Our Sustenance

Our nourishment, our source of strength Is found within God’s Word For there the height and depth and length Of all we need is heard The statues of the Lord are right, Rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, Enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold. Yes, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than the honey Of the honeycomb Bridge: Moreover by them Is Thy servant warned: And in keeping of them there is Great reward. The fear of the Lord is clean, Enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true And righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold. Yes, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than the honey Of the honeycomb. And without this we have no gauge Our own lives to maintain For God is found within each page His Word our life sustains From Psalm 19 Anthony Foster October 22, 2018

Shepherd of my Soul

(found this in my draft folder...)

Dark and disappointing days

Deep and descending ways

On the hard, cold edge of life

Wandering in Wilderness

Suffering in silent strife

I need a place to lay me down

To water and to rest

Oh Shepherd of my soul

Guard me now within your fold

Protect me as your little sheep

For I am safe within your keep

I would follow, I would follow

I would quietly pursue

I would follow, I would follow

The narrow way with You.

I will not look to the left

I will not look behind

I will not look to the right

I would take One step at a time

I would follow, I would follow

I would quietly pursue

I would follow, I would follow

The narrow way with You.

Oh Shepherd of my soul

Guard me now within your fold

Protect me as your little sheep

For I am safe within your keep

Anthony Foster

November 2013

Captive’s Pursuit

I have been apprehended

Drawn like water from a well

Still I’ll pursue till life has ended

Though He’s entered my heart to dwell.

I will go hard then after Christ

So to know Him, for His sake

To pursue the pearl of greatest price

All my boastings I forsake.

For the Lord has taken hold of me

So I’ll take hold of Him

I will cling tightly till I see

The glories told of Him.

To gain Christ, and be found in him

for His honor, for my joy

I will pursue Him to the end

With all the strength I can employ

All the righteousness I need to trust

Is found in Christ and Christ alone

I will be changed for change I must

Because He has made me His own.

For the Lord has taken hold of me

Abandoning the past as blight

I press on to future glories

Straining forward into the light

To make it mine onward I press

For Christ has made me His

There is no other holiness:

His grace I’ll not resist.

Though Christ has sought and found me

Chosen and staked His claim

And wrapped His arms around me

To seek him still will be my aim

For the Lord has taken hold of me

So I’ll take hold of Him

I will cling tightly till I see

The glories told of Him.

Ephesians 3

Anthony Foster

October 21, 2018

I have a Hope

I have a hope and I have a promise

I have a hope and a promise in you

I have a hope, a covenant promise

I have no doubt that the promise holds true for me and for you

Once I was a stranger and alien

Far off, separated from peace

Without hope, without God as my friend

Trying to work my way out of my disease

But now I've been brought into Gods household

Into the covenant blessings of grace

Your mercy took a heart that was dead and cold

And put a heart of hope in its place!

I have a hope and I have a promise

I have a hope and a promise in you

I have a hope, a covenant promise

I have no doubt that the promise holds true for me and for you

Bridge

Now I'm no longer a child of wrath

You placed me on another path

Where I was lost there in my grave

Now by grace I have been saved

Now I can walk in the works you have readied

That you prepared for me before I was born

Alive in Jesus, on this rock I am steadied

'Cause that old veil of separation's been torn.

This is the truth that I am confessing

In Jesus, all the promises are fulfilled

I am the heir of covenant blessings

Part of the temple God continues to build

I have a hope and I have a promise

I have a hope and a promise in you

I have a hope, a covenant promise

I have no doubt that the promise holds true for me and for you

Ephesians 2, Galatians 3

Romans 9:6-8, 11:2, 15:4

Anthony Foster

October 21, 2018

The Wedding

God the Father:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today

To witness the union of my Son and his chosen fiancé

This honorable estate, this most holy matrimony,

They enter into soberly and reverently...

And they shall be united for all eternity

And they shall be united justly and lawfully

As they enter into this union, these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

Groom:

I take thee, my beloved to be my wedded wife,

to have and to hold from this day through everlasting life

For better and best, for richer and blessed,

In holiness and in health, I your treasure, you my wealth

To love, honor, and cherish, and never to part.

And this is just the start.

