Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Archives unpacked

I have found that in the rhythm of our new life, many things get put aside. I have just finished filling up the 2012-2013 scrapbooks with the accumulated memorabilia of the past year or so, plus uploading writings and sorting files. The fifteen or so lyrics below are a part of that divestiture. I look forward to a big housecleaning of the non-digital sort this winter.

The Blood of Love


In the inescapable darkness
Deliverance was not in view
But light has shined in darkness
The advent of the TRUE
Remember and rejoice
Watch and wait
For the fulfillment of His promise is come
Source of  our Magnificat

What great things has God done for me?
A wretched man was I.
The flood of judgment mine.
When I was dead he drew me
He gave salvation to me
Now in The blessed Love of Christ
Forever I abide

Oh deep, deep love
Precious gift from God above
Grows ever deeper still
In the living of His Will.
Oh deep deep love
This itself will be enough
This alone can satisfy
The blood of love will be our cry.

In the valley of the shadow of death
The devil wants our final breath.
Drowned in oceans of deep darkness
Or into hell’s futile abyss
To take us Down into the depths of judment’s flood
But deeper is the fountain filled with blood.

So align my heart with your heart
Remove anything that would keep us apart
Make my heart tender as I surrender
Open my heart to its innermost part

As true service I seek, forge my affections
Into a heartfelt connection
Take my motives I pray
And renew them today
Powered by your resurrection!


Ps. 42:7

Anthony Foster
September 2013

Eternal Word that Became Flesh


Eternal Word that became flesh
Condescending in the Creche
Glory limited by choice
Wrath bearer with an infant’s voice.

Our unrighteousness to overcome
Where sin’s wages devastated men
To become a holy ransom
And His righteousness would cover our sins.

The suffering you embraced
Priceless blood in the cup of grace
Poured out at the altar
Conqueror, overcomer
Raised to glory forever
Nevermore to falter.

All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.
All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.

All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.
All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.

So stop and rejoice and remember
Reflecting purposefully
The theme of hope is on our hearts
In eager expectation to see
HE is our treasure and our greatest good
Grace is yours, grace is yours
The spirit of God in the people of Your Book
Serving you in what we preach
Things into which angels long to look.

All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.
All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.

All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.
All the holy ways of God
Are steadfast love and faithfulness.


Anthony Foster
November 2013

Imperishable Seed


Of those who have fallen asleep
We are the firstfruits He will keep
In Christ our victory, is our Truth
Our Jesus is the point of our pursuit.

Imperishable seed
Sow your harvest inside of me
Plough our fields and penetrate
The hard soils of sin and hate
Life giving, living vine
Graft us into life divine.

The crushed son has borne the wrath
And borne it all on our behalf
A living Hope-A sure salvation
Now born again through His resurrection

Imperishable seed
Answer to our every need
Open our eyes and open our doors
Show us what you made us for
Atoning, living sacrifice
It is all of God in Christ.

Anthony Foster
July 2013

Rooted in the Resurrected One



The seed of the woman promised to Eve
The covenant promises to all who would believe
The joy of the scarlet thread woven in the word
The praise of heaven now on the earth is heard

Christ is Come
We are Rooted in the resurrected one
Christ is Come
We are Rooted in the resurrected one

Word made flesh among us dwells
Ancient of Days and God most High
Exalted one of Heaven now came to die
Holy Holy Holy Christ

Comforter, full of wonder
Came to tear death asunder
Came the serpent’s skull to crush
Came to raise children of dust.

One who has died
One who was raised
We gather around
And this glory we praise

Christ is Come
We are Rooted in the resurrected one
Christ is Come
We are Rooted in the resurrected one
Rooted in the resurrected one
Rooted in the resurrected one

Anthony Foster
July 2013

Precious Paradise



Let all of creation worship Him
Who for a little while was made
Lower than the angels
Transcendence came near to be displayed

Immanuel indwelling man
Once enemies now one, together
This is our precious paradise
Union with our Christ forever

This is our precious paradise
Union with our precious Christ
For His presence  we have longed
To abide and to reside
In the shadow of His wings we hide.
And He has become our song.

