Truth, Light and Grace

Lord I want your truth to be

The loudest voice I hear

Lord correct and comfort me

Draw me close, draw me near

And I will trust 

Though I am but dust

I am feeble and frail

I have understood

That you are Good

And your mercy will not fail

Lord I want your light to be

A lamp unto my feet

May your glory shine in me

To burn up all deceit

Help me obey

Your living way

I’ll walk within that light

So let me shine

And walk that line

That makes this pilgrim right.

Lord I want my heart to be

A vessel for your grace

This treasure you place in me

Overflow me now with praise

Though I am weak

Lord help me speak

Give me a song to sing

I’ll raise my voice

I will rejoice

A perfect offering

January 31, 2023

Anthony Foster

Prevailing Grace

Our God is supreme and glorious

He reigns over all- victorious

This world He has overcome

His kingdom comes, His will be done.

God’s prevailing grace will attain

Resistance is futile-if He so ordains

Who can withstand His perfect plan

Who can ignore His call?

God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

Our God is timeless but all flesh is grass

His decrees shall always come to pass

In His perfect wisdom  He will fulfill

All the counsels of His wondrous will

God’s prevailing grace will attain

Resistance is futile-if He so ordains

Who can withstand His perfect plan

Who can ignore His call?

God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

God’s prevailing grace will attain

Resistance is futile-if He so ordains

Who can withstand His perfect plan

Who can ignore His call?

God’s prevailing grace rules over all.

January 30, 2023

After a Piper devotional title

Anthony Foster

 

One Word (Tetelestai)

What is that one wondrous word

That defeats the devil when it is heard?

What is that message we must tell him

What little word shall surely fell him?

Tetelestai- it is over and done

Tetelestai-It is finished and the victory is won

It was accomplished at the cross

Christ won the battle when He paid the cost

And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

Christ became Sin for us  frail men

A substitute though He knew no sin

So God’s righteousness we become

In Him and through him we overcome

Tetelestai- it is over and done

Tetelestai-It is finished and the victory is won

It was accomplished at the cross

Christ won the battle when He paid the cost

And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

And the serpent’s skull was crushed by God’s Son

January 30, 2023

After A Mighty Fortress
Anthony Foster 

Power, Glory and Grace

Only one life, twill soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ will last

But every little thing I’ve done

Any good work  that’s begun

The strength required to run this race

Is Through God’s power

For God’s Glory

By God’s Grace

As unto Him my work I yield

His power in weakness is revealed

In Every thought and deed that’s good

My God does what I never could

And so every  feat is built and braced

Through God’s power

For God’s Glory

By God’s Grace

He is our source, He is the force through which we live

He is the Righteous Holy provider of what we cannot give

There is no supply sufficient that ever could replace

For His is the Power His is the Glory it is all of His Grace

So each morning when I rise

It’s grace that opens up my eyes

And when I work, in every deed

Your grace supplies my every need

I’ll walk by faith and not by sight until I see His face

Through God’s power

For God’s Glory

By God’s Grace

Through God’s power

For God’s Glory

By God’s Grace

After C. T. Studd

January 24, 2023

Anthony Foster

My Soul Will Rest Easy

For the wearisome soul 

There’s a balm that consoles

For each morning Your mercy is new

Though trouble will come

Till my work here is done

My soul will rest easy in You.

My soul will rest easy in You

My soul will rest easy in You

The One who holds me is faithful and true

My soul will rest easy in You

Lord you watch over me

When I cannot see

The pathway that leads to what’s true

But you go before

And you open the door

That you want me to enter through

Bridge

And if Lord you deny  the thing I desire

Give me the power to do what you require

And see all I need in your sheltering place

For I now know peace flows only from grace

For the suffering heart

There can be a new start

As we die to our self and to gain

For there riches untold

In the Good Shepherd’s fold

For He  saves from a life lived in vain

My soul will rest easy in You

My soul will rest easy in You

The One who holds me is faithful and true

My soul will rest easy in You 

My soul will rest easy in You

My soul will rest easy in You

The One who holds me is faithful and true

My soul will rest easy in You

January 24, 2023

Anthony Foster

Held Safe in Your Hand

You are our Hope when we are downcast

When we are saddest You hold us fast

When we're at our weakest you show us Your might

When we are blindsided, You are our sight

In our deepest darkness You are the Light

Oh Lord You are our refuge from the storm

Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm

When we are anxious our spirits You raise

You of the source of the heart filled with praise

Held safe in Your right hand for all of our days!

Deep in our pain Your sweet comfort you bring

When we are distressed over us You still sing

You are our treasure when we know great loss

When we are bankrupt you pay the cost

You are our power when we take up the cross

Oh Lord You are our refuge  from the storm

Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm

When we are anxious our spirits You raise

You of the source of the heart filled with praise

Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!

