Tag: Fanny Crosby

‘Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus My Savior’

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Fanny Crosby was blind almost from birth, and during her lifetime composed some 1,000 hymns, many of which are still loved and sung today. Toward the end of her life, she was asked what she would most like to see, if she could have her sight restored. She surprised the questioner by saying she’d just as soon not have it restored while she lived, because the first thing she wished to see would be the face of Our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven. Was this woman a hero of the faith, or what?

Fanny composed Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus My Savior in 1869.

Amen! ‘To God Be the Glory

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Something tells me there are a lot of people singing or listening to this hymn, yesterday and today. It’s the one that was with me when I got up today, so don’t blame me for posting it more than once: To God Be the Glory, by Fanny Crosby, 1875.

Turn up the volume! This version is great in stereo.

‘Take the World but Give Me Jesus’

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Erlene didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to post this classic hymn by Fanny Crosby, Take the World but Give Me Jesus. It’s sung by Voice of Praise, and I wish I knew who provided the photographs.

The beauty of nature is an important witness to God’s glory as its creator, sustainer, and redeemer. It can move us emotionally, because our God intended that it should. To separate the natural world from its Creator is folly–and I don’t think “sin” is too strong a word for it.

By Request, ‘Draw Me Nearer’

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Our first hymn request of the day is from Erlene–showing the new visitors how it’s done.

This recording of Fanny Crosby’s Draw Me Nearer, sung by Harry Anthony and James Harrison, is 110 years old! It’s on an antique Edison Records disc.

In addition to the hymn itself, these voices from the past have a glorious message for us: Christ’s Church is forever.

Once Again, ‘To God Be the Glory’

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I know I post this hymn a lot–To God Be the Glory, by Fanny Crosby (1875)–but on this post-election morning, what hymn could be more appropriate? I went to bed with it ringing in my soul and woke up with it today.

Sing it loud and sing it long.

Do I Like Contemporary Christian Music?

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Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant

My wife thinks my taste in music has changed. Can’t blame her–haven’t I always said, “If I see an electric guitar, I’m outta here”? My idea of a hymn was people in a church singing to a piano or an organ–period.

But since I’ve been posting hymns here every day, and taking readers’ requests, I’ve found to my surprise that some of the new stuff is really, really good! It moves me. It can stir my soul. And the lyrics–in the songs I like, at least–are soundly Biblical, and grounded in Christian tradition. After all, once upon a time, songs by Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, and Fanny Crosby–well, they were “that new stuff,” once upon a time.

I think the contemporary song that broke the ice for me was Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet by Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, by way of Psalm 114. And since then I’ve encountered many that are just as good.

It shouldn’t have surprised me. Aren’t I trying to do kind of the same thing? I’m writing fantasy novels intended to give glory to God, to make my readers (and myself) more receptive to God’s Word as given in the Bible, and to claim cultural ground for the Kingdom of Christ, as Lewis and Tolkien did. I mean, why concede the whole fantasy genre to secular writers? Why abandon young readers to the moral vagaries of Scholastic Books et al?

These singers and musicians, and their audiences, are claiming ground for Christ within the music world, and we should all applaud them for it. Who knows how many hearts they change? How many spirits they refresh?

It’s not that I don’t still love the old stuff. I do! But lately it seems I have a bit more love to go around–and I think it’s supposed to work that way.

Bonus Hymn, ‘He Hideth My Soul’

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This is the hymn that was in my head this morning: He Hideth My Soul, by Fanny Crosby. Published in 1890, it still inspires us today–as you can tell by this spirited rendition by the choir and congregation at the Church of God.

Remember this wisdom.

When things look bleak, sing louder.

When things are looking up, sing louder.

‘Draw Me Nearer’ (the Past Sings to Us)

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This is one of more than 8,000 hymns written by Fanny Crosby–Draw Me Nearer–and this recording is one of the few she would have had the opportunity to hear during her own lifetime.

Fanny died in 1915, and this Edison cylinder is from 1906. Many of you are two young to remember records and record-players. Well, these discs go back way before that. This is the very beginning of recorded sound.

Well, we all age; but Fanny Crosby’s hymns go on and on, praising and loving our Eternal God.

‘He Hideth My Soul’ (A Capella)

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This is the hymn, another Fanny Crosby classic, that’s been my companion this morning. One could hardly ask for better company.

I wish I knew who it is, singing this a capella version: they deserve a round of applause.

P.S.–Carol informs me that this is the Antrim Mennonite Choir. Well done!

‘Draw Me Nearer’

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This is the first hymn that popped into my head today, this old Fanny Crosby classic. Hearing it played like this on a piano, just the piano–boy, does that ever take me back to Sunday school!