Wednesday, October 31, 2018

The Glory of Christ


The depths of life are apprehended
In the fellowship of suffering.
Made one with the cross we are mended
Though broken and spilled out we sing

For now in our pain there is ultimate gain
And our suffering is not a waste
It is a small price, for the glory of Christ
Fulfills every desire we have chased

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price
This is the anthem we sing
All grace from Him flows , all life from him grows
And is kept by our Savior and King
He brings purpose to our suffering

So rid yourselves of all that binds you
From the beautiful glory of Christ
Let this admonition remind you
Give your all and theres no sacrifice

For justice, meekness, truth, and grace
Attend His glorious way.
They overcome every loss we have faced
For the glory of Christ each day

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price
This is the anthem we sing
All grace from Him flows , all life from him grows
And is kept by our Savior and King
He brings purpose to our suffering

Now lifted up He was first brought low
Like a grain of wheat yielding much gain
So we who in our weakness can know
Sufficient grace still attains

When we forsake all to cling and draw near
And in Him be satisfied
As we bear our cross it is made clear
The King of Kings is glorified

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price
This is the anthem we sing
All grace from Him flows, all life from Him grows
And is kept by our Savior and King
He brings purpose to our suffering

So our Savior has gone before us
And so he leads Gods many sons
To glory with Him-He has conquered our sin
And our Judgment is over and done!

Dominions, thrones, and powers rejoice
To see him wear victorys crown.
Archangels sound his lofty praise
Every creature will one day bow down.

The Glory of Christ is the pearl of great price
This is the anthem we sing
All grace from Him flows, all life from him grows
And is kept by our Savior and King
He brings purpose to our suffering


October 31, 2018
Anthony Foster


Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Joint Heirs with Jesus



We have heritage and an inheritance
Because we are co-heirs with Christ
We have a share were given in advance
As a surety that will suffice
As Gods adopted daughters and sons
We are firstborn heirs of creation
Our inheritance is eternal life though its begun
For we are the heirs of salvation

Even of the very throne of Christ
We are given a measure
Given a pearl of greatest price
And a heritage to treasure
Heirs of Gods promises ever true
Heirs of this world and eternity
As heirs we are given a deposit
Of the Spirit as a guarantee

Redeemed to the praise of His glory
Joint heirs together with Christ
Redeemed to the praise of His glory
Joint heirs together with Christ
Redeemed to the praise of His glory Amen!

Romans 8:17, Hebrews 1:14, 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:21, Ephesians 1:14 John 6:37
October 30, 2018
Anthony Foster

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus




Where there is no vigilance,
No urgency to seize us,
Where there is no focused listening
Or fixing our eyes on Jesus,
We will never stand still,
But go drifting far away.
The life of this world is not a lake-
It is a river gone astray!

So fix your eyes on Jesus
Listen earnestly to His Word
Fix your mind on what Hes saying
And heed what you have heard
And youll never drift away
Drift away, drift away

To go with the flow will take you down
Descending to decay
As the river runs we are losing ground
We will drift away
But there is a rock that will not move
Tho the tumult rages
There is a truth that will ever prove
To be secure thru the ages

Author and perfecter of our faith, you are our source
We will fix our eyes on you and You will plot our course!

So fix your eyes on Jesus
Listen earnestly to his word
Fix your mind on what Hes saying
And consider what youve heard
And youll never drift away
Drift away, drift away

Hebrews 12:2
Anthony Foster
October 30, 2018



Depend on It


God's love is secure
His provision is sure
You can depend on it
God's plans for you
Will always come true
You can depend on it

His light will illumine
The truth that we seek
The earth we'll inherit
If we become meek
His grace is sufficient
Whenever we're weak
You can depend on it.