Fullness of God’s glory here
Not one of us can comprehend
Not one of us can understand
The depth of how he’d condescend.

He came down from his throne above
Set us apart, swept out the leaven
Shed glory on this work of dust
And raises us to heaven.

He is our precious paradise
Union with our precious Christ
For His presence  we have longed
To abide and to reside
In the shadow of His wings we hide.
And He has become our song.

Anthony Foster
August 2013

True adoration


His sufferings were to our doors applied
For the blood bought bride he died.
To sacrifice his life for us he came
For those who trust the power of His name

We lift our hearts in ardent celebration
We seek to tell the world of His salvation
By living lives empowered by true adoration!

True adoration, let this be our offering
True adoration, now fill up the praise we sing
True adoration, overflowing hearts of grace
As gratitude and worship fills this place.

To your will conformed
By your word we are formed
In our sacrifice our praise He is adored
If we are following our Lord
Chosen vessels now are filled
As we seek to serve His will
Redeemed of the ages
Exempted from sin’s wages

Passionate obedience remains
Exultation in our chains
Living, breathing by your Name
To you, through you
By you and for you
To your glory, we obey
So we will do the things you say.

True adoration, let this be our offering
True adoration, now indwell the praise we sing
True adoration, overflowing hearts of grace
As gratitude and worship fills this place.

So now the lovesong of the bride
As we are taken to His side
The chorus of the living sacrifice
The beautiful body of Christ.

True adoration, let this be our offering
True adoration, now fill up the praise we sing
True adoration, overflowing hearts of grace
As gratitude and worship fills this place.

Anthony Foster
November 2013


Anchor of our Souls


He is the harbor and the hedge
A place of abiding rest
To not forsake us is His pledge
In Him is blessedness.

Oh anchor for our souls
A secure foundation
Keeper of your fold
There is now no condemnation

Lest we should drift away
In stranger tides each day
Come hold us fast we pray
Anchor of our souls.
Our spirits’ sure defense
Rock of Righteousness
In you forever blessed
Anchor of our souls

Rule over the appetites
That with our souls wage war
Secure us in the shallows
Secure us in the storms

So come embrace us in Your arms
He will  draw us to His side
Your mighty love will anchor us
In our hearts come to abide

Oh anchor for our souls
A secure foundation
Keeper of your fold
There is now no condemnation

Lest we should drift away
In stranger tides each day
Come hold us fast we pray
Anchor of our souls.

Anthony Foster
August 2013

Awash in Blessing



Bestowing your riches you come
For our salvation and our surrender
We call on the name of the Lord
To the name of Jesus all glory render
Praise running over…

The name  above all other names
Come and trust Him now and forever
See if  He will not pour out blessings
On you pressed down, shaken together
… and running over

Awash in blessedness, awash in blessing today.
Running over
Overcome by Christ’s embrace
Overflowed by God’s good grace
Awash in blessedness, awash in blessing today.
Running over…
Running over…
Running over…
Running over…

Anthony Foster
September 2013

Tears of Glory


Tears of Glory

God of the closing and opening doors
May I disdain any other voice
God of the roadblocks and paths made straight
God of inclinations and choice

May your light flash down from heaven
May your radience upon us shine
May your voice speak loud and often
May we seek and hear and find

Baptized in the tears of your glory
We lift our eyes to You
Higher than the heavens are your ways
To you all majesty is due.

We are bound by chains of sin
Behind the bars of guilt and shame
Tears of glory, tears of glory
Of our hope and of a warning
Tears of glory tell the story
Dancing comes after the mourning

Oh I would weep and be weak
Rather than in myself be strong
Where I did not sow I would reap
I would cry out as I seek
To find solace where I belong

As we view you through the tears
You wipe them all away
And give new eyes with which to see
The unseen brighter day.

