Monday, December 24, 2012

Glorious Advent


The seed of the woman is now born
The seed protected from life’s storm
Through flood and famine, war, and strife
God preserved His promise of new life
All history has bowed its knee
To the Father’s sovereign strategy
The scarlet thread has given rise
To the Savior who was prophesied

The Word made flesh has dwelt among us
So that He might dwell within us.
And that, my friends is glorious
That, my friends is glorious

Now he comes in human form to us
He who made man from the dust
The God-man will rise from the dead
To crush the serpent’s hoarey head
Dabar, the Logos, Word made flesh
The very word of life made fresh
God’s gift for those who will receive.
Now indwells those who will believe.

The Word made flesh has dwelt among us
So that He might dwell within us.
And that, my friends is glorious
That, my friends is glorious

Anthony Foster
Genesis 3, John 1
December 24, 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

Cherubikon


Guardians of the Glory
What must you think tonight?
Your charge has condescended
To put off his glorious rights
To come incarnate to earth
God with us now to dwell
Here in a mysterious birth
Lies the glory of Emmanuel

Amazed now stand the cherubim
And wings still shield their eyes
From the glory in the manger
Where mercy and peace lies
You never foresaw this event
So with us you stand amazed
For this veil of flesh shall soon be rent
And eyes will still avert their gaze

Yet now within a stable
His glory shineth bright
If men have eyes to see it
They’ll not forget the sight
Light to men and light to angels
Blazing glorious in the babe
Ancient of days and God Most High
Descends from glory, man to save

For ages past the angels
Have worshipped and called out
Of blessing honor, glory
And power they all shout
The most high has become low
The only begotten son
Amidst the cattle here below
And now he hears their song

We carry this light to the darkness
By this light of life we see
We walk by the Light of Blessedness
Revealer of marvelous mystery


Anthony  Foster
Christmas 2012


Living Creatures




Living creatures at the throne
In His presence you alone
Have stood for ages at His feet
Defenders of the mercy seat
Bull and eagle, lion and man
Your wings for covering cannot stand
For stones of fire n’ere paved a way
Christ splits the skies to save the day.

Demons tremble Mountains shake
Angels assemble as Oceans quake
You are here to lead many sons to glory
You come to lead sinners on to victory

The anointed cherub who fell to earth
Now witnesses His judge’s birth.
For every scheme the devil lies
And nothing that old serpent tries
Can stop this love from coming down
It forms the chains by which he’s bound
For from Your presence sin shall flee
These things that angels longed to see

Demons tremble Mountains shake
Angels assemble as Oceans quake
You are here to lead many sons to glory
You come to lead sinners on to victory

Come the dayspring from on high
The light of righteousness now rise
You are our life, the light of men
And darkness cannot comprehend
How boldly we stand before the throne
Surrounded by the fiery stones
That burn in your most holy place
So we blaze till we see you face to face.

Anthony Foster
Christmas 2012

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Cast All Crowns


All those whom the faith have kept
For His return they loved and longed
A crown of righteousness accept
For  maranatha is their song.

To all who the good news proclaim
Who loved and led men to the Lord
Who called the least of these by name
A crown of rejoicing is your reward

To all who temptation endure
Those faithful through the trials of fire
The crown of life has been secured
For obedience was your desire.

Now lay your crowns before the Throne
Of the Lamb who created all things
For by His will they were created
And by His word they have being.
Worthy are thou O Lord our God,
   To receive glory and honor and power
Worthy are thou O Lord our God,
   To receive glory and honor and power

To all who seek to humbly serve
Who shepherd God’s own people home
A crown of glory is reserved
A gift to cast before Christ’s throne.

To those who with self control live
Who subdue sin and from it flee
The imperishable crown Christ Jesus gives
As proof of His glorious victory.

These crowns all glorify the King
Before His footstool cast them down
The victor’s stephanos now bring
To Christ alone yield every crown.