So join the mighty chorus
He is ever for us
You can depend on it
More sure than the sun
Setting when day is done
You can depend on it

We are his forever
Forever held fast
The truth that He gives us
Is truth that will last
For eternity future 
As in eternity past
You can depend on it

His children will prosper
His people will win
His blood overcomes all
The depths of our sin
He draws us to his side
were His in the end
You can depend on it
You can depend on it
You can depend on it

Anthony Foster
October 30, 2018







Humble Joy and Holy Fear (Psalm 32)


Blest is the man, forever blest,
Whose guilt is pardoned by his God;
Whose sins with sorrow are confessed,
And covered with his Savior's blood.
Blest is the man to whom the Lord
Imputes not his iniquities;
He pleads no merit of reward,
Not works, but grace is His sole plea

Repentance and free pardon;
By Grace we are Justified
Haughty hearts that were hardened
By Grace are being Sanctified
Souls that long for Christ to appear
Will arise to stand before His throne.
Yet humble joy, and holy fear
By these shall all Gods saints be known

From guile his heart and lips are free;
His contrite joy, his reverent fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to prove his faith sincere.
Christ cancels sins, and fear allays
How glorious is His righteousness!
While a bright evidence of grace
Through saints' whole life is manifest.

Repentance and free pardon;
By grace we are Justified
Haughty hearts that were hardened
By Grace are being Sanctified
Souls that long for Christ to appear
Will arise to stand before His throne.
Yet humble joy, and holy fear
By these shall all Gods saints be known

PSALM 32
After Isaac Watts
October 30, 2018
Anthony Foster


Hear My Cry (Repentance)


Lord, I am broken, I am weak
At times out of control
My inward anguish makes me seek
To soothe the anguish of my soul.
To soothe the anguish of my soul.

All my desire to You is known,
Your eye counts every tear;
And every sigh, and every groan,
Falls clearly on Your ear.
I cry out and you hear.

You are my God, my only hope;
My God will hear my cry;
My God will bear my spirit up,
I would be lifted lest I die.
I would be lifted lest I die.

My sins, a heavy load, oppress,
Each one to You is known
They are too much, I cannot bear,
Nor make atonement on my own
Atonement rests on Christ alone!

But I'll confess my guilt and shame
And grieve for all my sin;
I'll mourn my spirit, weak and lame
May I by grace be cleansed
May I by grace be cleansed

You are my God, my only hope;
My God will hear my cry;
My God will bear my spirit up,
I would be lifted lest I die.
I ll only on my God rely

My God, forgive the time I waste
Lord be for ever nigh;
O Lord of my salvation, haste,
Oh Savior, hear my cry
My God will hear my cry!

Psalm 38
After Isaac Watts
Anthony Foster
October 30, 2018



Monday, October 29, 2018

Pearl of Great Price




He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep
To gain that which he can never lose
For whatever we sow we will surely reap
By Gods grace we will wisely choose.

Oh pearl of great price you are our greatest treasure
It is no sacrifice to give up all our earthly measure
Oh light of things eternal, Oh pearl of great price
To glory in your presence will be our paradise

Where our treasure is there our heart will be
When we worship the most worthy one the unseen we will see.
This is life abundant this is blessedness
To seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness

To count it all as loss, to pay any cost
To gain the greatest treasure is ours to embrace
The thing of greatest worth in heaven or on earth
Is the weight of glory found in Jesus face

Oh pearl of great price you are our greatest treasure
It is no sacrifice to give up all our earthly measure
Oh light of things eternal, Oh pearl of great price
To glory in your presence will be our paradise

Anthony Foster
October 29, 2018


Lamentation



Our strength is but a broken cistern But youre an overflowing stream
We set our minds on things below And pursue frivolous dreams
Turn us, turn us, mighty God, And mold our souls afresh;
Break, sovereign grace, these hearts of stone, And give us hearts of flesh.

Let every wall that we erect Provoke our weeping eyes,
And hourly as new mercies fall Let hourly thanks arise.
This is our lamentation This is our deep regret
Forbid that we should waste your grace As we are doing yet.

Devastated and undone It is to you I run
I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew
But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required
Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

We invest such energy in things that pass away
The wood and hay and stubble will all soon decay
Avert our minds and set them on the unseen things above
The good the true the beautiful and the pursuit of love

Crush my haughty spirit and decimate my pride
Your flame, let me draw near it so i am purified
Help me hate my sinfulness until I learn to mourn
The things that grieve your Spirit I would scorn.

