The Glory of Christ

The depths of life are apprehended

In the fellowship of suffering.

Made one with the cross we are mended

Though broken and spilled out we sing

For now in our pain there is ultimate gain

And our suffering is not a waste

It is a small price, for the glory of Christ

Fulfills every desire we have chased

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price

This is the anthem we sing

All grace from Him flows , all life from him grows

And is kept by our Savior and King

He brings purpose to our suffering

So rid yourselves of all that binds you

From the beautiful glory of Christ

Let this admonition remind you

Give your all and theres no sacrifice

For justice, meekness, truth, and grace

Attend His glorious way.

They overcome every loss we have faced

For the glory of Christ each day

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price

This is the anthem we sing

All grace from Him flows , all life from him grows

And is kept by our Savior and King

He brings purpose to our suffering

Now lifted up He was first brought low

Like a grain of wheat yielding much gain

So we who in our weakness can know

Sufficient grace still attains

When we forsake all to cling and draw near

And in Him be satisfied

As we bear our cross it is made clear

The King of Kings is glorified

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price

This is the anthem we sing

All grace from Him flows, all life from Him grows

And is kept by our Savior and King

He brings purpose to our suffering

So our Savior has gone before us

And so he leads Gods many sons

To glory with Him-He has conquered our sin

And our Judgment is over and done!

Dominions, thrones, and powers rejoice

To see him wear victorys crown.

Archangels sound his lofty praise

Every creature will one day bow down.

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price

This is the anthem we sing

All grace from Him flows, all life from him grows

And is kept by our Savior and King

He brings purpose to our suffering

October 31, 2018

Anthony Foster

Joint Heirs with Jesus

We have heritage and an inheritance

Because we are co-heirs with Christ

We have a share were given in advance

As a surety that will suffice

As Gods adopted daughters and sons

We are firstborn heirs of creation

Our inheritance is eternal life though its begun

For we are the heirs of salvation

Even of the very throne of Christ

We are given a measure

Given a pearl of greatest price

And a heritage to treasure

Heirs of Gods promises ever true

Heirs of this world and eternity

As heirs we are given a deposit

Of the Spirit as a guarantee

Redeemed to the praise of His glory

Joint heirs together with Christ

Redeemed to the praise of His glory

Joint heirs together with Christ

Redeemed to the praise of His glory Amen!

Romans 8:17, Hebrews 1:14, 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:21, Ephesians 1:14 John 6:37

October 30, 2018

Anthony Foster

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Where there is no vigilance,

No urgency to seize us,

Where there is no focused listening

Or fixing our eyes on Jesus,

We will never stand still,

But go drifting far away.

The life of this world is not a lake-

It is a river gone astray!

So fix your eyes on Jesus

Listen earnestly to His Word

Fix your mind on what He’s saying

And heed what you have heard

And you’ll never drift away

Drift away, drift away

To go with the flow will take you down

Descending to decay

As the river runs we are losing ground

We will drift away

But there is a rock that will not move

Tho the tumult rages

There is a truth that will ever prove

To be secure thru the ages

Author and perfecter of our faith, you are our source

We will fix our eyes on you and You will plot our course!

So fix your eyes on Jesus

Listen earnestly to his word

Fix your mind on what He’s saying

And consider what you’ve heard

And you’ll never drift away

Drift away, drift away

Hebrews 12:2

Anthony Foster

October 30, 2018

Depend on It

God's love is secure

His provision is sure

You can depend on it

God's plans for you

Will always come true

You can depend on it

His light will illumine

The truth that we seek

The earth we'll inherit

If we become meek

His grace is sufficient

Whenever we're weak

You can depend on it.

So join the mighty chorus
He is ever for us
You can depend on it
More sure than the sun
Setting when day is done
You can depend on it

We are his forever

Forever held fast
The truth that He gives us
Is truth that will last
For eternity future 
As in eternity past

You can depend on it

His children will prosper

His people will win

His blood overcomes all

The depths of our sin

He draws us to his side

were His in the end

You can depend on it

You can depend on it

You can depend on it

Anthony Foster

October 30, 2018

Humble Joy and Holy Fear (Psalm 32)

Blest is the man, forever blest,

Whose guilt is pardoned by his God;

Whose sins with sorrow are confessed,

And covered with his Savior's blood.