Bride:

I take thee, my beloved, to be an husband unto me

To have and hold for an eternity

Forsaking all others to you my Lord I cleave

I will live for your glory, great comfort I'll receive

I know my Lord is jealous for the honor of His name

So undivided love and devotion is my aim!

Together:

And nothing shall separate us-nothing will violate this trust

Neither life nor death not angels-nor principalities unjust

Nothing in heaven and nothing below

Can ever separate us, we know...

We will be united as two loyal hearts

And we will never be torn apart!

We will live together in unity,

In love and joy for eternity!

And we shall be united for all eternity

And we shall be united justly and lawfully

Into this estate these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

And we shall be united for all eternity

And we shall be united justly and lawfully

Into this estate these two shall be as one

The beloved bride and the beloved Son

October 19, 2019

Anthony Foster

How Shall I Praise?

How shall I praise the eternal One

Who can ascend his dwelling place,

who can venture near his throne?

God's bold beloved go by grace

The Father of Lights-eternally

Arrayed in raiment shining bright

With his all-searching eye shall see

All secrets revealed in his sight.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

And early He shall hear my call.

Those watchful eyes that never sleep

Survey the world both night and day

His wisdom is a boundless deep

And all our thoughts to him display

Our mighty god, whose arm is strong

To save and keep, or to destroy;

Longsuffering grace he still prolongs,

And endless is his boundless joy.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

And early He shall hear my call.

In Him no shadows of turning

Nor variations wax and wane

For this surety we are yearning

Firm as a rock his truth remains

He'll not alter what he ordains

His promises his power guards

O'er all of life he rules and reigns

He is the God of just rewards

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

and early He shall hear my call.

Demons before his presence flee;

How holy is his wondrous name!

His anger and his jealousy

Burn like devouring roaring flame.

Justice upon a dreadful throne

Maintains the righteous rights of God;

While Mercy sends her pardons down,

And ransoms with a Savior's blood.

How shall I praise the Triune One

The Father, Spirit and the Son

I will praise Him with my all

and early He shall hear my call.

Some words after Isaac Watts
October 19, 2018

Anthony Foster

Thank You, Lord

Lord we are grateful, thanksgiving we bring
You have provided us every good thing
Even in troubles and trials you spare
Us from the accuser, held safe  in your care

All of your gifts that you give us are good
All of the truths that we have understood
All of your graces in the here and now
Are portents of blessings you will yet endow

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

Hear our confession and help us repent
Grant us forgiveness and correct our bent
Your mercies are many, and faithful and just
We are so grateful- declare it we must

Hear our thanksgiving, know our gratitude
In our motives and actions and our attitudes
May you be pleased when in you we delight
Thankfulness raised up is just and is right

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

Lord we are thankful for you will abide
Here in our hearts-you will be glorified
Humbly we come our petitions to bring
In true adoration your praises we sing

Thank you our Father for giving us life
Thank you Christ for bearing our sin and strife
Thank you Holy Spirit , you comfort and lead
Our triune God gives to us all that we need

So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord
So we thank you, thank you Lord

October 15, 2015
Anthony Foster

No Emergency

It's out of my control

Its beyond what I can do

Much more can be accomplished

When faith comes to the rescue

There is no maverick mote

That outreaches your hand

Your kingdom spans beyond the stars

It’s all within your plan

So there’s no emergency

Meetings of the Trinity

No wringing of the nailscarred hands

There is never a surprise

That falls on Father’s eyes

And nothing that exists outside your plan

Now all things work together

For now and for forever

For the good of those

whom to your purpose yield

What men may mean for evil

God means for our good

According to your sovereign holy will

All will be fulfilled.

And there’s no emergency

That You did not foresee

No accident that falls beyond Your will

In your perfect sovereignty

All that ever comes to be

By grace alone your plan it will fulfill

According to Your will…

Genesis 50:20

Romans 8:28

Job 42:2

Proverbs 20:5

Isaiah 46:10-11

Phil 2:13

October 15, 2015

Anthony Foster

All in All

Hope of the hopeless, faithful and true

Help of the helpless, we turn to you

Guard of the destitute, strength of the weak

Go now before us to guide where we seek

Giver of mercy to souls in deep need

Key to the prisoner who would be freed

Anchor of souls left adrift in the flood

Our darkest sins are atoned by your blood

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

Refuge of remnants you become our home

Wanderers rest in you, no more to roam

Shelter of wayfarers lost in the night

Food for the hungry soul, be our delight.

