The Glory of Grace

Oh the depths of love in the Father for the Son

Oh His all surpassing joy to see Christ’s Kingdom come

Oh the blessedness of those whom in Him are placed

For here in the Beloved we taste.. the glory of Grace

Oh the mighty work by which Wrath was satisfied

Oh the cleansing  power of perfection that has died

Oh to be raised again, our sentence to erase

Now Here in the Beloved, we taste… the glory of Grace

Oh, this is but a foretaste, it is but a glimpse

The Spirit is revealing Grace in its truest sense

And all the promises of God in Him we now embrace

They are Yes, and in Him are Amen…by the Glory of Grace

To the Glory of or God through us

Lovingkindness  rains down on dust

To the glory of our God through us,

We do good and in God we Trust

But now we live in the light of the unseen Fed by the holy fields we glean.

It does not yet appear what we shall be For when He comes then we shall see!

Now I know only in part; And not as He has known my heart.

But then, in full, I shall know-The not-yet shall be as the now.

Oh, soon the heavy shadow cast by the living stone

Gives way and is replaced by that which is to come

We see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

For then in the Beloved, we end our race… in the glory of Grace.

2 Cor 1:20

2 Cor 4:18

1 Cor 13:12

August 26, 2014

Anthony Foster

Peaceable and Precious Fruit

We flee the furious fruit that Adam ate

And pursue the righteousness that is our fate

We are found in the holy One we confess

He makes us the fruit of righteousness

Fruit of the tree of life

Oh taste of the Spirit’s fruit

Peaceable and precious

Springing from the righteous root.

Peaceable and Precious fruit

Growing on the living vine

Flowing from one righteous root

This is the vinedresser’s design.

A fruit that is to be consumed

To nourish others once we’ve bloomed

The produce of the seed that’s died

Fruit of the tree where Christ was crucified.

Fruit of the tree of life

Oh taste of the Spirit’s fruit

Peaceable and precious

Springing from the righteous root.

Peaceable and Precious fruit

Growing on the living vine

Flowing from one righteous root

This is the vinedresser’s design.

June 4, 2014

Third PDay

Anthony Foster

The Weight of Glory

Oh the glory set before your eye

Is a heavy weight and a means to fly

It sheds a grace that cannot be ignored

O’ertakes us with raging love that is love’s reward.

Upon your word and will we wait

Lord make us to bear your glory’s weight.

Upon your word and will we wait

Lord make us to bear your glory’s weight.

Living to die and dying to live

We stand or fall by the power to forgive

So in your power we participate

Make us to bear your glory’s weight.

A furious and ferocious fire

A devastating draught of desire

Lord let it consume our haughty heart

There is no power that can tear us apart.

Fashion a fortress of forgiveness divine

And set us in a tower of your power’s design

We persevere , prevail and participate

As you make us bear your glory’s weight.

Anthony Foster

March 29, 2014

PDay 1 for Alexis

Piercing the Darkness

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring the truth for all to see

For this work was appointed me

Good news is brought to the poor;

the brokenhearted are unbound

liberty is proclaimed to the captives,

prisons are opened to those who are bound

So proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

Suffering to the shedding of their blood

Come to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

Those who in the darkness sit

Piercing the darkness with the light

See the great light and be glad of it

Piercing the darkness

Light is piercing the darkness

The light of life has come to us

Light of the world has come to us

To set ablaze the darkness of this world.

Piercing the darkness

Light is piercing the darkness

The light of life has come to us

Light of the world has come to us

To set ablaze the darkness of this world.

So give them a beautiful headdress

instead of ashes on their heads,

to bring tte oil of gladness

In the place of mourning instead

The garment of praise for of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the righteous planting of the Lord,

that he may be glorified and blessed.

They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the ruins of many generations.

So come sing the songs of  Zion—

Those who in the darkness sit

Piercing the darkness with the light

See the great light and be glad of it.

Piercing the darkness

Light is piercing the darkness

The light of life has come to us

Light of the world has come to us

To set ablaze the darkness of this world.

Piercing the darkness

Light is piercing the darkness

The light of life has come to us

Light of the world has come to us

To set ablaze the darkness of this world.

Anthony Foster

July 2014

Our Very Present Help

Our strength and our tower

In troublesome times

In you alone our refuge we find

We shall not fear, we will be bold

Lord of Hosts be our stronghold

Cease striving and know God is God…

Our very present help

Rise up and redeem us

Be our helper in this hour

For the sake of lovingkindness

Our very present help in time of need.

