Draw Near

God will set us free from darkness He shall set us free from fear

There is freedom in His presence If we only will draw near.

We can rise with wings like eagles Till the valley disappears

We shall mount up to His mountain If we only will draw near

As we venture ever closer We discover faith's frontier

We must walk a long obedience As the Father draws us near

In the blessings, in the burdens He shall sanctify our tears

And our Joy shall be completed If we only will draw near

Bridge

So now draw near to the Father Set your mind on things above

For he draws us from the wells of death And showers us with love

As we lift Him up were lifted Brought unto His mercy seat

As we raise our hearts up to Him We discover His heartbeat.

So cleanse your hands, you sinners,  Let His fire your hard heart sear

Purge your hearts, you double-minded.  Mourn and weep with holy tears

Let your laughter turn to mourning  Cease your joy as gloom appears

Humble yourselves before God- He'll exalt and draw you near.

We shall diligently seek Him We'll pursue and persevere

Our persistence is rewarded By his very presence here

For if we seek we find Him And our vision He shall clear

We shall see His very glory If we only will draw near.

We shall see His very glory If we only will draw near.

Hebrews 11:6, James 4:8, Psalm 145:18

Anthony Foster

January 28, 2020

We Wish You a Mysterious Christmas

Wonder fills us with astonishment. -This infant reveals the Ancient of Days

He who sits upon the heavenly throne -Now lies in a manger while angels sing praise

And he who cannot be touched,  Lies subjected to human hands.

He who has broken the bonds of sinners Is now bound by an infant’s bands.

Now ignominy becomes honor,  And infamy is clothed with glory,

Humiliation measures his goodness-He’s decreed this mysterious story.

For this he assumed my body,  That I may embrace His word;

He quickens my mind and opens my ears so eternal truth can be  heard!

Let all the earth rejoice-Let all the earth rejoice

The baby born to us this day-Was spoken by God’s voice.

He prepares for us  life’s  treasure- He bestows, and we receive

He takes our flesh and we’re sanctified  He gives His Spirit, that we may believe.

For this day the ancient slavery’s ended, the Devil confounded, now demons take flight,

The power of death once for all is broken! To those in darkness comes the light.

For in His work paradise is unlocked, Sin is removed, the curse is broken,

Error’s driven out for truth has been born,  Lovingkindness is diffused  as it’s spoken

Now Grace is  spread on every side-Yea,  implanted on the earth,

And we now hold speech with angels because of Emmanuel’s birth.

Let all the earth rejoice-Let all the earth rejoice

The baby born to us this day-Was spoken by God’s voice.

God’s on earth, and man in heaven; while seated above He yields to birth

And while complete in heaven, He is never diminished on earth.

Though He is God, He became man,  though as God not denying himself

Though being the unchanging Word, He became flesh with us to dwell!

And so by  I AM’s incarnation a new covenant has been born

The Christ in this child, condescending, has raised up Salvation’s Horn

To him, then, who out of confusion  has brought a clear path to deliver

So to Father, Christ and Holy Spirit, We offer all praise now and forever.

Let all the earth rejoice-Let all the earth rejoice

The baby born to us this day-Was spoken by God’s voice.

After John Chrysostom; Luke 1:62

December 25, 2019

Anthony Foster

My Christmas Blessing

When God gave me a soulmate

He planned us as one flesh-

Before all time it was ordained

But it stays forever fresh.

There’d be no home without you,

Your touch is everywhere-

And all you touch is better

It’s the touch of one who cares.

Where would I be without you?

Is a thing I need not ask,

For God keeps us by His Grace

That’s sufficient for the task.

You still make all things beautiful

You make our days complete,

So I’m forever grateful

That we walk to God’s heartbeat.

The greatest Christmas blessing

The Father has bestowed

Keeps giving as we keep walking

Together on this road.

To Earnestine

Christmas Day, 2019

Anthony Foster

Christmas Song

A festive and rejoicing heart is filled with quiet love

I am set aright and set apart as I set my mind on things above

Shadows flee as I set one foot in front of another in this light

For Christmas cheer and Christmas glory drive away the night

This Christmas I am here with friends and family and wife

Confronted with how much I’m blessed to have this blessed life

And so my tongue declares this love, my lips will sing out praise

On the mysterious marvelous birth of the Ancient of Days

So ring you bells within my heart cry out on Christmas Day

Declare that life and light has come to show us all the Way

We sing of mercy and of grace that gave to us His Son

This Christmas points us to the place where God’s  good will is done.

For we have seen a great light, we received Emmanuel

We have embraced the incarnate in hands of dust so frail

As He was born to give new birth, he gives new wine and song

He is the great gift giver of eternal life ‘ere long.

Who was and is and is to come and evermore shall be

Our God took on flesh and bone to become like you and me.

He came to destroy Satan’s works He came our souls to save

So Christmas is a special time to enjoy the gift He gave.

So ring you bells within my heart cry out on Christmas Day

Declare that life and light has come to show us all the Way

We sing of mercy and of grace that gave to us His Son

This Christmas points us to the place where God’s  good will is done.

December 25, 2019

Anthony Foster