Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Refuge


There is a city on a hill
A place for us to rest
Erected there from living stones
Built on a rock that stands the test
A firm foundation from a stone
That once was cast away
Smitten and stricken by our sin
But now is exalted and raised

The stricken rock poured forth its grace
The smitten stone now flows
For by the wounding we are healed
Joy comes through a flood of woes

For he bore our sins in his Body
This rock of offense  was reviled
And cast out from the holy city
So that we might be reconciled

In a city of refuge
A place of mercy and of grace
For He is our rock of refuge
And justice shall reign in this place
Protection for the weary
Asylum for the weak
Who know their neediness of hope
Opened for those who seek

He takes us to his wounded side
And guards us from our sin
The penitent pilgrim he forgives
For he knows the hearts of men
He redeems all our transgressions
He restores us from our shame
He removes the fear of even death
And gives us a new name.

In a city of refuge
The lost are found, the wounded healed
For He is our refuge
In the shade of this rock is light revealed
And now in safety we abide
Our security made sure
In the smitten stone we now reside
In the cleft of the rock secure

Within the cleft sin’s rod has left
A place for us to hide
And in the wounds we find our home
If we will come inside.

In a city of refuge
The lost are found, the wounded healed
For He is our refuge
In the shade of this rock is light revealed
And now in safety we abide
Our security made sure
In the smitten stone we now reside
In the cleft of the rock secure

Anthony Foster
July 31, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Marked by Mercy



We are set apart and given a name
A peculiar people defined by a cross
A paradox in a world that seeks fame
While we’re called to count all things as loss

Called to serve the least of these
And in mercy to find rest
Then righteous fruit will yield its peace
And the heart of Christ is blessed

May mercy ever mark me
Let compassion be complete
We will touch the heart of Jesus
When we fall upon, when we call upon our mercy seat.

To  reach into God’s foolish scheme
To find wisdom yet unknown
To see this all surpassing dream
As more important than our own

To turn our eyes to heaven above
And find glory where’er you are
To seek there the face of Love
And healing in the scars

May mercy ever mark me
Let compassion be complete
We will touch the heart of Jesus
When we fall upon, when we call upon our mercy seat.

Anthony Foster
July 26, 2012

Jesus Saves


With all you’ve got,  these words repeat
"Draw us back to mercy’s cure"
Our Jesus Saves

Now we are not- lost in our conceit
For all we lack, we stand secure
For Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,
sin is black, judgment’s sure
but Jesus saves
Jesus saves Jesus saves

We the blood bought fall at His feet
Though doubts attack and sin may lure
Still Jesus saves

Our holy lot to be made complete
Reckon the fact that renders us pure
King Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,
sin is black, judgment’s sure
and Jesus saves
Jesus saves Jesus saves

Hell is  hot, heaven’s sweet,
sin is black, judgment’s sure
and Jesus saves
Jesus saves Jesus saves

Anthony Foster
Remembering Adrian Rogers
July 26, 2012

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Speak


Speak forth Your voice
And the mountains will crumble
In its echo we rejoice
We hear its righteous rumble
The thunder of Your Word
Makes men tremble where it’s heard
And we are humbled
Hearts are humbled hearts are stirred.

Lord speak your servants hear you
Life is in every word that You say
Speak and your word will transform us
Speak Lord and we will obey

Speak forth your Word
And the righteous will tremble
Its echo is heard
In the heart of Your temple
Your glory is declared
And exalted is Your Name
And we will worship
Hearts are stirred
We will never be the same.

Lord speak your servants hear you
Life is in every word that You say
Speak and your word will transform us
Speak Lord and we will obey

Anthony Foster
July 15, 2012

Stones of Remembrance


We ponder the past
And your works we recall
We meditate daily
On our Jericho’s walls

Delivered from dangers
Your strong hand still guides
We praise You for good things
Your love has denied

Out of the midst of our Jordan
We have gathered memorial stones
Erected a  true testimony
Of the miracles that we have known

Stones to mark your faithfulness
Stones to establish your fame
Stones to direct our attentions
To the glory of your Mighty name

We will tell it to our generations
The remembrances we will rehearse
Declaring the day of salvation
And deliverance from the curse.

Stones to mark your faithfulness
Stones to establish your fame
Stones to direct our attentions
To the glory of your Mighty name

Anthony Foster
July 15, 2012