Because He First Loved Me

How came I to know such a great salvation?

How came I to know his loving call?

How came I to enter into joyous celebration? 

A dead man cannot hear or see at all... 

My Father up in heaven, he did draw me

Suddenly, a light in my heart dawned 

Christ looked in my darkness and he saw me 

Touched me and his life in me was spawned

Oh how I love Jesus 

Oh how I love Jesus

Oh how I love Jesus

Because he first loved me

How came I to ever think to seek God?

How came I to ever dare to pray?

How came I to ever search the Scriptures?

At the bottom of it all the Lord God had his way…

Bridge

God saw me and he drew me 

He sent his Spirit to me 

And saved me though I was his enemy

By grace through faith he saved me

Eternal life he gave me

This was his plan from all eternity 

I once was blind, but now I see 

I once was blind, but now I see

I once was blind, but now I see 

A command I could not refuse 

But how that works remains a mystery

If that’s what it really means to choose.

I just know that I was blind now I can see 

Oh how I love Jesus 

Oh how I love Jesus

Oh how I love Jesus

Because he first loved me

Because he first loved me

Because he first loved me

After Charles Haddon Spurgeon

John 17:4; John 6:44

November 25, 2025

Anthony Foster

Remember Hope

This is our hope- our future’s secure 

His children persevere - of this we are sure 

If we will set our minds on heaven above 

The power of grace will perfect us in love 

Remember Hope, remember Grace

Let gratitude reign over all that you face 

Whatever the future holds, we know we can trust

We know it’s true that our God is for us

So stones of remembrance we will raise 

And lift up our eyes to heaven in praise 

A legacy of memories our minds will renew

For our God always does what he says he will do

Bridge

If God is for us who can be against us?

And our God is for us- it is understood 

He did not withhold his Son in our great need 

So He works all things together for our good 

Remember Hope, remember Grace

Let gratitude reign over all that you face 

Whatever the future holds, we know we can trust

We know it’s true that our God is for us

November 23, 2025

Anthony Foster

It Is What It Is

It’s not just some saying- it’s certainly true

That God‘s in control so he’ll do what he’ll do

There is still much Myst’ry, it’s perfectly clear 

With God on our side, there’s nothing to fear

It is what it is and it ain’t what it ain’t

Be strong in the Lord, this is no time to faint

This world is a battle. Most people are blind.

If you seek the Savior, what you seek, you’ll find

There’s no limitation for my finite soul. 

It can do miracles with God in control. 

For all that we are and all that we’ll be 

It’s part of a plan from all eternity 

 

It is what it is and it ain’t what it ain’t 

So reckon reality you sinners made Saints

The Lord’s got your back, so take it in stride

No matter the circumstance it’s time to abide 

So if you would live with authenticity 

Cast yourself head long on Grace and be free 

Set free to live life with heaven in sight

Keep in step with the spirit and it’ll be all right 

Now when it’s all said, and when it’s all done 

It’s guaranteed that change is gonna come 

If we will live through it, it must be by Grace 

To take up your cross and run in this race

It is what it is and it ain’t what it ain’t

Be strong in the Lord, this is no time to faint

This world is a battle. Most people are blind.

If you seek the Savior, what you seek, you’ll find

November 23, 2025

Anthony Foster

The Power of Grace

Jesus my Savior, you are Creator 

You will move mountains because of my faith 

What is required for this, you will provide 

For you wield the power- the power of Grace 

Jesus, my Savior, you are the ruler 

You reign over all things in time and space 

Yet you have chosen to make yourself known 

To reveal the power, the power of grace 

Chorus

Oh gracious justice, oh, gracious pardon 

Oh gracious mercy as we run this race

By Grace is given the faith to believe God

It forever flows down from his throne of grace

Jesus, my Savior, you are my redeemer 

And my intercessor for you plead my case 

Now I am forgiven a new life I’m given 

So now I can live in the power of Grace 

For my Jesus gives grace that’s more than a pardon 

He rules over every trial I face

He has told me his grace is sufficient 

For he overcomes by the power of grace 

Chorus

Oh gracious justice, oh, gracious pardon 

Oh gracious mercy as we run this race

By Grace is given the faith to believe God

It forever flows down from his throne of grace

He has told me his grace is sufficient 

For he overcomes by the power of grace 

He has told me his grace is sufficient 

For he overcomes by the power of grace 

November 23, 2025

Anthony Foster

Living Word

This darkened world is filled with lies 

But  now the truth, I realize 

What was hidden from my sight 

Gains clarity within the light 

There is a vision God imparts

when his Word is written on our hearts 

God‘s Revelation shows the way 

so I will not fall or go astray 

Eyes of the heart ears of the soul 

What was in part is now made whole 

When eyes have seen and ears have heard 

the truth revealed in the living Word

With spiritual eyes, I’ve learned to see 

Reality revealed to me

Now in the light of the unseen 

There’s more than what this world can mean 

Now in this Word we come to find

Truth sets us free and renews our mind

And by the Spirit we’ve come to learn

The only way truth is discerned

Bridge

This is the light that makes us see. 

This is the truth that sets us free.

Eyes of the heart ears of the soul 

What was in part is now made whole 

What eyes now see and ears have heard 

the truth revealed in the living Word

November 21, 2025 

Anthony Foster

Homesick

I’m so homesick homesick for my Savior 

Or he’s gone to prepare a place for me 

I want to be with him forever 

When his glorious face at last, I’ll see 

I’m so homesick homesick for heaven 

And his presence forever there to dwell 

I believe that he will return to take me there 

Away from Shadowlands and through the veil 

I’m so homesick home sick for my Jesus 

For his everlasting arms to embrace me 

For all joy resides there in his presence 

There where his loving kindness flows so free 

Bridge

Living here in a world of homesick people

With a longing in their heart they just can’t fill 

Missing the One who could meet  their great desire  

Unwilling to submit to his perfect will

For heaven‘s only heaven, 'cause of Jesus 

Though I’ll love to see the ones who’ve gone before

If my longing is to live for Christ then to die is gain

And to dwell there with my Lord forever more 

I’m so homesick, homesick for my Savior 

For He’s gone to prepare a place for me 

I want to be with him forever 

When his glorious face at last, I’ll see 

November 20, 2025

Anthony Foster