You have set your throne on high

You manifest your wrath

Your redemption draweth nigh

As your kingdom comes on earth

Sovereign mercy-mighty and free

Compassion extended to you and to me

Our very present help

Rise up and redeem us

Be our helper in this hour

For the sake of lovingkindness

Our very present help in time of need.

I need you oh I need you,

Every hour I need you

Oh bless me know my Savior

I come to Thee.

Anthony Foster

Child of Delight (Lexi’s Song)

Though you were wounded

Left alone and confounded

You have become the light of a world that was not your own

Though you were cast out

Into fear and given over to doubt

You have come to the joy that the Lord has not left you alone

For even in the darkness

Despite in the sin of man

Though evil wanted to possess you

The Good Lord had his plan

Child of the Light

Child of delight

We praise the Lord Jesus

For delivering you to us

To redeem you from the pit of destruction

To rescue you from a hopeless plight

To bring you the hope of salvation

And give you a song in the night

Child without guile

You’ve the heart of a child

But wizened in your soul

By a world that was out of control

For  Jesus intervened

And rescued and redeemed

And gave you a new life

Filled with promise not with strife

Child of the Light

Child of delight

We praise the Lord Jesus

For delivering you to us

Anthony Foster

August 18, 2014

Baptism of Obedience

Stop and reflect and remember

Reflecting purposefully

His joy is for those who fear Him

Proclaim this jubilantly

The theme of hope is in our hearts

Eternal expectation

He is our treasure and our greatest good

Grace abounding in salvation

Light is shining

Rain is falling

We are finding

Our sure calling

To carry the light

To speak the truth

And His Holy name proclaim

Go and teach them

Dispel the doubt

Go and reach them

We are sent out

The Baptism of obedience in God’s Holy name

Sending then rending then raising

Wondrous mystery we are praising

Change the fallow ground to hallowed ground

By your conquering presence we are found

Light is shining

Rain is falling

We are finding

Our sure calling

To carry the light

To speak the truth

And His Holy name proclaim

Go and teach them

Dispel the doubt

Go and reach them

We are sent out

The Baptism of obedience in God’s Holy names

Anthony Foster

June 20, 2014

Soon and Coming King

Soon and coming King

Of your return we sing

Crowned in glory

The end of the story

Has been written before the beginning

Desire of the nations

Our eyes have seen our salvation

Waiting for your return in this night

Weary for our consolation

We look to our Lord to make it right

Deliverer, redeemer

Let your servant depart in peace

Either in the gain of dying

Wherein we find release

Or to your bosom flying

Where our joy shall never cease

Soon and coming King

Of your return we sing

Crowned in glory

The end of the story

Has been written before the beginning

Anthony Foster

August 18, 2014

Momentous Sacrifice

Only begotten son

Come to be sacrificed

Ready to bear the burden

Ready to pay the price

Built us up an altar

Come and bear the weight

Arrange the wood and call down fire

Be bound, lie still, and wait…

The momentous sacrifice

Is the Work of Jesus Christ

Living to die and dying to live

This is the righteousness that will suffice

The momentous sacrifice

God’s self satisfaction comes

Through his own self-substitution.

And such is the momentous price

That purchased our salvation

Through the blood we are bought

Redeemed by God’s own blood

With the blood we’re overcomers

Covered by the Lamb of God

He has done the mighty thing

The mountains will be laid low

The valley will be exalted

The last will be first-And the first will be last

And we will understand what we know.

The momentous sacrifice

Is the Work of Jesus Christ

Living to die and dying to live

Love to the uttermost Jesus now gives

This is the righteousness that will suffice

The momentous sacrifice!

Anthony Foster

August 17, 2014

Understand and Know Me

Understand and know Me
That I am the Lord of  Lovingkindness
Justice and righteousness
Understand and know Me
Understand and know Me
Full of manifold mercy
Full of grace and humility
Come to the cross and live
Believe in the provision I give
Lift up your eyes and be given new sight
For in these things I delight  

But let him who boasts boast in this,
that he understands and knows me,
Let him worship me for all my Worth
For he understands and knows me,
That I am the LORD who practices 
steadfast love, and  justice from above,
That I am the LORD who practices
righteousness in the earth. 

For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.
For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” 

Understand and know Me
That I am the Lord of  Lovingkindness
Justice and righteousness
Understand and know Me
Understand and know Me
Full of manifold mercy
Full of grace and humility
Come to the cross and live
Believe in the provision I give
Lift up your eyes and be given new sight
For in these things I delight  

Anthony Foster
August 18, 2014
Jeremiah 9:24

x

May Your Beauty Be My Vision

My righteousness all in Your Righteousness

Remitted sin and purity

Magnified glory. found in your righteousness

Forgiven and set free

You are beautiful Lord Jesus’

You are all things good and true

You are beautiful, Lord Jesus

And all good things come from You.