When we have nothing You are more than enough

When we are hated you show us your Love

You are the author who writes out our days

When we wander you show us the way

You are the potter and we are the clay

Oh Lord You are our refuge from the storm

Our help in time of trouble when life sounds its alarm

When we are anxious our spirits you raise

You of the source of the heart filled with praise

Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!

Held safe in your right hand for all of our days!

January 23, 2023

Anthony Foster

Resting in Your Blessing

 

God gives every spiritual blessing

In the heavenly places in Christ

The things which our God has prepared 

Through the Final sacrifice…

We are resting in Your blessing

Eye has not seen, no ear has heard, 

Neither have entered into the heart of man

The great blessings in Your Word 

God gives hope that lasts forever

For our Lord forever reigns

His mercy is new each morning

Worlds obey what He ordains

Bridge

Jesus is able to do beyond measure

All we ask or imagine, and far, far more

According to his power at work within us, 

To him be all glory forevermore!

We are resting in Your blessing

Eye has not seen, no ear has heard, 

Neither have entered into the heart of man

The great blessings in Your Word 

Eph 1:3; 3:20

Psalm 127

January 21, 2023

Anthony Foster

Remind Me (Your Steadfast Love)

This I call to mind 

When with trouble I must cope

I trust the promises of God

And therefore I have hope

Your faithfulness-

On this I can depend

Your steadfast love

Never ceases, will never end

I won’t wallow in the mire

When godless messages assail me

For Satan is a liar

But your love will never fail me

Remind me of what I know

Remind me of what is true

This I call to mind

So I have hope in You

God of the impossible

You do impossible things

Your greatness and grace

And power gives us wings

So I will turn from despair

Remember truth and ponder

I will cast on Christ my cares

And meditate on  wonder!

This I call to mind 

When with trouble I must cope

I trust the promises of God

And therefore I have hope

Your faithfulness-

On this I can depend

Your steadfast love

Never ceases, will never end

Ps 77:11-12

Lam 3:21-22

January 21, 2023

Anthony Foster

Three things (among many) I learned as an artist

1. Negative space. Getting an accurate rendering of negative spaces will help you define the positive ones more accurately. I think there is a spiritual principle here. If we have a wrong view of the negative in our life,  the majority of which relate to the Sin principle and/or personal sin, we will fail to apprehend the good, the true, and the beautiful accurately. 

2. Critique. The ability to thoughtfully critique and evaluate one’s art is essential to improving its beauty and your skill in producing it. The same relates to reckoning reality rightly. 2 Thessalonians 5:21 tells us to examine everything. Hold on to the good. That applies first and foremost to discerning ourselves, and that can only be done by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

3. Perspective. Changing the way one observes reality changes what we produce as an artist. We all have a lens through which we view the world, a worldview. In our faith walk, we need to stay humble and realize our biases. True Truth can be known, and only God gets to define Reality. The image of God in us is broken and needs to be restored; that happens initially at regeneration,  but is a lifelong process of being conformed to Christ on this earth until He completes His work in us in glorification. In the meantime, if we skew the lines we draw in a way that does not conform to God’s reality, we pay a spiritual price and ugliness attains. 

The Gifts of Grace

Tis a gift to know mercy tis a gift to know peace

Tis a gift to repent and see your soul released

For when we apprehend it is all of grace

We will know we have nothing to give God but praise

Then in spirit and truth we will 

Worship our God and be Spirit filled

We will delight to love and obey

And abide in the Lord to whom we pray

The gift of His grace will ever increase

Patience kindness goodness, love joy and peace

Faithfulness gentleness and self control

Will be the fruit that springs from our soul

The giver of gifts is ever lovingkind

Tis a gift to seek him and to truly find

For from him and through him are all things. 

To him be all glory,  forever we sing!

To him be all glory,  forever we sing!

To him be all glory,  forever we sing!

Then in spirit and truth we will 

Worship our God and be Spirit filled

We will delight to love and obey

As we walk in the light of the living Way!

To the tune of Simple Gifts

January 18, 2023

Anthony Foster

Nothing But Christ

Nothing can quiet the soul

Nothing can satisfy the soul 

Nothing can fill the soul but Christ

Nothing can cleanse the soul

Nothing can secure the soul

Nothing can save the soul but Christ

There is only one way

There is only one truth

There is only one life

And that is Christ alone

Nothing can soothe the soul

Nothing can restore the soul

Nothing can stir the soul but Christ

He is the only One

The all-sufficient Son

Come see what He has done

Come worship Christ alone

Come worship Christ alone

Come worship Christ alone

After Thomas Brooks

January 18, 2023

Anthony Foster

Childsong (You Happify Our Hearts)

We sing a song of gladness

Our delight is off the charts

Let tears release and sadness cease

You happify our hearts!

