Monday, May 31, 2021

Lamentation Tonight


I cry out to you within my soul
For life is taking its terrible toll
I am burdened and in pain
My loss surely doesn’t seem like gain
How it came to this I do not know
I am overtaken by this blow
Trouble overwhelms my heart
And the deadly dangers won’t depart

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
I need the way for you to show
Me in my mourning how to dance
Help me Lord I need You so

Oh this lamentation and this grief
From the searing pain  I need relief
Heal my broken, battered mind
Make obvious what I need to find.
Help me see beyond the tempter’s lies
Help me see hope through tear stained eyes
Help me in my unbelief
Give your gift of grace here in my grief

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
Me in my mourning how to dance
I need the way for you to show
Help me Lord I need You so

Bridge
My heart and flesh cry out
Wavering in the depths of doubt
My God You are my only need
Pour out your presence now I plead

Father I need your deliverance
From my helpless, hapless, hopeless stance
I need the way for you to show
Me in my mourning how to dance
Help me Lord I need You so
Help me Lord I need You so
Help me Lord I need You so

May 31, 2021
Anthony Foster



 

Friday, May 28, 2021

The Beautiful and Terrible (Fear NOT)

 


The expected and the unexpected give cause to rejoice
They raise a Hallelujah as they lift  our voice
A pure raw jubilation arises in the heart
And gratitude and adoration play in counterpart
There are just as many, even more lamenting loss
Pain that wrenches in the gut over the countless cost
And for all of the questions, answers will not attain
As screams are heard in heaven there is One who feels the pain

Chorus
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
For I am your God; so take your stand
I will strengthen you, and help you, do not be afraid
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The beautiful and terrible are both part of the plan.

This side of the Fall emotions play in paradox
Powerful and plaintive till we end up in a box
Some in celebration, Some in deep despair
The beautiful and terrible dance in polar prayer
For some a sorrow mixed with joy is their reality
Divergent feelings come to play in heady harmony
Both pathos and poignancy  a paradox  complete
As pure emotions juxtapose before the mercy seat

Bridge
Rejoice with those who rejoice and  weep with those who weep
To do them both as unto God  may be faith’s greatest leap
For only wind beneath our wings can help us thus to fly
The breath of GOD shall carry us to places left untried.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
For I am your God; so take your stand
I will strengthen you, and help you, do not be afraid
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The beautiful and terrible are both part of the plan.

James 4:9
Deuteronomy 32:39
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 45:7
Anthony Foster
May 28, 2021

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

The Good Hand of God

Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand
Power once veiled is now revealed
No one can snatch us out of His hand
For his hand is a  shelter if we will but yield

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, 
for I am your God; I will strengthen you, 
I will help and uphold you -do not be afraid
In  my righteous right hand is refuge

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

The hand by which earths foundations were laid
Gives a touch that both comforts and calms
With the hand laid upon you by which you were made
See your name now engraved on His palms

May the good hand of God be upon you
May the good hand of God be upon me
For it is in His Holy hand
We will work and take our stand
For in the good hand of God we are set free

Anthony Foster
Nehemiah 2:8
Isaiah 41:10
Proverbs 21:1
May 25, 2021

Monday, May 24, 2021

As the World Turns


Turning, turning
For grace I am yearning
For my heart and yours to agree
Turning, turning
My heart is learning
Repentance is setting me free.

As the world turns, I will turn too
When it turns away, Lord I’ll turn to you
When the world turns away
Or stops turning some day
I will go on with you

So I’ll reckon what’s right
And I’ll walk in the light
And deliverance from darkness I find
For as sure as I live
God will surely forgive
Once the gift of repentance is mine

Bridge
If my sins I would just confess
Forgiveness will be my reward
For it delights God’s heart to bless
When our hearts are in one accord

The penitent soul
That comes under control
Of the consoling Spirit of Grace
Will give praise and arise
There’ll be no compromise
For our author will finish our Faith

As the world turns, I will turn too
When it turns away, Lord I’ll turn to you
When the world turns away
Or stops turning some day
I will go on with you

Anthony Foster
May 23, 2021

Jesus, Jesus


Jesus, Jesus, God who frees us
How does your Kingdom grow?
With mouths that tell
The gates of Hell shall not prevail
Against the seed we sow.

And so we will go
We will go.
We will take good seed to sow
The world’s fields to plow
And await your rains
To raise new grains
New voices to sing
And see the harvest you will bring.

Jesus Jesus -God who sees us
Whose eyes search to and fro
To seek the ones who your will have done
To strengthen them as they run
And support them as they go. 

And so we will go
We will go.
We will take good seed to sow
The world’s fields to plow
And await your rains
To raise new grains
New voices to sing
And see the harvest you will bring.

May 23, 2021
Anthony Foster

He Will Hold You


When the ground gives way-And there’s no place to stand
Find your sure mainstay In the palm of His hand
Through the stormy blast-Though the earth may quake
He will hold you fast For his own name’s sake

And He will hold you
HE will hold you
He will keep you from harm
He will hold you
God will hold you
Hold you in his loving arms

Trials and troubles come Sorrow makes you weep
When the day is done He will be your keep
Every loss and pain Will serve to remind
Loss can be our gain If grace we will find

Bridge
So trust your heartache-Trust your crisis and pain
To the one who can break-Every burdening chain
Come to Him for refuge-And a hiding place
A rock in the deluge-A tower of grace

And He will hold you
HE will hold you
He will keep you from harm
He will hold you
God will hold you
Hold you in his loving arms

May 17, 2021
Anthony Foster

In the Belly of the Beast


The valley of the shadow
Casts its darkness on us all
And temptation’s something we all know
This side of the Fall.
The valley of the shadow of death
Is not just about the grave
The wages of sin will take your breath
But Jesus Christ will save

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

God calls us out of darkness 
Into His marvelous light
And then he equips us
To enter in the fight
And so this light we carry
To see the darkness flee
the shadow may surround us
But we have the victory

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

Sometimes you have to sing out loud
And feel your soul released
Are you ready to meet your maker
In the belly of the beast

Anthony Foster
May 22, 2021

 

Gaze


One day we will sing around
The throne of God in heaven
A never ending Song we will sing 
One day we will sing around
The throne of God in heaven
And purest praise shall be our offering

May our gaze, may our gaze
Be upward, be upward in praise
You are our Rock and our provider
We would lift you higher and higher
Enfolded in Your  sheltering wing 

So gaze upon His Glory
And see it shed abroad
Until it fills the whole earth
And all glorify our GOD.

May our gaze, may our gaze
Be upward, be upward in praise
You are our Rock and our provider
We would lift you higher and higher
Enfolded in Your  sheltering wing 

May 23, 2021

Anthony Foster 

Lord of all our consolation


Lord of all our consolation
We will declare your Great Name
You the author of salvation
We shall go and  spread your fame
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Lord of all our lamentation
We declare your rule and reign
Sovereign over all creation
Grant us peace within our pain.
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Lord of every tribe and nation
Your good news we shall proclaim
We exult in celebration
You are age to age the same
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!
You are I AM and shall ever be
Worthy, worthy, worthy!

Anthony Foster
May 23, 2021