So lay your crowns before the Throne
Of the Lamb who created all things
For by His will they were created
And by His word they have being.
Worthy are thou O Lord our God,
   To receive glory and honor and power
Worthy are thou O Lord our God,
   To receive glory and honor and power

2 Tim 4:8
1 Thes 2:19
James 1:12
1 Peter 5:1-4
1 Cor 9:25
Rev 4:9-11

Anthony Foster
December 1, 2012



Friday, November 30, 2012

Incarnation


Incarnation

What a mystery- this babe spoke eternity
Human flesh clothing God's Glory!
In all of history our only hope is His  story
Undiminished deity and perfect humanity
Born to a virgin mother
Heaven and Earth touch one another!

Our very life has its birth
God incarnate came to this earth
Came to be the one of Worth

The lamb of our salvation
Love and mercy for our transformation

What a mystery- this babe spoke eternity
Human flesh clothing God's Glory!
In all of history our only hope is His  story

God in an untouched womb- God in an unmarked tomb
Where one His presence sanctified
The other held him when He died
He was the substitution- justice's retribution
For on that night His life did not begin
And in that death His life did not end!

Our very life has its birth
God incarnate came to this earth
Came to be the one of Worth

For eternity future and eternity past
The saviour of the world is the first and the last!

What a mystery- this babe spoke eternity
Human flesh clothing God's Glory!
In all of history our only hope is His  story...

Christmas 1986
Anthony Foster

Song of Zechariah

Through the tender mercy of our God
Comes the Dayspring from on High
To visit us, to guide our feet upon this sod
By His own blessed light he now draws nigh
So to those who sit in darkness beneath the shadow that death casts
The faithfulness of salvation has come to us at last
Celebrate this baby -fall down at His feet
Worship him as saviour and Christmas is complete.
Fall on your knees- adore the holy One
Fall on your knees- for God has sent His son!
And so this child of Bethlehem came to bear the covenant sign
The seal of kingdom promises - the crux of God’s design
To see God’s throne in humility you must have wizened eyes
The thrill of hope breaks forth in song for in the cradle mercy lies

Dec 30,1997
Anthony Foster

Emmanuel’s Song


Emmanuel’s Song

God so loved the world
That he gave us His only Son
Now our God is for us
So we’ll join the chorus
To declare what our great God has done!

At Christmas time we sing Christ’s praise
And gather his story to tell
For the reason he came
For the sake of the name
And to be our Emmanuel!

Oh come to us Emmanuel,
God with us forever to dwell
tabernacle in hearts
nevermore  to depart
And we’ll  go all the world to tell!

For though he was equal with God
Equality he did not grasp
He put off his glory
To write us the story
That fulfills more than we know to ask

For when he put on human flesh
And came to earth to dwell
On that Christmas day
He brought with him the way
To become our Emmanuel.

Oh come to us Emmanuel,
God with us forever to dwell
tabernacle in hearts
nevermore  to depart
And we’ll  go all the world to tell!

January 05

Anthony Foster

A Christmas Wish for You

In Jacob's house a star did rise- a scepter out of Israel
One who redeems and sanctifies-  just as the prophets did foretell.
Sacrifices  did not reconcile God's righteousness and peace
They only pointed to this child in whom we find release.

He came to be our Savior- our ark and covenant
He came to bestow favor no one save him may grant.
For holiness demands a price for God and man to meet
A pure and final sacrifice laid on the mercy seat.

Under the wings of cherubim God's Glory dwelt in love
Now Glory fully dwells in Him who we're made in the image of.
For in this baby is the place where atonement and truth meet-
A Savior born to be embraced is now our mercy seat...

May you fully experience the Joy of the Lord this Christmas

The Foster Family 2012

Strange but True


Strange but True

A cattle stall holds The Holy Child
I know this has the earmarks of a fable
But the wrath of God would be reconciled
By the treasure of Heaven in a stable

Myth can be strange but fact is stranger still
An we couldn't make this up if we were able
God's Holy Will would be fulfilled
By the mystery of ages in a stable

It is strange but true- what will you do
When you're faced with one who truth itself's become
When we fact the facts of how God enacts
His will you'll surely see his will be done!