You bless our souls completely

Your Joy the spirit imparts

Oh Lord above our Lord of love

You happify our hearts!

Our feelings are so fickle

They change with fits and starts

But of course you’re joy’s source

You happify our hearts!

You bless our souls completely

Your Joy the spirit imparts

Oh Lord above and Lord of love

You happify our hearts!

Ephesians 1:3; 1 Cor 2:9

January 16, 2023

Anthony Foster

Thrill Our Souls

Give the Word and storms are stilled

With your Word our hearts are filled

By your Word our souls are thrilled

Yea Lord You thrill our souls

You alone Exhiliarate us

Overjoy and Fascinate us

Astound, amaze and captivate us

Oh Lord You thrill our souls

Rich in mercy, Great great love

You made Your dead enemies to live

Raised us up and seated with Christ above

In heavenly places- all blessings you give!

Bridge

Who can thrill our souls like Jesus?

Who can satisfy our hearts like You

No other  name to us is given

No other name under heaven

Can ever save us from our sin but You

Only Christ can satisfy

Only Christ can tell us why

Lift our spirits as we cry

Oh Lord You thrill our souls

Rich in mercy, Great great love

You made Your dead enemies to live

Raised us up and seated with Christ above

In heavenly places all blessings you give

Ephesians 2:4-6

January 15, 2023

Anthony Foster

Gospel Hearts

Give us Gospel Hearts

Hearts that with compassion beat

Give us Gospel hearts

Hearts that Christ has made complete

Hearts that fully love you

That put nothing above you

Hearts that tell the good news

That calls men to new birth

Hearts that seek to make your name

Hallowed in the earth.

Give us Gospel hearts

Hearts that declare the Good News

Give us Gospel hearts

Hearts that declare what is True

Hearts that with desire burn

Hearts that  for your glory yearn

Gospel truth flows from this heart

And it can never be denied…

For a Gospel heart will make You known

A heart that  You have purified

Anthony Foster

January 14, 2023

Of Thee We Sing!

Our Shield, Our Rock 

And Glorious King

Fortress and Refuge 

Our Sheltering Wing

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

You are our Deliverer 

And our  Vindicator

Our Shepherd, our Judge 

And our Creator

You are our Healer

And our Protector

Our Redeemer 

And our Provider

Of All of these things

The Psalmists sing

Our Dwelling Place forever.

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

Of Thee we Sing!

Anthony Foster

January 12, 2023

This is Glory

This is the shadow but the light is unseen

Realer than this reality ever has been

This world foreshadows all that is real

All of your knowledge and all you can feel

Lost in a fantasy blinded and bleak

Reckoning substance beyond what we seek

Give me the vision, You take the dream

For nothing in this world’s as sure as it seems

This is glory, this is glory

Hallelujah, Glorious weight

For this is no burden

That is for certain

Wait for your eyes to dilate

You will see both the narrow and straight.

Now the shadows persist And the shadows obscure

Darkle, dull they resist the pilgrim’s sure cure

So come to the lightbearer To the luminous  light

So come near, wayfarer -razzle-dazzle your sight

This is glory, this is glory

Hallelujah, Glorious weight

For this is no burden

That is for certain

Wait for your eyes to dilate

You who seek both the narrow and straight.

January 10, 2023

Anthony Foster

Savior Shepherd

Take my hand oh Savior-Shepherd

Take me on to a better land

You will guide me to green pastures

Held forever by your hand.

I’ll not want for I lack nothing

By still waters I am led

You are for me- You restore me 

Then my hungry soul is fed

On Righteous pathways,  Savior Shepherd

Lead me on-dispel my fear

For your name’s sake I will follow

Lord your voice I want to hear

Surely goodness, surely mercy

Will seek me out where e’re I roam

Surely goodness, surely mercy

By His Grace He’ll lead me home

Surely goodness, surely mercy

Will follow me for all my days

I’ll dwell with my Savior Shepherd

In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.

In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.

In His fold fore’er I’ll stay.

January 9, 2023

Anthony Foster

Lord Most High

Lord Most High- You who love me

Lord Most High, Why should this be?

If I die, You shall hold me

If I live, I live fully free.

For You are my Savior, and You are my King

You are the Lord of All, The Master of everything

Lord I will trust You, I’ll answer your call

For it is just You who can be  all in all!

On the way in this wilderness-on this narrow path

Christ's Obedience You bless and forego Your wrath

Lord help me abandon all my selfish desires

You will replace them with Your Holy Fire

Lord Most High, You have saved me

I was dead in Sin, but You forgave me

Well I would walk worthy by the power of your might

Cast off what is earthly and do what is right 

In Your sight as I walk in the Light!

January 8, 2023

Anthony Foster