Thursday, July 28, 2022

Romans 6

 



Anthony sez, Romans 6 is probably the text in the Bible I return to more often than any other point in Scripture. Every verse is life changing. Maybe you are like me: I constantly have to be reminded of what I already know. I have the following written in the flyleaf of my Bible, all point starting with an "R" to help me remember: By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have to Reckon Reality Rightly, then we have two choices: Reject the Truth or Receive the Truth: If the latter we will be moved to Repent, then Reject Sin's Reign, and Render oneself as a Righteous instrument to GOD. Then we step into the Reconciliation and Restoration found in God's Reality. Then Remember and Recount this truth as we live coram Deo- before the face of God. I am reminded of the words of an old Keith Green song: "I was lost in a fantasy that blinded me- until your love broke through." Remember: God gets to define reality, not man.... Here is a verse that turned in to song that I wrote in 2003-

Holy Sacrifice


Reckon the realities

Of all of our God’s mercies

Then reject the reign of sin

And the lies that draw you in

Render to the Lord instead

Body, soul, and heart and head

As instruments of righteousness

Presented to Him as you confess


Offer a living sacrifice

Pleasing now to God in Christ

This is worship that makes sense

A spiritual act as evidence

Not to the world to be conformed

Renew your mind and be transformed.

Then you will yourself be the proof

Of His mercies and His Truth

Good and pleasing, perfect too

Is the plan He has for you.


Romans 6:11-13, 12:1-2

Anthony Foster January 25, 2003

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

From Dust to Glory


The best days are ahead beyond when we’ve died
Death is not the end of the story
We’ll be suddenly  completely satisfied
When we are changed from dust to glory

 For then in Christ’s likeness we one day awake
And arise to His image conformed
Our glorification complete for Christ’s sake
For His glory we shall be transformed

This prison of clay will be remade anew
We’ll be fitted for eternity
Our hope is fulfilled for His promise is true
And His face with new eyes we will see

Then our deepest desires shall be satisfied 
And with joy we shall be made complete
For to our Sin we will have totally died
In His presence in awe  at His feet

To know as we are known
To bless as we are blessed
And we shall be like Him
This is our trust and test
To love as we are loved
In Him we shall then rest
And we shall be like Him
And we shall be like Him

To stand in your majestic beauty arrayed
With your glorious light then adorned
This then is the promise for which we have prayed
And your children of dust are transformed

To know as we are known
To bless as we are blessed
And we shall be like Him
This is our trust and test
To love as we are loved
In Him we shall then rest
And we shall be like Him
And we shall be like Him

July 25, 2022
Anthony Foster

In Your Presence, at Your Feet


Your great name we now confess
As we stand in awe of holiness
Set  apart in Your righteousness
And our joy shall be complete 
In Your presence, at Your feet

As we approach the throne of grace
As we seek to see you face to face
Devastate us in this place
For sin’s ruin shall be complete
In Your presence, at Your feet.

At the throne we understand
Pardon proclaimed by Your command
So now we may boldly stand
There before the mercy seat
In Your presence at Your feet.

What was shadow now is light
What was wrong  is now made right
What was faith now becomes sight
For hope has become obsolete
In Your presence at Your feet.

(Key change)
All our longings and desire
Are consumed in Your holy fire
Lifting us up higher and higher
Our broken image now complete
In Your presence at Your feet.
There where justice and mercy meet
In Your presence at Your feet

Hebrews 9:3-5, 1 Cor 13:12, Isaiah 6:4-5; Hebrews 4:16 
July 26,2022
Anthony Foster

 

Your Great Grace


My Jesus, my Lord and my Savior
Lord Jesus You are gracious and True
All of my days I want to bring praise
And give you the worship  you are due

I worship you Lord for you’re worthy
Your majesty I can’t comprehend 
The infinite wonders of your love
Your mercy and love shall never end

For your great grace empowers faith
Your great grace empowers hope
Your great grace empowers love
Eternity lies in its scope
In your presence there is fullness of joy; 
Your presence is what I  am called to live for
Your presence is ours to enjoy
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore 
Forever here in your embrace
I will trust in Your Great Grace