Devastated and undone It is to you I run
I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew
But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required
Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Change our laughter to mourning we would grieve, and mourn and wail.
Turn our joy into gloom and Make our best devices fail
When we drink of this worlds prizes we drink a bitter cup
But if we humble ourselves before the Lord, then he will lift us up.

You would transform my humble state Conform me to Your Son
Subect me to your goodness And I will be undone
Raise me up from daily death to life There is no greater pleasure
Your word is life and breath so make your presence my great treasure


Devastated and undone It is to you I run
I cast myself on You And Your mercies come anew
But to bend is my desire Break me if that is required
Lord hear my lament And give me grace to repent

Lines 3-6 from Isaac Watts
Anthony Foster
October 28, 2018





Saturday, October 27, 2018

I have Taken up my Cross


Jesus, I have taken up my cross
All to leave and follow you
Destitute, despised, a total loss
Take all that is in me and all that I do!
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition,
God and heaven are still my own.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In your service, pain is pleasure,
With your favor, loss is gain
I have called you Abba Father,
On you I have stayed my heart
Storms may rage, and darkness gather;
All work for good on my part

Soul, then know your full salvation
Rise o'er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within you,
Think what Father's smiles are yours,
Think that Jesus died to win you,
Child of heaven, claim your cure.

Hasten on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven's eternal days before me,
Gods own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close your earthly mission,
Soon shall pass your pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

October 28, 2018
After Henry Lyte
New lyrics and music Anthony Foster




When I pour out my Soul



When I pour out my soul in prayer, the Lord my God attends
To the eternal Throne of Grace my humble prayer ascends.
You do not hide your glorious Face in times of deep distress:
Incline your ear and hear my plea and forgive what I confess!

When I pour out my soul in prayer
My Father is waiting there
Receiving my pleas
As Im down on my knees
And he dispels every dark despair

When I pour out my soul in prayer
I cast my burdens and all my cares
As I am drawing near
My Father hears
No other solace compares.

For God from his abode on high, hears every prayer thats prayed:
The Lord, from Heaven, his lofty throne, has all the Earth surveyed.
He strongly supports the humble that they might celebrate his fame,
He answers or petition, we sing loud praises to his Name.

When I pour out my soul in prayer
My Father is waiting there
Receiving my pleas
As Im down on my knees
And he dispels every dark despair

When I pour out my soul in prayer
I cast my burdens and all my cares
As I am drawing near
My Father hears
No other solace compares.

You shall arise, with healing wings and with unclouded face:
For now redemption draweth nigh, your own appointed Day of Grace.
Then to the children of Your saints shall lasting solace give;
Our greatest prayer is answered- we shall in Your presence live.

When I pour out my soul in prayer
I cast my burdens and all my cares
As I am drawing near
My Father hears
No other solace compares.

October 27, 2018
Anthony Foster

Friday, October 26, 2018

Mercy's Never-failing Stream


Of Mercy's never-failing stream,
And steadfast Judgment I will sing;
And since they both to You belong,
To You, Lord, I address my Song.

My Lord, you will with me abide
Your disciplines by grace shall guide;
A blameless life to me you give,
A pattern by which I will live.

For Mercy's never-failing stream
Flows on forever to redeem
It springs eternal from Gods throne
Each morning mercies new are shown

You bring us trials our souls to sift
You grant repentance as a gift
From haughty looks I'll turn aside,
And mortify the heart of pride.

May your longsuffering patience prove
To be the kindness that shall move
Our stony hearts to be made flesh
By Mercy's stream we are refreshed

And Mercy's ever flowing stream
Flows on forever to redeem
It springs eternal from Gods throne
Each morning mercies new are shown

Adapted some lyrics with new music from The Whole Book of Psalms, in Metre. With Hymns, Etc. 1795
Anthony Foster
October 26, 2018

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Call of Grace


We were dead, stone cold in our sin
We were dead there in iniquity's den
But God did what men cannot do
He creates a faith that makes hearts new

I heard the call of God fall on my deafened ear
I heard the call of God even when I could not hear
The call that raises from the dead
This call to life in the living head
The call to come out from the grave
Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves

We were dead when we heard the shout
We were dead, when he called us out
Grace makes a dead man to obey
Grace makes the dead to rise and pray

And the call of grace cant be denied
Those whom God called he also justified
The call that raises from the dead
This call to life in the living head
The call to come out from the grave
Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves

Now faith is created but is not done
Grace draws the sinner to the Son
As the glorious gift of grace is planted
Repentance and obedience is granted

In the call that raises from the dead
This call to life in the living head
The call to come out from the grave
Compelled to rise and walk by the grace that saves!