Blest is the man to whom the Lord

Imputes not his iniquities;

He pleads no merit of reward,

Not works, but grace is His sole plea

Repentance and free pardon;

By Grace we are Justified

Haughty hearts that were hardened

By Grace are being Sanctified

Souls that long for Christ to appear

Will arise to stand before His throne.

Yet humble joy, and holy fear

By these shall all Gods saints be known

From guile his heart and lips are free;

His contrite joy, his reverent fear,

With deep repentance well agree,

And join to prove his faith sincere.

Christ cancels sins, and fear allays

How glorious is His righteousness!

While a bright evidence of grace

Through saints' whole life is manifest.

Repentance and free pardon;

By grace we are Justified

Haughty hearts that were hardened

By Grace are being Sanctified

Souls that long for Christ to appear

Will arise to stand before His throne.

Yet humble joy, and holy fear

By these shall all Gods saints be known

PSALM 32

After Isaac Watts

October 30, 2018

Anthony Foster

Hear My Cry (Repentance)

Lord, I am broken, I am weak

At times out of control

My inward anguish makes me seek

To soothe the anguish of my soul.

To soothe the anguish of my soul.

All my desire to You is known,

Your eye counts every tear;

And every sigh, and every groan,

Falls clearly on Your ear.

I cry out and you hear.

You are my God, my only hope;

My God will hear my cry;

My God will bear my spirit up,

I would be lifted lest I die.

I would be lifted lest I die.

My sins, a heavy load, oppress,

Each one to You is known

They are too much, I cannot bear,

Nor make atonement on my own

Atonement rests on Christ alone!

But I'll confess my guilt and shame

And grieve for all my sin;

I'll mourn my spirit, weak and lame

May I by grace be cleansed

May I by grace be cleansed

You are my God, my only hope;

My God will hear my cry;

My God will bear my spirit up,

I would be lifted lest I die.

I ll only on my God rely

My God, forgive the time I waste

Lord be for ever nigh;

O Lord of my salvation, haste,

Oh Savior, hear my cry

My God will hear my cry!

Psalm 38

After Isaac Watts

Anthony Foster

October 30, 2018

Pearl of Great Price

He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep

To gain that which he can never lose

For whatever we sow we will surely reap

By Gods grace we will wisely choose.

Oh pearl of great price you are our greatest treasure

It is no sacrifice to give up all our earthly measure

Oh light of things eternal, Oh pearl of great price

To glory in your presence will be our paradise

Where our treasure is there our heart will be

When we worship the most worthy one the unseen we will see.

This is life abundant this is blessedness

To seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness

To count it all as loss, to pay any cost

To gain the greatest treasure is ours to embrace

The thing of greatest worth in heaven or on earth

Is the weight of glory found in Jesus’ face

Oh pearl of great price you are our greatest treasure

It is no sacrifice to give up all our earthly measure

Oh light of things eternal, Oh pearl of great price

To glory in your presence will be our paradise

Anthony Foster

October 29, 2018

Lamentation

Our strength is but a broken cistern But you’re an overflowing stream

We set our minds on things below And pursue frivolous dreams

Turn us, turn us, mighty God, And mold our souls afresh;

Break, sovereign grace, these hearts of stone, And give us hearts of flesh.

Let every wall that we erect Provoke our weeping eyes,

And hourly as new mercies fall Let hourly thanks arise.

This is our lamentation This is our deep regret

Forbid that we should waste your grace As we are doing yet.

Devastated and undone It is to you I run

I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

We invest such energy in things that pass away

The wood and hay and stubble will all soon decay

Avert our minds and set them on the unseen things above

The good the true the beautiful and the pursuit of love

Crush my haughty spirit and decimate my pride

Your flame, let me draw near it so i am purified

Help me hate my sinfulness until I learn to mourn

The things that grieve your Spirit I would scorn.

