Friday, June 12, 2020

Thought for the day:
“Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” –Nathaniel Hawthorne

Scripture for the day:
For He will deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.
He will take pity on the weak and the needy
and save the needy from death.
He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
for precious is their blood in His sight.  (Psalm 72:12-14)

Short story for the day:
Fanny Jane Crosby was born in South East. Putnam County, New York, on March 24, 1820.  Due to the ignorance of a country physician who applied hot poultices to her inflamed eyes, Fanny was blind from infancy.  She was educated at the New York School for the Blind.  After graduating, she taught there for eleven years.  Whereupon she married a blind musician, Alexander van Alstyne.  While teaching there, she became a close friend of future president, Grover Cleveland, who was a secretary at the school.

A lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, she died at Bridgeport, Connecticut, February 12, 1915.  During Fanny’s lifetime she had at least 5,959 of her songs published by several publishers of gospel song books.  Her songs which are in the United Methodist Hymnal are #98 “To God Be the Glory,” #301 “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross.” #351 ” Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” #369 “Blessed Assurance,” #407 “Close to Thee,” #419 “I An Thine, O Lord,” and #591 “Rescue the Perishing.”

Hymn for the day:
“Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.” –Fanny Crosby

–Pastor John