I love to worship God through music. Whether I'm singing cherished hymns or singing along with new songs on the radio, Christian music fills my heart and soul, inspires me, and brings me joy. Today, we share the story of one of the most prolific hymn writers in history. You may recognize some of her beloved songs: "Rescue the Perishing," "All the Way My Savior Leads Me," "Blessed Assurance," "To God Be the Glory," and more.

These timeless hymns were penned by Fanny Crosby, and her story is truly inspirational. Fanny was born in 1820 in New York City. At just six weeks old, a cold led to an eye infection that resulted in blindness.  When a prominent physician later confirmed that Fanny's sight would never be restored, her mother was heartbroken, but Fanny embraced life with remarkable contentment. She wrote her first poem at the tender age of eight.  It reads: “Oh, what a happy soul I am! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be. How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, nor I won’t!”

Fanny lived a long and fulfilling life, reaching the age of 95. During her lifetime, she wrote and collaborated with others to write over 8,000 hymns.  Often, someone would bring a tune to her, and as they played it, she would pray and by the time the music ended, she would have the perfect words to fit the melody.  At other times she would dictate poems to a friend at a rate of three or four a day, and then others would create the accompanying tunes. Her hymns are filled with joy, promise, comfort, and calls to Christian action.

You might wonder how her hymns could reflect such deep biblical knowledge and strong faith. Early on, Fanny’s mother and grandmother helped her memorize five chapters of the Bible each week. By the time she was 15, she had memorized the gospels and several books from the Old Testament, including much of the Psalms.  Throughout her life, Fanny attended various churches, including Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian congregations, deepening her knowledge and solidifying her devotion to God.

Fanny lived out the faith she wrote about in her music. Known affectionately as Aunty Fanny, she served at city rescue missions and donated much of her earnings from compositions to charities, even though she herself teetered on the edge of poverty.

Today we reflect on Fanny’s life, her music, and the example she sets for us as she embraced her God-given talents and used them for God’s service, despite the challenges she faced.  May we too, embrace the unique gifts that God has given us and use them to tell our own story of God’s love and hope.

Have you ever felt like life is moving too fast, and you're constantly in a rush? One of my favorite songs is by the music group Alabama. Depending on how you think about it, either a long time ago or a few years back, they had a #1 song that you too may remember “I’m in a hurry to get things done, oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun.”  Even if you don’t know the song, I’m pretty sure that you probably know that feeling.
                               
Jesus, too, knew the hustle and bustle of a busy life; he might have been able to relate to Alabama’s song on the day that he encountered Blind Bartimaeus.  One account of this encounter can be found in the book of Mark, chapter 10. As Jesus traveled, he was constantly surrounded by people, often teaching crowds along the way.  And on that day, as Jesus was passing through the gates of Jericho surrounded by his followers, a blind man called to him from the city gates: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me” and Jesus stopped.  
 
Did you notice those last two words?  This particular account from Jesus’ life is told in Matthew,  Mark, and Luke, and they all tell us “Jesus stopped”. The scriptures don’t say Jesus dismissed Bartimaeus with a glance at his agenda, saying “Sorry, I’m in a hurry to get things done.”  Jesus didn’t brush aside the plea with an “I’m busy, wait your turn.”  Instead, Jesus stopped.  He didn’t merely pause; he stopped.  
 
Jesus didn’t stop doing things, but he stopped what he was doing. He momentarily set aside his agenda to do one important thing. Though those around Bartimaeus urged him to silence, cautioning against disturbing Jesus, Jesus stopped and told them to bring the man forward. Imagine how Bartimaeus must have felt. Jesus, this most important man, Jesus the teacher, the miracle worker, the healer, this same Jesus stopped--to ask a poor, blind man what he wanted.
 
Bartimeus must have felt, in that moment, as if he were the most important person in the world to Jesus.  Other stories of Jesus’ interaction with people depict Jesus in the same way.  Whoever it was that Jesus was talking to: a blind man, a tax collector, a fisherman, a leper, a disciple, a woman at a well, or a thief on a cross - whoever it was, that person was the most important person to Jesus, in that moment.    
 