A spotless Lamb was the price for the sacrifice
And would end up on some priest or Levites table
But God's lamb alone is the one that atones
He's the all sufficient offering in a stable.

Strange but true- what will you do
When you're faced with one who truth itself's become
When we fact the facts of how God enacts
His will you'll surely see his will be done!

Anthony Foster
December 23,1998

Names


So Many Names

Wonderful Counselor is your name!
The Glory of God is your Wonderful aim!
All  comfort and counsel come from our Christ’s hand
For you brought God’s glory  down to  man…

Mighty God I call your name
To o’ercome  the world is why you came
Victorious warrior you shall Win
The God-Man has victory over all sin.

Now who could bear so many names?
What other could fulfill their claims?
None other than God’s Holy One
God sends salvation in His Son

The fullness of  beauty  of the One who is blessed
Could never by one name be fully expressed
The power of His Presence shall be our reward
When we call on the name of the Lord.

Everlasting Father you alone
Shall make provision for your own
No other father can compare
We rest in your eternal care!

Prince of Peace come rule in us
Who in your righteous rule now trust
You reign in us and reign alone
You make our hearts your holy throne.

Now who could bear so many names?
What other could fulfill their claims?
None other than God’s Holy One
God sends salvation in His Son

The fullness of  beauty  of the One who is blessed
Could never by one name be fully expressed
The power of His Presence shall be our reward
When we call on the name of the Lord.

Anthony Foster
December 24, 2003

Starshine


Starshine

Decorate my  heart with light
Hang your green upon my walls
Set my  soul ablaze tonight
And dwell in newly hallowed halls

For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.
For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.

Star of David   so bright
Overshadowed by Bethlehem’s star tonight
The daystar, morningstar  gives us His light
Shining by the power of His might

For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.
For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.

Overshadowed by the one
Who shines more brightly than the sun
For the star of the morning is brighter by far
Than the sun in our sky and the moon and the stars.

For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.
For every door is open wide
To bid the babe to come inside.

December 14, 2003
Anthony Foster

Firstborn


The Firstborn

The angels proclaim the Good News- a baby in a manger lies
The firstborn of a virgin womb, and all who seek this sign are wise.
The angels then became silent- for thirty years they sought the day
When all he came for was fulfilled- for they had nothing left to say.
The firstborn of the virgin womb lies in a stable-cave
God’s Son, the only begotten is born our souls to save.
The angel said "He is not here", who saw the righteous sun arise
The firstborn of a virgin tomb, thus born, he never dies.
The sign of Jonas was now giv’n to those who lacked faith’s eyes to see
The firstborn of many brothers, leading many sons to glory
The firstborn child of Mary’s womb is the firstborn of virgin grave
God’s son the only begotten, is born again our souls to save...

December 12,1996

Love Came Down


Love Came Down

The radiance of heaven is found within the face
Of the One who is sustaining all creation
And now to us this glory is passed into this place
How can earth bear the weight of jubilation?
We have seen the glory of the only begotten son
We have heard the joy of the song the angel's sung.
Heaven's glory is here on earth
Heaven's glory in this Holy birth
So come let us worship as we kneel before His throne
Now come let us adore Him and make his glory known!
Heaven is wherever He is
And that is where I desire to stay
Heaven is found where Jesus dwells
Let time and eternity visit us today
And heaven comes down to visit us Emmanuel on Earth
God is with us Evermore in our blessed Savior's birth.
We have seen the glory of the only begotten son
We have heard the joy of the song angels have sung.
Heaven's glory is here on earth
Heaven's glory in this Holy birth
So come let us worship as we kneel before His throne
Now come let us adore Him and make his glory known!

Anthony Foster
December 23,1998

Advent


Advent

Break forth like the rising sun I pray…
With Heaven’s glory dawns this day
To pierce our darkness with your light
Deliver us  by the power of your might!

The fiery advent of God’s grace
Will drive the darkness from this place
And fill the earth with the glorious glow
Of hearts made hearths His flame to show

Chorus
Oh glory come to fill our night
We glory in celestial light
Christ comes to make the darkness bright
Oh come to us dear Christmas Light

Oh light the darkness cannot dim
Shine forth from the very face of him
Whose righteous glory is displayed
In radiance that shall never fade!

