Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  NKJV

Through the years, I have heard and been tempted to declare something impossible or too difficult due to handicap, inability, lack of training, lack of resources, and more.  However, when I recall the words of the words recorded in Hebrews 12 about the “cloud of witnesses” surrounding us and reminding us of the hope and future in Christ I am put to shame and fall on my face in repentance.

I have long been interested in the history behind many of the hymns of the church and one writer, in particular, has always caught my attention.  That would be none other than Fanny Jane van Alstyne Crosby.  Fanny Crosby was one of the most prolific and talented psalmist and songwriters of any generation.  She wrote many of her hymns in conjunction with her pastor Robert Lowry and is credited with writing over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs.  She did this although having lost her sight shortly after birth but refused to allow her blindness of sight be blindness of spirit and heart.  Some of her works include, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior”, “Blessed Assurance”, Rescue The Perishing”, and “To God Be The Glory”.  That is not an exhaustive list but some of her works that still grip my heart when I read, hear or sing them.  She also wrote over 1,000 secular poems and had four books of poetry published.  She wrote or co-wrote some popular secular songs, political works, and patriotic songs and, at least, five cantatas on biblical and patriotic themes.

Fanny Crosby was a longtime member of Sixth Avenue Bible Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York.  The cholera epidemic in New York that spanned May to November 1849 did not deter her from serving and she remained in at NYIB nursing the sick.  It was out of that time that Fanny realized that she became aware of something lacking in her spiritual life.  She had become so wrapped up social, political, and educational reform she felt true love for God was absent in her heart so she pursued God more diligently.  She attended churches in various denominations through 1887 including the Plymouth Church of Pilgrims in Brooklyn pastored by Congregationalist abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher was an innovator with church music.  She attended Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, pastored by her distant cousin Howard Crosby, and Trinity Episcopal Church.  She enjoyed worshipping in the North West Dutch Reformed Church and the Central Presbyterian Church later known as the Brooklyn Tabernacle.  Later in life, she named Theodore Ledyard Cuyler, who pastored the North East Dutch Reformed Church as one of her favorite preachers. Although she was never publicly identified with the American Holiness Movement she was a follower of the Wesleyan Holiness Movement and attended many of the Wesleyan/Holiness camp meetings.

Fanny Crosby could have become a recluse and felt sorry for herself but like Helen Keller refused to allow her blindness handicap her.  She exemplified the text verse and the idea that “If God has our heart, we can do all things through Christ.”  I stand ashamed, at times, when I reflect on the seeming ease of our generation compared to that of past heroes of faith and spiritual contribution.  They refused to allow difficulty prevent them from reaching for the stars and pressed on continually toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

God bless you as you dare to dream and turn your dreams into realities as you give God your whole heart and follow Him into the uncharted territory of life.   Blessings abundantly are my prayer and desire for each of you.