I want to thank CF4K for a review copy of Fanny Crosby.
Blessed Assurance
As a child, one of my favorite hymns was most certainly Blessed Assurance. I would stand in church (or in the kitchen with my broom) and belt out:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”
My favorite part of the hymn was always the refrain:
“This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.”
O, how I longed to be that girl… praising my Savior all the day long.
Fanny Crosby Story
Blessed Assurance was written in 1873 by a remarkably gifted woman named Fanny Crosby (1820-1915). Blind at the age of just six weeks old, Ms. Crosby was able to memorize and recall the Scriptures early in her life. She was blessed to have a grandmother and later a boarding house matron who helped her accomplish this task. Fanny Crosby had a remarkable feel for poetry, and using her gift for memory, was able to compose poems and hymns quickly without forgetting them.
Fanny Crosby is credited with writing at least 9,000 hymns in the course of her long life.
Prior to her decision to use her remarkable gift for the glory of the Lord, Fanny Crosby also wrote many, many poems and secular songs.
However, once she decided to follow Christ with her life, Fanny Crosby not only dedicated herself to writing popular hymns, she also spent her life speaking to society’s downtrodden. Fanny Crosby was a frequent visitor in the run-down tenements of New York, in prisons and in shelters. In spite of her commitment to the poor, Ms. Crosby was also known worldwide. Among her friends were D.L Moody, Ira Sankey, and President Grover Cleveland. In fact, Fanny Crosby’s songs were frequently used in Moody’s evangelistic campaigns.
Fanny Crosby Biography for Kids
Lucille Travis has written a fantastic biography of Fanny Crosby’s life for ages 8-14. Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song (Christian Focus Publications, 2013) is an encouraging story of a woman blind from infancy, her use of the Lord’s gifting, and her refusal to allow a disability to rule her life.
Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song is the 35th book in the Trailblazers series. I love, love, love the series and we use them frequently to study Christian history. I appreciate the Gospel focus of the Trailblazers books.
I highly recommend Lucille Travis’ Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song. It’s the story of a woman committed to God’s glory, and God’s hand in her life.
Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song coordinates well with studies involving:
-
Character Traits: Creativity, Joy, Commitment
- God’s gifting (and using it to his glory)
- The development of schools for the blind and braille
- The 1800’s or early 1900’s
- The cholera epidemic in New York City in 1849
- Poetry or hymn studies
- The American Civil War (1861-1865)
- The Second Great Awakening (Evangelical movement in America)
Purchase Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song:
Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song (Trail Blazers)
Christian Book:
More Christian Focus Trail Blazers Books for Your Kids
Our family loves the Christian Focus Trail Blazers books. They’re perfect for ages 7-14. We read them as we studied history! Check them out.
Eric Liddell: Finish the RaceJohn Chrysostom: The Preacher in the Emperor’s Court Samuel Rutherford: The Law, the Prince and the ScribeFrancis & Edith Schaeffer: Taking on the World Titanic: The Ship of Dreams William Tyndale: The Smuggler’s Flame Wilfred Grenfell: Courageous Doctor Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the WheelElisabeth Elliot: Do the Next Thing Betty Greene: Courage Has Wings Ulrich Zwingli: Shepherd WarriorLilias Trotter: Daring in the Desert Isobel Kuhn: Lights in Lisuland Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool George Müller: The Children’s Champion Adoniram Judson: Danger on the Streets of Gold Patricia St. John: The Story Behind the Stories Helen Roseveare: On His Majesty’s Service John Newton: A Slave Set Free John Calvin: After Darkness Light John Knox: The Sharpened Sword Billy Graham: Just get up out of your SeatRichard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the Dark Mary Slessor: Servant to the Slave Joni Eareckson Tada: Swimming Against the Tide Hudson Taylor: An Adventure BeginsAugustine: The Truth SeekerPatrick of Ireland: The Boy Who ForgaveBrother Andrew: Behind Enemy LinesLottie Moon: Changing China for Christ D L Moody: One Devoted ManNate Saint: Operation Auca John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be StoppedMichael Faraday: Spiritual Dynamo William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter C. S. Lewis: The Story Teller: Trailblazers SeriesJonathan Edwards: America’s GeniusCharles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers George Müller: The Children’s Champion George Whitefield: Voice That Woke the WorldCorrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker’s Daughter Amy Carmichael: Rescuer By NightMary of Orange: At the Mercy of KingsMartyn Lloyd-Jones: From Wales to WestminsterHannah More: The Woman Who Wouldn’t Stop Writing Fanny Crosby: The Blind Girl’s Song Paul Brand: The Shoes That Love MadeFrances Ridley Havergal: The Girl Who Loved Mountains Corrie Ten Boom: The Watchmaker’s Daughter Gladys Aylward: No Mountain Too High John Bunyan: Journey of a PilgrimDavid Brainerd: A Love for the Lost John G. Paton: South Sea Island RescueBilly Bray: Saved From the Deepest Pit John Stott: The Humble LeaderBill Bright: Dare to be Different
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Great review Danika. Thanks for your continued enthusiasm for Christian Focus 4 Kids.
Shaun Tabatt
Christian Focus Booknotes Blog
I truly do love Christian Focus, Shaun. Thanks for the opportunity to review such wonderful books. 🙂
~ Danika
I love both that hymn and Fanny Crosby!
It IS a wonderful hymn! And she was quite brave. 🙂