JESUS IS CALLING

Throughout her 95 years of earthly life, Fanny Crosby wrote nearly 9,000 hymns. Many lay silent, but we are thankful today for the ones that have been set to music for us to sing and praise God. Fanny devoted her life to spreading the Good News, not only through her words and hymns, but by her actions as well. At 60 years old she began a new adventure working in the missions in New York City; tending to the sick, the lost, the despondent. Fanny herself, who never made much money from her hymns, lived most of her life in poverty. “Aunt Fanny,” as she became known, often gave addresses to the crowd proclaiming the “joy it gives to walk in the light” – profound words from the mouth of a blind person. It was during this time in her life that the following hymn was written.

Jesus is tenderly calling you home,
calling today, calling today.
Why from the sunshine of love will you roam
farther and farther away?

Refrain:

Calling today,
calling today,
Jesus is calling,
is tenderly calling today.

Jesus is calling the weary to rest,
calling today, calling today.
Bring Him your burden and you shall be blest;
He will not turn you away.

Jesus is waiting, O come to Him now;
waiting today, waiting today;
Come with your sins, at His feet lowly bow;
Come, and no longer delay.

Jesus is pleading; O list to His voice;
hear Him today, hear Him today.
They who believe on His name shall rejoice;
quickly arise and away. 

Prayer

God of Calling, we listen for You. God of Calling, we listen to You. God of Calling, we come to You for rest. May we, like Fanny, help others hear Your Call. Amen.