free, At the cross there’s room!
Blessèd thought! For every one At the cross there’s room! Love’s atoning work is done; At the cross there’s room! Streams of boundless mercy flow, Free to all who thither go; Oh, that all the world might know At the cross there’s room!
We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
| I'm trusting, only trusting
In Jesus day by day:
I feel His presence nearer,
While pressing on my way;
My soul is full of glory,
And this my song shall be:
I love my blessed Saviour,
Because He first loved me.I'm trusting, only trusting
In Jesus ev'ry hour,
Who saves me by His mercy,
And keeps me by His power;
I'll publish His salvation
Wherever I may be;
With all my heart I love Him,
Because He first loved me.
I’m trusting, only trusting My Saviour’s hand to guide; I know His grace sufficient, And ask for naught beside; My soul is on the mountain, My home beyond the sea: O bless the Lord! I love Him, Because He first loved me. Chorus: Because He first loved me. I love Him, I love Him, Because He first loved me: I trust Him, I trust Him, Wherever I may be. My soul is full of glory, I sing because I’m free; I love my blessed Saviour, Because He first loved me. —Fanny Crosby |
Never be sad or desponding, Only have faith to believe; Grace, for the duties before thee, Ask of thy God and receive.
Never give up, Never give up, Never give up to thy sorrows, Jesus will bid them depart; Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord, Sing when your trials are greatest, Trust in the Lord and take heart.
What if thy burdens oppress thee? What tho’ thy life may be drear? Look on the side that is brightest, Pray, and thy path will be clear.
Never be sad or desponding, Lean on the arm of thy Lord; Dwell in the depths of His mercy, Thou shalt receive thy reward.
Never give up, Never give up, Never give up to thy sorrows, Jesus will bid them depart; Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord, Sing when your trials are greatest, Trust in the Lord and take heart.
–Fanny J. Crosby
“All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass–Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.” –Archibald Alexander
The word redeemed implies the idea of a slave standing on the trader’s auction block being offered to the highest bidder. At last the price is paid by a compassionate new owner, who then gives the slave his unconditional freedom. But the freed slave, out of gratitude to his new owner, offers himself as a loving bond servant for life to his redeemer.
Man has been separated from God by sin and has become a slave of Satan. But man has been redeemed. Because Christ paid the ransom we owed to divine justice, we have been freed from the shackles of sin’s bondage and God’s eternal wrath. Out of gratitude for this deliverance, we cling to our new master and lovingly determine to serve Him forever. A realization of redemption causes the ransomed to sing repeatedly, “Redeemed–, how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb….”
This popular gospel song by Fanny Crosby first appeared with William Kirkpatrick’s jubilant tune in the hymnal Songs of Redeeming Love, published in 1882. It is another of the more than 8,000 hymns by the blind American poetess, Fanny Jane Crosby, the most important writer of gospel hymn texts in American history.
“Redeemed–how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; redeemed thru. His infinite mercy–His child, and forever, I am.
“Redeemed and so happy in Jesus; no language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence with me doth continually dwell.
“I think of my blessed Redeemer. I think of Him all the day long; I sing for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song.
“I know I shall see in His beauty the King in whose law I delight, who lovingly guardeth my footsteps and giveth me songs in the night.
“Chorus: Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; redeemed, redeemed, His child, and forever, I am.”
For Today: Romans 3:24-26, Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:18,19
One of the strongest evidences for the validity of the gospel is a redeemed, vibrant life. Determine with the Holy Spirit’s help to be such a demonstration.
| Take the world, but give me Jesus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above!
Take the world, but give me Jesus, Sweetest comfort of my soul; With my Savior watching o’er me, I can sing though billows roll. Take the world, but give me Jesus, Let me view His constant smile; Then throughout my pilgrim journey Light will cheer me all the while. Take the world, but give me Jesus. In His cross my trust shall be, Till, with clearer, brighter vision, Face to face my Lord I see. |
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O’er the Christian’s natal skies, Distant beams, like floods of glory, Fill the soul with glad surprise; And we almost hear the echo Of the pure and holy throng, In the bright, the bright forever, In the summer land of song.
Yet a little while we linger, Ere we reach our journey’s end; Yet a little while of labor, Ere the evening shades descend; Then we’ll lay us down to slumber, But the night will soon be o’er; In the bright, the bright forever, We shall wake, to weep no more.
O the bliss of life eternal! O the long unbroken rest! In the golden fields of pleasure, In the region of the blessed; But, to see our dear Redeemer, And before His throne to fall, There to bear His gracious welcome, Will be sweeter far than all.
—Fanny Crosby
For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9
| O Jesus, my Lord and Saviour,
Who gavest Thy life for me,
No room in my heart for pleasures
That have not their trust in Thee;
Earth has no abiding city,
Not here is my place of rest,
I seek for a brighter country,
A home with the pure and blest.The world like a dream will vanish,
The hope like the years decay,
Its beauties like dewy blossoms
Will wither and pass away;
But Thou wilt abide unchanging,
My sure defense wilt be;
O Jesus my Lord and Saviour,
I'm trusting alone in Thee.
O what are the toils and labors, The crosses that now I bear. Compared with the crown immortal Laid up for my soul to wear? ‘Twill matter to me but little, What conflicts I have passed, When, after the strife is ended, I rest at Thy feet at last. Chorus: And O, when my course is finished, And victor’s palm I wave, To Thee will I give the glory, O Thou, who art mighty to save, To Thee will I give the glory, O Thou, who art mighty to save. —Fanny Crosby |
Refrain: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father thro’ Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To ev’ry believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
To God be the glory, the vict’ry is won; Our praise to the Saviour has only begun; In heav’n’s radiant splendor we’ll join with the throng And praise Him forever in jubilant song.