May your beauty be my vision

May the depths of your riches unfold

May the joy of the Lord be mine own heart

As the precious truth of Christ I behold

Delighting in His presence

Before the throne of grace

Overwhelmed by glory

In one eternal song of praise

This is that for which we longed for all our days

You are beautiful Lord Jesus’

You are all things good and true

You are beautiful, Lord Jesus

And all good things come from You.

May your beauty be my vision

May the depths of your riches unfold

May your joy be mine own heart

As the precious truth of Christ I behold

Anthony Foster

August 17, 2014

Always!

The weight of this world can never compare

To the weight of the Glory in which we have a share

Now all of our suffering and every loss

Is redeemed by the beautiful grace of the cross.

Always glory, always praise

Will spring from our hearts for all our days.

Always!

Transformed from one glory and into the next

Now assurance remains where once we were perplexed

The source, aim, and purpose of creation we see,

For everything changes when we bend the knee.

Always glory, always praise

Will spring from our hearts for all our days.

Always!

Of your lifechanging, lifegiving love we now sing

By your lovingkindness and your longsuffering

We find we are drawn closer still to your side

And we are undone as we learn to abide.

Always glory, always praise

Will spring from our hearts for all our days.

Always!

Anthony Foster

April 21, 2014

Romans 11:36

Life’s Living Water

Down, down, down into the waters

Now enter mercy’s deep.

Down where the cleansing is done

And we come under love’s keep

Where Sin is covered and left behind

A pool where true healing is had by the blind

And new light now dawns on our eyes

Our life is made new and we shall arise

So show all the world how the blessed obey

Show all the darkness  where once you were bound

Show all the witnesses your faith this day

That life’s living water in Jesus is found.

Up out from the grave

Our Jesus arose

The tomb was made empty

And death’s overthrown

He is the perfection

The way that is true!

He is the resurrection

He is life made new!

The ransomed are raised up, established to stand

Salvation’s secured by the blood of the lamb

For it’s not merely water that cleanses our soul

But The Spirit of Life that is given control

So enter the waters for you’re born again

Enter the waters and be washed in the flood

Enter the waters and be raised by his hand

Walk in new life that is bought by His blood.

Up out from the grave

Our Jesus arose

The tomb was made empty

And death’s overthrown

He is the perfection

The way that is true!

He is the resurrection

He is life made new!

Anthony Foster

Easter Sunday

April 20, 2014

Glorious Jesus

Glorified in all your suffering

You bring meaning to the realm of time

Glorified in your obedience

You change the mundane into the sublime

Glorified  in your affliction

So we might be healed by hope and freed

All honor, praise, and adoration

Rise up to glorify You in word and deed

Glorious Jesus

How may we glorify you more

Glorious Jesus

Lord we would worship and adore

The one who is all glorious-

Glorious Jesus!

The one who is from age to age the same

How can we add to your fame?

The one to whom belongs all glory now

We would magnify you more, but how?

By Your glorious grace

We will continually fill this place

With your glorious name

Glorious Jesus!

Mercy has flowed on every one

Who would glorify His name

Freely bestowed in your beloved son

In Christ we’ll  never be the same

Glorious Jesus

How may we glorify you more

Glorious Jesus

Lord we would worship and adore

The one who is all glorious-

Glorious Jesus!

Eph 1:6

Psalm 134

Anthony Foster

March 20, 2014

Bread of Heaven

They loathed the bread of heaven

That came to the house of bread

They will call it worthless

And they will go unfed

In every generation

Taste and see that He is good

The provision of salvation

In this one eternal food.

Bread of Heaven

Bread of Heaven

Fall on us in this wilderness!

Bread of Heaven

Bread of Heaven

Our hungering souls to bless!

Bread of life now broken for us

Manna fall on us this day

Take our hunger and our longiing

And our leavening away

All the stirrings of our hard hearts

All the strangers bread we’d taste

Multiply yourself among us

And let nothing go to waste.

Bread of Heaven

Bread of Heaven

Feed us lest we die!

Bread of Heaven

Bread of Heaven

Only You can satisfy!

Anthony Foster

March 11, 2014

Echo His Glory

We are here to echo his glory

Celebrate the love that was proved on the cross.

We are here to echo his glory

Sing to the one who paid the cost.

