Do the Math

One times one times one is one

This is the Father, Spirit, Son

This is the triunity

Revealed as Holy Trinity

Add hope  Subtract fear

End division Multiply love

Do the math And lend an ear

Put your faith In God above

Two by two is how we go

Sent into the world to show

Exponential love until

The chosen number is fulfilled

They say the number 7 is

The number of perfection

And 40 indicates a trial

To make sure your election.

Add hope  Subtract fear

End division Multiply love

Do the math And lend an ear

Put your faith In God above

July 25, 2023

Anthony Foster

Blessing

God’s arms enfold and protect you.

God’s word inform and inspire you.

God’s love infuse and transform you.

God’s Spirit flow and empower you

Now and always -To the end of days

God’s love be known deep in your soul

When anxiety and fear assail you, 

When daily life becomes a burden

Know that Christ will never fail you

No, Christ will never fail you

Bridge

God of rising sun, embrace us

God of the heavens, draw near us

God of flowing stream, grace us

God of day and night-time, hear us

God of mist and rain, refresh us

God of gentle breeze, enfold us

God of tears and laughter, bless us

God of love and power, uphold us

God’s very joy be known and felt, 

May you rest and embrace God’s peace 

As those armsreach out to hold you.

Know His  comfort and release. 

God’s love be known deep in your soul

When anxiety and fear assail you, 

When daily life becomes a burden

Know that Christ will never fail you

No, Christ will never fail you

July 25, 2023

Anthony Foster

The Chisel

God uses chronic pain and weakness, 

E’en while our bodies waste away. 

Our weakness deepens our dependence

On Christ alone for strength each day.

 

The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. 

The harder we lean into His will

The stronger we grow in our spirits, 

And we see that He is stronger still

Pain is God’s chisel for sculpting our lives. 

Along with the troubles we face

They produce endurance and healing

A  supreme victory of God’s grace.

It is true healing for the spirit. 

To patiently live with your ‘thorn’ 

That is, sweet, patient, and free in heart 

To attain that for which you were born.

To love and to serve and help others, 

even though every day you feel weak — 

This is true sanctification. 

This is the blessing we seek.

The chisel in the master’s hand

Forms and shapes the hardest heart

To sculpt away all that’s unworthy

To be called God’s work of art.

July 25, 2023

Anthony Foster

Oh Me of Little Faith

New contradictions, fresh perplexities, 

Strange paradoxes and more mysteries

I am confounded by my consistencies

Oh Me of little faith. 

A skulking and smiling and sinister state 

Has sabotaged progress in my faith of late

I don’t do what I love but I do what I hate

Oh, Me of little faith 

Chorus

Lord I would believe you

Take you at Your Word

Help me obey You

And heed what I’ve heard

Lord help me and gird me

Till my heart is stirred

Oh Me of little faith

Is there still some reservation in my mind? 

Some fear of what it might be like  to find

If what I believe takes on a more real design

Oh Me of little faith

If my faith was too solid, how much would I  lose?

I might become odd and strange if I rightly choose

My dreams and desires would be yesterday’s news

Oh me of little faith 

Chorus

Lord I would believe you

Take you at Your Word

Help me obey You

And heed what I’ve heard

Lord help me and gird me

Till my heart is stirred

Oh Me of little faith

Oh Me of little faith

Oh Me of little faith

July 25, 2023

Anthony Foster

A Few More Years

A few more years shall roll,

A few more seasons come;

And we shall be with those who rest,

Asleep within the tomb.

A few more storms shall beat

On this wild rocky shore;

And we shall be where tempests cease,

And surges swell no more!

Chorus

A few more struggles here,

A few more partings o'er,

A few more toils, a few more tears,

And we shall weep no more!

Then, O my Lord, prepare

My soul for that blessed day;

Oh, wash me in Your precious blood,

And take my sins away.

Up, then, with speed, and work;

Fling ease and self away—

This is no time for you to sleep—

Up, watch, and work, and pray!

Chorus

A few more struggles here,

A few more partings o'er,

A few more toils, a few more tears,

And we shall weep no more!

Then, O my Lord, prepare

My soul for that blessed day;

Oh, wash me in Your precious blood,

And take my sins away.

Up, watch, and work, and pray!

It may be a few more years or it may be today!

For it may be a few more years or it may be today!

July 16, 2023

Words by Horatius Bonar

Music and embellishments- Anthony Foster

Goodness and Mercy

The Lord will forever take delight 

Take delight in prospering you.

You are precious in His sight

And He is faithful and true.

The Lord practices justice 

And righteousness in the earth

For in these things He delights

In these things He delights

In these things He delights

So his people declare His worth

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

Shall pursue me all of my  days.

I will pursue as I am pursued

Held fast by His mercy and grace.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, 

Slow to anger, longsuffering

He is  abounding in steadfast love

His love endures all things

The Lord practices justice 

And righteousness in the earth

For in these things He delights

In these things He delights

In these things He delights

So his people declare His worth

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow

Shall pursue me all of my  days.

I will pursue as I am pursued

Held fast by His mercy and grace.

Exodus 34:6; Jeremiah 9:24; 

Psalm 23:6; Deuteronomy 30:9; Isaiah 43:4

July 16, 2023

Anthony Foster

Hammer, Fire and Sword

The Lord declares His Word is like 

A mighty a hammer in his  hand

The stone shall break with every blow

The rocks cannot withstand

The Lord declares His Word is like

A devastating fire

That consumes  his enemies

With ever righteous ire

Chorus

We will hear and we shall heed

Obedience is what we need

We seek you there within Your Word

For your voice is there to be heard

The Lord declares His word is like

A sharp two- edged sword

Separating bone and marrow

Tis the more sure Word of the Lord

Bridge

God’s wheels grind it finely, this wood stubble and hay

He will winnow them and a gale will blow them away. 

He will thresh the mountains and crush them like chaff.

In Your Word are the  instruments of your righteous wrath.

Chorus 

We will hear and we shall heed

Obedience is what we need

We seek you there within Your Word

For your voice is there to be heard

Jeremiah 23:29; Hebrews 4:12

July 16, 2023

Anthony Foster