Monday, November 23, 2009

A Bountiful Trip

I had a portent of what may come- as I finalized most of the writing on the phd, a spate of seven new songs accompanied me on the 2.5 hour trip back from speaking on the Future of Education at a regional conference Friday. Glad I had my digital recorder. The lyrics will follow this post.
Enjoy the artwork of GH Harris at http://lee-ny.com/arts/gregory_frank_harris/gregory_frank_harris.htm
Bountiful Praise

Lord fill our hearts with peace
Fill our eyes with victory
Seal us with love overflowing
And Lord send your sweet release.
Oh the blessedness of knowing
Your righteousness shall increase!

Lord fill our hearts with praise
Help us one voice to raise
Seal us with joy overflowing
Fill our hearts as each heart prays
Oh the blessedness of knowing
You have authored all our days.

Glorious singing, the mountains are ringing new praise
The valley’s resounding, and joy is abounding in this place.
Our hearts and voices we shall raise as we bring you bountiful praise!

Lord fill our hearts with love
Compassion sent from above
Seal us with mercy overflowing
As you provide more than enough
Oh the blessedness of knowing
You fill this place that we’re part of.

Glorious singing, the mountains are ringing new praise
The valley’s resounding, and joy is abounding in this place.
Our hearts and voices we shall raise as we bring you bountiful praise!

Lord fill our hearts with joy
As to the battle we deploy
Seal us with grace overflowing
As power in weakness we employ
Oh the blessedness of knowing
It’s your favor we enjoy!

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
The House of the Lord

This not the house of the Lord
His home is the body of Christ
This building may have its beauty
But it was not bought with blood’s price

He has made his abode
In the heart completely his
The cornerstone was laid
The cost of construction has been paid
And now we abide, in him we hide
And our hearts have a home.

Now we are his tent of meeting
His tabernacle
His temple where lives are outpoured
We are one edifice as His name we confess
The dwellingplace of the Lord.

A building cannot hold the One who is to be adored!
So be glad when they say let us go unto the house of the Lord

So we are his tent of meeting
His tabernacle
His temple where lives are outpoured
We are one edifice as His name we confess
The dwellingplace of the Lord.

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
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See the artwork of Frank Mason at http://www.anny.org/2/artists/0451/003p0451.htm
Winter’s Grace

The outcasts have heard the word
And they choose to enter in.
The creatures too have heard
And so their song begins.
Glorious jubilation!
Announce it to creation
All night long
In Jubilant song
This Christmas celebration!

Heaven is in a manger
God is not longer a stranger
Christ has come to dwell in this place
So we sing of this winter’s grace!

The kings of earth have heard
The prophecy in stories
And so they seek his word
And join the paths of glory

Glorious Jubilation
Announce it to the nations!
All night long
In Jubilant song
This Christmas celebration!

A deliverer, a savior
Has come to show God’s favor
Christ has come to dwell in this place
So we sing of this winter’s grace!

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
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Source of Our Delight (Obedience)

Take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ
For we are the blood bought, the bride purchased with a price
And to obey is better still than sacrifice.

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

The good fight must be fought, the battle must be won
The high ground must be sought and God’s will must be done
The race of redemption to the end must be run…

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

Our hearts are set on You
Our hope is bound in You
Our happiness built on You
Our holiness found in You

Take captive every thought and purify your mind
Think on the things you ought-as the Lord searches may He find
No impure thought of any kind.

Oh source of our delight
You along can set us right
The good, the beautiful, the true
Are all bound up in You!

2 Cor 10:3-4

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
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First Step to Forever

This is the first step to forever
The entry into eternity
This is the first step to forever
Into a place where you can finally be free

No mortal man can enter in
Except they come by the one way
No one can overcome their sin
Unless they kneel their heart and pray

Then comes forgiveness full and free
The journey begins on the bended knee
Then comes the yearning
Then comes the turning
Then comes the longing to agree.

This is the first step to forever
The first step into the Father’s arms
The lovingkindness you longed for
That keeps you safe from harm

The shelter and the resting place
The place of the Father’s love
Where you can come to seek his face
When of this world you’ve had enough

Enough of this life
Enough of your way
Enough of the heartache
To bow down and pray
To ask for forgiveness
To seek and to find
The healing you need
For your heart soul and mind.

This is the first step to forever
So step into life made new
Surrender your life to the Savior
For he is forever faithful and true!

Anthony Foster
November 22, 2009
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The Word made Fresh

In silent jubilation the trees and rocks and hills
Cry out in celebration, the earth their joy fills.

The blossoms and the flowers shed glory on the earth
They dedicate their powers to a rose of greater worth

Each morning brings new glory
That every day is fresh
Creation tells the story
Of the Word that was made Flesh.
The Word made Fresh.

For He who has created a man from naught but dust
Has perfectly related the God in whom we trust

Glorious jubilation breaking on the night
The darkness over creation has now been turned to light
The Earthsongs now arise and men cry out in praise
As victory fills the eastern skies
And Heaven’s glory now displays

Angels in heaven always gaze
Full on the Father’s face
And now they look in awe, amazed
At the baby in this lowly place
And see the face of Grace

The infinite eternal Son
Displayed for all to see
And no one notices but the ones
Surrounded by humility
Unto himself the world he seeks
To redeem and reconcile
So heaven opens to the weak
Who find strength in this Child

And angels are descending
And ascending to His throne
That awaits the return of this babe
They defend the One who reigns alone

In glorious jubilation
Their joy is ever fresh
In this Christmas celebration
Of the Word that was made flesh.

Anthony Foster
November 20, 2009
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Thanksgiving Song

Lord fill our hearts with peace
Let strife and striving cease
Lord be the source of our shalom
Your blessed peace will be our home
That the fruit of righteousness may increase

Lord fill our hearts with grace
And mercy now to run the race
Transform our minds with gratitude
And let this be our attitude
As thanksgiving fills this place.

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you
You bless us so we may be a blessing
Thank you , Thank you, Thank you
For blessedness comes in the blessing.

Lord fill our hearts with love
Compassion from above
Lord give us lives to bless others
To suffice for the sins that it covers
Your lovingkindness is more than enough

Anthony Foster
November 21, 2009

3 comments:

Larry Gott said...

Very impressed by your continual and prolific praise songs. I don't have much more to add than what I've said before, but I will comment on the beautiful Frank Mason picture adorning one song: it looks like a picture by a master. I found other things on the www.frankmason.org, including that he died earlier this year.

Do you have any special interest or relationship with him and his work?

Larry

Anthony said...

I didn't know Mr. Mason, but I am always on the outlook for people who can PAINT. I just saw something today in a shop in Bardstown and while the subject matter was not as glorious as the image here by Mason, I could feel the urge to lick the canvas, as the brushwork was so masterful and fluid. But that would probably not be appropriate behavior in a retail establishment!

Larry Gott said...

Anthony, see this website, and watch the six segments from an upcoming film about Frank Mason's life. http://www.maestrofilms.net/

And particulary prepare to enjoy the music adorning segment 2, about Mason's return to Venice.
I turn up the volume just to appreciate the music better. I have asked the Mason website to let me know what that piece is. (You don't know do you?)

Larry