The Wedding

The Wedding

God the Father:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today

To witness the union of my Son and his chosen fiancé

This honorable estate, this most holy matrimony,

They enter into soberly and reverently...

And they shall be united for all eternity

And they shall be united justly and lawfully

As they enter into this union, these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

Groom:

I take thee, my beloved to be my wedded wife,

to have and to hold from this day through everlasting life

For better and best, for richer and blessed,

In holiness and in health, I your treasure, you my wealth

To love, honor, and cherish, and never to part.

And this is just the start.

Bride:

I take thee, my beloved, to be an husband unto me

To have and hold for an eternity

Forsaking all others to you my Lord I cleave

I will live for your glory, great comfort I'll receive

I know my Lord is jealous for the honor of His name

So undivided love and devotion is my aim!

Together:

And nothing shall separate us-nothing will violate this trust

Neither life nor death not angels-nor principalities unjust

Nothing in heaven and nothing below

Can ever separate us, we know...

We will be united as two loyal hearts

And we will never be torn apart!

We will live together in unity,

In love and joy for eternity!

And we shall be united for all eternity

And we shall be united justly and lawfully

Into this estate these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

And we shall be united for all eternity

And we shall be united justly and lawfully

Into this estate these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

October 19, 2019

Anthony Foster

How Shall I Praise?

How shall I praise the eternal One

Who can ascend his dwelling place,

who can venture near his throne?

God's bold beloved go by grace

The Father of Lights-eternally

Arrayed in raiment shining bright

With his all-searching eye shall see

All secrets revealed in his sight.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

And early He shall hear my call.

Those watchful eyes that never sleep

Survey the world both night and day

His wisdom is a boundless deep

And all our thoughts to him display

Our mighty god, whose arm is strong

To save and keep, or to destroy;

Longsuffering grace he still prolongs,

And endless is his boundless joy.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

And early He shall hear my call.

In Him no shadows of turning

Nor variations wax and wane

For this surety we are yearning

Firm as a rock his truth remains

He'll not alter what he ordains

His promises his power guards

O'er all of life he rules and reigns

He is the God of just rewards

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

and early He shall hear my call.

Demons before his presence flee;

How holy is his wondrous name!

His anger and his jealousy

Burn like devouring roaring flame.

Justice upon a dreadful throne

Maintains the righteous rights of God;

While Mercy sends her pardons down,

And ransoms with a Savior's blood.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

and early He shall hear my call.

Some words after Isaac Watts
October 19, 2018

Anthony Foster

Thank You, Lord

Lord we are grateful, thanksgiving we bring
You have provided us every good thing
Even in troubles and trials you spare
Us from the accuser, held safe  in your care

All of your gifts that you give us are good
All of the truths that we have understood
All of your graces in the here and now
Are portents of blessings you will yet endow

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

Hear our confession and help us repent
Grant us forgiveness and correct our bent
Your mercies are many, and faithful and just
We are so grateful- declare it we must

Hear our thanksgiving, know our gratitude
In our motives and actions and our attitudes
May you be pleased when in you we delight
Thankfulness raised up is just and is right

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

Lord we are thankful for you will abide
Here in our hearts-you will be glorified
Humbly we come our petitions to bring
In true adoration your praises we sing

Thank you our Father for giving us life
Thank you Christ for bearing our sin and strife
Thank you Holy Spirit , you comfort and lead
Our triune God gives to us all that we need

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

October 15, 2015
Anthony Foster

No Emergency

It's out of my control

Its beyond what I can do

Much more can be accomplished

When faith comes to the rescue

There is no maverick mote

That outreaches your hand

Your kingdom spans beyond the stars

It’s all within your plan

So there’s no emergency

Meetings of the Trinity

No wringing of the nailscarred hands

There is never a surprise

That falls on Father’s eyes

And nothing that exists outside your plan

Now all things work together

For now and for forever

For the good of those

whom to your purpose yield

What men may mean for evil

God means for our good

According to your sovereign holy will

All will be fulfilled.

And there’s no emergency

That You did not foresee

No accident that falls beyond Your will

In your perfect sovereignty

All that ever comes to be

By grace alone your plan it will fulfill

According to Your will…

Genesis 50:20

Romans 8:28

Job 42:2

Proverbs 20:5

Isaiah 46:10-11

Phil 2:13

October 15, 2015

Anthony Foster

All in All

Hope of the hopeless, faithful and true

Help of the helpless, we turn to you

Guard of the destitute, strength of the weak

Go now before us to guide where we seek

Giver of mercy to souls in deep need

Key to the prisoner who would be freed

Anchor of souls left adrift in the flood

Our darkest sins are atoned by your blood

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

Refuge of remnants you become our home

Wanderers rest in you, no more to roam

Shelter of wayfarers lost in the night

Food for the hungry soul, be our delight.

Keeper of sheep, our protector and guide

Once we were exposed, now in you we hide

Wisdom of fools your great loss is our gain

You are the righteousness works can’t attain

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

Healer of hearts that were once made of stone

Sowers of seeds you harvest what you’ve sown

Author of faith what you start you complete

Until we stand before your judgment seat

Hope of the hopeless, faithful and true

Help of the helpless, we turn to you

Guard of the destitute, strength of the weak

Go now before us to guide where we seek

Anthony Foster

October 15, 2018

Light of the Word

When the darkness pervades your vision

When the depths of despair would hold sway

When your doubts cloud your power of decision

Let the light drive the darkness away

When we walk in the light of the Savior

We will see where the paths truly lay

One is winding and steep

One, straight, narrow and deep

But His light will show you the right way.

When the dark night of the soul assails you

When you’re lonely and left in your fear

The bright lamp of His Word never fails you

'Twill illumine your soul if you hear

For the Word is a light to our pathway

And the Word is a lamp to our feet

And the last and best Word

That the heart’s ever heard

Is God’s light that is full and complete

For the light of the world is our Jesus

And His glory shines over the deep

It’s the light of the world that now frees us

To walk joyfully though we may weep

Yes the light overcomes every dark place

And the light lights the bright, living way

It casts out all deceit,

It has not known defeat

We see clearly God’s truth on display

For our dayspring will light up our day

For the Light is the truth life and way.

Psalm 119:105, John 1:1-17, 1 John 3
October 15, 2018

Anthony Foster

Found In Christ

Whatever things were gain to me

The things for which I paid a cost

For the sake of Christ they've come to be

Those things I now just count as loss

By any means to know Christ

This is of all-surpassing worth

Knowing Christ has much more value

Than any thing offered on earth

Now I can walk away, set free

From any thing I have possessed

Reckoned as rubbish so to gain Christ

For to be found in Christ is to be found blessed

To be found in Christ alone

Having no righteousness of my own

Comes by faith not law, So I stand in awe

Of the righteousness of Christ my cornerstone.

That I may know Christ

Resurrection power to apprehend

In the sharing of his sufferings is greater gain

To his death conformed, my knee I bend

So to his resurrection to attain.

No worthy deed we do can e're atone

We understand the God who gives

All that is found in Christ alone;

By his own righteousness we live

He made Christ to be sin for us

Who knew no sin, in this we trust

It is finished and done, so we can become

The Righteousness of God in Him

This is where the hope of glory begins and ends

Oh, to be found in Christ alone,

Having no righteousness of my own.

It comes by faith not law, So I stand in awe

Of the righteousness of Christ my cornerstone.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

2 Cor 5:21

Philippians 3:1-10

Anthony Foster

October 14, 2018