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• Lyte was inspired to write this hymn as he was dying of tuberculosis; he finished it the Sunday he gave his farewell sermon in the parish he served so many years. The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though—he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. Here is an excerpt from his farewell sermon:

• O brethren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the death of Christ.

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Blessed Assurance

• Mrs. Joseph Fairchild Knapp wife of the founder of the Metropolitan Life Ins. Co

• Knapp brought Fanny the tune to a song

• Knapp asked what Fanny thought about it and Fanny named it Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

• And wrote the lyrics in just a few minutes following

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Fanny J. Crosby• Wrote over 9000 Hymns• At the age of 15 in New York she taught English

and History• She taught for 35 years• What makes her so special, at six weeks of age

she was blinded by an incompetent Doctor• She stated that the first thing she wanted to see

when she gets to Heaven is the face of the one who died for me.

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• Asked to give her personal testimony by D.L. Moody

• She hesitated then gave the following

• Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing;but oh, the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story--saved by grace!

• She died at age 95

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• She is buried in Bridgeport Conn.• On her grave is written• Aunt Fanny• Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. • Notable Songs• Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine• He Hideth My Soul• Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior• Rescue The Perishing• Safe In The Arms Of Jesus• Saved By Grace• Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It

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• All The Way My Savior Leads Me• Close To Thee• God Will Take Care of You• I Am Thine Oh Lord• Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home• Near The Cross• Praise Him Praise Him• Room At The Cross• Tell Me The Story Of Jesus• Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet• Tis The Blessed Hour Of Prayer• To God Be The Glory• To The Work• Will Jesus Find Us Watching

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• Her statement about her being blind is quite remarkable as it took a lot of thought

• 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.

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Luther B. Bridgers He Keeps Me Singing

• Methodist Minister• Went to a conference in Kentucky and left his

wife Sarah and his three sons with his Father-in -law while he made the trip for two weeks

• The final night he called the Father-in-law and to his dismay he discovered that his house had burned up and all had perished including his wife and three sons and the father-in-law and his wife.

• That distraught father leaned heavily on the Lord and wrote this song in his grief.

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William Newell – At Calvary

• 1868 to 1956• Born in Ohio he was an evangelist• Bible college teacher• On his way to class he thought about what

Christ had done for him on the cross• He entered an empty classroom and wrote this

song in half an hour on the back of an old envelope which is all he had to write on

• He gave the words to the director of music there and within an hour the entire song was finished

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No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus

• Evangelist off in a Crusade• He came home to find a Dear John letter• Stating that the life of an evangelist was

not for her and she was gone forever• The next few years were great despair for

Charles• After a time his faith was restored and he

realized what it was to put your faith in Jesus and wrote these lyrics and its tune.

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It Is Well With My Soul

• October 1871 , great Chicago Fire ruined him financially as he was a wealthy businessman

• He sent his wife and four daughter by ship across the Atlantic

• The ship collided with another ship and all four daughters perished as it sank

• He received a telegram from his wife stating “Saved Alone”

• Several weeks later he followed in a ship and passed over the spot where the ship sank and his daughters died and he wrote this song

• There is always hope no matter how dark the hour or situation

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Miss Charlotte Elliott was visiting some friends in the West End of London, and there met the eminent

minister, César Malan. While seated at supper, the minister said he hoped that she was a Christian. She

took offense at this, and replied that she would rather not discuss that question. Dr. Malan said that he was

sorry if had offended her, that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that

the young lady would some day become a worker for Christ. When they met again at the home of a mutual

friend, three weeks later, Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been

trying to find her Saviour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. “Just come to

him as you are,” Dr. Malan said. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Shortly afterward she wrote this

hymn.

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