Keeper of sheep, our protector and guide

Once we were exposed, now in you we hide

Wisdom of fools your great loss is our gain

You are the righteousness works can’t attain

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

On our knees we shall fall

For you are our all in all

Healer of hearts that were once made of stone

Sowers of seeds you harvest what you’ve sown

Author of faith what you start you complete

Until we stand before your judgment seat

Hope of the hopeless, faithful and true

Help of the helpless, we turn to you

Guard of the destitute, strength of the weak

Go now before us to guide where we seek

Anthony Foster

October 15, 2018

Light of the Word

When the darkness pervades your vision

When the depths of despair would hold sway

When your doubts cloud your power of decision

Let the light drive the darkness away

When we walk in the light of the Savior

We will see where the paths truly lay

One is winding and steep

One, straight, narrow and deep

But His light will show you the right way.

When the dark night of the soul assails you

When you’re lonely and left in your fear

The bright lamp of His Word never fails you

'Twill illumine your soul if you hear

For the Word is a light to our pathway

And the Word is a lamp to our feet

And the last and best Word

That the heart’s ever heard

Is God’s light that is full and complete

For the light of the world is our Jesus

And His glory shines over the deep

It’s the light of the world that now frees us

To walk joyfully though we may weep

Yes the light overcomes every dark place

And the light lights the bright, living way

It casts out all deceit,

It has not known defeat

We see clearly God’s truth on display

For our dayspring will light up our day

For the Light is the truth life and way.

Psalm 119:105, John 1:1-17, 1 John 3
October 15, 2018

Anthony Foster

Found In Christ

Whatever things were gain to me

The things for which I paid a cost

For the sake of Christ they've come to be

Those things I now just count as loss

By any means to know Christ

This is of all-surpassing worth

Knowing Christ has much more value

Than any thing offered on earth

Now I can walk away, set free

From any thing I have possessed

Reckoned as rubbish so to gain Christ

For to be found in Christ is to be found blessed

To be found in Christ alone

Having no righteousness of my own

Comes by faith not law, So I stand in awe

Of the righteousness of Christ my cornerstone.

That I may know Christ

Resurrection power to apprehend

In the sharing of his sufferings is greater gain

To his death conformed, my knee I bend

So to his resurrection to attain.

No worthy deed we do can e're atone

We understand the God who gives

All that is found in Christ alone;

By his own righteousness we live

He made Christ to be sin for us

Who knew no sin, in this we trust

It is finished and done, so we can become

The Righteousness of God in Him

This is where the hope of glory begins and ends

Oh, to be found in Christ alone,

Having no righteousness of my own.

It comes by faith not law, So I stand in awe

Of the righteousness of Christ my cornerstone.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

2 Cor 5:21

Philippians 3:1-10

Anthony Foster

October 14, 2018

Remind Me

Your word is written on my heart so I have no excuse

Your will is not a secret-Why don't I have a clue?

Lord you've proven faithful Yet I vacillate to and fro

Help me recognize the obvious Remind me of what I know

Bring the past from behind me Lord bring memory to bear

Alert me and remind me Of the ways that I can err.

But I forsake my place, I forget my peace and my plea

I go seeking other answers When I know the verity

Chorus:

Make me take stock of what I have, Let it hit me in my face

Convict me of my sinful ways And convince me of your grace

I learned the basics in my youth But sometimes I am so slow

To just rehearse the simple truth-Remind me of what I know

Lord remind me

Lord remind me

Lord remind me of what I know.

Bridge:

True truth is no mystery And paradox not the rule

Can't rewrite my history Don't want to play the fool

I was born to love you I know the facts can't be denied

Heal me by humbling grace And crush my acts of pride

Chorus:

Make me take stock of what I have Let it hit me in my face

Convict me of my sinful ways And convince me of your grace

I learned the basics in my youth But sometimes I am so slow

To just rehearse the simple truth-Remind me of what I know

Lord remind me

Lord remind me

Lord remind me of what I know.