We are bound by chains of sin
Behind the bars of guilt and shame
Tears of glory, tears of glory
Of our hope and of a warning
Tears of glory tell the story
Dancing comes after the mourning


Anthony Foster
November 2013

Anthem of Orphans



 Abandoned and orphaned-Fatherless and faithless
With no inheritance or hope-With no family to bless

And no past to rely on-Pain and trauma is your part
Secure in manipulations-Survival the finest art

Now to be chosen-Now to be adopted,
Now to be beloved-Oh to be so loved!

By the Love of the Father-By the cost of His son
Grafted into a family-Where many hearts are made one

Let these words land on them-The unaccustomed to your grace
Adopted as sons and daughters-Here with your father face to face

The anthem of orphans
Once unloved and rejected
Now arms e’re enfold you
Esteemed and protected.
Sing the song of a City on a Hill
Melody of overcoming souls
Cadence of redeemed hearts
A music that rages as it rolls

But God, but God, but God has made a way
To see the Righteous One
A root of righteousness
Yielding fruit in daughters and sons

And all but one are grafted in
The begotten one made a way
We call upon your lovely name
You wash our sins away.

The anthem of orphans
Once unloved and rejected
Now arms e’re enfold you
Esteemed and protected.
Sing the song of a City on a Hill
Melody of overcoming souls
Cadence of redeemed hearts
A music that rages as it rolls


Now to be chosen
Now to be adopted,
Now to be beloved
Oh to be so loved!

By the Love of the Father
By the cost of His son
Grafted into a family
Where many hearts are made one

Anthony Foster
For Alexis
September 13, 2013

The Way of the Cross


Come by the way of the cross.
Come by the way of the cross
We receive our freedom
purchased at the cross of Christ
We receive forgiveness
In His final sacrifice

The rugged wretched cross
where his purpose was fulfilled
The rugged wretched cross
Where all our wounds are healed
God says I love you at the cross
For He is willing to forgive
Forgive and cleanse you of all your sins
So you can truly live

Atonement and remission
Through blood poured out for us that day
A price was paid on our behalf
One we could never pay

The true meaning is an offense
It confronts our hearts of stone
A confrontation all of us must face
Found at the cross alone.

The way of the cross leads home
The way of the cross leads home
The way of the cross leads home

Anthony Foster
November 2013

One Step at a Time



To all who are bound up by self tonight,
For all who’ve lost their way
Here is a good word for you,
The best that I can say

"This is the blessed life –
not anxious to see far in front,
nor eager the path to choose,
but following behind the Shepherd,
one step at a time."
Taking one step at a time
your way you cannot lose.

Quietly, quietly,
This road will take me on
One to greater glories
Than I could ever have known
Into greater mercies
And never alone.

"This is the blessed life –
not anxious to see far in front,
nor eager the path to choose,
but following behind the Shepherd,
one step at a time."
Taking one step at a time
your way you cannot lose.

Quietly, quietly,
This road will take me on
One to greater glories
Than I could ever have known
Into greater mercies
And never alone.


Anthony Foster
After F. B. Meyer
October 2013

Gates of Righteousness


Open to me the gates of righteousness
I would enter in through them
Give thanks to the Lord who is this gate
Through it the righteous enter in 
The stone the builders rejected
My salvation you have become
I give thanks for what you’ve perfected
This is the Lord’s doing alone. 

Enter in, enter in
The beckoning open gate
At the end of a narrow path
But the way is straight

This is the day the Lord has made
It is marvelous in our eyes
Let us rejoice and be glad in it
It is marvelous in our eyes 
You tore apart the temple veil
Now against the gates of Hell prevail
Our inheritance we will possess
You have opened your gates of righteousness 

You were bound to the horns of the altar
For our sake you willingly died
King of Glory has come in
The righteous lamb that God provides. 
Your righteousness and not our own
Your righteousness and yours alone
Our works are filthy rags unless
They’re sourced by your own righteousness. 

Enter in, enter inThe beckoning open gate
At the end of a narrow pathBut the way is straight
This is the day the Lord has made
It is marvelous in our eyes
Let us rejoice and be glad in it
It is marvelous in our eyes 

Anthony Foster
Summer 2013