October 25, 2018
(Romans 4:17) (Romans 8:30) (Romans 5:1) (John 6:44, 65) (Acts 16:14) (John 10:3–4, 14).
Anthony Foster

Returning Praise-Lost song Found


Looking for an old file I chanced upon this song that was lost for years...


Returning Praise

Music fills the universe- it beats in metered time
The harmonies of heaven the seas and land entwine

The changing of the seasons, the dancing sun and moon
They sing of their composer- the One who calls the tune.

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

So join them with your anthem and follow music’s course
Returning to our author, our pattern and our source.

The cries of every newborn, the silence of the dead
The greening of the forest, the seas by rivers fed

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

Demand to praise their maker with every rock and hill
Cry out to praise the artist whose purpose they fulfill.

So join them with your anthem and follow music’s course
Returning to our author, our pattern and our source.

Returning praise to the author of our days
Returning praise we will extol His perfect ways
Returning praise as on glory our hearts gaze
We who are receiving grace are returning praise!

Anthony Foster
November 13, 2002

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

In Zion Then I'll Sing





To celebrate your Praise, O Lord,
I will my Heart prepare;
To all the list'ning World Your Word,
Your wond'rous Works declare.
The thought of them shall to my soul
exalted pleasure bring;
Whilst to Your Name, O thou most High,
triumphant praise I sing.

In Zion then I'll sing Your praise,
to all that love Your Name;
And with loud shouts of grateful Joy
Your saving pow'r proclaim.

The Lord for ever lives, who has
his righteous throne prepared;
Impartial Justice to dispense,
to punish or reward.
God is a constant sure defense
against oppressing foes;
As troubles rise, his power and might
protects us through our woes

In Zion then I'll sing Your Praise,
to all that love Your Name;
And with loud shouts of grateful Joy
Your saving pow'r proclaim.

All those who have his Goodness prov'd,
will in his Truth confide;
Whose Mercy ne'er forsook the man
that on his help relied.
Sing Praises therefore to the Lord,
from Zion his abode;
Proclaim his deeds, till all the world,
confess no other God.

In Zion then I'll sing Your Praise,
to all that love Your Name;
And with loud shouts of grateful Joy
Your saving pow'r proclaim.

Psalm 9;1, 2 ,7-11,14
Adapted lyrics with new music from The Whole Book of Psalms, in Metre. With Hymns, Etc. 1795

October 25, 2018
Anthony Foster

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Adore and Temble


Adore and tremble all you saints, for our God is a consuming fire!
His hatred of sin His wrath inflames, due justice is required
His hand shall on rebellious men a fiery tempest pour,
While we beneath His shelt'ring wings Gods justice shall adore.

Our mighty God, in sovereign grace sits wisely on His throne;
The refuge of His chosen race, He make His mercies known.
His children must obey our His will, and trust in Father's grace;
Our pardoning God is jealous still- to require holiness.

Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise
Saints assembled, adore and tremble as we apprehend God's righteous ways!

Adore and tremble all you saints, before the throne of God
He loves us as a parent that does not spare the rod
His discipline we must not fain, we take it and are blessed
We trust our Father's love for us is for our good at last!

Adore and tremble at the thought of holiness complete
With perfect justice mingled there upon the mercy seat
By God's great sacrifice we are humbled and undone
His Glory overwhelms our souls- Oh praise the Holy One!

Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise
saints assembled, adore and tremble as we apprehend God's righteous ways!
Saints assembled, adore and tremble, worship and bring praise
Saints assembled, adore and tremble as God manifests His righteous ways!

Nah. 1:1-3; Heb. 12:29.
October 23, 2018
Anthony Foster