We are here to surrender our passions

Take up our cross and follow today

We are here to surrender our passions

Pursuing the path of the narrow way

For from him and through him and to him

Are all things in heaven and earth

For from him and through him and to him

Give glory and honor and praise of His matchless worth

Declaring the end from the beginning

Here to bring near your righteousness

Work your mysterious redemption.

Here to be reconciled as we confess.

We gain better desires than we have known

Dwelling in glory’s unfolding foretaste.

Our blessed hope and blessed assurance

Is that we will see Him soon face to face.

For from him and through him and to him

Are all things in heaven and earth

For from him and through him and to him

Give glory and honor and praise of His matchless worth

Anthony Foster

March 10, 2014

Arise and behold the glory

Arise and behold the glory

Wonder at the holy mystery

Behold the fullness of the Godhead

Incarnate in humble humanity

To be our ransom and reward

He took on flesh as living Word

So ever may he be adored

And ever may our praise be heard!

Arise and behold the glory

Of the suffering Son of Man

Who presents us with God’s image

Pure and undefiled by Sin.

All the first Man failed to do

The second Adam has fulfilled

He has overcome temptation

And true Israel’s revealed.

Arise and behold the glory

Of the lamb for sinners slain

How his death has led to victory

How there’s healing in His pain.

See the sacrificial proxy

In this the perfect substitute

For the redemption of our souls

This is love, immense and true

Those who dwell in the darkness of night

Turn your eyes and lift your gaze

Now in His advent, behold life and light

In the condescending Ancient of Days

Arise and behold the glory

His before the creation’s dawn

Though forsaken, dead and buried

Here true mystery’s reborn

Now in resurrection power

See him crush the serpent’s skull

See his enemies now conquered

And the curse is void and null.

Arise and see the glory

Of our interceding priest

The hIgh and holy Son of God

May His government increase

Yea forever and forever

Will will yield up all our praise

To the mystery revealed to us

Christ in us for all our days

Anthony Foster

March 10, 2014

Deep

Deep is the fountain of promise

Deep is the mystery of death

Deeper still is the river of life

That calls us into its depths.

Down, down into the deep

The blood calls out to those who sleep

Plunge into its undertow

And into its life-giving flow.

Cover us Lord, cover us

With the water of your Word

The cleansing power poured out on us

Wash us  as it is heard.

Cover us, Lord cover us

With lovingkindness’ flood

Until we are clean again

Purged by your cleansing blood.

Deep is the river of mercy

That flows from the storehouse of grace

Each time one steps into its current

The guilt of sin is erased.

So down into the deep

There your own you will keep

And none may ever fathom  this

None may plumb the depths of bliss­­­

Cover us Lord, cover us

With the water of your Word

The cleansing power poured out on us

Wash us  as it is heard.

Cover us, Lord cover us

With lovingkindness’ flood

Until we are clean again

Purged by your cleansing blood.

Anthony Foster

March 5, 2014

Lifted Up

I will lift up my eyes

Fix them upon your throne

I will lift up my eyes

Set my sights on you alone.

I will lift up my heart

From the depths of the earth

You will lift up my heart

And fill it with new worth.

I will lift up my hands

Reaching out to now receive

I lift up empty hands to you

Open and ready to receive.

You will lift up my soul

Set my feet on your high place

You will lift up my soul

Through depths of love to heights of grace

Through depths of love to heights of grace

I will lift up my voice

To give praise as you receive

My worship is conformed

When by faith I believe

I lift up my hands

My eyes, my heart, my voice

My offering, my very soul,

With my spirit I now rejoice

You will lift up my soul

Set my feet on your high place

You will lift up my soul

Through depths of love to heights of grace

Through depths of love to heights of grace

Anthony Foster

March 5, 2014

Peace-Speaking Blood

When the darkness draws nigh And doubt and fear assail

When depression rages And your faith seems to fail

As you pray for endurance and for wisdom and peace

There is one who will faithfully cure and release

Infinite love gives rise

To infinite praise

For the one who in dying

Puts all my transgressions away

So seek to realize with all your heart

Now in the Lord place your trust

To know anew the power of peace

In the peace-speaking blood of Jesus.

For within His wounds our only true healing is found

It was for us he bled and wore a thorny crown

And we will find no better cure

Than the one who can cleanse and make us pure

Infinite love gives rise

To infinite praise

For the one who in dying

Put all my transgressions away

So seek to realize with all your heart

Now in the Lord place your trust

To know anew the power of peace

In the peace-speaking blood of Jesus.

Oh the peace-speaking blood

For His glory and our good

Redemption’s full release

The fruit of righteous peace

After a quote from Spurgeon

Anthony Foster

March 1, 2014