October 14, 2018

Anthony Foster

2 Peter 1:12-16

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

2 Peter 3:1-2

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostle

Come Worship the Lord

Come worship the Lord, come bring your heart

With gratitude and thanksgiving

Come worship the Lord, come bring your all

A sacrifice that is living

Come and rejoice, come lift your voice

To the Lord of Lords and King of Kings

Come and take part, come feast your heart

In the celebration true worship brings

We are but dust, but in Christ we trust

And the faith he authors truly transforms

The spark he began the Spirit will fan

Into a fire that refines and conforms

Come worship the Lord, come bring your praise

Come and lift up your soul

Come worship the King, the broken may bring

Their lives to be healed and made whole,

Come and fall down, cast all your crowns

At the feet of Jesus there at his throne

Come and adore, forevermore

The glory of his grace is His alone

We are but dust, but in Christ we trust

And the faith he authors truly transforms

The spark he began the Spirit will fan

Into a fire that refines and conforms

Anthony Foster

October 14, 2018

Just is the Lord!

Just is the Lord! We are justified.
In Christ our Sin was crucified,
And so God's wrath was satisfied.
Now to our souls is the blood applied!

Just is the Lord! He is wholly just!
Now in His righteousness we trust,
For on the Lamb our Sin was thrust.
Now in God's sight we are justified!

Just is the Lord! All of Sin's penalty
Was placed on the lamb instead of me
And by His death we are set free
For now Sin's power is nullified!

Just is the Lord! Now we stand forgiven!
The forsaken Son  the veil has riven;
A place for us is made in heaven.
Now in Gods sight we are justified!

Just is the Lord!  For we now own
The righteousness of Christ alone;
For all our sins Christ has atoned.
Our  Judge declares us justified!

To the tune of Just as I Am
October 11, 2018
Anthony Foster

Broken Road

I've had so many detours on this broken road
It seems its two steps forward and one step back
So many times I took upon some crazy heavy load
And every time it was more than I could pack

I set my eyes on foolish things that would carry me away
And take me from the straight and narrow path
When I end up in the woodshed  because of a foolish choice
And I'm standing there pathetic as  the demons laugh

But there's an upward call that keeps me moving on
While I am working out what God works in
There's a signpost up ahead that points the way
There's a memory that reminds me where I've been a
And I won't go there again.

I reckon that I'm familiar with the broken roads
While the wilderness would waste my wandering mind
There is a light that leads me on though I kick against the goads
When I hear his firm voice calling me, my way back home I find

Yes, there's an upward call that keeps me moving on
While I am working out what God works in
There's a signpost up ahead that points the way
There's a memory that reminds me where I've been
And I won't go there again.

No I won't go there again.

October 10, 2018
Anthony Foster

Overwhelm Me

Inundate me with your Spirit and take captive every thought

Overwhelm all my opinions and the lies that I have bought

Destroy every argument raised up against the light

That I might obey your word by the power of Your might

Overwhelm me, overwhelm me Lord

Vanquish every doubt and fear for I cannot afford

To wallow in the shadows, to drown within the flood

Overwhelm all my temptations as I glory in the blood.

You are the Overlord of Life, you are the King of Kings

Give me strength to bend the knee and mend my broken wings

Over circumstances I would fly and on heaven set my sight

Lord, overwhelm my senses till you alone are my delight.

Triumph over weak desires and claim the victory

Set my vision on your worth and truly humble me

Overwhelm my arrogance and tame my prideful ways

Devastate my willfulness as on your face I gaze

Overwhelm me, overwhelm me Lord

Conquer every futile thought that is not in accord

With the privileges that you provide, with the glory that you give

Overwhelm my weak desires so I can truly live

A humble spirit and contrite heart you will not cast aside

You reward the pure in heart but despise haughty pride

Take away our stubbornness and our temptations thwart.

Your eye seeks out humility to give it strong support

Overwhelm me, overwhelm me Lord

Conquer every futile thought that is not in accord

With the privileges that you provide, with the glory that you give

Overwhelm my weak desires so I can truly live

Overwhelm my weak desires so I can truly live

Overwhelm my weak desires so I can truly live!

2 Corinthians 10:5

Prov 16:18

Psalm 51:17

Isaiah 66:2

1 Peter 5:5

October 9, 2018

Anthony Foster