Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The River of the Water of Life



The river of the water of life, crystal clear, 

From the throne of God and of the Lamb,

E’re flows through the street of the city of God 

Our home in New Jerusalem-

To never be thirsty again, drink until

Thirsts are quenched and you'll never run dry

Come drink of this river of life, take your fill

As you drink God you will glorify


Come drink of the water-The pure living water 

That flows out from God’s holy throne

Come all you thirsty, yes come deeply drink

Of a water like you’ve never known

The wells of salvation are fed by its flow 

To refresh and the dead to revive

Oh, drink of the river of life and you’ll know

What it means to be truly alive


Abandon the cisterns that cannot hold water 

That you have dug by your own hand

For crystal clear water reflecting God’s glory

To flood over your dry weary land

Oh, this dazzling, never-ending stream 

Eternally flows to sustain

It will flood from inside you like you never dreamed

Like the latter and the former rains


The river of the water of life ever flows

In it’s coursing it never shall end

It runs and it ravages as it grows

And the walls you have built it shall rend

It will cleanse your heart and it will purify

The desires that would destroy your soul

So plunge into the waters where you’ll never die-

In the waters our God’s in control 


The river of the water of life, like clear crystal, 

From the throne of God and of the Lamb,

E’re flows through the street of the city of God 

Our home in New Jerusalem

To never be thirsty again, drink until

Thirsts are quenched and you’ll never run dry 

Come drink of this river of life, take your fill

As you drink God you will glorify!


Revelation 22:1-2; Hosea 6; John 4:13-14; 7:38; 

Isaiah 12:3; Jeremiah 2:13 

November 5, 2024 

Anthony Foster

I Will Trust In You


When my fears assail my heart

I will trust in you

When the devil hurls his darts

I will trust in you

When my soul becomes downcast

I will trust in You

When I’m troubled by my past

I will trust in you


I will trust in you, I will trust in you

You are faithful,You are true

I will trust in you


When anxieties assail 

I will trust in you

When my strength fades and fails

 I will trust in you

In my weakness you are strong 

I will trust in you

You will right me when I’m wrong 

I will trust in you


I will trust in you, I will trust in you

You are faithful,You are true

I will trust in you


When temptation comes my way 

I will trust in you

When in pain i cannot pray 

i will trust in you

Standing in the need of  grace 

I will trust in you

When my end at last i face  

I will trust in you


I will trust in you, I will trust in you

You are faithful,You are true

I will trust in you

I will trust in you, I will trust in you

You are faithful,You are true

I will trust in you


November 5, 2024

Anthony Foster

Monday, November 4, 2024

Isaiah 41:10



In anxious times, in times of trouble

Wandering through an evil filled land

Call upon the name of the Lord your God

He will lead you and help you to stand…

Thus says the Lord, thus says the Lord

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


When you are weak and strength is fading

When you’re dismayed by the battles you fight

And you think fear will overwhelm you

Overcome by the power of God’s Might…

Thus says the Lord, thus says the Lord

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Your God will never forsake you

So that all may see and shall know

It is the Lord your God who has done this

For your good, His glory will show

Thus says the Lord, thus says the Lord

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


Isaiah 41

November 4, 2024

Anthony Foster

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Even the Rocks



If Christ’s followers grow silent

Keeping their peace- the dumb devout

For if the people of God are quiet

Even the rocks will cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out


If the people of God are wordless

And if the prophets cease to shout

Even if believers should keep their peace

Even the rocks will cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out


For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; 

The mountains and the hills that before you  stand

Creation shall break forth into singing, 

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.


Even if the preachers say nothing

Praise will rise without a doubt

And if the choir has no song to sing

Even the rocks will cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out


If the sanctuary grows soundless

Silence reigns within and without

One day if the righteous are muted

Even the rocks will cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out

Even the rocks Even the stones

Even the rocks cry out


Luke 19:40; Isaiah 55:12

November 2, 2024

Anthony Foster

Friday, November 1, 2024

Diagnostic Questions for Disciples

 


I wrote these for a discipleship training class I taught back in the late nineties, and will repost them here-

Diagnostic Questions for Disciples


The following questions are for the sake of meditation and discussion...


1. What do you value most in a relationship? Does that apply to your relationship with GOD?


2. What keeps you from spending time with God? Can you say you have ever “tasted and seen that He is good”? 


3. What is the difference in true and false guilt? Have you experienced either recently?


4. Has there been a time this week when God touched your heart? A time when you touched God’s heart? 


5. If you were to wake up tomorrow and immediately be able to display one kind of spiritual fruit, what would that be? Have you asked God to do that through you? Should you?


6. Are there people you envy enough that you would like to exchange lives with them?


7. If you knew Christ would return next week, what would you do?


8. What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? How did you accomplish it?


9. When were you last in a fight? Were you abiding at the time?


10. Do you have any specific long term goals? Do you ever desire holiness?


11. Has your life ever been changed drastically by some seemingly random influence?


12. Where would you place yourself if you could choose to be anywhere on a scale from 1-10 with 1 being a life of hardship, struggle and accomplishment, and 10 being a life of ease, comfort and pleasure but no accomplishment?


13. If 100 people were chosen at random, how many of them would you think  you’d find living a more satisfying life than you?


14. Do you find it so hard to say “no”  that you regularly do things that you don’t want to do?  Is that bad or good?


15. As a Christian, do you feel you have had much impact on people you come in contact with? How would you know?


16. Have you ever made a major decision, changed jobs or locations for purely financial reasons?


17. Would you be willing to do something that is very unsatisfying for a number of years if you were certain the experience would inevitably bring you a deep sense of spiritual growth and personal fulfilment for the rest of your life?


18. Do you ever try to picture God in your mind? What do you see? How accurate do you think your imaginings are?


19.What does it take to give your life significance?


20. Do you think you can really get to know God in a deeply personal way? Or is he too transcendent?


21. What does it mean in practical terms that Christ indwells you?


22. What is more important -what we know about God or how we feel about Him? Is there a difference in knowing God and knowing about God?


23. It sounds very spiritual to “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness?” How do you do that in practical terms?


24. Is it possible to be too spiritual?


25. How do YOU find the balance between reverence and intimacy with God?