Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Truth, Light and Grace


Lord I want your truth to be
The loudest voice I hear
Lord correct and comfort me
Draw me close, draw me near

And I will trust 
Though I am but dust
I am feeble and frail
I have understood
That you are Good
And your mercy will not fail

Lord I want your light to be
A lamp unto my feet
May your glory shine in me
To burn up all deceit

Help me obey
Your living way
I’ll walk within that light
So let me shine
And walk that line
That makes this pilgrim right.

Lord I want my heart to be
A vessel for your grace
This treasure you place in me
Overflow me now with praise

Though I am weak
Lord help me speak
Give me a song to sing
I’ll raise my voice
I will rejoice
A perfect offering

January 31, 2023
Anthony Foster


Prevailing Grace



Our God is supreme and glorious
He reigns over all- victorious
This world He has overcome
His kingdom comes, His will be done.

God’s prevailing grace will attain
Resistance is futile-if He so ordains
Who can withstand His perfect plan
Who can ignore His call?
God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

Our God is timeless but all flesh is grass
His decrees shall always come to pass
In His perfect wisdom  He will fulfill
All the counsels of His wondrous will

God’s prevailing grace will attain
Resistance is futile-if He so ordains
Who can withstand His perfect plan
Who can ignore His call?
God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

God’s prevailing grace will attain
Resistance is futile-if He so ordains
Who can withstand His perfect plan
Who can ignore His call?
God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

January 30, 2023
After a Piper devotional title
Anthony Foster



 

One Word (Tetelestai)



What is that one wondrous word
That defeats the devil when it is heard?
What is that message we must tell him
What little word shall surely fell him?

Tetelestai- it is over and done
Tetelestai-It is finished and the victory is won
It was accomplished at the cross
Christ won the battle when He paid the cost
And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

Christ became Sin for us  frail men
A substitute though He knew no sin
So God’s righteousness we become
In Him and through him we overcome

Tetelestai- it is over and done
Tetelestai-It is finished and the victory is won
It was accomplished at the cross
Christ won the battle when He paid the cost
And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son
And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son
And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

January 30, 2023
After A Mighty Fortress
Anthony Foster 

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Power, Glory and Grace

Only one life, twill soon be past
Only what’s done for Christ will last
But every little thing I’ve done
Any good work  that’s begun
The strength required to run this race
Is Through God’s power
For God’s Glory
By God’s Grace

As unto Him my work I yield
His power in weakness is revealed
In Every thought and deed that’s good
My God does what I never could
And so every  feat is built and braced
Through God’s power
For God’s Glory
By God’s Grace

He is our source, He is the force through which we live
He is the Righteous Holy provider of what we cannot give
There is no supply sufficient that ever could replace
For His is the Power His is the Glory it is all of His Grace

So each morning when I rise
It’s grace that opens up my eyes
And when I work, in every deed
Your grace supplies my every need
I’ll walk by faith and not by sight until I see His face
Through God’s power
For God’s Glory
By God’s Grace
Through God’s power
For God’s Glory
By God’s Grace

After C. T. Studd
January 24, 2023
Anthony Foster

My Soul Will Rest Easy


For the wearisome soul 
There’s a balm that consoles
For each morning Your mercy is new
Though trouble will come
Till my work here is done
My soul will rest easy in You.

My soul will rest easy in You
My soul will rest easy in You
The One who holds me is faithful and true
My soul will rest easy in You

Lord you watch over me
When I cannot see
The pathway that leads to what’s true
But you go before
And you open the door
That you want me to enter through

Bridge
And if Lord you deny  the thing I desire
Give me the power to do what you require
And see all I need in your sheltering place
For I now know peace flows only from grace

For the suffering heart
There can be a new start
As we die to our self and to gain
For there riches untold
In the Good Shepherd’s fold
For He  saves from a life lived in vain

My soul will rest easy in You
My soul will rest easy in You
The One who holds me is faithful and true
My soul will rest easy in You 

My soul will rest easy in You
My soul will rest easy in You
The One who holds me is faithful and true
My soul will rest easy in You

January 24, 2023
Anthony Foster

Monday, January 23, 2023

Held Safe in Your Hand




You are our Hope when we are downcast
When we are saddest You hold us fast
When we're at our weakest you show us Your might
When we are blindsided, You are our sight
In our deepest darkness You are the Light

Oh Lord You are our refuge from the storm
Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm
When we are anxious our spirits You raise
You of the source of the heart filled with praise
Held safe in Your right hand for all of our days!

Deep in our pain Your sweet comfort you bring
When we are distressed over us You still sing
You are our treasure when we know great loss
When we are bankrupt you pay the cost
You are our power when we take up the cross

Oh Lord You are our refuge  from the storm
Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm
When we are anxious our spirits You raise
You of the source of the heart filled with praise
Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!

