Gods Calling

FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL

- Hymns today are all written by her

- Born 1836 Worcestershire England (Called Fanny)

- Youngest of 6 sublimes

- Named after Nicholas Ridley,

- He and Hugh Latimer were burnt together at the stake in the reign of ‘Bloody’ Mary

- Father Anglican Pastor & Composer

Able to read at 3

Began writing poetry at 7

- In her girlhood days she memorized the New Testament, the Psalms, and Isaiah later the Minor Prophets

- Learned English, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin & Welsh

- Mother died at 11

- Came to Christ at 14

- Father remarried at 16

- She wrote books, & poems and composed & played music

- Wrote over 80 Hymns

- She had poor health

- Her last words were that she tried to sing and could only get one word out before she died “Him”

- Died 1879 - 42

- On her gravestone is engraved, as she herself wished, her favorite text: 1 John 1:7 "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

- Havergal College for girls in Toronto est. 1894

On the last day of her life she asked a friend to read to her Isaiah 42. When the friend reached these verses, Miss Havergal stopped her, saying, "Called, Held, Kept, Used," then she whispered, "Well, I will just go Home on that." And she did go Home on that.

- Can we live on these words?

- These words should be our foundation

- These words were spoken in refer¬ence to Jesus

1. Called—Salvation.

1. All are called, yet all have not responded to the call.

Once in a Court of Law a very small man was pushing his way through a crowd. "What are you pushing for?" inquired some. "Why, I'm called," he replied. At once all made way for him.

2. The call to salvation is a call to holy living as text shows.

3. He has a perfect right to call us—we belong to Him.

He has love as well on His side.

II. Held—Companionship.

1. What condescension on His part.

2. When we respond to His call, He will become our Friend. We shall then be admitted into His fellowship.

III. Kept—Preservation.

1. Kept, not always from temptation and trial:

• not always from sorrow and affliction,

• not from crosses and losses,

• but kept in and through,

• and sometimes by, all these processes of discipline.

2. On a tombstone there is simply name and one word, "Kept." What a glorious epitome of a life of faith and trust in the Saviour.

IV. Used—Service.

1. It is said that in Athens of old, there was a law to the effect that any man who had a lighted candle, and refused to allow another to light his at it, was punished with death.

2. If God has lighted our candle, let us light others. Let us allow others to be lightened by us.

- "I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus" (written 1874; said to be her favorite of all her hymns, a copy of the text was found in her personal Bible after her death

- Pam Dodds - I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus (p. 278)

"I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"

by Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

1. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

Trusting only Thee;

Trusting Thee for full salvation,

Great and free.

2. I am trusting Thee for pardon;

At Thy feet I bow,

For Thy grace and tender mercy

Trusting now.

3. I am trusting Thee for cleansing

In the crimson flood;

Trusting Thee to make me holy

By Thy blood.

4. I am trusting Thee to guide me;

Thou alone shalt lead,

Ev'ry day and hour supplying

All my need.

5. I am trusting Thee for power;

Thine can never fail.

Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me

Must prevail.

6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;

Never let me fall.

I am trusting Thee forever

And for all.