So may we walk in your bright path
And so  be saved from fiery wrath
All who’re found within this light
That conquers death and makes us right

Chorus
Oh glory come to fill our night
We glory in celestial light
Christ comes to make the darkness bright
Oh come to us dear Christmas Light

Anthony Foster
December 11, 2003

2003 was a very good year for songs


The Gifts

I will give to you, Lord, of my gold,
The possessions that I have known
Though all I hold precious comes from your hand
You’ll be my true treasure alone.

I will bring to you my frankencense
Smell this incense of worship, my Lord
As a sweet smelling sacrifice
My life in love will be outpoured…

For as all good gifts come down from above
By the Fathe r of Lights we are blessed
He gives His all so we might live in His love
And we will be wise men if we give Him our best.

I will offer my gift of pure myrhh
For like  myrhh my life will be crushed
A daily death dying to self and to pride
I will honor you with all my trust

For as all good gifts come down from above
By the Father of Lights we are blessed
He gives His all so we might live in His love
And we will be wise men if we give Him our best.

Anthony Foster
December 25, 2003

Starbeams


Starbeams, Crossbeams

Starbeams of light up in the sky
Showing forth as we draw nigh
One beam reaches up and down
One beam reaches side to side
To declare to the world the lamb of God
Emmanuel has come to us to abide

A mothers travail and her child's cry
Come to give the answer why.
Starbeams, crossbeams
Telling us what life can mean
Sign of promise, signs of life
Sign of joy and signs of strife.

Starbeams, crossbeams
Reaching forth to fill our dreams
Dreams of life and peace on earth
Dreams of death and of rebirth

Crossbeams of wood up in the sky
Showing forth as we draw nigh
One beam reaches up and down
One beam reaches side to side
To declare to the world the lamb of God
Has come now to be crucified.

A mothers travail and her child's cry
Come to find the answer why.
Starbeams, crossbeams
Telling us what life can mean
Sign of promise, signs of life
Sign of joy and signs of strife.

Starbeams, crossbeams
Reaching forth to fill our dreams
Dreams of life and peace on earth
Dreams of death and of rebirth

Anthony Foster
December 24,1998

Whispered Word


The Grace that Once was Etched in Stone

The Word of God was whispered in a Baby
A silent shout of promise filled the night
While mankind could not comprehend His Glory
The darkness could not comprehend the light!

A holy child abides now in a manger
While shepherds are abiding in the fields
The temple's sacrificial flocks attending
Rejoiced to see God's final lamb revealed!

Spirit winds and angelsongs fan servant fires
Hearts of flesh join with the angels' praise
All heaven from eternity adored Him
This infant is the Ancient of Days!

His throne is now a feeding trough and binding rags his robes
His diadem a bed of straw that crowns creation's hopes!
The grace that once was etched in stone
In Human flesh now dwells
God's law in him, would be fulfilled
This Divine Dayspring's Holy Well!

December 24,1998
Anthony Foster

Song of the Son


Song of the Son

Sing of the gift God is giving
Sing of the gift of the Living
Sing of the son of the star and the Dawn
He lies in the hay with a cry and a yawn.

Oh my treasure
Loved beyond measure
The savior of my heart is born
The one who by grace
My sin shall replace
With His righteousness this Christmas morn.

Oh my treasure
Loved beyond measure
The savior of the world has come
The one who by grace
Shall die in my place
And will rise again when it is done
So I shall sing the song of the Son

For His song is a longing for glory He left
To come to stand for us as heaven’s good gift
For heaven itself could not contain
The song of the Son that His birth has made plain..

Oh my treasure
Loved beyond measure
The savior of my heart is born
The one who by grace
My sin shall replace
With His righteousness this Christmas morn.

Oh my treasure
Loved beyond measure
The savior of the world has come
The one who by grace
Shall die in my place
And will rise again when it is done
So I shall sing the song of the Son


Anthony Foster
December 11, 2003