When we have nothing You are more than enough
When we are hated you show us your Love
You are the author who writes out our days
When we wander you show us the way
You are the potter and we are the clay

Oh Lord You are our refuge from the storm
Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm
When we are anxious our spirits you raise
You of the source of the heart filled with praise
Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!
Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!

January 23, 2023
Anthony Foster







Saturday, January 21, 2023

Resting in Your Blessing

 


God gives every spiritual blessing
In the heavenly places in Christ
The things which our God has prepared 
Through the Final sacrifice…

We are resting in Your blessing
Eye has not seen, no ear has heard, 
Neither have entered into the heart of man
The great blessings in Your Word 

God gives hope that lasts forever
For our Lord forever reigns
His mercy is new each morning
Worlds obey what He ordains

Bridge
Jesus is able to do beyond measure
All we ask or imagine, and far, far more
According to his power at work within us, 
To him be all glory forevermore!

We are resting in Your blessing
Eye has not seen, no ear has heard, 
Neither have entered into the heart of man
The great blessings in Your Word 

Eph 1:3; 3:20
Psalm 127
January 21, 2023
Anthony Foster





Remind Me (Your Steadfast Love)


This I call to mind 
When with trouble I must cope
I trust the promises of God
And therefore I have hope
Your faithfulness-
On this I can depend
Your steadfast love
Never ceases, will never end

I won’t wallow in the mire
When godless messages assail me
For Satan is a liar
But your love will never fail me

Remind me of what I know
Remind me of what is true
This I call to mind
So I have hope in You
God of the impossible
You do impossible things
Your greatness and grace
And power gives us wings

So I will turn from despair
Remember truth and ponder
I will cast on Christ my cares
And meditate on  wonder!

This I call to mind 
When with trouble I must cope
I trust the promises of God
And therefore I have hope
Your faithfulness-
On this I can depend
Your steadfast love
Never ceases, will never end

Ps 77:11-12
Lam 3:21-22
January 21, 2023
Anthony Foster

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Three things (among many) I learned as an artist



1. Negative space. Getting an accurate rendering of negative spaces will help you define the positive ones more accurately. I think there is a spiritual principle here. If we have a wrong view of the negative in our life,  the majority of which relate to the Sin principle and/or personal sin, we will fail to apprehend the good, the true, and the beautiful accurately. 
2. Critique. The ability to thoughtfully critique and evaluate one’s art is essential to improving its beauty and your skill in producing it. The same relates to reckoning reality rightly. 2 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to examine everything. Hold on to the good. That applies first and foremost to discerning ourselves, and that can only be done by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
3. Perspective. Changing the way one observes reality changes what we produce as an artist. We all have a lens through which we view the world, a worldview. In our faith walk, we need to stay humble and realize our biases. True Truth can be known, and only God gets to define Reality. The image of God in us is broken and needs to be restored; that happens initially at regeneration,  but is a lifelong process of being conformed to Christ on this earth until He completes His work in us in glorification. In the meantime, if we skew the lines we draw in a way that does not conform to God’s reality, we pay a spiritual price and ugliness attains. 

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

The Gifts of Grace



Tis a gift to know mercy tis a gift to know peace
Tis a gift to repent and see your soul released
For when we apprehend it is all of grace
We will know we have nothing to give God but praise

Then in spirit and truth we will 
Worship our God and be Spirit filled
We will delight to love and obey
And abide in the Lord to whom we pray

The gift of His grace will ever increase
Patience kindness goodness, love joy and peace
Faithfulness gentleness and self control
Will be the fruit that springs from our soul

The giver of gifts is ever lovingkind
Tis a gift to seek him and to truly find
For from him and through him are all things. 
To him be all glory,  forever we sing!

To him be all glory,  forever we sing!
To him be all glory,  forever we sing!

Then in spirit and truth we will 
Worship our God and be Spirit filled
We will delight to love and obey
As we walk in the light of the living Way!

To the tune of Simple Gifts
January 18, 2023
Anthony Foster

Nothing But Christ




Nothing can quiet the soul
Nothing can satisfy the soul 
Nothing can fill the soul but Christ

Nothing can cleanse the soul
Nothing can secure the soul
Nothing can save the soul but Christ

There is only one way
There is only one truth
There is only one life
And that is Christ alone

Nothing can soothe the soul
Nothing can restore the soul
Nothing can stir the soul but Christ

He is the only One
The all-sufficient Son
Come see what He has done
Come worship Christ alone
Come worship Christ alone
Come worship Christ alone

After Thomas Brooks
January 18, 2023
Anthony Foster

Childsong (You Happify Our Hearts)



We sing a song of gladness
Our delight is off the charts
Let tears release and sadness cease
You happify our hearts!