Devastated and undone It is to you I run

I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Change our laughter to mourning we would grieve, and mourn and wail.

Turn our joy into gloom and Make our best devices fail

When we drink of this worlds prizes we drink a bitter cup

But if we humble ourselves before the Lord, then he will lift us up.

You would transform my humble state Conform me to Your Son

Subect me to your goodness And I will be undone

Raise me up from daily death to life There is no greater pleasure

Your word is life and breath so make your presence my great treasure

Devastated and undone It is to you I run

I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew

But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required

Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Lines 3-6 from Isaac Watts

Anthony Foster

October 28, 2018

I have Taken up my Cross

Jesus, I have taken up my cross

All to leave and follow you

Destitute, despised, a total loss

Take all that is in me and all that I do!

Perish every fond ambition,

All I've sought or hoped or known.

Yet how rich is my condition,

God and heaven are still my own.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,

Come disaster, scorn and pain

In your service, pain is pleasure,

With your favor, loss is gain

I have called you Abba Father,

On you I have stayed my heart

Storms may rage, and darkness gather;

All work for good on my part

Soul, then know your full salvation

Rise o'er sin and fear and care

Joy to find in every station,

Something still to do or bear.

Think what Spirit dwells within you,

Think what Father's smiles are yours,

Think that Jesus died to win you,

Child of heaven, claim your cure.

Hasten on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heaven's eternal days before me,

Gods own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close your earthly mission,

Soon shall pass your pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition,

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

October 28, 2018

After Henry Lyte

New lyrics and music Anthony Foster

When I pour out my Soul

When I pour out my soul in prayer, the Lord my God attends

To the eternal Throne of Grace my humble prayer ascends.

You do not hide your glorious Face in times of deep distress:

Incline your ear and hear my plea and forgive what I confess!

When I pour out my soul in prayer

My Father is waiting there

Receiving my pleas

As Im down on my knees

And he dispels every dark despair

When I pour out my soul in prayer

I cast my burdens and all my cares

As I am drawing near

My Father hears

No other solace compares.

For God from his abode on high, hears every prayer thats prayed:

The Lord, from Heaven, his lofty throne, has all the Earth surveyed.

He strongly supports the humble that they might celebrate his fame,

He answers or petition, we sing loud praises to his Name.

When I pour out my soul in prayer

My Father is waiting there

Receiving my pleas

As Im down on my knees

And he dispels every dark despair

When I pour out my soul in prayer

I cast my burdens and all my cares

As I am drawing near

My Father hears

No other solace compares.

You shall arise, with healing wings and with unclouded face:

For now redemption draweth nigh, your own appointed Day of Grace.

Then to the children of Your saints shall lasting solace give;

Our greatest prayer is answered- we shall in Your presence live.

When I pour out my soul in prayer

I cast my burdens and all my cares

As I am drawing near

My Father hears

No other solace compares.

October 27, 2018

Anthony Foster

Mercy's Never-failing Stream

Of Mercy's never-failing stream,

And steadfast Judgment I will sing;

And since they both to You belong,

To You, Lord, I address my Song.

My Lord, you will with me abide

Your disciplines by grace shall guide;

A blameless life to me you give,

A pattern by which I will live.

For Mercy's never-failing stream

Flows on forever to redeem

It springs eternal from Gods throne

Each morning mercies new are shown

You bring us trials our souls to sift

You grant repentance as a gift

From haughty looks I'll turn aside,

And mortify the heart of pride.

