Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Home Away from Home


Between the glorious and mundane
The radical and the oh, so sane
The salt of the earth does not mock rotting meat
It saves and it seasons or soberly weeps.

Between the glory and the degradation
We live in a place that’s in need of salvation
The light of the world cannot be hid away
It labors to illumine and puts glory on display

Chorus
Yes, our citizenship is in heaven on high
And we won’t make it home till the day that we die
But if we’­re dying with Christ we  are never alone
He’ll abide with us here in our home- away from home

So I’ll build my home on Christ and nothing less
I’ll hold this home loosely till I take my rest
And so to this world I’ll not be conformed
I will set my mind on Jesus and be transformed

Bridge
As exiles and strangers we navigate dangers
As we seek for that city that is to come
We happily sojourn ‘til the day we return
To our home in heaven when the journey is done.

Chorus
Our citizenship is in heaven on high
And we won’t make it home till the day that we die
But if we’­re dying with Christ we  are never alone
He’ll abide with us here in our home- away from home.

After a meditation on a John Piper devotion
June 24, 2020
Anthony Foster



Saturday, June 20, 2020

Guide me O my Lord and Savior


Verse 1:
Guide me O my Lord and Savior, pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but You are mighty, hold me with Your powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.

Verse 2:
Open now the crystal fountain where the healing waters flow;
Let Your fiery, cloudy pillar lead me where I’m called to go
Strong Deliverer, Strong Deliverer,  be my strength and be my shield,
Be my strength and be my shield.

Verse 3:
When I tread the shores of heaven, bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me through the swelling current,  draw me safe unto Your side;
Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to You;
I will ever give to You.

(Original written by William Williams as Guide me O Thou great Jehovah)
June 13, 2020
Updated by Anthony Foster

Search Me, Cleanse Me


Search me, O God, And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin and set me free.
I praise You, Lord, For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Your Word, and make me pure within.
Fill me with holy fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire To magnify Your Great Name.

What do you require?  This is my desire
To have understood  That which is good
To do justice, to love mercy 
And with my God to walk humbly
Search me, cleanse me of all my unrighteousness 
Refine me with fire,  Purge every desire
That keeps me from blessedness

Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Yours
Fill my poor heart with a Love that’s true and pure
Take all my will, My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord In me abide.
O Holy Spirit, Revival comes from You
Send a revival, Start a work in me anew
Your Word declares You will supply our need;
For Your very presence Lord, I humbly plead.

What do you require?  This is my desire
To have understood  That which is good
To do justice, to love mercy 
And with my God to walk humbly
Search me, cleanse me Of all my unrighteousness 
Refine me with fire Purge every desire
Purify My heart  as I confess.
Purify My heart  as I confess.
Purify My heart  as I confess.

Psalm 139:23-24; Psalm 51:2; Micah 6:8
After Edwin Orr
Anthony Foster 
June 19, 2020

Oh Great Giver



I think so highly of myself-Lord devastate My pride 
Help me repent of it-Until to self I’ve died
Though of  all sinners I am chief
Lord I believe , help my unbelief
Give me a hatred of my sin,  Make my defenses fail
I am willing to trust but doubts assail
Give the gift of tears of a holy grief 
Lord I believe , help my unbelief

You write  the chapters of my story Only then can I live  anew
And live so that you get the glory  In everything I do,
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief

Help me think with sober judgment,  Help me to renew my mind
According to the measure of faith  That You alone assigned.
From my doubting bring relief
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief
Sustain my faith and  Strengthen it.  With you as its author it shall not fail. 
Make it the power of my life,  Finish it so Your glory will prevail
Though my life on earth is brief
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief

You write  the chapters of my story Only then can I live  anew
And live so that you get the glory  In everything I do,
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief
Lord I believe now, help my unbelief

Make it the power of my life
Oh Great Giver give me Grace
Make it the power of my life
Oh Great Giver give me Faith

June 15, 2020
Anthony Foster


God of the Minefields



Battlefields are no friend to romance
In  this promised land we’re called to dance
When this holy cord has You as the third strand,
Then two become one flesh  together to stand

God of the minefields, Lord of the storm
We pass through a world where trouble’s the norm
As we  weather the journey you will see us through
We shall pass safely if we draw close to you

And we will trust in your promise
We will trust in your grace
We will trust in your mercy
In this ponderous place
Till we stand face to face
Lord, we will trust in your grace

Lord of the earthquake and of the inferno
Be our deliverer so our world will know
You are our one hope down here in the deep
You are our keeper and we are your keep.

You are our Maker though we are but dust 
We cling to your promise and in You we trust
Add Your living water  and shape us we pray
Till we are transformed into vessels of clay

God of the minefields, Lord of the storm
Work in us until  new heart is formed
When the trouble is over and the day is done
The trials will conform us to be like your Son

And we will trust in your promise
We will trust in your grace
We will trust in your mercy
In this ponderous place
Till we stand face to face
Lord, we will trust in your grace

June 19, 2020
Anthony Foster