You bless our souls completely
Your Joy the spirit imparts
Oh Lord above our Lord of love
You happify our hearts!

Our feelings are so fickle
They change with fits and starts
But of course you’re joy’s source
You happify our hearts!

You bless our souls completely
Your Joy the spirit imparts
Oh Lord above and Lord of love
You happify our hearts!

Ephesians 1:3; 1 Cor 2:9
January 16, 2023
Anthony Foster



Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Thrill Our Souls




Give the Word and storms are stilled
With your Word our hearts are filled
By your Word our souls are thrilled
Yea Lord You thrill our souls

You alone Exhiliarate us
Overjoy and Fascinate us
Astound, amaze and captivate us
Oh Lord You thrill our souls

Rich in mercy, Great great love
You made Your dead enemies to live
Raised us up and seated with Christ above
In heavenly places- all blessings you give!

Bridge
Who can thrill our souls like Jesus?
Who can satisfy our hearts like You
No other  name to us is given
No other name under heaven
Can ever save us from our sin but You

Only Christ can satisfy
Only Christ can tell us why
Lift our spirits as we cry
Oh Lord You thrill our souls

Rich in mercy, Great great love
You made Your dead enemies to live
Raised us up and seated with Christ above
In heavenly places all blessings you give

Ephesians 2:4-6
January 15, 2023
Anthony Foster








Sunday, January 15, 2023

Gospel Hearts


Give us Gospel Hearts
Hearts that with compassion beat
Give us Gospel hearts
Hearts that Christ has made complete

Hearts that fully love you
That put nothing above you

Hearts that tell the good news
That calls men to new birth
Hearts that seek to make your name
Hallowed in the earth.

Give us Gospel hearts
Hearts that declare the Good News
Give us Gospel hearts
Hearts that declare what is True

Hearts that with desire burn
Hearts that  for your glory yearn

Gospel truth flows from this heart
And it can never be denied…
For a Gospel heart will make You known
A heart that  You have purified

Anthony Foster
January 14, 2023


Thursday, January 12, 2023

Of Thee We Sing!


Our Shield, Our Rock 
And Glorious King
Fortress and Refuge 
Our Sheltering Wing

Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!

You are our Deliverer 
And our  Vindicator
Our Shepherd, our Judge 
And our Creator

You are our Healer
And our Protector
Our Redeemer 
And our Provider
Of All of these things
The Psalmists sing
Our Dwelling Place forever.

Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!
Of Thee we Sing!

Anthony Foster
January 12, 2023

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

This is Glory


This is the shadow but the light is unseen
Realer than this reality ever has been
This world foreshadows all that is real
All of your knowledge and all you can feel

Lost in a fantasy blinded and bleak
Reckoning substance beyond what we seek
Give me the vision, You take the dream
For nothing in this world’s as sure as it seems

This is glory, this is glory
Hallelujah, Glorious weight
For this is no burden
That is for certain
Wait for your eyes to dilate
You will see both the narrow and straight.

Now the shadows persist And the shadows obscure
Darkle, dull they resist the pilgrim’s sure cure
So come to the lightbearer To the luminous  light
So come near, wayfarer -razzle-dazzle your sight

This is glory, this is glory
Hallelujah, Glorious weight
For this is no burden
That is for certain
Wait for your eyes to dilate
You who seek both the narrow and straight.

January 10, 2023
Anthony Foster


Monday, January 9, 2023

Savior Shepherd


Take my hand oh Savior-Shepherd
Take me on to a better land
You will guide me to green pastures
Held forever by your hand.

I’ll not want for I lack nothing
By still waters I am led
You are for me- You restore me 
Then my hungry soul is fed

On Righteous pathways,  Savior Shepherd
Lead me on-dispel my fear
For your name’s sake I will follow
Lord your voice I want to hear

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Will seek me out where e’re I roam
Surely goodness, surely mercy
By His Grace He’ll lead me home

Surely goodness, surely mercy
Will follow me for all my days
I’ll dwell with my Savior Shepherd
In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.
In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.
In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.

January 9, 2023
Anthony Foster

Lord Most High



Lord Most High- You who love me
Lord Most High, Why should this be?
If I die, You shall hold me
If I live, I live fully free.

For You are my Savior, and You are my King
You are the Lord of All, The Master of everything
Lord I will trust You, I’ll answer your call
For it is just You who can be  all in all!

On the way in this wilderness-on this narrow path
Christ's Obedience You bless and forego Your wrath
Lord help me abandon all my selfish desires
You will replace them with Your Holy Fire

Lord Most High, You have saved me
I was dead in Sin, but You forgave me
Well I would walk worthy by the power of your might
Cast off what is earthly and do what is right 
In Your sight as I walk in the Light!

January 8, 2023
Anthony Foster