You are my sure shelter and refuge
My tower of power when I’m weak
The wonders of Your grace astound me 
With all that’s in me your face I seek

And your great grace empowers faith
Your great grace empowers hope
Your great grace empowers love
Eternity lies in its scope
In your presence there is fullness of joy; 
Your presence is what I  am called to live for
Your presence is ours to enjoy
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore 
Forever here in your embrace
I will trust in Your Great Grace

Psalm 16:11 
July 23, 2022
Anthony Foster

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Dirt for Diamonds


I will give up hay and stubble
And the  things of this poor earth
And no matter what the trouble
I’ll live for what has True worth

Everything not done in faith is sin
It’s dung and it is dross
The fantasies of dead men
Will only suffer loss.

I will give up dirt for diamonds
Time for eternity
I will give up passing pleasures 
For the treasures meant for me

I will seek the  pearl of great price 
I will fain all vain pursuits
I’ll become a living sacrifice
And bear God’s righteous fruits

Bridge
The grass withers and flowers fade 
If mountains crumble I won’t be swayed
God’s love is a never ending story
He will make me a vessel for  glory! 

I will give up dirt for diamonds
Time for eternity
I will give up passing pleasures 
For the treasures meant for me

Anthony Foster
July 14, 2022


Thursday, July 7, 2022

One Voice

 


So many voices in our heads
So many voices, so many voices
I’ve often listened to what they’ve said
And made some fatal choices

Voices competing to be heard
They will shout your senses down
Chaos confounds the more sure word
Until by the voices we are bound

There is one voice that is true
He is the voice to listen to
He will take you through
He will take you through

Voices are shouting everywhere
They will lead me astray
Telling me lies I want to hear
Taking my peace away

Voices  that argue with my soul
Tempting me with their lies
Compelling with a lesser goal
To turn my heart from what is wise

There is one voice that is true
He is the voice to listen to
He will take you through
He will take you through

Bridge: All we like sheep have gone astray
Many wild ways we have roamed
We have gone every one to his own way
But there is a voice that will lead us home

There is one voice that is true
He is the voice to listen to
He will take you through
He will take you through
He will take you through
He will take you through

John 10:27-30
July 7, 2022
Anthony Foster

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Take Refuge From the Road


The road is rough and steep
It's narrow and it's deep
We wonder and we weep
On this peculiar pilgrim way
There is shelter from the storm
Where to  Christ we’ll be conformed
And our life He will transform
When we fall on our knees and pray

Chorus
So lay down your heavy load
All those bad seed that you  sowed
Take the  grace He has bestowed
Come take refuge from the road

On the devil’s detours we limp along
Where each turn we take is wrong
The winds we face are strong
And we need a place to rest
There’s a change must come within
Thus has it ever been
As we leave behind our sin
At His table we are blessed

Bridge
We’ll journey on-till our day is done
Traveling through a wearisome land
We’ll take shelter in the Son
We will rest within God’s hand.

Chorus
So lay down your heavy load
The trouble you’ve borrowed
Take the grace He has bestowed
Come take refuge from the road
Come take refuge from the road
Come take refuge from the road

July 6, 2022
Anthony Foster

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Fear Not, Little Flock


Fear not little flock
Take heart till your loss becomes gain
Fear not little flock
Inherit the kingdom and you shall reign

Fear not little flock
Your shepherd is here to defend
Fear not little flock
His providence is without end

To give you the Kingdom
Is your Father’s good pleasure
Every blessing is yours
If He is your treasure
Fear not little flock
Set your feet upon the Rock
Fear not…

Fear not little flock
The sheep-gate is open, rejoice! 
Fear not little flock
Come follow when  you hear His voice

To give you the Kingdom
Is your Father’s good pleasure
Every blessing is yours
If He is your treasure
Fear not little flock
Set your feet upon the Rock
Fear not…

Luke 12:32
Anthony Foster
July 2, 2022