Just As I Am!

Today I have been reading, "Then Sings My Soul" by Robert J. Morgan, which is a book of hymns and the story that surrounds their writing.  I have found myself feeling very blessed to be, in perhaps the last generation to sing and enjoy the old hymns.  Any and all circumstances caused these hymn writers to pen their praises to their Lord. 

Whether it was Horatio G. Spafford, who wrote, "It Is Well with My Soul" after losing all five of his children or  Fanny Crosby, the famous hymnist, though blind since childhood, who wrote the  beautiful words of "Blessed Assurance"  their words ring true in my heart, still, after all these years. 

One of my favorite stories has been about a woman who lived in the 1800s, whose name was Charlotte. 

Charlotte Elliott was a bitter woman who was angry with God because of an chronic illness that had rendered her disabled.  "If God loved me," she spewed in her anger, "He would not treat me this way." 

Hoping to help this embittered shell of a woman, a minister visited the home of the Elliotts.  Charlotte embarrassed her family with a violent outburst but the minister, not being put off by the outburst, asked her, "You are tired of yourself aren't you?" 
"So what is your cure?" asked Charlotte. 
"The faith you are trying to despise.", came the answer.

As they talked Charlotte softened and asked how she could become a Christian and possess the joy and peace the minister seemed to enjoy. 

"You would give yourself to God, just as you are, with your fighting and fears, hates and loves, pride and shame.
"I would come to God just as I am?  Is that right?

Charlotte did come to God just as she was and her heart was changed that day.  She claimed John 6:37  All that the Father gives Me will come to Me and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

She later pinned the famous invitation song "Just As I Am".

She lived to be 82 and after her death, love ones found over a thousand letters written to her, expressing their gratitude for the way "Just As I Am" touched their lives.

I am so happy that we all are invited to come, just as we are, with our shame, our fears, our hatred and our sin and just as John 6:37 says "I will by no means cast you out!"  Amen