May your longsuffering patience prove

To be the kindness that shall move

Our stony hearts to be made flesh

By Mercy's stream we are refreshed

And Mercy's ever flowing stream

Flows on forever to redeem

It springs eternal from Gods throne

Each morning mercies new are shown

Adapted some lyrics with new music from The Whole Book of Psalms, in Metre. With Hymns, Etc. 1795
Anthony Foster

October 26, 2018

Call of Grace

We were dead, stone cold in our sin

We were dead there in iniquity's den

But God did what men cannot do

He creates a faith that makes hearts new

I heard the call of God fall on my deafened ear

I heard the call of God even when I could not hear

The call that raises from the dead

This call to life in the living head

The call to come out from the grave

Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves

We were dead when we heard the shout

We were dead, when he called us out

Grace makes a dead man to obey

Grace makes the dead to rise and pray

And the call of grace cant be denied

Those whom God called he also justified

The call that raises from the dead

This call to life in the living head

The call to come out from the grave

Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves

Now faith is created but is not done

Grace draws the sinner to the Son

As the glorious gift of grace is planted

Repentance and obedience is granted

In the call that raises from the dead

This call to life in the living head

The call to come out from the grave

Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves!

October 25, 2018

(Romans 4:17) (Romans 8:30) (Romans 5:1) (John 6:44, 65) (Acts 16:14) (John 10:3–4, 14).

Anthony Foster

Returning Praise-Lost song Found

Looking for an old file I chanced upon this song that was lost for years...

Returning Praise

Music fills the universe- it beats in metered time

The harmonies of heaven the seas and land entwine

The changing of the seasons, the dancing sun and moon

They sing of their composer- the One who calls the tune.

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

So join them with your anthem and follow music’s course

Returning to our author, our pattern and our source.

The cries of every newborn, the silence of the dead

The greening of the forest, the seas by rivers fed

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

Demand to praise their maker with every rock and hill

Cry out to praise the artist whose purpose they fulfill.

So join them with your anthem and follow music’s course

Returning to our author, our pattern and our source.

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

Anthony Foster

November 13, 2002

In Zion Then I'll Sing

To celebrate your Praise, O Lord,

I will my Heart prepare;

To all the list'ning World Your Word,

Your wond'rous Works declare.

The thought of them shall to my soul

exalted pleasure bring;

Whilst to Your Name, O thou most High,

triumphant praise I sing.

In Zion then I'll sing Your praise,

to all that love Your Name;

And with loud shouts of grateful Joy

Your saving pow'r proclaim.

The Lord for ever lives, who has

his righteous throne prepared;

Impartial Justice to dispense,

to punish or reward.

God is a constant sure defense

against oppressing foes;

As troubles rise, his power and might

protects us through our woes

In Zion then I'll sing Your Praise,

to all that love Your Name;

And with loud shouts of grateful Joy

Your saving pow'r proclaim.

All those who have his Goodness prov'd,

will in his Truth confide;

Whose Mercy ne'er forsook the man

that on his help relied.

Sing Praises therefore to the Lord,

from Zion his abode;

Proclaim his deeds, till all the world,

confess no other God.

In Zion then I'll sing Your Praise,

to all that love Your Name;

And with loud shouts of grateful Joy

Your saving pow'r proclaim.

Psalm 9;1, 2 ,7-11,14

Adapted lyrics with new music from The Whole Book of Psalms, in Metre. With Hymns, Etc. 1795

October 25, 2018
Anthony Foster

Adore and Temble

Adore and tremble all you saints, for our God is a consuming fire!

His hatred of sin His wrath inflames, due justice is required

His hand shall on rebellious men a fiery tempest pour,

While we beneath His shelt'ring wings Gods justice shall adore.

Our mighty God, in sovereign grace sits wisely on His throne;

The refuge of His chosen race, He make His mercies known.

His children must obey our His will, and trust in Father's grace;

Our pardoning God is jealous still- to require holiness.

Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise

Saints assembled, adore and tremble as we apprehend God's righteous ways!

Adore and tremble all you saints, before the throne of God

He loves us as a parent that does not spare the rod

His discipline we must not fain, we take it and are blessed

We trust our Father's love for us is for our good at last!

Adore and tremble at the thought of holiness complete

With perfect justice mingled there upon the mercy seat

By God's great sacrifice we are humbled and undone

His Glory overwhelms our souls- Oh praise the Holy One!

Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise

saints assembled, adore and tremble as we apprehend God's righteous ways!

Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise

Saints assembled, adore and tremble as God manifests His righteous ways!

Nah. 1:1-3; Heb. 12:29.

October 23, 2018

Anthony Foster