From this story, we glean two profound truths. First, regardless of how insignificant you may feel in the grand narrative of the world you are worthy of Jesus stopping for you.  No matter who you are, you are the most important person in the world to Jesus.
 
Second, to be like Jesus, we too need to be open to those moments when God provides an opportunity for an encounter.  Next time you're caught up in the rush of life, remember Jesus' example. Take a moment to stop and truly be present for someone in need.  Because maybe, just maybe, the treasures we take from this life depend on connecting with people and giving them all the attention they deserve. 
 

There is an interesting story found in the book of John, chapter 8- a story you might have heard before.  It tells of one of the many times that the church leaders of Jesus’s time attempted to ensnare him with a moral dilemma.  Bringing before him a woman caught in adultery, they cited Mosaic law, which mandated stoning for such transgressions and asked for his judgement.  The situation appeared impossible: endorsing stoning would contradict his teachings of love and compassion, yet disregarding the law would defy his adherence to Jewish customs.

Jesus, pausing to write in the sand, seems to ignore them.  When pressed for an answer, he simply says “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” 

With these simple, yet powerful words, he exposed the hypocrisy of their judgment. As the accusers departed, starting with the eldest, Jesus remained with the woman.

The sequence of departures, from oldest to youngest, hints at varying degrees of introspection or wisdom.

Jesus's admonition reverberates through time, challenging us to scrutinize our own inclinations towards judgment. Accusations of our justice system or capital punishment may surface, but instead Jesus urges introspection rather than external critique- Jesus encourages us to look in the mirror.

This introspective gaze compels us to confront our own biases, prejudices, and tendencies to condemn others.  When we heed Jesus's call to self-examination, we confront the uncomfortable truths about our own shortcomings and moral failings. We recognize the times when we've been quick to judge, to cast stones of condemnation without fully understanding the complexities of another's circumstances. In this self-reflection, we discover the humility needed to extend grace and compassion, mirroring the example set by Jesus.

Continuing the encounter, after the accusers left, Jesus asked the woman if anyone remained to condemn her.  When she said no, Jesus extended mercy. “Neither do I condemn you- go and from now on, sin no more.”  Notice that Jesus didn’t tell her she was off the hook; Jesus didn’t tell her to run along and keep doing what she was doing; Jesus didn’t make light of her sin.  Instead, Jesus showed compassion and grace. Instead of condemnation, Jesus offered redemption and guidance for transformation.  Jesus’ response showed that he knew what the woman had been, but had hope for what the woman could become.  This narrative epitomizes divine hope, recognizing the past while nurturing potential for renewal. In God's eyes, no matter where we’ve been, who we are, or what we have done, each of us carries this promise of transformation, and Christ offers to us the same invitation: go and sin no more.

One of my favorite Old Testament bible stories is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  The events are told in the book of Daniel, chapter 3, and begins with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who has a gigantic golden statue created in his honor.  The people of the kingdom were told to worship the statue.  Any who did not, would be thrown into a blazing furnace. 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faithful followers of the one God, and word came back to the king that they would not bow down.  When the king called them to task for this, they said “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, our God is able to deliver us from it. But even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3: 17-18)

The king had the men thrown into the fiery furnace, but when he looked into the furnace, he saw not only Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but also a fourth man, all unharmed by the fire and he realized that their God had intervened.

The king ordered that the furnace be opened and out came three men, not even a hair on their head singed. The king was amazed and declared: “Praise be to your God, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.  Therefore I decree that any who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” (Daniel 3: 28-29). 

What do I love about the story?  I admire the faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, men with strong faith, standing firm for the right. 

I am grateful we have a God we can trust.  Whatever “fire” we face- God will stand beside us- and that gives me hope and courage. 

I am encouraged that the three men’s faith and the faithfulness of God- changed the mind of a king. 

But there is another message in this story.  After God protected the three men, though King Nebuchadnezzar changed his mind about their God, the king’s temperament and character did not change.  The king who would throw a man in the furnace for not worshiping a golden image, became a king who would cut a man to pieces and destroy his home, if they criticized God.  I pray that for us, in our encounters with God, we become a changed people, changed from a people of selfish words, fiery furnaces and threats and into a people of love, kindness, generosity and peace.


