Christmas Poem

I just rediscovered this poem I wrote for Earnestine last Christmas

Christmas Poem

As the years pass by I have this hope

That was placed in me years ago,

As time goes by it has proven true

That our love deepens as we go.

So my Christmas wish for you

My beloved, my soulmate, my wife,

That the days be they many or few,

We’ll share the deep places of life.

And the future’s still bright

And our dreams are still right

For we’re still being written by Love.

As the days linger on

We share hope in the Son

In the end we have more than enough.

Anthony Foster

December 2017

You Called Me Out

My actions and behavior were depraved

But you demanded holiness from sin’s slave

From wicked delusions and damnable doubt

I was faced with my sin when you called me out

Out of the darkness, out of the night

Out of the prison and into the light

Out of the grave, from the graveclothes unbound

You remove death’s wrappings and give us a crown.

Dead in my sin and sealed in hell’s grave

You called me out, you are mighty to save.

Deep in the silence, your death-piercing shout

Raised me from the dead when you called me out.

You’ll never wink at a sin and strife

You have saved us and called us to a holy life

Slaves called to faith in the Lord  now set free

To walk in the light and the light now to be

Out of the darkness, out of the night

Out of the prison and into the light

Out of the grave, from the graveclothes unbound

You remove death’s wrappings and give us a crown.

Dead in my sin and sealed in hell’s grave

You called me out, you are mighty to save.

Deep in the silence, your death-piercing shout

Raised me from the dead when you called me out.

Anthony Foster

February 7, 2018

In the Beloved (version two)

You call us your Beloved

You set us far apart

What would you say to us?

Open our ears and soften our heart

You leave us in the light

Not in the dismal dark

Lord Jesus give us sight

With eyes of open hearts

To seek you and to see you

To listen, Lord, and hear

To focus ever clearly

On what you hold most dear

Oh Jesus be our vision

Oh Jesus be the stake

To whom our hearts are tethered

To live life for your sake

And so as your Beloved

The riches of your grace

Are lavished now upon us

A we run life’s race.

Put your fire in our bones

Your blazing searing Word

To brand in us a passion

For what our hearts have heard.

Oh mystery of your will

That you are making known

According to intentions

You purpose in Christ alone.

So sum up all the heavens

And sum up all the earth

The new life we inherit

Is ours through the new birth.

And so as your Beloved

The riches of your grace

Are lavished now upon us

A we run life’s race.

Put your fire in our bones

Your blazing searing Word

To brand in us a passion

For what our hearts have heard.

Anthony Foster

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July- December 2017

Children of the burning heart

Father of Glory, Father of lights

Abba beloved, give my heart sight

Stir up the embers, Your passion impart

Make us the  children of the burning heart.

Kindle the fires Fan now the flame

You set in our souls For Your glorious name

Refine us, consume us and set us apart

Make us the children of the burning heart.

And we shall adore, and we shall adore

The one who His mystery reveals

We shall adore, we shall adore

The kindler of the fire that heals.

Father of Glory, Father of lights

Abba beloved, give my heart sight

Stir up the embers, Your passion impart

Make us the  children of the burning heart.

Kindle the fires Fan now the flame

You set in our souls For Your glorious name

Refine us, consume us and set us apart

Make us the children of the burning heart.

Now we know passion, now we know zeal

Aflame in our souls for His advent reveals

The true devastation, the depth of our need

The darkness and chains from which we can be freed

Father of Glory, Father of lights

Abba beloved, give my heart sight

Stir up the embers, Your passion impart

Make us the  children of the burning heart.

Kindle the fires Fan now the flame

You set in our souls For Your glorious name

Refine us, consume us and set us apart

Make us the children of the burning heart.

Anthony  Foster

December 2017

The Riches of His Glory

To the praise of His glory

To the praise of God’s grace

You emblazen our hearts

With a vision of your face

So fulfill now that vision

With a clear and perfect sense

Of the mystery of what you’ve done

T­o comprehend this grace immense 

Chorus:

You sent your Son from above

To root us and ground us in Love

For those on whom your favor rests

With peace we find our hearts are blessed.

In accord with the riches

Of the Glory  of the King

With power through His Spirit

In our innermost being

That in our hearts  through faith

Our Christ may ever dwell

In our hearts through faith

Peace comes and all is well.

Chorus:

You sent your Son from above

To root us and ground us in Love

For those on whom your favor rests

With peace we find our hearts are blessed.

Grounding us in true love

And sinking deep love’s root

So that love becomes our life

And our life is love’s pursuit

Your boundless love surpasses

All loves the world has known

The love of Christ  that fills us

With the fullness of God alone

Chorus:

You sent your Son from above

To root us and ground us in Love

For those on whom your favor rests

With peace we find our hearts are blessed.

Bridge:

Oh Lord, now grant us strength

To comprehend the breadth and height

The depth and yea, the length

Of the precious love of Christ.

Chorus:

You sent your Son from above

To root us and ground us in Love

For those on whom your favor rests

With peace we find our hearts are blessed.

Ephesians 3:16-19

Luke 2

John 3

Anthony Foster

December 2017