 

Jesus was a wonderful teacher; he taught by telling stories or parables. One thought-provoking parable starts like this:  The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
 
The men who were hired at daybreak negotiated their wage for a full day’s work, and so the men went to work.
 
After discovering that more workers were needed, the landowner went out again – a second, third, fourth, and then a final time, at the 11th hour.  He found men standing idle, and hired them, telling them simply that he would pay a fair wage.
 
How is the kingdom of God like the landowner? The landowner continued to seek workers all day.  He didn’t say, “come this morning, or you’re out of luck.”  The landowner was persistent in finding workers, just as God is persistent in seeking us, even to the end of our days. 
 
Jesus continued and described the payment of wages.  Those who arrived last were paid first and received a full day’s wage.  Then the men who came at 3:00, at noon, at 9:00am, and finally those who began at daybreak.  And to everyone’s surprise, they each received a full day’s wage.   The men who were hired at daybreak were paid last, and probably anticipated that they would get extra pay.  They were disappointed when they received the same payment as the others, even though they had worked more hours than anyone else. 
 
And we would probably agree with them.  To be fair, those who worked more hours should receive more pay! 
 
It is hard to understand the parable of the vineyard owner…who paid everyone the same…no matter how long they worked.  
 
And Jesus confuses us even more when he continues: “it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” 
 
When his disciples protested, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  And that, friends, reveals the meaning of the parable of the rich vineyard owner.
 
It doesn’t matter how long and how hard we work. Nothing we do will earn God’s favor.  God favors us because God is generous.  God’s economic plan for each of us?  Grace.   With God, all things are possible. 
 
If you have accepted Christ and been a Christian your whole life, if you trust in God’s grace working in your life, that is a gift.
 
If you came to Christianity later in life, you also have the gift of God’s grace.
 
If you are still seeking, God also seeks you.  God invites you to take the job, promising to treat you fairly and generously. When you are ready, you can also receive God’s gift of grace.  Grace is God’s economic plan for you.
 

If you enjoy sharing meals with others, it is likely that you’ve had this conversation a time or two:  “Want to come over for dinner?”  “ Sure!  What can I bring?”  “Oh, nothing, just bring yourself.”

Imagine that same conversation with God:  “Come, be part of my kingdom!”  “Sure! What can I bring?” “Oh, nothing, just bring yourself.”

Sometimes, when people think about connecting with God- maybe by going to church, they hesitate.  Maybe they are worried that God will reject them, or the church will, maybe they think the church has nothing to offer them or they have nothing to offer the church. Or maybe they think “people who go to church should be good people, but they are no better than me!”

But the real truth is that the people who are part of a church aren’t there because they are so good - they are there because they know they are not good enough and they want to accept God’s gifts, God’s love, and God’s forgiveness, to become better. All God asks us to bring is ourselves.  God will provide the rest. 

About 20 years after Christ, the members of the church of Corinth began squabbling about who was most important.  In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul wrote to the church, and I will paraphrase here:  There are different kinds of gifts, but all the gifts come from God, and none of them is more important than the other. There are different kinds of service and of working, but in all of them, the same God is served.  God may give the gift of wisdom to one, the gift of knowledge to another, of faith to another, healing to another and compassion to still another.  But all these gifts come from God, and all these gifts together serve God and the common good of the people of God.

What gifts does God provide?  Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, compassion, certainly. But if you look at your life and think “all I have to bring are my doubts, my fear, my problems, and my pain.”  Those are also gifts from God.  As you share your doubts and fears, you encourage others to examine their faith. Your pain, your brokenness and your healing can be a witness to others of God’s grace.  Your story of survival might be just what someone needs to make it through the day themselves.

In God’s church, each person is valued.  Each one of us, at every stage of our life, no matter our circumstances or our experience, receives a gift from God and has a place in God’s kingdom.  All we need to bring is ourselves.